Whether this was truly the case, as Ye Wen and the others surmised, no one truly knew. Lin Hai glanced up at the sky, then turned to Ye Wen and spoke a single sentence: "I hope this ultimate technique of Sect Leader Ye does not disappoint me..."

Without waiting for Ye Wen to reply, Lin Hai took several swift strides, closing the distance to Ye Wen in the blink of an eye.

When Ye Wen had first stepped onto the stage, he and Lin Hai had stood far apart, almost on opposite ends of the platform. Yet, with just a few steps from Lin Hai, the seemingly vast distance vanished as if it never existed. Before Ye Wen could fully register what had happened, Lin Hai had already unleashed a punch aimed straight for his face.

The punch itself had not yet landed, but the immense rush of air pressure from it was enough to steal Ye Wen's breath. The surging force emanating from the fist was like the waves of a tempestuous sea—tumultuous and roaring with the sound of crashing surf.

Ye Wen felt the oncoming gale intensifying. If he remained rooted to the spot, this mere punch wind alone would be enough to bring him to ruin! The innate purple Qi within his body spun rapidly, causing the surrounding purple aura to coalesce around him before suddenly transforming into a vast purple net that enveloped Lin Hai, colliding head-on with his strike.

Seeing the approaching purple net, Lin Hai recognized it as another of Ye Wen’s marvelous techniques. He proceeded with caution, yet dared not retract the power behind his punch; instead, he augmented it further.

Unexpectedly, when the purple net met his fist, there was no clash of surging Qi. Instead, the net smoothly coiled itself around his striking arm.

"Hmm?"

In an instant, Lin Hai felt something amiss. His fist, now entangled by the purple net, felt as if it were being restrained, making it significantly harder to drive the punch forward.

Just as he pondered this new form of martial skill, he saw Ye Wen casually flick his fingers, pointing directly toward Lin Hai's face from a distance. Lin Hai had no time to contemplate; he immediately lowered his head. He felt a sharp streak of sword Qi whistle past his scalp. The sheer potency of that sword Qi was so palpable that even though it did not graze him, he felt its force acutely.

Had his internal Qi not been circulating throughout his body, providing a degree of self-protection, the wind pressure generated by that passing sword Qi alone could have sliced open his scalp.

The Zixiao Dragon Qi Sword was terrifying only when experienced firsthand. Had Lin Hai been a fraction of a second slower, his skull would have been pierced, resulting in instant death. The speed and destructive power of this technique were startlingly immense.

Realizing this danger, Lin Hai dared not give Ye Wen the luxury of a leisurely follow-up. Using the motion of ducking his head, he transitioned directly into an attempt to close the distance with Ye Wen. Simultaneously, he thrust out his left fist while slightly withdrawing his right. The Qi flowed through his fist, tearing the surrounding Purple Heaven Net into shreds.

"Lin Hai's Qi is overwhelmingly powerful. The Purple Heaven Net can only hold him momentarily!"

Ye Wen saw Lin Hai’s movements with perfect clarity. Realizing the Purple Heaven Net was ineffective against Lin Hai, and he could not rely on it, Ye Wen focused on countering with the Zixiao Dragon Qi Sword. Seeing Lin Hai evade the first strike and attempt to engage in close combat, Ye Wen immediately jabbed forward with his left hand, releasing another streak of Zixiao Rabbit Qi Sword (Note: Assuming this is a typo in the source and should match the previous sword technique, or is a distinct named technique).

This move was executed with blinding speed and suddenness. Moreover, Ye Wen had consistently used his right hand to unleash the Zixiao Dragon Qi Sword, leading ordinary observers to believe he was limited to using only his right hand for such sword Qi. After all, this caliber of sword skill must require specific channeling methods, not something that could be conjured through any random meridian.

To everyone's shock, Ye Wen could summon the sword Qi with both hands. Thus, this strike was not only swift and urgent but also completely unanticipated. Many onlookers inwardly conceded, "A miscalculation. If I were fighting him, I would surely suffer such a grave loss!"

However, Lin Hai suddenly leaped upward, dodging the strike aimed at his lower body. The purple sword Qi grazed the sole of Lin Hai's foot, then plunged into the stage floor with a poof, vanishing without a trace, leaving behind a dark, seemingly bottomless hole.

While airborne, Lin Hai was inwardly startled, but his hands did not slow. He changed his stance, transforming both fists into open palms, and channeled the force of his leap downward toward Ye Wen.

This downward strike gathered all of Lin Hai's accumulated power, enhanced further by the momentum of his jump and the force of gravity. Ye Wen took one look at the palms, colored like the surface of the Mariana Trench, and knew this blow would be exceptionally difficult to meet. Yet, evasion was no longer an option. He suddenly recalled several Tai Chi principles he had experimented with during his bout against Liu Bi, and unleashed them in response.

Ye Wen raised both palms, seemingly prepared to meet Lin Hai’s attack head-on. The crowd waited for a deafening collision, but just as their four palms touched, Ye Wen suddenly retracted his arms, draining much of the force from Lin Hai’s strike. Simultaneously, he wrapped his Purple Heaven Net Qi around Lin Hai’s arms and then swept his own arms outward, pulling both of Lin Hai’s palms toward his side.

That wasn't all. While diverting Lin Hai's force to the side, allowing him to be pulled off-balance and driven sideways, Ye Wen intended to deliver a strike to Lin Hai’s back to make him pay the price.

Alas, Ye Wen’s Tai Chi was rudimentary at best; despite his experimentation, he had only grasped the superficial aspects. While sufficient against opponents of lesser skill, it proved inadequate against a master like Lin Hai. As he unleashed his palm strike, Lin Hai unexpectedly twisted his body violently, abandoning his precarious balance to meet Ye Wen’s blow with a direct fist exchange.

Bang!

A dull thud resonated. The spectators watched as the two figures briefly interlocked mid-air, followed by a loud crack, after which both men were thrown back a considerable distance.

The force of Lin Hai's punch sent Ye Wen leaping backward over twenty feet. The blood and Qi within his body churned violently; only the divine nature of his innate purple Qi prevented serious internal injury.

Lin Hai was faring no better. Ye Wen had intended to capitalize on a momentary advantage. The palm strike Lin Hai had used was his specialty, the Mian Palm (Soft Palm). It appeared gentle, but it was saturated with true force, its internal power overwhelmingly potent. Striking it felt like hitting a slab of steel. Had Lin Hai’s own foundation not been solid, and his internal arts profound, he wouldn't only have failed to injure Ye Wen, but he would have suffered internal harm himself.

Furthermore, the posture required for his punch caused his feet to slide about ten feet across the stage, followed by several staggered backward steps before he stabilized, ending up even farther from the center than Ye Wen.

"Hua!"

The crowd now understood they had engaged in a direct, brute-force confrontation. Everyone had assumed Lin Hai would dominate such an exchange. Not only was the Ting Tao Jue (Wave Listening Art) an inherently domineering technique, but Lin Hai was also over ten years older, possessing decades more internal training than the young Ye Wen. His cultivation level should absolutely surpass the youth’s.

Yet, after this head-to-head exchange, it was Lin Hai who seemed to have suffered the loss! Although Ye Wen was thrown back far, he appeared composed, clearly unharmed.

Dong Ze Yi, who knew Lin Hai's true power, stared with wide eyes, gasping on the sidelines, "Impossible!"

He could see that Lin Hai’s posture and Qi flow had been at a disadvantage during that exchange. However, having fought him previously, Dong Ze Yi knew precisely how fierce the Ting Tao Jue was; logically, this young man Ye Wen should not have been able to withstand it.

Many who had previously praised only Ye Wen's refined sword Qi now realized this young man's internal cultivation was also formidable. After all, only a direct, hard clash could truly reveal the depth of one's mastery. Everyone was aware of Lin Hai's strength, which had been clearly displayed during his earlier battle with Dong Ze Yi.

As for Niu Wen...

At this moment, Heavenly Master Tian Yi was pondering secretly: "I wonder which lineage of the Daoist school the Mount Shu Sect descends from..."

Returning focus to the stage, Ye Wen’s innate purple Qi circulated, immediately soothing his agitated blood and Qi. He returned to his composed demeanor and smiled toward Lin Hai: "Sect Leader Lin's punch was indeed fiercely potent!"

Lin Hai had been certain that his punch would cause Ye Wen some distress, but seeing Ye Wen entirely unperturbed, even exchanging pleasantries, would typically shatter the morale of an opponent, potentially affecting the continuation of the fight. Yet, Lin Hai seemed even more energized: "Sect Leader Ye's cultivation is truly extraordinary. This Chief did not misjudge you!"

"Misjudge me? What do you mean?"

Ye Wen was utterly bewildered by Lin Hai’s sudden, unconnected remark, unable to grasp any conclusion.

Only Shen Yuqing, watching from below, suddenly changed expression upon hearing this. She felt things were developing in the exact way she dreaded. She glanced back at Hua Yi, who stared fixedly at the stage, quickly calculated the distance between them, and made a secret resolution. For now, however, she hoped it wasn't the time to act, and that she was merely overthinking things.

"Decades of effort cannot be ruined in a single morning!" With a flicker of worry toward the heroic man on stage, Shen Yuqing’s eyes sharpened: "Do not disappoint me!"

Lin Hai, oblivious to these undercurrents, displayed a rare, genuine smile—one that sprang from the heart. He asked with keen interest: "Sect Leader Ye, that palm strike just now, what was its name?"

"That was the Mian Palm of the Mount Shu Sect. It is not considered a profound technique, but when practiced to its depths, its power is considerable!" Although curious, Ye Wen could not refuse to answer. He explained casually and, as a demonstration, threw out two gentle palm strikes.

The crowd below paid little attention. Seeing Ye Wen’s demonstration—the slow, floating palms that seemed to require no effort—they found it hard to believe such seemingly casual movements could clash directly with Lin Hai’s power.

While the masses couldn't perceive the subtlety, Lin Hai saw the truth immediately and praised, "A fine technique!" Having just exchanged a blow with Ye Wen, he understood the underlying mechanisms of this palm art better than anyone else.

"Sect Leader Ye, not only is your swordsmanship supreme, but your hand-to-hand combat skills are also exceptional. I, Lin Hai, feel no regret in encountering such an opponent as you..."

These words were again cryptic, leaving Ye Wen puzzled. However, a speculation formed in his mind: Could it be that Lin Hai suffers from some hidden ailment and is nearing the end of his life?

Yet, it was difficult for him to voice the question. As soon as Lin Hai finished speaking, he surged forward again, shouting as he did so: "This move is the most ferocious strike in the Ting Tao Jue! Meet my move: Boundless Sea!"

Even before the words finished echoing, the oppressive power of the incoming strike arrived. Ye Wen’s hair flew straight back, his entire robe billowed with a loud, crackling sound, and his face, the target of the blow, appeared distorted by the intense atmospheric pressure.

"What a brutally powerful palm wind!"

From the sheer force of this gale, Ye Wen knew the power contained within this palm strike. Moreover, this technique seemed somewhat similar to his own Purple Qi Eastward; neither relied on complexity for strength, but rather on the absolute height of one's internal cultivation.

Witnessing Lin Hai unleash such a maneuver, Ye Wen felt a surge of defiance. He activated his innate purple Qi, shattering the oppressive palm wind immediately. His surrounding Qi intensified, finally condensing entirely onto his right palm.

Not only was his entire right arm shrouded in purple Qi, but his entire body was nearly obscured by it. As the Qi grew so dense it almost formed a singular purple sphere, Ye Wen suddenly shot forward, his right palm, now containing his accumulated life's power, slowly pushing out.

Boundless Sea clashed against Purple Qi Eastward.

A direct collision of brute strength, almost devoid of any trickery.

The crowd expected a tremendous sound, given the terrifying momentum building before the strikes. Lin Hai was a known master who had established his reputation for over a decade; that Ye Wen, a suddenly emerging young prodigy, possessed such cultivation was genuinely shocking.

The two palms finally met under the expectant gaze of the spectators, but instead of a massive explosion, there was only a soft pa, similar to an ordinary person lightly clapping their hands.

If the audience hadn't been watching in silent concentration, this faint sound would have been barely audible.

"What is this? All thunder, no rain?"

Most martial artists failed to grasp the underlying precision, but many masters from prominent sects looked grim. Bei Cheng Yan gasped in astonishment: "These two have already reached the realm of perfectly controlled internal energy, condensed and unscattered!"

It was precisely because their internal energies were so solid and non-leaking that the external spectacle was so subdued. Although the sound was minimal when their palms connected, the underlying danger in this exchange was far greater than any prior bout.

With their palms locked, the fight transitioned awkwardly from a contest of techniques to a battle of sheer internal power! Neither dared to change their move; they could only continuously urge their internal Qi forward, hoping to crush and overwhelm the opponent’s Qi to secure victory. Any lapse in concentration would mean being crushed oneself.

This stalemate accumulated nearly the entire life force of both men. If one’s reserves gave out, not only would the opponent's internal energy flood their body, but their own retreating internal energy would inflict a massive internal shockwave, equivalent to being attacked simultaneously by two masters of equal rank. Survival would be nearly impossible.

Thus, after only a brief period, the stage became this scene: once the tidal surges of profound Qi and purple energy dissipated, the two grandmasters stood locked, right palm against right palm, neither daring to move. The spectacular phenomena were gone, but no one dared to interrupt.

"A battle of pure internal energy!"

This scenario was not unfamiliar; it had occurred in several previous matches during the tournament. However, a contest of internal energy between two masters of this caliber was unprecedented in this assembly.

Compared to the excited curiosity of the crowd, Master Huixin and Heavenly Master Tian Yi sighed deeply: "I never thought it would come to this..."

The other grandmasters watched intently. Dong Ze Yi now secretly hoped Ye Wen could somehow eliminate Lin Hai, as this would greatly benefit his Azure Dragon Society. Not only would they avoid returning the spoils they had lost, but they could also seize the numerous assets held by the Tianle Gang.

However, he considered this possibility extremely low...

On stage, the two men scrutinized each other. Ye Wen felt not only Lin Hai’s thick, inexhaustible internal energy flowing through his palm but also that this energy was like an endless tide, surging in waves, seemingly without limit.

It was fortunate that his innate purple Qi possessed both endurance and astonishing recovery capabilities, allowing him to hold the line. He had initially believed his innate purple Qi was superior in sustained attrition. However, in terms of sheer dominance, the innate purple Qi ultimately yielded to the formidable Ting Tao Jue. Coupled with Lin Hai's higher overall cultivation, the balance, which started evenly matched, gradually began to tilt in Lin Hai’s favor.

"Damn it!"

Seeing this trend, Ye Wen knew that if the stalemate continued, defeat was inevitable, and death would follow at Lin Hai’s hand. He began desperately searching for an alternative.

The best method would be to poke him with the Zixiao Dragon Qi Sword!

But his innate purple Qi was fully occupied holding back the relentless pressure of the Ting Tao Jue. To summon a streak of Zixiao Dragon Qi Sword would require a considerable amount of time to gather. Yet, he quickly thought of a substitute: the Shao Ze Sword technique, which he had perfected but never used in combat, consumed significantly less energy than the Zixiao Dragon Qi Sword.

At this moment, he didn't need much—just one streak of Shao Ze Sword Qi would ensure Lin Hai’s immediate demise.

With this thought, Ye Wen urged his innate purple Qi to circulate faster. He did not immediately push back the Ting Tao Jue energy that was beginning to infiltrate his body, but first worked to maintain the deadlock—neither winning nor losing—while siphoning a tiny stream of true Qi toward his left little finger.

This maneuver sounded simple, but executing it was extremely complex, especially while his entire internal energy system was running at maximum capacity and he dared not shift his stance. Although Ye Wen desired to use the Shao Ze Sword, his left hand moved agonizingly slow, lifting bit by bit, slowly raising his little finger to point vaguely toward Lin Hai.

Lin Hai saw Ye Wen's slow movements and initially failed to grasp the intention. After a moment, he noticed a faint purple light beginning to glimmer around the raised little finger. Only then did he realize Ye Wen intended to unleash sword Qi using his left pinky finger, seeking to end the fight instantly while Lin Hai was immobilized.

Upon witnessing this, Lin Hai did not panic. Instead, he praised: "I did not expect you to have such a final resort!" As he spoke, he suddenly withdrew all his internal power without any warning. Ye Wen was fully focused on resisting Lin Hai’s Ting Tao Jue energy; the sudden cessation of the opposing force caught him completely off guard. His innate purple Qi, suddenly unobstructed, erupted instantaneously, surging entirely into Lin Hai’s body.

The heroic man was struck like a tattered rag doll, thrown high into the air by Ye Wen’s innate purple Qi, before falling back to the ground under the gaze of everyone present.

While people were still reeling in astonishment, Lin Hai managed to stagger back to his feet, swaying unsteadily, clearly forcing himself to remain upright. A spasm crossed his throat as he forcibly swallowed back the blood that was about to erupt, then straightened his back, took several gasping breaths, and managed to utter one sentence: "This Chief has been wrong for half a lifetime; I refuse to be wrong again!"

Ye Wen was even more perplexed by these words and was about to question him when a shadow suddenly lunged toward the back of Lin Hai’s head. The movement was graceful and enchanting, but permeated with boundless killing intent. A slender hand reached out, poised to strike the back of Lin Hai’s skull.