No one expected Jian Bufan to suddenly step onto the Battle Platform. The first round of the finals was already over, yet he had chosen to fight Ye Wushuang.

Moreover, both of them were Disciples of the Ancient Spirit Sect!

"What’s going on?"

The members of the Ancient Spirit Sect began to murmur amongst themselves. The Disciples were bewildered. Jian Bufan and Ye Wushuang had a good relationship, so why would he choose to fight at a time like this?

At the very front, Nangong Liuyun and the other Elders watched on, all of them wearing wry smiles. Having lived to their age, how could they not see through to the heart of the matter?

And so, they did not intervene. After all, if the younger generation lacked rivalry and spirited ambition, you couldn’t really call them young.

Countless eyes stared intently at the Battle Platform. Jian Bufan stood with his sword in his arms, like a Treasure Sword on the verge of revealing its edge, his presence turning razor-sharp.

"This battle is long overdue!"

Jian Bufan said with a sigh. This confrontation had been decided long ago.

"Not aiming for the top ten?" Ye Wushuang asked with a faint smile. Standing opposite Jian Bufan, his expression was perfectly calm.

"I believe this battle is more worthy of anticipation than making it into the top ten. Besides, you’re not guaranteed to defeat me."

Jian Bufan smiled, a carefree and confident grin.

For him, making it into the top ten couldn’t compare to a battle with Ye Wushuang. He believed that what he would gain from this fight would be far more, and far better, than anything placing in the top ten could offer!

The crowd was also won over by his smile.

Many in the crowd knew that Jian Bufan and Ye Wushuang were not enemies. On the contrary, they were the best of friends, like brothers, but they were also the opponents each other most looked forward to facing.

For Jian Bufan, a battle with Ye Wushuang was more important than anything else.

Feeling the Battle Intent emanating from the two on the platform, the crowd, for reasons unknown, felt a trace of envy. ’To have one respected opponent in a lifetime is enough!’

A pity they didn’t have such an opponent.

"In that case, let’s fight."

Ye Wushuang understood Jian Bufan’s personality. Once he made a decision, he had to see it through. The battle had to be now.

Hearing this, the crowd grew expectant.

Just how strong was Ye Wushuang? Just how sharp was Jian Bufan’s sword? No one knew, and so they eagerly anticipated this battle of unknowns. Who would emerge victorious?

Jian Bufan nodded. "To avoid affecting the later duels, let’s each use a single strike. One strike to decide victory and defeat."

"Fine," Ye Wushuang replied. "But before that, we need to get something straight."

"What’s that?" Jian Bufan asked.

Ye Wushuang smiled. "Outside Wangtianya, does your promise still stand?"

Before the Barbarian God Battle Platform tournament, a hundred li outside Wangtianya, Jian Bufan had said that if Ye Wushuang defeated him, what would be the harm in joining Lingxiao Pavilion!

"My word is my bond, of course. But don’t get too confident!" Jian Bufan shook his head and smiled. How could he not know what Ye Wushuang was thinking?

Lingxiao Pavilion was a good place, and its people were good too. He was willing, but the prerequisite was that Ye Wushuang had to defeat him.

Jian Bufan’s gaze grew even sharper. With a flash of brilliant light, the Flying Snow Sword in his arms could no longer be restrained. CLANG! It shot out of its sheath in an instant!

The entire Battle Platform felt as if it had been plunged into a cold winter. A sudden, biting chill made everyone shudder involuntarily.

Flying Snow Sword, One Sword Flying Snow!

A single snowflake materialized in the void and instantly blossomed, as if it contained the entirety of Jian Bufan’s Sword Dao. It was even more terrifying than the swords of the Celestial Sword Sect.

SWOOSH!

Jian Bufan did not hold back. Delivering his strongest attack was the highest form of respect for Ye Wushuang. He poured all of his Sword Intent and power into the Flying Snow Sword without reservation.

The edge of the Flying Snow Sword grew even more brilliant. The void was pierced, and even Space Power was drawn into the blade as it stabbed toward Ye Wushuang. A powerful Sword Momentum stirred the air, whipping it into a spiraling storm.

"This Sword Intent is so powerful!"

Geniuses like Beize Yunzhuo, Wudao, and Liuu Tianlan were shocked. They were all paying close attention to this battle. Jian Bufan’s Flying Snow Sword was far more powerful than when he had wielded it before. Though the sword technique itself was unadorned, it unleashed an endless Sword Intent that ravaged the space between heaven and earth.

"He really was hiding a lot of his strength!"

Feeling the terrifying power of the Flying Snow Sword, they realized Jian Bufan must have had some incredible fortuitous encounter before this.

"Slash!"

His gaze focused, Ye Wushuang drew his Dragon Blood Battle Saber. Empowered by forty percent of his Invincible Saber Intent, it radiated an aura of dominance, invincibility, and slaughter!

BOOM!

Ye Wushuang also took a step forward, pouring his terrifying Dragon Spirit True Essence into the blade. The Dragon Blood Battle Saber shimmered with a Dragon Shadow as a dreadful Saber Intent spread out, wildly tyrannical and threatening to annihilate everything.

Slash!

The Dragon Blood Battle Saber was raised, gathering power before it slashed down. A beam of blood-colored saber light flashed out, so dazzling, so brilliant, it seemed as if it would dye the very heavens and earth blood-red.

As the saber light fell, it seemed to absorb the Power of Heaven and Earth, growing stronger and sharper until the void itself trembled and boomed.

A massive storm also began to spiral out from all sides!

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Gazes as sharp as blades turned to Ye Wushuang’s saber, and gasps of astonishment erupted.

Jian Bufan’s sword, with its endless Sword Intent and bone-chilling cold, was already terrifying. But Ye Wushuang’s saber, with its invincible, tyrannical, and murderous Saber Intent, was simply overwhelming.

"Break!"

The two low shouts escaped the lips of Ye Wushuang and Jian Bufan at almost the same time. Before their saber and sword had even collided, the two violent storms of energy had already slammed into each other.

BANG!

The instant they collided, the Battle Platform trembled and the void boomed. A chaotic torrent of air flooded the stage, swallowing the figures of both Ye Wushuang and Jian Bufan.

SHFF! SHFF! SHFF!

On the Battle Platform, many people boldly stepped forward, wanting to see the outcome of this clash.

The storms had collided, but Ye Wushuang’s saber and Jian Bufan’s sword had not yet met. Victory and defeat were still undecided, and everyone watched with bated breath.

CLANG!

As the crowd stared, the sound of metal striking metal rang out from within the storm.

"They’ve clashed!" The crowd outside couldn’t see clearly, but upon hearing that sound, they knew the two on the Battle Platform had finally crossed blades.

RUMBLE!

Immediately after, a ferocious shockwave raged outward, carrying a terrifying Power of Destruction that made some people turn pale with fright.

"Fall back!"

Many people shouted frantically. The impact was too horrifying. If it even touched them, they would likely lose a layer of skin.

In the sky, the giant Elder’s gaze sharpened. With a wave of his hand, a barrier of light suddenly enveloped the Battle Platform, blocking the terrifying shockwave!

After a long, long time, the turbulence finally began to dissipate.

The two figures on the Battle Platform gradually became clear, reappearing in everyone’s line of sight.

"Who won?"

The crowd came back to their senses and stood still, their gazes fixed on the two men. By now, the Flying Snow Sword was back in its sheath, and the Dragon Blood Battle Saber had also been put away.

"You truly did not disappoint me!"

Jian Bufan started to laugh.

"So, does your promise stand now?"

Ye Wushuang looked at him and smiled as well.

Hearing this, Jian Bufan nodded, looking slightly exasperated. "You really had this all planned out, didn’t you!"

After saying this seemingly random sentence, Jian Bufan turned and walked off the Battle Platform. He had lost this battle, bringing this round of the competition to a close.