Huang Ye's expression turned grave as his top-grade magical robe immediately lit up, forming a layer of defensive radiance with abundant spiritual energy covering his body.

But that wasn't enough. Simultaneously, he cast a defensive spell, enveloping himself in another layer of translucent yellow shield, adopting a defensive stance from the very beginning!

The thick, dense yellow shield expanded, transforming into a barrier protecting Huang Ye from all directions, while a top-grade magical hammer appeared in his hand. His gaze remained fixed intently on Su Yuan.

"What thick armor!"

Su Yuan gasped in surprise. This guy... was he really this cowardly?

"Come on, Su Yuan, let me experience your power!" Huang Ye spoke solemnly yet with a hint of eagerness.

Had he been seen through?

Su Yuan's expression relaxed slightly as he glanced at Sect Leader Gu on the high platform.

Sect Leader Gu nodded at him.

Feeling reassured, Su Yuan spoke up, "Then please prepare yourself, Senior Brother Huang!"

"Sword, come!"

Su Yuan formed hand seals!

A top-grade flying sword shot out from his storage pouch!

The sword emitted a light hum, as if sentient, responding to Su Yuan's call.

This was one of the Nine Stars Linked Pearl Swords, which he had named - the Shaking Light Sword!

Su Yuan smiled faintly, changing his hand seals again!

"First Form of 'Sword Resonance': Sword Rise! Mind Extinguish!"

Mystic Truth Qi rapidly depleted as flames seemed to ignite on the Shaking Light Sword!

The surrounding spiritual energy converged towards the sword, enhancing its formidable power!

"Go!"

"Whoosh!"

The Shaking Light Sword soared into the sky, climbing rapidly before descending like a falling star, its blade emitting a sharp screech that echoed throughout the arena!

Countless disciples heard the sword's screech from afar, each feeling a sharp pain in their minds as if seeing flames burning in their consciousness. Though fleeting, it caused everyone's expressions to change - and they were outside the arena! What about those inside?

Huang Ye's lips trembled slightly before his gaze turned resolute. His hammer also glowed brightly with yellow light. Instead of dodging, he crouched slightly before suddenly standing up and swinging his hammer at the Shaking Light Sword!

Clang~~~

The sword and hammer collided directly!

The fiery red light and earthen yellow light clashed, with the yellow light crumbling instantly as the massive hammer was sent flying by the sword!

It crashed to the side!

The Shaking Light Sword continued its momentum unabated, striking the yellow shield!

After a crisp cracking sound, the shield shattered completely!

Revealing Huang Ye, who had unknowingly dropped to one knee, clutching his forehead.

The powerful spiritual sense impact from the sword's screech had clearly made it impossible for Huang Ye to remain standing!

The Shaking Light Sword didn't stop there, continuing to collide with the defensive radiance of Huang Ye's top-grade magical robe.

The radiance trembled violently, dimming considerably!

But fortunately, as expected of a top-grade robe, the radiance remained thick.

Su Yuan beckoned, and the Shaking Light Sword returned to his side. Streams of Mystic Truth Qi poured into it again, making the sword glow brightly once more!

"Second Form of 'Sword Resonance': Sword Divide! Soul Chaos!"

The Shaking Light Sword buzzed mid-air, and in the next moment, it seemed to produce an afterimage - a slightly illusory version of itself appearing beside it.

Both flying swords shot forth simultaneously, crisscrossing as they streaked towards Huang Ye.

Huang Ye had just recovered from the spiritual sense impact when he opened his eyes to see the second attack coming. His expression froze completely.

This time, he didn't dare to take it head-on!

Activating his movement technique, he began running rapidly.

At this moment, Huang Ye envied Su Yuan's footwork that allowed mid-air maneuvers. Normally, cultivators could fly on swords - why not take to the air?

The reason was simple: sword flight lacked flexibility and required divided attention to control. With 360-degree defense needed, flying was actually a disadvantage in Qi Refining battles. Su Yuan's footwork, however, didn't require a flying sword, greatly enhancing mobility and combat practicality.

The flying swords attacked.

Huang Ye activated another defensive technique, surrounding himself with flowing earthen walls, mainly dodging the solid Shaking Light Sword.

Then, as expected, he was hit by the illusory sword. He had thought his mud walls and robe's radiance could block it somewhat, but the illusory sword passed through both defenses, piercing directly into his consciousness!

The illusory sword immediately began wreaking havoc in his mind, forcing Huang Ye to mobilize his spiritual sense to suppress and dispel it.

But this disturbance naturally made his dodging movements much stiffer.

The real Shaking Light Sword struck Huang Ye, who couldn't dodge in time.

The flaming sword energy released from the blade mercilessly sliced through the mud walls formed by spells, then clashed violently with the robe's radiance!

The radiance dimmed rapidly, its spiritual energy reserves dropping by two-thirds!

Huang Ye barely recovered from the soul chaos state to see his robe's radiance dimming. Terrified, he hurriedly channeled spiritual energy into it.

But his replenishment couldn't keep up with the sword's consumption rate - the radiance continued fading quickly.

If this were outside, Huang Ye would have turned and fled without hesitation!

The pressure was overwhelming!

Huang Ye knew his attacks couldn't hit Su Yuan, while Su Yuan could keep depleting his energy. Defeat was only a matter of time!

"No, I must counterattack!"

Unwilling to lose like this, Huang Ye summoned a flying sword of his own - also a top-grade one!

Top-grade flying swords rare elsewhere appeared frequently in the Seven Extremes Sect, thanks to the Artifact Extremes Peak.

"Go!"

Huang Ye controlled his sword with full Flying Sword Technique, attacking Su Yuan at extreme speed.

Su Yuan remained calm.

"Seven Stars Protective Radiance!"

Seven points of starlight shone around Su Yuan, forming a stellar barrier!

When the top-grade flying sword entered the radiance, it seemed to enter a gravity field, becoming sluggish and unable to advance!

The starlight appeared thin but contained tremendous weight - each strand weighed a thousand pounds!

The radiance acted like heavy armor, protecting Su Yuan completely.

With a casual finger flick, Su Yuan condensed Mystic Truth Qi into sword energy, striking the flying sword and sending it flying back to crash into the ground, creating a pit!

Huang Ye's face paled as his spiritual sense was affected by the backlash.

Meanwhile, the Shaking Light Sword finally exhausted the robe's radiance, slashing Huang Ye's shoulder.

Huang Ye's body was like metal - the sword struck but didn't immediately penetrate. A thin layer of black skin was pierced, drawing a little blood that healed almost instantly.

Su Yuan couldn't help but praise, "What tough flesh! Are you some armor-stacking maniac?"

Su Yuan genuinely admired Huang Ye. Both of Huang Ye's defensive spells had Earth-grade top-tier power, difficult for ordinary disciples to break. His top-grade robe's continuous energy recharge made defense nearly invincible. And Huang Ye had even cultivated a body-refining defensive technique - that black light was tougher than bronze!

Huang Ye knew his body couldn't withstand Su Yuan's continued attacks.

Unable to attack effectively or defend adequately, Huang Ye even felt Su Yuan wasn't going all out, while he was already in disarray!

At this moment, Huang Ye was completely convinced - this was total domination!

He had anticipated this outcome when stepping onto the stage. Any Qi Refining cultivator who comprehended the Power of Heaven and Earth was bound to be monstrous!

Huang Ye raised his hand towards the overseer, "I concede!"

The Foundation Establishment overseer nodded, giving Su Yuan an appreciative look before announcing, "Su Yuan of Mysterious Extremes Peak wins!"

Boom!

The crowd erupted.

The battle had seemed long but was actually extremely brief - in just a few exchanges, Huang Ye was defeated!

Though it looked less one-sided than Huang Bo's defeat, this was Huang Ye! The Spiritual Extremes Peak's strongest disciple in ten years, effortlessly defeated by someone who had only joined a year ago.

The crowd looked at Su Yuan like he was a monster!

"So strong! Too, too strong!"

"Wh-where did this freak come from?"

"What sword art was that? It looks unfamiliar yet incredibly powerful!"

"Is it the sword art? It's the man himself!"

"A sixth-layer Qi Refining defeating a ninth-layer with overwhelming dominance! Unbelievable unless seen with my own eyes!"

Discussions ran wild.

Liu Muwan's mouth hung open, forgetting to close it as she covered it with her hand, unable to hide her shock, "H-how did he cultivate like this?"

Ye Bufan's lips twitched, "This guy... was he going easy on me before?"

Remembering when he had provoked Su Yuan, he felt like he'd been courting death!

If not for being inside the sect, his grave would already have three-foot tall grass!

Moreover, he clearly recognized the gap between himself and the top ten - while Su Yuan's level remained unfathomable!

Ye Bufan struggled internally, hesitation flashing across his face again.

As Su Yuan walked past the arena's edge, disciples looked at him with mixed emotions - admiration, envy, jealousy.

His fame points soared accordingly - his reputation in the Seven Extremes Sect was now firmly established!

Many female disciples kept glancing at him.

Su Yuan remained unfazed, having already planned his closed-door cultivation. Normal disciples wouldn't come to the main peak - the sect's core. He could find a remote spot to cultivate for ten or twenty years before emerging to roam the world... Wait, getting ahead of himself.

Su Yuan calmed his mind and returned to the stands.

Meanwhile, the top ten disciples from other peaks already regarded Su Yuan as a formidable rival!

Inner Sect Head Disciple Zhuge Jian smiled, "It's that Su Yuan. Back then, I noticed his profound answers showed remarkable comprehension. I predicted he'd soar to great heights, roaming the clouds and dominating the world! See, wasn't I right?"

Beside him, Second Senior Sister Nangong Huoyu said, "Are you inviting him to join?"

"Why not? Such a prodigy wouldn't refuse my invitation!" Zhuge Jian chuckled lightly.

As a peerless genius himself, he understood their mindset - roaming the world and seeking adventure was their destiny!

To Zhuge Jian, this competition had lost all suspense, becoming merely Su Yuan's stage. The final champion was unquestionable!