Fan Shiyan’s large frame was sent flying back by the terrifying slash, crashing heavily off the side of the ring with a thunderous THUD.

Both of his arms, severed at the forearms by the attack, now lay on the ring floor. After slicing through his arms, the Sword Qi had continued onward, tearing open his throat. Flesh peeled back as blood gushed forth.

All at once, the countless spectators in the surrounding teahouses fell deathly silent. The previously relaxed atmosphere had vanished completely.

A single slash had produced a terrifying wave of Sword Qi, visible to the naked eye, that stretched nearly twenty meters and spanned almost the entire ring. And with that single attack, the successor of the White Tiger Sect, one of the Four Saints Sects, had his arms severed and his neck nearly sliced through. He had nearly been decapitated on the spot!

One move. Another one-move finish!

It was as if in deliberate provocation. Just as Zhao Xuanqi had defeated a successor from Neon’s Ten Schools and Nine Paths in a single move, Cangtian Yishi had now nearly decapitated a successor from one of the Divine Land’s Four Saints Sects—also in a single move!

What’s more, the speed of the attack and the sheer gore of its result seemed even more terrifying than Zhao Xuanqi’s!

’So this... is the true power of a master of the Neon Martial Dao?!’

Atop the ring, Cangtian Yishi’s gaze locked with Zhao Xuanqi’s below. His eyes were thick with provocation and scorn.

Zhao Xuanqi’s eyes narrowed, a profound killing intent flashing in their depths before he looked away. Springing into motion, he rushed with Shi Huai’an and Zhang Hongyun toward the spot where Fan Shiyan had fallen.

Fan Shiyan’s arms were severed and his throat was cut, leaving him unable to speak. However, for someone of his cultivation, his life force was exceptionally strong. He had already managed to control his muscles to constrict the wounds and prevent further massive blood loss. Surviving for another three to five minutes wouldn’t be a problem. His eyes burned with unresigned fury.

Zhao Xuanqi and the others reached Fan Shiyan’s side. Zhang Hongyun drew out his Silver Needles to stanch the bleeding, while Shi Huai’an produced a vial of Golden Willow Jade Liquid and poured it onto Fan Shiyan’s neck wound. Aided by both the medicine and his own formidable life force, the gash on his neck began to heal at a rate visible to the naked eye.

"I had intended to take his head with that strike. I didn’t expect him to have some ability, to survive one of my techniques without dying. However, the next person who faces me... likely won’t be so fortunate."

Cangtian Yishi remarked casually to Zhao Xuanqi and the others in heavily accented Divine Land speech, then turned and walked off the ring.

SWISH!

Meanwhile, the referee leaped down from his high platform, holding two gore-drenched, severed arms. The cuts through the bone were perfectly smooth.

"Reattach them quickly with some quality Wound Medicine. At his level, he should be able to avoid any lasting damage."

The referee said in a grave voice.

"Thank you."

Shi Huai’an nodded his thanks to the referee.

The three of them then immediately escorted Fan Shiyan backstage. With the White Tiger Sect’s influence, it was a simple matter to have the Martial Arts Association provide an advance of their Wound Medicine. For an injury like a severed limb, every moment counted; the sooner it was reattached, the lower the risk of lasting complications.

However, Cangtian Yishi’s fight was merely the prelude. In the many matches that followed, the Neon Martial Dao bared its vicious fangs to all.

Any match involving the Neon Martial Dao tended to be exceedingly bloody. The opponents of Neon’s masters almost always ended up either dead or maimed. Even when a Neon Martial Artist was weaker than their adversary, they would fight to the bitter end, sometimes even resorting to techniques that guaranteed mutual destruction.

A Neon Martial Artist’s fight had only two possible outcomes: either their opponent was carried off the ring, or they were.

The Killing Dao!

This exceedingly brutal fighting style, the terrifying killing intent, and the near-supernatural abilities born from combining Secret Medicines with the Martial Dao—it all completely upended the Divine Land populace’s understanding of martial arts.

Powerful, cruel, ruthless, and mysterious—these words became the defining traits of the Neon Martial Artists.

When the first round of the tournament concluded, the field of over two hundred competitors had been culled to just over one hundred. Yet of the more than fifty Neon Martial Artists, only about ten had been eliminated!

Suddenly, heading into the second round, the number of remaining Divine Land Martial Artists was nearly equal to that of the Neon Martial Artists. This fact hammered home the formidable power of the Neon Martial Dao for the people of the Divine Land.

At the same time, as the reputation of the Neon Martial Dao spread, so too did Zhao Xuanqi’s fame. It was only then that people finally understood: the successor of the Ten Schools and Nine Paths had been defeated in a single blow not because the Neon Martial Dao was weak, but because Zhao Xuanqi was simply that strong!

All information regarding Zhao Xuanqi was now being treated with the utmost importance by the various factions. Overnight, his entire background was unearthed and laid bare.

Zhao Xuanqi, however, was unconcerned with all this. He, Shi Huai’an, and Zhang Hongyun were currently at a secret stronghold belonging to the Black Tortoise and White Tiger Sects. The two Elders, Xu Ji and Peng Weishan, were also present. They had assembled a host of masters to heavily guard the location, while the National Salvation Association’s entire intelligence network, led by Sun Yunyong and Yang Zhongliang, had been mobilized to monitor any and all developments within Jinmen, ensuring the swiftest possible response.

Fan Shiyan’s injuries had appeared severe, but they hadn’t actually damaged his core foundation. Thanks to the high-quality Wound Medicine from both sects, he was largely out of danger. However, he would likely be unable to practice martial arts for at least half a month. He was already resting in his room.

Meanwhile, Zhao Xuanqi was meeting with Xu Ji and Peng Weishan in the stronghold’s main hall.

"Once your background is fully exposed, the combined strength of our two sects and the National Salvation Association will not be enough to guarantee your safety from the predatory gazes of the other factions. However, the Three Elders of the Jinmen Martial Arts Association have agreed to offer you their protection. But... they wish to meet you first," Xu Ji told Zhao Xuanqi in a grave tone.

"The Jinmen Three Elders, hm?" Zhao Xuanqi’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of interest in his gaze. "Then by all means, let’s have a meeting."

He was no stranger to the thunderous reputation of the Jinmen Three Elders.

Jinmen was the gateway to the Divine Land, one of its most prosperous cities, and held the esteemed title of the Martial Arts Capital.

No one could say for certain just how many interests and fortunes were tangled up in Jinmen. And yet, the Jinmen Martial Arts Association had managed to stand tall through it all, maintaining order to such an extent that even the Beidou Army found it difficult to interfere in the city’s affairs.

While this was partly a result of the delicate balance of power between the various factions, the most crucial factor was the existence of the Jinmen Three Elders.

"We suspect this won’t be a simple meeting," Peng Weishan said. "It’s unlikely they’ll throw their full support behind you based on our word alone. You will undoubtedly be required to demonstrate your strength."

"That’s right," Xu Ji nodded. "The Jinmen Three Elders were known as the ’Three Prodigies’ in their youth. They are triplet brothers who have been able to communicate telepathically since they were children. Later, they received a Secret Transmission of the Qimen Martial Dao and mastered the Three Lights Infinite Array. While their individual Martial Dao has not reached the realm of Unity of Understanding, their attainments in Qimen Formations are profound. With proper preparation, they once even faced a Military Commander in direct confrontation. They are exceedingly powerful."

"Lu Yuanxiang of the Daluo Qimen, one of the Seven General Stars, is a disciple of the Three Elders. You had best be prepared," Xu Ji added with a nod.