Mad Blade!"
"Ye Tian!"
As the gazes of Ye Tian and the Mad Blade clashed, an eerie silence enveloped the surroundings, as if the very air had been stifled. Everyone present stared at the two figures, feeling an overwhelming sense of tension.
"Third level of Martial Spirit?" The Mad Blade fixed his eyes on Ye Tian, who had emerged from the palace, his pupils suddenly constricting. He then chuckled wryly, "Junior Brother Ye's talent is truly astonishing. Even if I were to win today, it wouldn't be long before you surpass me."
In that moment, the Mad Blade's aura significantly diminished.
His confidence had taken a blow; just a month prior, he had witnessed Ye Tian's ascent to the second level of Martial Spirit. To his astonishment, Ye Tian now stood before him at the third level.
Such a terrifying rate of cultivation would shake the confidence of anyone who beheld it.
Thus, the Mad Blade's presence waned, almost imperceptibly.
"Third level of Martial Spirit!"
"Wow… what an extraordinary talent!"
"This kid's gifts are truly unparalleled; I'm fortunate I didn't provoke him last time."
The inner disciples surrounding them, upon recognizing Ye Tian's advancement to the third level of Martial Spirit, erupted in whispers of astonishment.
Among the crowd, Jiang Han felt a surge of fear and trepidation. Remembering how he had led the bullying of Lin Fei, anxiety gripped his heart, fearing that Ye Tian might seek retribution.
"It seems I need to find an opportunity to venture out and train. After all, I'm just a minor character; in time, they will surely forget about me," Jiang Han mused silently.
At that moment, Ye Tian stepped out of the palace, his gaze icy as he regarded the Mad Blade.
"Since you're here, let's not delay any longer," Ye Tian declared, then leapt into the air, ascending step by step until he halted at an altitude of approximately three thousand meters.
The Mad Blade followed suit, the two of them now standing over a hundred meters apart, locked in mutual gaze.
At this instant, the atmosphere was thick with tension; all eyes were drawn upward to the two figures poised in the sky.
"Mad Blade, enough with the idle chatter; make your move!" Ye Tian's eyes flickered as he coldly addressed his opponent, drawing his blood-red blade. As the blade gleamed, he pointed forward, a chilling aura of murderous intent enveloping the space.
"What a potent aura of death!"
The Mad Blade felt a shiver run down his spine, his expression turning grave. Yet, he refrained from unsheathing his massive blade, instead laughing heartily, "Junior Brother Ye, you seem quite confident. However, whether I draw my blade depends on your strength."
Despite the distance of several thousand meters, the spectators, all proficient in the Martial Spirit realm and above, heard their exchange clearly.
"This guy is incredibly arrogant!" Lin Fei remarked, his brow furrowed, a disdainful snort escaping him.
"If he weren't arrogant, he wouldn't be known as the Mad Blade," Prince Thirteen chuckled.
Nearby, Meng Shiyun and Yun Shuiyao watched the confrontation with serious expressions, their eyes fixed unwaveringly on the two combatants in the sky.
Prince Seven was also observing the duel, his countenance dark and his eyes flickering with a disquieting light as he murmured to himself, "He has actually advanced to the third level of Martial Spirit…"
Seeing Ye Tian's elevation to the third level imposed immense pressure on Prince Seven. If Ye Tian, at the first level, was capable of defeating him, what could he possibly do now that Ye Tian had reached the third level?
Moreover, in just a month, Ye Tian had caught up to his level of cultivation. At this rate, it wouldn't be long before Ye Tian surpassed him entirely.
As a fellow prodigy, Prince Seven felt the weight of tremendous pressure emanating from Ye Tian, and a sense of defeat began to creep into his heart.
"No! I refuse to give up. I must surpass you!"
With a determined glare at the figure of Ye Tian in the sky, Prince Seven abruptly turned and walked away, no longer wishing to witness the battle.
The month had come to an end, and remaining at the Divine Star Sect served no purpose; he would only be outmatched by the older inner disciples, losing his palace in the process.
Furthermore, the rapid advancement of Ye Tian spurred him to leave the Divine Star Sect and seek the harshest trials in the outside world.
While the Divine Star Sect was rich in spiritual energy, true and swift improvement in cultivation necessitated constant training and relentless battles.
This was precisely why many disciples of the Divine Star Sect chose to venture out for practical experience.
Clearly, Prince Seven had been shaken by Ye Tian's prowess and was unwilling to remain in the comfort of the Divine Star Sect any longer.
…
The departure of Prince Seven went largely unnoticed, as the crowd remained fixated on the two figures in the sky.
In the high altitude.
As the Mad Blade finished speaking, Ye Tian's aura of murderous intent surged once more, his icy gaze fixed on the Mad Blade, his eyes gleaming with cold fire.
"Not willing to draw your blade?" A faint smile curled at the corners of Ye Tian's lips, a hint of mockery flickering in his eyes.
The Mad Blade felt a palpable chill rising within him, his gaze toward Ye Tian growing increasingly serious.
"Then I shall force you to draw it!" With a mighty roar, a surge of true energy erupted from Ye Tian's body, illuminating the sky like a radiant sun.
"Boom!"
Ye Tian unleashed a powerful strike, raising his hand to send forth a crimson blade of light, stretching over a hundred feet in length, resembling a torrent of blood cascading through the void.
"Hm?" The Mad Blade narrowed his eyes, conceding, "I admit I underestimated you, Junior Brother Ye. I hadn't anticipated your true energy to be so profound, rivaling that of a seventh-level Martial Spirit."
Feeling the terrifying energy unleashed by Ye Tian, the Mad Blade could no longer afford to be complacent and swiftly drew his massive blade. With a resounding clash, the five-meter-long weapon spanned the sky, blocking the oncoming river of blood. The intense radiance compelled the onlookers below to shield their eyes.
"Rumble!"
Though the Mad Blade successfully intercepted Ye Tian's attack, he had still underestimated him, being pushed back several steps by the sheer force.
"The Mad Blade has actually been forced back!"
"By the heavens, a mere casual strike has managed to push back the Mad Blade. Is that kid truly only at the third level of Martial Spirit?"
The spectators below were utterly astonished, some even rubbing their eyes in disbelief.
Lin Fei, Prince Thirteen, Yun Shuiyao, and others wore expressions of exhilaration. As fellow newcomers and friends of Ye Tian, they fervently hoped for his victory, yearning for him to vindicate their status as "newcomers."
"Incredible!"
"What formidable talent!"
Several elder disciples in black robes also expressed their admiration, their gazes toward Ye Tian filled with respect.
In the heights of the sky, after deflecting Ye Tian's blood-red blade aura, the Mad Blade retaliated with a formidable strike. A colossal arc of light emanated from his weapon, seemingly cleaving the very heavens as it surged toward Ye Tian.
From a distance, it appeared as though the Milky Way had fallen, the ferocious momentum igniting fierce sparks as the blade sliced through the air.
It was an overwhelming display of might, utterly commanding!
If Ye Tian's blade was imbued with a palpable sense of lethality, then the Mad Blade's weapon radiated sheer dominance, an aura so potent that it surged forth, pressuring Ye Tian even before the clash.
"Impressive!" Ye Tian's gaze sharpened, admiration swelling within him; the Mad Blade indeed possessed formidable strength.
Though both were seventh-level Martial Spirits, the earlier Jiang Han would likely have been unable to withstand the Mad Blade's ferocity—such was the vast disparity in their prowess.
"Boom!"
Despite his admiration, Ye Tian did not falter; with a swift maneuver of his blood-red blade, he unleashed a series of terrifying crimson beams that formed an expansive net in the sky, intercepting the Mad Blade's overwhelming strike.
Sizzle…
Nevertheless, the Mad Blade's powerful blow ultimately shattered the blood net, continuing its descent toward Ye Tian's head.
Yet, at this moment, the force of the strike had been significantly diminished by the net, posing no real threat, and Ye Tian effortlessly countered it with a mere flick of his blade.
The inner disciples below watched in wide-eyed astonishment, utterly captivated by the unfolding battle.
"What a clever young man, compensating for his weaknesses with his strengths. Tsk, tsk, this lad not only possesses remarkable talent but also an extraordinary fighting instinct. He will undoubtedly become a pivotal figure in our Divine Star Sect," exclaimed an elder in black robes, his eyes gleaming with admiration.
The other elders nodded in agreement, all of them Martial Sovereigns who instantly grasped the essence of the confrontation.
Ye Tian recognized that his true energy could not match the Mad Blade's raw power, yet he cleverly utilized his abundant energy to dismantle the Mad Blade's strike in two stages.
This strategy showcased Ye Tian's exceptional combat awareness.
Boom, boom, boom…
Ye Tian was not the type to endure blows without retaliation. After absorbing the Mad Blade's attack, he unleashed his prepared Stellar Hand, radiating an astonishing might as it descended upon the Mad Blade.
Having reached the third level of Martial Spirit, Ye Tian's true energy was now formidable, and when he fully unleashed the Stellar Hand, its power had increased exponentially.
"Boom!"
The colossal palm of true energy descended from the heavens, akin to a massive mountain crashing down.
The inner disciples watching below gasped in awe. Though they too practiced the Stellar Hand, Ye Tian's execution had reached unparalleled heights, its power overwhelmingly potent.
The Mad Blade in the sky felt the terrifying force of the Stellar Hand, his dark pupils narrowing as a grave expression settled upon his face.
"This Ye disciple is truly remarkable!" the Mad Blade thought, unable to suppress his admiration. Even someone as arrogant as he was compelled to acknowledge Ye Tian's extraordinary talent, which seemed devoid of any weaknesses.
Yet, despite his admiration, the Mad Blade refused to concede. He cast his gaze upon the descending massive palm, a flicker of disdain crossing his eyes. Then, with determination, he charged toward the heavens, confronting the enormous hand.
A wave of gasps erupted from the crowd below!
As the Mad Blade ascended, his eyes blazed with intensity. With a thunderous roar that reverberated through the void, he concentrated all his true energy into his massive blade, unleashing a brilliant beam of light that pierced through the colossal palm.
This scene was nothing short of breathtaking; the Mad Blade had directly penetrated the giant hand, merging his essence with his weapon, surging toward Ye Tian with overwhelming force.
Below, Lin Fei, Prince Thirteen, and the others clenched their fists, anxiety etched across their faces.