A single arena match had thrust the once-obscure Zhao Xuanqi into the eye of the storm. Countless hidden dangers now seemed at risk of exploding.

Neon, the Vermilion Bird Sect, the Giant Spirit Army, the Five Nations...

The pressure from these various factions was so immense that even with the full protection of the Jinmen Martial Arts Association’s Three Elders, he might not be able to withstand it.

But Zhao Xuanqi, at the center of the storm, seemed oblivious. After calmly stepping down from the arena under everyone’s gaze, he rejoined Shi Huai’an, Zhang Hongyun, and the others.

In the rest area, many of the waiting masters from the Divine Land cast varied gazes toward Zhao Xuanqi.

"After you won, the two Elders had someone send a letter to the Martial Arts Association’s Three Elders. During the World Martial Arts Tournament, they should do everything in their power to protect you."

Shi Huai’an said to Zhao Xuanqi.

Zhao Xuanqi nodded slightly.

The ten matches of the second round quickly concluded. Aside from Zhao Xuanqi’s fight, there hadn’t been many highlights.

Soon, the next round of matches was about to begin.

This time, all eyes were focused on Fan Shiyan.

This was because his opponent was one of the Profound Ocean Society’s Ten Sha, Cangtian Yishi.

In the various teahouses, the waiters once again stepped onto the small platforms below the match brackets to give commentary to the patrons.

"Cangtian Yishi, one of the Profound Ocean Society’s Ten Sha and an heir to the Neon Martial Dao’s One Heart Style Iaido. This man is incredibly strong. It’s said he once severed a rushing waterfall with a single slash. In terms of lethal Martial Arts, he’s ranked among the very best, second only to the Three Celestial Assassins. He is an extremely dangerous opponent."

"Fan Shiyan, an heir of the White Tiger Sect, one of the Four Saints Sects of the Divine Land’s Martial Dao. As you all know, the Four Saints Sects—which include the Vermilion Bird Sect of the Phoenix Army—represent the pinnacle of Beast Form Fist. It’s rumored that the White Tiger Sect’s Secret Transmissions are incomplete, making them the weakest of the Four Saints Sects. However, their heirs are still extraordinary, with strength comparable to the upper echelons of the First-class Armor Arena."

"But overall, the advantage in this fight still lies with the member of the Profound Ocean Society’s Ten Sha."

The waiter provided his serious analysis for the crowd, but he saw that everyone’s faces seemed to be etched with disbelief.

"That Zhao Xuanqi just now—your analysis said he was of average strength and at a disadvantage. And what happened? He ended the fight and defeated his opponent with a single palm strike! Is your analysis accurate at all?"

"Yeah, really! I think you guys must be working for the foreigners, right? You hype up the Neon Martial Dao to high heaven, but in reality, it’s probably not all that special!"

"Don’t tell me this heir of the White Tiger Sect is also going to end it with one palm strike. If he does, your teahouse owners better refund us for our snacks and drinks!"

"..."

The crowd bantered back and forth, the atmosphere light and relaxed. It seemed they now viewed the Ten Sha as nothing remarkable.

Perhaps Zhao Xuanqi’s overly easy victory in the last match had given everyone the false impression that the Neon Martial Dao wasn’t that strong.

The waiter opened his mouth, wanting to retort, but he remembered Zhao Xuanqi’s fight and worried that the more he said, the more mistakes he’d make. So, he simply put on a smile, kept his mouth shut, and stepped down from the platform.

’The customer is always right.’

And so, everyone turned their attention to one of the arenas.

Fan Shiyan’s tall frame stood opposite a Neon Warrior.

This Neon Warrior was tall and broad-shouldered. His features were delicate, but a hideous scar ran diagonally from his right forehead down to the left side of his neck, making his otherwise handsome face look savage. He was the same Neon Warrior who had immediately jumped out to save Ooyama Katsuhisa with a Secret Medicine.

All killing intent had vanished from his eyes. His expression was utterly serene, like a ten-thousand-year-old glacial pool filled with unmeltable ice.

Even the fluctuations of his life—his heartbeat, his pulse—were difficult to perceive.

Concealment!

Ning Dao’an’s Sword Nurturing Dao was similar to this: concealing one’s Spirit and life force, like a sharp sword returned to its scabbard, to be continuously nurtured until the moment it is drawn, when its edge is fully revealed.

This was not a sword for arena duels, but a sword for killing.

Iaido, also known as Iaijutsu, is the pursuit of releasing all of one’s power in the single instant the blade is drawn, killing the opponent in a flash.

It seeks neither defense nor sophisticated Body Technique, only the greatest killing power and the fastest speed.

Fan Shiyan’s expression was grave. The primal intuition from his White Tiger True Form, forged from a partially completed Hundred Beasts Mystic Gate, was roaring a constant warning. It told him that the opponent before him was terrifyingly dangerous, and he dared not be the least bit complacent.

During the preparation phase, Cangtian Yishi slowly drew his right hand from his sleeve. His robe on the right side slid off his shoulder, revealing the incredibly well-developed muscles of his shoulder, back, and arm. His arm was nearly thicker than a thigh, and his latissimus dorsi muscles extended below his waist, looking as frighteningly broad as a pair of wings.

He slowly reached his right hand into the clothing on the left side of his body, as if sheathing a sharp sword.

Then, he slowly squatted down, his waist and abdomen nearly parallel to the ground. The entire right side of his body twisted to an extreme degree, like a tightly drawn bowstring.

"Hah!"

On the other side, Fan Shiyan didn’t dare to underestimate his opponent. His body swelled in an instant as he activated his White Tiger True Form. At the same time, he stacked various Secret Techniques without holding anything back.

BZZZZ!!

The Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound rumbled from his chest and abdomen as the Three Qi of his heart, kidneys, and spleen circulated without restraint.

WHOOSH!!

His skin rippled like waves, and the surrounding airflow was violently churned. Faintly, within his aura, the form of a Bai Ze Divine Beast manifested.

DONG!!

A deafening gong sounded, officially starting the match.

Cangtian Yishi, whose eyes had been calm and half-closed, suddenly snapped them wide open.

THUMP!!

A muffled explosion boomed from his heart as terrifying Qi and Blood instantly surged through his entire body, which suddenly swelled.

But Fan Shiyan saw clearly that after swelling to its absolute limit, the man’s body actually shrank back by nearly a third.

BOOM!!

His eyes shone with ultimate brightness. The terrifying light eclipsed everything else, nearly turning Fan Shiyan’s mind blank.

’This terrifying aura...?!!’

For a moment, his mind felt as if it had been split in two by that light. He could barely think or move. Only the terrifying sense of crisis magnified abruptly, crashing down like a colossal mountain.

He knew that the Profound Technique of Iaido was to kill the opponent the instant the blade is drawn—a technique that unleashed all of one’s Spirit and power in a flash. The most terrifying part was that single moment of the draw, when the opponent’s will burned fiercely and their aura surged, like a meteor challenging the sun.

But he had never imagined his opponent’s aura would be this powerful.

A moment’s hesitation was more than enough time for his opponent to do many things.

’No, this is bad!!’

ROAR!!

He let out a sudden, great roar. At that moment, the aura he pictured in his mind was, surprisingly, a different one.

It was the aura from back then, when Zhao Xuanqi’s Qilin’s Intent had half-escaped its bonds, unleashing its fierce pressure.

That aura didn’t need to be suddenly unleashed, nor did it need to be paired with a technique. A mere instinctive gaze was enough to seemingly freeze him solid.

’Compared to that aura, what is this stream of light?!’

In an instant, his vision seemed to return. But at that moment, he met a pair of eyes that overflowed with killing intent.

In that same instant, Cangtian Yishi had appeared before him, his right hand whipping out from where it was hidden within his left robe.

SHIIING!!!

Accompanying this drawing strike was a terrifying Qi Blade nearly twenty meters long, so condensed it was almost corporeal and visible to the naked eye!

’You want to kill me?!!’

Fan Shiyan knew clearly that his opponent wanted to kill him in a single strike to avenge the humiliation of a Neon master being defeated by Zhao Xuanqi in one move!

’As if I’d let you succeed?!’

Fan Shiyan violently forced his body to move, protecting himself with Gang Qi and crossing his arms to block.

SCHRRRIP!!

As the Qi Blade passed, his thick arms were instantly severed. The blade continued unimpeded, slashing into his throat and opening a gruesome, bloody gash from which blood instantly sprayed.

BANG!!

Then, under the immense force of the impact, his body was sent flying backward, landing heavily below the arena stage.

For a moment, the entire venue was deathly silent.

And on the stage, Cangtian Yishi slowly turned his head to look in another direction. His cold and severe expression held a hint of mockery as his gaze met another’s.

That was precisely where Zhao Xuanqi stood!