Chapter Ninety-Six: Testing the Edge for the First Time

The fierce battle between the two lasted for three hundred rounds. At this moment, Wang Zhen’s breath was already chaotic, his square face clouded with deep concern. Opposite him, Dong Wuwang remained calm and composed, his aura unwavering—a clear sign of who held the upper hand.

He hadn’t expected that he couldn’t even force out his opponent’s true spiritual weapon. After all these years, had Dong Wuwang’s progress been so rapid?

Perhaps losing interest in prolonging the fight, Dong Wuwang chuckled lightly. "Brother Wang, I suppose you’re tired. How about we settle this with a single decisive move?"

Wang Zhen nodded eagerly, "Exactly what I had in mind!"

Dong Wuwang opened his right hand, revealing the Haotian Mirror, shimmering with a faint azure glow.

The Haotian Mirror magnified in his hand; he spread his five fingers behind the round mirror, and mysterious runes lit up on its surface, slowly rotating. A formidable energy ripple brewed within.

As Dong Wuwang summoned the Haotian Mirror, Wang Zhen clenched his Thunder Fist gloves tightly. All the spiritual power from his dantian surged forth. The colossal spectral giant overlapping him grew more solid, lightning flickering over his fists, his fighting spirit soaring skyward.

“Tianyuan Unity!”

“Fury of the Mad God!”

Both shouted simultaneously, and the atmosphere shifted dramatically.

Boom!

A tremendous explosion sent dust flying everywhere. The audience watched the stage intently.

As the dust settled, a figure stood with hands behind his back.

Opposite, Wang Zhen knelt on one knee, his right fist supporting him in front, slowly lifting his head. A trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

“You’ve lost,” Dong Wuwang declared, then turned and stepped down from the arena.

From the West Sand Sect side, Liyuan gracefully ascended the stage to help Wang Zhen off.

“Dong Wuwang wins!” The presiding elder appeared and announced, “The third match: Xishan of Ziyang Sect versus Lin Cheng of Qingyang Sect. Both sides, please take the stage!”

On the arena, Lin Cheng shouldered a greatsword, smiling warmly at Xishan across from him.

Suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted, “Lin Cheng? Isn’t that the Lin Cheng who was trapped in the Heavenly Lake Secret Realm?”

The man’s exclamation caused the spectators below to realize suddenly—Qingyang Sect’s Lin Cheng? Wasn’t he the one who never emerged until the secret realm closed?

No wonder the name felt so familiar!

---

“Rumor has it he has entered the Imperial Realm’s cave dwelling and acquired an Imperial Realm inheritance…”

“That explains why Qingyang replaced their fighter at the last moment. With an Imperial Realm inheritance, his strength must have increased dramatically... It looks like Xishan is in trouble…”

...

On ten jade chairs, Ximen Wudi turned to Qingyang Zhenren beside him. “I didn’t expect Brother Qingyang to have a hidden ace. Lin Cheng is no ordinary opponent.”

The neighboring jade chair’s National Lord Zhao Kuo joined in, “An inheritance from an Imperial Realm master—I’m eager to see what he can do.”

Ziyang Sect’s leader merely smiled silently, still unaware where Lin Cheng had come from.

“Master Zangfeng, you must have uncovered something about that Imperial Realm master’s background? Could you enlighten us old men a bit?” Ziyang Zhenren, seated centrally, addressed Zangfeng Zhenren, eyes sparkling as he watched Lin Cheng below, pondering his thoughts.

Others also turned to Zangfeng Zhenren, curiosity shining in their eyes, each harboring their own thoughts.

Only on the far left edge, sitting on two jade chairs, Huang Pu Zun and Zhenyang Daoist fixed their eyes on Lin Cheng with murderous intent. They were certain now that Huang Pukong had died at Lin Cheng’s hands!

“The young have their own fates. I only recently learned he escaped the secret realm, but who left that cave dwelling is unknown to me.”

“Since the cave’s master chose him, it is his blessing. We need not trouble ourselves further…” Zangfeng Zhenren spoke slowly.

---

Meanwhile, on the arena, Xishan felt a chill as he stared at Lin Cheng smiling straight at him.

Could it be that this fellow had some intimate relationship with him?

If Lin Cheng knew what Xishan was thinking, he’d probably spew blood.

“Xishan of Ziyang Sect, please show your skill!”

Without waiting for Lin Cheng’s response, Xishan charged, wielding an iron fan that unleashed twelve cold darts, each one piercing the air with a chilling sharpness, sealing off all escape routes.

Damn!

Lin Cheng silently cursed. Before he could even show off, this guy was already attacking. He swung his greatsword in response.

“Try my new move, Lin!”

Great Sun Sword Technique!

A burst of crimson light flared as a red sun slowly rose above Lin Cheng’s head, radiating fierce, scorching energy. Even the real sun seemed to dim slightly.

Soon, the crowd felt the heat ripple through their bodies, weaker cultivators breaking out in sweat.

Dongfang Han stood abruptly from his jade chair, shocked, “Earth-grade sword technique!”

Such fluctuations could only mean an earth-grade skill, and certainly not a low one!

“I didn’t expect he truly obtained an Imperial Realm inheritance…” Shen Shang Zhenren was equally stunned.

The Longsun clan leader’s eyes gleamed greedily, “At least a mid-level earth grade, it seems the owner of that Imperial Realm cave dwelling was no unknown figure…”

Even Ziyang Zhenren’s eyes sparkled now. Their sect possessed only one mid-level earth-grade skill, but judging from Lin Cheng’s skill fluctuations, this was definitely not mid-level—likely an upper-level earth-grade technique!

Upper-level earth-grade skills were absent in all three great sects of Zhao Kingdom.

Zangfeng Zhenren watched Lin Cheng, stroking his beard with a smile, sincerely pleased that his disciple had received such fortune.

From the red sun, nine crimson sword energies burst forth, their overwhelming presence filling the arena.

At the first contact with Xishan’s twelve cold darts, they shattered the darts instantly. The crimson sword energies continued undiminished, directly severing Xishan’s true spiritual weapon.

‘Puff.’

His weapon damaged, Xishan spat blood, eyes wide with horror as the nine still-refined sword energies charged toward him.

Gritting his teeth, he burned all his spiritual power to form a shield. With a hand seal, he spat a mouthful of essence blood onto it; the shield shone brightly with a ghostly blue light, radiating icy chill.

“Mingyou Shield!”

Sss—

Two sword energies pierced the shield first, like sharp blades slicing into sand, producing a ‘sss’ sound. Two of the sword energies were instantly covered with frost, as if about to freeze solid.

Seven more sword energies came swiftly after. The blue glow on the shield flashed violently as Xishan struggled, pouring more spiritual power into the shield.

“Hold them back for me!”

Yet, despite his utmost effort, as the seven sword energies struck simultaneously, the shield shattered instantly.

Xishan spat a mouthful of essence blood, his body trembling as he faced the nine sword energies, unable to move.

Death’s aura locked onto him firmly!

A flash of light on the arena announced the presiding elder’s swift appearance.

“Lin Cheng wins!”

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