"Take out your sword." Xing Chongzhi pointed his red sword at Yuan with a confident smile on his face.
Yuan nodded and retrieved his Empyrean Overlord, shocking the spectators.
"Is that...?"
"That’s a Soul Weapon! He has a Soul Weapon!"
The spectators immediately recognized the Empyrean Overlord as a Soul Weapon despite its lack of aura— or perhaps that’s how they knew it was a Soul Weapon right away.
"I didn’t recognize it because of the chaotic situation at that time, but to think he has a Soul Weapon as well..." Xi Meili mumbled in a slightly surprised voice.
"As well? Does this mean you also have one?" Wang Xiuying asked her.
"Yes. It’s our family heritage that was left behind by our Dragon Ancestor. It’s a powerful spear that is rumored to have the capabilities to pierce even the heavens." Xi Meili nodded.
On the stage, after his initial surprise, Xing Chongzhi smiled and said, "A Soul Weapon, huh? I’m envious."
"Are the two of you ready?" The judge asked them.
"Ready when you are." Xing Chongzhi said to Yuan.
"I am ready as well."
"Then the match begins now!"
"I’m going to bet ten spirit stones on Xing Chongzhi!" One of the spectators suddenly said.
"I’ll bet fifteen on that young man!"
"Fifty for Xing Chongzhi!"
"Twenty-five spirit stones for Xing Chongzhi!"
The spectators began shouting out their bets with most of them betting on Xing Chongzhi’s victory, which wasn’t too surprising due to his perfect win rate when he wields a sword.
Furthermore, Xing Chongzhi knew Sword Aura, something that could be used even as a Spirit Master.
"I will bet one thousand spirit stones on Yuan!" A clear voice suddenly resounded, causing the people to turn to look at this person who dared to bet such a large amount.
"Princess Xi? You think this young man is going to win?" One of them couldn’t help but ask her.
"Not really. I’m just hoping for a miracle to happen," she said with a calm smile on her face.
Meanwhile, on the stage, Xing Chongzhi suddenly released his Sword Aura, filling the area with a domineering pressure.
The audience was immediately awed by Xing Chongzhi’s Sword Aura.
"Wow! How long has it been since I last saw Xing Chongzhi’s Sword Aura?"
"I have seen it many times now, but it still leaves me speechless."
"As expected of a swordmaster. Even though he’s not directing the Sword Aura at me, I can still feel as though there are invisible swords surrounding me!"
"Sword Aura, huh?" Yuan was pleasantly surprised that his opponent knew Sword Aura too!
"You’re not the only one who can use Sword Aura!" Yuan said with a smile on his face before releasing his own Sword Aura, immediately colliding with Xing Chongzhi’s Sword Aura.
"What! Impossible!"
The first to express her shock and disbelief was Xi Meili.
If she remembers correctly, Yuan mentioned that he was only 18 years old! How could someone comprehend Sword Aura at such a young age?!
It took Xing Chongzhi 700 years to understand Sword Aura and he was considered a top genius with the sword!
"I really don’t know what to say besides... As expected from the one who released all nine pillars of light." Xi Meili mumbled in a low voice.
Meanwhile, the other spectators were shocked speechless, and they could feel invisible swords touching their neck after Yuan released his Sword Aura, which was clearly more devastating than Xing Chongzhi’s Sword Aura.
On the stage, Xing Chongzhi stared at Yuan with a gawking look on his face, looking like he was looking at ghosts for the first time in his life.
"H-How old are you, again?" Xing Chongzhi decided to ask him, completely forgetting about their match.
"I’m eighteen years old," Yuan responded.
"E-Eighteen years old... A-And when did you learn Sword Aura?"
"A little over a week ago, I guess," Yuan said.
"Y-You learned Sword Aura a week ago? And it’s already this powerful?" Xing Chongzhi’s body trembled after hearing Yuan’s words.
It was at this moment he realized that his 100 percent win rate was in jeopardy. How could he possibly fight against someone who has managed to learn Sword Aura a few hundred years faster than he did? Not to mention Yuan’s Sword Aura was already stronger than his own despite knowing it for only a mere week, whilst he has known Sword Aura for many centuries.
’I-It’s okay. His Sword Aura may be more powerful than mine, but when it comes to techniques, I should still be superior!’ Xing Chongzhi thought to himself.
Indeed, Xing Chongzhi had guessed correctly. Whilst Yuan was a monster when it comes to comprehension, he was still too young and inexperienced compared to Xing Chongzhi, who has thousands of years of experience under his belt.
Therefore, while Yuan was unrivaled in terms of raw strength, his technique was a bit lacking.
"Here I come!" Xing Chongzhi immediately used his movement technique to close the distance whilst swinging the red sword in his grasp in a swift and precise manner.
Yuan also used his movement technique to dodge the incoming strike before retaliating with the Empyrean Overlord.
[Bloody Sword Strike!]
Yuan swung the massive sword as though it was as light as a feather.
’I cannot block that with my sword! He’ll send me flying!’ Xing Chongzhi could instinctively tell that he wouldn’t be able to withstand the might of Yuan’s sword and didn’t even bother to block it, using his effort to dodge it instead.
CLANG!
The stage shook when Yuan’s sword slammed onto it, and to his surprise, there was not a single dent on the platform.
’What is this platform made of?! It’s like steel!’ Yuan cried inwardly, feeling his entire body tremble from the impact, even almost losing grip on his sword.
Xing Chongzhi noticed that this was his chance to strike and immediately went for Yuan’s neck.
’Oh!’
When Yuan saw Xing Chongzhi suddenly appear in front of him with the red sword already in motion and heading towards his head, he subconsciously activated Dragon’s Gaze at its full power, taking Xing Chongzhi by surprise and instantly halting his movements.
Seeing this, Yuan ignored the numbing sensation in his arms and swung the Empyrean Overlord, separating Xing Chongzhi’s head from his body in a split second.
The audience gasped in shock after they witnessed this unexpected outcome. However, what surprised them the most was the technique Yuan had just used, as it caused their dragon bloodlines to react in a manner that was similar to awe and reverence.
"I-Impossible! How does he know that technique?!" Xi Meili exclaimed in a shocked voice after seeing Yuan use Dragon’s Gaze.
The Dragon’s Gaze is one of the most powerful techniques for dragons! However, it’s not a technique that could be learned just by any dragons! In fact, only dragons of royal blood can learn this technique!
"D-Did he just use Dragon’s Gaze?" The other people there were also in disbelief.
"I think he did..."
"He’s from the Royal Family? But I have never seen him before! Don’t tell me that he’s the Royal Family’s secret child!"
The audience immediately began to speculate about Yuan’s background.
A few moments after Yuan killed Xing Chongzhi, he reappeared outside the stage still with a dazed look on his face, almost like he was still under the effects of the Dragon’s Gaze.