The entire arena fell silent, all eyes focused on the two figures on the raised platform. Under the collective gaze, Liu Qing was the first to move. He slowly rose to his feet, then took steady, determined steps toward the edge of the platform, and finally leapt off with a graceful flash. His feet thudded firmly onto the ground as he lifted his head, his gaze fixed directly on Xiao Yan's position. A subtle warmth glowed in his eyes—though among the strong contenders, he had always placed the highest value on Lin Xiu'ya, he had grown increasingly attentive to Xiao Yan over the past few days, impressed by the latter's outstanding combat prowess. To face Xiao Yan before confronting Lin Xiu'ya was like a refreshing appetizer before a main course. Thus, Liu Qing found himself particularly enthusiastic about this match. With Liu Qing's exit, everyone's attention immediately turned to Xiao Yan. Many were curious to know whether this year's most promising newcomer—this "dark horse"—could maintain his consistent winning streak against a seasoned peak-tier powerhouse like Liu Qing. Under the weight of the entire arena's focused gaze, Wu Hao and the others shook their heads in resignation, then turned to glance at Xiao Yan beside them. Amidst all the attention, Xiao Yan remained composed, showing no signs of fear despite facing Liu Qing. He stood up and slowly walked toward the edge of the stage. "Xiao Yan, go on!" came Xun'er's gentle encouragement from behind. Without turning around, Xiao Yan simply waved to the back. With a gentle tap of his foot against the ground, a faint silver glow emerged beneath his feet. As he moved, his figure flashed into motion, and in a matter of moments, he appeared at the center of the spacious arena. His feet lightly settled on the field, and Xiao Yan lifted his head, his gaze meeting precisely with Liu Qing's. The two locked eyes, each filled with an unspoken significance. As Li Qing's gaze settled upon Xiao Yan, he suddenly spoke, his voice slightly low, carrying the same sharp, commanding tone as his demeanor. "I will give it my very best." Xiao Yan smiled, grasped the handle of the heavy jade staff at his back, then suddenly pulled it sharply, angling the staff diagonally toward the ground, the press of force generating a steady whistling sound. Li Qing glanced at the jade staff in Xiao Yan's hands, a flicker of astonishment passing through his eyes. Since the first time Xiao Yan had fought Bai Cheng, he had sensed that this massive staff might possess some unusual qualities. Now, facing it directly and hearing the sound of the staff tearing through the air, he was certain beyond doubt that the black staff in Xiao Yan's hands was as substantial and weighty as his own mountain-splitting spear. It was now clear why, after the staff was released, Xiao Yan's offensive had not only remained steady but actually intensified—Xiao Yan must have been accustomed to carrying the staff as he practiced. A sense of surprise flashed through Li Qing's mind, causing him to regard Xiao Yan with even greater respect. To persistently practice this method without faltering was no easy feat—few with a resilient nature could maintain such dedication. As his thoughts turned, Li Qing did not immediately deploy the crack-mounting spear that had remained motionless behind him. Instead, his broad palms, seemingly substantial, slowly extended, occasionally curling and then unfolding, forming odd, graceful claw-like arcs. "I don't mean to underestimate you, crack-mounting spear," he said. "I'll only use it against worthy opponents. I hope you'll earn that qualification by the time we meet again." With a sudden, forceful strike and grasp, his hand-fist sent an invisible gust of energy rushing forward, carving several fine grooves into the ground. Li Qing glanced at Xiao Yan and spoke softly. Xiao Yan smiled slightly but did not take up the conversation. For someone of Liu Qing's caliber, unless you truly demonstrated a level of strength that commanded his respect, he would barely glance your way. Xiao Yan thought to himself: if it weren't for his strong performances in the previous few matches, Liu Qing probably wouldn't even bother to speak to him now. The dialogue between the two players had reached the edge of the grandstand, yet the audience didn't perceive Liu Qing as arrogant or conceited—they quietly admired him. Indeed, he was no less than the dominant force, Liu Qing—the kind of presence that made the inner courtyard's competitors seem almost insignificant. Such was the gap created by true strength. If Liu Qing hadn't possessed this caliber of power and yet spoke with such confidence, he would surely have been criticized in the minds of others as boastful and self-important. Liui suddenly emitted a soft huff, turning her head toward Yao Sheng, who was slightly pale beside her. "With the elder's strength, defeating him is a breeze—no matter how much he struggles, he remains just a creature that can barely make a ripple." Yao Sheng's gaze was coldly fixed on Xiao Yan in the center of the arena. This defeat had been a significant blow to him, especially considering his usually narrow-minded nature; naturally, he had blamed all the indignities of his loss squarely on Xiao Yan. Yet, as he spoke these words, he forgot something: if someone he once considered merely a mere insect had defeated him, then what, exactly, was he himself? You said that, and Li Fei's pride on her cheeks deepened even more. Her beautiful eyes, without making a conscious effort, swept toward the graceful young woman in the elegant green robe seated gracefully on the elevated platform, and she gently bit her silver teeth. As a woman, even if she herself couldn't find a single flaw in the other's appearance, it was precisely because of that perfection that she had harbored resentment all along—women are naturally jealous, and that's absolutely true. "Since the contestants have already taken their positions, I hereby announce that the match determining the final spot among the top ten officially begins!" With a steady gaze sweeping across the crowd, Su Qian's calm voice finally arrived—after countless anticipations, it came with a graceful, deliberate timing. As soon as Su Qian finished speaking, a wave of intense excitement surged throughout the entire plaza. A steady stream of eager eyes locked onto the two combatants in the center, clearly sensing that what was about to unfold might be the most thrilling battle of the entire tournament so far. Immediately after Su Qian's words, a remarkably dominant aura erupted powerfully from Liu Qing's body—so strong that even spectators seated far from the battlefield found themselves struggling to breathe. As a subtle, pale golden aura began to flow outward from Liu Qing, his massive hands appeared to swell slightly, and with each slight bending of the knuckles, crisp, clear sounds reminiscent of crushed beans resonated through the air. The hand claws, bent into an eerie arc, casually tore through the air, causing a ripple of disturbance. A faint vacuum trail momentarily appeared where the claws passed, only to swiftly vanish. Though many had not faced it directly, they still felt the intense pressure emanating from Liu Qing's commanding presence, which left many in awe of Xiao Yan, who remained standing firm at the center, his expression calm and composed. The battle had not even begun, yet Xiao Yan had already activated the Tianhuo Sanxuan Transformation, clearly demonstrating his deep regard for Liu Qing. Of course, he was also well aware that without employing this transformation to elevate his strength, he would likely suffer a decisive defeat from the very start. After all, Liu Qing, who had already taken a firm step toward the Dou Wang rank, was far stronger than an ordinary Dou Ling peak-level fighter. His gaze slowly lifted, meeting Li Qing's equally qi-infused stance. Suddenly, a low command echoed across the arena, followed by a faint rumble of thunder. A blurred silhouette, dragging a massive black ruler, surged forward with unwavering ferocity, charging directly at Li Qing, who remained motionless under the weight of countless intense, blazing eyes.