’This is the perfect time to test the fruits of my labor!’
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Two figures on the massive stage blurred into a pair of intertwining whirlwinds.
Staff met staff, clashing wildly in the most ferocious and direct manner.
Each impact unleashed a deafening roar, sending out ripples of visible energy!
In terms of stick technique mastery, Xiao Beichen had already cultivated a Second-level Stick Technique to the peak of "Perfection," just a hair’s breadth away from the "Control Realm."
Meanwhile, after being tempered through tens of thousands of battles in the Imperial Arena, Qin Feng’s [Wind and Thunder Long Staff] had also reached "Perfection"!
For a moment, the two were evenly matched, locked in an inseparable struggle!
In the stands, the entire audience held their breath, utterly captivated by this spectacular duel of stick techniques.
"This Qin Feng... he’s also an expert with a staff! And his level of mastery is terrifyingly high!"
"Spears and staffs share the same origin. Someone who can use a spear is usually not bad with a staff."
"The Wind and Thunder Staff, that’s a rather difficult stick technique."
On the stage, the longer Xiao Beichen fought, the more alarmed he became.
He could sense that although his opponent’s stick technique was slightly less refined than his own Second-level Stick Technique, it incorporated insights from Control Realm spear and fist techniques.
’I can’t let this drag on any longer!’
A glint of determination flashed in Xiao Beichen’s eyes.
He abruptly pulled back, creating distance from Qin Feng. Then, he raised the black long staff high with both hands as a devastating aura began to condense madly at its tip!
[Breaking Army Staff: Calming the Sea]!
WUUUMMMM—!!!
The black long staff in his hands seemed to instantly drain all light and sound from its surroundings, transforming into a pitch-black, sky-propping pillar capable of suppressing everything as it smashed down toward Qin Feng!
This strike locked off all of Qin Feng’s escape routes, containing enough terrifying power to level a small mountain!
Faced with this world-destroying strike, a flash of understanding sparked in Qin Feng’s eyes.
The unprecedented, extreme pressure from Xiao Beichen’s earth-shattering strike!
This pressure was the final straw, completely shattering the formless barrier in his mind that separated "Perfection" from "Control"!
In that instant, all the experience and insights he had gained from a month of tempering in the arena, from battling countless stick technique masters, all fused together seamlessly!
The ferocious power of the Wind and Thunder Thrust!
The swiftness of [Flowing Light Chasing Shadow]!
Two completely different "Intents" collided in his mind, ultimately fusing into one perfect whole!
’So... that’s how it is.’
A smile touched the corners of Qin Feng’s lips.
Before anyone could react, the alloy staff in his hand thrust forward at a speed that surpassed the limits of vision!
There was no earth-shattering display of power.
Only a faint "SHRAAAK," like the sound of silk tearing.
An almost invisible surge of energy, condensed to the extreme and wrapped in faint golden arcs of electricity, flashed from the tip of his staff and vanished!
Self-Created Killing Move—[Wind and Thunder Chasing Shadow]!
The surge of energy, though launched later, arrived first, striking the black long staff and its world-destroying might with unerring precision.
Time seemed to freeze in that moment, as if someone had pressed pause.
The next second.
BOOOOM—!!!
Starting from the point of impact, Xiao Beichen’s black long staff shattered inch by inch, exploding into a shower of fragments!
He himself was struck as if by a heavy hammer. The armor on his chest caved in instantly, and he violently spat out a mouthful of blood as he was sent flying backward like a cannonball, smashing hard against the distant protective shield before passing out completely.
[Ding! Congratulations! During an extreme battle, your ’Wind and Thunder Long Staff’ Slaughter Realm has successfully broken through to the ’Control Realm’!]
The system’s notification sound echoed in Qin Feng’s mind.
And the referee’s voice, so shocked it was almost distorted, resounded throughout the arena.
"Qin Feng... wins!"
"Advancing to... the top four!"
The entire Glory Colosseum fell into a dead silence that lasted for several seconds.
It was followed by a frenzied roar like a landslide and a tsunami, loud enough to tear the roof off the dome!
A breakthrough in the middle of battle!
He used a Level 1 Stick Technique that had just broken through to the "Control Realm" to crush a powerful Second-level Perfection Killing Move head-on!
Qin Feng had once again shown everyone what it meant to be a "monster"!
...
As the list of the final four was announced, the atmosphere of the Newcomer’s Cup reached its peak.
Besides Qin Feng, the other three who advanced were, unsurprisingly, Zheng Dong and Zhou Run. Hailed as this year’s "once-in-a-century monsters," both had life force indexes above 3,000 and cultivated a Top-grade Acupoint Opening Technique.
The other was Ba Yan, who had been enrolled for forty-five years and cultivated an Upper-grade Acupoint Opening Technique.
The bracket for the semi-finals was also generated quickly.
Qin Feng’s opponent was none other than the elite disciple he had met once before—Ba Yan!
This matchup instantly blew up all the betting pools and forums.
"A clash of titans! The dark horse legend Qin Feng vs. the veteran prodigy Ba Yan! Who will make it to the final round?"
"Data analysis: Qin Feng, life force index of 532, suspected of mastering four ’Control Realm’ First-level Killing Techniques. Ba Yan, life force index of 570, has mastered two ’Perfection Realm’ Second-level Killing Techniques and ten ’Perfection Realm’ First-level Killing Techniques, and has already touched the threshold of the ’Control Realm’!"
"Qin Feng’s advantage lies in his Slaughter Realm, which means higher Spiritual Energy efficiency. Ba Yan, on the other hand, dominates in life force index and his sheer number of killing techniques! The power of a Second-level Perfection Killing Technique is on a completely different level from a First-level one!"