76: Lucky Xiao Huohuo

On the high platform.

The various Peak Masters, seeing the eight-tenths rune light, each showed a hint of imperceptible disappointment on their faces.

Although reason told them that it was impossible for one person to reach such a Prodigy level in all three aspects of spiritual power, Divine Sense, and physique;

Yao Delong's first two achievements were already world-shattering, and eight-tenths in physique was already top-tier.

But the elevated expectation stemming from the shock of the first two rounds ultimately fell short, bringing a subtle sense of disparity.

Heavenly Sword Peak Master Li Cen frowned slightly: "Eight-tenths? Not weak, but..."

Chiyan Peak Master Ji Yanshuang pouted: "Tsk, I thought he could scare This old lady again. It seems this kid isn't made of iron after all."

Zhuàn Zhèn Peak Master Peak Master Han Yunzhou stroked his beard in thought: "Such a physique indeed matches his Foundation in the first two rounds, but..."

Spirit Water Peak Master Liu Yue's beautiful eyes flickered slightly as she murmured to herself: "Too much rigidity breaks easily; knowing how to temper oneself is also wisdom..."

The Thunder Marsh Peak Master's eyes flickered with electricity, but he said nothing.

Only Sect Head White Cloud Master, in the main seat!

His profound, star-like eyes suddenly contracted the moment Yao Delong retracted his punch!

He saw it clearly!

When that punch, containing terrifying power, struck the Mountain Suppressing Stele, eight-tenths of the stele's runes lit up;

The powerful recoil should have surged back like a tide, acting upon the puncher.

Even Xiao Huohuo, who activated nine-tenths of the runes, had his arm tremble imperceptibly when retracting his punch, and his Qi and blood were slightly unstable.

However—

Yao Delong!

The moment eight-tenths of the runes lit up, the recoil flowed away like a stream into the sea, without stirring the slightest ripple!

This was by no means something that could be achieved by mere physical strength!

This was a sign of skilled control over his own strength, over every subtle inch of his physique!

"What a concealed edge! What effortless mastery!"

White Cloud Master understood in his heart, his gaze like a torch.

"This child... not only has an astonishingly profound Foundation, but this Heart-Nature... this control over power... is even more precious!"

The rumbling of the Mountain Suppressing Stele Forest gradually subsided, and the third round of physique testing concluded.

The atmosphere in the Stone Pillar Plaza became subtle due to Yao Delong's "mere" eight-tenths rune light.

Amazement and reverence still existed, but they were also mixed with more discussion and comparison.

His miraculous performance in the first two rounds was ultimately brought back down to earth by this "ordinary" eight-tenths light.

However, Sect Head White Cloud Master's gaze grew even more profound.

He looked at the calm, bald figure standing in the plaza, as if looking at a peerless uncut jade hidden beneath thick dust.

That effortless mastery, that ability to dissolve backlash into nothingness, could by no means be defined by a mere eight-tenths of runes!

He suppressed the surging thoughts in his heart, and his majestic voice resonated throughout the venue:

"The three rounds of assessment are complete, and the Foundation has been tested. Foundation Establishment cultivation, striving for longevity, how can it only be judged by the depth of one's Foundation?

The contention of Dao techniques and the battle of Divine Abilities are the fundamentals!"

"We Cultivators should wield a three-foot sharp sword, cut through thorns, and overcome all difficulties!"

"The fourth round, ranking assessment! The battle of combat power begins now!"

"Draw lots!"

As his voice fell, the more than four hundred Disciples who entered the fourth round began to line up to draw lots, with those drawing the same number competing on the same stage.

In the center of the plaza, dozens of temporary martial arts stages rose from the ground, with runes flowing to form sturdy barriers.

Yao Delong's Luck was decent; in the previous rounds, his opponents were all Foundation Establishment Middle Stage or Late Stage, their strength not considered top-tier.

In the first round, his opponent was a Pill Cloud Peak Disciple. Seeing the bald Yao Delong on the arena, his face instantly turned pale, and he shouted without hesitation:

"I forfeit!" This drew a burst of laughter from the observing Disciples.

In the second round, his opponent was a Zhuàn Zhèn Peak Disciple who bravely stepped onto the stage.

Yao Delong only used the Five Elements Basic Sword Art. The sword light flowed, yet in his hands, it was like an antelope hanging its horns, leaving no trace.

The several defensive rune arrays set up by the Zhuàn Zhèn Peak Disciple were easily pierced through like paper, and the sword tip stopped steadily three inches from his throat.

Clean and decisive, he won without suspense.

In the third round, his opponent was a Spirit Forging Peak Foundation Establishment Late Stage Disciple, with astonishing defense.

Yao Delong still used the Basic Five Elements Sword Art. The sword momentum was sometimes like flowing water, pervasive, and sometimes like a fierce fire, swift and explosive.

Sometimes it was as stable and heavy as a mountain. As the Five Elements circulated, he gradually wore down his opponent until he was exhausted, finally sweeping him off the stage with a single sword strike.

On the other side, Xiao Huohuo's Luck was surprisingly good!

First round, bye!

Second round, opponent forfeited due to injury!

Third round, his opponent, on the way to the martial arts stage, consumed too much in the first two rounds of assessment, causing his spiritual power to become chaotic, and he actually fainted on the spot, directly losing the match!

"Hahaha! Heaven helps me! The heavens are on my side!"

Xiao Huohuo was so smug his tail was practically wagging to the sky. He swayed in front of Yao Delong with his hands on his hips,

"Senior Brother Yao, see? What's a Son of Luck? This is it! You fight tooth and nail, but it's not as good as my good Luck! Hahaha!"

Yao Delong merely smiled faintly, offering no comment.

As time passed, intense confrontations unfolded on the dozens of arenas in the Stone Pillar Plaza.

Sword Qi crisscrossed, Spells boomed, and the unique arts of each Peak competed in brilliance!

Disciples were constantly injured and retired, while strong individuals emerged.

Finally, after several rounds of brutal elimination, only ten Disciples remained, standing proudly on the final ten core arenas!

They represented the Peak combat power of this batch of Foundation Establishment Disciples!

Yao Delong versus Tieshan of Spirit Forging Peak!

Yao Delong stepped onto the arena, his opponent was Tieshan of Spirit Forging Peak!

Foundation Establishment Perfection, his body was as robust as a mountain, with bulging muscles containing explosive power;

He held two giant black-gold hammers, like chariot wheels, emanating Evil Qi!

"Senior Brother, please forgive my offense!" Tieshan said in a booming voice, Battle Intent burning in his eyes.

Although he knew Yao Delong's first two rounds were terrifying, Yao Delong only scored eight-tenths in the physique test, which ignited a glimmer of hope in his heart!

"Please." Yao Delong nodded, his long sword pointing diagonally at the ground.

"Roar!" Tieshan roared, stomping heavily on the arena, causing the ground to tremble slightly!

He charged like a rampaging savage elephant, his twin hammers producing a dull whooshing sound, stirring up a violent Protective Aura.

One left, one right, carrying immense force, they slammed towards Yao Delong!

He intended to crush the person and sword before him into dust!

Facing this ferocious assault, Yao Delong finally stopped using the Basic Sword Art.

He flicked his wrist, and a scorching golden-red light instantly illuminated the sword body!

Pure Yang Sword Art!

The sword light flared, not in a grand, sweeping motion, but incredibly condensed, forming a straight golden-red line of fire.

Carrying an unstoppable penetrative force, it precisely struck the weakest point where the power of the twin hammers converged!

Clang! Clang!

Two ear-piercing metallic explosions!

Tieshan's twin hammers, heavy as a thousand jun, were actually precisely struck by this seemingly slender and condensed golden-red sword light!

An indescribable, utterly pure Yang, overbearing, and unparalleled force surged into the hammer bodies!

Tieshan felt an irresistible scorching heat and immense force impacting his arms. His tiger's mouth instantly split open, and his arms were excruciatingly painful and numb, as if they had been thrown into a melting furnace!

His violently charging figure was forcefully pinned in place, and his twin hammers almost flew out of his hands!

He was utterly horrified! The opponent's power was terrifyingly condensed!

Even more terrifying was that Pure Yang power, which overbearingly scattered his condensed Earth-element Protective Aura, burning his Meridians!

Yao Delong moved like lightning, closing in, and the sword light flashed again, like an antelope hanging its horns, striking Tieshan's open chest!

Puff!

Tieshan was struck hard, his massive body flying backward, crashing heavily onto the edge of the arena, unable to get up for a moment;

He could only raise his hand with difficulty to signal his surrender, his eyes filled with shock and unwillingness.

"The power of Pure Yang... so overbearing!" The Disciples below gasped.