Chapter 68: Can the Result Be Announced Now?
While many disciples were still engaged in lively discussions, a high platform stood overlooking the crowd.
Suddenly—
Swish!
A figure in a purple robe appeared on the platform. The elder raised a single hand, and the entire Zhendao Peak fell silent in an instant.
"The core disciple assessment for this year begins now!" the elder declared.
"The rules are the same as in previous years. During the match, stop when the outcome is clear. Neither party is permitted to kill. The first to fall from the platform will lose!"
"The first match…"
"Li Xun versus Zhao Heng!"
After announcing the match, the purple-robed elder didn't leave the platform but remained at its edge. This was customary. In previous years, disciples often struggled to hold back when giving their all in combat, sometimes leading to fatalities. Having an elder nearby served as a safeguard.
"They're starting! This year's headline match is happening right at the beginning. How exciting!"
"Zhao Heng is done for. He had to provoke Senior Brother Li Xun yesterday, and now he's going to pay for it."
"A mediocrity who's taken nearly 200 years to reach the late-stage Profound Elixir Realm dares to challenge a genius who reached the mid-stage Profound Elixir Realm in just two years? Does he think being a genius is only about cultivating quickly?"
"That said, Senior Brother Li Xun may be a prodigy, but isn't it unwise to face Zhao Heng in the first match? Even if he wins, he might exhaust himself. Wouldn't that give other senior brothers a chance to take advantage?"
"If Senior Brother Li Xun dares to face Zhao Heng in the first match, he must have confidence in his strength!"
Around the platform, disciples of the Xuanyang Sect had gathered in droves, eagerly awaiting the showdown. Among them, an overwhelming 99% supported Li Xun. This was due to Li Xun's impeccable reputation within the sect.
In contrast, Zhao Heng was almost universally despised.
Suddenly—
Boom!
The entire platform trembled. A towering figure descended from the sky, landing at the center of the platform. His enormous sword rested on his back, and his disheveled hair fluttered wildly. His entire being exuded an intense and menacing aura.
"Where is Li Xun?"
Zhao Heng's voice was commanding, his gaze sharp and domineering.
Having cultivated for nearly two centuries, he didn't care about the murmurs and gossip surrounding him. In fact, he looked forward to the moment he defeated Li Xun. What expressions would the onlookers wear then?
"I've been here for a while," came a calm voice from behind him.
Zhao Heng spun around abruptly, his expression darkening.
Just moments ago, he was posturing and provoking his opponent. He hadn't even realized that Li Xun had arrived behind him.
If Li Xun had chosen to strike earlier, Zhao Heng would have already lost!
The embarrassing display caused a wave of laughter to erupt from the crowd.
The laughter stung Zhao Heng's ears, and his face darkened further. He didn't believe Li Xun refrained from attacking out of some sense of courtesy.
To Zhao Heng, it was deliberate humiliation!
"You've angered me!" Zhao Heng growled.
He took a step back, inhaling deeply. The giant sword on his back fell to the ground with a thunderous crash, releasing a dazzling divine light that stretched over ten feet.
The sword emanated an overwhelming killing intent, sending chills down the spines of all who saw it. It was hard to imagine how many lives Zhao Heng must have taken to forge such an oppressive aura into his weapon.
Even the purple-robed elder watching from the side furrowed his brows at the sight of the sword.
"Attack!" Zhao Heng roared.
Zhao Heng stomped fiercely on the platform, shattering it as he transformed into a streak of light, charging rapidly toward Li Xun. His wild and overwhelming aura surged like a blazing sun, reverberating across the platform with devastating momentum.
Killing intent soared to the heavens, shaking the very earth and sky. Countless sword beams converged, forming a pillar of light that seemed to pierce the heavens, shattering the void as it hurtled toward Li Xun with unstoppable ferocity.
The sheer sharpness and destructive force left many spectators trembling.
"Master... can Senior Brother Li Xun win against Zhao Heng?"
Witnessing Zhao Heng's overwhelming power, even Ye Han felt a chill run down his spine. In his mind, he urgently sought reassurance.
"The outcome is already decided," an elderly voice responded calmly.
Just as the voice fell silent, Li Xun, who had been standing quietly with a composed demeanor, suddenly stepped forward. His robes fluttered as he delivered a simple, effortless punch.
It was just a single punch.
Yet, it contained the force of a million tons. His qi and blood surged, forming a heavenly dragon that coiled around his arm, roaring as it launched forward.
Boom!
A deafening explosion ensued.
The blood-formed dragon collided with the towering sword pillar, producing a thunderous roar. Sword light scattered, transforming into a sea of blades. A terrifying storm of destruction swept in all directions, obliterating everything in its path.
Even the platform—unyielding for thousands of years through countless duels—was riddled with countless cracks under such devastating power, teetering as though it might collapse at any moment.
"What happened?"
"Who won?"
"There's so much light everywhere—I can't see anything!"
As curious spectators stretched their necks, eager to glimpse the result, a loud crash echoed. A tattered figure fell from the platform, hitting the ground below.
The disciples quickly gathered to take a closer look.
What they saw made many of them gasp.
Zhao Heng, who had been so arrogant before, now lay utterly defeated. His body was riddled with injuries, and there wasn't a single intact part left. The massive sword he had wielded was gone, leaving only a broken hilt. His chest was caved in, and it was unclear how many of his bones had been shattered.
"This… this is…"
A wave of disbelief swept through the crowd.
They had expected Senior Brother Li Xun to win. They had expected Zhao Heng to lose.
But they had never imagined that Li Xun would win so decisively—or that Zhao Heng would lose so completely.
It seemed even Zhao Heng's meticulously refined weapon had been utterly destroyed.
"Elder, can the result be announced now?"
On the platform, Li Xun asked calmly, as if the battle had been a trivial matter.
"Ah, yes, yes," the purple-robed elder replied, quickly snapping out of his daze.
He cast a deep, evaluating look at Li Xun. In his mind, only six words remained to describe him:
This young man is terrifying!
With just one punch, Li Xun had defeated an opponent of a higher realm, and he had done so effortlessly. It was hard to fathom how powerful he would be if he fought with his full strength.
"Ahem!"
The elder cleared his throat as he stepped back to the center of the platform. Slowly, he announced, "The first match—Li Xun wins!"
"Senior Brother Li Xun is invincible!"
A voice rang out among the inner disciples.
Li Xun's victory felt like long-awaited justice to many of them. Zhao Heng and his subordinates had bullied countless disciples over the years, leaving behind much resentment.
While none of them had dared to confront Zhao Heng directly, witnessing Li Xun defeat him so thoroughly filled them with exhilaration. It was as if they had been the ones to defeat Zhao Heng.
For a moment, the entire area below the platform erupted into cheers. The disciples were completely thrilled, their excitement reaching a fever pitch.
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