Silence. A deathly silence.
The once-noisy stands fell utterly quiet in an instant.
Moments ago, many spectators hadn’t been focused on Arena No. 7, so they had no idea what had just transpired.
A few seconds later, someone finally couldn’t hold back and muttered under their breath.
“Just… what happened a moment ago?”
“I… I vaguely caught a glimpse of a massive fist materializing in the void. It was like it had crossed over from ancient times, carrying a desolate aura that sent a chill straight to my heart.”
“And then?”
“And then… that fist smashed right down onto the head of the Heavenly Demon Sect guy. It vanished afterward, and that’s how things ended up.”
“O-one… one punch?? Did he really insta-kill the Heavenly Demon Sect’s Chief Senior Disciple with a single punch??”
“Was that Zhang Xuan totally defenseless at the time?”
“No way! He had even unleashed Law Manifestation Heaven and Earth, but he still couldn’t block it!”
“I ran through every possible outcome in my head, but I never imagined Senior Brother Luo could take down this so-called Chief Senior Disciple with one punch! Just this? That’s all the Heavenly Demon Sect has got? Senior Brother Luo is badass!!”
“Holy shit!! Senior Brother Luo is badass!!!”
“Senior Brother Luo!! Badass!!”
In an instant, the stands erupted in fervent cheers.
Ling Qingxue had been watching Luo Yin the whole time. When she saw the fist technique he unleashed, she couldn’t help but freeze.
That single punch sent a palpitation through her heart.
But it was also incredibly satisfying!
She couldn’t stop herself from shouting along with the crowd.
“Luo Yin! Well done!!”
Up in the high seats, the elders clicked their tongues in quiet amazement.
“Old Mo, did you sense that technique Luo Yin just used?”
“I did. It’s beyond Heaven-Human Level—probably Creation Level. Even my ‘Dao’ shrank back in fear for a moment.”
“Tsk tsk tsk. No idea where that kid stumbled onto such fortune. Makes you jealous.”
Meanwhile, the Heavenly Demon Sect elder and the few disciples who hadn’t yet taken the stage wore grim, overcast expressions.
They never could have imagined that their sect’s Chief Senior Disciple would be defeated—by one punch, no less—by some no-name junior from the Taiyi Holy Land.
And to lose so miserably!
…
The cheers echoing from the stands left the fighters on the other arenas momentarily stunned.
What was going on?
Liu Qingchan realized Luo Yin had wrapped things up on his end. Joy flashed across her face, and her attacks grew even more ferocious.
Yan Tianhong, on the other hand, furrowed his brow.
Zhang Xuan had lost?
Impossible!
He was the strongest disciple in the Heavenly Demon Sect aside from Yan Tianhong himself!
To fall to that greenhorn??
There had to be some rigging going on!
But the facts were undeniable.
Zhang Xuan had indeed been defeated.
Yan Tianhong’s face darkened. The look he shot toward Huang Shijie turned vicious.
Huang Shijie seemed to sense what was coming. His pupils contracted sharply, and he hurriedly opened his mouth. “I forfei—”
Pfft!
Before he could finish, a colossal demonic hand materialized behind Yan Tianhong. Composed of withered bones and bloody flesh, it was wreathed in surging demonic qi.
The hand slammed down, seizing Huang Shijie’s left arm and tearing it clean off!
In the grip of that massive hand, the severed arm crumbled instantly into ash.
“Aaah!!!”
Huang Shijie felt a searing, heart-piercing agony. Cold sweat poured from his body.
He looked up to see the demonic hand still hovering overhead, unvanquished.
In the next instant, it came crashing toward his skull.
One solid hit, and he was done for!
The excruciating pain from his arm left him drained and powerless. He couldn’t dodge.
He had always assumed that even if the Heavenly Demon Sect Young Lord was strong, he couldn’t be that much stronger. After all, Huang Shijie himself was the top-ranked disciple on the Taiyi Holy Land’s Taiyi List.
But now, on this arena stage, he was getting utterly dominated!
An arm torn off, and now about to be smashed to death with a single palm strike!
Just as the hand was about to descend, a furious roar rang out.
“Stop! Young Master Yan, you’ve gone too far! This is the Holy Land Grand Competition—no killing allowed!”
Mo Wenlin flashed in front of Huang Shijie. His Saint Energy Realm 7th Layer cultivation erupted forth as he unleashed a palm strike that shattered the descending demonic hand. He fixed Yan Tianhong with a deathly glare.
The scene drew everyone’s attention.
Curses flew toward Yan Tianhong from all sides.
No one had expected the man to be so brazen—to actually rip off Huang Shijie’s arm!
By now, Luo Yin had returned to Ling Qingxue’s side in the stands. He sat down and frowned slightly.
Yan Tianhong really was arrogant to a fault.
No wonder Luo Yin had ended up as his lackey back then.
Having a boss like that actually felt pretty good.
Wait—no!
That was a dangerous line of thinking!
Over on Arena No. 3, Yan Tianhong let out a light chuckle. He withdrew his aura and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect.
“My apologies. I couldn’t hold myself back for a moment. But surely this fellow isn’t all that important in the Taiyi Holy Land, right? He was so weak he didn’t even force me to use half my strength. Elder Mo wouldn’t hold it against me, would he?”
With that, he flashed an utterly innocent smile.
The Taiyi Holy Land disciples couldn’t help clenching their fists. They cursed him inwardly.
The bastard had done it on purpose!
The rules of the Holy Land Grand Competition didn’t prohibit injuries.
But no one had anticipated that he wouldn’t even give Huang Shijie a chance to forfeit before snapping his arm clean off!
They had already been furious about outsiders participating in the Grand Competition and vying for spots in the Profound Heaven Tower.
Now, their rage boiled over.
Su Chen sat in a corner of the stands, grinding his teeth in silence.
“Heavenly Demon Sect! For bullying my Holy Land brothers like this, I won’t hold back when my turn comes!”
High above, the Heavenly Demon Sect elder and Liu Ye’s group smirked darkly.
So this was the pinnacle of the Taiyi Holy Land’s strength? Pathetic!
Xu Qianjun turned to the trio beside him, a vicious glint in his eyes. He said in a low voice, “Liu Ye, Zhang Tao, Wang Liang—the three of you, do exactly this in your next matches! Cripple them if you can! The Taiyi Holy Land can only swallow their pride!”
The three nodded vigorously. They exchanged glances, smug arrogance blooming on their faces.
This sensation of lording over others was pure bliss.
They stirred up trouble on the Taiyi Holy Land’s home turf, yet their foes could only grit their teeth and take it.
That was the might of the Heavenly Demon Sect!
On the arena, Mo Wenlin stared coldly at Yan Tianhong.
Yan Tianhong merely smiled, cupped his hands once more, and strolled casually off the stage.
“Shizun, I… I brought shame upon you.”
Once Yan Tianhong had departed, Huang Shijie forced the words out through his agony.
Mo Wenlin patted his back. “Enough. Don’t blame yourself—this wasn’t your fault. For now, Shizun will take you to get healed.”
With that, he led Huang Shijie away from the Grand Competition grounds.
The crowd’s spirits, which had soared after Luo Yin’s one-punch victory over Zhang Xuan, sank once more.
All eyes now turned to Arena No. 10.
There, Liu Qingchan moved like a female sword immortal, forcing Zhou Liangming into a steady retreat.
In the end, Zhou Liangming forfeited, bringing the match to a close.
The Taiyi Holy Land disciples breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Amid sighs and murmurs from the crowd, Zhou Liangming left the stage in defeat.
When he returned to the Heavenly Demon Sect group, he endured a torrent of scolding.
Soon, the second round of matches began.
The spectators’ attention remained fixed on the arenas where the Heavenly Demon Sect trio fought.
Luo Yin, meanwhile, kept his gaze on Arena No. 8—that was where Su Chen faced off against Liu Ye.
He was curious to see what trump cards Su Chen still had up his sleeve.
