He finally regarded Xu Yang seriously.

This guy really startled him!

He even felt an intense killing intent rising in his heart.

This was his first time unleashing his true power since mastering the Five Elements Spirit God.

He intended to teach Xu Yang a harsh lesson!

Yet unexpectedly, Xu Yang refused to take the move!

He conceded right away!

Reasonable and within the rules!

No one could say a word!

Xiao Ming’s expression flickered between dark and light; the light on his finger faded, and his five fingers clenched into a fist, revealing his inner turmoil.

"Xu Yang, you—"

"Next!"

Xu Yang didn’t spare Xiao Ming a glance, rudely cut him off, and pulled out the second bead.

Xiao Ming’s face turned completely ashen, his eyes blazing with barely-suppressed fury.

An overwhelming killing aura coiled like dragons and serpents, surging through the void, threatening to descend upon the world.

Everyone felt their scalps tingle.

Xiao Ming’s murderous intent was undisguised and surged like a tide at this moment.

Who couldn’t tell Xiao Ming was truly enraged?

All gazes fell upon Xu Yang, secretly clicking their tongues.

Unbelievable!

He actually dared to mess with Xiao Ming like this?

This was pure mockery!

Yet many people secretly felt elated.

Just seeing Xiao Ming in such a state made them feel so refreshed—if they were Xu Yang, the satisfaction would be indescribable!

Swoosh!

Xiao Ming flicked his sleeve, dropped from the sky, and retreated into the crowd, his cold expression frightening to behold.

No one dared make a sound, as if afraid that angering Xiao Ming would spell disaster for themselves!

"Arrogant!"

"Now that he’s completely on Xiao Ming’s blacklist, once they reach the Ancient Immortal Ruins, Xu Yang’s bound to suffer." Jun Baimu sneered coldly in his heart.

Men Long glanced at Xiao Ming and had to admire Xu Yang’s incredible audacity!

Yet when she thought of the possible consequences, she simply pressed her lips together and smiled.

Compared to this, the heavy injuries she’d suffered from Xu Yang earlier seemed like nothing at all.

The second opponent was, astonishingly, Lan Yue of Bright Mirror Grotto Heaven.

This person had remained inconspicuous from start to finish.

It was as if she were invisible.

But as she stepped into the arena, all eyes instantly focused on her.

Her aura was unique, one in ten thousand!

Like a snow lotus or an immortal orchid!

At a glance, she brought calm to the hearts of all who beheld her.

This unique quality alone made Xu Yang secretly astonished.

Indeed, there was not a single simple figure among the Celestial Pride List saints.

"Mr. Xu, your strength is impressive. Lan Yue is in awe!"

"I will use just one move!"

Lan Yue smiled faintly, which immediately caused an uproar.

"Fairy Lan Yue actually smiled."

"Heavens, who doesn’t know that Miss Lan is reserved and aloof, pure-hearted and rarely ever smiles—yet she just smiled at Xu Yang!"

"Damn it, Xu Yang deserves to die!"

...

"Please."

Xu Yang arched his brow slightly, picking up on a hint of goodwill from Lan Yue, and couldn’t help but be moved.

Buzz!

Lan Yue pinched her fingers as if wielding a sword, and pointed forward.

In an instant.

Heaven and earth overturned!

Sun and moon exchanged places!

In a trance, Xu Yang sensed an indescribable eerie force surging like a tsunami, inverting the world and reversing yin and yang.

The sun turned yin, the moon turned yang!

This scene felt almost illusory.

Xu Yang jolted, instantly clearing his mind.

All around, mystical spirit runes enveloped the summit, forming a gigantic eggshell.

Those runes were profoundly exquisite and immaculate, sacred and supreme!

As if transformed from a scatter of blossoms cast down by an immortal maiden, they radiated dazzling light, piercing the void.

Lan Yue’s finger, just as it neared Xu Yang, suddenly erupted with terrifying killing intent!

The Bright Mirror hung suspended, sun and moon rotating within, space twisting and landscapes inverting, lines converging into a formation.

Everything in the mirror was illusory!

Yet with one point of her finger, Lan Yue rendered it all real.

"Her injuries healed so quickly?" Men Long’s eyes flashed with shock and disbelief.

Not only restored, but she had improved further!

Even Xiao Ming’s eyes flickered with a wave of emotion that was quickly suppressed.

Clang!

Boom!

A crimson blood-shadow abruptly shattered the beauty and sanctity, sending shivers down every spine.

Fierce blood evil surged, blasting forth with chaos and ferocity! 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

With one slash, the spirit runes shattered and the Bright Mirror trembled!

Lan Yue’s body shuddered, her finger halted beneath the blade’s glare.

The bloody haze surged, inch by inch it obliterated her finger’s light!

With a muffled groan, Lan Yue spun away without hesitation, gracefully retreating like an immortal.

"I concede!"

Pale-faced, she admitted defeat immediately.

"Thank you for letting me win!"

Xu Yang sheathed his blade and cupped his fist, though his heart was far from calm.

Lan Yue, worthy of being third on the Celestial Pride List!

If she hadn’t been injured before, she might have been even stronger!

Soon, the matches continued.

However, Xu Yang was not given another chance to fight.

After the two bouts with Xiao Ming and Lan Yue, though each finished in a single move, one win and one loss—

No one doubted his strength anymore!

The number one after Xiao Ming!

Of the remaining eight matches, no one dared come forth.

If you wanted to try, you had to be evenly matched!

Who dared believe they could make Xiao Ming cough blood?

In this round, Xu Yang won nine Spirit Talismans!

Adding in Shi Hu’s five, that was four hundred and twenty people in total!

Simply outrageous!

Some people looked at Shi Feng with envy shining in their eyes.

"The Battle King clan has really struck it rich."

"One Xu Yang not only brought them fame, but the spots they’ve secured this time might be the most of any clan!"

"After all, only one from Five Elements Celestial Realm and Star Nebula Infinite Sea each fought."

"Who would’ve guessed that a Celestial Pride from Daqian could be so monstrous?"

...

Shi Feng was already grinning from ear to ear!

The Ancient Immortal Ruins were extremely dangerous; though more people meant greater risks, it was also an incredible advantage!

Next up was Chen Xuanji!

Once second on the Celestial Pride List, dazzling and under the spotlight.

But now, he was totally overshadowed by Xu Yang.

As Chen Xuanji stepped forth, whispers rippled through the crowd!

"Chen Xuanji probably won’t dare fight Xu Yang now."

"That would be the wise choice!"

"They’re tied for second on the Celestial Pride List, but after today, no more sharing that spot."

"True, Xu Yang deserves the second place; Chen Xuanji can only take third!"

"If I were Chen Xuanji, I’d be stifled to death by this!"

"What’s there to be stifled about? If you’re not as good, you just have to accept it!"

...

Chen Xuanji’s face turned dark as ink.

The Star Nebula Infinite Sea disciples and experts all looked equally grim.

They and Xu Yang were sworn enemies!

The secret realm tree, the incident outside the Battle King clan’s secret realm—

Their losses were beyond imagining!

Now that Chen Xuanji had been forced beneath Xu Yang, no one could laugh anymore.

No matter how unwilling, they couldn’t deny that Chen Xuanji was no match for Xu Yang!

Everyone’s eyes pinned to Chen Xuanji.

His first opponent was Xu Yang.

Would he make the "concede" choice? Or exchange a couple of blows?

Or could Chen Xuanji have hidden his strength, waiting to erupt and suppress Xu Yang, reclaiming his reputation in a single move?

Xu Yang stared at Chen Xuanji in amusement, also curious what he would do.

Chen Xuanji took a deep breath, slowly unclenched his fists, and a trace of viciousness flashed in his eyes.

Under the gaze of the crowd, he felt a clownish anger and humiliation burning inside!

A few heartbeats later.

Chen Xuanji raised his eyes slightly, suppressing his stray thoughts and forced a calm, "For the first match, I concede!"