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“Even Ning Cheng is no match for Li Xun?”

“With just one move, Ning Cheng was sent flying. Who else in the Phoenix Origin Secret Realm could possibly stand against Li Xun?”

“That’s not entirely accurate. Ning Cheng is a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, and their strength primarily lies in their beasts. His personal combat prowess isn’t particularly exceptional, so losing to Li Xun is within reason.”

“First Zheng Chuan, now Ning Cheng—Li Xun appears to be in a league of his own among the younger generation.”

As they watched Ning Cheng standing amidst the rubble, many spectators whispered among themselves.

Everyone had known that Li Xun was strong, but with each of his appearances, he seemed to shatter their previous expectations.

Just today alone, he had first suppressed Zheng Chuan with sheer presence, and now he had repelled Ning Cheng with a single punch. Many couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe, as if gazing at an unattainable peak.

Was this person really from the same generation as them?

How could someone become so powerful?

To think, Li Xun had only been cultivating for just over two years. What would he become in twenty years?

“Pfft!”

As the crowd murmured, a spray of crimson blood burst into the air. The Beast Taming Sect disciple didn’t even have the chance to admit defeat before Ye Han severed his head with a single palm strike. Scarlet blood flowed, staining the ground.

The scene was both chilling and macabre.

“Li Xun… Ye Han…”

Ning Cheng’s veins bulged as rage consumed him. He stood amidst the shattered stones, exuding a destructive aura like a beast on the verge of tearing someone apart.

His eyes glowed a feral red, and his rationality teetered on the brink. Slowly, he raised a hand toward the contracted beast bag at his waist.

The bag opened just a crack, but even that was enough to release a suffocating pressure. It felt as if an ancient demon emperor had stepped through time to descend upon the present.

Even with just a trace of its power, the pressure was enough to tear at one’s soul. Many in the vicinity felt an overwhelming sense of terror and suffocation.

Nearby, some disciples who had just finished their matches and lingered around the arena collapsed to the ground under the oppressive force. It was as though a colossal demon mountain bore down on their shoulders, crushing them.

And this was just the result of Ning Cheng’s contracted beast bag opening a small gap. If the beast inside were to be fully released, who could imagine the terror that would unfold?

“Ning Cheng, calm yourself!”

At the very last moment before the bag fully opened, an elder of the Beast Taming Sect flashed forward and appeared before Ning Cheng.

The elder’s bony hand rested on Ning Cheng’s shoulder, his voice stern yet steady.

Upon hearing the elder’s words, Ning Cheng’s bloodshot eyes gradually regained clarity. However, the fury and killing intent within them showed no signs of abating.

The elder waved his sleeve, collecting the corpses of both the Beast Taming Sect disciple and his beast. Then, his sharp, eagle-like gaze swept over Li Xun and Ye Han.

With a cold voice, he declared, “Today’s defeat is the result of our Beast Taming Sect’s lack of skill. However, your Profound Sun Sect disciples have already won, yet you still acted so ruthlessly…”

At this, the elder’s tone paused briefly, his piercing gaze fixing on Ye Han.

“This incident will not be forgotten by our Beast Taming Sect!”

With that, he turned and left, taking Ning Cheng with him.

“Senior Brother Li, thank you for your assistance just now,” Ye Han said, cupping his hands as he stood behind Li Xun.

Today, Li Xun had saved him once again. Though Ye Han might have been able to block that punch, he would have been gravely injured, and killing the Beast Taming Sect disciple would have been impossible.

“If Ning Cheng makes a move, I cannot stand idly by. However, Junior Brother, congratulations on claiming first place in the competition today. Truly something to celebrate,” Li Xun replied, turning to Ye Han with a gentle smile.

As soon as he finished speaking

Not far away, a round and rotund middle-aged man approached with an assistant in tow. Before even getting close, the man’s hearty laughter rang out:

“Daoist Li Xun, your strength is extraordinary. Today has truly been an eye-opener for us all. Young friend Ye Han is equally remarkable—worthy of being called a prodigy of the Profound Sun Sect. To challenge someone of a higher realm and emerge victorious is no small feat!”

“Now that young friend Ye Han has claimed first place in the competition, this is the reward that His Majesty, the Emperor of the Great Zhou, has prepared for the Profound Sun Sect. Please, take a look.”

This middle-aged man was none other than the judge who had presided over the arena earlier.

When Ning Cheng had made his move, the man had conveniently disappeared. Now, as he reappeared, though some may have felt dissatisfied with him, they had no room to express it openly—after all, he represented the Great Zhou Empire.

From the perspective of the Great Zhou Empire, it was in their interest not to see the sects within their borders united. They would much rather see sects like Profound Sun Sect and Beast Taming Sect in conflict, sowing discord among them.

The middle-aged man waved his hand, and his assistant stepped forward, carrying a jade box with both hands and presenting it to Ye Han.

Ye Han accepted the box casually, opened it, and glanced inside.

Inside was a cultivation technique of High-grade Earth.

Without examining its contents, Ye Han closed the box and handed it back.

“Younger friend Ye Han, what is the meaning of this?” the middle-aged man asked, puzzled.

An High-grade Earth cultivation technique might not be much to the Great Zhou Empire, but for sects like the Profound Sun Sect or others, it was a highly valuable resource. Yet Ye Han showed no sign of interest at all, an attitude that left the man utterly bewildered.

“Could this cultivation technique be exchanged for a body refinement technique?” Ye Han inquired.

“Hm?”

The middle-aged man frowned and gave Ye Han a long look. After a moment of thought, he smiled again and said, “Ah, so young friend Ye Han seeks a body refinement technique. That is a simple matter.”

He turned and instructed his assistant, “Go fetch a body refinement technique for young friend Ye Han.”

“Understood!”

The assistant nodded, quickly departed, and returned not long after. Once again, he presented a jade box to Ye Han.

“Young friend Ye Han, does this technique meet your expectations?” the middle-aged man asked.

Ye Han did not respond immediately. Instead, he opened the jade box, glanced at its contents, and then handed it over to Li Xun with a respectful gesture.

“Senior Brother, would this cultivation technique suit your needs?” Ye Han asked. “If it is not satisfactory, I can have them exchange it for another.”

Before this, Ye Han had already consulted his master about what kind of technique Li Xun might need. His master’s answer had been a body refinement technique. However, Ye Han wasn’t entirely confident his master’s judgment was accurate this time—after all, his master had been wrong once or twice before.

“Uh…”

Hearing Ye Han’s words, the middle-aged man’s smile froze slightly.

Ye Han was being overly generous. To casually gift away a High-grade Earth technique—was he not treating it as valuable?

And that line about exchanging it for another if Li Xun wasn’t satisfied—what did he think this was? Did he mistake the Great Zhou Empire’s treasury for the Profound Sun Sect’s scripture pavilion?

In the distance, many geniuses from other sects who had not yet left were visibly shaken by Ye Han’s words.

Li Xun was already terrifyingly strong, and now Ye Han was giving him a High-grade Earth body refinement technique?

How were they supposed to compete with this in the upcoming Phoenix Origin Secret Realm?