Ling Tian Sword God

On the Dueling platform, Xu Ruoyan stared sternly at the handsome young man in black calmly standing before her. He had held the top spot in the previous Martial World Competition. Even in this tournament, his strength remained supremely powerful and dominant; only a handful could compete with him. Even strong warriors like Qi Hongyan and Fu Tian Jue were unable to force him to reveal his true might.

One can only imagine how strong Young Master Ye truly was.

"'Miss Xu is truly a great beauty; seeing you makes my heart itch,' Young Master Ye said, looking at Xu Ruoyan with a playful, somewhat frivolous grin. 'It's such a waste for you to be with that fellow Ling Chen. Why not come with me? I'll be a thousand, no, a hundred times better than him.'"

"Enough with your nonsense. Face my sword!"

Xu Ruoyan's pretty face turned serious. She hadn't expected that a person with such immense power would act so frivolously. Channeling her True Qi, she thrust her sword forward.

As she attacked, a layer of blue light emerged from her body. Simultaneously, a blue glow flared in her eyes, and an intense chill abruptly filled the air.

As she thrust her sword, Xu Ruoyan simultaneously unleashed her Ice Heart Divine Soul. She dared not hold anything back against Young Master Ye. To have any chance of victory, she had to fight unreservedly, with all her might.

Facing Xu Ruoyan's fierce Sword Light, Young Master Ye calmly extended his palm. A layer of black light emanated from it, grasping the incoming attack.

HISS! HISS! HISS!

When the icy Sword Light met Young Master Ye's Palm Power, dazzling sparks erupted. However, the Sword Light remained a certain distance from his palm, unable to harm him in the slightest.

"Cold Blade, Ice Heart!"

Decisively withdrawing her long sword, Xu Ruoyan took two steps back, then lunged forward again, slashing out.

The sword, seemingly coated in frost, aimed for Young Master Ye's throat.

"Void Palm!"

Young Master Ye drew his right hand from behind his back. His palm, brimming with formidable Air Energy, unleashed a blast from afar.

BOOM!

The Palm Power surged forth like a dragon crossing the sea, unstoppable. It instantly deflected Xu Ruoyan's sword attack, rendering its light dim and powerless.

"Night King Fist!"

Taking Xu Ruoyan seriously, after his left hand shattered her Sword Light, Young Master Ye immediately clenched his right hand into a fist and struck. He unleashed the same fist technique that had previously defeated Qi Hongyan.

The fist, imbued with a king's will, blasted forth, twisting the air with its astonishing power and presence.

A flash in her beautiful eyes, Xu Ruoyan twirled her Cloud and Water Sword before fiercely plunging it into the ground before her. A blue sword qi shield instantly materialized, firmly encasing her.

BANG!

The Fist Strength slammed into the blue sword qi shield, making it ripple violently. Xu Ruoyan, along with the True Qi shield, was sent flying backward. Her Cloud and Water Sword gouged a deep scar across the Dueling platform.

CRACK! CRACK!

Just as Xu Ruoyan regained her footing, the True Qi shield around her abruptly cracked. Countless fissures spread like a dense web before it shattered into fragments.

"Mountain Crushing Fist!"

Before anyone realized, Young Master Ye had closed the distance with ghost-like steps. He threw another punch at Xu Ruoyan. Immense Fist Strength transformed into a massive oppressive aura that descended, enveloping her.

Xu Ruoyan felt the area around her constrict as if she were in a cage. Even the icy True Qi in her body showed signs of receding. With a sharp cry, she thrust her sword, piercing the oppressive aura of Fist Strength that had sealed her movements, and unleashed the "Plum Blossoms in the Snow" technique.

Young Master Ye's combat prowess was steadily rising. Another punch, and his vast Fist Strength once again shattered Xu Ruoyan's sword qi. His incredible power made most onlookers widen their eyes. They had all previously witnessed the might of Xu Ruoyan's sword qi, yet under Young Master Ye's Fist Strength, it instantly crumbled to dust.

"How can he be so powerful? Among the younger generation, how could Young Master Ye be this dominant?" Those from the Divine Intent Sect looked at each other in awe.

If this continues, Ling Chen's next opponent will be Young Master Ye. Against such a formidable opponent, what are Ling Chen's chances of victory? It's hard to say.

Great Elder Shangguan Hong remarked with a wry smile, "Ling Chen reaching second place has already surpassed our wildest expectations. There's no need to aim for first."

"'That said, if he could win first place, it would naturally be for the best. Let's hope Xu Ruoyan can push Young Master Ye to his limits, so Ling Chen can get a clear look at his full power and techniques,' an Elder of the Divine Intent Sect commented."

Witnessing this battle, Ling Chen's feelings were complex. On one hand, he naturally hoped Xu Ruoyan could go further and defeat Young Master Ye. On the other hand, he himself didn't wish to meet Xu Ruoyan in the finals. In truth, he was more eager to cross swords with a young hegemon like Young Master Ye, to truly test their mettle.

If he faced Xu Ruoyan, he would inevitably feel constrained.

"'Almost time to end this. Hegemony World Fist!'"

Young Master Ye's expression suddenly turned earnest. He abruptly soared into the air, immense Fist Strength converging into a sphere. Under his explosive strike, the Fist Strength shot down like a meteor, smashing violently towards Xu Ruoyan.

"Ice Soul Slash!"

Xu Ruoyan's pretty face changed. She swiftly swung the Cloud and Water Sword in her hand. The blue light in her eyes surged as she unleashed an ice-blue sword qi that sliced through the Void.

The collision of sword and fist instantly carved a brilliant fiery scar across the meteor-like Fist Strength. Where the sword mark passed, the Fist Strength was torn open with a huge gash.

BANG!

The next moment after being split, the Fist Strength violently detonated like ignited gunpowder, unleashing a terrifying explosion.

SPURT!

Under the furious impact, Xu Ruoyan's delicate body trembled violently. She then spurted a mouthful of blood and staggered backward.

A cold glint flashed in his eyes. Young Master Ye shot out like lightning, vast true energy converging in his fists. While still airborne, he delivered a continuous barrage of punches, showing not a hint of compassion as he struck at Xu Ruoyan.

I can't lose! I still have to fight Ling Chen! I absolutely cannot lose here! If I lose, my year of hard cultivation will all be for nothing!

I must win this battle!

Forcing herself to halt at the very edge of the Dueling platform, Xu Ruoyan thrust her sword at the rapidly approaching Young Master Ye.

"'Quite tenacious.'"

A light flickered in Young Master Ye's eyes. Without pausing, he appeared before Xu Ruoyan, dodged her sharp Sword Light, and landed a punch on her lower abdomen.

SPURT!

Spurting another mouthful of blood, Xu Ruoyan was sent flying completely off the Dueling platform. Her body, like a kite with a severed string, lost all balance in mid-air.

WHOOSH!

Ling Chen's figure flashed. He shot out arrow-straight, appearing below the Dueling platform of Group Two just in time to catch the slender figure falling from it.

"'Such a pity... I couldn't defeat you myself...' Xu Ruoyan murmured, lying in Ling Chen's arms, an expression of unwillingness still on her pretty face."

"'Our battle will have to wait until next time,' Ling Chen said, taking out a pill and helping Xu Ruoyan consume it before gently patting her back."

"'I'll let you off this time,' Xu Ruoyan said, lightly punching Ling Chen's chest. Then, she closed her eyes and, overcome by exhaustion, fell unconscious."