345: Li Xiaoyao

Purple lightning dispersed, and a figure materialized. Wang Xianzhi stood proudly on the tenth arena.

However, his opponent was late.

Wang Xianzhi’s sword-like brows furrowed slightly, and his gaze turned to the Heavenly Immortal Steward of the Holy Land, who was responsible for security beside the arena.

The latter remained expressionless, showing no reaction.

Wang Xianzhi had no choice but to sit cross-legged and close his eyes to meditate.

The observing Disciples soon noticed the anomaly on arena number ten, and discussions gradually arose:

"What's going on with arena number ten? Why is there only one person?"

"Exactly! Didn't they say that if you don't show up within thirty breaths, you forfeit? It's been half an incense stick's time!"

"Haha! What's so strange about that? Haven't you heard who the other person in arena number ten is?"

"Li Xiaoyao?"

"Precisely, Li Xiaoyao!"

"That name sounds familiar..."

"Of course it sounds familiar! He's the third-ranked Prodigy of the Penglai Holy Land in this competition!"

"Oh! Right, right, right! So it's that dissolute playboy!"

All the Immortals present, including the Penglai Holy Lord, Saintly Venerable Hao Yun, had already noticed the anomaly on the tenth arena. The discussions among the Prodigies below made his face sink even further.

He remained calm, turned his head, and transmitted a few words to someone beside him before continuing to pour and drink his wine with an expressionless face.

A full incense stick's time passed.

A handsome young man with disheveled hair and untidy clothes finally arrived, nonchalantly late.

Following closely behind him was a streak of light, which was the Saint Land Elder to whom the Holy Lord had transmitted a message earlier.

Li Xiaoyao lazily stepped onto the arena, and only then did the Steward speak: "Number 911, Wang Xianzhi, against Number 123, Li Xiaoyao, begin!"

Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Wang Xianzhi's eyes. With a sword art, the thunder surge sword instantly floated into the air!

The sword shadows split, instantly transforming into thousands of sharp purple lightning sword lights, which shot towards Li Xiaoyao like a fierce storm!

Li Xiaoyao still looked uninterested, not even bothering to take out his Magic Treasure. He merely flicked his sleeve casually.

A powerful gust of wind suddenly rose from the ground, scattering the thousands of sword lights before they even got close, making them vanish into thin air.

Wang Xianzhi's eyes were grave.

Although it was just a test and he hadn't used his full strength, the opponent had so effortlessly broken his Purple Lightning Splitting Light Sword, indicating that his strength was definitely among the top Prodigies of this competition.

"Buddy, let's get serious directly! So you don't feel unwilling if you lose!" Li Xiaoyao raised his chin towards Wang Xianzhi in the distance, his tone casual. He hooked his finger, his posture dismissive, clearly not taking his opponent seriously.

This was not overconfidence.

Li Xiaoyao was at the Middle Stage of Mahayana and a Holy Land Prodigy, truly a leader among his peers.

In contrast, Wang Xianzhi was merely at the Middle Tribulation Crossing Stage.

Anyone with a discerning eye could see that the Holy Land's ranking intentionally allowed seeded contestants to avoid strong enemies in the early stages. Wang Xianzhi, this unlucky child, was unfortunately arranged as a "soft persimmon" for Li Xiaoyao.

"As you wish!"

Wang Xianzhi no longer held back, letting out a low roar as his Aura erupted!

A violent, fierce, and thunderous true intent, as if capable of tearing the sky, shot up into the heavens!

The thunder surge sword let out a clear Dragon roar, its body enveloped in wild purple lightning, crackling and exploding. Its power even caused thunderclouds to subtly gather above the arena!

"Perfection of the Law of Thunder?!" Li Xiaoyao's lazy eyes instantly narrowed, and the nonchalant expression on his face completely vanished, replaced by a hint of solemnity and surprise!

He had never expected that a Cultivator at the Middle Tribulation Crossing Stage could comprehend the Law of Thunder to such an extent!

"A bit interesting!" Li Xiaoyao's lips curled into a serious arc. He finally stopped being overconfident.

His body remained still, but the air around him suddenly became thick and violent!

Countless visible green wind vortices appeared out of thin air, encircling his body and emitting sharp, piercing howls—the Law of Wind, also at Perfection!

"Furious Thunder Tribulation, Thousand Roars!" Wang Xianzhi struck first!

The thunder surge sword swung, and thousands of sword shadows materialized, condensing into a thousand-zhang sword Aura, refined to the extreme, as if compressed from pure destructive purple lightning!

Wherever the sword Aura passed, the air hummed and vibrated, carrying a power that seemed to tear everything apart. It fiercely cut through layers of wind vortices, striking directly at Li Xiaoyao!

"Good timing!" The light in Li Xiaoyao's eyes flared. He cupped his hands in a circle, and the green wind vortices around him suddenly contracted and condensed, forming a sky-blue wind shield that spun at high speed, its edges as sharp as a guillotine!

"Boom!"

The purple lightning Aura slammed into the wind shield!

Deafening explosions resounded throughout the arena!

Violent thunder and wind Auras that could cut through everything fiercely clashed and annihilated each other!

Blinding purple and blue light instantly engulfed the entire tenth arena!

As the light slowly receded, the incredibly sturdy Immortal Stone arena beneath Li Xiaoyao's feet showed scorched marks!

Although he hadn't taken a single step back, his robes fluttered wildly, and his hair flew, clearly indicating that he hadn't taken the blow easily.

Wang Xianzhi, on the other hand, was shaken by the immense recoil, his blood and Qi churning. He staggered back three steps before stabilizing himself, his face slightly pale.

"Invigorating!" Li Xiaoyao laughed loudly, his Battle Intent fully ignited. "Again! Take this, my Sky-Rending Wind Dragon Tornado!"

He suddenly raised his hands upwards! Above the arena, a terrifying tornado instantly formed, connecting heaven and earth, several zhang in diameter, and filled with countless sharp wind blades!

The tornado, with a shriek that seemed to tear space, surged towards Wang Xianzhi with overwhelming force!

Its power far surpassed the previous attack, reaching the level of a full-strength blow from a typical Mahayana Peak Cultivator!

Wang Xianzhi's pupils constricted, and a fatal sense of crisis enveloped his entire body!

The Thunder Shock Induction in his body circulated frantically, pushing his Middle Tribulation Crossing Stage power to its limit!

His Divine Thought activated, and three silver-white Talismans flew out from his storage ring, instantly activating and transforming into points of silver light that merged into his body—primal chaos talismans!

This was his ultimate trump card, capable of temporarily and forcibly raising his Realm, but at the cost of torn Meridians and severe internal injuries!

Using three at once was his limit!

"Ugh!" His Aura suddenly surged to the Middle Stage of Mahayana. Wang Xianzhi let out a low roar, gripping the thunder surge sword tightly, raising it high, its tip pointing directly at the sky!

Fine lightning arcs erupted from the pores all over his body, as if his entire being had transformed into a sword that drew lightning!

"Thunderous Nine Heavens, Break!"

The accumulated thunder power, reaching its peak, erupted!

A purple lightning pillar, even thicker, more condensed, and imbued with the power of creation, shot out from the tip of the thunder surge sword, directly confronting the world-destroying wind tornado!

Rumble! ! !

This collision was like the clash of stars!

The purple and blue energies transformed into a destructive shockwave, slamming fiercely into the protective light barrier around the arena!

The light barrier violently twisted and rippled, emitting a piercing wail of distress!

The entire floating Holy Mountain seemed to tremble because of it!

The light continued for several breaths before slowly dissipating.

On the arena, the scene was tragic.

The hard Immortal Stone crystal ground was covered with spiderweb-like scorch marks and wind blade scratches.

Wang Xianzhi knelt on one knee, propping himself with his sword, panting heavily, his face as pale as paper, his Aura extremely weak, and his Magic Power already exhausted.

Although Li Xiaoyao also looked somewhat disheveled, with several holes burned into his robes by lightning arcs and his long hair disarrayed, the wind vortices around him still circulated continuously, and his Aura remained vigorous. His consumption was probably less than thirty percent.

The victor seemed clear.

On the high platform, the Penglai Holy Lord, Saintly Venerable Hao Yun's expression softened slightly.

Although Li Xiaoyao's victory wasn't clean and decisive, he at least hadn't disgraced the Holy Land. A hint of satisfaction was about to appear at the corner of his mouth—

"Alright, alright, no more fighting." On the arena, Li Xiaoyao casually dusted off his robes. Looking at the exhausted Wang Xianzhi, a hint of appreciation flashed in his eyes, then he reverted to his usual lazy demeanor, waving his hand at the Steward beside him, "This brother is strong enough, I concede."

Before his words finished, disregarding the astonished gazes of the entire audience, and completely ignoring the Holy Lord Revered Master's face on the high platform, which instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot, he swayed and transformed into a gentle breeze, elegantly... making his escape!

The entire arena fell silent.

Wang Xianzhi looked up in astonishment, gazing in the direction where Li Xiaoyao had disappeared, then a bitter smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, and he stood up.

Although he didn't understand why the opponent had conceded, he knew perfectly well that he had used all his trump cards, exhausted his Magic Power, and was at the end of his rope.

Li Xiaoyao hadn't even used a single decent Magic Treasure, let alone his trump cards. If the fight had truly continued, he would have had no chance of winning.

In this battle, he also understood the gap between himself and the top Prodigies of the Immortal Realm.

At the main seat on the high platform, Saintly Venerable Hao Yun's fingers, holding the jade cup, were slightly white, and the nectar in the cup stirred without wind.

He was expressionless, but the Saint Land Elders familiar with him could all feel the air around the Saintly Venerable instantly stagnate, almost freezing.

This unruly Disciple of the Saintly Venerable, who disregarded the Holy Land's rules, possessed exceptional talent but was too lazy to contend for the position of Saint, had truly angered him this time.

Discipline? He must be disciplined! This time, Revered Master must teach you a harsh lesson!! Saintly Venerable Hao Yun thought fiercely.

When Wang Xianzhi, dragging his weary body, left the arena and returned to his original spot, he found that his sister Wang Xianyu's seat had been taken by someone else—clearly, her competition had also begun.