Before Geng Yue could even react, a man from Luocheng Ancient Country at the Yin Yang Realm First Layer Heaven rushed forward, a look of extreme arrogance on his face.

"You’re from some hick nation! Eat my fist!"

Wen Qingye watched the man charge him. Primordial Qi roiled and winds tore around him, but Wen Qingye didn’t budge. He advanced with a Dragon Walk and Tiger Stride, pushing his right palm forward with the force of an avalanche.

If Wen Qingye had only used forty percent of his strength before, he was now using sixty. The might he displayed was far greater than a moment ago.

Their palms met squarely. A deafening crack was followed by the boom of a shockwave.

BOOM!

The man from Luocheng Ancient Country was sent flying dozens of meters, landing on the ground and wailing incessantly. Wen Qingye had shattered his internal organs. Only with immediate medical attention would he have a sliver of a chance to live.

Another punch!

Wen Qingye had won again with a single punch!

At this moment, the expressions on the surrounding crowd grew solemn. ’This Wen Qingye is clearly no simpleton. How could he be from some backwater nation?’

This Wen Qingye was definitely a master!

A man who could not be underestimated!

"Li Zhouyu of the Luocheng Ancient Country, get up here! Stop sending others to die for you."

Wen Qingye stared directly at Li Zhouyu and shouted coldly.

Wen Qingye’s voice echoed across Hidden Peak, lingering long after he had spoken.

Li Zhouyu felt his entire body tremble under Wen Qingye’s cold glare. He never imagined Wen Qingye could be this powerful. For a fleeting moment, he was filled with regret. ’I never should have gone to my cousin for this.’

The people of Luocheng Ancient Country couldn’t stomach Wen Qingye’s taunt. Chen Fan, the man Geng Yue had called on earlier, was the first to charge forward.

"I’ll go!" Chen Fan drew the sword from his back and glared coldly at Wen Qingye.

"That’s Chen Fan, ranked 287th. His cultivation is at the Peak of Yin Yang Realm Second Layer."

"Is Luocheng Country finally sending out a real expert?"

"I hear Chen Fan learned his Swordsmanship from Nangong Xin of the Luocheng Ancient Country. They say his skills are exquisite and unparalleled."

As the murmurs rose and fell around him, Chen Fan’s eyelid twitched, and his expression grew even more arrogant.

Nangong Xin was a prodigy of exceptional talent from the Luocheng Ancient Country. The moment she entered the Celestial Profound Sect, she was recruited to Purple Bamboo Peak. Her fame was immense and her power profound; among the sect’s younger generation, her name was legendary.

He had once studied under her for a time and received a great deal of her guidance. This had always been a source of his pride.

SHING!

Seeing that Wen Qingye’s expression remained unchanged, Chen Fan couldn’t help but sneer. ’This kid probably doesn’t even know who Nangong Xin is.’

Wen Qingye looked at Chen Fan indifferently and said, "Nangong Xin? Is that the source of your confidence?"

"Learning just three-tenths of Senior Sister Nangong’s Swordsmanship is more than enough to defeat you!"

Chen Fan’s eyes turned cold, and he strode forward.

"Formless Killing!"

His sword left its sheath. A nimbus of cold light, wrapped in astonishing Sword Qi, shot forth. The very air seemed to still, like the placid water of an ancient well. In that moment, it felt as though only one man and one sword existed in the world.

The hearts of the spectators chilled. This Chen Fan was truly impressive. His level of Swordsmanship was a cut above the rest. His Essence, Qi, and Spirit were focused and cohesive; he had already grasped the rudiments of Tunnel Swordsmanship.

Wen Qingye’s expression remained unchanged. His right hand moved with deceptive speed, slow then fast, as it gripped the hilt of his One Thought Sword. He drew it with a gentle pull. A dark gleam of light, like a viper striking from its den, precisely tapped the tip of Chen Fan’s menacing blade. The combination of Formless Killing and the rudiments of Tunnel Swordsmanship seemed completely ineffective against him.

CLANG!

The tips of the swords, both brimming with Primordial Qi, collided. Dazzling sparks flew in every direction.

"Chen Fan’s Swordsmanship is truly incredible. He’s a hair’s breadth away from achieving enlightenment in Tunnel Swordsmanship."

"For some reason, watching them fight is sending a chill down my spine."

"That Wen Qingye from the Celestial Martial Country is also formidable. He isn’t giving an inch."

As the crowd buzzed with discussion, the duel between the two reached a fever pitch.

CLANG! TING! TING! CLANG...

Flashes of sword light crisscrossed in sharp, piercing collisions!

"Formless Destruction!"

After dozens of his strikes were parried by Wen Qingye, Chen Fan fell back three steps. As he retreated, his wrist flickered, and his longsword unleashed a Sword Aura sharp enough to sunder gold and steel, targeting three of Wen Qingye’s vital points from high to low.

Wen Qingye also attacked. The angle of his blade was unthinkable—untraceable, a stroke of divine genius. With a single strike, he shattered the profound core of Chen Fan’s Swordsmanship.

A Registered Disciple exclaimed in surprise, "These two are incredible! Their level of Swordsmanship is far beyond what an ordinary Registered Disciple can achieve. What a thrilling duel! Every strike is so dangerous, there’s no time to even react."

Another Registered Disciple who practiced Swordsmanship said, "I practice Swordsmanship too, so why is it that when they fight, I can’t even see their blades move?"

"Such profound Swordsmanship... that Wen Qingye is no simple opponent." A number of Registered Disciples with higher cultivation could see the profound skill behind Wen Qingye’s strikes.

"Based on cultivation alone, Chen Fan has the absolute advantage... Wen Qingye shouldn’t be his match."

The longer Chen Fan fought, the weaker he felt. The suppressive force of Wen Qingye’s Swordsmanship was just too powerful.

’This isn’t working. I have to end this fight quickly. Any more delays could spell trouble.’

At that moment, Chen Fan focused his intent. He leaped into the air and brought his sword crashing down.

"Formless and Lifeless!"

Instantly, a massive vortex formed around Chen Fan’s blade. Tumultuous waves of Primordial Qi churned on the raging sword, blasting outward in all directions. The shockwave was so incomparably sharp that even the crowd below the stage flinched back.

Wen Qingye just smiled faintly. As his form shifted, the One Thought Sword in his hand moved with an eerie silence, carrying an ethereal quality.

Suddenly, an absolute silence fell over the area, like the soft patter of an early spring rain falling upon one’s heart, creating a hazy, gentle beauty.

But at that very moment, a blade as thin as a cicada’s wing emerged from the rain. It carried no killing intent, no piercing force—it was simply a sword, flying through the air.

"Fifth Form of Four Symbols Sword Technique! Rain Without Interruption!"

Only Wen Qingye could execute every move and form of the Four Symbols Sword Technique to such a perfect degree, embodying the full rhythm and subtle profundity of the art.

The sword strike seemed to emerge from the rain itself—vast, endless, and utterly silent. It was so clear you could almost see each individual raindrop landing on the blade.

SHK!

Wen Qingye’s silent Sword Qi sliced through Chen Fan’s dark golden Sword Aura and continued rushing toward him.

RIIIIP!

As the sword swept past, Chen Fan’s clothes were shredded to pieces, revealing a massive gash across his chest. He stumbled backward again and again.

A fine spray of blood flew from the tip of his sword as Wen Qingye came to a halt.

An instant that felt like an eternity passed. The only sound in the air was Chen Fan’s ragged gasping.

Chen Fan was defeated!

BOOM!

An irrepressible roar, like a tidal wave, erupted from the crowd.

"Heavens, that guy from the Celestial Martial Country is so ferocious! Even Chen Fan, at the Peak of Yin Yang Realm Second Layer, was no match for him!"

"He’s too strong! His Swordsmanship is just too powerful!"

"Someone at the First Heaven of the Yin-Yang Realm defeated someone at the Second Heaven... that’s incredible! The Yin-Yang Realm isn’t like the Refining Spirit Realm; challenging someone a level higher is nearly impossible!"

"Who would’ve thought such a formidable figure could come from a backwater place like the Celestial Martial Country?"

Countless people stared, wide-eyed and speechless, at Wen Qingye standing there against the wind, their gazes filled with utter disbelief.