The Heavens: Man Covers the Heavens, Refines Treasures to Become an Emperor

Jiang Xuan's dismissive attitude only further enraged Yue Zhongtian.

In his view, this was clearly a sign that Jiang Xuan was feeling guilty and dared not accept the challenge!

His sense of superiority and desire to perform grew even stronger.

Yue Zhongtian pushed aside his companion and walked straight toward Jiang Xuan.

He stopped a few steps away, looked down at Jiang Xuan with a condescending air, and spoke with a mocking tone.

"You're Jiang Xuan? That genius who cheered for Jin Yutang on the arena?"

Jiang Xuan frowned slightly but did not respond.

Seeing that he remained silent, Yue Zhongtian assumed that he had guessed correctly and became even more smug.

"What? You dare to do it but not admit it? As a cultivator, instead of focusing on improving your martial arts, you imitate those merchants who seek to attract attention and ruin our integrity! Do you even deserve to be called a genius?"

The surrounding cultivators were all drawn to the commotion and turned to look, their expressions showing anticipation. Jiang Xuan remained silent.

But his gaze had turned cold. The other person's noise was affecting him.

Seeing that Jiang Xuan remained silent, Yue Zhongtian found it somewhat boring. His eyes darted around, and he suddenly raised his voice, speaking in a mocking tone.

"Jiang Xuan, talking isn't enough. Since we'll be opponents in the next round, how about we make a bet?"

These words finally made Jiang Xuan raise his eyelids and look at him coldly.

Seeing this, Yue Zhongtian was secretly pleased and continued speaking.

"Let's bet on whether you can knock me out of the ring in one move in your next match! The stake is ten thousand gold coins! How about it?"

He paused, then added, feigning magnanimity.

"Of course, if you think one move is too difficult, we can make it ten moves! That way you won't say I'm bullying you!"

These words immediately caused an uproar among those around them!
"One move? Has Yue Zhongtian gone mad? He's a late-stage Earthly Realm cultivator!"

"This is clearly a provocation! To humiliate Jiang Xuan!"

"Jiang Xuan will definitely not accept such an absurd bet!"

"Ten thousand gold coins! That's a huge gamble!"

Everyone thought Yue Zhongtian was being unreasonable and deliberately humiliating Jiang Xuan.

No one believed that Jiang Xuan would accept such obviously unfair betting terms.

Wen Mingxiu and the others' expressions changed slightly, feeling that Yue Zhongtian had gone a bit too far.

To everyone's surprise, after staring coldly at Yue Zhongtian for a few seconds, Jiang Xuan slowly spoke, his voice calm yet clear.

"I accept the bet."

Everyone was stunned, thinking they had misheard.

Jiang Xuan continued.

"However, the conditions remain the same. Just one move. If I fail to knock you out of the ring within one move, I'll consider myself the loser."

After saying that, Jiang Xuan stopped looking at Yue Zhongtian, whose face had instantly frozen, turned around and walked towards arena number 49, leaving behind an indifferent back view.

Yue Zhongtian stood frozen in place, his expression gradually shifting from initial smugness and provocation to astonishment and disbelief, finally solidifying into a stiff look.

He never expected that Jiang Xuan would actually accept this bet, which he considered almost humiliating, and... he even insisted on the most demanding "one move" condition!
The surrounding cultivators calmed down from their initial uproar, and whispers began to rise again. Many of them looked at Yue Zhongtian with a knowing and amused expression.

"I understand... Yue Zhongtian is trying to save face by using this bet!"

"How to say?"

"Think about it, Jiang Xuan defeated his opponent with a single strike in the first match, his momentum was too great. Yue Zhongtian knew that he might not be able to win in a normal battle, so he simply used this extreme bet. Even if he lost the match in the end."

But as long as I can withstand even one move, I can declare to the world, "Jiang Xuan couldn't do anything to me in one move," and win ten thousand gold coins—I've gained both face and substance!

"Hiss...that makes sense!"

This guy's got a really deep mind!

"But...where does he get the confidence to withstand a single blow from Jiang Xuan? Jiang Xuan even sent Tan Long, a mid-stage Earthly Realm cultivator, flying with a single strike!"

"You don't know this, do you? Senior Brother Yue's major is the famous life-saving technique of our Yanxia Academy, the [Soaring Cloud Light Technique]! His movements are unpredictable and he is best at dodging and deflecting force!"

It's said he once withstood ten moves without defeat against a mentor at the late Earthly Realm! No matter how strong Jiang Xuan is, it's useless if he can't land a hit!

"I see!"

Wen Mingxiu, Qi Yunxiao, and the others softened their expressions upon hearing the surrounding discussions.

But his gaze toward Jiang Xuan still carried a deep sense of apprehension and uncertainty.

Even with the [Cloud Shifting Technique] by his side, it's still hard to say whether Yue Zhongtian can withstand a single blow from Jiang Xuan, this unpredictable monster.

Soon, news of Jiang Xuan's bet with Yue Zhongtian spread from the assessment area to the audience, causing another huge uproar.

"What? A one-move deal? A bet of ten thousand gold coins?"

"Yue Zhongtian? Is that Yue Zhongtian from Yanxia Academy? He's known for his dodging skills!"

"Jiang Xuan is being too arrogant! Yue Zhongtian's [Cloud Maneuvering Technique] is no joke!"
Want to knock him out of the ring in one move? Difficult!

"I doubt it. Jiang Xuan's strength is unfathomable..."

"Just wait and see, this is going to be interesting!"

Most people do not believe that Jiang Xuan can defeat Yue Zhongtian, who has superb agility, in one move.

On the white jade platform, Liu Wujun, Wei Lingzhen, and others naturally heard the report as well.

Wei Lingzhen shook her head and chuckled.

“Nonsense, utter nonsense.”

This bet... is a bit too frivolous.

Du Dongtu snorted.

"Young and impetuous, unaware of the immensity of heaven and earth."

Liu Wujun gazed intently at Jiang Xuan, who remained composed below, without offering any opinion.

But his eyes also revealed his disapproval, as if he thought the bet was indeed absurd.

Jiang Xuan, who was at the center of the storm, seemed completely unaffected.

He ignored the various gazes and comments around him.

He walked alone to a relatively quiet corner and continued to watch the battles on other arenas, looking relaxed.

He would even nod slightly from time to time, as if he were analyzing and learning from something.

He showed absolutely no signs of pressure, as if the huge bet and the harsh one-move limit were nothing more than trivial matters to him.

This composure made some of his initial doubters feel uneasy.

……

The assessments proceeded one after another, and finally, it was the third group of cultivators' turn to take the stage. "Fourth round, contestants on each arena, take your positions!"

As the referee announced loudly.

The entire audience, especially those focused on ring number 49, instantly turned their attention there!

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Yue Zhongtian forcibly suppressed the inexplicable unease in his heart, and his face regained its arrogance and confidence before leaping onto ring number 49.

He circulated his cultivation technique, and his body surged with spiritual energy, radiating a dazzling golden light.

A powerful aura, typical of the late-stage Earthly Fiend Realm, was unleashed without reservation.

The robes fluttered and rustled even without wind, attempting to overwhelm the crowd with their imposing presence.

Jiang Xuan, on the other hand, calmly walked onto the arena.

Compared to Yue Zhongtian's dazzling golden light, his body was only surrounded by a layer of seemingly thin, yet exceptionally condensed and calm azure spiritual energy.

His aura was restrained, yet he possessed a profound and dignified presence, transcending worldly concerns.

He fought bare-handed and did not use the exaggeratedly shaped giant sword.

The two men faced off, one flamboyant and outgoing, the other calm and reserved, creating a stark contrast.

"when--!"

The bell, signaling the start of the duel, rang out crisply!

The moment the bell rang, Yue Zhongtian's eyes flashed with a sharp light. Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately unleashed the [Soaring Cloud Light Technique] to its fullest extent!

"Shh! Shh! Shh!"

His figure instantly blurred, leaving behind several incredibly solid afterimages in the same spot.

His true form moved swiftly and flashed across the not-too-large arena, his trajectory unpredictable and elusive!
Even more surprisingly, he simply closed his eyes.

Relying entirely on the perception of the soul to anticipate and act demonstrates absolute confidence in one's own physical abilities!

Hahaha! Jiang Xuan!
One move? Then make your move! If you even touch a corner of my clothing, you win!

Yue Zhongtian moved at high speed while letting out a triumphant laugh.

The voices came from all directions, full of mockery, trying to disturb Jiang Xuan's mind.

Jiang Xuan remained standing still, as if he had not heard his provocation.

Jiang Xuan made his move when Yue Zhongtian's figure transformed into a seventh afterimage, weaving an impenetrable net of light on the arena!

He did not pursue, but instead slowly brought his palms together in front of him.

In an instant, the foundation within his body, forged by the "Minor Underworld Divine Art" and the "Ten Thousand Paths Devouring Heaven Technique," which had tempered his spiritual energy like a millstone in a storm, suddenly boiled over!
The vast and boundless spiritual energy, like hundreds of rivers flowing into the sea, frantically converged towards his palms!

"Om-!"

An indescribable, terrifying pressure suddenly descended, centered on Jiang Xuan!
Between his clasped hands, a blinding light burst forth, as dazzling as the midday sun!

That wasn't heat, but a pure and intensely concentrated energy!
Jiang Xuan calmly looked at the dazzling afterimages in front of him, clenched his fist, and simply pushed forward!
This push, though seemingly slow, felt as if it propelled the entire space!
"Boom--!"

Wherever the fist struck, the air on the ring shattered under the weight of the boulder thrown into it!
An invisible wave of energy rolled forward, and wherever it passed, the exquisite afterimages that Yue Zhongtian had laid out crumbled and vanished!
The entire void within the arena seemed to be compressed by an invisible force, presenting a distorted and collapsing visual illusion!

Yue Zhongtian, who was moving at high speed and making sarcastic remarks, suddenly stopped laughing!

His tightly closed eyes snapped open, his pupils contracted sharply, and his face was instantly filled with boundless horror and fear!

He felt as if he wasn't standing in the ring.

Instead, it was in the middle of a raging sea where a sudden storm had arisen!

The devastating impact came from all directions, leaving no blind spots!
His proudest skill was the "Soaring Cloud Light Technique".

Under this indiscriminate and terrifying pressure that covered the entire arena, they completely lost any room to dodge or move!

All changes and all trajectories were completely sealed off by this absolute power domain!
"No! Impossible!"

Yue Zhongtian roared in despair, desperately pushing the secret technique to its limit, trying to find an opening.

All in vain!
Yue Zhongtian gritted his teeth, channeling all his life's cultivation into his legs, attempting to withstand the terrifying force sweeping towards him like a reef.

His body shone with golden light, his protective aura was pushed to its limit, and he had only one thought in his mind.

Hang in there!

If I can get through this, I can save face and win the huge bet!
He greatly underestimated the destructive power contained in Jiang Xuan's punch!
That was not a simple brute force impact, but a powerful force that seemed to shake the very origin of space!
When that invisible torrent of power truly descended upon him, Yue Zhongtian felt like an insignificant duckweed in a storm, instantly and completely submerged!

His protective aura, which he was so proud of at the late stage of the Earthly Fiend Realm, shattered inch by inch!

"Click... click..."

The sickening cracking of bones resounded from his body, a mournful cry from his entire skeleton unable to bear the weight!
His skin was instantly covered with fine cracks, from which bright red blood beads seeped out, making him look like a piece of porcelain about to shatter!

Under the horrified gazes of 100,000 spectators, Yue Zhongtian's struggling figure appeared so small and helpless.

His arrogance and confidence had long been replaced by extreme pain and fear, and his eyes were filled with despair!

"puff--!"

Finally, he could no longer hold on and suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, which even contained some fragments of internal organs!

Immediately afterwards, his body, which was barely held on the edge of the ring, completely lost control and flew off the ground!

"boom!!"

A dull bang.

Yue Zhongtian crashed heavily onto the hard ground more than ten feet away from the arena, rolling several times before stopping.

He collapsed to the ground, covered in blood, unable to move even a finger.

It could only let out weak groans, having completely lost its fighting ability.

Everyone stared wide-eyed and gaped, looking at the young man in blue robes on stage number 49, who was still empty-handed and calm.

one move!
It really was just one move!
Moreover, even when Yue Zhongtian used his signature technique, "Soaring Cloud Light Technique," and defended with all his might, he was still blasted away with overwhelming force, severely injured and on the verge of death!
This shocking scene was even more impactful than when he defeated Tan Long in the first round!

Because Yue Zhongtian's strength and reputation far surpass those of Tan Long!

Inside the assessment area, those cultivators who had previously doubted Jiang Xuan's strength or harbored wishful thinking now felt a chill run from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads, and their hearts trembled with fear!

The relaxed expressions on the faces of top geniuses like Xue Shaolin and Li Hao completely disappeared, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity and vigilance!

They realized that Jiang Xuan was far more terrifying than they had anticipated!
On the white jade platform, important figures such as Liu Wujun, Wei Lingzhen, and Du Dongtu were all moved!
"Such domineering power! Such a bizarre way of exerting force!"

Du Dongtu's eyes flashed with a sharp light. As the garrison general, he was particularly keen on sensing power.

"This is an effect that no ordinary Spirit-level or even Profound-level technique could achieve! What this boy is using is probably some extremely advanced, or even possibly long-lost, ancient body-refining secret technique!"

Dean Wei Lingzhen stopped stroking his beard, looked intently at Jiang Xuan on the arena, and slowly nodded.

"General Du is absolutely right. This kind of power has already touched the level of 'momentum,' which is definitely not something that the Earthly Strike Realm can control. This boy's opportunity is astonishing."

He paused, then looked at Yue Zhongtian, who was unconscious below the stage, and sighed softly. (End of Chapter)