Chapter 025: The Duel with Wang Xing

  Yang Tian's gaze swept over Wang Xing, and when he saw the latter's grim expression, a cold smile crept onto his face. Suddenly, he turned back and called out, "Wait, sir!"

  "What is it?" The official, impressed by Yang Tian's strength—which seemed on par with Kuangyun City's top three prodigies—didn't seem annoyed. He smiled faintly as he responded.

  "Sir, am I allowed to continue challenging others?" Yang Tian paused before speaking slowly.

  As soon as Yang Tian finished speaking, Wang Xing's face turned ashen. The veins on his forehead throbbed violently, and a wave of fear washed over him.

  "Yes, you can continue challenging as long as you remain on the stage. However, the person being challenged has the right to refuse," the official explained with a nod.

  Hearing this, Yang Tian nodded as well. His eyes scanned the crowd below the stage, and most of those who met his gaze shrank back. Who would dare challenge him after he had effortlessly defeated a seventh-level Blood Refinement cultivator? His strength was undoubtedly on par with Wang Xing's, if not superior.

  When Yang Tian's gaze landed on one particular figure, his lips curled into a smirk. He stared directly at Wang Xing, who was trying to avoid eye contact.

  "Wang Xing, come up here!"

  His voice was calm, but it carried an unmistakable killing intent that sent shivers down the spines of those listening.

  "This is going to be good. These two are definitely going to have an epic showdown."

  "Yeah, but I wonder what Yang Tian's relying on to challenge Wang Xing. Can he really win?"

  The crowd buzzed with speculation, though most doubted Yang Tian could defeat Wang Xing. After all, Wang Xing had a solid reputation in Kuangyun City, backed by the formidable Starry Sky Martial Hall.

  On the spectator stands, Wang Long's face darkened the moment he heard Yang Tian's challenge. "You little beast, if anything happens to my son, I'll crush every bone in your body and feed you to the dogs!"

  "What's wrong? Are you scared?" Yang Tian raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with mockery. If Wang Xing backed down today, not only would his reputation in Kuangyun City crumble, but his martial spirit would also suffer a severe blow.

  "Who says I'm scared?" Wang Xing's face flushed with humiliation. Gritting his teeth, he leaped onto the stage.

  On the stage, Wang Xing stared at the young man before him, his fear growing with each passing moment. The chief instructor, who was stronger than him, had already fallen to Yang Tian. Wang Xing couldn't help but wonder just how powerful Yang Tian had become.

  "Are you scared?" Yang Tian rubbed his nose and suddenly chuckled. Beneath that laughter, however, was a chilling killing intent.

  "Scared? Who was it that I chased all over the place not long ago? Even that old fool Lin Yuan almost died at my hands!" Wang Xing clenched his fists, trying to suppress his fear as he retorted with a sneer.

  "Your mouth is as tough as ever. It seems you're not afraid of death." The killing intent in Yang Tian's eyes grew sharper. "Today, I'll grant your wish. Your father will soon join you in the afterlife."

  As soon as he finished speaking, Yang Tian took a step forward. The blood energy within him surged, forming a crimson river above his head. A powerful aura began to emanate from him, resonating with the surrounding space, causing ripples in the air.

  Wang Xing's body trembled under the pressure. The soul-crushing force made his head spin, and he found it impossible to stabilize his blood energy. He felt his martial spirit on the verge of shattering.

  "So strong!" Hua Die's pupils contracted, her face filled with shock. Her delicate hands clenched tightly as she sensed the overwhelming vitality within Yang Tian's blood energy.

  "He's grasped the concept of 'aura'!" Kuang Lang's heart raced as he stared at the distorted space around Yang Tian. To comprehend "aura" at such a young age was a sign of extraordinary talent. Yang Tian was destined to become a true martial artist.

  "This can't be! How could that little beast have grasped 'aura'?" Wang Long's mind screamed in disbelief. His eyes were bloodshot, and his unease grew stronger.

  Seated below, the heads of Kuangyun City's other two major martial halls exchanged glances, their eyes filled with mockery. They also felt a sense of relief. Yang Tian's strength was undeniable, and with him in the competition, the Starry Sky Martial Hall had no chance of winning the tournament.

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  "Aura" was the sublimation of one's essence, energy, and spirit. Only those with an indomitable martial will could grasp it. However, Yang Tian was only at the initial stage, and his ability to control space within a few dozen feet was his limit.

  Only by honing an unbreakable martial will could one reach the pinnacle of martial arts.

  "Impressive. Out of ten thousand cultivators, perhaps only one can grasp 'aura.' We're lucky to witness it today," one of the three examiners from the Qingyang Empire remarked, his eyes gleaming with delight.

  On the stage, Yang Tian's martial will was fully unleashed, forcing Wang Xing to retreat step by step. Wang Xing's mind was in chaos, and fear gripped his heart. His breathing became labored, like that of an exhausted ox.

  "Tsk tsk, Wang Xing doesn't even have the courage to fight. It looks like he's going to lose."

  "If he runs away without a fight today, he'll never achieve anything significant in martial arts." The crowd pointed and whispered, their mocking voices rising like a tidal wave.

  Hearing the comments from below, Wang Xing's face flushed with shame and anger. His venomous gaze locked onto Yang Tian, but he couldn't muster the strength to fight back.

  "Roar!" Wang Xing suddenly let out a furious roar, his face twisted with killing intent. The veins on his forehead bulged as he channeled all his blood energy, slowly breaking free from Yang Tian's oppressive aura.

  "Oh? You've got some backbone after all." Yang Tian's eyes flickered with surprise. He hadn't expected Wang Xing to break free from his control. "It seems I haven't fully mastered this yet. My father said that a perfected 'aura' can instantly crush someone of the same level."

  "Yang Tian, you're dead!" Wang Xing roared, pulling out a long sword. Under the sunlight, the blade gleamed with a sharp, menacing light.

  On the spectator stands, Hua Qi and the others exchanged glances, their expressions darkening when they saw the sword in Wang Xing's hand. "Well, well, he's brought out the Green Yuan Sword. How impressive."

  "Hmph, as long as he wins, it doesn't matter. You two are meddling too much," Wang Long shot back, his cold gaze sweeping over them.

  "Ha, we'll see if he can actually win," Hua Qi drawled with a smirk.

  "Just wait and see," Wang Long sneered.

  Below the stage, the crowd's eyes lit up with greed when they saw the sword in Wang Xing's hand.

  "That's the Green Yuan Sword! It was the reward for winning first place in the last tournament. It's a top-tier blood weapon!" one man exclaimed.

  "Now the outcome is uncertain."

  Hearing the crowd's murmurs, Wang Xing regained some confidence. He glared coldly at Yang Tian. "Yang Tian, let's see if your flesh is harder than my sword."

  "You talk too much," Yang Tian retorted, raising an eyebrow dismissively.

  "Hmph!" Wang Xing's anger burned fiercely. He poured his blood energy into the Green Yuan Sword, and the blade's sharp aura grew even more intense. The chilling sword energy made the spectators below shudder.

  **Swoosh!** Wang Xing slashed downward with his sword, a wave of green light cutting through the air. The sword's energy surged toward Yang Tian, tearing through the vacuum in its path.

  Facing this attack, Yang Tian's hands moved swiftly. Several crimson blades of energy danced at his fingertips. Just as the sword's energy reached him, he swung his hand through the air.

  **Boom! Boom!**

  The clash of energies created a blinding light, and the air crackled with explosive sounds. When the light faded, Yang Tian stood unharmed.

  "He blocked it! Even with that boost, he blocked it! What kind of palm technique is that?" someone in the crowd exclaimed.

  "That level of power... even if it's not fully mastered, it must be a Profound-grade martial skill," the man in white remarked with a smile from several miles away.

  "It seems Yang Tian has had some kind of fortuitous encounter. Profound-grade martial skills are rare in these parts," the man in black added, chuckling.

  "A weapon is only as good as the wielder's strength. Without power, it's just a piece of scrap metal." At that moment, Yang Tian's figure suddenly appeared beside Wang Xing. His crimson-glowing fist struck out toward Wang Xing.

  **Boom! Boom!**

  Sparks flew as Yang Tian's bare fists clashed with the Green Yuan Sword. The sound of explosions filled the air.

  "You little beast!" Wang Xing's face twisted in rage. The recoil from the clashes numbed his hands, and his blood energy churned violently. A trickle of blood escaped from the corner of his mouth.

  "Tsk tsk, Yang Tian's body is incredibly tough. He's actually trading blows with a blood weapon!" Hua Qi and the others exchanged glances, their earlier worries completely gone.

  "Indeed, that palm technique of his is extraordinary," another man nodded, ignoring Wang Long's icy glare.

  "Ha!" Yang Tian suddenly roared, his blood energy surging like a tidal wave. The crimson river above his head roared as his aura intensified. The entire stage trembled under his power, cracks spreading across its surface.

  "Wang Xing, die!" Yang Tian swung his fist, smashing it into the Green Yuan Sword. At the same time, he kicked Wang Xing in the stomach.

  **Boom!**

  Wang Xing was sent flying, and Yang Tian pursued him, his fist aimed at Wang Xing's head.

  "Holy crap, he's going for the kill!" A man in the crowd gasped, staring at Yang Tian's youthful face with a chill running down his spine.

  "You little beast, stop!" Wang Long's eyes nearly burst from their sockets as he leaped from the spectator stands. The aura of a half-step martial artist erupted from him as he lunged toward Yang Tian, his hands aiming to crush Yang Tian's skull.

  "Not good!" Lin Yuan's face paled as he rushed forward.

  "Stop him! Wang Long's gone mad!" Kuang Lang's expression changed. If Yang Tian died, the inspectors from miles away would hold him responsible. But the distance was too great; there was no way to intervene in time.

  Several miles away, the man in white was about to act when a hand rested on his shoulder. "Don't rush, Second Brother. Yang Tian's no fool."

  "You old fool, I've been waiting for you!" Yang Tian suddenly grinned maniacally. A strange suction force emanated from his palm, pulling Wang Xing's body and hurling it toward Wang Long's descending hands.

  **Boom!**

  Blood and bone fragments scattered in all directions.

  Wang Long's wrinkled face was splattered with blood. His twisted expression froze as he stared at the headless corpse before him.

  "Holy... Wang Long... just killed his own son. That's brutal," a man in the crowd stammered, his voice trembling. The faces of the onlookers turned pale.

  "Yang Tian!"

  Wang Long's rage burned like an inferno. His gray hair fluttered in the wind as a heart-wrenching pain gripped his soul.

  "Haha, old man, how does it feel?" Yang Tian shrugged, a faint smile on his face. A deep sense of satisfaction filled his heart.

  "Old man, this taste isn't pleasant, is it?"