85: One strike, and the dragon is slain!

Who was the Sect Master?

He was an Innate Golden Core Grandmaster, a peerless expert ranked eighth on the Heaven Rankings; even looking across the entire Nine Provinces, he was a supreme existence on the level of a regional hegemon.

And while the three Pavilion Masters and Vice Pavilion Masters were not as powerful as the Sect Master, they were still Xiantian Grandmasters, experts listed on the Earth Rankings, each possessing an incomparably lofty status.

Thus, under normal circumstances, for a minor competition like the Tianshan Grand Competition which was held once every quarter, not a single one of them would make an appearance.

Generally, it was merely presided over by several First Rank Martial Arts teachers with sufficient strength and prestige.

But now, the four of them had actually appeared simultaneously—how shocking was this?

"Lin Yi! It must be because of that Lin Yi!"

The Disciples and teachers were shocked in their hearts:

"Among the hundred Disciples of our Tianshan Pavilion, only he is qualified to have Xiantian experts descend!"

"I originally thought that even if the Sect valued Lin Yi highly, it was just a single Tianshan Grand Competition; having one Xiantian expert present would already be extraordinary."

"I never expected four to come at once, even including the Sect Master. This... this is placing too much importance on Lin Yi."

Thinking of this, many teachers and Disciples of the Tianshan Pavilion found it hard to believe, but on the surface, they hurriedly and respectfully bowed and hailed:

"We pay our respects to the Sect Master and the three Pavilion Masters."

"No need for such formality!"

Seeing this, the handsome White-Robed, White-Haired Man walking at the very front smiled indifferently:

"The three Pavilion Masters and I simply happened to have some time recently, and coincidentally heard that our Tianshan Pavilion was holding the Tianshan Grand Competition, so we specifically came here today to take a look."

"Hold the competition as you always have; there is no need to concern yourselves with us."

"Yes! Sect Master!"

Hearing the words of the White-Robed, White-Haired Man, although the teachers and Disciples were still nervous and excited, they hurriedly replied with respect.

Afterward, the crowd watched as the four Xiantian experts took their seats on the viewing platform.

On the platform, an old man with a head of white hair but a face as vigorous as a powerful eagle spoke excitedly, his voice becoming several degrees louder than before:

"I announce that the Tianshan Pavilion's second Tianshan Grand Competition of the year has officially begun!"

"This competition uses a mutual challenge format. Each student has a total of five challenge opportunities and an unlimited number of opportunities to be challenged."

"Disciples who have confidence in themselves may now step onto the arena to challenge."

"Yes! Teacher!"

The Disciples roared in response, excitement flashing in their eyes, eager to seize this rare opportunity to show their faces before the Sect Master and the Pavilion Masters.

And so... "Wang Ding, I was careless in one move during the Tianshan Grand Competition three months ago. Now that my cultivation has improved, do you dare to fight me?"

"Heh, a defeated opponent. Why would I, Wang Ding, not dare? I shall defeat you again today to give you a long-lasting memory!"

"Senior Brother Sun, your strength is great and your spear techniques are divine. Coincidentally, my sword techniques have also made some progress recently. I wonder if Senior Brother could offer some guidance?"

"Heh, since Junior Sister Bai has confidence, then I naturally have no reason to refuse. Come!"

"Liu Chuan..."

"Zhou Xianzhong..."

...On the square, Disciples initiated challenges one after another, stepping onto the massive arenas that had already been constructed.

However, most of these first challengers were only Disciples ranked below fiftieth in the Tianshan Pavilion. Therefore, aside from the teachers acting as referees, not many Disciples went to watch.

What they truly valued was the battle between the top ten super prodigies of the Tianshan Pavilion!

And also—the battle between Chu Xiong, the super Genius from the previous session, and Lin Yi, the peerless newcomer from this session!

"Whoosh!"

Just as the thought arose in everyone's minds, a golden figure was seen shooting into an arena like a meteor arrow, instantly transforming into a youth dressed in golden clothes with a noble and cold temperament.

"Lin Yi, come up and meet your death!"

On the arena, Chu Xiong stood in his golden robes, his gaze lowered, looking down at Lin Yi as if a Heavenly God were looking down at an ant, his eyes filled with indifference and contempt.

"Just you?"

Hearing this, Lin Yi was not annoyed. He simply shook his head with a smile, then tapped his foot, instantly transforming into a black stream of light and landing on the arena as well.

"Very good!"

Seeing this, a faint, cruel smile appeared on Chu Xiong's noble and perfect face:

"I originally thought you would fear the enemy at the last moment. I didn't expect you to have some courage; no wonder you dared to accept my challenge letter back then."

"But I will soon make you understand that accepting my challenge three months ago was absolutely the biggest mistake you've made in your life!"

"Die!"

As soon as Chu Xiong's voice fell, he struck out violently in the next instant.

"Boom!"

A massive sonic boom rang out as a golden fist instantly pierced through layers of air, creating rings of cloud-like shockwaves in the atmosphere.

And surrounding those cloud rings were several-zhang-long flood dragons formed from white air currents.

The flood dragons were lifelike—scales, sharp claws, eyes, and whiskers were all like living things—fiercely lunging toward Lin Yi along with that golden fist.

"The Wanxiang Tower's First Rank martial art, 'Flood Dragon Subduing Demon Fist'!"

Seeing this terrifying punch, someone among the Disciples immediately cried out in alarm:

"This punch has such powerful momentum. It seems that even if it hasn't reached the Great Perfection Realm, it's likely close."

"And even more terrifying is that compared to the Tianshan Grand Competition three months ago, Chu Xiong's cultivation has actually broken through, moving from the Early Stage of the Fourth Rank to the Middle Stage of the Fourth Rank."

"In this way, Chu Xiong's strength is likely more than fifty percent stronger than it was three months ago!"

"Terrifying! Formidable! Truly worthy of being the strongest Genius among his session of Disciples. Chu Xiong's talent is simply too frightening! Lin Yi is in danger now!"

"Indeed! Lin Yi was far too impulsive back then, actually daring to agree to Chu Xiong's duel. This time, he's likely doomed."

"This Lin Yi probably won't even be able to take this one punch! Hmph!"

...On the square, Disciples spoke with various expressions.

With a Fourth Rank Middle Stage cultivation, plus a first-level Limit Breaking Force Exertion Realm, and Martial Arts Techniques nearing First Rank Great Perfection...

This punch was something even a weaker Third-Rank Martial Artist would likely find hard to withstand. As for ordinary Fourth Ranks, whoever tried to take it would die!

And Lin Yi was heard to have been only a minor Fifth Rank Early Stage Martial Artist three months ago. Could he possibly take this move?

The Disciples were universally pessimistic.

However, before they could finish speaking—

"Boom!"

On the arena, a terrifying blood-qi, not much weaker than Chu Xiong's, suddenly surged from Lin Yi's body.

The powerful blood-qi stirred the Void Realm, making the space itself seem to tremble faintly.

Then, before anyone could be surprised.

"Whoosh!"

A brilliant saber light suddenly cut through the sky in an instant.

The saber light was incomparably beautiful! Incomparably brilliant!

Within it, illusions of colorful stars circulated, frictionizing against the air and almost instantly mixing with it to form a brilliant star river over twenty meters long and nearly a zhang wide in the void.

Finally, it collided violently with those flood dragons in the air.

"Roar! Roar! Roar!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

...A series of explosions rang out. After the brilliant star river collided with the flood dragons, it actually emitted faint, dragon-like roars in the air.

Immediately following that, under the horrified gazes of the numerous Disciples and teachers...

Chu Xiong, who had just thrown a dragon-like punch like a Heavenly God, was now actually like a kicked ball, being sent flying directly out of the bursting shockwaves. He tumbled back dozens of meters on the arena before finally coming to a stop.

Xiantian Martial Art, Star River Myriad Forms Saber.

One strike, slaying the dragon!