332: Chapter 332 Young Master Nangong, you flatter me.

The surroundings instantly fell silent, and countless gazes focused here.

Disciples from nearby factions like Tianhu Gate and Qingyue Sect wore expressions of anticipation, as if waiting for a good show.

On the side of the Nangong Family, several attendants who appeared to be Elders watched from afar without intervening, clearly tacitly approving of Nangong Yu's actions.

Everyone was waiting for Ye Tian's reaction.

If Ye Tian avoided the fight, it would be an admission of fear; all his previous calm words would become a laughingstock, his Aura would be completely lost, and he would find it hard to hold his head high in the Imperial Capital in the future.

If he accepted the challenge, his opponent was at the Seventh Stage of True Martial Realm, a scion of a noble family with hidden trump cards, and in this setting, the opponent would absolutely not "stop at a light touch."

Ye Tian slowly turned his head, looking at Nangong Yu seriously for the first time.

He sighed softly, looking somewhat helpless, yet also as if he found something laughable.

"Young Master Nangong insists on this, so Ye... has no choice but to accompany you."

He stepped forward and stood three zhang away from Nangong Yu.

He did not unleash any Aura, just standing there quietly, his hands still hanging by his sides, and sword remained unsheathed.

"Playing the fool!" A flash of harshness crossed Nangong Yu's eyes, and without further ado, he shouted lowly: "Take this move of mine, Burning Heaven Hand!"

His right hand formed a claw, and he thrust it out violently; crimson-gold Qi surged, instantly condensing into a millstone-sized, flaming hand burning with raging fire, bringing a terrifying heat capable of melting gold and iron as it clawed down at Ye Tian's head!

From the very first move, he used a rather famous Advanced Profound Rank Martial Skill of the Nangong Family, clearly intending to succeed in one strike and make Ye Tian look utterly foolish!

The giant flaming hand roared as it approached, the heat scorching, causing many Disciples with lower cultivation to involuntarily take a few steps back.

Ye Tian did not draw his sword, nor did he dodge.

He simply raised his right hand, fingers also splayed, and with an understated motion, pushed upward against the giant flaming hand clawing down at his head.

Dark golden light rippled in his palm, and electric arcs danced.

"Is he crazy? Trying to catch the Burning Heaven Hand with his bare hands?"

"That's no ordinary Advanced Profound Rank Martial Skill! Its power is already approaching the Earth Rank, yet he's taking it head-on?"

"He's courting death!"

Exclamations erupted everywhere.

However, the next scene left everyone dumbfounded.

"Boom!"

The giant flaming hand, with its astonishing power, exploded instantly upon making contact with Ye Tian's palm!

The crimson-gold flames splattered in all directions, yet they could not penetrate even an inch of Ye Tian's palm, nor could they shake his figure in the slightest!

Ye Tian steadily held the center of the exploding flame energy, dissipating all the impact force.

He even used this rebounding force, flicked his wrist gently, and pushed forward.

A hidden force followed the dispersing flames and surged toward Nangong Yu.

The savage grin on Nangong Yu's face froze instantly, his eyes filled with shock.

He felt as if his Burning Heaven Hand had struck an eternal divine mountain; the rebounding force made his arm numb, and a thunderous hidden force penetrated his body, rushing straight into his chest and Meridians!

"Pfft!"

Nangong Yu's whole body shook violently, his face turned instantly pale, and he retreated seven or eight steps, leaving scorched footprints on the azure jade floor; he almost spat out a mouthful of blood but forced himself to swallow it, though blood already seeped from the corners of his mouth.

He barely managed to steady himself, and the look in his eyes as he stared at Ye Tian had shifted from shock to fury, with a hint of fear.

Everyone was stunned.

Although Nangong Yu was only at the Seventh Stage of True Martial Realm, the power of the Nangong Family's Burning Heaven Hand was comparable to an Earth Rank Martial Skill, and this was a full-force strike; yet, it was so easily caught by Ye Tian, who even caused him to be injured by the rebound and forced him to retreat seven or eight steps?!

Even if Ye Tian's cultivation were three stages higher, this shouldn't be the result!

Only the members of the Liuli Xuan Sect remained relatively calm; after all, they had seen even more astonishing displays from Ye Tian.

Ye Tian slowly withdrew his right hand, the electric arcs in his palm dissipating.

He glanced at the flushed Nangong Yu, brushed off his clothes which were not even dusty, and said in a calm tone: "Young Master Nangong, I concede."

"The 'sparring' is over, and Ye still needs to wait for the Sect Elder's arrangements, excuse me."

After speaking, he didn't look at Nangong Yu again, turned around, and walked back to the Liuli Xuan Sect's formation, as if he had just brushed off an annoying fly.

Nangong Yu stood in place, his face alternating between red and white, his chest heaving violently, feeling ashamed and humiliated to the point of wanting to die.

He could feel the gazes cast from all around, filled with amazement, mockery, and pity...

As a dignified scion of the Nangong Family, a Genius with the Silver Brilliance Spirit Pendant, he had actually been defeated so easily by a "bumpkin" from the bronze thread rank in front of everyone, and the opponent hadn't even drawn his sword!

This was a sheer humiliation!

"You...!" He pointed at Ye Tian's back, wanting to say something, but that strange hidden force still rampaged in his body, preventing him from raising his Qi, and he was afraid that if he continued speaking, he wouldn't be able to stop himself from spitting blood, which would make him lose even more face.

In the end, he had to swallow his frustration, and with the support of his attendants, he retreated to the Nangong Family's formation, not daring to glance at this side again.

A suppressed uproar broke out all around.

"My god! It's the first time I've seen someone catch the Burning Heaven Hand with bare hands!"

"More than that, Nangong Yu was forced back seven or eight steps! He must be seriously injured, probably just holding on."

"This Ye Tian... what method did he use just now?"

"I couldn't see it clearly at all! It sounded like sizzling noises..."

"The bronze thread rank? I'm afraid Kuitian Pavilion is going to be wrong this time!"

"The Liuli Xuan Sect, they hide their strength so deep..."

Countless gazes gathered on Ye Tian again, but this time, the meaning behind them was completely different.

Ye Tian returned to the formation, nodded slightly to Feng Xuan and the others, then fell silent, continuing to wait quietly.

"Junior Brother Ye, are you alright?" Feng Xuan asked in a low voice, as he knew the power of the Burning Heaven Hand.

"No problem." Ye Tian shook his head.

Yu Miaoqing glanced at Ye Tian, her cold, clear eyes moved slightly, but she said nothing.

Not far away, the Tianhu Gate Young Lord Zhao Mao (Ninth Stage of True Martial Realm) narrowed his eyes, whispered something to the person beside him, and his gaze lingered on Ye Tian for a moment.

The black mist where the Xuanming Way Ghost Girl was located fluctuated, her black eyes scanned Ye Tian again across the crowd, this time lingering a bit longer.

In the formation of the Zhenbei Princes Mansion, a gaze filled with iron-blooded slaughter also cast over, but it quickly moved away.

Clearly, Ye Tian had successfully attracted the attention of the truly top-tier people.

Although they might not view him as a major enemy, at least he was no longer that "bronze thread rank newcomer" who could be ignored at will.

"Silence!"

The shrill voice of the old eunuch sounded again.

"Registration is complete. All those holding a Spirit Pendant are valid participants for this Supreme Ranking, totaling thirteen thousand seven hundred and fifty-four people."

The old eunuch unfurled a bright yellow scroll and announced loudly, "Your Majesty has an edict: to demonstrate fairness and select true Prodigies, the first round of this Supreme Ranking will be relocated to the Eight-Child Secret Realm!"

"Eight-Child Secret Realm?" A low murmur erupted across the square. Many people showed expressions of shock, clearly, this Secret Realm had quite a reputation.

"The Eight-Child Secret Realm is an ancient Trial Grounds controlled by the Royal Family, containing its own universe and following its own Law. After you enter, you will be randomly transported to different areas of the Secret Realm. The rules for the first round are simple: Survival and Plunder!"

"The duration for the Secret Realm is seven days. After seven days, those who remain in the Secret Realm and have reached one hundred points within their Spirit Pendant will qualify for the next round!"

"There are two ways to obtain points: One, kill Yao Beasts, Essence Spirits, or special spiritual entities naturally derived within the Secret Realm; points are awarded based on their strength. Two, plunder other people's Spirit Pendants! For every Spirit Pendant plundered, you can obtain half of the current accumulated points of the original owner!"

"Those whose Spirit Pendants are plundered will be considered eliminated and will be immediately transported out of the Secret Realm. Actively crushing your Spirit Pendant can also be considered as giving up, and you will be transported away."

"Life and death are not prohibited in the Secret Realm, nor are methods. However, if you encounter an irresistible danger, crushing your Spirit Pendant is the only way to survive. Whether to fight or retreat, whether to compete or hide, all is determined by yourselves!"