223: Reaching the top

"Senior Brother Lei!" A wave of exclamations erupted from the spectator stands!

"I… I am not reconciled—!"

Amidst the falling gale, Lei Qianjun's eyes were blood-red as he emitted a roar of extreme frustration!

He still had stronger killing moves that he hadn't used! He still had trump card secret arts!

But that strange, unpredictable Heart Sword attack that struck directly at the Divine Soul left him unable to even gather his strength.

Possessing immense power but feeling like a bull stuck in a quagmire, he could only passively take the hits!

This feeling of having power but nowhere to use it, of having his Divine Soul constantly being sliced, was more painful and infuriating than any physical injury!

Venerable Ziyang's figure flashed, appearing beneath Lei Qianjun.

A gentle force supported him and slowly sent him back to the ground.

After landing, Lei Qianjun staggered a few steps, his face as pale as gold paper.

His chest throbbed with intense pain, and his Divine Soul was filled with stabbing pain and dizziness. He stared fixedly at the white-clothed figure on the floating island, his eyes filled with unwillingness, shock, and a trace of unspeakable dread.

"Heart Sword! It really is Heart Sword!"

On the high platform, Li Cen, the Peak Master of Heavenly Sword Peak, slapped his armrest suddenly.

A terrifying brilliance erupted in his eyes, and his voice carried uncontrollable excitement and shock as he confirmed his judgment once more.

"Heart Sword? What the hell is that thing? Why have I never seen any of your Heavenly Sword Peak brats use it? Just now, that Kid Yao didn't even break through Lei Qianjun's Thunderous Tyrant Body defense, so why did the Lei kid act like he'd been pricked in the butt and instantly wilt?"

Ji Yanshuang, the hot-tempered and direct Peak Master of Chiyan Peak, stared with her large, bell-like eyes, asking anxiously, her face full of confusion.

The other Peak Masters also cast looks of doubt and gravity.

Li Cen took a deep breath, suppressing the raging waves in his heart, and explained to his colleagues in a deep voice:

"Heart Sword is not a Legacy of our Heavenly Sword Peak; it is an extremely ancient and dangerous Sword Dao secret art!"

"Its essence lies in forcibly fusing one's own Divine Sense with pure Sword Intent, condensing it into an invisible sword that exists between the void and reality, specifically designed to sever the Divine Soul and consciousness!"

He paused, his tone becoming incomparably grave:

"Sword Intent is the purest and sharpest Dao in the world, revealing its edge, breaking everything; while Divine Sense is a derivative of the Divine Soul, formless and intangible, governing consciousness and perception. The two possess vastly different attributes, like water and fire!"

"Forcing a Fusion is like detonating a volcano within the Sea of Consciousness of the Divine Soul!"

"If one is the slightest bit careless, they will suffer the backlash of the Sword Intent. At best, the Divine Soul is damaged, intelligence is dulled, and cultivation regresses; at worst, the Sea of Consciousness collapses, leading to Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, and the Dao path is completely destroyed!"

"It is extremely dangerous; throughout history, those who have attempted it have had no chance of survival!"

Li Cen's gaze turned complex as he looked at the white-clothed youth on the arena who was still calm and composed while facing two opponents, and continued:

"The Chief Disciple of our peak, Dao Changge, is a heaven-sent talent with a clear Sword Heart. He also tried to Cultivate this technique, but only reached the stage of Minor Achievement before having to give up, fearing it would damage his dao foundation!"

"I never expected… I never expected that this Yao Delong would not only dare to practice it but has actually successfully condensed the Heart Sword and used it to such a proficient degree!"

"This child's… this child's courage, talent, and Divine Soul Foundation are simply… inconceivable!"

"Hiss—!"

All the Peak Masters gasped in unison!

Even Dao Changge, the top Core Disciple and hailed as the Yin Yang Sect's once-in-a-millennium Sword Dao Prodigy, had given up on the secret art due to its danger. Yet, Yao Delong, who had only just started, had actually mastered it? And used it to fight with such terrifying effects?

"Good lad! What great courage!!"

Shi Jian, the Peak Master of Tuyao Peak, couldn't help but clap in admiration, his eyes full of appreciation.

"So that's it! No wonder Lei Qianjun lost focus instantly even though his defense wasn't broken… This Heart Sword specifically attacks the Divine Soul; it's impossible to guard against!"

Dan Chenzi, Dan Chenzi, stroked his beard.

"Even Changge gave up on it… This child is truly a Prodigy!"

Sect Head White Cloud Master also felt waves of emotion in his heart.

He naturally knew that Yao Delong had chosen "Heart Sword Without Trace", but he had assumed the youth was just reading it out of curiosity. Who could have imagined he would actually dare to practice it, and succeed?

The danger involved was beyond what any outsider could imagine!

How could they know that for Yao Delong, who possessed the System and whose Divine Soul was exceptionally strong due to Transmigration and the yanshen fetus, this dangerous Fusion process was merely a matter of course.

On the floating island, as Lei Qianjun was knocked down, the Thunder Domain he had unleashed instantly dissipated.

Boom—!

Losing the opposition of the Thunder Domain, the pressure of Yao Delong's "Heaven-Burning Sword Prison", which fused sharpness and incineration, increased sharply!

Mu Yuqing, who was already struggling to support herself, suddenly felt as if several large mountains had pressed down on her!

The ubiquitous sharp Sword Qi cut at her golden bell, and the scorching high temperature even penetrated the gaps in the golden bell's defense, burning her spiritual power and spirit!

"Clang— Crack!"

The golden bell Magic Treasure, already full of cracks, let out a groan of unbearable burden under the dual pressure, and the cracks instantly expanded and spread!

Mu Yuqing's face was as pale as paper, and blood spilled from the corner of her mouth again.

She looked at Yao Delong, who stood like a god or demon with nine blazing suns revolving behind him, and then glanced at the distant, wilting Liu Ruyan and the battered Lei Qianjun off the stage. The last trace of Battle Intent in her eyes completely extinguished.

Struggle? It was meaningless.

She raised her hand with difficulty, her voice hoarse yet clearly audible: "I… concede!"

Almost at the same moment her voice fell, Liu Ruyan also struggled to stand straight.

Her Qi and blood were churning, her internal organs were severely injured, and the backlash from the damage to her Purple Flame Spirit Shield made her spiritual energy flow sluggishly.

Looking at Yao Delong's calm yet infinitely imposing gaze, the last bit of unwillingness in her heart turned to dust.

The gap was too large. The Perfection of the Pure Yang Limitless Sword Canon, the unpredictable Heart Sword, and that bottomless Yuan Power… this was simply not a battle on the same level.

She took a deep breath, suppressed the fishy sweetness in her throat, and showed Yao Delong a bitter yet sincere and beautiful smile. Her voice was weak but rang clearly across the arena:

"Junior Brother Yao… your Divine Might is unparalleled. Ruyan… is thoroughly convinced. In this battle, I concede."

【Ding! Target Liu Ruyan favorability +5, current favorability 50 (Highly admiring, awestruck, ripples in heart)】

Venerable Ziyang stepped out, standing in the center of the floating island, his majestic gaze sweeping across the audience.

At this moment, both inside and outside the square, there was dead silence. Everyone's eyes were focused here.

"The victor is decided!" Venerable Ziyang's voice was like a great bell, resounding in all directions.

"The final battle of the Core Disciple ranking tournament is over! The rankings for this year are as follows!"

His voice was like thunder, every word clearly branded into everyone's hearts:

"Tenth place: Xiao Chen!"

"Ninth place: Yan Lie!"

"Eighth place: Wang Manyao!"

"Seventh place: Zhao Wuhen!"

"Sixth place: Shi Potian!"

"Fifth place: Zhao Chen!"

"Fourth place: Lei Qianjun!"

"Third place: Mu Yuqing!"

"Second place: Liu Ruyan!"

"The Champion—Yao Delong!"

Boom—!!!

After a brief dead silence, there was a terrifying wave of sound that was enough to overturn the entire Tianyan Square!

"Yao Delong!"

"Champion! Senior Brother Yao!"

"Luoxia Peak! Yao Delong!!"

"Invincible! Invincible! Invincible!"

Like a mountain collapsing and a sea roaring! The masses were in a frenzy!

Countless Disciples were so excited that their faces were flushed red, waving their arms and shouting that name with all their might!

The waves of sound rose higher and higher, sweeping across the world like a tsunami!

In the cultivation world, the strong are respected!

Yao Delong had fought three opponents alone today, defeating the top three of the previous session with overwhelming force, reaching the summit as the Champion. The terrifying strength and invincible posture he displayed had completely conquered everyone!

From an Outer Sect Disciple to the Core Champion, it had only taken half a year!

The speed of this rise was like a myth!

On the high platform, the Peak Masters looked at the frenzied crowd below, watching the white-clothed figure on the floating island who was bathed in the light of the nine suns, receiving the worship of the masses.

They, too, were filled with emotion. This child had already achieved the appearance of a True Dragon!