"Zang Lao, who do you think will emerge victorious between these two?"
In the stands of the square, the Prince of Nanlin inquired of a silver-robed elder beside him, the very same elder who had recently announced the commencement of the competition from midair.
However, as the prince of Nanlin County, he was acutely aware of the elder's true identity—he was none other than the Grand Elder of the Divine Star Sect.
The elders of the Divine Star Sect were primarily classified into three tiers: the lowest being the black-robed elders of the Martial Sovereign level, the most numerous among them, as some true disciples would ascend to this rank upon reaching a certain age.
The second tier comprised the silver-robed elders, who could only attain this status with the cultivation of a Martial Monarch. Even within the Divine Star Sect, silver-robed elders were scarce, yet each held significant prestige.
Furthermore, there were rumors of golden-robed Supreme Elders, powerful beings at the Martial King level. However, this was merely speculation, as the sect had not seen a new Martial King in quite some time, raising questions about whether any still existed.
This silver-robed Grand Elder, referred to as Zang Lao by the Prince of Nanlin, was currently the most formidable figure in the Divine Star Sect, surpassing even the sect leader in strength.
Though the Prince himself was a Martial Monarch, he fell far short of Zang Lao's prowess.
Indeed, throughout the vast realm of the Great Yan Nation, and even among the eighteen nations of the Northern Sea, Zang Lao was a figure of renown, the reputation of the Divine Star Sect largely resting upon his shoulders.
Consequently, Zang Lao held a position of considerable authority within the sect, nearly equivalent to that of the sect leader.
"What do you think, Prince of Nanlin?" Zang Lao replied with a serene expression, deflecting the question back to the prince.
The Prince of Nanlin shook his head in resignation; in this county, there were few who would dare to disregard his inquiry and turn the question upon him, save for this silver-robed Grand Elder and perhaps a handful of others.
"It should be Wu Ding, after all, he hails from one of the four great families, with a solid foundation. Moreover, Ye Tian has yet to step into the Martial Spirit realm," the prince remarked, suddenly taken aback, his face a mask of confusion.
In his view, given Ye Tian's talent and strength, he should have long since ascended to the Martial Spirit realm.
"Whether one enters the Martial Spirit realm early or late bears little significance. Furthermore, this young fellow possesses a solid foundation; the fluctuations of his true essence are comparable to that of a first-level Martial Spirit. Even if Wu Ding were to win, it would not come easily. Perhaps..."
Zang Lao abruptly fell silent, a hint of enigmatic amusement flickering in his gaze. He believed that if Ye Tian were to wield the spiritual weapon at his back, he could undoubtedly sweep aside all his adversaries.
However, based on Zang Lao's observations in recent days, it seemed that Ye Tian was reluctant to reveal the existence of his spiritual weapon, leaving the elder curious about the choices Ye Tian would make in this battle.
Overall, neither Zang Lao nor the Prince of Nanlin held high hopes for Ye Tian's victory, unless he were to employ that mysterious iron blade.
Simultaneously, Xue Yuhai and Liu Hongwu were also concerned for Ye Tian.
"Uncle City Lord, do you think Ye Tian will win?" Liu Hongwu asked softly, though she herself had already resigned to the belief that Ye Tian stood little chance, especially since Wu Ding was likely at the second level of the Martial Spirit realm, a significant gap in cultivation.
However, Xue Yuhai held a different view. "If Ye Tian manifests his sword intent, he may have a chance. Did you see how many people are armed here? If his sword intent is unleashed, even a third-level Martial Spirit might struggle to withstand it."
"Hmm? Sword intent... I almost forgot he had comprehended sword intent!" Liu Hongwu's eyes brightened, realizing that during this period, Ye Tian had not showcased his sword intent, causing her to overlook this hidden advantage.
Moreover, with tens of thousands of spectators present in the square, and a substantial number wielding weapons, if Ye Tian were to unleash his sword intent, its power would be formidable indeed.
In an instant, Liu Hongwu's face radiated excitement as she turned her gaze to the arena.
At that moment, all eyes converged on the arena where Ye Tian and Wu Ding were set to clash. The other four arenas were all but forgotten. As the most prominent dark horse of this year's outer disciples, Ye Tian's duel with the first-ranked Wu Ding promised to be a fierce and exhilarating contest.
"Ye Tian, step forward. I grant you the opportunity to strike; otherwise, you shall find yourself bereft of even that chance."
Upon hearing his name, Wu Ding was momentarily taken aback, only to be replaced by a cold smile. He swiftly ascended the arena, gazing down at Ye Tian with a frigid demeanor, exuding the overwhelming aura of a Martial Spirit, akin to a tempest that swept across the entire platform.
Simultaneously, the crowd surrounding the arena felt a fierce gust of wind rushing toward them, prompting many to take several steps back, casting wary glances at Wu Ding on the stage.
"What an impressive aura!"
"Indeed, he has reached the second level of the Martial Spirit realm!"
The onlookers were astonished, even some inner disciples were moved; it was a rarity for an outer disciple who had only recently joined the Divine Star Sect to possess such cultivation.
"This generation is teeming with talent; the Divine Star Sect is poised for greatness," some black-robed elders of the sect remarked with satisfied nods, clearly pleased with Wu Ding's performance on stage.
As for Wu Ding's arrogant demeanor, everyone, including the elders of the Divine Star Sect, paid it no mind; such confidence and arrogance were typical of geniuses. Who could expect a true prodigy to be humble?
"Second level of the Martial Spirit, hiss..."
"This time, Ye Tian is destined to lose; the gap in cultivation is too vast."
"Even if Ye Tian is comparable to a first-level Martial Spirit, he is bound to lose this battle. But one cannot fault him; after all, Wu Ding is the frontrunner for the championship!"
"What a pity that Ye Tian encountered Wu Ding so early; according to the rules, if he loses, he will be directly eliminated and miss out on the top ten."
"Isn't that the truth? How fortuitous that their match is the first; I expected them to face off in the final round."
"What's there to fear? With Ye Tian's talent, ascending to the Martial Spirit realm is merely a matter of time. Even if he doesn't make the top ten, he will soon become an inner disciple."
...
The crowd buzzed with discussion, largely pessimistic about Ye Tian's prospects.
Not far away, the Thirteenth Prince, Lin Fei, and Yun Shuiyao exchanged worried glances.
"What a shame Ye Tian has not ascended to the Martial Spirit realm; otherwise, the outcome would be uncertain!" Lin Fei sighed, knowing Ye Tian's formidable talent allowed him to contend against stronger opponents, but this time the disparity was two levels, a chasm too great to bridge.
The Thirteenth Prince nodded in agreement, sharing the same sentiment.
"Look, Ye Tian appears remarkably composed, as if brimming with confidence!" Suddenly, Yun Shuiyao exclaimed in surprise.
The Thirteenth Prince and Lin Fei turned to observe.
They beheld Ye Tian steadily ascending the steps to the arena, his expression placid, his gaze calm, clad in a flowing white robe that danced in the wind.
Many spectators were moved by Ye Tian's tranquility, admiration dawning upon their faces. After all, to face an opponent two tiers stronger while maintaining such composure demonstrated a fighting spirit unmatched by any.
Even Wu Ding's expression tightened momentarily, but he soon sneered, "Very well, you did not concede outright; I find that commendable. However, in the face of absolute strength, do not expect any miracles to occur—"
Suddenly, Wu Ding's words faltered as his pupils dilated, his countenance shifting to one of severe displeasure.
For at that moment, Ye Tian raised an arm and beckoned him with a finger, a mocking expression adorning his face.
"You are courting death!" Wu Ding's face darkened, his narrowed pupils igniting with an inferno of fury; he was utterly enraged.
"Are you finished with your empty words?" Ye Tian retorted coldly, harboring no fondness for the arrogant young master of the Wu family.
Boom!
In a fit of rage, Wu Ding erupted, radiating a blinding brilliance, an unmatched torrent of true essence surging forth like a volcanic eruption. He instantly appeared before Ye Tian, delivering a fist imbued with vast true essence that struck with ferocity, the searing light engulfing the arena.
Ye Tian snorted disdainfully, advancing to meet the attack head-on. He swung his fists with determination, unleashing a radiant golden light that enveloped his entire being, akin to a dazzling golden sun.
Boom!
The two figures collided with fierce intensity, a terrifying surge of true essence radiating outward like tumultuous waves, causing the entire arena to tremble violently. Fine cracks gradually spread from the epicenter of their fierce struggle.
The surrounding crowd gasped in astonishment; neither combatant employed any flamboyant techniques, relying solely on a raw clash of power and true essence—a genuine contest of physical might.
Although they lacked dazzling martial skills, each impact of their bodies resonated like the collision of two colossal mountains, producing a thunderous sound that reverberated through the air.
The ferocity of their combat style ignited excitement among the young spectators, stirring their blood and evoking a sense of exhilaration.
This was a true battle befitting men!
Some young onlookers erupted into loud cheers, rallying in support of the fighters.
In the stands, the elders and city lords were visibly moved. Such intense hand-to-hand combat was a rarity for them, as few would willingly engage in such a brutal manner; only those dedicated to physical cultivation dared to confront one another so directly.
Wu Ding, confident in his two-tier advantage over Ye Tian, believed that both his physical prowess and true essence far surpassed his opponent, emboldening him to fight so aggressively.
Yet to his astonishment, Ye Tian's physical strength and true essence proved to be equally formidable, showing no signs of defeat despite the prolonged engagement.
"How is this possible?" Wu Ding's mind raced with disbelief; the young man before him, who had yet to enter the Martial Spirit realm, exhibited such extraordinary physicality and true essence.
While Wu Ding grappled with his confusion, the elders of the Divine Star Sect in the stands discerned the underlying issue, their expressions shifting to one of shock.
"This... this must be the Nine Transformations Battle Body, right?" one black-robed elder speculated in disbelief.
"It is indeed the Nine Transformations Battle Body, but this body refinement technique was thought to be lost. How did he acquire it? Moreover, he has cultivated it to such an advanced stage, nearing perfection."
"I heard from the elder guarding the Battle Hall that this technique was discovered by this young man. It's astonishing that in just three days, he has managed to elevate the first level to such a degree. His talent is nothing short of monstrous."
The elders of the Divine Star Sect were profoundly moved.