C125 !

Qin Buyi's entrance captivated everyone present.

Even his adversary, Ye Hui, couldn't help but stare in awe at Qin Buyi.

This was only the second time Ye Hui had laid eyes on Azure's true form; the first had been during a formal greeting.

With a respectful flourish of his sword, Ye Hui addressed Qin Buyi, "Ye Hui, at the early stages of Tribulation Crossing. I seek your guidance, Mr. Qin."

Descending from atop Azure, Qin Buyi replied, "Qin Buyi, at the pinnacle of Combination. Brother Ye, give it your all."

Ye Hui glanced at Azure and inquired, "Will Mr. Qin's pet be joining the fray?"

Pets fighting alongside their owners was an accepted norm in the competition, as many cultivators lacked formidable combat skills themselves.

They depended on their pets to bolster their battle prowess, and such practitioners were collectively referred to as beast tamers.

Ye Hui's question stemmed from the intense threat he sensed from Azure.

Facing an attack from both a dragon and a human simultaneously, Ye Hui would rather concede than face the humiliation of defeat.

Qin Buyi turned and affectionately patted Azure's head, stating, "The battle is mine alone; Azure will not partake."

Azure glided over to stand by Lan Linglong.

"Roar~!"

A new roar seized the spectators' attention.

They all turned to watch as Great Immortal Huang, once palm-sized on Azure's back, revealed its colossal form, standing impressively beside Azure.

None of the onlookers had ever encountered a creature like Great Immortal Huang, especially since the Heavenly Desolate Realm was not home to weasels.

Curiosity abounded, and they peppered the live comments with questions:

"What kind of demon beast is this? I've never seen one before."

"Its fur is all yellow. Clothes made from it would surely be warm."

"Careful with such thoughts. Suggesting to turn it into clothing might just provoke Mentor Qin's fiery wrath."

At that moment, Lan Linglong passed the baton to Hee Yan, who was still pondering the species of Great Immortal Huang.

Snapping out of his reverie, Hee Yan declared, "Now, let the first battle commence!"

The audience perked up, all ears and eyes, their breaths held in anticipation of not missing a single thrilling moment.

Neither side launched an immediate attack. Ye Hui watched Qin Buyi with a cautious gaze.

"Brother Ye, you've got just one shot at this. Unleash your most powerful strike, or there won't be a second opportunity," Qin Buyi advised.

A flicker of irritation crossed Ye Hui's expression. "I'm well aware of Mr. Qin's formidable prowess, having slain a Half Step Mahayana at the Combination Stage," he retorted. "But perhaps Brother Qin is overconfident. It's time I put your vaunted skills to the test."

"Gray Night Divine Sword – Night Light!" In an instant, as Ye Hui drew his long sword, darkness engulfed the area, radiating out from him.

A streak of brightness cut through the gloom. "Mr. Qin, watch out!" Ye Hui warned.

"Gray Night Divine Sword – Daylight!" Ye Hui's sword became a vortex, drawing the surrounding darkness into itself.

Once the darkness merged with the blade, it turned jet black, yet it radiated a blinding brilliance.

"Gray Night Divine Sword – Day and Night Polarity!" A sword light, split between shadow and gleam, surged from Ye Hui's blade, heading straight for Qin Buyi.

"Mr. Qin, this is the pinnacle of my life's work, the strongest sword I've ever wielded. Let's see how you can best me in a single move!" Ye Hui declared.

With a resounding "Clang!" Qin Buyi unsheathed the Killing Saber, remarking, "Brother Ye, your sword technique is impressive, encompassing a domain and merging two diametrically opposed forces. Exquisite!"

"Killing Swordsmanship – Immortal Slashing!" The saber, previously gleaming with a frosty sheen, turned an unfathomable shade of black.

A dark saber light burst forth, clashing head-on with Ye Hui's sword light.

"Clang!" The sounds of metal on metal were deafening.

"Boom!" "Boom!" The sword light, a mix of dark and light, couldn't withstand a moment against the saber light before shattering.

The relentless dark saber light, having obliterated the sword light, continued its unstoppable advance toward Ye Hui, growing larger as it sliced through the air.

As the blade approached Ye Hui, it had swelled to an immense size, towering hundreds of feet high and wide.

Ye Hui sensed the blade's light brimming with a formidable force that could obliterate him in an instant, yet he was trapped, with no escape possible.

Powerless, he could only stare as the blade light drew nearer, a sheen of cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

Even at a distance, the blade's keen edge seemed to prick his skin, causing a faint sting.

Clutching his long sword, Ye Hui shut his eyes in despair, thinking, "Is this where I meet my end?"

But after several moments, Ye Hui, who had resigned himself to death, felt no strike. Opening his eyes in disbelief, he saw Qin Buyi across from him, casually cleaning the Killing Saber, a smile playing on his lips.

"What just happened?" Ye Hui ventured.

The referee, Hee Yan, stepped forward to declare, "The victor of the first battle is Qin Buyi!"

"The second battle will commence in one hour!"

Following Hee Yan's announcement, the live comments erupted: "Mentor Qin is invincible!" "Mentor Qin is so dashing!" "That last move was incredible."

"I'd do anything to study under Mentor Qin."

"Starting today, I'm dedicating myself to the saber."

Dazed, Ye Hui descended from the stage, choosing not to leave.

He settled into an unoccupied luxury booth and donned the virtual helmet, selecting the replay feature as directed.

It didn't take long for Ye Hui to grasp what had transpired.

The black blade light had been mere millimeters from his nose when Hee Yan was poised to intervene. Yet Qin Buyi was quicker, commanding the black blade, "Disperse!"

At Qin Buyi's word, the menacing blade light shattered, vanishing into thin air.

"Such... such terrifying power control!" Ye Hui exclaimed, eyes wide.

He replayed the footage over and over, murmuring, "Can such mastery of power even exist?"

It wasn't just Ye Hui who was astounded; even Hee Yan, the most accomplished cultivator present, couldn't stop singing Qin Buyi's praises.

Inside the private room, Ying Qian turned to Wang Chenghai and inquired, "Dean Wang, do you think you're capable of what Qin Buyi has done?"

Caught off guard by the question, Wang Chenghai wavered for a moment before admitting, "Your Majesty, I am not able to."

"An honest answer, at least," Ying Qian remarked.

Then, addressing the seemingly empty air, Ying Qian posed the question, "Shih Ci, are you able to exert such control over your power?"

The space shuddered, revealing Shih Ci, who responded, "Your Majesty, if I were to suppress my cultivation to the peak of the Combination Stage, perhaps I could manage it. But with my current level of cultivation, it's beyond me."

With those words, the space quivered once more, and Shih Ci vanished from sight.

Watching the space where Shih Ci had been, Wang Chenghai thought to himself with a sense of awe, "When did he arrive, and how did I fail to detect his presence?"