The battle erupted instantly.
Although Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, Liu Yunxuan, and the others were top talents in Qingxuan Sect with strong abilities, they were still somewhat inferior when facing the disciples of Heavenly Water Sect.
In terms of cultivation, weapons, techniques, and martial skills, they were slightly lacking in all aspects.
Adding up all these gaps made a significant difference.
So, right from the start, they were at a disadvantage.
Shen Mo's opponent was Yin Xuege.
As soon as they met, Yin Xuege extended a hand, "Five moves, and I'll have you down."
Shen Mo sneered, "If I don't fight you, how are you going to take me down in five moves? Your boasting isn't very convincing."
Yin Xuege's face stiffened.
Shen Mo had a point—if he refused to fight, how could Yin Xuege show off?
"What I say is more reliable. I'll take you down in three moves," Shen Mo smiled.
In the next moment, he decisively drew his sword.
The Thunder Sword was unsheathed.
He executed the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique.
Thunder Shadow Sword light interwove in the air.
Fast and fierce, it aimed directly at Yin Xuege's throat.
Yin Xuege did not expect such a fierce move from Shen Mo right at the start.
Even before the sword struck, he felt goosebumps on his throat.
His heart skipped a beat.
He had underestimated Shen Mo!
"You use a sword, I use a sword too. You're no match for me!"
Yin Xuege took a deep breath and swiftly drew his sword.
His sword was peculiar.
It had two colors: blue like water on the left and red like blood on the right.
Two completely different forces flowed through it.
Shen Mo showed no fear, moving even closer to Yin Xuege.
Clang!
Their sword tips collided suddenly.
A piercing metallic sound echoed.
Clang, clang, clang!
Shen Mo took two steps back.
Yin Xuege retreated five steps.
His face darkened immediately.
He felt a numbing sensation in his hand.
He could barely hold his weapon.
Shen Mo's strength was far beyond his expectations.
In their first clash, he was slightly at a disadvantage.
This angered Yin Xuege.
With his strength, he should have suppressed Shen Mo with ease!
He was one of the Five Young Supremes of Xuanjiang!
"Come again!"
Yin Xuege shouted angrily, swinging his sword once more.
Shen Mo smiled. From the previous strike, he had gauged his opponent's strength.
Weak.
And significantly weaker.
Physique and techniques were the biggest factors in the gap.
As for martial skills, they were just ways to display power.
With a strong enough physique and powerful techniques, one could easily overpower many others.
"I miscalculated earlier. I won't need three moves; two will be enough to take you down."
Shen Mo stomped the ground, executing the Eight Directions Thunder Movement.
His speed soared to the extreme.
In an instant, he seemed like a shadow of thunder, disappearing from Yin Xuege's sight.
Yin Xuege lost his target, his expression froze.
But he instinctively swung his sword behind him.
"It's good you have this instinct, but you're still too slow."
Shen Mo's calm voice came from behind him.
The next moment, the Thunder Sword pierced directly into his back.
Even though he instinctively blocked, deflecting the attack, part of the force still surged into his body.
The violent power exploded.
Yin Xuege's body flew seven or eight meters away, crashing into several disciples from other sects.
He tried to get up, but found blood flowing beneath him.
His strength quickly drained away.
Humiliated and furious, his rage surged, causing him to spit out more blood.
"Damn, impressive! Shen Mo, your strength has really skyrocketed!" Luo Shengnan exclaimed in surprise.
Bai Ziyue was shocked by the sight and quickly shouted, "Protect him!"
Yin Xuege, as one of the Five Young Supremes and the strongest of the new generation in Heavenly Water Sect, was their symbol of pride.
If Yin Xuege were to be eliminated in the first round of the melee, what face would Heavenly Water Sect have left?
Therefore, while others might be expendable, Yin Xuege absolutely could not be harmed!
In an instant, the tide of battle shifted.
Zhao Rou, who had been struggling under pressure, suddenly found her opponent withdrawing to protect Yin Xuege.
Zhao Ting immediately shielded his sister.
"Chase them! Now's our chance to counterattack!" Shen Mo shouted.
Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, and Zhao Rou echoed loudly, "Yes!"
Bai Ziyue and the others gritted their teeth, "Retreat! Preserve our strength!"
They fought while retreating, trying to escape Qingxuan Sect's attack range.
Yin Xuege had been severely injured by Shen Mo in just two moves and couldn't recover his combat strength quickly.
Seeing Shen Mo still in peak condition, they realized they were no match for him.
Their only option now was to retreat.
Shen Mo sneered, "Retreat? To where?"
"Chase them! Knock every single Heavenly Water Sect disciple out of the arena!"
He was the first to charge forward, his Thunder Sword aimed straight at Bai Ziyue's chest.
Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, and Zhao Rou's eyes lit up, and they immediately followed.
Xiao Fan frowned, glancing at Liu Yunxuan.
Liu Yunxuan sighed, "Let's follow them."
Under Shen Mo's leadership, the Qingxuan Sect team moved like a deadly blade, relentlessly pursuing Heavenly Water Sect.
Disciples from other sects stepped aside to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.
This scene, witnessed by the audience in the stands, left them in shock.
"Wow! Qingxuan Sect is actually chasing down Heavenly Water Sect!"
"Who is that leader from Qingxuan Sect? He's amazing! He took down Yin Xuege in two moves!"
"I didn't expect Qingxuan Sect to be the dark horse of the Hundred Sect Ceremony!"
Heavenly Water Sect's Sect Master, Zhang Mo, frowned deeply.
"What kind of strength does that boy have to severely injure Xuege in just two moves?" The vice sect master next to him was equally astonished.
"He's probably the heaven-grade physique that Qingxuan Sect has been hiding for a long time," Zhang Mo said in a serious tone.
The vice sect master was shocked, "What? No wonder!"
"Let's watch closely. The situation is very unfavorable for us. I hope Ziyue can hold on. Anyone can be eliminated, but not Xuege!" Zhang Mo took a few deep breaths, feeling a bit anxious.
If Yin Xuege were eliminated in the first round, she would be too embarrassed to remain seated here.
In contrast to Heavenly Water Sect's gloom, Murong Yue was overjoyed.
She realized she had underestimated her precious disciple's strength.
"Well done! Excellent!" Murong Yue couldn't help but exclaim.
Beside her, Liu Yuanfeng frowned deeply.
Shen Mo's growth rate was terrifying.
To have reached such strength already?
He truly deserved his heaven-grade superior physique.
The sect masters and vice sect masters of Divine Sword Sect, Rising Sun Sect, Thunderfire Sect, and Verdant Vine Sect watched the scene from a distance, their faces showing various expressions.
Some were amused, some were amazed, and some were admiring.
On the martial arena, the teams from Divine Sword Sect, Rising Sun Sect, Thunderfire Sect, and Verdant Vine Sect stood with folded arms, watching the spectacle.
Because of their overwhelming strength, no other sect teams dared to provoke them.
The Hundred Sect Ceremony was always like this.
The top five sects of Xuanjiang could simply watch during the first-round melee and easily make it to the second round.
Only this year, Heavenly Water Sect encountered a little setback.
Within the Rising Sun Sect team.
"It's been a while, but Yin Xuege's strength has weakened," Hong Chilong said, wiping his huge sword without even looking up.
"That kid only knows some underhanded tricks. When it comes to real strength, he's not even worthy to carry our senior brother's shoes," a Rising Sun Sect disciple next to him boasted with a proud smile.