"Just a mere Fiery Fire Saber Sect, hardly worth mentioning."
Not far away, Zhao Xin also noticed the outcome of the battle, but he merely lifted his eyelids slightly and then ceased to pay any further attention.
"Zhao Xin versus Wei Qianxiang!"
On the twelfth battle platform, the referee’s voice rang out again, immediately causing a huge commotion. Without a doubt, compared to the previous fight between Ye Xuan and the Fiery Fire Saber Sect, this battle was undoubtedly more weighty since one was an apprentice of the Divine Spear Venerable, and the other was the Young Master of Snow Dragon Mountain, ranked ninth on the Master List.
Both were formidable; no one had expected such a high-level showdown to commence so quickly.
"Snow Dragon Mountain’s Young Master Wei Qianxiang, I hope you won’t be as easily defeated as those I’ve encountered before."
Zhao Xin spoke with his usual arrogance, his eyes showing no sign of apprehension, as though he considered no one worthy of his attention.
"That line should actually be mine, shouldn’t it? You and your master, the Divine Spear Venerable, are but wild men from the hills, daring to scorn a top fighter of the Master List?" Wei Qianxiang snorted coldly. As a favored son of heaven from Snow Dragon Mountain, he was never looked down upon; and as for Zhao Xin, he wasn’t much older than Wei Qianxiang anyway. Among the younger generation, aside from Lian Yunsheng of the Divine Intent Sect, whom could he possibly fear?
"Less nonsense, let’s see the truth beneath our hands. We’ll see who the real waste is!"
Zhao Xin was not inclined to idle talk either. A fierce glint flashed abruptly in his eyes, and then, lifting the long spear from his back, he flicked it to create a spear blossom, its tip crackling with lightning as he thrust violently at Wei Qianxiang.
A curved saber appeared in Wei Qianxiang’s hand, which he swung upward. As he did, ripples like water formed in the air, and the twisting saber light clashed horrifically with that spear force, clanging loudly and distorting the surrounding air with its energy.
"Nine Thunders Echo!"
With a mighty shout, the sky above Zhao Xin seemed to change color. He swept his spear horizontally, the shadow of the spear multiplying from one into nine, with nine spear lights emerging simultaneously, resembling nine rampaging thunder pythons roaring through the sky, rapidly changing directions and cutting off all Wei Qianxiang’s escape paths.
"Water Soaring Breaking Fist!"
Wei Qianxiang’s expression changed, and he stomped hard on the ground. Simultaneously, an invisible and mighty force poured into the earth. The next moment, the ground trembled, and the floor before Wei Qianxiang suddenly burst open, shooting out thick water spouts that merged into his fist’s momentum, carving an impressive arc in midair and intertwining with the nine thunderous spear lights.
Both launched their signature moves without much probing, and the aftermath was so intense that the spectators nearby became unsteady, involuntarily retreating.
"Six Yangs Return to One!"
"Blue Sea Tide Generation Slash!"
The auras of the two combatants, one resembling a streak of lightning and the other a stream of water, continuously flickered and clashed in midair, filling the entire battle platform with their figures.
"This Wei Qianxiang truly lives up to his title as a prodigy under heaven; his strength seems to have improved since his return."
Watching the battle closely, Ye Xuan’s eyes revealed a hint of surprise. He could see that Wei Qianxiang’s strength had made some progress since they had last fought. It seemed that the defeat last time was not an insignificant blow to him, and he had clearly not neglected his cultivation over these past three months.
However, even so, the tide of the battle did not seem to favor Wei Qianxiang. From Ye Xuan’s observations, Zhao Xin was effortlessly managing the fight, seemingly still holding back some of his strength.
The outcome of this battle seemed to have already been determined.
Indeed, as expected, after more than forty moves, Wei Qianxiang was clearly at a disadvantage, with signs of impending defeat.
"He’s going to lose."
Ye Xuan’s eyes hardened as he watched Wei Qianxiang get faked out by a thrust, then hit squarely in the chest, leaving a bloody hole and stumbling back several steps.
Zhao Xin’s mouth suddenly curled into a smirk, his spear tip swiftly flicked upward, sending Wei Qianxiang’s curved saber flying, blood dripping from the webbing of his hand.
Having disarmed Wei Qianxiang, Zhao Xin looked at him mockingly and said.
"No, I can’t possibly lose!"
Wei Qianxiang’s face twisted in discontent, a thick unwillingness surged in his eyes, then, he charged at Zhao Xin with bare hands, striking out with his palm.
Zhao Xin sneered disdainfully, without so much as a glance, thrust his spear lightning-fast, hitting the same bloody wound again. This time, he knocked Wei Qianxiang completely off the battle platform.
"Wei Qianxiang has lost!"
Many of the young martial artists watching the battle were somewhat disappointed; after all, Wei Qianxiang and Zhao Xin were supposed to be of the same generation. They naturally hoped Wei Qianxiang would win, to curb the momentum of the hidden expert’s successor, Zhao Xin, but Wei Qianxiang had lost.
"It seems these so-called peerless geniuses of your sects are nothing special after all."
Zhao Xin looked down at Wei Qianxiang, who struggled to stand, his face filled with disdain. Watching his expression, Wei Qianxiang trembled with rage, and if it were not for the fact that they were at the conference venue, he would have killed him.
Even the powerful experts from various sects who were watching felt greatly displeased. Zhao Xin’s words were undoubtedly a taunt aimed at all of them.
"This Zhao Xin is far too arrogant. Although Wei Qianxiang is annoying, this guy is even more so," Nangong Yao muttered irritably beside Ye Xuan.
"The man has the capital to be arrogant. If anyone is dissatisfied, they should just defeat him."
Ye Xuan didn’t feel much about it. Such people, now looking high and mighty, would become compliant once defeated. Ye Xuan had seen many such people and was hardly surprised.
The battle concluded, and other matches were still underway. The few competitors Ye Xuan had been watching all passed the sixth round with ease, advancing successfully to the seventh.
Their opponents were all reputed powerhouses, but in their hands, defeat was inevitable.
And by the seventh round, the crowd in the venue began to thin out, leaving only the real experts still in the running.
As the seventh-round matches began, the atmosphere in the venue surged. The upcoming battles were likely to be high-profile, heavy-weight encounters, because those who advanced from this round would almost certainly enter the top ten and attract the attention of the envoys from the seven great sects.
Whether they could cultivate further in the sects of the Spirit Martial Continent all hinged on this very moment. With battle spirit boiling within them, the remaining competitors had waited a long time for this moment. Now, with just one final step left, they would not allow themselves to become the stepping stones for others, to be defeated at this last hurdle.