Silence!
The vast training grounds fell as still as if frozen. Not a single person made a sound.
Only Tang Ji’s agonized screams and the dull thud of his body hitting the ground filled the air.
The mocking sneers on everyone’s faces instantly froze, replaced by expressions of utter shock.
He had defeated Tang Ji, a cultivator at the Sixth Realm of Qi Condensation, in a single move!
And with such casual ease, he had crippled one of Tang Ji’s arms!
Was this the "trash" they had been talking about?
If Yi Xiaoyao was trash, then what did that make the people who called him that?
"That piece of... I mean, Yi Xiaoyao, actually has the cultivation of the Seventh Realm of Qi Condensation?"
As that cry broke the silence, everyone on the training grounds gasped.
Even Tang Ruoxue, who was slowly descending from the high platform, couldn’t help but let her beautiful eyes narrow, a trace of surprise on her face.
’Could I defeat Tang Ji in a single blow like Yi Xiaoyao just did?’ she couldn’t help but wonder.
A moment later, Tang Ruoxue’s arrogant expression returned.
’I’m at the Eighth Realm of Qi Condensation with peerless talent in the Sword Dao. Why would I fear someone at the Seventh Realm?’
"Yi Xiaoyao, so you’ve been hiding your cultivation all this time?"
Tang Ruoxue walked to stand opposite Yi Xiaoyao, her eyes narrowed into icy slits as she spoke with chilling words, "But in the face of a true gap in strength, it’s all pointless!"
Yi Xiaoyao didn’t respond. The two figures stood ten zhang apart, facing each other.
Tang Ruoxue drew her longsword. Its silver blade reflected her cold, proud eyes and her slightly moving lips.
"Since you’re so intent on humiliating yourself, I’ll grant you your wish!"
Yi Xiaoyao’s black hair stirred without a wind. Hearing her words, the corners of his mouth lifted into a mocking smile.
He abruptly raised his Bloodthirsty Sword and pointed it straight at Tang Ruoxue!
"I told you, I will make you regret everything you’ve done, and I will take back what is mine! Therefore, in this battle, your defeat is certain!"
Their eyes met, their tangible gazes clashing in mid-air and sparking with intense battle intent.
In an instant, their exchange of words sent the entire training ground into an uproar!
Before, everyone in the Tang Family Castle had thought Yi Xiaoyao’s challenge to Tang Ruoxue was a huge joke—nothing more than him asking for humiliation.
But now, after he had crippled Tang Ji in a single move, no one dared to say Yi Xiaoyao was overestimating himself.
A moment ago, Yi Xiaoyao had been completely ignored by everyone, like an insignificant speck of dust.
But just now, he had revealed his own light for the first time, and it was dazzling!
However, in the hearts of the crowd, Tang Ruoxue’s radiance still outshone Yi Xiaoyao’s.
This was because her cultivation was a realm higher than his, and she had also demonstrated three forms of her extraordinary swordsmanship before the crowd.
Almost everyone was fanatically, one-sidedly in support of Tang Ruoxue.
It couldn’t be helped!
Yi Xiaoyao’s surname wasn’t Tang, and he had never been well-liked by the Tang Family.
Meanwhile, Tang Ruoxue was a well-known genius, a goddess in the eyes of countless people, and she now had the prestige of the Cloud Transformation Sect behind her. How could Yi Xiaoyao’s popularity possibly compare?
But some of the Foreigners who had come to offer congratulatory gifts had a sudden thought, hoping Yi Xiaoyao could pull off an upset. That would make things truly exciting.
"It seems that this Yi Xiaoyao kid’s talent isn’t half bad!"
On the high platform, the three sect elders began to discuss amongst themselves, while also shooting doubtful and displeased glances at Tang Long.
Tang Long looked extremely awkward. He had just told these three that Yi Xiaoyao was nothing but trash; this was a slap in his own face.
Mei Han of the Cloud Transformation Sect said, "Both of these youths are quite good, but Tang Ruoxue has the upper hand."
"It seems Elder Mei is quite confident in her new disciple!" Elder Ge of the Wind Mist Sect said, raising an eyebrow.
"Would a disciple I, Mei Han, have chosen ever lose to someone of a lower realm?" Mei Han said indifferently.
However, Xu Jin of the Jinhan Sect just shook his head faintly.
"It’s hard to say. Although Tang Ruoxue’s cultivation is a realm higher and her swordsmanship is quite accomplished, the power of the Spiritual Power Yi Xiaoyao displayed earlier far surpassed others of his rank!" Xu Jin said gravely.
"I noticed that as well. That Yi Xiaoyao’s Spiritual Power is strangely domineering! Even with the gap in their cultivation, it’s impossible to predict the outcome without seeing them truly fight."
At this, Elder Ge and Elder Xu exchanged a look, a sharp glint in both their eyes.
They had already made up their minds. Regardless of whether Yi Xiaoyao won or lost, they would both fight to take him as a disciple!
Besides, Mei Han of the Cloud Transformation Sect had always only accepted female disciples, so they no longer had to worry about her competing with them.
Just then, Tang Ruoxue took the lead, her feet moving in a blur as she struck with her sword.
Yi Xiaoyao’s figure also moved, his sword humming as he drew it.
In an instant, they closed the distance, coming within a few zhang of each other.
"Earth-Cutting Swordsmanship!"
A silver light flashed. With a sharp cry, Tang Ruoxue swept her longsword horizontally. The WHOOSH of the blade cutting through the air was like a clap of thunder.
Earth-Cutting Swordsmanship focused on absolute, ferocious power; it was an extremely destructive technique.
Tang Ruoxue wanted to defeat Yi Xiaoyao in a single move with her most ferocious strike.
"Ridiculous! You call that Earth-Cutting Swordsmanship?"
Yi Xiaoyao sneered. He immediately swung his Bloodthirsty Sword, which flashed with a crimson light, raised it high above his head, and brought it down in a slash.
It was also Earth-Cutting Swordsmanship!
One swept horizontally, the other slashed vertically.
Surprise flickered in Tang Ruoxue’s eyes. She hadn’t expected Yi Xiaoyao to know this swordsmanship as well.
’But that strange, red longsword of his looks like it’s just forged from ordinary iron, no matter how I look at it. My sword, on the other hand, is the only fine sword in the entire Tang Family Castle.’
With just this one strike, Tang Ruoxue was confident she could easily shatter his sword.
"Yi Xiaoyao, you dare use the same swordsmanship as me? A mere novice showing off for a master!"
The corners of Tang Ruoxue’s mouth curled up as she sneered.
CLANG!
The two swords met.
Both of them felt a massive force travel up the blades of their swords, making their arms tremble violently.
Suddenly, Yi Xiaoyao’s cold voice rang out, "Your Earth-Cutting Swordsmanship is too weak!"
Immediately after.
CRACK!
A faint cracking sound echoed, and in the next moment, Tang Ruoxue’s expression changed dramatically.
She had discovered a crack on her longsword!
Tang Ruoxue reacted instantly. With a nimble flick of her wrist, she skillfully dodged the force of Yi Xiaoyao’s blow and retreated several steps.
The momentum of Yi Xiaoyao’s Bloodthirsty Sword didn’t diminish. Having lost its target, it slammed directly into the ground.
A shocking fissure started from the tip of his sword and rapidly spread forward, splitting open a gash in the ground over ten zhang long!
This fissure was in stark contrast to the small nick Tang Ruoxue had created during her swordsmanship demonstration earlier.
They had both used Earth-Cutting Swordsmanship, yet the difference in power was immense!
Tang Ruoxue felt as though the fissure was a mocking mouth, laughing at her.
"Impossible!" The horrified cry escaped Tang Ruoxue’s lips, her face pale with shock.
Yi Xiaoyao’s earlier words, "Your Earth-Cutting Swordsmanship is too weak," echoed in her mind dozens of times.
’Yes, it really was too weak. If my cultivation wasn’t a realm higher than his, my sword would have already shattered, and I would have been defeated.’
At this moment, Yi Xiaoyao held his Bloodthirsty Sword at an angle, not rushing to attack. A cold smirk hung on his lips as he waited for Tang Ruoxue’s next move.
’I’m not just going to defeat this woman; I’m going to completely crush her spirit!’