NOVPUB"What ’number one’ title? The purpose of cultivation is to better oneself, not to compete with others," said the Seventh Elder with a shake of his head and a wry smile.
"Even so, having defeated all of the younger generation, I will still accept the title of ’number one’," Dugu Ao said with an air of dominance.
"No, there’s someone you haven’t defeated yet," Xiao Yuexuan interjected.
Dugu Ao squinted his eyes, staring at Xiao Yuexuan, waiting for an answer.
"Our True Martial Holy Sect’s current Saint Heir," Xiao Yuexuan replied, her voice cool.
Hearing this, Xu Zimei couldn’t help but shake his head and chuckle to himself. The Sixth Elder really had a high opinion of him!
He hadn’t wanted to get involved, having finally returned to the Sect Gate, it was time to rest.
"The Saint Heir is right here. If you want to prove yourself, you are free to challenge him," Xiao Yuexuan said indifferently.
Dugu Ao turned around, his halberd exuding a heaven-piercing might.
His gaze swept over everyone below, eventually meeting Xu Zimei’s gaze, and he spoke loudly, "Does the Saint Heir wish to enlighten me?"
"You’ve never been battered by society, have you?" Xu Zimei said, shaking his head slightly.
Looking at Dugu Ao, he asked, "Do you really want to fight me?"
"The Saint Heir can also concede," Dugu Ao said indifferently.
"Then come on," Xu Zimei said, slowly walking onto the martial arts platform.
The autumn wind was bleak, and the trees on either side stood withering.
A few leaves fluttered gently down from above.
Dugu Ao stood, his body brimming with fighting spirit, and said to Xu Zimei, "After this battle, I plan to visit the Central Continent.
This Eastern Continent is ultimately too small."
"Using me as a stepping stone," Xu Zimei said with a light chuckle.
"They fear you are the Saint Heir, but I do not," Dugu Ao replied.
"Ever since I began my cultivation, I’ve relied on myself.
Even when the Sect’s core elders offered to take me as a disciple, I never agreed.
This continent is full of talented disciples, but there is also a place for Dugu Ao."
"Come on, let’s see just how strong you really are," Xu Zimei said with a light laugh.
At this moment, as the two faced off, the atmosphere was extremely tense.
The disciples below whispered among themselves.
"Who are you rooting for?"
"Of course, Brother Dugu. We’ve seen his journey with our own eyes."
"But I heard the Saint Heir is also very strong!"
"I don’t know about the Saint Heir, but I’ve seen Brother Dugu’s strength firsthand."
...…
The might of the Saint Vein Realm surged around Dugu Ao. For someone his age, such cultivation truly was a rare sight of an evil being.
At that moment, his war halberd trembled slightly, emitting a deep black light.
"Heavenly Transforming Battle Halberd," Dugu Ao roared, his halberd cutting through layers of space.
It shattered the endless space around him, his aura powerful, wielding the War Halberd Technique to perfection.
He charged directly toward Xu Zimei.
As the halberd shattered all obstacles in an almost invincible manner, aiming for Xu Zimei,
everyone seemed to hold their breath, their eyes fixed on Xu Zimei, watching his next move.
Xu Zimei shook his head, seemingly bored. He slowly extended his right hand.
With a leisurely pinch of his index and middle finger, the action was remarkably slow.
Yet, this lackluster response caught the halberd exuding a sky-high momentum between his fingers.
It was as if a raging September fire was extinguished by an overwhelming deluge.
The momentum of the majestic War Halberd suddenly halted abruptly, and Dugu Ao looked at his weapon in disbelief.
All his strength seemed to have sunk into a quagmire, leaving him unable to exert any force, and the halberd could not be pulled out.
"You still have much to learn," Xu Zimei said, gently shaking his head.
With just a flick of his right hand on the halberd, a seemingly gentle action, endless waves of energy surged forth.
With a "boom," the halberd exploded into intense light, shattering instantly.
Dugu Ao’s figure was then sent flying backwards.
The martial arts platform made "crackling" noises, and starting from Xu Zimei as the epicenter, the stage completely collapsed.
All around, countless dense cracks appeared, resembling a spider’s web.
Dugu Ao’s figure also heavily crashed into the protective chains surrounding the platform, and finally, he landed awkwardly on the ground.
Dugu Ao was covered in blood, with fresh blood flowing down from his head.
He gazed at Xu Zimei with shock and disbelief.
He tried to stand up from the ground, but the pain was not just on the surface of his body.
Even inside, there was a tumultuous pain, as if all his organs were being churned together, leaving him unable to move.
...
Xu Zimei walked step by step to Dugu Ao’s side and slowly squatted down.
He looked at Dugu Ao and said softly, "This is the last lesson I give you before you leave the Sect.
There is always someone stronger!
You truly are remarkable; I’ve been to the Northern Continent and the Central Continent.
I’ve ventured in and out of the Ten Great Forbidden Lands multiple times, stopping along the way, seeing many landscapes, too many Talented Disciples.
You have a place among the renowned!
Unfortunately, in this era, I alone am sufficient."
Hearing Xu Zimei’s words, Dugu Ao stared at him for a long time.
Eventually, he said with difficulty, "I admit defeat."
"Take him for treatment," Xu Zimei stood up and said softly to the disciples on both sides who were still in a daze.
"Ah? Oh, of course," a disciple snapped out of it, quickly nodded in agreement.
Xu Zimei looked up, smiled at the Seventh Elder, then turned his gaze toward Xiao Yuexuan.
He said indifferently, "Just now, I indeed appreciated the Sixth Elder’s high regard for me!
I enjoy fighting; I wonder if the Sixth Elder would like to share some insights with me?
To teach me the principle that there is always someone stronger!"
"It’s not convenient for me to make a move since this is the disciples’ great competition," Xiao Yuexuan replied calmly.
"Trash," Xu Zimei retorted and walked straight down from the martial arts platform.
Watching Xu Zimei’s retreating figure, Xiao Yuexuan’s gaze seemed somewhat lost.
He muttered softly, "So fast, has he really grown to this extent?"
After Xu Zimei left, the previously silent crowd around the platform burst into lively discussions.
"This... is this the Saint Heir of our True Martial Holy Sect?"
"Dugu Ao is also a true Talented Disciple, but it’s a pity that he didn’t withstand even a single move. The Saint Heir has become this powerful."
"They’re not on the same level."
Hearing the discussions of the disciples below, the Ten Thousand Arrays Elder looked at Xiao Yuexuan and asked, "Elder Xiao, how should the rankings for this Sect competition be arranged?"
"What’s the point of arranging the rankings?" Xiao Yuexuan replied, "Just rank whoever wins."
The Ten Thousand Arrays Elder chuckled bitterly, Xu Zimei, although he did not participate in the competition, just by fighting one match.
But no matter who was ranked first in this competition, it seemed that Xu Zimei would steal the limelight.
After some thought, he ultimately awarded the first place to Xu Zimei.
