Under the blinding glare of that sword light, Ye Jingyu's figure appeared so minuscule, like a small skiff beneath a towering wave, poised to capsize at any moment, or a moth drawn to a roaring fire, seconds from being reduced to ash...

The might of a Martial Saint was clearly no empty title. Even the soldiers on the battlefield paused their fighting, watching this duel with unwavering focus. To witness a Martial Saint in action was a lifelong boast; no one wanted to miss such an opportunity...

Almost everyone believed Ye Jingyu was doomed. Even Baili Ye Longyi and the others were filled with worry for him, as they remained unaware of Ye Jingyu’s true strength...

Seeing the sword beam cleave directly toward him, a mocking smile touched the corner of Ye Jingyu’s lips. Without drawing his blade, his body moved directly toward the brilliant light...

Sensing the tremendous power contained within that strike, Ye Jingyu suddenly raised his hand and unleashed a single punch against the incoming beam...

Was he mad?

That thought flashed across nearly every mind...

Or perhaps, knowing death was certain, he chose this path—a seemingly dignified end? To meet a Martial Saint’s sword beam head-on with only his fist?

But before their questions could be answered, the look of surprise on their faces instantly morphed into sheer horror...

The crowd heard only a deafening boom. The massive sword beam was utterly pulverized by Ye Jingyu’s single punch. Even more miraculously, Ye Jingyu’s figure reappeared directly in front of Xiao Geng. Yes, his speed was so terrifyingly fast that ordinary people couldn't perceive it; even Xiao Geng hadn't reacted in time...

Although his previous strike against Ye Jingyu held an element of playful teasing and wasn't delivered with full strength, how could a Great Grandmaster possibly withstand his blow? Furthermore, there seemed to be no flow of True Essence energy radiating from Ye Jingyu’s body. Had his physical form attained such terrifying resilience?

Just as Xiao Geng reeled in shock, a fist the size of a casserole dish materialized before his eyes and smashed brutally onto the bridge of his nose...

“Crack...” The sound of shattering cartilage echoed. Xiao Geng’s protective True Essence reserves mobilized instantly around the impact point, yet the bone still broke under Ye Jingyu’s punch. His body was flung backward entirely, a spurt of blood erupting from his nostrils. It was only because he had reached the Martial Saint realm that Ye Jingyu’s strike hadn't turned his head into a smashed watermelon...

Watching Xiao Geng fly backward, everyone’s jaws nearly hit the ground. Many instinctively rubbed their eyes, desperate to confirm they weren't dreaming...

A Martial Saint! The newly promoted Martial Saint of the Nanyun Empire! A venerable Martial Saint! A peak of martial attainment! The highest realm attainable for most warriors (the Martial God realm was already legendary, incomprehensible to common folk)? And now, he was sent reeling by a single straight punch. This... how was this possible?

Xiao Geng was utterly dazed. Hadn't this man's strength only been at the peak of the Great Grandmaster realm? Even if his physical body reached the sixth tier, could that power truly pierce his True Essence defenses? Even granting him carelessness, how could he have been struck clean?

The stunned silence quickly gave way to explosive rage. He, the dignified Martial Saint, was being beaten senseless by a Great Grandmaster! If he didn't kill this man now, how could he ever establish himself in the Nanyun Empire again?

Xiao Geng, completely consumed by fury, failed to consider that if Ye Jingyu were truly just a Great Grandmaster, he would never have reached him in the first place...

His True Essence surged outward, manifesting as lines of crimson light before him—not the glow of Martial God Profound Force, but a manifestation of his inherent attribute...

An aura signifying slaughter burst forth from his being. The long sword in his hand trembled incessantly, emitting a low whirring sound as streaks of bloody light pulsed from the blade...

Even at this stage, Ye Jingyu had not drawn his saber. Aside from his profound confidence in his own power, the more immediate reason was that the Heavenly Venerable Saber had shattered in Dugu Ba Chen's hands and required careful refinement; using it again might lead to its total ruin, and he cherished this precious blade that had been with him for years...

“I will tear you into ten thousand pieces!” Xiao Geng roared, and his form vanished again, reappearing instantly before Ye Jingyu. He thrust his sword straight toward Ye Jingyu’s heart, the earlier impulse to toy with his opponent completely abandoned in his rage...

Facing the lightning-fast thrust, Ye Jingyu merely shifted his body slightly, easily evading the ferocious strike. He then raised his fist again, aiming directly for Xiao Geng’s lower abdomen...

No matter how powerful Xiao Geng was, he was only a newly ascended Martial Saint, no match for this monstrous aberration that was Ye Jingyu...

With virtually no time to react, Ye Jingyu’s punch slammed heavily into Xiao Geng’s core. The colossal force, weighing tens of thousands of jin, was delivered entirely into Xiao Geng’s body...

The True Essence energy rushed to protect his abdomen, but the sheer impact sent Xiao Geng flying backward once more. He opened his mouth and violently vomited a gout of blood, his complexion instantly turning a sickening shade of blue-purple. This single blow had clearly inflicted unbearable agony...

The spectators on the battlefield stared on again in horrified disbelief. At this moment, they seemed to have forgotten they were even fighting, all eyes fixed on this spectacle, their minds utterly blank. What in the heavens was happening? Were they dreaming? How could a dignified Martial Saint be so fragile?

The opponent hadn't used any named technique, just a casual punch that sent him spitting blood. This was beyond comprehension...

Xiao Geng struggled back to his feet, his internal True Essence churning wildly, forming a shield of crimson energy before him. The sword in his hand was now completely stained crimson...

“Blood Devouring Sword Pointing to the World!” Xiao Geng suddenly snarled. His sword shot forward, unleashing a streak of bloody light that arrived directly before Ye Jingyu’s throat. The speed gave Ye Jingyu almost no chance to react before it pierced straight through his throat...

“No matter how strong your physical might is, you are no match for me. You are finished!” Seeing his sword impale Ye Jingyu’s throat, Xiao Geng spat out bitterly, though internally he felt a pang of regret: had he used this ultimate move sooner, Ye Jingyu would never have landed a single blow on him...

“Is that so?” However, to Xiao Geng’s astonishment, Ye Jingyu, whose throat had just been pierced, let out a cold laugh. Then, the bloody hole in his throat began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye. Xiao Geng’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head...

(The deserving person should now die. The climax is approaching; everyone toss your golden bricks below. If you knock me out, I won't blame you. Also, please check out a new author's book, Dragon Hunt Charm City. New authors have a hard time; please show some support!)

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