"Haha, this installment of the Lesser Lantai Gathering is truly fascinating.
Brother Ximen, it's a great pity for this assembly that a victor between us is tough to determine.
Let's hope something else interesting occurs next to lighten the mood for everyone."
Mo Qingxuan was the one who spoke up at that moment.
"No.
Between you and me, a victor has been determined. My full move has been unleashed, and since it failed to achieve victory, I have naturally lost."
Ximen Yijian's tone was frigid.
"Fair enough. What comes next has nothing to do with us. We can simply watch the show."
Mo Qingxuan chuckled.
The two top talents had already returned to their respective meditation cushions.
"Ji Yue, I challenge you. Don't waste any more time. Begin!"
Suddenly, upon the platform, Zhao Tianyu, who held a higher rank, issued a challenge to Ji Yue who stood lower on the rankings and strode forward until he stood before her.
This move instantly drew the attention of the entire arena!
"It seems the conflict between the Eastern Barrens Zhao Family and the Ji Family is intensifying!"
"You may not know, but these two great clans have had grievances in the past.
For unknown reasons, new tensions have flared up recently!"
Whispers of conversation spread throughout the crowd.
"Zhao Tianyu, if you dare harm Lady Ji Yue, our Ji Family will never let this go!"
an elder from among the Ji Family ranks roared angrily from within the plaza.
"Humph!
On this battle platform, everyone must accept challenges. Such arrogance from your Ji Family, daring to interfere in a fair platform battle!
Do you truly believe our Zhao Family fears your Ji Family?!"
a different elder, representing the Zhao Family, stepped forward and retorted with a cold sneer.
"Your Ji Family misunderstands. My quarrel is not with your clan; my target is the Ziwei Sect of Yan Country.
My cousin disappeared in Yan Country, and that matter is definitely linked to the Ziwei Sect!
We, the Zhao Family, will not spare anyone associated with the Ziwei Sect!"
Zhao Tianyu declared loudly.
BOOM!
He made his move.
His cultivation was at the Perfected stage of the Destiny Realm, while Ji Yue was only at the Middle stage—a difference of two minor realms!
SHHIII!
Ji Yue was fiercely resolute as well, unsheathing her sword directly.
Fresh from comprehending the true essence of the Thousand Purple Sword Art, her fighting spirit burned intensely.
Her longsword danced like a gale, each move and stance profound and mysterious, slicing through the air to unleash streams of keen sword rays.
"What sword art is this?"
Zhao Tianyu was somewhat taken aback.
BOOM!
Zhao Tianyu thrust out a palm, causing a massive palm imprint to materialize, expanding continuously like a colossal wall that rumbled forth to crush Ji Yue.
BOOM! BOOM!
Zhao Tianyu's hands flashed like lightning, repeatedly unleashing one giant palm imprint after another. They resembled stacked, towering walls crashing forward like rolling, mountainous waves.
His tactic was pure and violent—he sought to overwhelm Ji Yue through brute cultivation superiority.
Although Ji Yue's swordsmanship was exquisite, against Zhao Tianyu's ferocious barrage, she quickly began struggling to hold her ground.
Within the blink of an eye, they had exchanged over a dozen moves.
"She actually held out against Zhao Tianyu for more than ten moves!
Extraordinary!"
The crowd's gazes towards Ji Yue subtly shifted.
After all, Ji Yue only ranked two hundred and seventieth, while Zhao Tianyu ranked thirtieth.
Her ability to endure for so long was indeed remarkable!
"Ji Yue, you've done splendidly already. Admit defeat, quickly!"
Ji Yan called out.
"Too late. Ji Yue, even if I spare your life, I'll at least cripple you! I refuse to believe your Ji Family would go to war with our Zhao Family over a single disciple!"
Zhao Tianyu abruptly muttered, his voice cold as ice.
BOOM!
A dozen immense, wall-like palm imprints hammered down upon Ji Yue simultaneously the next instant, blasting her backward in mid-air, spurting blood from her mouth.
"Ji Yue!"
The members of the Ji Family anxiously cried out.
Ji Yue lay collapsed on the ground, her sword knocked from her grip, face pale, suffering heavy injuries. She had lost the strength to fight on.
"Hahaha...
My challenge is successful! The 270th rank is utter trash—unworthy of my time. Therefore, I shall now return to my rightful place in the thirtieth seat."
Zhao Tianyu roared with manic laughter, turning and walking towards the meditation cushion representing the 30th rank before seating himself upon it once more.
"Zhao Tianyu, I challenge you!"
Ji Yan was furious, rising to her feet and marching towards Zhao Tianyu.
"Haha, come then! Sooner or later, a decisive battle was bound to occur between the two of us. Let it be today!"
Zhao Tianyu laughed boisterously, having long anticipated Ji Yan's challenge.
"No. Let me handle this.
He is targeting our Ziwei Sect of Yan Country. I should not disappoint him."
Ye Yunfei had, at some point unknown, arrived upon the platform. He spoke lightly.
"What? A measly ant at the Dao Transformation Realm dares to go up and challenge Zhao Tianyu?"
"Zhao Tianyu is a Late Stage Destiny Realm expert! A single finger could poke that kid dead!
He truly has no regard for his own life!"
Eyewitnessing this scene, the crowd couldn't help but break out into discussion.
SWISH!
Ye Yunfei arrived by Ji Yue's side, flicking his sleeve to help her up.
"Take these pills. The injuries within your body will heal instantly."
He waved his hand, producing three medicinal pills. Before Ji Yue could even react, they were flicked into her mouth.
Simultaneously, Ye Yunfei gently placed his hand upon Ji Yue's left shoulder.
BOOM!
A majestic, azure energy flowed turbulently, pouring into Ji Yue's body.
This was the foundational essence of the Jia Mu Qing Emperor Body!
A moment later,
Ji Yue was shocked to discover her injuries healing at a breathtaking speed!
In merely the time of three breaths, she had completely returned to her peak condition.
Moreover, she felt even more vigorous than before!
"Your injuries are resolved. You may remain on the platform."
Ye Yunfei left behind those words, then turned and walked towards Zhao Tianyu.
"Su Fei, don't challenge him! You are no match for him!"
Ji Yue cried out in desperation.
"Su Fei, don't be impulsive. Let me deal with him!"
Ji Yan attempted to block Ye Yunfei's path.
SWISH!
Ye Yunfei utilized a single, instantaneous movement, bypassing Ji Yan directly to appear in front of Zhao Tianyu, his icy gaze fixed on his foe.
"You dared to wound my Ziwei Sect member. The consequences are grave.
The Ziwei Sect isn't to be trifled with."
Ye Yunfei stated coldly.
What?
Hearing Ye Yunfei's words, the surrounding audience members collectively stalled, then displayed odd expressions.
In the Eastern Barrens, everyone knew that while the Ziwei Sect carried an Emperor's Path Inheritance from antiquity, it was now an extremely minor, negligible faction.
And now someone had mounted the battle platform of the Lesser Lantai Gathering to declare the Ziwei Sect wasn't to be trifled with?
"Hahaha...
Kid, I have to admit, your ignorance is simply staggering!
What's the real strength of Ziwei Sect? Can't you judge for yourself?
It is, without exaggeration, one of the weakest, most pathetic little sects in our Eastern Barrens!
Let me put it this way: every young genius upon this platform possesses the individual strength needed to wipe out Ziwei Sect with ease!
Now do you see just how pathetic the so-called Ziwei Sect truly is?
Every disciple who crawls out from Ziwei Sect is nothing more than ant-like scum!
Including you!"
Zhao Tianyu burst out laughing.
"A piece of trash from a trash sect, yet so ignorant and arrogant!
Daring to cross our Zhao Family is suicidal!"
"Kid, mark my words: it is our Zhao Family who are truly not to be trifled with!"
The other Zhao Family disciples all joined in the uproarious laughter.
"Su Fei, step down. Let me deal with Zhao Tianyu. You aren't his match!"
At this moment, Ji Yan followed Ye Yunfei and stood beside him, urging.
"You said earlier that, with your Zhao Family present, our Ziwei Sect disciples have no possibility of remaining upon this platform.
Now, I shall prove to everyone that Ziwei Sect disciples will not only remain on this platform today, but secure ranks upon it.
As for your Zhao Family? In this installment of the Lesser Lantai Gathering, every single one of your family's disciples will be eliminated!"
Ye Yunfei stared coolly at Zhao Tianyu, his words delivered calmly.
The instant his voice faded,
Ye Yunfei threw a fist straight towards Zhao Tianyu.
At first, the punch seemed utterly ordinary, but as his fist advanced gradually, the space ahead began to shake violently, even warping and distorting.
Terrifying forces, immense to the extreme, surged towards Zhao Tianyu like a tsunami.
In that moment, Zhao Tianyu felt as if he were standing within a horrifying vortex, struggling to keep his footing.
"How is this possible?!"
Zhao Tianyu realized something was terribly wrong, his face dramatically shifting.
Though he possessed high-level cultivation arts and martial techniques, in this instant Ye Yunfei's fist had already arrived before him.
BOOM!
In desperation, spiritual power poured torrentially from Zhao Tianyu's dantian as he threw out a palm to block the oncoming fist.
BOOM! BOOM!
A dozen or more enormous palm imprints materialized simultaneously, stacking up as a defensive barrier.
PUFF! PUFF!
Ye Yunfei's fist continued advancing, shattering imprint after imprint, until finally—to the utter shock of the watching crowd—he sent Zhao Tianyu flying with that single punch.
THUD!
Zhao Tianyu flew like a cut-string kite, hurled off the battle platform, and crashed onto the ground outside, where his head lolled to the side in immediate unconsciousness.
How... is this possible?
Everyone present was struck dumb with incredulity.