172: Chapter 172 A Hand
One day later.
Inside the Central Sacred Hall's colossal circular martial arts arena, which was large enough to hold a hundred thousand people, there wasn't a single empty seat once again.
The final stage of the individual competition—the arena finals—had officially begun!
After that first stage of elimination matches, which had been filled with "weirdness" and "shocking" moments...
The name Wang Pingan had completely resounded throughout the entire Federation.
Everyone wanted to see with their own eyes just what kind of terrifying strength this mysterious youth, hailed as the "Great Demon King," could display in a real arena battle with blades and spears.
The very first match was Wang Pingan's duel.
The moment his name appeared on the giant screen...
The entire arena erupted in a mountain-shaking, tsunami-like roar of cheers and discussions filled with complex emotions.
“He's here! He's here! The Great Demon King is finally going to take action personally!”
“Holy crap, I'm so nervous! I feel more nervous than if I were the one going up there!”
“Do you guys think that guy from Holy Light Academy can actually do it? I feel like things are looking a bit shaky for him...”
“Hard to say. The 'Purification' talent is famously unreasonable. it specifically counters all sorts of fancy energy attacks and spirit secret arts. The methods Wang Pingan showed before seem to be tied to those two things. This time, he might have actually met his match.”
Under the gaze of countless eyes filled with anticipation, curiosity, and schadenfreude...
Wang Pingan and his opponent for the day, the Holy Light Academy representative Andre, stepped onto the massive arena stage one after the other.
Andre was a tall youth with blond hair and blue eyes, handsome and possessing a holy aura, looking like an angel stepped out of myth.
He wore a spotless white formal suit and held a thick holy scripture inlaid with a golden cross.
His body radiated a warm, peaceful light energy filled with a sacred aura.
It was as if he were the incarnation of light and justice.
“Xuanyuan University, Wang Pingan.”
Andre looked at Wang Pingan across from him, who still had that same lazy, half-asleep expression.
His sapphire-pure eyes were filled with arrogance and confidence.
He gave Wang Pingan a standard, elegant noble's salute.
“Holy Light Academy, Andre.”
“I have long heard of your great name. Seeing you today... you truly live up to your reputation.”
Though his words were polite, his tone was filled with an undisguised, condescending air of scrutiny.
In his view, the so-called "mysterious and unpredictable" methods Wang Pingan had shown before were nothing more than some low-level, unorthodox "illusions."
And before his light energy, which represented absolute "Order" and "Purification"...
All "falsehoods" and "tricks" would have nowhere to hide!
“Oh.”
Hearing this, Wang Pingan merely lifted his eyelids lazily.
Looking at the guy in front of him who radiated the aura of a "charlatan" from head to toe, he couldn't help but curl his lip inwardly.
Another one.
Another fool who felt good about himself and thought he was the "Chosen One."
Isn't it tiring?
“Uh... can we hurry up?”
Wang Pingan picked his ear with a look of impatience.
“I need to go back for a nap after this.”
“You!”
Andre's face, which had maintained its elegance and pride, instantly darkened upon hearing Wang Pingan's insulting words.
He felt his dignity had been subjected to an unprecedented, extreme provocation!
“Fine!”
“Since you're in such a hurry to meet your God...”
“Then I shall... grant your wish!”
Andre let out an angry shout!
He wasted no more words!
He suddenly thrust the thick scripture in his hand above his head!
“In the name of the Holy Light!”
“Judgment, descend!”
Buzz—!!!
An indescribable, brilliant golden pillar of light filled with sacredness, majesty, and the aura of Purification!
It erupted violently from the scripture!
Soaring into the sky!
In an instant, the entire arena was enveloped in a golden ocean!
Within that golden ocean...
Countless phantoms of six-winged angels, formed from pure light energy and singing hymns, slowly emerged!
They raised swords of judgment made of light!
Carrying a supreme will sufficient to purify all "evil" and "filth" in the world!
They slashed down toward Wang Pingan, who looked as tiny as an ant in their eyes!
They struck down fiercely!
“Holy Light Judgment! It's actually the Holy Light Academy's ultimate technique, 'Holy Light Judgment'!”
“Heavens! Andre actually used this move right from the start! He's trying to decide the match in one blow!”
“It's over! It's over! That Wang Pingan is dead! Before absolute 'Purification' power, any illusion or spirit attack is a joke!”
All the experts in the audience stood up from their seats in horror upon seeing this!
They could almost see the miserable image of the arrogant youth being purified until not even a speck of ash remained under that rain of swords!
On Xuanyuan University's side, the hearts of Shi Lei, Lei Qian, and the others also leaped into their throats at this moment!
Although they had blind faith in Wang Pingan...
When they saw this miraculous, world-destroying, terrifying scene...
They couldn't help but break into a cold sweat for Wang Pingan!
However.
Just a split second before the golden rain of swords, filled with the aura of judgment, was about to completely swallow Wang Pingan...
He moved.
His right hand, which had remained in his pocket, was slowly pulled out.
Then, under the stunned and bewildered gazes of everyone...
He faced the descending rain of swords that could purify anything.
He extended a single finger.
His index finger.
What did he want to do?
Did he want to use a single finger to block that terrifying attack comparable to divine punishment again?
Was he crazy?!
The moment this ridiculous thought popped into everyone's heads...
Wang Pingan's finger and the first falling golden sword light gently touched.
There was no earth-shattering roar as imagined.
There was no explosion of energy annihilation as imagined.
There was only an imperceptible, light "ding."
As if a fingernail had lightly flicked the air.
And then.
Within the pupils of everyone, which suddenly constricted with extreme horror...
That indestructible golden sword light, filled with sacred and Purification power...
The moment it touched Wang Pingan's fingertip...
It just silently, soundlessly...
Shattered.
Yes.
Shattered.
It was like a colorful soap bubble being popped.
With a soft "poof"...
It turned into a sky full of golden spots of light.
Scattering with the wind.
Immediately following.
The second one.
The third one.
The hundredth one.
The thousandth one.
...
That golden rain of swords pouring down like a storm, filled with the aura of judgment...
Before Wang Pingan's seemingly ordinary, even somewhat slender finger...
Was as fragile as beautiful bubbles that burst at a touch.
Wang Pingan just stood there quietly.
He didn't even move his feet an inch.
Just extending a single finger.
He tapped and shattered that world-destroying attack, enough to make any Rank 5 expert despair, with nonchalant ease.
One by one, he poked them into nothingness.
The whole process was fluid and natural.
Filled with violent aesthetics and a suffocating elegance.
“...”
The entire arena fell into a deathly silence once again.
Everyone's brains completely short-circuited at this moment.
They stared blankly at the youth standing amidst the rain of golden light, looking like a deity.
Their minds were a complete blank.
And on the arena stage...
Andre, who had been full of arrogance and seemed to have victory in his grasp...
Now, his face held only a thick, inseparable expression of dazed confusion.
He watched his pride and joy, the 'Holy Light Judgment' that claimed to purify everything, being casually poked into spots of light by someone using a single finger.
He felt his faith collapse at this moment.
“Now.”
Wang Pingan's voice rang out leisurely.
He slowly retracted that finger that had created a miracle.
Then he looked at Andre, who was completely stunned.
A warm, harmless smile appeared on his face.
“It's my turn.”