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Xu Zimoâs opponent was Yan Dao.
He wielded a massive chained cleaver.
His entire body radiated the aura of the blade, sharp, fierce, and cutting through the air itself.
Simply standing there, he was like a sword thrust into heaven and earth, exuding an edge so sharp it was hard to look at him directly.
He wore a long purple robe. When he saw Xu Zimo enter the arena, his eyes snapped open, and a suffocating murderous intent surged across the battlefield.
Xu Zimo yawned lazily, looking at him with disinterest.
âThe match begins,â the referee shouted from below.
The instant the words fell, a streak of razor-sharp blade energy shot into the sky and came slashing straight toward Xu Zimo.
âThatâs the Yan Imperial Clanâs blade technique,â someone in the audience said.
âItâs said that the Yan Imperial Clan once produced a Grand Emperor. This blade technique was first created by their ancestor and later refined by that very Emperor. It must have reached the level of an imperial-grade technique by now,â another spectator remarked with admiration.
Having a powerful lineage truly was a blessing.
The massive blade slashed through heaven and earth, shattering the void itself, transforming into countless afterimages that surrounded Xu Zimo.
âUsing a blade in front of me?â Xu Zimo smiled faintly.
He extended his right hand, and a surge of powerful blade energy erupted outward.
Instantly, Yan Daoâs countless blade auras froze, and then, as if recognizing their sovereign, they became gentle, swirling obediently around Xu Zimo.
Yan Daoâs expression changed drastically. He tried to regain control of his blade energy, but it no longer responded to him at all.
âPerhaps there are some in this world qualified to wield a blade before me,â Xu Zimo said softly. âBut you are not one of them.â
He flicked his hand.
Countless blades burst forth simultaneously.
In an instant, the entire arena was engulfed by a sea of blades, infinite and boundless. In the midst of that raging ocean of blade energy, Yan Dao was caught at the center.
âReferee,â Xu Zimo asked calmly, âis killing allowed here?â
âFists and weapons have no eyes. Do as you wish,â the referee replied coldly.
âNo!â Yan Dao roared, sensing that Xu Zimo would show no mercy.
From his storage ring, a flash of light burst out.
A massive shield appeared before him, glowing with power.
Holding the shield with both hands, he bellowed, âOpen!â
With a thunderous boom, spiritual light erupted from the shield, forming layers of radiant defense that blocked the storm of blades before him.
The shieldâs overwhelming power surged forward, transforming into a wave of energy that crashed toward Xu Zimo.
Xu Zimo frowned slightly, then smiled. âThat must be your ancestorâs weapon.â
Indeed, the Yan Imperial Clanâs Grand Emperor had once left behind a massive shield.
âEnough talk, die!â Yan Dao roared, charging forward with the shield, attempting to crush Xu Zimo beneath its might.
Xu Zimo snorted coldly.
At his fingertips, a sliver of blade energy condensed.
With a flick, he sent it flying.
To everyoneâs astonishment, that tiny thread of energy, no larger than a finger, expanded midair into a colossal heavenly blade.
Its size grew a hundredfold in an instant.
The titanic blade cleaved through the arena, shattering the ground and tearing open the void itself.
Winds howled violently, the air distorted, and the spectatorsâ vision was pletely obscured.
Amidst the roar of destruction, a cracking sound echoed, followed by a scream swallowed by the storm.
When the winds finally subsided and the dust settled, the crowd stared in utter shock.
The arena was a ruin.
The massive shield lay shattered into several pieces, discarded like broken scrap.
Yan Daoâs body was unrecognizable, bloodied, mangled, lying motionless in a pool of blood.
Silence blanketed the field.
Xu Zimo smiled mildly, his expression harmless. âReferee, you can announce the result now.â
âOh, oh, right!â The referee jolted back to his senses. âThis match, Xu Zimo wins!â
Xu Zimo stepped down from the arena calmly.
This time, no one dared to look down on him.
There were too many participants on the first day, half would need to be eliminated, so Xu Zimo only fought once that day. His next match was scheduled for the following morning.
âHave you two already fought?â Xu Zimo asked Shangguan Xian and the others.
Shangguan Xian nodded. âAt the start, most opponents are weak. The further you go, the stronger they get.â
They glanced briefly at the other matches, but seeing the uneven strength of the contestants, they quickly lost interest.
Back at the inn, a familiar face was waiting for them in the first-floor hall.
âLord Bian,â Xu Zimo greeted.
The man waiting was none other than the Black Crow Dao Courtâs master, Bian Wenzhou, the Black Crow Emperor.
âMaster Xu,â Bian Wenzhou said with a laugh as he rose to his feet. âI was delayed by some matters on the road. My apologies for arriving late.â
âI thought your Black Crow Dao Court wasnât ing,â Xu Zimo replied.
âHow could that be? Youâre representing our Fire Bane City, after all.â
Bian Wenzhou smiled. âI heard you killed the son of Blade Tyrant, the City Lord of Stone Flame City.â
âHe lost fairly,â Xu Zimo said evenly. âSkill issues. Thatâs all.â
âThat old man is petty,â Bian Wenzhou chuckled. âHis son was born late in life, and he dotes on him endlessly. Heâll surely try everything to stop you from peting. But donât worry, I came here precisely to deal with that.â
âWhether you came or not, the result would be the same,â Xu Zimo said bluntly.
âTrue enough,â Bian Wenzhou said with an easy laugh. âBut youâre fighting on behalf of Fire Bane City. If I did nothing, people might say Iâm ungrateful.â
âWhereâs Bian Shishi? She didnât e?â Xu Zimo asked.
âThat girl, I canât control her,â Bian Wenzhou said with a shake of his head.
Xu Zimo said nothing more.
He had just broken through to the Saint Sovereign realm and wasnât yet fully accustomed to the new power. He needed time to stabilize his cultivation.
After dinner, he returned to his room.
He cultivated through the night until morning.
A knock on the door roused him.
âMaster Xu, time to go,â Liu Huohuoâs voice called.
Xu Zimo opened the door to see Bian Wenzhou and the others downstairs eating breakfast.
âCare for some?â Bian Wenzhou asked with a smile.
âNo,â Xu Zimo shook his head.
He looked out the window toward the street and murmured, âThe sky looks gloomy today.â
âWhat? No way, itâs sunny outside,â Liu Huohuo said cheerfully.
The others simply smiled faintly and said nothing.
After breakfast, the group headed toward the tournament arena.
But as soon as they reached the middle of the main street, something felt wrong.
The road, normally bustling with life, was eerily silent.
Not a single soul was in sight.
Shutters were closed tight on both sides, and the air was still, save for the occasional gust that stirred a few fallen leaves.
âTheyâre here,â Xu Zimo murmured softly.
Moments later, the sound of footsteps echoed.
From both ends of the street, dozens of black-robed figures emerged.
They didnât speak a word.
Their leader gave a low mand.
âKill.â
Instantly, they all charged forward.
Zhang Hengzhi was about to act, but Bian Wenzhou stopped him.
âYou all go to the arena,â Bian Wenzhou said with a grin. âLeave this small matter to me.â
He clapped his hands lightly.
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