97: Lin Ye? Who is he?

One punch.

It only took one punch.

That trash at the Qi Refining Realm, whom everyone thought wasn't even fit to carry Yan Lie's shoes, had actually…blown up that heavenly prodigy at the Treasure Body Realm Middle Stage, along with his supreme Divine Ability capable of burning mountains and boiling seas?!

This…this isn't real!

This must be an illusion!

However, the rich scent of blood that hadn't completely dissipated in the air, and the miserable figure lying in the ruins, twitching non-stop, were like the coldest, most cruel reality, harshly slapping everyone's faces!

After a brief silence, the crowd completely erupted!

"Yan…Senior Brother Yan Lie…lost?!"

Among the Xuanhuo Sect's team, a Disciple uttered this fact, which he himself couldn't believe, in a trembling voice!

His words were like a spark dropped into boiling oil, instantly igniting the entire Xuanhuo Sect's camp!

"No! Impossible! How could Senior Brother possibly lose?!"

"It's an illusion! It must be that kid's Demonic Technique!"

Dozens of Xuanhuo Sect Disciples, as if Madness, rushed out with bloodshot eyes, frantically carrying the already unconscious Yan Lie out of the ruins.

When they saw Yan Lie's caved-in chest and his shattered internal organs, despair and…fear filled everyone's faces!

On the other side of the square, the Qingyun Sect's camp, after a brief, dream-like stupor, finally…erupted!

But it wasn't shock, nor was it fear.

Instead, it was an overwhelming joy and…pride, suppressed for a hundred years, finally completely unleashed at this moment!

"Won…won?! Senior Brother Lin…won?!"

"Hahahaha! We won! We won!!!"

"One punch! It only took one punch! My heavens! Am I dreaming?!"

Fatty Wang was so excited that his fat trembled all over. He hugged a fellow Disciple beside him, crying and laughing, acting like a madman!

Even the Core Elders, who were usually known for their composure, now had their old faces flushed red.

Su Changqing even burst into loud laughter, his voice filled with endless exhilaration and heroism! His heart, which had been tense for decades due to the Sect's honor and disgrace, found unprecedented release at this moment!

This youth was a supreme treasure bestowed upon the Qingyun Sect by heaven, capable of changing the fate of the entire Sect in the future!

Su Qingyue looked at the slender figure still standing calmly in the center of the arena. She realized that she…seemed to have never truly seen this youth clearly…Amidst the overwhelming clamor of the entire venue, Lin Ye, as the center of the storm, seemed to be in another world.

He paid no attention to the fervent and adoring gazes around him, nor did he care about the venomous stares from the Xuanhuo Sect that seemed capable of tearing him to shreds.

He simply turned around calmly, and walked back, step by step, to the Qingyun Sect team, who had already cleared a path for him.

He walked up to Su Changqing, who was already so excited he was incoherent, and calmly performed a grand bow.

"Sect Master," he slowly began, his voice not loud, but every word was clear, "He lost."

"We won the wager."

These calm words, devoid of any hint of emotion, were like a resounding slap, once again, harshly striking the face of every Xuanhuo Sect Disciple present!

"Good! Good! Good!" Su Changqing said 'good' three times, his admiration reaching its peak!

And just then, an old voice, filled with endless resentment and killing intent, suddenly echoed throughout the entire square!

"What a little beast!"

From among the Xuanhuo Sect's team, an old man with a hooked nose, dressed in a crimson-gold Elder robe, slowly walked out! His eyes, as sinister as poisonous snakes, locked onto Lin Ye, and a terrifying Aura belonging to a Dharma Body Realm expert erupted!

"You injured my Sect's chief Disciple, what is your crime?!"

However, before his Aura could fully unfurl, Su Changqing's cold voice already rang out!

"Elder Wang, are you trying to start a war with my Qingyun Sect?!"

Su Changqing took a step forward, and an even more vast Aura, belonging to a Dharma Body Realm Middle Stage expert, surged forth to meet it!

"The wager was witnessed by all the heroes of the world! If your Xuanhuo Sect Disciple's skill is inferior, and he loses, then he must admit it!"

"If you can't afford to lose…" A cold killing intent flashed in his deep eyes, "Then…fight!"

The word "fight" exploded like a thunderclap, resounding across the sky!

The hooked-nosed old man's face turned pale, and he was actually forced to subconsciously take half a step back by Su Changqing's Aura!

He knew that today, the Xuanhuo Sect…was stuck with this bitter pill!

…This earth-shattering upheaval, which occurred before the opening of the Seven Sect Martial Gathering, swept across the entire Tiannan City like a super hurricane of magnitude twelve, at a speed beyond anyone's imagination!

"Qingyun Sect's Lin Ye defeats Yan Lie with one punch!"

This news, as if it had grown wings, spread to every corner of the city within half a day! Teahouses, taverns, markets, inns…all places where Cultivators gathered.

Lin Ye!

This youth, who was unknown yesterday, and even considered a "waste" by everyone, became the hottest…focus of the entire Tiannan City overnight!

He instantly transformed from an ignored laughingstock into an object that all Sects had to take seriously, study, and even…fear!

…Tiannan City, north of the city, within a heavily guarded independent courtyard.

This was the temporary residence of the Heavenly Sword Manor's delegation for this gathering.

In the center of the courtyard, a young man dressed in white, immaculate, and handsome beyond a Mortal, sat cross-legged with his eyes closed on a bluestone.

On his lap lay an ancient sword, still in its sheath.

He was clearly sitting there, yet he seemed completely isolated from this world, not existing in it. His entire being seemed to have transformed into an unparalleled divine sword hidden in its sheath; though not unsheathed, that invisible Sword Intent, sharp to the extreme, was enough to make even Treasure Body Realm experts…tremble with fear!

He was the most outstanding successor of the Heavenly Sword Manor of this generation, the peerless Sword Son known as "Tiannan's Foremost Sword"—Sword Without Dust!

Just then, a hurried sound of footsteps was heard.

A Disciple of the Heavenly Sword Manor quickly walked up to him, bowed respectfully, and recounted the scene that had just occurred in the square outside the city, exactly as it happened.

From beginning to end, Sword Without Dust did not open his eyes, and there was no expression on his handsome face.

It was not until the Disciple finished his narration and retreated that his long eyelashes, like butterfly wings, subtly trembled slightly.

He slowly raised his right hand, that fair, slender hand, as if it were the most perfect work of art from heaven, and gently placed it on the ancient sword sheath on his lap.

"One punch…breaks the Yan Dragon, huh…"

He murmured softly, his voice clear, ethereal, as if untouched by any earthly concerns.

"A bit interesting."

…West of the city, Beast Taming Sect's station.

A burly young man, whose skin was covered with various Yao Beast totems, was listening to his subordinate's report with an excited expression.

Beside him, a terrifying Spirit Beast, three zhang tall, covered in golden scales, and resembling a Qilin, was yawning idly.

"Hahaha! Interesting! So damn interesting!" The wild youth slapped his thigh fiercely, letting out a hearty laugh, "I've long disliked that pretentious Yan Lie! I didn't expect him to be blown away with one punch by an unknown kid! What a thrill! Truly thrilling!"

He turned his head, looking at the terrifying golden Qilin beside him, and a blazing Battle Intent ignited in his eyes!

"Little Gold! It seems we have a new…prey this time!"

…South of the city, Hundred Illusions Pavilion's station.

A mysterious woman, always shrouded in light gauze, was quietly listening to the report of a black-clad man in front of her.

When she heard "one punch breaks the Yan Dragon," the corner of her mouth, hidden beneath the light gauze, slowly curved into an enigmatic, playful arc.

"Lin Ye…is it?"

…For a time, the entire Tiannan City was in turmoil!

Lin Ye, this name, like a giant rock thrown into a calm lake, completely shattered the already pre-determined… pattern of this Seven Sect Martial Gathering!

He, from an ignored "waste," instantly became a hot favorite to win, on par with Sword Without Dust and others!