The air was thick with anticipation. Only four cultivators remained.
The host's voice boomed again across the central arena.
"First Semifinal Match: Zhen Huan of High Heaven Sect vs. Lei Mang of Thunderblade Sect!"
A collective murmur ran through the crowd. Lei Mang—known as the Tyrant of Thunderblade Sect—was infamous for his brutal and domineering combat style. He wielded a colossal lightning-forged broadsword and cultivated the Thunder Tyrant Physique, a rare body-refining art that made him nearly impervious to most physical attacks.
He stomped into the arena, bare-chested, veins glowing with crackling lightning. Each step left scorched imprints on the stone platform.
Lei Mang pointed his massive blade at me. "Zhen Huan. I've crushed countless geniuses. You won't be different."
I replied calmly, "Words are cheap. Let's see what your thunder can do."
DING!
The arena flashed as thunder erupted. Lei Mang was already on me, swinging his broadsword like a mountain crashing down. The sheer force of his strikes sent waves of pressure into the stands.
I dodged cleanly, blade flickering with precise counters.
He snarled. "Stop running!"
"Thunder Wrath – Heaven's Judgment!"
Bolts of blue lightning rained down from the sky, aimed to cage and strike me.
But I stepped into Wind Steps – Phantom Variant. My body flickered like an afterimage, reappearing behind him.
"Meteor Rain of Sword."
Hundreds of sword lights rained down.
Lei Mang roared, activating his Thunder Armor, absorbing the majority—but not all. Cuts appeared. Blood splattered.
He gritted his teeth. "You're fast, but your swords don't have bite!"
I narrowed my eyes. "Then try this."
"Inferno Slash – Second Form."
A spiral of compressed flames struck his Thunder Armor directly. It didn't cut—it melted. The armor hissed and cracked. Lei Mang staggered.
I dashed forward with a palm glowing in earthy energy.
"Earth Finger Ray!"
The beam struck his chest, blasting him into the wall with a thunderous boom.
The stadium fell silent.
Lei Mang tried to stand, arms trembling… then dropped to his knees.
BOOM.
"Winner: Zhen Huan of High Heaven Sect!"
Another one-sided victory.
Cheers erupted once more, louder than ever before.
At the High Heaven camp, Shen Hong laughed. "That Thunder Tyrant looked like a duck in a storm!"
Yang Kai grinned. "Master doesn't give them a chance."
Feng Xuan, watching from the Blade Sect area, smiled. "He's too monstrous."
Mu Lingyao whispered to herself, "He's not the same person who entered the Illusionary Mountains six months ago…"
---
Final Match: Tomorrow.
Zhen Huan vs. Xing Wu