The semi-finals were held in the afternoon.

The first match: Meng Jingyuan versus Talon.

Before the match began, Ta Shan walked over to Xu Wuyi and said in a low voice, "Talon is my cousin. He’s quite strong, but... he can’t win against Meng Jingyuan."

His tone was calm, as if stating a simple fact.

He himself had already lost to Meng Jingyuan in the previous round.

Meng Jingyuan, this "foreign aid," could be called a Royal Family-killer; several of the Royal Family’s representatives had been defeated by him.

Xu Wuyi looked toward the arena.

Talon was a lean young man who wielded a pair of Curved Sabers. His Body Technique was agile, and the glint of his sabers was like moonlight. With a Life Energy Level of 35.3, he was considered top-tier among the younger generation of the West Desert.

But Meng Jingyuan was an opponent on a completely different level.

The match began.

Talon seized the initiative, his twin sabers slashing out in two arcs of light, one from the left and one from the right, aimed at Meng Jingyuan.

Meng Jingyuan did not draw his saber.

Without moving his feet, he simply tilted his body slightly, and the two arcs of light grazed the corner of his clothes as they passed.

Talon’s expression remained unchanged. His Sword Momentum shifted, and his entire body swept toward Meng Jingyuan like a whirlwind, the light of his sabers overlapping in layers, resembling a blizzard.

The Ximo Royal Family’s secret Saber Technique—[Wind and Sand Slash].

Low murmurs of admiration rose from the audience. Talon’s Saber Technique was clearly inherited from a true master; the light from his sabers carried the ferocity and density of a desert sandstorm.

Yet, Meng Jingyuan still did not draw his saber.

He simply raised his right hand.

His five fingers spread, and he pressed forward.

BOOM!

A faint clap of thunder seemed to explode in the air.

A pale blue bolt of lightning, visible to the naked eye, erupted from his palm. It instantly tore through the layers of saber light and slammed into Talon’s chest.

Talon let out a muffled grunt and was sent flying backward, crashing heavily against the protective force field.

He struggled to get up, but his chest was charred black, his Qi and Blood were in disarray, and he couldn’t even hold his sabers steady.

The referee fell silent for a moment before announcing, "The winner is Meng Jingyuan."

The entire venue was silent.

From start to finish, it had taken five seconds.

Meng Jingyuan hadn’t even drawn his saber.

He glanced at Talon, who was still on the ground, gave a slight nod, and turned to walk off the arena.

In the stands, within the Ximo Royal Family’s section, several elders wore grim expressions.

Ta Shan took a deep breath but said nothing.

Xu Wuyi watched Meng Jingyuan’s retreating back, his gaze narrowing slightly.

That palm strike just now had seemed casual, but it actually contained a trace of Thunder True Intention. The speed of its eruption and the concentration of its power far surpassed any ordinary Martial Technique. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Meng Jingyuan truly lived up to his reputation.

...

The second semi-final match: Xu Wuyi versus Gu Yang.

As the two ascended the arena, the atmosphere in the stands grew somewhat strange.

A battle between a senior and his junior from the same university wasn’t a common sight in tournaments.

Gu Yang drew his longsword. Its blade was long and narrow, gleaming with a cold light. He looked at Xu Wuyi and smiled. "Junior, go easy on me."

Xu Wuyi tightened his grip on his long spear. "Senior, please."

The referee waved his hand. "Begin!"

Gu Yang moved.

His Body Technique wasn’t as unpredictable as Bai Li’s or as ferocious as Talon’s, but it possessed a steady, practiced rhythm.

Every step he took adjusted his distance and angle, the gleam of his sword constantly shrouding Xu Wuyi’s vital points.

As a fourth-year student at Star Martial University who had gone on countless combat missions, his battle experience was far richer than that of his peers.

Xu Wuyi did not rush to attack.

He parried with his spear, observing Gu Yang’s sword paths.

After ten exchanges, he had already figured out his opponent’s capabilities.

Gu Yang’s Life Energy Level was 35.6. His Swordsmanship followed a steady and balanced path, with little flair but a solid foundation and extremely few openings.

The most difficult thing about this type of opponent was their "steadiness."

He wouldn’t give you an opportunity for a decisive blow. Instead, he would slowly grind you down, wearing you out until you revealed a flaw.

But Xu Wuyi wasn’t afraid of a battle of attrition. He was actually skilled in this style of fighting himself; it was just that with his current level of strength, few opponents forced him to use it.

On the twenty-first exchange, Gu Yang thrusted his sword toward Xu Wuyi’s left shoulder, the glint of the blade like a star.

Xu Wuyi’s spear moved.

He didn’t use the [Undying Flame], nor did he channel his True Intention. It was just a simple, straight thrust.

The spear shot out like lightning, striking first despite being launched second.

Gu Yang’s expression changed, and he pulled back his sword to block.

CLANG!

The spear tip struck the sword’s blade. The immense force made Gu Yang’s arm go numb, and he slid back three meters.

Just as he stabilized himself, Xu Wuyi’s second spear strike arrived.

This strike was even faster and heavier than the last.

Gu Yang gritted his teeth and blocked with the flat of his blade.

CLANG!

Another loud crash.

Gu Yang retreated again, the webbing between his thumb and index finger splitting open as blood seeped out.

Xu Wuyi didn’t stop.

The third spear strike.

A faint, dark gold light appeared on the tip of this spear.

Gu Yang’s pupils contracted.

He had seen this spear strike before—it was this same dark gold flame that had broken through [Observing Ruins Five Kills] during the match against Bai Li.

’I can’t block this head-on.’

Gu Yang hastily retreated while the light from his sword flared, attempting to substitute offense for defense.

But Xu Wuyi’s spear seemed to have already anticipated his move.

The spear tip adjusted slightly, tracing a bizarre arc that bypassed the sword’s light and stopped right before Gu Yang’s throat.

The dark gold flame burned quietly, its scorching heat stinging his skin.

Gu Yang froze.

A few seconds later, he gave a bitter smile and lowered his longsword. "I’ve lost."

The referee announced, "The winner is Xu Wuyi."

Applause sounded from the stands—not thunderous, but respectful.

Although Gu Yang had lost, he had lasted for twenty-five exchanges, even more than Bai Li. For a fourth-year student, this was a respectable enough showing.

Xu Wuyi retracted his spear and nodded at Gu Yang. "Thank you for the match."

Gu Yang waved his hand and rubbed his numb wrist. "Go on, fight hard in the finals. Do Star Martial proud."

...

As he stepped down from the arena, Tana rushed up to him, her eyes filled with excitement. "The finals!"

Xu Wuyi grunted in acknowledgment and looked toward the waiting area on the opposite side.

Just then, Meng Jingyuan happened to look over as well.

Their gazes met in mid-air.

There were no sparks, no hostility—only a calm scrutiny.

Meng Jingyuan nodded, which served as a greeting.

Xu Wuyi nodded back.

Then, they both looked away.

...

The final match would begin in an hour.

Xu Wuyi returned to his seat and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.

Tana was muttering something beside him, but he wasn’t listening closely. His consciousness sank into his sea of awareness as he replayed the battle between Meng Jingyuan and Talon.

’That palm strike...’

’The way he used Thunder True Intention was different from any Thunder Martial Technique I’ve ever seen.’

’More focused, more violent, and more... direct.’

’Meng Jingyuan’s saber is probably even more terrifying than that palm strike.’

Xu Wuyi opened his eyes and looked toward Meng Jingyuan, who was sitting quietly in the distance.

The other man seemed to sense his gaze, opened his own eyes, and looked back.

This time, Meng Jingyuan suddenly smiled.

It was a faint smile, yet it carried a sharp confidence.

Xu Wuyi’s expression remained calm, but he felt a slight stir within him.

’Meng Jingyuan... seems to be looking forward to this final match.’

’Fine by me.’

’I’m also very curious to see just how strong the Senior Disciple of this generation’s Thunder Blade Sect truly is.’

...

The one-hour break passed quickly.

When Flame Venerable’s voice rang out once more, the entire venue fell silent in an instant.

"The finals: Xu Wuyi versus Meng Jingyuan."

"Contestants, to the stage."

Xu Wuyi stood up, lifting his long spear.

Behind him, Tana whispered, "Good luck."