"You're coming first?"

Duan Jingshan stepped onto the cast-iron arena one step at a time, his expression unreadable as he drew a long, slender saber from behind his waist. It was enveloped in a sinister, dark gleam that reflected on the faces of the crowd, causing many pupils to shrink slightly, followed by an involuntary hint of fear.

"It's the Black Spring Saber..." someone murmured, their voice trembling. The saber, named Black Spring, was a true Fierce Weapon. It had once been stained with the blood of several Innate Experts who had fallen to its edge. Its reputation was immense, hailed as one of Huadao Fort's two most treasured blades. No one expected it to be brought out today.

Hearing the apprehensive murmurs from the summit, Duan Jingshan stared at Great King Dashan, his eyes flashing with madness and a cold glint. Is this guy even worthy of being my opponent? What a joke.

"Indeed, it seems this is all your Flying Leopard amounts to," Duan Jingshan said slowly, the corner of his mouth curling into a mocking smile. "Back then, I believe I casually disposed of some overconfident fool right here. Are you trying to make me reenact that scene today? You'd better understand one thing—I, Duan Jingshan, never show mercy or go easy."

As he spoke, a staggering aura began to surge from his body. A stream of faint black Qi coiled around his shoulders before swirling over his entire frame and finally into his eyes. The sight made many in the audience gasp, feeling a heavy pressure slam into them, making it difficult to breathe and intensely uncomfortable.

Just then, a faint laugh echoed in everyone's ears, causing them to instinctively turn in its direction.

On the arena stood Great King Dashan, his expression stoic. His demonic eyes, though flickering with a hint of brutality, remained as tranquil as an ancient well. He stared at Duan Jingshan and slightly clenched his fleshy fists. At that moment, an unsettling surge of Demonic Qi swept out from his body!

Instantly, the expressions on many faces changed dramatically. The intensity of that aura was in no way inferior to Duan Jingshan's, and perhaps even surpassed it!?

Immediately, many eyes on the summit widened, their expressions complex. No one had anticipated that Wang Dashan, having only just broken through to the Innate Early Stage, could possess such a powerful aura. This was even more surprising than Duan Jingshan bringing out the Fierce Blade Black Spring.

Only Patriarch Bai, upon sensing the oppressive Demonic Qi emanating from Wang Dashan, couldn't help but furrow his aged, cloudy eyes. What is this feeling...? It seemed as if he had recalled something troublesome, and he looked somewhat taken aback.

Yet, amid the surrounding shock and tremors, Wang Dashan appeared wholly indifferent, his expression cold. His icy eyes never left his opponent, whose own expression had shifted. As his chubby, round face split into a cold grin, a rush of Demonic Qi swept out, accompanied by an equally cold voice.

"I don't need you to show mercy or hold back, because... you won't get the chance."

No sooner had his chilling voice faded than a deafening rumble erupted.

RUMBLE...

Wang Dashan stomped his foot down fiercely, and the ground around the point of impact visibly fractured. Then, his figure transformed into a black rainbow, shooting out explosively.

So fast! This sheer speed made the pupils of many Ancient Martial Artists on the summit contract. They were astonished to find that Wang Dashan's lightness skill far exceeded their imagination. They could barely discern his movements—in fact, could they only see afterimages?

However, while they were still reeling in shock, Wang Dashan's figure had already appeared before Duan Jingshan. With a cold expression, he twisted his body and unleashed a vicious whip-kick, like a raging Flood Dragon.

CLANG!

Duan Jingshan reacted just as quickly. With a sharp glint in his eyes, he swung the Fierce Blade Black Spring upward to meet the formidable kick head-on, producing a grating shriek of impact. Then, his eyes flashed with cold madness. With a flick of his wrist, the flashing blade created afterimages as it slashed forward, causing Wang Dashan's eyes to narrow slightly.

The next moment, with a loud BANG, the two fiercely battling figures had already separated, though no one saw exactly when. Duan Jingshan's slash had been aimed at Wang Dashan, but the latter had deftly redirected the blow, pushing it aside with clever force. After deflecting the strike, he countered with a palm, landing it squarely on his opponent's shoulder. Both of their bodies shuddered from the impact.

"Wow!" The crowd burst into an uproar. "So this is a fight between Innate Experts! It's terrifying. If I were up there, I probably wouldn't last a single move. Is Flying Leopard's Elder Wang stronger? He seems to have had the upper hand from the start!"

This first exchange sent a wave of excitement through the spectators. Undeniably, this level of combat was so enthralling it nearly left them breathless from the very beginning. The control of power and application of techniques displayed by both fighters were truly at a pinnacle, leaving everyone astonished. It seemed that Flying Leopard's Elder Wang had already gained a slight advantage, as his last palm strike appeared to have injured his opponent.

Seeing this, Patriarch Bai, Ruan Qingxiu of Qingqiu, and the other Innate Experts remained silent, watching quietly. Only Yuann Liegang of Huadao Fort wore a dark expression, apparently not expecting Duan Jingshan to be at a disadvantage.

"Hehe."

At that moment on the arena, Duan Jingshan slowly wiped the trace of blood from the corner of his mouth, and a gloomy, somewhat neurotic laugh began to rise. He lifted his head, his wild eyes locking onto Wang Dashan as an eerie smile spread across his lips. "As expected of Flying Leopard's executioner, the Smiling Demon. You haven't disappointed me in the slightest."

Yet, as his voice fell, the Fierce Blade Black Spring in his hand suddenly trembled, and a cold glint flashed.

This is... Instantly, the pupils of Wang Dashan and the surrounding experts at the Half-Step Innate Realm or higher couldn't help but tremble. Before their eyes, the Fierce Blade Black Spring began to flicker with a dark luster. A ferocious shadow seemed to coalesce and roar along its edge.

Seeing this, Chen Fei's expression changed slightly. He had already noticed the blade was unusual. Is this thing... a Magic Artifact? I never thought something like this actually existed on Earth.

But while he was still lost in his inner shock, Duan Jingshan's neurotic, mocking laughter once again filled the air. "Wang Dashan, let's play for real now. Take this!"

He shot out like a specter, appearing above Wang Dashan in the blink of an eye. The Fierce Blade slashed downward, carrying a terrifying, bizarre stream of energy that sent a chill down his opponent's spine.

BANG!

RUMBLE!

This strike from Duan Jingshan was terrifying. Compared to before, it now possessed some kind of mysterious power that only experts at the Half-Step Innate Realm or higher could perceive. Wang Dashan's situation had become dire. He not only had to block or dodge the slash but, more importantly, resist the erosion of that bizarre power. But he failed. His entire body shook violently, an unhealthy flush creeping up his cheeks as he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

"How does it feel now?" Duan Jingshan laughed maniacally, pressing his advantage with a flurry of blade shadows.

"Despicable! If it weren't for that saber, that guy would be no match for Deputy Instructor Wang," Captain Pei muttered angrily from behind Chen Fei. It was now clear to everyone that the Fierce Blade was what had turned the tide of the battle.

"What a joke. Can't handle a loss?" Zhan Lingfeng sneered, tilting his head back disdainfully. "If you can't accept defeat, don't embarrass yourselves here. Who doesn't know the Black Spring Saber is our Huadao Fort Patriarch's personal weapon? Using one's own weapon is despicable? Is there something wrong with your head?"

"What did you just..."

"Shut up." Chen Fei suddenly cut them off, shooting a cold glance at Zhan Lingfeng before saying nothing more. Although his opponent's methods are a bit underhanded, gaining an advantage with a powerful Magic Artifact isn't against the rules. Arguing is pointless.

"Kid, it looks like you're going to lose the first match. How disappointing," Yuann Liegang spoke up at this moment, a sinister smile on his face. His eyes, fixed on Chen Fei, were full of mockery. As for being disappointed, did that even need explaining? If they can't even beat Duan Jingshan, will I, Yuann Liegang, even get a chance to fight?

"...Is that so?" Chen Fei was silent for a long moment before a faint curve appeared on his lips. His voice rose sharply as he declared, "In that case, you'd better open your eyes and watch closely!"

"Heh..." Yuann Liegang instinctively let out a cold laugh, but the expression froze on his face before it could fully form. On the arena, just as Wang Dashan was trapped in a desperate situation, an immense and repressive surge of Demonic Qi unexpectedly burst from his body. In an instant, his figure moved.

Then, in a flash, he appeared at Duan Jingshan's right side. He curved two fingers together like a sword-light, and a deep black ray of energy condensed around them. In less than half a breath, his fingers turned pitch black as a heart-palpitating aura emerged, stabbing toward Duan Jingshan's waist.

"It's Wang Dashan's Demon Cloud Finger!" Many in the crowd held their breath upon seeing this. It was Wang Dashan's signature technique, a skill famous throughout the martial world.

"Are you underestimating me?!" At that moment, Duan Jingshan's neurotic roar echoed across the summit. He clenched his fist, and with a shake of the Fierce Blade in his palm, an invisible black aura swept out. Its terrifying presence made even true Innate Experts like Ruan Qingxiu's eyelids twitch.

"Beheading Blade!"

With a hoarse cry, Duan Jingshan brought the terrifying saber down, ruthlessly chopping toward the approaching Demon Cloud Finger. From the edge of the Fierce Blade Black Spring, it seemed as if terrible ghouls were howling.

BOOM!

A dull, hair-raising clash exploded, sending visible ripples of energy out in all directions from where the two stood. The platform beneath them shook madly, nearly cracking apart, but it was stopped by a mysterious force—the very Formation Patriarch Bai had laid out in advance.

With a collective gasp, everyone shot to their feet. All eyes were fixed on the center of the thick smoke on the platform, their gazes burning.

This battle... who won?!

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