Firmament Sword

Xu Luo fought at a steady, unhurried pace, but Wanghai's heart was reeling with shock. He had never imagined that Luo Tian's combat prowess would be this immense.

The reason he had never become a Direct Disciple wasn't because no Elder was willing to take him, but because he himself was unwilling!

Becoming the Sect Leader's Direct Disciple—that was his ultimate goal!

Because the Wang Family held considerable influence within Celestial Brilliance, he had held the title of Inner Sect Disciple for years while enjoying treatment no less than that of a Direct Disciple. At the same time, the speed at which his power grew was in no way inferior to those Direct Disciples.

In fact, his true strength surpassed that of many of Celestial Brilliance's Direct Disciples!

All this time, Wanghai had never given his fellow disciples a second thought. He didn't even deign to acknowledge peerless geniuses like An Yu, Miao Jianfei, and Lv Di.

The only person Wanghai truly cared about was Jin Ming!

He believed that only this Senior Brother Tianhuang was his true rival. Once he studied under the Sect Leader and became his Direct Disciple, the only person in all of Celestial Brilliance who could compete with him would be Jin Ming!

And yet... the Xu Luo before him now had dealt him a stunning blow!

Watching his opponent effortlessly neutralize his killing moves, Wanghai's heart filled with a growing hatred for the person who had stolen his inheritance. 'If my inheritance hadn't been stolen,' he thought, grinding his teeth, 'I... would have already stepped into the Great Saint Realm by now!'

'If that were the case, someone like you wouldn't last three moves against me!'

ROAR!

A furious roar erupted from Wanghai's throat as he leaped into the air, transforming into a great bird, using his sword as a beak to stab directly at Xu Luo.

THWAP! THWAP! THWAP! THWAP!

Four nearly transparent wings had actually unfurled from Wanghai's back, making his speed even more terrifying, like a streak of light!

HISS!

A wave of gasps spread across the stands of a million spectators.

Many stared, dumbfounded, at the two pairs of transparent wings sprouting from Wanghai's back, finding it hard to believe he had actually mastered such an ultimate technique.

In a private box with the best view above, many of Celestial Brilliance's high-ranking Elders were seated, and at this moment, shock was written on many of their faces.

Only one old man's expression remained unchanged, a faint, proud smile gracing the corners of his mouth.

This man was none other than Wanghai's great-grandfather, also a high-ranking Elder of Celestial Brilliance!

The decision to not study under any Elder, to not become any Elder's Direct Disciple, was precisely what Wanghai's great-grandfather had arranged.

In his eyes, his great-grandson's talent was extraordinary and his future achievements would be limitless. If he became an Elder's Direct Disciple, then no matter how outstanding he was, it would be difficult for him to compete with the Sect Leader's own Direct Disciples for the position of the next Sect Leader.

This Wang Family Elder, planning for the future, had given his great-grandson a vast number of top-tier Cultivation Techniques and ancient secret diagrams.

And Wanghai did not disappoint, successfully obtaining many ancient legacies through those diagrams. Only the one he valued most... had been snatched away by Xu Luo.

"Your great-grandson... is quite remarkable!" an Elder said, looking at Wanghai's great-grandfather, the Celestial Brilliance Elder Wang Daoming.

Wang Daoming smiled faintly, replying with feigned modesty, "He's just a child, showing off because he has a little skill. I hope the other Elders aren't too amused."

"Haha, to have such strength yet not take any Elder as a master... Brother Daoming, your ambitions are grand indeed!" another Elder chuckled, pointing out the implication of Wanghai's refusal.

A brief silence fell over the private box, but it was quickly broken by gasps of surprise. Even Wang Daoming momentarily forgot his pride and stared down at the arena.

This ultimate technique that Wanghai had just unleashed came from an ancient legacy, one whose original master must have been a mighty avian expert.

The move was called Pierce the Heavens!

With sword as beak and four wings on his back, he delivered a world-shaking strike. It was said that when cultivated to the highest realm, it could even pierce the very heavens!

And yet, such a ferocious move had been blocked head-on by Xu Luo!

A sword had appeared in Xu Luo's hand as well!

The Beidou Sword!

Tip against tip!

Wanghai's sword... bent!

But the Beidou Sword in Xu Luo's hand didn't move an inch!

However, the force of Wanghai's Pierce the Heavens strike had pushed Xu Luo's body all the way from the center of the arena to the very edge. He was just one step away from falling off.

A deep gouge was left on the arena floor!

That was what had caused the recent wave of gasps.

In the stands, many hearts were in their throats. Some even squeezed their eyes shut, too afraid to watch, lest they see an outcome they didn't want.

That move from Wanghai... it was simply too powerful!

Even Jin Ming, hidden in the stands wearing black robes, felt his heart stir slightly.

'What a powerful technique!' Jin Ming remarked silently to himself.

"You actually managed to block my Pierce the Heavens?" Wanghai stared at Xu Luo in disbelief. His gaze shifted to the Beidou Sword in Xu Luo's hand, a flash of greed flickering in the depths of his eyes.

Just then, Wanghai suddenly felt it... that bone-chilling gaze from the eastern stands was fixed on him once again.

This time... the feeling was so distinct!

Powerful Martial Artists are extremely sensitive to external auras, especially cold... unfriendly ones, which they can sense directly.

The gaze from the eastern stands was no longer just cold and unfriendly—it was brimming with killing intent!

Of all times, this was when Wanghai could least afford a distraction. He couldn't help but let out a furious roar and use the straightening force of his bent Long Sword to spring backward, landing in the middle of the arena to face Xu Luo.

"Again!"

Wanghai said in a low voice, but out of the corner of his eye, he couldn't resist glancing toward the eastern stands again. He saw the figure in black robes sitting there motionlessly, blending into the crowd, seemingly unremarkable.

But Wanghai had a feeling that chilled him to the bone—he sensed that person was sneering at him!

'If it weren't such a critical moment in the fight,' Wanghai really wanted to rush over and demand, 'Who the hell are you?!'

Xu Luo naturally sensed Wanghai's strange behavior. Logically, since Wanghai had already forced him to the edge of the arena, he absolutely should have pressed his advantage to knock him off. Why would he voluntarily give up such a golden opportunity?

Was it a show of noble character?

Don't be ridiculous. If he had that kind of magnanimity, Wanghai never would have challenged Xu Luo by name in the first place.

Following Wanghai's gaze, Xu Luo also looked towards the eastern stands, but he couldn't see anything out of the ordinary—just a sea of people.

'Looks like... someone might be targeting him,' Xu Luo thought. He didn't press forward, instead using the moment to mentally analyze the essence of Wanghai's Pierce the Heavens technique.

'His application of power has reached a very high realm. The move doesn't look that powerful on the surface, but its might... is astonishing!'

'If I hadn't used my Yin Yang Power just now to deflect most of the force from his attack, I really would have been blasted off the arena...'

As Xu Luo mulled this over, he began to slowly walk towards Wanghai.

Meanwhile, Wanghai's unusual behavior had also aroused suspicion in the private box above.

Wanghai's great-grandfather, Wang Daoming, in particular, swept his sharp eyes across the eastern stands. Simultaneously, his incomparably powerful Divine Sense spread out to cover that area.

'I'd like to see what dares to disturb my precious great-grandson's battle!' Wang Daoming thought coldly.

Immediately, a wave of startled cries erupted from the eastern stands.

Many people felt an overwhelmingly powerful Divine Sense sweep over them. It was like a beast in the jungle encountering the tiger, king of all beasts—a fear that struck them from the depths of their souls washed over their hearts.

Some of the weaker ones even felt their legs tremble, struggling to stay upright!

Even the powerful felt as if they could hardly breathe.

This powerful and cold Divine Sense swept back and forth over them. Though it was only for a moment, it felt like an eternity to these people.

'Which great master is so bored that they would do something like this?' For a moment, this thought arose in the minds of many in the eastern stands.

When Wang Daoming's Divine Sense swept over the person in black robes, the figure showed no reaction, sitting there quietly and motionlessly, as if nothing had happened at all.

As for Wang Daoming, his heart was filled with shock, because he hadn't been able to find anything unusual!

He then retracted his Divine Sense. He was an Elder of Celestial Brilliance, a major figure. Such an action was clearly inappropriate, but he had been forced to do it out of concern that his great-grandson was being targeted.

He would have to find time to explain himself to the Sect Leader later.

Leaving aside the somewhat frustrated Wang Daoming, back on the arena, Wanghai was filled with shock and doubt. The commotion in the eastern stands had caught his attention, and he guessed that his great-grandfather must have intervened.

But immediately after, that feeling of being stared at by a venomous snake returned!

This made Wanghai's body tremble slightly, a horrifying sensation creeping up his spine!

To banish the feeling, Wanghai let out a roar, "Come and fight!"

An astonishing aura erupted from his body. His vital energy surged to its peak, and his entire being blazed like a ball of fire as he charged at Xu Luo once more.

However... a disturbed mind is a disturbed mind. Shouting a war cry doesn't lessen the fear in one's heart.

Xu Luo sighed softly. Following the momentum of Wanghai's charge, he deployed his Yin Yang Power and gave a gentle push. Wanghai's body shot off like an arrow, flying directly towards the edge of the arena.

And then... under the dumbfounded gazes of everyone present, Wanghai's body flew straight off the arena and landed on the ground below.

It wasn't until both his feet were planted on the ground below the stage—standing at the edge of the viewing area, separated from the front-row spectators by only a barrier—that Wanghai seemed to snap out of his stupor.

"I... I lost?" Wanghai's eyes widened in disbelief, his mouth agape. He was completely stunned.

"Senior Brother, I have returned!"

Then, a cold voice transmitted into Wanghai's mind. It made the statue-like Wanghai shudder violently, and then he let out a bloodcurdling scream.

"AHHHH!"

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