Advanced Mastery

With a single strike, the disparity between Yun Che and Yun Guang became immediately apparent.

Yun Guang struggled to regain his balance, panic overtaking him as his breath quickened, disbelief clouding his thoughts.

Yun Che, composed and smiling, refrained from pressing the advantage. In terms of speed, he had absolute confidence; even some fourth-tier martial artists might not surpass him.

In an instant, the battle between Yun Che and Yun Guang became the focal point among the ten martial stages.

After a brief stir, the excitement gradually subsided.

"His speed is even faster than Yun Guang's!"

Yun Yue and Yun Fei, ranked among the top three, were both visibly shaken.

"What an exquisite light-body technique!"

Some senior members of the family, observing from the stands, looked on in mild surprise.

"His movement style seems familiar."

The head referee muttered to himself.

"He is practicing the Piao Ling Du! No doubt about it!"

A martial artist in the stands drew in a deep breath, gazing at Yun Che with a complex expression.

It turned out that this family martial artist had also once practiced the Piao Ling Du technique.

However, due to its formidable difficulty and the fact that it was a fragmented manuscript, he had abandoned it after a year or two, his level far inferior to Yun Che's at present.

"So it's the Piao Ling Du!"

Some of the senior members in the stands finally realized.

"To have cultivated the Piao Ling Du to such a level, his comprehension is truly remarkable. It's a pity..."

While astonished, some of the elders shook their heads in mild regret.

Although the Piao Ling Du was a high-tier technique, on par with top martial arts, it was still a fragmented manuscript, and its potential was limited.

"Yun Che strikes!"

A low murmur rose from the crowd below.

Yun Che took the initiative, his movements as light as drifting leaves, his speed terrifying.

Yun Guang, exerting all his strength, found it impossible to evade Yun Che's strikes, only managing to meet them with difficulty.

Fifth Form of the Furious Dragon!

Yun Che unleashed the Angry Dragon Fist, a well-known mid-tier martial art, recognized by many.

Bang! Crack! Thud…

Yun Che's blood surged like a roaring river, his body seemingly transformed into a furious dragon. Each punch was accompanied by a deep growl, the momentum awe-inspiring.

Yun Guang felt oppressed, unable to catch his breath under the crushing force of Yun Che's blood energy and explosive power.

With each blow, he was forced to retreat a step, his internal organs shaken.

He was entirely at the mercy of Yun Che's assault, unable to mount any defense.

In terms of speed, Yun Che dominated; in terms of martial prowess, he held the upper hand as well.

Woah!

By the eighth strike, Yun Guang spat blood and immediately conceded defeat.

Ranked among the top five, Yun Guang was decisively defeated in fewer than ten moves.

The spectators were left stunned, wide-eyed.

While they knew Yun Che had the strength to challenge the top five, the actual outcome was far more shocking than they had anticipated.

Yun Che's performance was on par with the top three, like Yun Yue and the others.

"This youth's comprehension is astounding. Not only has he perfected the basic fist techniques, but he has also brought the Angry Dragon Fist to its peak form."

"Even without the Piao Ling Du, his prowess, relying on the pinnacle of mid-tier martial arts, would still surpass Yun Guang's."

The senior family members in the stands, with their keen insight, were both astonished and impressed by Yun Che's performance.

At the Heavenly Martial Stage, the ten fighting platforms continued.

After defeating Yun Guang, Yun Che's momentum quickly surged toward Yun Yijian and Yun Yue.

At this point, only four individuals maintained perfect win records: Yun Yue, Yun Yijian, Yun Fei, and Yun Che.

These four had now emerged as the "Four Pillars" of the Heavenly Martial Stage, their popularity soaring.

"Yun Che! Yun Che!"

Amid a roar of excitement, Yun Che ascended the martial stage again and again.

Each time he took the stage, his opponents either conceded defeat or were swiftly dispatched in a few moves.

During this period, Yun Che even encountered Yun Kun.

"I concede!"

Yun Kun gritted his teeth, wishing he could vanish into the earth.

Given the current situation, Yun Che's strength and popularity had surpassed that of his brother Yun Qian, and he no longer dared to make a fool of himself.

The "Four Pillars" maintained their flawless records, advancing in unison.

Many eagerly anticipated the inevitable clash among the "Four Pillars."

Finally, at sixty consecutive victories, the top-ranked Yun Yue and second-ranked Yun Yijian, two formidable forces, were set to face each other.

Yun Yue! Yun Yue!

Yun Yijian! Yun Yijian!

…

The crowd erupted in a fervor of cheers, excitement and anticipation palpable in the air.

Yun Che and Yun Fei, outside the "Four Pillars," also displayed interest.

"Yun Yue! After our defeat six months ago, we finally meet again."

Yun Yijian took a deep breath, his eyes brimming with intense battle spirit and confidence.

Yun Yue, though low-key outside the family and diligently practicing, had the most stable foundation and had long held the title of number one.

"Strike then. Let's see whether your Cold Stream Sword is stronger, or my Iron Tough Body is superior."

Yun Yue's voice was steady, firm, his imposing figure towering over Yun Yijian.

Clang!

Yun Yijian drew his sword, the cold, sharp gleam slicing through the air, creating a shifting stream of frigid light that was both fast and bone-chilling.

As the Cold Stream Sword struck, the air seemed to freeze, sending an inexplicable chill through the onlookers.

"Iron Luo Palm!"

Yun Yue's body was as solid as a mountain, his palm like iron, as he struck with a fist that rumbled through the air with the weight of a towering mountain.

Clang!

In a flash of lightning, the sword and palm collided with a deafening clang, the shock reverberating through their bones.

In the instant of their clash, Yun Yijian's figure flickered, retreating two steps before swiftly turning, the tip of his sword aiming with even greater precision at Yun Yue's lower body.

"These two, one is steady and solid, the other strikes unpredictably."

Yun Che silently observed.

There was no doubt that both Yun Yue and Yun Yijian possessed the power to overwhelm most martial artists.

Had Yun Che not cultivated the internal martial energy, he would have been unsure of breaking through Yun Yue's defense, nor could he have relied on his bare fists to withstand the terrifying blows of Yun Yijian.

Clang! Clang! Bang!

The clash between Yun Yue and Yun Yijian had reached a fever pitch.

Yun Yijian's strikes grew ever faster, a sweeping cold current of ice and sword light intertwining, completely engulfing Yun Yue.

Yun Yue remained calm, his breathing steady, effortlessly blocking each of Yun Yijian's attacks.

This was the result of his cultivation of the advanced body-tempering technique Iron Tough Body, which granted him formidable physical defenses. Had he been an ordinary third-tier martial artist, he would have been unable to withstand a single strike.

"Yun Yue's foundation is solid, his energy veins long and stable, excelling in defense. If Yun Yijian cannot win within the span of a single tea break, victory will be a foregone conclusion," said the head referee calmly.

"Heh, a single tea break? It won't take that long," replied a middle-aged martial artist standing nearby, Yun Yijian's father, with a confident smile.

"Oh?"

The head referee and others were slightly moved.

At that moment, the tide of the battle shifted dramatically.

Whoosh!

Yun Yijian spun his sword, sending a cold stream of wind through the air, the sharp, biting cold and eerie sword energy intertwining in a deadly dance.

Clang!

Yun Yue grunted as his iron-like arm was slashed, a bloody gash appearing as he was forced to retreat.

"How could my Iron Tough Body be pierced…?"

Yun Yue's face turned pale.

Iron Tough Body was a body-enhancing defensive martial art, strengthening the flesh to the hardness of iron and greatly amplifying strength, enabling one to resist blades and swords.

Paired with the advanced martial art Iron Luo Fist, his defense and power had reached their peak. He had always believed that, below the fourth-tier martial artist level, no one could break through his defense.

"Completion of an advanced martial art!"

The referee overseeing their battle gasped in astonishment.

Completion of an advanced martial art?

Nearby Yun Clan disciples gasped in shock.

It was well known that martial arts had levels of "minor success" and "major success."

For advanced martial arts, reaching minor success was already difficult, but to achieve major success was even more so.

However, once an advanced martial art reached major success, its power would increase by more than half compared to minor success.

Cold Stream Sword, a frightening advanced martial art, was already formidable at minor success, comparable to a quasi-martial artist at the third-tier. When perfected to major success, it could easily surpass a quasi-martial artist, even threatening a true martial artist.

"Major success, so that's it! Congratulations… Yun Tianjian, you have such a gifted son."

The head referee smiled toward Yun Yijian's father.

Yun Tianjian, the father of Yun Yijian, nodded humbly.

"Thank you, Elder," Yun Tianjian replied, both humbled and honored. As a martial artist, even he held great respect for the clan elders.

On the martial stage,

"Cold Stream Flash!"

Seizing the opportunity, Yun Yijian unleashed a series of sword strikes with greater speed, sending a piercing cold current of wind that pushed Yun Yue into a perilous situation.

Swoosh!

Yun Yue's chest tore open, blood splattering as he was forced to retreat explosively.

"Yun Yijian wins!"

The head referee decisively declared the outcome.

"Achieving major success in an advanced martial art, and excelling in speed with the Cold Stream Sword, I cannot deny my defeat."

Yun Yue sighed deeply and, with a downcast gaze, descended from the platform.

After his victory over Yun Yue, Yun Yijian's momentum was unstoppable.

"Yun Yijian!"

"Yun Yijian!"

The chants echoed through the arena, drawing admiration from countless young disciples, and even the affections of some girls.

In that moment, Yun Yijian had solidified his position as the king of the outer disciples, commanding respect from all.

Yun Yijian surveyed the arena, his gaze suddenly locking onto Yun Che, a sneer curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Brother Sword!"

Yun Xue, her cheeks flushed with excitement, hurried to greet him.

Now that Yun Yijian had demonstrated his overwhelming strength, she felt at ease, confident he could never lose to that person.

At the same time, Yun Xue cast a furtive glance toward Yun Che in the distance.

Yun Che, however, remained expressionless, unmoved.

The tournament continued, and only three individuals remained undefeated: Yun Yijian, Yun Fei, and Yun Che.

Yet, no one held any expectations or suspense left.

To the onlookers, Yun Yijian had already become the unshakable king of the outer disciples, and even among the inner disciples, he would surely rank near the top.

"Major success in an advanced martial art, is it?"

Yun Che muttered to himself, his face still serene.

His streak of victories continued unbroken, sixty victories, sixty-one…

But in the ranking battles, his confrontation with Yun Yijian was inevitable.

Finally, at sixty-nine consecutive wins, Yun Che ascended the martial stage, his eyes landing on the cold, aloof young man dressed in purple robes, his sword-like brows and striking appearance unmistakable.

It was Yun Yijian!

Their encounter drew the gaze of many, and an eerie stillness fell over the arena.

After all, Yun Che was one of the three remaining undefeated fighters.

"Yun Che! You're not planning to concede, are you?"

Yun Yijian sneered, mocking him.

In his eyes, the only true rival among the outer disciples was Yun Yue—everyone else, including Yun Che, was merely an accessory.