Xiangjiang, Kowloon City District.

Under the eyes of all, the Celestial Sword Cup tournament is proceeding smoothly, especially with the appearance of Ye Qingzhou, which elicited cheers from the entire audience and attracted everyone's attention.

After Ye Qingzhou faced off against Montano and Aurora, two Silver Grandmasters from Europe, his world ranking skyrocketed into the top ten, naturally becoming the focal point of countless spectators.

"Do you need me to go easy on you?"

Ye Qingzhou looked at his old acquaintance Nan Gongyi, his tone calm. By now, he had every right to speak such words.

Nan Gongyi had a bitter expression on his face, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly, and he shook his head: "No need, I want to try my best."

Knowing full well he couldn't win, yet what martial artist would cower before battle?

Gripping the sword, concentrating spirit, sword intent surging forth.

Nan Gongyi had now the determination to give it his all.

"Alright."

Ye Qingzhou admired his awareness as a martial artist.

Clang clang clang~

As the bell tolled, the match officially began.

Nan Gongyi's elegant and nimble sword light instantly transformed into a resplendent star river. In the world of the mind, it was as if an endless starry sky came crashing down towards Ye Qingzhou.

Flying Star Sword Technique, Drunken Dream Star River!

Ye Qingzhou gazed at the illusory shadow of the star river enveloping him, pondering: "Interwoven reality and illusion of the sword qi, each dazzling star could very well be a sharp sword qi, or it might just be a false dream. If the opponent misjudges, they may directly be defeated..."

The Nangong Family's "Flying Star Sword Technique" is renowned along the southeastern coast of the Dongji Kingdom, having defeated countless martial art veterans and local heroes.

As the most outstanding disciple of this generation of the Nangong Family, Nan Gongyi's strength was naturally not lacking, and he even hoped to achieve the Grandmaster's position before the age of thirty-five.

In the martial arts world, this was already considered a genius among geniuses.

Yet before Ye Qingzhou, such strength seemed ordinary.

With the Celestial Eye opened, Ye Qingzhou perceived everything. The mesmerizing starry starlight of deception and truth was all seen by him.

He trod on the Nine Palaces, calmly stepping forward, precisely evading each real starlight sword qi slash, thus walking out of the perilous sword qi star river.

"Now it's your turn to take a strike from me."

Ye Qingzhou unsheathed his sword, its sharpness radiating with a brilliant glow.

With a single sword movement, it resonated with celestial timings and connected with earthly energies. This was a sword Ye Qingzhou conceived within his spiritual world, inspired by the "Twenty-Four God Existence Visualization Technique" and the war patterns of the Northern Alliance, visualizing twenty-four "gods," each named after the Dongji Kingdom's traditional twenty-four solar terms.

"Sword One, Start of Spring."

Zheng~

With the handle pointed towards the moon in Yinmonth, Spring returns to the earth.

A single beginning revitalizes, and everything renews!

The Start of Spring marks the year's inception; thus, this seemingly ordinary strike was actually teeming with vitality, full of endless variations and limitless possibilities.

As Ye Qingzhou took a step forward, both the celestial timing and earthly advantages became part of his sword, at his command.

And such might of heaven and earth was naturally insurmountable for Nan Gongyi, leading to his defeat.

"I lost."

Nan Gongyi was struck off the stage by a single strike from Ye Qingzhou, conceding wholeheartedly.

"So strong!"

"This life-filled strike could even slightly incite celestial phenomena changes; Ye Qingzhou might truly be about to become a saint."

"I once watched his live broadcast. Back then, when he claimed to be a 'Sword Saint,' I thought he was ignorant of the vast skies, but now it seems it was me being narrow-minded."

Nan Gongyi's defeat did not exceed the audience's expectations, as Ye Qingzhou was a Grandmaster, while Nan Gongyi was merely a master, and such a disparity was normal.

But the sword technique Ye Qingzhou just exhibited was extraordinary!

With qi reaching the skies, using his own qi and blood to trigger phenomenal changes in the world, this was the prowess of a Martial Saint!

Although Ye Qingzhou's 'Celestial Phenomenon' was not yet complete, it certainly had a nascent form, as if a foot was already in the Martial Saint Realm.

"A step away from the Martial Saint position, truly deserving of the martial arts prodigy ranked in the world's top ten, indeed well-deserved."

In the audience, many martial artists who a lifetime wouldn't see break into the Master Realm cast envious looks.

The Martial Saint Realm, it's a dream many wouldn't dare fantasize about, yet for Ye Qingzhou, it seemed within reach, readily graspable.

After seven consecutive days of battles, all four groups had completed their rotations, and only four contestants from each group could advance.

Regrettably, neither Nan Gongyi nor Liu Yiming managed to qualify; after all, their strength was insufficient, not even at the Grandmaster level, making qualifying improbable.

What truly shocked everyone was the unexpected emergence of Xu Yunxi in the second group, who advanced smoothly to participate in the top sixteen battles, having achieved third place.

To know, a little over a year ago, her strength was far below that of Nan Gongyi and Liu Yiming.

Yet now, with her Innate Metal Sword Qi surging forth, she underwent a transformative change, her strength improving by leaps and bounds, advancing at lightning speed.

"Congratulations, Sister Yunxi."

"It should be me congratulating you instead."

Xu Yunxi beamed with a joyous smile, like a vibrant and alluring peony: "I only barely advanced as group third; you're different, qualifying with an undefeated record, group first. You're bound to go further."

According to the rules of the Celestial Sword Cup, the group first wouldn't face each other before reaching the semifinals, which is a significant advantage.

While the second, third, and fourth seeds that advanced, if their luck were poor, might in the first round of the top sixteen elimination stage directly face the seeded players of other groups, and then directly lose the game.