Atop the Memorial Stone, the woman in purple praised softly, "This Zhaang Yijian isn’t bad. His cultivation has reached the Martial Arts Fifth Layer Middle Stage, the highest of all the youths. Judging from his last fight, he’s surprisingly calm and has excellent combat awareness. His potential in the Martial Dao is far greater than Zhou Yuhe’s or Luo Yongsheng’s."

The Middle-aged Man in Purple Clothes nodded slightly and said, "This Zhaang Yijian is indeed good. He can be added to our list of candidates for consideration."

The woman in purple turned her gaze to Zhaang Ye, who was sitting cross-legged. "Senior Brother," she said, "that Zhaang Ye suddenly closed his eyes and sat down. He hasn’t entered a state of sudden enlightenment, has he?"

The Middle-aged Man in Purple Clothes watched for a moment, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "His current state does look a lot like enlightenment," he said. "But something like enlightenment not only requires extremely high Comprehension, it’s also a matter of serendipity—it can be chanced upon, but not sought. Even I have only experienced it once. So, I can’t be certain if this Zhaang Ye has truly entered a state of enlightenment. However, with his level of Cultivation, even if he has, it won’t last long. We’ll know for sure when he wakes up."

Just then, the third match began below the Martial Arts Arena.

The third match was between Lee Lie and Zhou Yuhe. When the Middle-aged Man in Purple Clothes, standing atop the Memorial Stone, saw the Saber Technique Lee Lie was using, he shifted slightly.

The woman in purple giggled. "Senior Brother, when you were at the Martial Arts Fifth Layer, didn’t you also practice this same Saber Technique? Hmm, I remember it’s called the Clear Wind Bright Moon Dusk Slash."

The Middle-aged Man in Purple Clothes nodded slightly. "This Saber Technique is indeed quite powerful. I remember it took me two years to cultivate it to the Great Success Realm. This Lee Lie’s Saber Technique should also have reached Great Success, but his Cultivation is too low for him to unleash its full power."

While the two figures in purple on the Memorial Stone were talking, Lee Lie and Zhou Yuhe were already locked in a fierce battle.

Both Lee Lie and Zhou Yuhe were among the four great prodigies of Cyan Mulberry City, their strengths nearly equal. Among the Younger Generation, Lee Lie was ranked third, while Zhou Yuhe was ranked fourth.

The moment the fight began, Lee Lie immediately unleashed the Gentle Wind Slash and Bright Moon Slash, launching an assault on Zhou Yuhe. However, Zhou Yuhe’s Wave Riding Palm Technique was a Palm Technique that grew stronger the longer it was used. Faced with Lee Lie’s attack, Zhou Yuhe chose not to clash head-on. He employed the Wave Riding Step, sending one palm strike after another toward Lee Lie.

With every palm strike Zhou Yuhe unleashed, the mist on the Martial Arts Arena thickened. It swirled into Lee Lie’s nostrils and blurred his vision. More terrifyingly, under Zhou Yuhe’s Palm Power, this seemingly harmless mist transformed into rolling waves that crashed toward him, layer upon layer. Lee Lie felt as if he were underwater, his movements becoming sluggish and constrained!

Sensing Zhou Yuhe’s assault growing stronger, Lee Lie’s expression changed. When Zhou Yuhe fought Zhaang Ye earlier, he’d been knocked unconscious in an instant, which had led Lee Lie to underestimate him. Now, facing him in battle, Lee Lie immediately sensed an immense threat. ’If this keeps up,’ he thought, ’I’ll lose to him sooner or later.’

Gritting his teeth, Lee Lie finally unleashed his ultimate technique.

Lee Lie spun, and the saber in his hand suddenly transformed into a blinding light. It was so intense that no one could keep their eyes open, like the rising sun at dawn, its radiance scattering the heavy clouds of dusk one by one!

This was the third move of Lee Lie’s Saber Technique—the Dusk Slash!

The moment the Dusk Slash was unleashed, Zhou Yuhe sensed immense danger. He realized that even before Lee Lie’s saber had fallen, the mist he had painstakingly gathered was being parted by the slash, just as clouds must scatter before the sun!

At this moment, Zhou Yuhe held nothing back. His palms blurred into motion, striking four times into the mist. These four strikes were the most ferocious offensive move in the Wave Riding Palm Technique. As he finished, four thigh-thick Cloud Dragons materialized from the mist, pouncing toward Lee Lie like lightning.

PFFT! PFFT! PFFT! PFFT!

Zhou Yuhe’s four Cloud Dragons had only just appeared when Lee Lie’s Dusk Slash descended. Saber and dragons clashed with a bizarre sound. Amidst the noise, the four Cloud Dragons were sliced apart one by one, dissolving back into mist. The tyrannical Sword Qi from Lee Lie’s blade tore through the layers of mist and slashed viciously toward Zhou Yuhe.

SPURT! Sent flying by Lee Lie’s Sword Qi, Zhou Yuhe soared through the air, landing far outside the Martial Arts Arena.

"Lee Lie wins!"

The referee took one look and immediately announced the result.

"This Lee Lie’s saber work is quite good." As Lee Lie executed his final move, the woman in purple on the Memorial Stone smiled faintly. "There don’t seem to be many young experts who use sabers nowadays. He is one of the few. Hmm, that Zhaang Ye also seems to use a saber. I wonder whose Saber Technique is superior?"

The Middle-aged Man in Purple Clothes shook his head. "It’s hard to say. However, Lee Lie’s personal Cultivation is far higher than Zhaang Ye’s, and the Clear Wind Bright Moon Dusk Slash he practices is an exceptionally powerful Saber Technique. Given that, Zhaang Ye is most likely not Lee Lie’s match."

As they spoke, they both suddenly felt a slight stir in the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi.

"Hm?" Both of them simultaneously turned their gaze toward Zhaang Ye, who was still seated with his eyes closed. A faint white glow had appeared around his body at some point. This glow seemed to possess a powerful attractive force, continuously drawing the surrounding Heaven and Earth Essence Qi into itself.

The woman in purple said in amazement, "This young fellow, Zhaang Ye, is actually about to have a breakthrough! Did he really enter a state of enlightenment earlier?"

The Middle-aged Man in Purple Clothes nodded, a look of astonishment on his face. "Indeed! I never expected this Zhaang Ye’s Comprehension to be so high that he could so easily enter a state of enlightenment and achieve a breakthrough in his Cultivation."

The commotion from Zhaang Ye also caught the attention of the four Elders and the other young experts. Zhaang Tianlong strode forward to Zhaang Ye’s side, intending to guard him during his breakthrough. But at that exact moment, the white light around Zhaang Ye suddenly intensified and then, like a great dragon drinking water, flowed back into his body.

Zhaang Ye opened his eyes to see Zhaang Tianlong leaning over him.

Seeing Zhaang Ye awake, Zhaang Tianlong said with delight, "Excellent, excellent. I can’t believe you’ve already broken through to the Martial Arts Fourth Layer Middle Stage."

Zhaang Ye thanked Zhaang Tianlong, a flicker of joy crossing his face.

Zhaang Ye had been pondering the question of how to achieve the Dissolving Power for a long time. When the answer to this long-held question suddenly came to him, a sense of profound comfort washed over his entire being, and he had unconsciously entered a state of enlightenment.

In that wondrous state of enlightenment, Zhaang Ye had not only successfully perfected his Mountain-Breaking Slash, but his Cultivation had also broken through to the Martial Arts Fourth Layer Middle Stage. It was a bountiful harvest.

Seeing that Zhaang Ye was awake, the referee on the Martial Arts Arena called out, "Zhaang Ye, please come up to the arena. It is your turn now. Your opponent is Lee Lie."

Only then did Zhaang Ye realize he had unknowingly missed two matches. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

With a slight nod, Zhaang Ye’s figure blurred, and he appeared on the Martial Arts Arena, facing Lee Lie from across the stage.

Having just struck down Zhou Yuhe with his saber, Lee Lie was radiating confidence. He glanced at Zhaang Ye and said slowly, "Zhaang Ye, you’re a saber user. It’s a shame that from the start of the tournament until now, I haven’t seen you display your Saber Technique once. This time, I’m going to force you to show your hand."

Zhaang Ye smiled. "That Saber Technique of yours has three moves, doesn’t it? I’ve only seen you use the first two. I’ve never seen the third. I expect you’ll be using that third slash this time."

Hearing Zhaang Ye mention the third slash, Lee Lie said proudly, "I just used my third slash to knock Zhou Yuhe off the Martial Arts Arena. Whether you can force me to use it again depends on if you’re capable enough, Zhaang Ye."

Though Lee Lie was quite confident, he knew Zhaang Ye’s Body Refining Techniques were formidable. Before the referee’s voice announcing the start had even faded, he took the initiative and attacked.

His Sword Force unfurled, and the saber itself seemed to vanish into thin air. On the Martial Arts Arena, only a gentle breeze stirred.

Gentle Wind Slash!

From the very start, Lee Lie unleashed the Gentle Wind Slash.

At that moment, Zhaang Ye also brandished his saber. The moment his Saber Technique unfolded, everyone on and off the Martial Arts Arena stared with wide eyes. Even the two figures in purple atop the Memorial Stone wore peculiar expressions.

It turned out that the Saber Technique Zhaang Ye was using was none other than the Gentle Wind Slash!

Not only was it the Gentle Wind Slash, but Zhaang Ye’s version, like Lee Lie’s, had also been cultivated to the Great Success Realm. The power he unleashed with it was in no way inferior to Lee Lie’s!

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG—

After hundreds of clashes, Lee Lie retreated ten feet, pointing at Zhaang Ye in disbelief. "You... you... Zhaang Ye, how do you also know the Gentle Wind Slash?"

Zhaang Ye laughed but offered no explanation.

Seeing Zhaang Ye’s enigmatic expression, Lee Lie grew angry. He sneered, "What are you so smug about! It took me four years to cultivate the Clear Wind Bright Moon Dusk Slash to the Great Success Realm. You’re only fourteen or fifteen, Zhaang Ye! It’s impossible that you’ve also mastered the Bright Moon Slash and Dusk Slash. Now, allow me to use them to teach you a lesson!"

As he spoke, the saber in Lee Lie’s hand vibrated, and a full moon instantly rose into the air. With a sharp cry from Lee Lie, that moon plummeted toward Zhaang Ye! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for Recommendation Tickets and monthly passes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)