"Oh? Then what exactly makes experts like Su Fengyan, Li Hao, and Huang Chen so terrifying?" Li Yun asked, his brow lifting slightly as curiosity flickered in his eyes.

Deep down, he already had a vague sense of what was to come. Sooner or later, he would stand face to face with these top ten figures of the Hidden Dragon Ranking. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Although he had absolute confidence in his own strength, he was not someone who allowed that confidence to turn into arrogance. Understanding both oneself and one’s opponent was the only way to secure victory in every battle.

Zhu Ximen took a slow breath before speaking, his tone steady.

"Su Fengyan, who stands at the very top of the Hidden Dragon Ranking, is a disciple of Ice God Valley. No one knows his exact cultivation with certainty. Some say he is at the fifth level of the Essence Qi Realm, others claim he has reached the sixth, and there are even rumors that he has already stepped into the seventh level."

He paused briefly, as if weighing his next words.

"What is certain is that Su Fengyan possesses an Ancient Bloodline Legacy, and not just one. He is said to carry two different Ancient Bloodline Legacies, both with extremely high purity."

Li Yun’s gaze sharpened slightly.

"An Ancient Bloodline Legacy..."

He had encountered such power before. During the Four Peaks Tournament at Martial Ascension Gate, he had faced Mo Chuxue, a martial artist who possessed the bloodline of the Ancient Ice Clan. Even though her bloodline had been faint, the force it unleashed had been overwhelming and unforgettable.

If someone like Mo Chuxue could display such strength with only a thin trace of an ancient bloodline, then Su Fengyan, who possessed two bloodlines of such high concentration, would undoubtedly be far more terrifying.

A faint smile appeared on Li Yun’s lips.

"Interesting."

There was no fear in his expression. Instead, a blazing battle intent surged within his eyes. Only opponents of this caliber could make the Hidden Dragon Tournament worth his time. If everyone else were ordinary, the entire event would feel meaningless.

Zhu Ximen continued.

"Li Hao, a disciple of the Burning Heaven Sect, is another monstrous figure. His cultivation is firmly at the sixth level of the Essence Qi Realm. He is known as a once-in-a-thousand-years genius in saber intent. It is said that he has already refined his saber intent to sixty percent completion, and several of his martial techniques have reached the peak stage of mastery. He stands only a step away from comprehending true meaning."

His voice lowered slightly as he spoke the next name.

"Huang Chen, a disciple of the Boundless Martial Palace, is also at the sixth level of the Essence Qi Realm. I heard that he broke through to this level only a few days ago. Like Su Fengyan, he also possesses an Ancient Bloodline. His bloodline is known as the Emperor Lord Bloodline, which is rumored to originate from an ancient imperial clan. Its power is said to be domineering beyond compare."

Zhu Ximen exhaled slowly, then concluded with a serious expression.

"Su Fengyan, Li Hao, and Huang Chen are widely recognized as the three greatest young experts of the Southern Martial Domain. They are known as the three giants of this generation."

"And the seven experts beneath the three giants are no less formidable. None of them can be taken lightly."

Zhu Ximen’s tone grew more serious as he continued, clearly familiar with every name on the list.

"Teng Jian, who stands fourth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, is at the fifth level of the Essence Qi Realm. His mastery of the sword path is extraordinary. His signature technique, the Great Sun Burning Heaven Sword, is said to unleash such overwhelming heat that it can scorch mountains and turn entire seas into vapor."

He did not pause for long before moving on.

"Yi Yang, ranked fifth, is also at the fifth level of the Essence Qi Realm. He possesses a pair of rare eyes known as the Eye of Insight. These eyes allow him to perceive the hidden flaws in any opponent. Once he identifies a weakness, he can strike with precision and end the battle with terrifying efficiency."

Zhu Ximen’s expression shifted slightly as he spoke the next name.

"Song Batian, who ranks sixth, is likewise at the fifth level of the Essence Qi Realm. However, his strength lies in body refinement. His physical body has reached a level comparable to a low-grade Earth Rank artifact. Ordinary attacks cannot even scratch him."

He continued listing the remaining names, his voice steady and unhurried.

"...Sha Zangtian, who ranks tenth, has also reached a remarkable level of strength..."

Zhu Ximen recited the details of the top ten as though he had memorized them long ago.

Among these ten figures, only half came from the Four Great Sects of the Southern Martial Domain, while the rest belonged to other powerful factions. Although the Four Great Sects stood at the forefront of the region, that did not mean the remaining forces were weak.

In truth, the Southern Martial Domain housed many factions whose strength rivaled that of the Four Great Sects. They simply lacked the opportunity or recognition to be crowned among the top powers. The absence of such a title did not diminish their true capabilities.

"The Hidden Dragon Tournament truly is a gathering of monsters," Fu Ting murmured, her voice filled with amazement.

Shi Luo, Xu Ming, and the others shared the same stunned expression.

"Geniuses are appearing one after another. It feels as though there is no end to them."

After spending some time observing the betting stall, Li Yun turned and said calmly, "Let’s head back."

"I want to place a bet. I want to place a bet."

Just as everyone began to move, Shi Luo suddenly broke away from the group and rushed toward the stall, shouting loudly.

A middle-aged attendant behind the table smiled as he looked at her.

"Little girl, how much do you wish to bet, and on whom?"

Shi Luo lifted her chin confidently.

"I am betting on someone named Li Yun. One hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones."

The moment those words were spoken, Fu Ting and Xu Ming were startled.

"Shi Luo, have you lost your mind? Those one hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones are everything you have saved up. How can you risk them like this? Come back at once."

Shi Luo pouted slightly, clearly unconvinced.

"I have complete confidence in my brother-in-law. He will definitely enter the top one hundred. Right now, he has very little fame, so according to the rules here, the odds are one to five. If he wins, my one hundred thousand will become five hundred thousand. Only a fool would let such an opportunity slip away."