Chapter 567: Chapter 565: The Soul Mark Shocks the World
"Mr. Xu is ever the same Mr. Xu."
Yie Vajra could not help but sigh with feeling.
If it had been him, even if he was stronger than Men Long, facing such a delicate little girl, he would never be able to strike so cruelly.
"Only after witnessing today do I know your fame is well-deserved! With just that one slash just now, even if I risked my life, I couldn’t have blocked it!" murmured the young man beside Yie Vajra, still shaken.
"How satisfying, that’s how a man should be." Shi Hu was especially exhilarated.
So what if it’s Men Long?
He sneered all the more at those who admired Men Long!
What, have you never seen a woman before?
At that moment, Men Long glared at Xu Yang with venomous resentment, no longer able to hide her inner emotions.
She was unwilling and wanted to face Xu Yang again.
She even held a confidence she could match him!
But never did she expect reality to slap her so hard in the face!
One slash!
Just one slash!
The point is, that very slash left her grievously wounded.
You could say, from here on, against any of the top ten on the Celestial Pride List, she wouldn’t win a single one!
"Xu Yang..."
Men Long gnashed her teeth, but suddenly saw Xu Yang spin and leave, swift and decisive, instantly making her jaw drop as her charming face darkened, suffused with seething rage.
"Just you wait!"
She swallowed the metallic sweetness in her throat, her gaze particularly chilling.
Being hated by a woman—her means of revenge are simply unimaginable.
But Xu Yang simply didn’t care.
Men Long?
Just Xiao Ming’s dog.
Perhaps, the two of them even had some special relationship.
Otherwise, why would she join with Xiao Ming to secretly target Zuo Guangchen?
In the crowd, Zuo Guangchen felt just as elated watching.
His opponent had also been Men Long.
Seeing Men Long so feeble now, he couldn’t help but grin—his moment of vengeance would soon arrive!
The following few bouts went just as expected.
Men Long was straightforward.
When facing top ten Celestial Pride List opponents, she surrendered immediately.
Even against another True Monarch Perfection prodigy outside the top ten, she still suffered a loss and failed to secure victory.
In the end, she only gained five Spirit Talismans!
With Men Long stepping down, the Martial Artists from Cloud Dream Soul Sect now eyed Xu Yang with undisguised malice.
Had Xu Yang not struck so ruthlessly, Men Long surely could have gotten at least two more Spirit Talismans!
Xu Yang showed no fear, boldly facing off with the strong of Cloud Dream Soul Sect, sneering coldly all the while.
Only Men Long is to blame!
She was putting on an act!
Why not just admit defeat?
Next, the top ten paragons all stepped forward to fight.
Compared to before, it was a world of difference.
Zuo Guangchen, Jun Baimu, and others revealed strength that left all in awe.
Against anyone outside the top ten and the nine major first-rate factions, these prideful paragons displayed a crushing dominance—each move was unleashed with full force, leaving the other party not even a chance to fight back.
At last, it was Xu Yang’s turn.
His first opponent was Xiao Ming!
This was, indisputably, the most anticipated battle of all.
Last time at Dongyang Profound Sect, most had only heard rumors, unable to witness it with their own eyes—a sore regret.
"Xiao Ming vs. Xu Yang, I don’t think Xu Yang has a chance. Xiao Ming is simply too strong. Besides, rumor has it he..."
"The placements are being fought for today. Even if Xu Yang could barely manage a fight, it would drag on and waste so much time—it’s just not worth it!"
"Honestly, I’d like to witness a duel of peerless talents, but if I were Xu Yang, I’d simply surrender straight away!"
...
As Xu Yang stepped onto the field, speculation abounded among the crowd!
Almost no one believed Xu Yang could win!
Furthermore, fighting Xiao Ming would be tremendously time-consuming.
Truly not worth the price!
Surrendering was, without a doubt, the best choice.
"Xu Yang, if you concede, I won’t look down on you."
"After all, out of all these people, only you are worth my respect—even a little!"
Xiao Ming responded blandly, his arrogance on full display!
Yet with a single line, he had managed to offend everyone else present.
The other top paragons all frowned deeply.
But facing Xiao Ming, even Chen Xuanji couldn’t summon the desire to duel!
As a top faction’s peerless talent, most knew Xiao Ming had fused with the Five Elements Spirit God, with his True Monarch Initial Stage and Middle Stage abilities barely revealed at all.
But when he reached high stage, perfection, or even Shenshao, he would only become ever more terrifying!
Xu Yang gave a cold smile, "Xiao Ming, get up here!"
"What?"
"He’s really going to fight?"
"Is he out of his mind?"
The crowd erupted in an uproar, unable to believe their ears.
Even Xiao Ming was momentarily stunned.
But soon, his face broke into a wide smile.
Swoosh!
Xiao Ming flashed onto the field, eyes narrowed in mirth. "Xu Yang, I think even more highly of you now."
"Don’t worry. Even if you lose, I won’t seriously injure you!"
Despite the mockery, despite the lack of camaraderie, Xiao Ming was, in truth, a little shaken.
Xu Yang’s boldness—none could equal it!
"Enough with the boasting!"
Xu Yang snorted coldly and vanished from sight in a flash, neat and decisive!
Boom!
The mountaintop space was struck as if by thunder; from all directions erupted earth-shaking detonations.
It was as though countless invisible colossal beasts were stampeding, churning up wild waves, as grand and immense as a crashing ocean, threatening to overturn the very heavens.
Such shocking might made everyone’s scalps tingle and hearts quake with dread!
"So strong!"
"Is this his true strength?"
"My legs are trembling. That slash he used on Men Long before must have been nothing more than a casual, offhand strike."
Chen Xuanji’s pupils contracted tightly as he stared at the surging waves, a deep wariness filling his gaze.
Just this aura alone was enough to make his scalp prickle!
Xu Yang’s growth seemed even more frightening than his own!
"Damn it!"
Thinking his coming first opponent would also be Xu Yang, Chen Xuanji couldn’t help clenching his fists tightly.
Granted, the qualifying spots were key.
But to surrender was utterly humiliating!
Especially for him!
"What is he doing?"
A wave of exclamations rose from the crowd.
In this moment, Xu Yang sat cross-legged, the Celestial Refining Divine Tripod before him.
Both hands formed complex seals, moving like thunder and lightning.
Spirit Fire surged forth; dozens of Life Fire Elixirs shot out, revolving around the void.
"Elixirs?"
"Something’s odd about these pills."
"He’s weaving Minghuo with the Universe... What is this ability?"
The crowd stared in bewilderment, not understanding.
Even Shi Hu looked baffled, at a complete loss.
Never had he seen Xu Yang display such a technique.
Men Long, Zuo Guangchen, Chen Xuanji, Jun Baimu—all their faces were grave, and all got goosebumps as they watched those bizarre elixirs.
"Is this some new Divine Technique you’ve learned?"
Xiao Ming’s eyes betrayed surprise; the power within those elixirs was immense.
It caught him off guard, yet posed no great threat.
"Interesting!"
"Soon you’ll know what’s truly interesting."
Xu Yang raised his head, shouting coldly, and swiftly solidified his hand seals.
"Rise!"
Rumble!
Spirit Fire and the Universe fused into a storm, sweeping up dozens of Life Fire Elixirs as they rushed at Xiao Ming from all directions, completely enveloping the peak above.
Xiao Ming gave a casual smile, raising his palm nonchalantly.
Buzz!
Spiritual light surged, the world changed hue.
A colossal, radiant hand, as if the hand of a god, crushed the void above, forging a new sky.
The pressure was sovereign; the power, overwhelming—so much that it shattered the boundless Spirit Fire into countless fragments.
Such might was clear to see!
The eyes of the gathered paragons twitched uncontrollably, all swallowing nervously.
Beneath that giant hand, it felt as though the heavens and earth were collapsing, themselves about to be swallowed whole without the slightest resistance—a terror utterly despairing.
Xiao Ming’s strength was, simply, inconceivable!
Xu Yang roared savagely: "Explode!"
With a single thought, chaos surged.
Dozens of Life Fire Elixirs erupted in unison.
In that instant, an eight-zhang-six-chun spiritual mark burst forth.
Heaven Locking, with all his will!
Xiao Ming trembled all over, pupils constricting: "Impossible!"
Eight zhang, six cun!
And that spiritual mark was material!
He looked on in horror, utter disbelief!
Not just him—at that instant, countless Shenshao experts all stared wide-eyed, as if they’d seen a ghost!
