Zander, entering the state of serenity at this moment, was ready to unleash his ultimate move. He decided to use Infinite Slash, as this was the perfect opportunity for him. A few moments ago, when he was under the effect of the dragon's intimidation, he tried to suppress it using his own will.

The moment he felt fear, he recalled the past he never wanted to return to. He would not be scared anymore like before. He refused to be a coward. He had to defeat the fear within his heart! He had to move forward firmly, destroying any obstacle and showing others that he had already left his past behind.

The beast inside Kang Yongjin was nothing compared to the eye in the sky that once brought terror to the entire continent. If he could fight the weaker version of it inside his illusion, then he could fight the beast inside of Kang Yongjin!

His sword will, growing firmer and stronger, caused every sword in the stadium to react. All of them floated and pointed their tips towards him. It was as if the swords gave their respect to a sword will worthy of receiving honor.

He channeled most of his energy and comprehension into this single sword strike. Since yesterday, he had already perfected the Infinite Slash inside of his mind, making it far stronger than before. However, at this moment, he tried to push it even further, determined to make his Infinite Slash stronger, even if it meant he might suffer some setback.

The moment Kang Yongjin unleashed his fist technique, a massive spatial wave shot toward Zander. The space bent along the line of the punch and continued to move at incredible speed. If this technique had been unleashed by Sect Master Kang, it would have collapsed the entire space in front of him and even created a spatial storm.

However, for Kang Yongjin, this power was more than enough to defeat his opponent. The punch, containing the strength of a high marquess stage cultivator's attack, would surely bring him the winner's title.

The spectators were shocked by the strength of the punch, which was an entire realm higher than Kang Yongjin's own cultivation! This technique was truly too powerful. It could have already killed someone of the same realm a thousand times over!

The spectators grew tense as they saw the punch technique keep moving closer to Mister Z. If he were hit by the punch, he will truly die!

Orlav was already on edge, ready to stop the punch technique, doing so would mean Zander's elimination. From the situation unfolding in front of him, it looked as though the winner had already been decided.

However, before he could move to intervene, he saw Zander finally act. Zander shifted his stance as if preparing to unleash a sword strike. The moment Orlav saw that posture, he sensed a tremendous hidden strength contained within the sword strike Zander was about to unleash. His eyes widened in shock.

As Zander slowly moved his sword, Orlav could not help but remember someone else who had once displayed that very posture. The spectators from the Barisan Continent, as well as outsiders who had come during the time when Tarius tried to descend, also recalled the same thing. It was as if they were watching that great person unleash the same sword technique once more.

Zander's movement and posture reminded them of their emperor—Aldrian the Great.

"Is it the same technique as His Majesty used at that time?" one of the spectators asked in astonishment.

"No, I think it's vastly different. The movements are quite the same, but the sword will itself is already different from His Majesty's," another answered as they discussed Zander's technique.

How could they not know the sword strike that destroyed the God of the Devils? That was the most powerful sword strike anyone had ever witnessed, and Aldrian the Great's movement remained vividly remembered by many.

Zander, who now displayed the same movement, shocked them and sent chills down their spines. Could this man also use that technique? Could he reveal the power of that sword strike? If that was the case, then perhaps they had to stop this battle immediately! That kind of technique would obliterate everything in its path!

Zander's movement was slow at first, but the moment the slash was about to be unleashed, his speed suddenly surged. He gritted his teeth as he felt the burden of releasing the modified version of Infinite Slash.

His broken left hand throbbed with pain, and the meridians across his arm felt as if they were about to burst. Yet, he continued to unleash the technique.

Infinite Slash!

The moment he completed the slash, a massive surge of slash energy burst forth from his sword and flew directly toward the incoming punch technique. Strong winds howled in its wake, and the very space bent, seeming almost on the verge of shattering to reveal the void behind it.

The spectators, seeing Zander finally unleash his technique, were utterly shocked. The strike possessed the strength of a peak marquess stage attack! It was stronger by more than an entire realm compared to his base cultivation at the high earl stage!

Orlav was also stunned and immediately strengthened the barrier around the arena as a preemptive measure in case this slash could destroy it. Though it might have sounded exaggerated since Aldrian the Great himself had helped construct the barrier formation, he could not dismiss his unease. That kind of worry lingered in everyone who had once witnessed Aldrian the Great's technique.

Even though the strength of this slash was far weaker than what Aldrian the Great had unleashed back then, no one dared to underestimate it. The memory of that sword strike's overwhelming effect was etched so deeply into their minds that even if someone only copied the movement, they would still regard it with the utmost seriousness.

Zander's Infinite Slash instantly tore through the air of the arena, and before long, it collided with Kang Yongjin's fist technique. And the result?

Crash! Trang!

The two techniques, powerful enough to affect space itself, collided with a deafening crash. At the point of impact, a small rift tore open in the fabric of space as their clash briefly released power equal to the middle duke stage!

Strong winds blasted outward, and the ground at the collision point was destroyed, leaving behind a massive crater nearly a kilometer in diameter. Yet the clash between the two techniques held on for a brief moment. Kang Yongjin's fist technique, which at first managed to block the slash energy for a split moment, finally shattered.

The slash energy did not lose its momentum. With incredible speed, it continued forward, tearing through the air as it raced toward Kang Yongjin.

At this moment, Kang Yongjin was truly helpless. Having drained nearly all of his energy, he could do nothing but watch the incoming attack. In his eyes was the reflection of the approaching slash energy—the same slash that had effortlessly destroyed his Breaking Void.

Pain coursed through his body, and exhaustion weighed him down like chains. He wanted nothing more than to sleep. He wanted to move, to dodge this fatal strike, but his body refused to obey.

'Ah, I failed,' he thought. The sword slash was almost upon him, and he believed he was done for, but suddenly—

Crash!

The slash energy was struck from the side by another attack using wind laws. The slash energy was instantly destroyed, and the point of impact created a shockwave strong enough to throw Kang Yongjin backward. His body rolled several times before finally stopping with his back against the floor.

Even now, he could do nothing but lie there. His breathing was uneven, sweat streamed down his body, and wounds had appeared across his torso from the impact of the clash just moments ago.

Orlav had decided to intervene. The sword slash still carried dangerous momentum, and with Kang Yongjin unable to move due to the toll of his technique, if that attack had struck his body, Orlav had no doubt the Black Dragon Pavilion would have lost this prodigy.

He sighed at the unexpected turn of events and then turned his gaze toward Zander. At this moment, Zander was still standing, though it was clear he was forcing himself to remain upright. He looked as if he could collapse at any moment. His breathing was unsteady, as if he were starved of oxygen, and his entire body was drenched in sweat. His robe was torn in several places, and lastly the mask…

It slowly loosened from his face, and finally—

Thud!

The mask dropped, revealing Zander's true face. The spectators, still watching the aftermath of the clash in astonishment, finally saw the man behind the mask. However, most of them did not recognize him, except for a few who had once come from the Heavenly Path Academy.

"Hey, isn't that Zander?"

"Zander who?"

"The one rumored to be His Majesty's disciple."

"What? That's him?"

"Yes, that's him! That's Zander!"

"I was in the same class as him in the past. There's no way I could forget his face."

Conversations like this quickly spread among those who knew Zander from the Heavenly Path Academy. The revelation passed through the stadium like wildfire, and soon the people began to realize—everything that had happened finally made sense.

His talent and potential were something not everyone could possess, and with the strength he displayed, there was no one more worthy to guide him than Aldrian the Great himself. It was no wonder he used the sword strike once displayed by Aldrian the Great—surely His Majesty had taught him!

Too bad for them, they did not know that the technique was only inspired by Aldrian's strike. No one had ever taught Zander.

The stadium was in an uproar, but Zander ignored them all. With what little energy he had left, he raised his right hand, still gripping his sword, into the air. His arm trembled as though he were forcing himself to keep it aloft.

Orlav, seeing this, could not help but sigh and smile. Then he turned his gaze to the spectators.

"The match is over! With one participant incapacitated, the winner and champion of the Earl Stage is Mister Z!" Orlav announced.

"UWOOO!"