45: Lin Yisheng!

"You're looking for death!"

Upon hearing Lin Yi's words, Wan Yong instantly exploded with rage.

He brandished his long staff, churning the surrounding air. Coupled with his terrifying gorilla-like appearance, he truly looked like a fearsome peerless demon ape as he swung the staff fiercely toward Lin Yi.

Fourth Grade Martial Art "Ape Demon Great Strength Staff" Seventh Form — Ape Demon Heaven-Blasting!

"Boom!"

The terrifying long staff instantly smashed through layers of air, its powerful force causing the Void Realm to ripple with faint waves.

This strike was Wan Yong's full-strength blow, a strike that erupted with Extreme Strength!

Furthermore, since the "Ape Demon Great Strength Staff" was a martial art that specialized in power, it pushed the might of this strike to its Peak.

Under this terrifying strike, even an ordinary Fifth Grade Initial Stage Martial Artist would likely be beaten to death, and even a Fifth Grade Middle Stage Martial Artist would be heavily injured.

But... *Clang!*

The two weapons collided, producing a deafening sound like the tolling of a great temple bell.

In the next moment, under everyone's shocked gazes, Wan Yong—who possessed infinite strength like an ape demon—actually retreated!

*Thud! Thud! Thud!*

Heavy footsteps echoed through the air.

On the arena stage, under Lin Yi's saber strike, Wan Yong's figure became unstable, and he retreated three steps in a row.

His massive feet stomped on the ground, even creating tiny cracks in the specially made, incredibly hard bluestone floor of the arena.

"Sixth Rank, Late Stage!"

Looking at the still-indifferent Lin Yi opposite him, Wan Yong's eyes widened, filled with disbelief.

"What! Sixth Rank, Late Stage! Lin Yi, he's had a Breakthrough to the Sixth Rank, Late Stage?"

"This... how is this possible! Wasn't Lin Yi only at the Sixth Grade Initial Stage a month ago?"

"Even if he was at the Sixth Grade Initial Stage and infinitely close to the Sixth Grade Middle Stage, how could he cross two Realms and reach the Sixth Rank, Late Stage in just one month? Even Lin Tianqing's Physical Body Aptitude was nowhere near this strong! Could it be he was hiding his strength before?"

"Right! He must have been hiding his strength! Otherwise, how could he have a Breakthrough so quickly?"

"This Lin Yi is so cunning. He acted so aggressively before that everyone thought that was his true strength, but who would have thought he was secretly hiding his cultivation? Wan Yong is likely to suffer this time."

...The crowd of Disciples cried out in shock one after another.

In the surrounding stands, the spectators were also shaken.

Even Zhao Haihong on the viewing platform showed shock in his eyes:

"This little fellow's Physical Body Aptitude is actually this terrifying? Breaking through two Realms in a single month with just twenty thousand taels of silver... could he really have been hiding his strength before?"

Zhao Haihong murmured softly.

To cultivate from the Sixth Grade Initial Stage to the Sixth Rank, Late Stage in one month with a mere twenty thousand taels of silver—this cultivation speed, let alone Lin Tianqing, even the experts above the First Rank in the Heavenly Mountain Sect couldn't match it in their youth!

If Lin Yi hadn't been hiding his strength, then his Physical Body Aptitude would be truly frightening.

Reason told him this should be fake and that Lin Yi must have hidden his strength, but subconsciously, he wanted to believe Lin Yi's Physical Body Aptitude really was that terrifying.

"Sigh! Forget it."

At this thought, Zhao Haihong sighed softly.

"Regardless of whether he hid his strength, having a strong Physical Body Aptitude alone without enough Comprehension Ability won't make him a true powerhouse."

"After all, the further one goes in martial cultivation, the more it depends on Comprehension Ability. No matter how strong the Physical Body Aptitude is, it's merely the icing on the cake."

"Without sufficient Comprehension Ability, if he can't break through to the First Level of Limit Breaking or the higher second and third levels of force-exertion Realms, then everything is in vain, and the Sect won't pay him much attention."

Shaking his head slightly, Zhao Haihong continued watching... Meanwhile, on the arena stage, Lin Yi did not stop at all after repelling Wan Yong, flipping the long saber in his hand.

In an instant, the snow-white long saber was as fast and fierce as a rapidly falling meteor, crashing down toward Wan Yong.

Fourth Grade Martial Art "Full Moon Star Saber" Second Form — Starfall!

"Block!"

Seeing this terrifying strike, Wan Yong's eyes bulged like those of an enraged giant ape. He held his long staff horizontally and then raised it high, straining to block Lin Yi's attack.

*Clang!*

Another massive sound of clashing weapons rang out.

This time, because Wan Yong had to meet the enemy in haste, he was even less able to hold his ground. Under Lin Yi's saber strike, he retreated seven steps with heavy thuds. His dark face turned flushed as he felt his blood and Qi churning within him, leaving him in a wretched state.

Then, before he could catch his breath.

Suddenly—

"Swoosh!"

The snow-white saber light tore through the Void Realm once more, tracing a graceful arc in the air as it slashed fiercely toward Wan Yong.

Fourth Grade Martial Art "Full Moon Star Saber" Third Form — Moonfall Star!

"Block it for me!"

Seeing this, Wan Yong ignored his churning blood and Qi and blocked with his staff once more.

"Boom!"

The air exploded. Under Lin Yi's vicious saber strike, Wan Yong was almost sent flying. Fortunately, he used a Thousand-Pound Weight at the critical moment to barely stabilize himself, but even so, he retreated nine steps before finally dissipating the force.

But on the arena, just as he stopped, Lin Yi's ghost-like figure arrived again.

"Starfall!"

"Moonfall Star!"

"Resplendent Stars and Moon!"

"Bright Moon Dark Star!"

...On the arena stage, moves of the "Full Moon Star Saber" technique, which were close to Fourth Grade Perfection, were unleashed by Lin Yi. Like a torrential storm, they suppressed Wan Yong so much he couldn't even catch his breath.

At this moment, he no longer had any thought of defeating Lin Yi; he only wanted to hold on a bit longer, just a bit longer! At the very least, he couldn't really be defeated by Lin Yi within three breaths, could he?

However, while the thought was pleasant, reality was harsh.

Because Lin Yi's strength was simply too great, under his fierce assault...

After just one breath of time, Lin Yi's strikes had caused Wan Yong's blood and Qi to boil, his face turning completely red.

After a breath and a half, he felt as if his internal organs were about to be split open by that massive force.

Finally, after two breaths of time.

"Boom!"

The air was directly blasted apart by the long saber! A startling sonic boom rang out once more.

On the arena stage, relying on his higher proficiency in the Lesser Mastery of Power Extreme, Lin Yi once again unleashed a strike with Extreme Strength. This time, Wan Yong could not erupt with Extreme Strength to block it.

"Ah! Block it for me!"

Seeing this nearly unstoppable and terrifying strike, Wan Yong roared, his eyes bloodshot and filled with indignation as he raised his staff to block in fury.

But without being able to erupt with Extreme Strength, the gap was simply too large.

Under Lin Yi's strike, a clang rang out. In the next moment, Wan Yong's burly, gorilla-like body was sent flying along with his staff. He streaked through the air like a ball before crashing straight off the arena stage with a thud. His face was as pale as golden paper, and he coughed up blood continuously, looking at Lin Yi with eyes full of resentment.

But Lin Yi just looked down coldly and shook his head slightly:

"I said I'd deal with you within three breaths, but I didn't expect you to be unable to hold on after just two breaths. It seems I overestimated you."

"What! You, you..."

Hearing this, Wan Yong was instantly so enraged that his head spun. He felt unable to catch his breath, then his head slumped, and he fainted on the spot.

"In this round, Lin Yi wins!"