Jiang Jingwei's red hair swayed without a breeze, spreading out like sea grass, with flame elements floating in granular form among the fiery strands. A spherical aura enveloped her body—fast-moving, colliding particles of soft red shimmered on the outer layer, while the inner space of the aura was distorted air. At this moment, Jiang Jingwei had transformed entirely, no longer the lively, combative young girl, but a goddess of flame, commanding and imposing. "Crack—crack—" Her bent arms restored themselves, and the vengeful spirit clinging to her shoulders shrieked in agony, as though slightly scorched, yet remained tightly bound, continuously siphoning her vital essence. To sacrifice everything for her master's command was the fundamental virtue of any spirit servant. "The furious one truly embodies the purest lineage of flame master." Zhao Chenguang's proud expression finally softened into serious gravity. Clearly, he understood the reason for Jiang Jingwei's sudden outburst. "First, I'll eliminate this troublesome shade corpse. Then, I'll battle you properly." Jiang Jingwei smiled at Zhao Chenghuang. Before Zhao could respond, she sank her knees, transforming into a stream of flame that surged into the arms of the shadow corpse. "Boom!" As the flame exploded, Jiang Jingwei propelled the shadow corpse forward, the sound of explosions echoing continuously—like a series of sharp, rhythmic firecrackers—pushing the shadow corpse steadily toward the edge of the molten pool, away from Zhao Chenghuang. Then, she grasped the shadow corpse's ankles with both hands, lifted it high above, and slammed it down. The shadow corpse crashed into the molten pool, splashing up vast waves of bright, shimmering liquid. Jiang Jingwei followed, plunging into the pool and pressing down on the shadow corpse's head just as it tried to rise, holding it firmly beneath the surface. At this moment, Zhao Chenghuang stood at the opposite end of the pool, tens of meters away, too far to intervene. Without hesitation, Zhao Chenghuang steadied himself, closed his eyes, and remained motionless. He would now personally guide the shadow corpse in a fierce battle beneath the pool's surface. The monks observing from the sidelines stepped forward, approaching the volcano's mouth, and lowered The molten lava erupted with numerous bubbles, gurgling continuously, and waves of "undercurrents" surged upward, intensifying the sulfur scent. The combat within the lava seemed fierce, though everyone could not see it clearly. Zhang Yuanqing watched the lava intently while listening to Guan Ya's remarks beside him: "I heard from elder members of our clan that fire masters at the Transcendent Realm are often impetuous, hot-tempered, and headstrong—deficiencies, in fact. Yet, at the Sage stage, these traits become strengths. An enraged fire master is like a charge of explosives—readily detonating, capable of unleashing his full potential at any moment, something other professions cannot match. Jiang Jingwei possesses the purest and most refined bloodline of a fire master. Though she has not yet reached the Sage stage, she is likely to unlock the latent power within her bloodline when faced with extreme adversity." "Indeed!" Zhang Yuanqing nodded. With her transcendent body capable of matching the strength of a Sage, Jiang Jingwei's innate bloodline was truly admirable. Then, the issue of the Level 4 Yin Shi would be manageable—after all, they were merely Yin Shi, not true Fire Masters. Without the Yin Shi, it remained to be seen how Zhao Chenghuang would respond. Indeed, the Yin Shi had been a key strength behind Zhao's top-tier status. As thoughts raced through her mind, molten lava surged forth with a hissing sound, and Jiang Jingwei leapt out of the scalding liquid, clutching a Yin Shi whose limbs had bent and broken. Cheers erupted from the volcanic crater, voices rising in lively discussion. Jiang Jingwei ranked sixth among the top twenty, yet she had defeated Zhao Chenghuang's Yin Shi—an outcome that surprised many. Given her strength, one would have expected her to secure a spot in the top three. "Little Princess, you're absolutely brilliant!" "Long live the Little Princess!" A small group of people voiced their enthusiasm especially loudly. At the forefront stood a young man with red hair, arms crossed, beaming with pride. His assistants behind him cheered and clapped enthusiastically. These fire masters—they all look like stray dogs… Zhang Yuanqing shifted his gaze toward the distance, hoping to observe the response from the Taiguan faction, only to be stunned by their unusually calm demeanor. "That's not very interesting," Jiang Jingwei said, crossing her arms. "I came to fight. I want to win you—fair and square." Zhao Chenghuang's stern face clearly paused, and after a moment of silence, he slowly replied, "Very well. Then I won't need any props!" Saying this, he set aside the small clay figure he had been holding in his palm. "I'll win you solely with the strength of the Night-Wanderer." Zhao Chenghuang inhaled deeply, drawing the lingering spirit that had been siphoned away from Jiang Jingwei's shoulders and now dissolved into a delicate stream of mist, which gently spiraled into his mouth. As soon as the spirit entered, Zhao Chenghuang's eyes burst with blood vessels, his pupils trembled violently, and veins surged upward across his forehead, his face contorted in intense pain. "Ah! Ah! Ah!" he groaned, hunching forward in agony. Suddenly, his body grew tall and powerful, muscles swelling and pulsing, his skin turning a deep, metallic blue, and his fingernails rapidly lengthening into dark, sharp ghost claws. Within seconds, Zhao Chenghuang transformed into a ghost radiating black energy, his skin now dark and bluish, his limbs adorned with black, ghostly claws, and his eyes streaked with blood vessels. His aura was cold and immensely powerful; the cylindrical pillar beneath him was coated in a layer of white frost that spread downward, while the molten lava beneath it rapidly cooled and cracked into dark, brittle soil. This... Zhang Yuqing, observing from above, could hardly believe his eyes—this was a profound, almost transcendent shock, one only the Night-Wanderer could truly grasp. At this very moment, Zhao Chenghuang had unleashed an aura surpassing the very limits of the Transcendent Realm, achieving a transcendence beyond the Transcendent stage without relying on any tools or artifacts, but solely through his own strength. The method was simple: by actively stimulating the Yin Energy within his body, causing it to lose control and rage wildly, thus producing an effect akin to a roaring, intense flame. S Zhang Yuqing himself had experienced a similar situation—when he had been "watched" by the Mage-Eye King. Then, the Yin Energy had nearly overwhelmed his physical form, threatening to consume and transform his body into This isn't just dancing on the edge of a blade anymore—it's defecating on the Lord of the Underworld's table... Zhang Yuanqing was utterly astonished. Could it be that Zhao Chenghuang, outwardly a cold and aloof night-wanderer, was in reality a crude and unintelligent fire master? As he stood in stunned silence, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind: Zhao Chenghuang had deliberately stalled at the transcendental stage, refusing to advance to the rank of sage. This was the official note provided by the scholarly committee in the list of the top twenty. "He, like the Earth Deity, has intentionally remained at the transcendental level, refining a specific ability repeatedly—while the Earth Deity excels in defense, Zhao Chenghuang has achieved mastery over the lunar energy to an unparalleled degree?" Indeed, the top three were no ordinary figures—each one was truly extraordinary. With this realization, he silently sighed within himself. "Oh? You're just as capable of unleashing your latent potential as I am?" Jiang Jingwei looked both surprised and excited. "You can think of it that way—any more complex explanations, you simply won't understand," Zhao Chenghuang's voice grew hoarse and somber Both of them charged directly at each other, their black and red beams colliding in the molten core, then separating and colliding again. Their speed was beyond measure—lines of red and black darted wildly, crashing into one another, sometimes meeting at the corners, sometimes at the center, like two irregularly moving bullets. Each impact erupted in a thunderous boom, sending plumes of molten lava soaring skyward. Zhang Yuanqing had to don the Observer's glasses to finally make out their movements—their collisions were forceful yet unrefined, crude and abrupt, separating instantly upon contact, leaving scorched black marks and deep claw-like wounds on each other's bodies. This raw, expressive form of violent combat was unique to the Fire Master; he understood Jiang Jingwei's actions well, but Zhao Chenghuang should not have displayed such a style. Thus, the cost of the Taiyin force losing control is an inability to skillfully execute the Yeyou Shen techniques. Throughout their repeated clashes, Jiang Jingwei was wounded repeatedly, while Zhao Chenghuang endured burns from flames and broken bones, yet his powerful self-healing ability swiftly restored his injuries, demonstrating an astonishing endurance. Amid the fierce combat, the turbulent lava surface suddenly rose, then gave a loud "hiss," and a massive red lizard, covered in scales, broke through the surface. The creature was enormous, with half its body emerging from the lava, reaching nearly eight to seven meters in height. Its amber vertical pupils flashed with fierce intensity, and as it expanded its cheeks, it expelled a dense stream of red molten lava toward the battling Zhao Chenghuang and Jiang Jingwei. The molten flow poured down like a steady rain, completely unavoidable; Zhao Chenghuang's body emitted hissing white steam, and vast areas of his dark, bluish-black skin turned to charcoal. Yet Jiang Jingwei, whose energy had been gradually waning, seemed to draw renewed strength from this surge, having her molten lava break down into dark red particles that seamlessly integrated into the aura enveloping her body. Her energy surged dramatically. "Boom!" A blaze erupted on Jiang Jingwei's surface, piercing through the molten stream poured directly upon her, carrying with it a tidal wave of roaring flame, and she delivered a powerful punch toward Zhao Chenghuang. She would make one final, desperate stand before the "fury" state ended. Zhao Chenghuang neither stepped back nor avoided—his face remained stern, his palm like a blade, advancing with a sharp thrust. "Crack!" A hook punch landed on Zhao Chenghuang's side, instantly severing his neck; his head snapped 180 degrees to face his back. "Whoosh!" Jiang Jingwei herself was driven into Zhao Chenghuang's palm, her black fingernails piercing through from behind. Exhausted, Jiang Jingwei collapsed. Zhao Chenghuang slowly realigned his head, then slumped to the ground, gasping for breath. The large lizard extending the molten stream gently inflated its cheeks, The host of this match, a young red-haired elder, declared with a resonant voice: "Zhao Chenghuang wins!" The large lizard, sensing the moment, swallowed the molten lava rising in its throat, gave a sharp snort, and quietly retreated back into the volcano. The red-haired elder lifted the critically injured and unconscious Jiang Jingwei, returning to the volcano's mouth to administer aid. The red banner elder of Taimei expelled a stream of yin qi, gathering both Jiang Jingwei and Zhao Chenghuang, and whisked them back to her side, entrusting them to her disciples for treatment. The scene erupted into a thunderous roar. "Are they truly at the extraordinary stage? They're absolutely outstanding—this has been the most thrilling encounter since the tournament began." "Jiang Jingwei's ranking has dropped—she's truly formidable. How could she have unleashed such powerful strength, nearly defeating Zhao Chenghuang?" "This also confirms that Zhao Chenghuang is genuinely strong. What was that move he used just now? I've never seen the Night-Wanderer of Taimei perform anything like it." The bustling discussions continued for a long time, as the battle had exceeded expectations and deeply震撼ed the transcendental-stage cultivators. While during the first five days, everyone had admired the star players' strength, their meticulous strategies, and their extensive array of props—elements that were all within acceptable ranges—what was truly surprising now was the sheer power displayed by Jiang Jingwei and Zhao Chenguang just moments ago. This level of prowess seemed far beyond what was expected at the transcendental stage. In the next two matches, Sun Miao-miao and the otherwise tone-deaf performer delivered strong performances, securing their spots in the quarterfinals. The red-haired elder of the Chihuo Sect stepped forward, his voice resonant: "The fourth pair of contestants is now entering." The audience at the volcanic venue stirred with excitement—today's second highly anticipated match had finally arrived. The eleventh-ranked player, known as the 'Little Qingyang,' faced off against the Primordial Celestial Sovereign. The former was celebrated as a rising star, while the latter had made a strong debut on the first day of the tournament, defeating a highly renowned Mount Mao cultivator. With the splendid performances of Jiang Jingwei and Zhao Chenghuang already setting a high bar, the audience's expectations have risen—curious to see what kind of surprises Yuan Shi Tianzun and the Over-the-River Soldier might bring. "Given the current situation, this battle should be a foregone conclusion—Yuan Shi Tianzun will surely prevail. The Over-the-River Soldier serves as a scout, and even if he's exceptionally strong at the Transcendent stage, his capabilities remain limited by numerous weaknesses." "Perhaps not. The Over-the-River Soldier has undoubtedly prepared well, and both of them aren't fire specialists—scenarios of crisis must also be taken into account." "Excited for this intense showdown. Jiang Jingwei and Zhao Chenghuang have delivered impressive performances, certainly strong, but lacking in technical finesse. Yuan Shi Tianzun and the Over-the-River Soldier, on the other hand, are both known for their exceptional tactical precision." With eager anticipation in their eyes, Zhang Yuanqing stepped onto the stage with his shade-body, while the Over-the-River Soldier, dressed in reed armor and camouflage military pants, leaped down and landed steadily on the stone pillar. Facing each other As the river-crossing soldier depressed his trigger, Zhang Yuanqing's gun remained empty. It wasn't the gun that failed—it was him. At the very moment the river-crossing soldier raised his gun and aimed, Zhang Yuanqing felt an intense sense of crisis. This sense of urgency compelled him to halt his firing and step aside. Yet, deep within, he sensed that no matter which way he moved—left or right—he would inevitably be struck. Caught between two choices, he hesitated. In that brief pause, the river-crossing soldier's bullet arrived. Indeed, no one could match the river-crossing soldier's opening fire, not even the Yuanshǐ Tianzūn. By the time this scene unfolded, the audience above had grown accustomed to it. Regardless of the opponent, the river-crossing soldier's classic opening move was always overwhelming firepower. The bullet struck the tall figure of "Wángzhě Yīshù," only to be absorbed by the strong, well-developed muscles. Since it couldn't be avoided, Zhang Yuanqing decided not to avoid it at all. He extended his arm from behind the shadowed corpse, aimed at the river-crossing soldier some twenty to thirty meters away, and pressed the trigger. Thump-thump-thump... The dark red trajectories draw parallel lines, forming a barrage that envelops the enemy. The "soldier who crosses the river" had already anticipated Zhang Yuanqing's shooting angle; as soon as he raised his gun, he bent low and surged sideways. Drip-drip-drip... The soldier swiftly leapt between the stone pillars, maneuvering to the side, then raised his gun to fire. Zhang Yuanqing quickly adjusted his position, moving to the side of the undead corpse. The bullets were once again blocked by the corpse's body. The "First Undead" had absorbed materials from the earth monster's profession—its skin was exceptionally resilient and pain-free, making it an excellent shield. While Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn was momentarily dodging, the soldier withdrew his handgun, his leg muscles expanding, and burst forward between the pillars like a swift leopard. Zhang Yuanqing used the undead corpse for cover, once again extending his arm to fire. Thump-thump-thump... This time, the soldier did not retreat as before, but charged straight through the barrage, his vine armor igniting with bursts of flame. Seeing this, Zhang Yuanqing decisively stepped away from the corpse and issued the order to engage the No.1 of the fallen eyes flashed with fierce intensity, bent his legs and leapt high, then snapped his right knee, drawing a whip-like leg strike with a crisp "crack." The Over-the-River Soldier seemed to have anticipated the move perfectly, maintaining his momentum, lowering his head to evade the strike while his shoulder precisely met the fallen corpse's hip. Harnessing the inertia of his leap, the Over-the-River Soldier drove his shoulders hard against the corpse, hurling it far away, then settled gracefully downward, standing on the stone pillar where the corpse had previously stood. The Over-the-River Soldier didn't look back at the high-arched, flying corpse; instead, he spun on his feet, turning toward Yuan Shi Tian Zun, who stood two pillars away. Zhang Yuanqing remained calm, firing his gun. The Over-the-River Soldier, suspended in midair, had no choice but to dodge—his chest was struck again by the bursting bullets. His defensive apparatus remained unyielding… Zhang Yuanqing made a decisive move and entered the Night-Wanderer state. As Zhang Yuanqing's body was just "erased," the molten rock beneath him erupted with a thunderous At that moment, the advancing soldier who had just leapt into the air landed precisely on the same stone pillar as Zhang Yuanqing. "Master Yuanshishen has been close-quartered." "Indeed, just as the flames erupted—he's simply unlucky." "But this isn't mere coincidence. The soldier has been calculating timing. Everything is exactly as anticipated. Truly, he is no ordinary Qingyang." Low murmurs rose from the spectators, who had watched the tournament unfold—the every contender who had faced the soldier up close had managed to avoid a crushing defeat. Guan Ya, Xie Lingxi, the Queen, and others who had been confident in Master Yuanshishen all felt their hearts tighten. Even Zhao Chenguang, who had been closed-eyed, meditating and recovering, now opened his eyes and turned his attention to the unfolding battle. Suddenly, the soldier felt a sharp coolness on his shoulder. The spirit servant—had kicked off in the direction where Master Yuanshishen was fleeing, striking just his shoulder. Immediately, the soldier remained calm, withdrawing a horn and blowing it with a deep, resonant, solemn tone—its sound both majestic and charged with the fierce, sharp energy of the battlefield. The coolness on his shoulders vanished instantly, and the spirit servant withdrew. This horn is a standard equipment for scouts; its sound has the effect of intimidating enemies and driving away evil spirits and ill omens. Its owner is a swordsman, a superior officer of the "soldier who crosses the river." After being kicked and momentarily steadying himself, Zhang Yuanqing heard the solemn horn call, and felt a sudden tremor in his heart, overwhelmed by an indescribable fear and hesitation. Seizing the opportunity, the soldier retrieved the horn and took two swift steps, then pressed his right knee against the abdomen of Yuan Shi Tian Zun. Once again, Yuanqing felt an urgency that no amount of dodging could overcome—this time, he remained composed, no longer hesitating, and stepped to the left. Crack! Sharp pain surged in his abdomen, his inner organs rolling and trembling—indeed, he could not avoid it. After the knee strike, the soldier stepped back, turned, and delivered a powerful elbow blow. His style is straightforward—mastering fundamental techniques such as punches, kicks, knee strikes, and elbow attacks, without relying on complex sequences. He focuses on practical, efficient methods Working in tandem with his refined insight, he anticipates his opponent's moves and maintains firm pressure. Repeated blows from his fists, elbows, knees, and feet land upon Zhang Yuanqing's chest, throat, and groin—knowing that the Night-Wanderer's vitality is exceptionally strong, he attacks without reservation. Zhang Yuanqing several times attempts to use the momentum to roll off the molten flow, only to be pulled back by the Over-the-River Soldier and continued assaulted. This formidable close-quarters combat prowess is even the one that even Guan Ya must respect. "Ho!" The Over-the-River Soldier roars, sinks his waist, and engages his leg muscles to lift his pants, channeling his entire strength into his right arm. His fist, like a venomous snake, surges forward and strikes hard upon Yuan-Shi Tian-Zun's throat. The laryngeal cartilage shatters instantly, and Yuan-Shi Tian-Zun's head snaps back, staggering backward. Yet immediately, the Over-the-River Soldier secures his arm and pulls him back. "You underestimated me. Against me, you should have used your full strength from the very beginning and deployed all your tools. As soon as I get close to you The River-Crosser, gazing at the Yuan-Shi Tian-Zun falling toward him, raised his rifle and pressed the barrel against the latter's abdomen, then decisively fired. Bang! Bang! Bang! The shots echoed not only in the arena but also in the ears of the spectators, who remained utterly silent. Many were stunned by the River-Crosser's fierce close-range combat prowess. The battle lasted less than a minute—from start to finish—since the flames erupted twice, and the third one had not yet arrived. The monster beneath the molten lava remained unseen. It was a surprise. Ranked just below the Miao-Shan practitioners, the River-Crosser had defeated Yuan-Shi Tian-Zun with such speed and decisiveness. Indeed, specialists who focus on a particular strength can unleash unexpected power when they seize the right moment and make adequate preparations. The River-Crosser soon emptied his magazine, slightly frowning, a question flashing through his mind: Why hadn't the referee called for the stop yet? This doubt had just begun to rise from within, when suddenly he felt a sharp pain behind his back—a bright, pointed blade had pierced through his chest. He glanced down at the blade embedded in his chest, then slowly, stiffly turned his head. There, standing behind him, he saw another Yuan Shi Tian Zun. "You've lost!" came the voice of Yuan Shi Tian Zun. Zhang Yuanqing had not used the straw man or the brute fighter gauntlet in this match. The props weren't meant to be used all at once; rather, under a well-thought-out plan, they should be deployed at the right moments, according to the plan. The core of this operational strategy was "Mirage and Moonlit Reflection." Thus, at the outset, he would appear weak, deliberately creating a subtle vulnerability that would seem insignificant to his opponent. When the opponent believed victory was assured, he would strike decisively and end the match. Zhang Yuanqing, a specialist in observation and insight, was a player with pronounced strengths in one area and weaknesses in others. Once such an opportunity arose, he would unleash his full power and absolutely avoid prolonged engagement. With so many weaknesses, delaying meant giving the enemy an opportunity. Thus, Zhang Yuanqing predicted that as long as he revealed a subtle flaw, the river-crossing pawn would surely fall for it. And indeed, it happened. "You..." "From the very beginning, you've been targeting my true form, not me." The river-crossing pawn opened his mouth, though surprise and confusion flashed in his eyes—he ultimately chose silence. Victor, vanquished—there was nothing more to say. He pressed a hand to his chest, where blood flowed uncontrollably, and collapsed onto the ground in pain. At that moment, the river-crossing pawn observed that the original Yuan-Shi Tian-Zun, whom he had just riddled with multiple shots, now appeared as a reflection in still water—first wavering, then gradually fading away. Red-Haired Elder declared, "Yuan-Shi Tian-Zun wins!"