"Celestial Battle Divine Fist. I thought the Battle King clan would hold back, but now it seems they’re going all out!"

"Stone Jade is channeling the power of Shi Hu. This move of the Celestial Battle Divine Fist is truly at full strength."

"That kid won’t be able to withstand it."

"Even a True Monarch would have to avoid this punch by a wide margin!"

...

In the void, many experts watched this scene, all breaking into smiles.

This punch was outrageously strong!

Li Wang trembled with excitement at the sight, while Shi Haoting clenched his fists in fear that Xu Yang might be killed outright by this blow.

"Heaven-locking Intent!"

That deathly threat left Xu Yang no room for hesitation. The sliver of Heaven-locking Intent he’d gathered earlier instantly erupted.

Whoosh!

The firmament seemed to flip and swirl.

A chain flashed into existence out of thin air.

The world within a thousand feet froze solid!

Stone Jade’s body shuddered, as if trapped in a mire.

Her pupils shrank, shock filling her eyes.

"Such powerful binding force. He has actually touched upon Lingyi, damn!"

Stone Jade was inwardly shaken to the extreme, gasping uncontrollably.

"But that’s not enough!"

Her gaze hardened, and suddenly an indescribable battle intent surged forth inside her!

The world seemed swept by a desolate and murderous aura, transforming into a primordial battlefield.

Her fighting spirit boiled, soaring to the heavens!

"Break!"

Stone Jade shouted like thunder. Her fighting intent arced high and tore through the restraints.

Her fist surged forward, smashing through like splitting bamboo!

"How can this be?"

Xu Yang’s expression changed dramatically. He didn’t even have time to think about the profundity of her battle will, and forcibly ignited what little Heaven-locking Intent he had left to seal the space before him, directly rousing the ember in his spirit.

Rumble!

The massive fist, brimming with overwhelming fighting spirit, shattered the air as it smashed toward him.

A single ember floated up unsteadily.

"What is that?"

Stone Jade paused with a start as she stared at the faint ember.

This ember did not cause her the slightest ripple of feeling.

It seemed like just an ordinary, faint spark!

She hesitated not at all, her fist barreling forward without pause.

But the instant she touched the ember, Stone Jade’s soul shuddered first, followed by her body.

Involuntary trembling, like shaking in terror!

Fear surged over her like a tide.

Stone Jade forcibly suppressed her horror, reacting swiftly. Her fist quivered, and an explosive wave of force burst forth.

Boom!

Both figures rocketed backward at once.

The shockwave roared out like massive bolts of thunder, ferociously crashing in all directions.

The crowd stared wide-eyed in astonishment.

"Impossible! Even Stone Jade was forced back?!"

Li Wang’s eyes went round as saucers. He found it unbelievable.

Ptui!

Stone Jade barely managed to stand, coughing up a jet of blood. She looked down and saw her palm was mangled and bloody, an invisible threat still lingering, leaving her deeply shaken and fearful!

As for Xu Yang, he was even more battered than Stone Jade—face pale as death, blood at the corner of his mouth.

"I lost."

Stone Jade gazed at Xu Yang, taking a deep breath before speaking slowly.

"What?"

"That can’t be."

"Clearly Stone Jade was stronger."

"That guy looks like he can’t fight anymore."

The Spirit Realm martial artists all cried out in disbelief, unable to accept this outcome.

Xu Yang looked at Stone Jade gravely, a wry smile crossing his lips.

Top seven on the Celestial Pride List—the strongest prodigies of the seven great powers—are truly powerful.

Even the Heaven-locking Intent was forcibly torn apart.

That ember proved decisive in the end.

Outsiders may not have seen clearly, but Xu Yang felt it: the ember not only injured Stone Jade, but also completely severed her connection with Shi Hu’s power.

Stone Jade looked up at the sky, then swept her gaze over the Spirit Realm crowd and slowly said, "He cultivated in Daqian, yet has already mastered Lingyi!"

At those words, Li Wang sucked in a cold breath, staring at Xu Yang as if seeing a ghost.

"That final blow cut off my connection to Shi Hu!"

"..."

Li Wang’s jaw hung open for a long moment, unable to speak.

Though he didn’t want to accept it, he knew there were many powerful experts watching in the void. None disputed what Stone Jade said, clearly affirming her words as truth.

To wield Lingyi at the Myriad Phenomena Realm in Daqian—a world without a Source of Spirit River—meant he was in no way inferior to the top ten prodigies on the Spirit Realm Celestial Pride List.

Not to mention breaking the mutual borrowing of power between Stone Jade and Shi Hu.

Without Shi Hu’s strength, plus the injury, Stone Jade had little left to give!

So admitting defeat was only natural!

"Congratulations!"

Stone Jade gently wiped the blood from her lips, offering Xu Yang a slight smile.

Xu Yang dipped his head in return, but then asked curiously, "Lingyi is...?"

Stone Jade’s gaze flickered. "Lingyi is the true martial intent derived from the Source of Spirit River. Only by comprehending Lingyi can one sense the existence of the Source, and after breaking through to the True Monarch realm, truly touch the Source itself!"

"Lingyi becomes substance—first as spiritual marks, ultimately solidifying as spirit patterns. When the marks congeal, you can enter the Spirit River Source and ascend to the rank of Divine Sovereign!"

"That aura you unleashed just now—was that also Lingyi?" Xu Yang’s heart trembled.

"Exactly." Stone Jade nodded lightly.

Xu Yang took a deep breath and saluted with clasped hands. "Many thanks."

Though he knew little of these matters, for now the most important thing was to settle down.

He looked towards a corner of the heavens, where many Daqian martial artists gathered.

Xu Yang swallowed a pill, then strode across the void.

The crowd couldn’t help but erupt in cheers.

This was a grand victory!

What began as prey ended with the Spirit Realm elites utterly shamed.

In the void, the Spirit Realm prodigies’ faces were ashen, their auras surging chaotically, unable to stand such a result.

Looking at the sky, their anger was mixed with shock.

That one could achieve such feats in the sealed Daqian world was beyond imagination.

If given time to develop in the Spirit Realm, his progress would skyrocket.

"If this boy doesn’t die, he’ll definitely have a place in the great upheavals to come!"

"Hmph, not die?"

"He’s as good as dead."

...

Xu Yang turned his head toward the void, feeling countless unseen eyes upon him like needles on his back.

"Mr. Xu, thank you for everything this time."

Xu Yang turned and was startled to see Gon Lang.

"No need. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time," Xu Yang said calmly.

Gon Lang gave a bitter smile, cupping his fist and staring at Xu Yang. "Mr. Xu, are you really not going to Cangyue Mountain?"

"No."

Xu Yang grinned. "I worry that if I went to Cangyue Mountain, I’d be sold off by a certain someone and not even a scrap would be left of me!"

Gon Lang’s mouth twitched; his bitter smile only deepened.

So many people dream of being ’sold’ by Can Sutian and never get the chance.

"Mr. Xu, take care on your journey."

Xu Yang nodded slightly.

"Mr. Ning, let’s go." Xu Yang turned to Ning Wuyang.

Ning Wuyang nodded softly, then looked at Yang Ziye. "Take care of yourself. At Cangyue Mountain, with His Majesty’s protection, you’ll be safer than following me out here."

"I may need your help in the future."

At the last words, Yang Ziye drew a deep breath and nodded silently.

Suddenly—

Xu Yang’s face went white, blood spraying from his mouth.

Ptui!

Buzz!

A terrifying wave burst from the upper void, enveloping heaven and earth, shaking all of creation.

The crowd looked up in terror.

A white-robed youth appeared, descending step by step from the void.

He had sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, tall and imposing, with an overwhelming and fierce aura.

He stared sharply at Xu Yang.

Xu Yang’s spirit fell silent, locked tightly by the other’s killing intent. He felt a terror many times greater than when facing Stone Jade.

"Xiao Ming."

"Why are you here?"

Stone Jade frowned deeply as she looked at the youth.

"Xiao Ming?"

Xu Yang’s pupils contracted—he knew this name all too well.

First on the Celestial Pride List, the number one prodigy of the Five Elements Celestial Realm!

A genuine True Monarch of the Middle Realm!