161: Chapter 161 Battle Against the Surging Waves!

After a day's rest, the atmosphere at the Martial Arts Arena became even more solemn.

All the Disciples and Elders were waiting with bated breath, hoping for a quick start.

After all, the battle for the top eight meant that the remaining eight individuals were all powerhouses.

And battles between powerhouses were often the most captivating.

High above on the light screen, after the drawing of lots, the list for the four matchups was clearly displayed.

When the crowd saw one of the matchups, a huge clamor instantly erupted throughout the venue, and countless gazes simultaneously converged on two figures beneath the stage.

Ye Tian versus Liu Jingtao!

Ninth on the Heaven Ranking, a sword dao Genius, against the newly joined Disciple Ye Tian, who had repeatedly created miracles!

"As expected, Liu Jingtao is matched against Ye Tian!"

"Now there's a good show to watch! Senior Brother Liu's Jingtao Sword Technique is not something Lin Xiao can compare to!"

"Ye Tian's good luck has come to an end; Senior Brother Liu will definitely not give him any chances!"

"I wouldn't be so sure. Ye Tian's Physical Body is too strange; Senior Brother Liu's sword might not be able to break through it!"

"Hmph, Senior Brother Liu's Sword Intent has already touched the threshold. Is it something that can be blocked by a Physical Body alone?"

Discussions broke out below the stage, and the vast majority of people still did not favor Ye Tian.

Liu Jingtao's strength was obvious to all; his record of defeating Elder Zhou in five swords was still fresh in their minds, and his sword technique's sharpness had already reached the Transcendent level.

As for Ye Tian, although his performance was stunning, he ultimately lacked a track record of going head-to-head against truly top-tier prodigies.

Liu Ruyan and Leng Feng's hearts were in their throats.

They knew full well how terrifying Liu Jingtao was and couldn't help but break into a cold sweat for Ye Tian.

Liu Jingtao stepped onto the stage expressionlessly, cradling his longsword. His eyes were cold as frost, and his gaze toward Ye Tian was filled with a shocking Battle Intent.

Ever since Ye Tian returned alive from Wan Jian Cliff, he had viewed this person as a potential rival.

Today was the perfect time to verify it personally!

Ye Tian walked slowly onto the stage, his expression unchanged, but his eyes were also filled with Battle Intent.

He had also been looking forward to this battle for a long time. He slightly cupped his hands toward Liu Jingtao: "Senior Brother Liu, please guide me."

Liu Jingtao gave a cold snort and did not return the gesture, speaking directly: "Ye Tian, that you could make it this far is beyond my expectations."

But it ends here! Bring out your full strength; otherwise, my sword will not spare a waste!"

His words were arrogant and filled with intense confidence, intended to provoke Ye Tian and force him to go all out so he could see through his background.

Hearing this, Ye Tian only gave a faint smile and did not get angry: "Senior Brother's sword technique is superb; Junior Brother will naturally do his best to contend."

Seeing him remain so composed, a cold light flashed in Liu Jingtao's eyes, and he said no more.

With a crisp "clack" of a sword's ring, the longsword was unsheathed!

The blade was like a pool of autumn water, chillingly cold. The sword tip pointed distantly at Ye Tian, and a sharp Sword Intent instantly locked onto Ye Tian's entire body!

"Jingtao Rises!"

Liu Jingtao was the first to launch an attack, and his first move was a killing strike!

His body followed the sword, man and sword becoming one, transforming into a blue sword light that pierced directly toward Ye Tian's throat!

It was still his proud opening stance, but the speed, power, and the contained Sword Intent were more than just a level stronger than when he fought Elder Zhou.

Before the sword even arrived, the sharp air that seemed to tear through everything already made one's skin sting!

The audience below held their breath, all thinking that Ye Tian would use his strange movement technique to dodge as before.

However, this time, Ye Tian did not choose to dodge!

A brilliant light flickered in his eyes. He executed the Taixu Star-Shift Steps, his figure becoming elusive. At the moment the sword light reached his body, he joined his index and middle fingers together. A five-colored luster flashed and vanished at his fingertips as he struck the side of the sword's spine with a Starfall Finger containing the rotation of the Five Elements!

"Ding!"

A crisp sound rang out!

Finger and sword met. Ye Tian used the force to drift back three zhang, landing steadily.

Liu Jingtao's sword momentum was forced aside, and his offensive slightly stalled.

"He actually took Senior Brother Liu's sword strike head-on?"

"And he blocked it? He only retreated three steps!"

"Are his fingers made of iron?"

A wave of exclamations immediately erupted below the stage!

How terrifying was the power of Liu Jingtao's opening sword strike?

Ye Tian had actually blocked it with his fingers?

Although he was shaken back, he was completely unharmed!

This once again overturned everyone's perceptions!

Liu Jingtao's pupils shrank slightly, and he felt even more solemn in his heart.

That finger strike just now seemed simple, but it contained a rotating force-deflection technique that diverted part of his sword energy. Moreover, the counter-shock force from the fingertip was exceptionally resilient!

This boy's strength was definitely far beyond his surface cultivation!

"As expected, you were hiding your strength!"

Liu Jingtao's Battle Intent grew even stronger. "Take my second sword, Terrifying Waves Born!"

The sword momentum changed again, as overlapping waves of sword energy surged toward Ye Tian, blocking all paths of retreat, leaving him nowhere to hide!

The power was even greater than before!

Seeing this, a hint of admiration couldn't help but appear in Ye Tian's eyes.

This Liu Jingtao's talent in sword dao was indeed very strong.

Ye Tian's figure flashed and turned rapidly within the sword waves, sometimes using finger techniques to strike the sword momentum and sometimes using his fists and palms to parry. He appeared quite "strained" and "disheveled," but he always managed to turn danger into safety at the critical moment.

He did not use his full strength; instead, he controlled his aura to be at the same level as Liu Jingtao, fighting him as an equal.

However, in the eyes of outsiders, Ye Tian was completely at a disadvantage, suppressed by Liu Jingtao's sharp sword technique, only able to bitterly hold on through his movement technique. Defeat was only a matter of time.

"See, I told you Ye Tian couldn't do it! He's being completely suppressed and beaten by Senior Brother Liu!"

"Being able to hold on for this long is already not bad; Senior Brother Liu's sword technique is too terrifying!"

"His Physical Body is indeed strong, but Senior Brother Liu's Sword Intent is specifically designed to break Body Refining!"

Liu Ruyan and Leng Feng's palms were sweating as they watched, incredibly nervous.

The Elders on the high platform had flickering gazes, showing thoughtful expressions.

"This boy... is hiding his true abilities."

Elder Lei Gang grinned and said in a low voice, "His responses seem disheveled, but his footwork isn't messy, his aura is stable, and every parry and dodge is timed perfectly, consuming very little energy.

On the other hand, Liu Jingtao has been attacking for a long time without success. Although his sword momentum is fierce, his true yuan consumption is not small."

Elder Shuiyue nodded slightly: "He is testing him, and also using Liu Jingtao's sword to temper himself. That force-deflection method is quite profound, appearing to contain the principles of the Five Elements' generation and restraint..."

A flash of surprise also crossed Elder Zhao Wuji's eyes; he naturally also saw that Ye Tian was handling it with ease.

Liu Jingtao, unable to land a blow for a long time, gradually became anxious.

He originally thought he could easily take down Ye Tian, but he didn't expect the opponent to be so difficult to deal with.

Especially that force-deflection technique, which gave him a frustrating feeling of having strength but nowhere to use it.

"Hmph! Let's see how much longer you can last! Shore-Splitting Divide! Raging Tide Madness!"

Liu Jingtao roared, and his sword technique changed again, with the third and fourth swords being unleashed in succession!

The sword momentum became increasingly violent, and Sword Qi crisscrossed, cutting countless deep gouges into the arena floor!

Ye Tian still maintained a defensive stance, his figure weaving through the sword net, his fingers and palms flying as he deflected the incoming Sword Qi one by one.

Occasionally hit by the aftershocks of the Sword Qi, his green robes tore, revealing the skin beneath, yet it only left faint white marks without even drawing blood!

This scene caused everyone to gasp once again!

How sharp was Liu Jingtao's Sword Qi?

It could actually only leave white marks on his body?

This physical strength was simply inconceivable!

The more Liu Jingtao fought, the more alarmed he became. He felt that no matter what means he used, he simply couldn't break Ye Tian's defense, and the opponent seemed to be becoming more and more familiar with his sword technique's patterns.

An ill omen surged in his heart.

"I can't delay any longer!" A flash of decisiveness appeared in Liu Jingtao's eyes; he intended to use his killing move!

He took a deep breath, and the Sword Intent around him condensed to the extreme. The longsword hummed as if merging into one with the sword, emitting a terrifying aura of extinguishing all things!

"Guixu Ji!"

The fifth sword, the ultimate sword!

The sword light retracted to the extreme, transforming into a fine blue line that stabbed toward Ye Tian's heart!

This sword was fast to the extreme and dangerous to the extreme!

Exclamations rose from everywhere below the stage!

Everyone could feel the terror of this sword!

Liu Ruyan was even so scared she closed her eyes!

Facing this absolute killing sword, Ye Tian's always calm eyes finally showed a slight change.

He knew he couldn't "hide" anymore; otherwise, there would truly be danger.

Just as the sword tip was about to reach his body, Ye Tian stepped forward half a step with his left foot, and the five fingers of his right hand opened slightly, turning from a finger strike into a palm!

Within his palm, the five-colored luster was restrained, and a Concept of ceaseless flow emerged!

He actually intended to catch the blade barehanded and take this extinguishing sword head-on!

"Is he crazy?!"

"Using his hand to catch Guixu Ji? He's looking for death!"

Under everyone's disbelieving gazes, Ye Tian's palm met that extinguishing sword thread!

There was no earth-shattering explosion, nor was there a scene of flesh and blood flying.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

One could see Ye Tian's palm transform into a vortex. The peerlessly sharp blue sword thread, the moment it touched the palm, was like a clay ox entering the sea—its speed plummeted, and its light rapidly dimmed!

That terrifying power of extinction was quietly neutralized by a force of the Five Elements' rotation that encompassed all things!

"What?!"

Liu Jingtao's pupils constricted sharply, and for the first time, a look of horror appeared on his face!

He felt as if his sword had pierced into an endless abyss, and all its power had been swallowed whole!

This is impossible!

Before he could react, Ye Tian's palm slightly exerted force, and a power with majestic after-effects was transmitted along the sword's body!

"Thud, thud, thud!"

Liu Jingtao felt as if his hand had been struck by a giant boulder; the webbing between his thumb and forefinger instantly split, he could no longer hold the longsword steadily, and he even stumbled back seven or eight steps before barely managing to stand firm.

The blood and qi in his body churned violently, his face turned pale and blue in turns, and a trace of blood even overflowed from the corner of his mouth.

As for Ye Tian, he still stood in his original spot, slowly withdrawing his palm. There was only a faint red mark on his palm, which quickly dissipated.

The entire venue fell silent in an instant!

Everyone, including the Elders on the high platform, looked at the scene on the stage dumbstruck!

Catching Liu Jingtao's ultimate killing move "Guixu Ji" barehanded and shaking him back?

Is this really something a newly entered Disciple can do?

One should know that even some outer sect Elders couldn't block this sword strike from Liu Jingtao.

Liu Jingtao stabilized his breathing, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and looked at Ye Tian opposite him, his face filled with unwillingness.

He had lost, and he had lost so thoroughly!

The opponent hadn't even used a weapon or any powerful Martial Skill; with just one hand, he had broken his strongest sword move!

He finally understood how large the gap was between himself and the opponent!

"I... have lost."

Liu Jingtao squeezed out those three words with difficulty.

He sheathed his longsword, gave Ye Tian a deep bow, and then walked off the stage without looking back, his figure filled with loneliness.

The blow this battle dealt to his Sword-Heart was immense.

It wasn't until Liu Jingtao stepped down that a mountain-shaking clamor of exclamations erupted below the stage!

"Ye Tian won? He actually defeated Senior Brother Liu Jingtao!"

"My god! Just what is his cultivation level?"

"Ningyuan Fifth Stage? Tell that to the ghosts! He's definitely Condensing Essence Seventh Level, no, even the eighth level is possible!"

"Monster! This is the true dark horse!"

Ye Tian's performance had completely shocked everyone!

The previous doubts and contempt vanished into thin air at this moment!

On the high platform, the Elders looked at each other in silence, their eyes filled with amazement.

"This boy... is extraordinary!"

Elder Zhao Wuji let out a long breath, "His true strength is likely not inferior to the likes of Lie Yang and Mo Ling!"

Ye Tian stood in the center of the stage, feeling the shocked gazes converging from all directions. Even with his Heart-Nature, he couldn't help but feel a trace of excitement.

However, he did not become arrogant because of defeating Liu Jingtao, because there were even stronger opponents waiting for him ahead!

The next moment, his gaze crossed the crowd and landed on the purple-robed figure who had been resting with his eyes closed all along, Lei Zhen.

And Lei Zhen, who had been indifferent to everything from beginning to end, opened his eyes after feeling Ye Tian's gaze filled with Battle Intent.

That kind of invincible dominance made even Ye Tian feel pressure for the first time.

"Half-step True Martial Realm..."