Ye Yunfei and Feng Yun'ao leapt onto the dueling stage simultaneously.
Standing apart, their gazes locked, an intangible tension hung thick in the air.
"Ye Yunfei, it is truly surprising that a backward, barbaric place like the Eastern Region could produce a talent like you," Feng Yun'ao said coldly, looking down at Ye Yunfei with a haughty, condescending expression.
"However, this is where it ends. Meeting me will be your worst nightmare. Soon enough, you will understand that a so-called 'genius' from the Eastern Region like you is insignificant before me. Only our Central Continent is the true birthplace of true talent!"
Feng Yun'ao stood with his hands clasped behind his back, speaking smoothly and with immense conceit.
"Ye Yunfei, I know your forte is physical strength. But the vast majority of body refiners are nothing more than flashes in the pan. Cultivating physical power is ultimately an inferior path; the further you progress, the less decisive a factor it becomes. So, Ye Yunfei, while your current combat prowess may seem formidable, in truth, you have already reached your limit. It goes to show that the Eastern Region remains a small, backward place. Your vision, as the so-called genius of that region, is short-sighted and narrow. You chase quick gains, obsessively focusing on physical power, which will shackle your future development."
Feng Yun'ao’s tone carried the flavor of one surveying a landscape and handing out pointers.
"Senior Brother Feng is right!"
"What kind of garbage genius comes from a godforsaken little place like the Eastern Region? Only our Central Continent births real geniuses!"
"Senior Brother Feng, end it quickly! Teach that guy a good lesson!"
"Victory for Senior Brother Feng!"
...
At this moment, many students around the stage shouted loudly. They were all from the Central Continent.
"Too much talk," Ye Yunfei said flatly, looking at Feng Yun'ao.
"Then let us fight! This battle will teach you what real genius is!" Feng Yun'ao's eyes turned sharp as he shouted.
The next moment.
*BOOM!*
Feng Yun'ao's entire body suddenly erupted with a crystalline light akin to polished jade. Every inch of his skin shimmered with a lustrous, jade-like sheen. Even his hair, nails, and eyes completely changed color. He was no longer a creature of flesh and blood but resembled a living sculpture carved from shimmering glass jade!
Following this, a hazy, coldly radiant full moon seemed to rise behind his back, shedding its soft, luminous, and icy moonlight.
"That's the Fengyun Family’s Heavenly Moon Glazed Demon Art!"
"Unbelievable! Feng Yun'ao actually cultivates that legendary ancient demonic art!"
"The Fengyun Family truly lives up to being the oldest, most secretive heritage clan on our Tianxuan Continent. It’s said that when the Heavenly Moon Glazed Demon Art manifests, its user is invincible!"
Instantly, the entire practice grounds erupted in clamor, filled with cries of shock.
The academy’s higher-ups also looked at the cold moon behind Feng Yun'ao, unable to help but show expressions of deep apprehension.
"I never thought I would witness this legendary demonic art today," Dean Shangguan said with feeling.
"Indeed. This art is the core heritage technique of the Fengyun Family. No one is permitted to cultivate it without the joint consent of several clan elders. It appears Feng Yun'ao holds a position among the most core disciples of his family," Dean Zhou also nodded in agreement.
"Who do you think will win, Ye Yunfei or Feng Yun'ao?" Dean Zhou suddenly asked.
"I believe Feng Yun'ao has a greater chance of victory. While Ye Yunfei’s greatest strength is his physical power, allowing him to easily defeat early-stage Yuan Foundation Realm experts, Feng Yun'ao possesses early-stage Yuan Foundation Realm strength. Coupled with the Heavenly Moon Glazed Demon Art, he could likely challenge even a late-stage Yuan Foundation opponent. Therefore, Ye Yunfei will probably lose," Dean Shangguan mused before speaking.
"Agreed. The power of the Heavenly Moon Glazed Demon Art is overwhelmingly strong. It is among the most supreme techniques on our Tianxuan Continent," Dean Zhou also nodded in agreement.
"So, it’s not that Ye Yunfei isn’t strong. It’s that the Heavenly Moon Glazed Demon Art is simply too powerful. Regardless, the winner isn’t what’s important. Both Feng Yun'ao and Ye Yunfei are qualified to be seed disciples," Dean Shangguan stated.
Meanwhile, on the stage.
"Hahaha, Ye Yunfei, now do you see the gap between us?" Feng Yun'ao roared with wild laughter.
After activating the Heavenly Moon Glazed Demon Art, even his voice had changed, carrying a metallic, mechanical quality. The moon behind him cast silvery light everywhere, illuminating the entire practice grounds with its cold glow.
As he spoke, a terrifying wave of energy pressure centered on his body and spread outwards in waves.
The entire dueling stage immediately began to shake violently. Gale-force winds howled, and dust and stones flew through the air!
*BANG! BANG! BANG...*
The students standing too close to the stage were violently flung back, their cries of pain creating chaos.
"Ye Yunfei, do you still have the courage to face me now?!" Feng Yun'ao demanded, his imposing aura having climbed to its peak.
"This so-called art of yours is mediocre at best. Is it even worth bragging about? Utterly tiresome."
Ye Yunfei sounded somewhat impatient.
The next moment.
*RUMBLE...*
A dazzlingly divine circular wheel abruptly rose from behind Ye Yunfei.
The wheel was divided into nine grids, and within each grid coiled a terrifying, awe-inspiring divine beast.
*ROAR!*
All nine divine beasts threw their heads back and released earth-shaking roars simultaneously.
A wild, primordial aura instantly engulfed the entire practice grounds.
Everyone present felt their hearts tremble, and from the depths of their souls, an urge to prostrate and surrender instinctively arose. Some of the weaker students almost immediately fell to their knees, compelled to worship the nine divine beasts behind Ye Yunfei.
*BOOM!*
That cold moon behind Feng Yun'ao detonated, shattering instantly.
All its moonlight disappeared without a trace. Feng Yun'ao’s body lost its jade-like sheen, returning him to his original appearance.
*SPLUTTER!*
Suffering the backlash, Feng Yun'ao coughed up mouthfuls of blood in succession. With each spurt, his aura visibly dwindled.
The Nine Palaces Totem Wheel was vastly superior to the Heavenly Moon Glazed Demon Art. Before the Totem Wheel, the Glazed Demon Art couldn’t muster even a hint of resistance—it was instantly crushed!
"How is this possible?! What kind of technique is this?!" Feng Yun'ao stared in abject terror at the nine divine beasts behind Ye Yunfei.
Not just Feng Yun'ao, everyone in the practice grounds gazed at the nine divine beasts with stupefied, shocked eyes.
"Now scram," Ye Yunfei said lightly.
He flicked his wrist, sending out a palm force across the intervening space to slap at Feng Yun'ao.
Already wounded and, more importantly, with his fighting spirit shattered, Feng Yun'ao had no hope of resisting Ye Yunfei’s divine strength.
Like a kite with its string cut, Feng Yun'ao’s body was directly sent flying, crashing down outside the dueling stage to land in a crater his impact created on the ground!
Silence, absolute and deathly, descended upon the entire practice grounds.
It was so quiet one could hear a pin drop.
"And this is the genius of the Central Continent?"
Ye Yunfei flicked his sleeves after sending Feng Yun'ao flying with a single palm, as if casually brushing away dust, and said dismissively, "Mere mediocrity."
Then, he simply walked off the stage.