Upon the solitary martial stage, two scions of heaven stood poised, facing one another.

Zhongshan Wei Sun, refined and elegant in bearing, contrasted with the tall and confident Yan Shao Fei. One stood at ease, hands clasped behind his back, while the other held his sword aloft, his presence striking.

Their names, even amidst the assembly of heavenly talents at Guan He Tai, were far from commonplace. Only the blinding brilliance of Dou Zhao’s Seven Styles of Battle and the effortless grace of Chong Xuan Zun in his fluttering white robes managed to overshadow their prominence, making others seem relatively inferior by comparison.

Yet, having journeyed to this grand gathering where the favored sons of various nations contended, who among them was willing to be a mere backdrop? Having reached the ranks of the final four, who didn’t aspire to claim the championship? From the moment they set foot on Guan He Tai, their eyes were fixed on the title of “World’s First”!

No matter how dazzling Dou Zhao and Chong Xuan Zun might appear, they could not extinguish the flame of ambition within these contenders. The world might not hold great expectations for them, but they, at the very least, held expectations for themselves.

Consider Zhongshan Wei Sun, raised from youth under rigorous discipline, pouring forth countless hours of arduous training, and accumulating immense resources. Or Yan Shao Fei, who, despite his humble origins as a lone cultivator, managed to represent the State of Wei in the Huang He Assembly and even advance to the final four. Who among them had paid less in effort? Who among them lacked in talent?

Every soul standing upon that martial stage held a compelling reason to emerge victorious. It was this unwavering determination that had driven them across mountains and rivers, hacking through thorns and brambles, to arrive at this precise moment, in this very place, to face each other.

Zhongshan Wei Sun, gazing at his opponent for this match, was about to utter a few casual pleasantries, perhaps offering words of mutual encouragement, to display a touch of his great nation’s demeanor.

Suddenly, from the spectator stands behind him, a voice erupted – Huang She Li’s sharp retort: “Hurry up and fight!”

This, after all, was not the Tai Xu Illusion Realm. No one here knew him as Zhao Tie Zhu. In the world beyond the Tai Xu Illusion Realm, Zhongshan Wei Sun was, by all accounts, a refined and courteous individual.

Thus, he empathetically cupped his hands towards Yan Shao Fei. “My apologies, we meant no disrespect. It is merely that her temperament is somewhat… direct.”

But his words were like casting pearls before swine.

Yan Shao Fei of the State of Wei simply looked at him, his bright eyes devoid of any excess emotion, and remained silent.

Zhongshan Wei Sun suddenly realized that throughout the several main rounds of the tournament, this Yan Shao Fei had not spoken a single word.

What a promising heavenly talent, yet he was a mute…

What a pity!

This kind of innate muteness, one must surely reach the Divine Abode realm before it can be remedied?

If only he could swap places with Huang She Li…

What a pity!

On the martial stage, Zhongshan Wei Sun was preoccupied with thoughts of Huang She Li.

In the spectator stands, Grand Governor Xia Hou Lie of Xiao Qi was also lecturing Huang She Li. “It’s not wrong for you to cheer for Wei Sun. But we must uphold the demeanor of a great nation. In broad daylight, in front of everyone, your words demeaning other countries are improper. You must be mindful in the future.”

Huang She Li blinked her eyes.

All she wanted was to see the handsome combatants fight sooner.

Chong Xuan Zun versus Dou Zhao – how exciting!

One opponent she didn’t even know was from the State of Wei, and one she was already tired of seeing – Zhongshan Wei Sun. What was there to watch?

Just fight quickly and get it over with, what was the delay?

Her call for them to fight quickly was precisely this meaning!

But she knew, after all, that these words were inconvenient to voice directly. In response to Grand Governor Xia Hou Lie’s “lesson,” she merely blinked her eyes appropriately and remained silent.

For this match, Great General Wu Xun of the State of Wei was seated below the stage. In the unrestricted category for those under thirty, their heavenly talents had failed to enter the main rounds, allowing the State of Song to gain an advantage. But in the Outer Mansion realm, they had fought admirably, entering the final four! In the past, these four positions were mostly rotated among the six great overlord nations. For Yan Shao Fei to squeeze in, and even now pushing forward, was already an extraordinary feat.

Wu Xun, the architect of the State of Wei’s formidable army, carried an inherent stern aura. Hearing the Jing Guo contingent’s disrespectful words, shouting “Hurry up and fight” before the match had even begun, he naturally had to support his country’s heavenly talent. His thick eyebrows furrowed, and his voice boomed like a drum. “Yan Shao Fei, let the world bear witness to you! This general awaits to personally celebrate your victory!”

On the other side, Xia Hou Lie was still rambling on, lecturing Huang She Li about how they were an overlord nation, a model for the world, and could not lack in demeanor, and so on. Hearing Wu Xun’s sudden outburst, he immediately stood up, pointing his halberd towards the martial stage. “Wei Sun! Mess him up!”

Yu Xi, who was about to announce the start of the match, looked at Wu Xun, then looked at Xia Hou Lie. “How about you two come host? Or perhaps the two of you would prefer to step up?”

Wu Xun sat down expressionlessly, as if nothing had just happened. In a true one-on-one fight, he did not fear Xia Hou Lie. But to truly throw himself into the ring at Guan He Tai would be to make himself a laughingstock to the world.

Xia Hou Lie, however, was not one to back down easily. He waited until Wu Xun had sat down, then glared fiercely at him before boldly seating himself, a triumphant expression on his face, as if victory was already secured.

Pure childishness.

Jiang Wang keenly noticed that standing shoulder to shoulder with the Master of the Six Harmonies was that supreme figure from the State of Jing, his towering Dharma Image… that seven-colored robe inlaid with starry patterns, emblazoned with a gun-wielding dragon, seemed to shift slightly.

Perhaps it was merely caught by the river wind…

Or perhaps, even this supreme being felt a touch of shame?

Dare not think, dare not think.

Jiang Wang honestly averted his gaze, focusing on this match which was not valued by many.

After Yu Xi had settled the two “disrupters,” he formally announced the start of the match. The clear light that had separated the two also vanished.

And as the announcement faded.

The two figures on the stage collided instantly!

They met at the midline of the martial stage with almost the same extreme speed.

It was unclear who made the first move, and difficult to determine who was more powerful.

Because as their two powerful fists collided.

Two points of sparks erupted.

In an instant, they spread like wildfire!

Rolling flames instantly engulfed the entire martial stage.

This was a martial stage endowed with ancient prohibitions, its space quite vast.

However, at this moment, there was not a single empty spot.

Everywhere the eye could see, save for the fire, there was nothing else!

Almost all the distracted spectators instantly fixed their gaze.

The scene before their eyes was truly magnificent.

With their fists locked at the midline, the billowing sea of flames also divided in two.

The sea of flames behind Zhongshan Wei Sun was a fiery red tinged with a hint of golden yellow. It burned splendidly, incinerating the sky and scorching the earth.

While the sea of flames behind Yan Shao Fei was a deep red with a hint of blood color. It gnashed its teeth and brandished its claws, gnawing at heart and soul.

The sea of flames split into two distinct colors, each tearing and biting at the other, yet each clearly defined.

Within the billowing flames, the two figures locked eyes.

Each carried a measure of surprise, and each carried a measure of…

Joy!

This was the joy of a worthy opponent met, of a peerless talent encountered.

Before this match, neither Zhongshan Wei Sun nor Yan Shao Fei had ever displayed their fire-attribute divine abilities.

Yet now, at this very moment, with such perfect synchronicity, they chose to unleash them.

In such a direct confrontation, they both sensed the deep-seated unwillingness hidden within the other’s heart…

Who had come to Guan He Tai merely to witness the splendor of others!

Thus, they had, without prior agreement, chosen such a grand opening.

Precisely to display their style, to strive for brilliance that would illuminate the world.

Let it not be said that there are no kindred spirits on the path ahead; who in the world does not know a true gentleman?

Rumble!

Within the bodies of the two figures, almost simultaneously, rolling, thunder-like muffled sounds erupted.

That was the Palace of Penetrating Heavens bursting forth with power, the Inner Mansion violently surging…

Within the sea of flames behind Zhongshan Wei Sun, a fiery red Vermilion Bird spread its wings and soared, its cry echoing through the nine heavens.

While within the sea of flames behind Yan Shao Fei, a crimson red lotus flower bloomed!

Fist against fist.

Divine ability against divine ability.

Southern Bright Lihuo against Red Lotus Karma Fire!