**Chapter Title: Clash of the Thunderous Titans**
"Senior Brother Zhao Yan, how is it possible that your physical body wasn't refined?" On the stands, several of Zhao Yan's fellow disciples expressed their shock, unable to believe that his body had withstood such a trial unscathed.
"Hmph, I'd like to see just how resilient your soul really is!" Ye Linglong's lips curled into a sinister smile.
In the next instant, an even more brilliant purple glow burst forth from Zhao Yan!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Loud explosions reverberated across the entire arena!
"What is this..." Everyone was stunned.
At that moment, before their eyes, strands of purple lightning converged in front of Zhao Yan.
Each bolt varied in thickness, each carrying a terrifying destructive power, their aura overwhelmingly potent.
"Purple lightning, it's actually purple lightning!"
"Zhao Yan's Thunderous True Form is the Purple Thunder Celestial Body; no wonder he's so powerful, he has actually cultivated the Purple Thunder Celestial Body!"
"The Purple Thunder Celestial Body is a powerful spirit technique, only manifestable under special conditions!"
"Such a rare lightning technique, and Zhao Yan has managed to master it!"
The crowd was utterly shocked to see Zhao Yan display the Purple Thunder Celestial Body so publicly; it was beyond belief.
The concentrated energy of the purple lightning continued to strike Zhao Chen relentlessly.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The platform around Zhao Chen began to crack!
Several areas of the platform started to crumble under the force, unable to withstand the power unleashed.
Zhao Chen's complexion turned increasingly pale.
Behind Zhao Chen, several elders had grim expressions; they knew the Purple Thunder Celestial Body was a precious technique within the Zhao clan. That Zhao Yan had managed to master it was both a blessing and a curse.
Yet, they dared not speak out to stop it.
No one present dared voice opposition in front of the Zhao clan; after all, this was a direct descendant of the Zhao bloodline, not to be offended lightly.
Even the usually proud Liu Hao held his tongue, his mind reeling from the shock.
This ranking battle aimed to identify the top three contenders, and now, Zhao Yan had proved himself a supreme talent.
And it seemed Zhao Yan might even push for a top-three finish.
"Junior Brother Zhao Yan truly has a heaven-defying talent; it looks like the top three in this ranking battle will undoubtedly include him!" Liu Hao thought to himself.
"However, Ye Linglong's talent is also formidable. Both of us are direct disciples of the Zhao family; there will surely be a showdown between us. I wonder if I can defeat Ye Linglong?" Liu Hao's face showed his concern.
"Ye Linglong has a powerful soul, and Zhao Yan's cultivation is too low to be her match. However, Zhao Yan possesses a soul-attacking technique which might just turn the tables."
"Hopefully, that's the case."
As the crowd buzzed with speculation about who would come out on top between Zhao Yan and Ye Linglong, suddenly, an elder from the Zhao family stepped forward to intervene. "Enough! Cease fighting!"
A powerful aura instantly filled the area.
Everyone was stunned by the aura; Zhao Yan and Ye Linglong both ceased their actions and looked towards the elder.
Seeing that they had stopped, the elder said, "The contest is over. Further private fighting will be strictly punished!"
He continued, "Ye Linglong recklessly initiated an attack on Zhao Yan without regard for the safety of others. She is sentenced to three months of solitary confinement in the quiet room!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Linglong started to object, but upon encountering the elder's stern gaze, she subdued herself, accepting the punishment, and left the arena with her head bowed.
Before leaving, she cast a resentful look at Zhao Yan and said, "Wait for it! You've severely injured Zhao Chen; next time, it will be your turn!" After that, she walked away.
Zhao Chen and Ye Linglong had always been arrogant and bullied the weak, relying on the backing of their family's masters to act without restraint. Moreover, their excellent talents made them unrivaled among their peers, leading them to disregard others even more.
Today's defeat of Zhao Chen by Zhao Yan had triggered Ye Linglong's attack.
This time, Zhao Yan had indeed put them in their place, an achievement no one had managed before.
Then, the elder announced, "The contest is over; everyone, please disperse."
The audience slowly started to leave.
Zhao Chen glanced at Zhao Yan, snorted, and then left.
Zhao Yan quietly watched, then approached the elder respectfully and said, "Thank you, Elder, for intervening."
This elder, named Zhao Shouzheng, was known within the Zhao family for his fairness.
"No need for thanks," Zhao Shouzheng smiled. "Ye Linglong was too extreme; it was time she learned a lesson."
After a few more words with the elder, Zhao Yan also dispersed.
The next day, the results of the contest were announced—Zhao Yan came in first, while Zhao Chen and Ye Linglong were both sent to the quiet room as punishment.
The news quickly spread throughout the Zhao family, causing a great stir. Many knew what kind of people Zhao Chen and Ye Linglong were, yet it was unbelievable that they had been defeated so soundly by Zhao Yan.
Although some of the family's higher-ups knew that Zhao Chen was not the top genius, he was nonetheless promising and had the potential to become a core elder in the future, so the outcome was not entirely unexpected.
However, what they did not anticipate was that following this event, Zhao Yan would also enter the inner courtyard.
Zhao Yan's entry into the inner courtyard naturally attracted much attention.
His one-strike defeat of Zhao Chen
was nothing short of a miracle.
As attention focused on him, Zhao Yan and a few others calmly found a quiet valley to enter.
The valley was already occupied by elites from various major sects.
Among them was a handsome young man, Zhao Yun Tian, the third son of the Zhao family, standing beside a man in a blue robe.
This young man looked ordinary but emitted a faint aura of authority; he was Lin Feng, the grandchild of the sect leader.
These two were the top talents of the Zhao family and were among the most outstanding in the clan.
"Zhao Yun Tian, Lin Feng." Looking at the two young men in the distance, Zhao Chen smirked and said, "Zhao Yan, Zhao Yun Tian, Lin Feng, you two listen well—after this Zhao family assessment ends, I challenge both of you."
"Oh?"
Hearing this, Zhao Yan's face brightened.