In the first round of matches, all Eternal Sect disciples who fought advanced smoothly.
Gu Tianxing was a bit dazed.
Not just him—the audience was also dumbfounded.
This expression mainly stemmed from the first fighter He Wudi being truly too poor. Even winning the match was just luck, creating an illusion that Eternal Sect disciples came to be abused.
Many competitors, after watching the first match, felt somewhat relieved.
That disciple had good luck—could the others also be lucky?
As long as they fought seriously and avoided mistakes like Dou Haitao’s, taking them down would definitely be easy.
The result?
After being knocked off the arena, the Crossing Heaven Realm geniuses all stood frozen in place, brains only thinking one thing—Eternal Sect disciples are too strong!
This strength was crushing-level.
Like Li Qingyang—although he also hid his cultivation, he wasn’t as exaggerated as He Wudi and still brought terrifying pressure to opponents.
“Brat!”
Gu Tianxing’s gaze grew serious. “How did you train these disciples?”
One or two being strong was understandable.
Dozens of disciples all this strong was simply incredible!
“Uncle.”
Jun Changxiao said, “The martial path has no shortcuts. Their achievements today rely on persistent, unremitting effort.”
“…”
The system really wanted to complain but didn’t know where to start.
“Makes sense.”
Gu Tianxing nodded in agreement.
He had already begun imagining that in their short lives, this group of young Eternal Sect disciples must have experienced much tempering and shed countless sweat under the setting sun.
Unfortunately…
Gu Tianxing looked at Li Shangtian mounting the arena and shook his head. “Effort is admirable, but before outstanding talent, it’s utterly worthless.”
Clearly.
He still favored Chu Wange.
Jun Changxiao said nothing.
He didn’t want to refute Gu Tianxing’s words because the best proof was through action.
…
Battle platform.
Li Shangtian jumped up, his left foot tripping his right, and tumbled over.
“…”
Many people grinned.
Before even starting, was he already this afraid?
They misunderstood—Li Shangtian wasn’t afraid, just too nervous, which caused an error that shouldn’t have happened.
Why nervous?
Because this was his first time participating in such a grand event, especially with all his fellow disciples finished and successfully advanced, leaving only him—naturally the pressure was greater.
“Relax.”
Li Shangtian thought inwardly, “Don’t be nervous.”
“Junior Brother.”
Li Qingyang encouraged through voice transmission, “You can do this!”
Ye Xingchen leaned against the wall, arms crossed, and said flatly, “If you lose to him, I’ll help you kill him.”
“…”
Li Qingyang and the others’ expressions became wonderful.
Having interacted so long, they naturally knew Ye Xingchen was actually concerned for his junior brother, but the words were truly inauspicious.
“Whoosh!”
Li Shangtian took a deep breath. That nervousness gradually dissipated, then he looked at Chu Wange, cupped his fists, and said, “Eternal Sect disciple Li Shangtian. Please teach me!”
A simple self-introduction, containing iron determination.
However, this performance, in the audience’s eyes, in Gu Tianxing’s eyes, seemed like a new recruit who knew he must die but could only steel himself to go to battle.
“Please.”
Chu Wange’s tone was gentle.
Although praised as Crossing Heaven Realm’s number one genius, there wasn’t the slightest bit of arrogance visible on him. He didn’t even show contempt because Li Shangtian stumbled.
Modest and courteous, refined and elegant.
No wonder Gu Tianxing deeply believed such a genius could win.
“Not bad.”
Jun Changxiao gave praise.
Since crossing to this world, he had encountered many various geniuses. Low-key ones with substance like this were quite rare. Most relied on talent and status, arrogant to the point their noses almost touched the sky.
Of course.
Praise was praise.
Since they met on the competition stage, a victor must be determined.
Li Shangtian also understood this principle, so after greeting each other, he charged forward first.
“Crossing Heaven Palm Seal!”
“Whoosh whoosh!”
“Whoosh whoosh whoosh!”
Palm seals gathered from midair, pressing toward Chu Wange first.
“Boom boom boom!”
The battle platform endured explosive bombardment and began trembling slightly, but because formation masters had reinforced it beforehand, there were no signs of collapse.
“This guy doesn’t seem weak either!”
Seeing the violent energy waves the battle produced, the audience was astonished.
“…”
Gu Tianxing’s mouth twitched.
“Uncle.”
Jun Changxiao said, “The good part’s just beginning.”
“Swish—” Li Shangtian instantly merged into the energy waves.
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
Intense pounding sounds came from within, making the outer energy waves surge one after another, covering half the battle platform.
“Boom!”
Shortly after, what seemed like a muffled sound from palm strikes came. Li Shangtian and Chu Wange both retreated from the permeating energy waves—one retreated seven or eight zhang, the other more than ten.
“Young Master Chu fell into disadvantage?”
“How is this possible!”
Everyone’s eyes widened.
According to past genius competitions, by now the battle should have started and Chu Wange’s opponent should have already been defeated. Yet from the current situation, after their palm strike within the energy waves, not only did he fail to finish it, he didn’t even gain an advantage!
“Whoosh!”
Li Shangtian breathed a sigh of relief, thinking inwardly, “I thought he’d be as strong as Senior Brother Ye. Now it seems he’s not that great.”
While everyone discussed Chu Wange, he heard it clearly, so when fighting he was very serious, afraid the opponent was too strong and he couldn’t handle it.
The result?
After simple exchanges, he found the other was just average.
Actually, Chu Wange was quite strong. At the peak Truth-Seeking Realm level, he already represented an excellent example. But… Li Shangtian at the same peak Truth-Seeking Realm was more excellent.
More precisely.
Any peak Truth-Seeking Realm disciple from the Eternal Sect was unfathomably deep. After all, they had experienced various trials, cleared various secret realms—simply put, you have outstanding talent, I have cheats.
Of course.
This wasn’t promoting opportunism.
In fact, whether core disciples or inner and outer disciples, after joining the Eternal Sect, despite having various resources, their training intensity was hundreds or thousands of times greater than others.
Their achievements today stemmed partly from various martial facilities but equally from their own efforts.
As for Jun Changxiao.
Never mind—this was the real cheat user. Don’t be polite, curse freely.
“Since he’s just like that.” Li Shangtian rolled his shoulders and head. “Let’s end this match quickly.”
Chu Wange’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Swish!”
Right then, Li Shangtian stepped forward in a half-crouch, his hands rapidly forming complex seals as vast energy gathered above.
“Nine Dragons Splitting Palm?” He Wudi said.
“…”
Li Qingyang said speechlessly, “Junior Brother is too reckless.”
“Whoosh whoosh!”
“Whoosh whoosh!”
As Li Shangtian’s complex hand seals frequently struck, energy waves gathered above the battle platform, emanating vast dragon might.
The entire venue fell silent.
At that moment, the powerful aura emanating shocked everyone, including Gu Tianxing.
“Mount Lu Rising Dragon Strike!” Just then, Li Shangtian blasted the void with both hands. A dragon beast roared into being, carrying vast pressure as it pounced toward Chu Wange!
“This move is Nine Dragons Splitting Palm!” He Wudi roared.
“Boom!”
Instantly, an ear-splitting boom came. The battle platform was immediately shrouded in dazzling light, forcing spectating martial artists to reflexively raise their wrists to block the intense light, their hearts simultaneously rising with huge waves!
What kind of martial technique was this to be so terrifying!
The radiance blazed on the platform briefly before gradually fading. When everyone finally looked clearly, they saw Li Shangtian standing in place, a deep long trench before him. The extending path not only covered the area where Chu Wange had stood but also spread to the outer wall of the venue.
“Finished.”
Jun Changxiao stood, face full of smiles.
“…” Gu Tianxing said nothing because he was already completely stunned, because… Chu Wange was embedded in the outer wall, also unconscious.
Crossing Heaven Realm’s number one genius.
The one nicknamed Chu One-Move, Chu Wange, was defeated by an Eternal Sect disciple in one move.
“Victor!”
“Li Shangtian!”
When the referee announced the match result, Li Shangtian, standing proud as iron on the battle platform, first looked toward his senior brothers and sisters outside, then at Jun Changxiao in the spectator stands, and roared, “Disciple Shangtian, mission accomplished!”
—