Yuan’s Ascension

The second round of matches would begin six hours after the end of the first round. The specific order of the matches was also officially announced.

As for the countless immortal cultivators watching the fight? Even the weakest Golden Core cultivators could easily wait for six hours, so nobody left their seats.

"The first fight of the second round is between Xing Luo and Li Xia."

"Who will win?"

"Xing Luo was previously hailed as the sect's current top genius. Li Xia, who replaced him, is acclaimed as a genius that the sect only sees once every hundred thousand years."

"Two geniuses clashing?"

"Neither has reached a hundred years old."

"Li Xia's advantage lies in natural talent, while Xing Luo’s lies in his longer cultivation period," countless spectators debated among themselves, bubbling with excitement.

Without a doubt, the face-off between Xing Luo and Li Xia sparked the most discussion out of the eight battles.

"My master will definitely win! Why? Because he's my master!" Qiong Sea King was exuberant.

His smug attitude irked many disciples around him. But no one dared speak up.

Hmph, you think I’m arrogant? Qiong Sea King was unfazed by the glares, busy boasting about his master to a group of jiaolong disciples.

A substantial number of jiaolong disciples lived within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, and the dragon lineage prospered within the sect.

Of course, many disciples were annoyed by Qiong Sea King's attitude, but even more disciples wanted to get acquainted with Qiong Sea King, hoping to meet Wu Yuan through him.

"Haha, looking to meet my master? Wait until after the Dragon Star Tournament," Qiong Sea King brushed them off, clear about his priorities.

…

Six hours flew by.

The highly anticipated first match of the second round finally arrived: Li Xia versus Xing Luo.

As the Void Refiner Eminence supervising the battle departed, Wu Yuan, dressed in black robes, and Xing Luo, clad in white, simultaneously appeared in the spherical arena.

All eyes were on them.

Both Wu Yuan and Xing Luo blocked out all external distractions, focusing only on their opponent.

What a strong soul. Wu Yuan observed Xing Luo carefully.

Their prior encounters had all taken place within the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm. This was their first face-off in the real world.

Upon meeting him face to face for the first time, Wu Yuan noted that Xing Luo was no ordinary cultivator.

Even though his outward appearance was similar to any other cultivator, his soul aura was immensely powerful. It gave Wu Yuan the sense that he was a lethal threat!

"Li Xia." Xing Luo stared back at Wu Yuan.

The youth in black robes seemed older than him, yet in reality, Wu Yuan was decades younger.

Still, Wu Yuan’s natural talent was frightening. Clearing level fifty-eight of the one-star tower proved his deep understanding of the Dao and mastery of superior combat techniques.

But his true strength was revealed in his battle at Dong Shan. Merely fifty years old, yet his soul was strong enough to control two Thousand Swords Array effortlessly.

I can't win in a head-on battle. I must use my ultimate technique. His soul is strong, but even an Amethyst Cradle cultivator would struggle to withstand my killing blow. Xing Luo thought.

Though he had mastered his ultimate move many years ago, he had never displayed it in a real match.

I will defeat him! Wu Yuan's fighting spirit soared.

Boom! Boom! Instantly, two top geniuses at the Golden Core phase unleashed their power.

One invoked the Celestial Body Domain! The other invoked the Conflagration Domain!

As both Domains formed, the two figures simultaneously summoned a barrage of flying swords that filled the sky, each forming a Thousand Swords Array.

The Thousand Swords Array, the pinnacle of sword cultivation, was the true marker of a powerful sword cultivator.

A Ten Thousand Swords Array? It was far too complex, and the difficulty of assembling one was high. Besides, if one possessed such a powerful soul, they might as well form a Thousand Swords Array with higher grade swords.

Boom! Like a clash between two powerful sword immortals, an earth-shattering collision ensued.

One was as heavy as a mountain, solid as a rock. Countless flying swords combined with the Domain, resembling a miniature star.

The other was fiery and fierce, possessing an astonishing corrosive power that spread in all directions.

Neither side held back.

Boom! Both fighters were enveloped within the sword arrays, clashing time and again.

This was true sword cultivation.

A person controlling a single flying sword to kill enemies thousands of li away? That was also sword cultivation, but it was the kind of sword cultivation mortals envisioned in their imaginations.

True sword cultivation involved beheading people from thousands of li away, while also controlling thousands of flying swords, assembling them into a sword array that swept away all enemies.

In the blink of an eye, the two sides clashed hundreds of times.

Inside Wu Yuan's Star Ruins Sword Array, countless flying swords trembled and shook, showing signs of strain.

The Conflagration Dao is so powerful? His sword array is tightly assembled. Wu Yuan's pupils narrowed slightly, somewhat surprised.

The Daos of the five elements each had its strengths.

The Earth Dao was most adept at defense. Therefore, when Wu Yuan attacked, he often relied on overwhelming momentum to crush his opponents. His attacks lacked sharpness and penetrability.

The Fire Dao, on the other hand, was adept at explosive bursts. No one could match its surging explosiveness, not even the Metal Dao or Thunder Dao.

Thus, when Wu Yuan and Xing Luo clashed time and again and neither was at a disadvantage, it actually meant that Xing Luo was weaker.

Yet, Wu Yuan’s sword array, which was clearly more durable and refined, was surprisingly showing signs of collapse first? This was highly abnormal.

My mana pool may be smaller, resulting in a lack of power unleashed by my artifact. But my soul is stronger, compensating for many shortcomings. Wu Yuan frowned. Things will be made clear soon.

He was somewhat confused.

Rumble! Xing Luo seized the opportunity to attack without any hesitation.

The massive sword array surged forward abruptly. Simultaneously, three massive cauldrons, arranged in a triangle formation, came into view.

"It's the cauldron!"

"With three cauldrons, one can form a Three Talents Cauldron Array. Such defense is absolutely unparalleled," numerous spectators stared wide-eyed.

The cauldron! In the vast heaven and earth, this object held a special meaning, representing the strongest defense. Yet compared to the sword, it was far more difficult to forge.

Forging three cauldrons was truly an unimaginable feat.

Cauldrons? Wu Yuan's pupils contracted slightly.

He could feel the surging energy radiating from the three large cauldrons. They were anything but ordinary, most likely Xing Luo's lifebound artifacts.

For offense, I have three lifebound flying swords; for defense, I have three lifebound cauldrons. My seventh lifebound artifact, an array diagram, serves as the foundation. Once I integrate the swords and cauldrons into one via the array diagram, my sword array will naturally be extremely sturdy. Xing Luo was full of confidence. This was his trump card.

Integrating six lifebound flying swords was easy. But combining swords and cauldrons? Although they were both lifebound artifacts, they were completely different objects. Integrating them together was extremely challenging.

But Xing Luo managed it, because, the seventh lifebound artifact he chose was an array diagram. He studied multiple cultivation classes, amalgamating them into a formidable whole.

"This ultimate move was originally meant for Chen Jing. Li Xia, I’ll be testing it out on you." Xing Luo propelled his massive sword array forward, charging at Wu Yuan within the wavering Star Ruins Sword Array.

"Haha, good! Xing Luo, you're powerful. If you only had three or even six lifebound flying swords, I might not be your match."

"You deserve to face my full strength." Wu Yuan's eyes were filled with fighting spirit.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Six more sharp flying swords with overwhelming auras emerged at his side. All of them were lifebound flying swords.

The six lifebound flying swords then joined the Thousand Swords Array.

Boom~ Wu Yuan's previously shaky Thousand Swords Array transformed. The speed of the swords increased, and the array’s overall power surged dramatically.

Whysee's Thoughts

For reference:

Dao

Excel at (highest stats in)

Five elements

Earth

Defense (1st in defense)

Fire

Burst/explosive power (offense)

Metal

Rigidity, penetrating (offense)

Wood

Recovery (2nd in defense)

Water

Continuity

Others

Wind

Speed

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