C18 He Defeated Ling Xuan with a Domineering Manner

As time marched on, the champions of the second, third, and fourth battles emerged: Ling Hong, Ling Jie, and Ling Song, respectively. The victor of the first battle remained undecided, but it was close to a conclusion. On the Battle Platform, Ling Yunfan and Ling Xuan were the last two standing. Once they settled their duel, they could advance to challenge the champions from the other platforms.

The prize for securing first place in the Clan Competition was substantial, and the anticipation was palpable.

"Begin!" Ling Tianba, presiding over the match from above, declared the start as soon as he saw Ling Xuan and Ling Yunfan ready.

Despite the go-ahead from Ling Tianba, the referee, neither contender stirred. They stood in silence, eyes locked, each seemingly weighing their next move.

"Why isn't big brother making his move and knocking him down?" Ling Jie, puzzled, commented while observing the still Ling Xuan.

"When facing an opponent of equal strength or uncertain capabilities, one doesn't strike thoughtlessly," Ling Hong explained to the bewildered Ling Jie. "Acting hastily could reveal weaknesses and give the opponent an opening. This could turn an evenly matched fight into one where you're overpowered or even defeated. Observing and then striking is the wisest strategy at this juncture."

Hearing this, Ling Jie replied with skepticism, "Ms. Ling Hong, I know you're close to Ling Yunfan, but there's no need to overpraise him. Both he and my big brother are at Body Refining Level Nine, but when it comes to actual combat experience and strength, Big Brother Ling Xuan is clearly superior. He's just holding back to save face for the Patriarch, not to instantly defeat Ling Yunfan."

Ling Hong chose not to engage further, her focus remaining on the intense standoff between Ling Yunfan and Ling Xuan on the platform.

"It's finally our turn to battle. Make your move!" Ling Yunfan, noting his opponent's patience mirroring his own, invited the challenge with a smile.

"Then I'll hold nothing back."

Upon hearing this, Ling Xuan refrained from immediately launching an attack with his long saber against Ling Yunfan.

Ling Yunfan watched as Ling Xuan relentlessly wielded his long saber, delivering swift and ruthless strikes. He remained vigilant, drawing the Water Cold Sword and channeling all his strength into his hands to amplify the sword's power.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The clash between them escalated rapidly, the cacophony of their swords and sabers striking each other varied in intensity as the fight raged on. It wasn't just a battle of blades; punches and kicks were exchanged in rapid succession.

"Ha!"

With a fierce cry, Ling Xuan swung his long saber at the neck of Ling Yunfan, who had just touched down on the ground.

Clang!

Ling Yunfan, quick on his feet, wasn't about to be easily cut down. He countered with the Water Cold Sword in defense.

"What?!"

Ling Xuan exclaimed in shock, seeing his full-force attack thwarted by Ling Yunfan.

"Now it's my turn."

Having parried Ling Xuan's strike, Ling Yunfan wasted no time. He infused the Water Cold Sword with his spiritual force, drawing out and intensifying the chill it emitted, then he delivered a decisive, unhesitating slash.

Ling Xuan, in response, braced his long saber across his chest, hoping to block the incoming blow. But as soon as his hands met the Cold Water Sword, a piercing cold invaded them. Within moments, his hands suffered frostbite.

Incapacitated by the frostbite and unable to withstand the force of Ling Yunfan's five-thousand-kilogram strike, Ling Xuan was sent hurtling through the air.

Plop.

"Wuuwaa!"

Ling Xuan, now sprawled on the ground, clutched his chest and coughed up a trace of blood.

"What?!"

"Ling Yunfan has actually wounded Ling Xuan? Impossible!"

"It must be Ling Xuan holding back. I refuse to believe it."

"Big brother actually lost in a sparring match? That shouldn't be possible!"

The crowd erupted in a chorus of astonished gasps upon witnessing the scene. Ling Jie, previously smug, now wore an expression of utter disbelief as he cried out.

At that moment, it wasn't just the onlookers who were stunned; the three elders and Ling Tianba shared in the profound surprise.

They had the clearest view of the exchange between Ling Yunfan and Ling Xuan. They saw with crystal clarity how Ling Yunfan effortlessly channeled spiritual force into his Cold Water Sword during that strike, significantly amplifying its power.

Such mastery over spiritual force was a hallmark of martial artists at the Essence Gathering Stage, yet Ling Yunfan was still at Body Refining Level Nine. This implied that he could achieve feats typically reserved for the next realm, and he might well do so as he approached it. This level of talent was usually the domain of unparalleled geniuses, and now, Ling Yunfan seemed to be one of them.

It suggested that he might have ascended to the ranks of a peerless genius.

"Alright, enough with the warm-up. It's time for me to see what you've really got!" Ling Yunfan said, a hint of impatience in his voice as he observed Ling Xuan, who stood up with a furrowed brow.

Ling Yunfan's words, though spoken softly, reached almost every ear. Ling Xuan, however, ignored him. He sheathed his long blade and conjured two swirling orbs of spiritual force in his palms.

In a brief moment, the spiritual force morphed into two fist-sized wind spheres. When Ling Xuan merged them before him, they expanded massively in size, the emanating cutting force carving the Battle Platform, made of countless boulders, with sword-like precision.

"Human Rank High Level Martial Skill, Profound Wind Break!" Ling Jie exclaimed with excitement, his eyes fixed on Ling Xuan's technique.

"Well then, I won't hold back either."

Upon seeing his opponent deploy a martial skill, Ling Yunfan wasted no further words. Gripping his sword, he unleashed his spiritual force, drawing in the ambient wind currents to merge with the spiritual force within the blade.

In an instant, the formidable force of the Vortex Slash eclipsed Ling Xuan even before his martial skill could fully materialize. The intense winds emitted a howling reminiscent of a tornado.

"Make your move!"

"Take this!"

As tension gripped the onlookers, hearts racing with anticipation, both combatants roared in unison, channeling every ounce of their strength into their respective attacks.

Suddenly, a white sword energy, no more than a meter in length, clashed with a wind orb the size of a curled-up adult man, resulting in a stalemate.

Boom!

A resounding crash echoed as Ling Xuan's Profound Wind Break was cleaved in two by Ling Yunfan's half-formed Vortex Slash. Moreover, the residual half of the white sword energy relentlessly pursued Ling Xuan, who was now incapable of continuing the fight.

"Whoosh!"

Witnessing the spectacle, the crowd feared Ling Xuan might sustain grave injuries. The Second Elder, observing from above, rose to intervene. But just before he could act, another streak of identical pure white sword energy surged forward at an even greater speed, colliding with and neutralizing the sword energy aimed at Ling Xuan.