53: Actually, I also use a knife.

"Zhang Yang, you are strong! Very strong!"

Opposite him, Xiao Yu looked at Zhang Yang with a solemn expression.

He had spent a long time thinking yesterday about how to overcome Zhang Yang's physical toughness.

In the battle with Wei Chen, the speed, defense, and strength Zhang Yang displayed were all extremely powerful.

Wei Chen's attacks landed on Zhang Yang like a gentle breeze, failing to cause even the slightest bit of damage.

While part of it was due to Wei Chen underestimating his opponent, Zhang Yang's physical toughness was certainly not to be underestimated.

Finally, after much deliberation, Xiao Yu had a plan. He gripped his newly replaced spirit sword, its blade shimmering with a cold, clear light, and looked across.

"Zhang Yang, this spirit sword is enough to wound a first-layer Nascent Transformation Realm Martial Artist. No matter how high your physical defense is, it's impossible to block this."

"As long as I can discern your true body, I can trade a wound for an opportunity. By tanking one of your killing moves, victory will be in my hands!"

Xiao Yu's thoughts raced as he instantly pushed his perception to the Peak, his essence, Qi, and spirit highly concentrated.

He stared intently at Zhang Yang's every subtle movement, not missing even the flutter of his robes or the rise and fall of his breath, striving to capture that fleeting opening.

"That sword... that little fellow Xiao Yu is actually using an Earth Rank weapon, even if it's just one that barely touches the threshold of the Earth Rank."

At the top of the viewing platform, Sect Master Ling Yue looked at the long sword in Xiao Yu's hand with great interest.

With his eyesight, he could naturally tell the grade of the long sword in Xiao Yu's hand at a glance.

"It seems he wants to use this weapon to break through Zhang Yang's physical defense. That is indeed a good idea."

Ling Yue nodded slightly. Xiao Yu's strength was originally about the same as Wei Chen's, who had been defeated by Zhang Yang. If he wanted to defeat Zhang Yang, he could only rely on a surprise move.

"We'll see if Xiao Yu can withstand a single blow from Zhang Yang!"

"If he can't, no amount of cleverness will be of any use."

On the other side, Elder Wang Xiao said expressionlessly.

"What a pity! It's useless!" Jiang Dao shook his head inwardly as he listened to the two beside him.

Zhang Yang's greatest strength wasn't his physical body, but his Saber Technique and Saber Intent.

Looking at the long sword in Xiao Yu's hand, Zhang Yang's intuition told him that this sword was not simple. It gave him an extremely sharp feeling, as if it could truly damage his body.

After some thought, Zhang Yang took down the long saber he carried with him.

This saber was one he had used before; it was merely forged from hundred-refined steel and wasn't considered a particularly good blade, its grade being only Profound Rank Low Grade.

When he had left the Clear Wind Sect to test the final move of the Sovereign Extreme Heaven Severing, he had used this very saber.

"A saber?"

Xiao Yu looked at the saber in Zhang Yang's hand. After the list for the top sixteen came out, he had specifically looked up information on Zhang Yang and knew that Zhang Yang had comprehended Saber Intent.

"Does he not intend to clash head-on with my sword? Does he want to win with Saber Technique?"

Xiao Yu thought to himself. However, he could tell at a glance that the material of the saber in Zhang Yang's palm was ordinary. Compared to the Earth Rank spirit sword in his own hand, it was like rotten wood.

Against the sword in his hand, it would be snapped in a single strike!

"Who do you guys think will win between these two?"

"It's definitely Zhang Yang, who else? Have you forgotten that Wei Chen, who is about as strong as Xiao Yu, was defeated by Zhang Yang in just three punches? How could Xiao Yu possibly hold out?"

"Yeah, I think Zhang Yang's advancement to the finals is already a done deal."

"Zhang Yang is invincible! First slay Xiao Yu, then defeat Du Qi, and take the top spot!"

...On the viewing platform, most of the Disciples did not favor Xiao Yu.

There was no helping it; the strength Zhang Yang had shown was indeed a large level above Xiao Yu's. Barring any accidents, it was impossible for Xiao Yu to win.

The light of the Formation descended, covering both of them.

The bell rang! The battle began!

As the battle started, Xiao Yu didn't make any moves, still staring intently at Zhang Yang as before.

He wasn't confident he could hit Zhang Yang in one strike; he could only wait for Zhang Yang to attack and then pay a heavy price!

By using a method of trading a wound for a life, he would have some certainty of hitting Zhang Yang.

The worst-case scenario would be trading life for life, both of them being eliminated at the same time, and then having a rematch!

"Don't plan to attack first?" Zhang Yang smiled slightly; this suited his intentions perfectly.

"Sovereign Extreme Heaven Severing, Third Form! Imperial Hegemony Through the Ages!"

Zhang Yang gave a low shout. The Golden Core within his body shone brightly, and pure purple Origin Power surged out, pouring into the long saber in his hand.

He needed to temporarily increase the hardness of this saber, otherwise, it wouldn't be able to withstand Xiao Yu's sword!

Swish!

Stepping on the Seven Stars, Zhang Yang's figure vanished in a flash. When he reappeared, he was already close to Xiao Yu!

The long saber, enveloped in majestic Saber Qi, slashed down fiercely with the momentum to split mountains and cleave Peaks!

The edge of the blade was aimed right at Xiao Yu's face!

The moment Zhang Yang's figure moved slightly, Xiao Yu's entire body's muscles were already tensed like a bowstring!

However, Zhang Yang's speed was truly beyond imagination!

By the time the saber had already slashed down, he barely managed to react, forced to block with his sword horizontally!

Clang!

With a crisp sound, the long saber in Zhang Yang's hand shattered upon impact!

Countless fragments shimmering with purple light burst out like shooting stars!

Meanwhile, Xiao Yu's sword edge passed through the fragments, lunging toward Zhang Yang!

"A chance! These fragments shouldn't be able to kill me! Victory is mine!" Xiao Yu was overjoyed, thrusting his sword toward Zhang Yang's neck.

But, the corners of Zhang Yang's mouth curled up. Who said fragments couldn't be controlled?

Because of the dao rhyme golden core, the Origin Power in Zhang Yang's body had long since merged with his Saber Intent. Now that it was infused into the long saber, even if it turned into fragments, they could still be controlled by him!

In the next instant, the blade fragments were drawn by a mysterious force, reforming into the shape of the original long saber and slashing down.

Boom!

A loud explosion occurred, the earth shook and mountains swayed. The entire Martial Arts Stage trembled, and a crack was instantly torn into the ground, so deep the bottom couldn't be seen.

Zhang Yang stood on the Martial Arts Stage. In front of him, Xiao Yu's figure had already disappeared.

"Hmm, did it graze me?"

Zhang Yang frowned. At this moment, a slight stinging pain came from his neck, where a tiny bloodstain appeared, but it was quickly repaired.

"That sword is indeed extraordinary. My physical body is hard to wound even for those in the Profound Core Realm, yet it was actually breached by this sword!"

Zhang Yang thought to himself. After forming the dao rhyme golden core, his physical constitution had become even stronger.

But to think his defense would be broken by this sword today.

At the top of the Martial Arts Stage, countless Infant Transformation Realm Martial Artists widened their eyes, staring at Zhang Yang in a daze, seemingly witnessing something incomprehensible.

Sect Master Ling Yue, Jiang Dao, and Elder Wang Xiao also exchanged glances. Finally, Jiang Dao spoke.

"Merging Concept into Origin Power? This... how is this possible!"

Even Jiang Dao, who knew Zhang Yang's talent best, was shocked once again.

Merging a Concept into Origin Power was something only Infant Transformation Realm Martial Artists could achieve!

In their understanding, it was impossible for a Profound Core Realm Martial Artist to do such a thing.

Generally speaking, a Profound Core Realm Martial Artist would have to comprehend a Concept to the seventh level and then Breakthrough to the Infant Transformation Realm.

Only by using the Infant Transformation Realm's Lightning Tribulation to temper the Concept and Origin Power could they merge the Concept into the Origin Power.

But by then, the Martial Artist would have already become an Nascent Transformation Realm expert.

Merging a Concept into Origin Power without the help of a Lightning Tribulation simply didn't exist in their knowledge. Even in the Sect's ancient records, such a thing had never been documented!

At the top of the viewing platform, all the Infant Transformation Realm Martial Artists fell silent.