"Yes, is it a magic illusion?" someone murmured from the audience. What they were seeing was too astonishing to feel real. What exactly had they witnessed? The Prime Heavenly Sovereign had displayed the very technique of Zhao the City Guardian... "It's real—didn't you see how even the members of Tai Mu Gate were stunned? Zhao Elder himself stood up in shock." A companion beside them replied in a dreamlike tone. "How did the Prime Heavenly Sovereign manage this..." "We don't know, but no matter who wins, the Prime Heavenly Sovereign's reputation will be utterly transformed. He will rise to the forefront of the extraordinary tier, surpassing all his peers—including Zhao the City Guardian." A prodigy known for his exceptional performance in dungeon campaigns, combined with unmatched combat prowess—this is precisely what makes the Prime Heavenly Sovereign the modern-day Fu Qingyang of the extraordinary stage. After the match concludes, the evil organization will surely revise their rankings, placing the Prime Heavenly Sovereign at the very top. "...No, it's impossible!" The eyes of Zhao Chenghuang, dark and piercing, shimmered with malice and ferocity, like spirits risen from the underworld, roaring, "How could you possibly have mastered this technique? You should never have been able to execute it." I have entered the realm repeatedly, undergone the purification of the Yin energy, refined it, grown familiar with it, guided it, and ultimately brought it under my command. For a full year, I stagnated at the transcendental stage, only to finally perfect this skill. If a newly appointed Night-Wanderer, less than three months into the role, can effortlessly perform this maneuver, then what am I? What are we then? Even the Night-Wanderers of the Taiyuan Sect found themselves pondering this very question. Even Sun Miao Miao fell silent. It was indeed no surprise that Zhao Chenghuang could achieve ghost-form transformation—after all, he had a master-level elder guiding him and had diligently honed his abilities for an extra year during the transcendental stage. Yet Yuan-Shi Tian-Zun, a newcomer, has already surpassed the realm of genius—from strategy and tools, to tools and ghostly transformation. This is no mere talent; this is a phenomenon. Among the night-wanderers, they feel a strong sense of frustration. The true reason for the expressions of shock and disbelief among Zhao Elder and others lies precisely here: ghostly transformation, at the transcendent level, is considered a decisive, game-changing technique by the extraordinary beings. Yet, to the rulers, it is merely a minor, unremarkable skill. What truly astonishes them is the sheer natural brilliance of Yuan-Shi Tian-Zun. The Red-Embroidered Elder and others exchange a complex, thoughtful glance toward Sun Elder. Sun Elder: "...". For the first time in his life, Sun Elder finds himself thinking: Perhaps—I may have truly been confused all along! On the platform, Zhang Yuanqing exhales a thick stream of Yin energy, his voice hoarse and low. "Is it difficult? After watching your performance, I went home and tried it myself. It was actually quite simple—once, I mastered it right away." Whether this statement is true or not, Zhao Cheng-Huang's face visibly tenses. He bent his waist and shoulders, muscles in his legs and back swelling with tension, poised for action. Observing this, Zhang Yuqing crossed his sword across his chest, lightly tracing the blade's surface—only then did he notice several subtle curling edges on the blade. If this were a sword forged for bloodlust, it would have shattered long ago. In this battle, without this set of armor, I simply could not have won. Zhang Yuqing felt the subtle ridges under his fingertips, gaining a clear sense of his own capabilities. Thud! The muscles in Zhao Chenghuang's legs surged, channeling power into the ground, sending a wave of sand dust rising and floating upward. The very next instant, Zhao Chenghuang became a streak of motion, the swift airflow generated by his movement sweeping the floating dust backward. At the same time, Zhang Yuqing swung his sword-hand back, bringing the blade to meet the enemy. They moved with incredible speed, forming two straight streaks of motion, converging toward one another. As they were about to collide, Zhang Yuqing lifted his foot, planted it firmly, and drove his long sword forward. The air seemed to be sliced asunder, emitting a piercing, high-pitched Under the powerful inertia, Zhao Chenghuang didn't brake, didn't yield—he suddenly half-squatted, allowing the sweeping blade to miss. At the same time, he弹ed his knees, carrying the momentum and colliding into Yuan Shishen's embrace, his sharp claws plunging toward the latter's chest. Zhang Yuanqing's blade fell short, unable to retract, and in haste stepped back one pace, lifting his left hand to deliver a downward punch. Thud! The fist struck his palm, the Taiyi energy transforming into a shockwave that surged across the arena, casting a cold aura that made the spectators shiver, as if suddenly transported into winter. Zhang Yuanqing's arm went numb, feeling an overwhelming force surge from his fist through his arm and into his shoulder, as though he'd been violently pushed back. The gap in levels became evident. Though Zhao Chenghuang wasn't at the peak of his physical strength, his experience level exceeded 90%, while Zhang Yuanqing was still at the early stages of reaching Level 3. Seizing the opportunity, Zhao Chenghuang launched a series of powerful blows against Zhang Yuancheng, each punch cracking the metallic sheen of his dark, jade-like skin, forcing him to retreat step by step, with every footfall sinking deep into the ground. Not enough—there's a significant gap in strength. My Yin energy isn't as rich as his, and my ghost-empowered combat power falls short. Zhang Yuancheng's steps grew disorganized, barely managing to parry the lightning-fast attacks from Zhao Chenghuang. Fortunately, his combat skills have improved considerably; had he been at the level before receiving training from Guan Ya, he would have been completely overwhelmed and at least severely injured by now. Just as Zhao Chenghuang was preparing to consolidate his advantage and firmly contain Yuan Shǐ Tianzūn, two sharp "thuds" suddenly echoed from behind. The impact sent Zhao Chenghuang staggering forward, a sharp, burning pain radiating through his shoulder blades. Upon sensing her master being struck, the Red Dance Shoes immediately rushed to his aid. Though it currently couldn't deliver a decisive blow or seriously wound Zhao Chenghuang, it still inflicted tangible damage—pain. And its unyielding, indestructible nature makes it the perfect support. Heave ho—well done! Zhang Yuanqing immediately steadied his wobbling steps, planted his feet firmly into the sand, and drove a blade forward toward Zhao Chenguang, who had staggered and lunged forward. Zhao Chenguang's eyes narrowed; seeing the blade closing in, he could not dodge. So he chose to stay put and swiftly grasped the small clay figure from his inventory. Whoosh! A hazy shield rose, deflecting the advancing blade. Zhang Yuanqing seemed entirely prepared—his expression remained calm. He slid smoothly to Zhao Chenguang's side and then swept his long blade in a series of fluid motions. He aimed to break Zhao Chenguang's defensive item, for under the current circumstances, such an invulnerable item might very well become the key to the other's comeback. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh… Zhang Yuanqing circled Zhao Chenguang, using his narrow-bladed sword to slash, chop, pierce, and cut, sending waves of shimmering sand-like fragments across the hazy shield. The rhythmic steps of the red ballet shoes rippled out concentric waves of After ghostly transformation, his speed and strength surged dramatically, and with the sharpness of his war blade enhancing it, the grayish barrier trembled violently, nearing collapse. Thud! Zhang Yuanqing took a step forward, his foot sinking deeply into the sand, his leg muscles tightening, power surging upward from his lower body, reaching his waist and then his right arm. The dark blue-black skin on his body rose prominently as he exerted his full strength, his face contorted in fierce determination, and he delivered a powerful slash. "Boom!" With the sound of an exploding balloon, the grayish barrier finally shattered, transforming into a gentle breeze that stirred the yellow sand. The small clay figure in Zhao Chenghuang's hands cracked. Hum... The narrow, long blade trembled incessantly, the powerful rebound force causing the blade's edge to lift and threaten to fly out of his grasp. Zhang Yuanqing's palm split again. At this moment, Zhao Chenghuang, who had been sluggish due to the cost of his artifact and had been forced into a defensive posture, finally moved. At the very moment the small clay figure cracked, and as the long blade trembled under the force of the rebound, Zhao Chenguang seemed perfectly prepared—firmly withstanding the pressure of the red slippers, his ghostly claws darting out and piercing the chest of Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun. Pff! Cool water splashed upward as his claws successfully penetrated the enemy’s chest, yet were neutralized by the water spirit’s passive ability. Indeed... Zhao Chenguang showed no surprise, nor any anger—seemingly fully anticipating this outcome. With a sudden, decisive stroke, his claws slashed from left to right across the enemy’s chest, then along the right arm, finally striking the hilt with a solid thud. The narrow-bladed sword flew off in response, spinning through the air for several meters before embedding itself into the wall beneath the audience section. This was precisely Zhao Chenguang’s true objective. While Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun remained unharmed by physical attacks due to his water spirit’s passive ability, it also meant that, in this state, he could no longer hold onto his weapon. Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun sought to destroy Zhao’s clay figure, while Zhao himself aimed to sh One lost his shield, the other his spear. It was a balanced contest. After deflecting the weapons, Zhao Chenghuang launched swift, close-range attacks, denying Yuan Shih Tian Zun the chance to recover or retrieve his sword, while simultaneously keeping a vigilant watch on the distant combat between the shadow corpses, ready to split his awareness and command the shadow bodies at any moment to prevent Yuan Shih Tian Zun from using them to gain an advantage. Crack! Zhao Chenghuang's claw struck Yuan Shih Tian Zun squarely in the chest, leaving four deep, bone-revealing marks and spilling crimson blood. Zhang Yuanqing winced, his face twitching with pain; his dark, sharp claws ignited with fierce flames, and he retaliated with a fierce, determined swipe. Though less powerful than Zhao Chenghuang, Zhang could amplify his damage through his flame-control ability. Sizzling… the smoke rose steadily from Zhao Chenghuang's chest; his facial muscles trembled slightly. Thud! Thud! Thud! Crack! Crack! He pounded and kicked, occasionally using his claws to slash deep wounds across Yuan Shih Tian Zun's body, while himself enduring Yuan Shih The two no longer used any props or even activated their Night-Wanderer abilities—on the beach, the Night-Wanderer skill became utterly meaningless, and against the Night-Wanderer deity, the spiritual attendants were equally ineffective. They fought in the most fundamental way, using only their claws and fists as weapons, aiming to shatter their enemies' bodies and wills, resulting in bloodied, battered combat. The sand beneath their feet turned to frost, hardening into compact earth, only to crack again under the force of their relentless strides. Audiences who had just sat down suddenly rose, eyes fixed intently on the battlefield. The firemasters were filled with excitement and enthusiasm, fully immersed in the vivid, dynamic combat. They were amazed to discover that the Night-Wanderer deities, who had previously served as assassins and summoners, could fight with such brilliance. Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun and Zhao Chenghuang are truly talented—what a pity they weren't firemasters. For other professions, this battle is a violent clash, a physical duel, a contest of strength—yet for the Night-Wanderer of Taiguan, the core of the struggle lies in the competition of the Yin energy. Whoever's Yin energy depletes first shall be defeated. After transforming into a ghost, the Night-Wanderer's self-healing capacity reaches its peak, and once the Yin energy is exhausted, wound recovery weakens, and eventual defeat becomes inevitable. Zhao Chenguang possesses greater experience and a more profound Yin energy than Yuan Shi Tianzun, yet those red dancing shoes of his have become a source of constant resentment. A few minutes later, with both combatants now near their limits, they deliver another powerful collision—Zhang Yuancheng's sharp claws sweep toward Zhao Chenguang's throat, while Zhao's claws pierce deep into Zhang's chest. The two stagger back, retreating in a series of uneven steps, Zhao clutching his blood-soaked throat. Zhang Yuancheng collapses to one knee, his vision growing dim. Both strive desperately to maintain and restore their Yin energy, working tirelessly to mend their wounds, yet their physical strength has now reached the brink of exhaustion. After Zhang Yuanqing's bleeding had just stabilized, the Taiyin energy waned, his sharp claws retracted into his body, the dark blue-black skin returning to its normal hue, and the deep blackness in his eyes fading. "Hey, heh... heh..." Zhao Chenghuang chuckled, his vocal cords still healing, his voice unusually hoarse. "Master Yuanshǐ Tianzun, you've lost..." He still had one final ounce of strength. With unsteady steps, Zhao Chenghuang advanced toward Yuanshǐ Tianzun. Zhang Yuanqing gasped heavily, his limbs slightly spasming, his heart threatening to cease at any moment, yet a smile played on his face. "No, it's *you* who've lost!" As the words fell, a powerful double kick landed squarely on Zhao Chenghuang's face with a sharp *thud*. His body stiffened suddenly, his footing wavered, and he nearly stumbled. Zhao Chenghuang's face flushed with veins standing out, his expression fierce as he strode resolutely toward Yuanshǐ Tianzun—though now at the very end of his strength, victory lay only a few steps away. Thud… thud… thud… Amid the downpour of stomps, he advanced step by step toward Yuan Shi Tian Zun, his face contorted with fury, gritting his teeth, blood seeping from his lips and cracks forming at his eyes. One step, two steps, three steps… Finally, after taking his eighth step, the prodigy of Taiyuan Gate was struck hard on the back of his head, crashing to the ground. The red dancing shoes did not relent; they continued to press down, one after another, shattering bone upon bone. The attack would cease only when the target was dead—this was the rule. Only the owner could halt it. Good thing—he was so tenacious! Seeing Zhao Chenguang showing no signs of response, his breath faint, Zhang Yuanqing finally issued the command to stop. The red dancing shoes instantly ceased, then moved gracefully toward the owner, clicking with each step. The armored sword warrior entered swiftly. This elder, eyes alight with excitement, declared: "Final battle concluded—Yuan Shi Tian Zun emerges victorious!" Boom! An unprecedented roar erupted, the sound at that instant like a barrel of dynamite having just ignited its fuse. All the official delegates rose, waving their arms, roaring, shrieking—thousands of emotions resonated in unison. Yuan Shi Tian Zun has won the championship! The biggest surprise of this tournament! "Boss, the five-year funding has finally cleared! I'm buying a sports car! I'm upgrading to a spacious penthouse in Songhai! Ahahaha..." Chu Seven was overjoyed. Others like You Feng Lai Yi looked equally thrilled. Fu Qingyang, usually so composed, broke into a rare smile. Beside him, the Queen and Guan Ya were cheering and clapping wildly. "Baby! Baby!" Mother Xie hugged her daughter tightly, "Mom is rich now!" Xie Lingxi was equally delighted, holding her mother's waist and shouting excitedly. Mr. Bill rose as well, even more enthusiastic than any of the Five Elements Alliance members. "My goodness! My goodness!" Annie pressed her lips together, gazing in rapt silence at Yuan Shi Tian Zun's figure. Zhu Rong was equally enchanted, though her passion was more pathological—her cheeks flushed, her breathing rapid. The more outstanding Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun was, the stronger the desire to harm him, to taint him became. This young man was so outstanding that he stirred her heart and captivated her deeply. The elders of the Five Elements Alliance exchanged glances, each seeing joy and excitement in the other’s eyes. Since the official establishment of the tournament, over a dozen years have passed—initially, the Five Elements Alliance and the Taiyuan Sect jointly hosted it. Yet in every tournament, the champion had always been the Ye You Shen, except for the two instances when the female Marshal rose to prominence—the tournaments featuring extraordinary and sage-level contenders—when the Five Elements Alliance claimed victory. In all other cases, it was always the Ye You Shen who triumphed, without exception, even when Fu Qingyang, who had once challenged the sages, failed to win during his extraordinary stage. The true emergence of the Qian Gong, and his full mastery of his art, occurred only at the Sage level. Though during his extraordinary stage he had demonstrated the strength to challenge sages, his opponent at that time Thus, later on, the Five Elements Alliance ceased to jointly host its match tournaments with the Taiyuan Sect, each pursuing their own activities. Today, after many years, the Five Elements Alliance has finally claimed another championship. Amidst the cheers, the Night-Wanderer God of the Taiyuan Sect exclaimed loudly: "Senior, Master Yuan-Shi has cheated—he has cheated!" "He took medicine before his transformation into a spirit-being; it must be the medicine's fault. His victory was not dignified." "Indeed, the tournament rules stipulate that no tools or medicines from the Saint Realm may be used." The bustling crowd gradually quieted, and the members of the Five Elements Alliance exchanged uneasy glances, their eyes turning toward the senior. The seniors, though silent in their criticism, all directed their attention toward the Covered-Plate Swordsman. This senior, a leader of the White Tiger contingent, served as the match's referee. After a moment's pause, the Covered-Plate Swordsman approached Master Yuan Qing and said solemnly: "Master Yuan Qing, the pill you consumed earlier appears to violate the regulations. According to the rules, you are to undergo an investigation." "I understand," replied Master Yuan Qing This was deliberately left behind. When the referee took it, Zhang Yuanqing said, "This is a stabilizing elixir for the spirit body, used to repair spirit injuries." He was confident it would not violate the rules. During the transcendent stage, the only pills available were the detoxifying and hemostatic pills from the Wood Deity, and the nourishing pills crafted by scholars. These pills were effective, so the competition regulations did not mention them—since even if consumed, they would not affect the outcome of the match. This differs from ordinary athletic events. The rules explicitly prohibit potions that can reverse the course of the game, such as the Life Original Elixir. The armored swordsman examined the pills for a moment, then placed them in his mouth. After tasting and sensing their effects, he said solemnly, "Indeed, there is no violation. But you cannot prove that the pills you handed me are the same ones you took yourself. I will need to conduct a lie detection test on you." "Thereupon, he asked seriously, 'Master Yuanshi, is the pill you've taken identical to the one I was given?' As a senior scout, he didn't need any props to compel a transcendental-stage spiritual traveler to speak the truth. The无形 pressure settled upon Zhang Yuanqing, who felt a growing sense of apprehension—like a common soldier facing the general, unable to conceal anything. 'Yes, identical!' he affirmed. The armored swordsman nodded, then turned to the audience and declared once more, 'The winner is Master Yuanshi!' The Five-Element Alliance travelers finally felt at ease, their cheers rising like a boiling tide. Meanwhile, the night-wanderer of the Taiyuan Sect grew visibly displeased—unwilling, unconvinced, yet powerless. The Moshan cultivator could not accept this reality, angrily stating, 'Even if there's no violation, you've taken medicine. Taking medicine is cheating—our rules don't recognize that. 'Indeed,' he continued, 'if you can defeat Zhao Chenghuang fairly, then by all means, show your strength. Otherwise, what hero are you to be, merely relying on marginal advantages and taking pills?' "We didn't lose our people—we absolutely won't accept that!" The Wuxing Alliance erupted, hurling accusations across the distance: "Nonsense! The Taidian Sect can't afford to lose? As long as there's no violation, Yuan-Shi Tianzun can go on his merry way, knocking himself out however he pleases!" "Within the rules, the game is open—how it's played is up to them. If they can't handle a loss, let them pack up and leave. Don't just whine here!" "Your senior monks haven't even spoken up—how embarrassing is that?" Of course, the Taidian senior monks acknowledged the point, yet didn't intervene as the young disciples voiced their complaints. It's perfectly natural to vent frustration after a loss. At this moment, the red ballet shoe that had approached the host began to glow, displaying a message: "Would you like to dance with me? If so, simply stay where you are and take a step!" "Count me in!" Zhang Yuanqing struggled to rise from his weary posture, then stood up and turned toward the Taidian delegation. Tap, tap, tap... the red ballet shoe began the rhythm, lively and cheerful. Zhang The heated exchanges on both sides stalled, and countless spectators stared in astonishment at Yuanshǐ Tianzun within the arena. What did he mean? The people of Taiguan were stunned. The members of the Five Elements Alliance also stood motionless, bewildered. "Tap, tap, tap... tap, tap..." The rhythm of the tap-dance alternated between brisk and leisurely. The red dance shoes moved with graceful elegance, while Yuanshǐ Tianzun wobbled awkwardly, as though mocking them. Soon, the dance concluded. The red dance shoes stepped back with the left foot, the heel lifting gracefully, forming a perfect knee-bending bow, then dissolved into radiant red light. Zhang Yuanqing also performed a stylish, slightly casual bow toward Taiguan. Only then did the Night-Wanderers of Taiguan finally regain their composure, their faces contorted in fury. "He's mocking us!" "Damn Yuanshǐ Tianzun! Elder, I can't take it anymore—I'm going on stage to defeat him!" "Damn it, I'm going all out!" "Too much!" When had the proud Night-Wanderers ever endured such treatment? The holy beings, including Zhong Du's Ghost King, all felt their eyes twitch, ready to strike. "Return! Return!" Zhang Yuanqing quickly said. Then he vanished from everyone's sight, including the furious gaze of the Night-Wanderer God.