"Yaksha?" Su Chan's eyes widened as she stared at Shen Xiu, her voice laced with shock. "This person is actually a Yaksha demon?"

Zi Yuan’s expression was solemn. She murmured, "I never imagined a living Yaksha would walk among mortals! And daring to show himself in broad daylight!"

Seeing Zhang Tianhe collapsed on the ground, Zou Ping of the Zhengyi Sect grew furious and yelled, "Let go of my junior brother immediately!"

Shen Xiu let out a hearty laugh, flicked his foot, and tossed Zhang Tianhe up as easily as tossing a sack. He roared with laughter, "Catch!"

The force of his kick was immense; Zhang Tianhe’s body shot out like a cannonball, slamming into Zou Ping in an instant.

Zou Ping was greatly alarmed and instinctively reached out with both hands to catch him, only to see Zhang Ling suddenly extend her right hand. Zhang Tianhe’s body stopped dead in mid-air, as if caught by invisible hands.

This feat displayed Zhang Ling's profound True Essence and exquisite control, drawing involuntary cheers from the crowd.

Zhang Ling glanced back at Zou Ping and whispered, "Take him away now!"

Zou Ping finally reacted, catching the suspended Zhang Tianhe. She shot Shen Xiu a hateful glare, then turned to anxiously check Zhang Tianhe’s injuries.

Zhang Ling glanced at the unconscious Zhang Tianhe, then turned back to Shen Xiu, her anger flaring. "A mere Yaksha demon dares to run rampant on the continent of China? Are you tired of living?"

Shen Xiu snorted. "What, you want a lesson too? Fine by me!"

Zhang Ling was incandescent with rage. Her eyebrows shot up, and the crimson cinnabar mole between her brows seemed about to ignite into a small fireball. Fierce flames erupted from her hands out of thin air, the temperature so high it visibly distorted the air around them!

Zhang Ling, known as the "Earth Fire True Person," was not only as fiery as flame but also unparalleled in the manipulation of fire magic. Now, in her explosive anger, she was bringing out her ultimate skills!

The onlookers watched the flames boil and swirl around Zhang Ling's hands, leaping up her arms in the blink of an eye, until her entire body was enveloped in fire.

Zhang Ling’s delicate brows were drawn back, her body surging with fire, making her look like an enraged God of Fire. She roared, "You seek death!"

With that, she flipped her wrist, and a fireball in her palm began to grow larger and larger!

The crowd watched the fireball in Zhang Ling's hand constantly churning and expanding, emitting a deep rumbling sound, like an atomic bomb about to detonate. Its oppressive might was terrifying; even from a distance, the intense heat caused them to tremble in awe.

Zhou Qin felt as if she had been thrown into a giant furnace; the ends of her hair were curling from the heat. She gasped, "What kind of spell is this?"

Zi Yuan’s face lost its color. "That’s the Samadhi Thunder God Fire! Has Zhang Ling gone mad? She will destroy this entire place!"

Seeing Zhang Ling suddenly unleash such a destructive and lethal spell, everyone was greatly horrified. They shouted, "True Person Zhang, what are you doing? No, you mustn't, it will cause chaos!"

But Zhang Ling’s mind was entirely focused on avenging Zhang Tianhe and, more importantly, restoring the lost face of the Zhengyi Sect. She paid them no mind; the killing intent in her eyes grew heavier and denser.

Even from far away, Shen Xiu felt a terrifying wave of heat wash over him, instantly smelling the scent of death. Yet, instead of fear, Shen Xiu grew more excited and frenzied. The black mist swirling around him thickened, gradually coalescing in front of him to form a shroud of black vapor.

The crowd felt this mist was like a black abyss, within which they could vaguely see countless black, lost souls howling and screaming, emitting sounds that chilled the blood.

Seeing this, Zhang Ling became even angrier. "A mere demon dares to be so arrogant!" With that, she flipped her wrist and hurled the fireball in her hand with force.

Shen Xiu let out a wild roar, and the black mist before him abruptly transformed into a fierce ghost with a blue face and fangs, lunging toward Zhang Ling's fireball.

The fierce ghost opened its gaping maw and violently swallowed the fireball whole. In an instant, the ghost's entire body burst into intense flames.

The crowd immediately cheered loudly: "Well done, True Person Zhang! Burn that Yaksha demon to death!"

Zhou Qin and Su Chan watched, equally exhilarated, grinding their teeth and muttering, "Burn him, burn that bastard to death!"

However, Li Yundong shook his head. "Yaksha are known for devouring all things, and this Yaksha is not his true body to begin with. I doubt Zhang Ling’s Samadhi Divine Fire can harm him."

As he spoke, they watched Shen Xiu suddenly laugh maniacally. His figure had grown even larger than before, as if he had absorbed the power of the Samadhi Divine Fire!

Everyone was utterly horrified. "This is impossible! The Samadhi Divine Fire consumes everything; why can this Yaksha demon devour and absorb it?"

Zhang Ling’s expression also drastically changed. She roared, "What kind of monster are you! How can you swallow my Samadhi Divine Fire!"

Just as her voice fell, Ci Nian, standing nearby, suddenly chanted a Buddhist phrase aloud. He said, "Amitabha, please allow me a word!"

Zhang Ling turned, sneering, "What do you have to say?"

Ci Nian smiled faintly and stated, "Fellow Daoists of the Chinese cultivation world, my disciple Shen Xiu is neither a demon nor a heretic. He is the Guardian Vajra of our Koyasan mountain, a descendant of the Yaksha from the Eightfold Path, a protector spirit of Buddhism. How could he be a demonic creature?"

Ci Nian continued loudly, "True Person Zhang, though your Samadhi True Fire is formidable, it cannot harm a Dharma Protector Deity! Furthermore, this is a fair contest of cultivation between juniors. As an elder, why do you interfere, True Person Zhang? Is it because you are ashamed of losing? I doubt the great Zhengyi Sect is so narrow-minded, are they?"

Zhang Ling glared fiercely at Ci Nian. She pondered for a moment, thinking: This Japanese fellow speaks some sense. If I stepped in and lost too, the Zhengyi Sect would suffer a huge loss this time!

With this thought, the flames surging over Zhang Ling slowly receded. She turned and said coldly, "Is there any cultivator willing to step forward and contend with this Shen Xiu?"

Seeing that Shen Xiu, the blue-faced, fanged Yaksha demon, had even swallowed Zhang Ling’s Samadhi Divine Fire, the assembled cultivators were filled with fear, exchanging nervous glances.

Shen Xiu saw this and sneered, "Hmph, come up if you dare. Are you scared?"

His provocation infuriated everyone. Among them, Wang Lingfei jumped up instantly and declared loudly, "I will!"

The cultivators of the Zhengyi Sect shouted in unison, "Senior Brother Wang, teach this arrogant fellow a proper lesson!"

Zhang Ling glanced at him, nodding subtly. She whispered to him, "The Yaksha possesses infinite strength. Do not engage him in close combat, and use minimal magic against him. This Yaksha is a mountain guardian; I suspect he possesses body immunity to magic. I believe only a magic treasure can kill him!"

Wang Lingfei nodded. Before stepping onto the stage, he glanced back at Li Yundong, thinking to himself: I didn't expect the magic treasure I refined specifically to deal with Li Yundong would end up being used against this Japanese punk. What a waste!

Wang Lingfei snorted softly and walked onto the stage, drawing a short sword, only half a foot long, from behind his back.

The crowd saw that this short sword was entirely crimson, shorter than a long sword but significantly longer than a dagger, and otherwise seemed unremarkable.

Shen Xiu saw it and burst into laughter. "Such a tiny short sword? Your Three Sovereigns Sword and Seven Stars Precious Sword are already mine; are you sending me another one now?"

Wang Lingfei remained unfazed. He cast a cold look at Shen Xiu and said, "Show me any magic treasure you have, and let us fight weapon against weapon!"

Shen Xiu scoffed, "Why would I need a magic treasure to fight you?"

Wang Lingfei laughed furiously, "Good! Then don't blame me for bullying you!"

Saying this, his figure flashed like lightning toward Shen Xiu, the short sword held tight in his hand, stabbing at Shen Xiu with the speed of thunder and lightning.

Zhang Ling gasped in alarm, stomping her foot. "Damn it, didn't I tell him not to get close?"

As the saying goes: an inch longer is an inch stronger, an inch shorter is an inch more dangerous!

Wang Lingfei wielded his short sword, his attacks spraying toward Shen Xiu like mercury that found every gap. A flurry of silver light danced between them, nearly obscuring Shen Xiu entirely, even making Wang Lingfei’s own form flicker in and out of sight!

Those who recognized the technique nodded secretly. "A fine move, Raging Winds Chop! But since the Yaksha’s strength is heavy and his movements ponderous, why engage him up close? Wouldn't fighting with magic treasures be better?"

As doubts arose in the crowd, they suddenly heard Shen Xiu roar furiously. He clapped both palms together, smashing them precisely onto the dagger held in Wang Lingfei's hands. He bellowed with wild laughter, "Let's see what you can do now!"

Wang Lingfei was delighted rather than surprised. He gave a cold smile and roared, "Sword Qi River!!"

Wang Lingfei suddenly moved, splitting once into two, two into three, and three into countless figures!

It was as if the arena was suddenly filled with countless Wang Lingfeis, each holding a short sword emitting a blinding red light. Like a surging river, their towering sword Qi furiously stabbed at Shen Xiu from all directions, ceaselessly!

In an instant, Shen Xiu was pierced through by ten thousand blades. Blood poured from his body, and he let out a fierce roar, his hands involuntarily loosening their grip. The Wang Lingfei closest to him seized the opportunity, stepped forward swiftly, and shouted, "Take this!" His short sword plunged solidly into Shen Xiu's chest!

The crowd erupted in joyous cheers upon seeing this.

Shen Xiu let out a fierce roar, and countless wisps of black mist coiled around his chest, rapidly creeping along the short sword toward Wang Lingfei.

Wang Lingfei was alarmed and instinctively tried to pull back, but the pierced Shen Xiu grinned menacingly. He rapidly formed hand seals with both hands, shouting the ultimate technique of Esoteric Buddhism like thunder: the Nine Syllable Mantra!

The crowd watched as the Yaksha quickly formed a hand seal for each character spoken.

These hand seals were, in order: Vajra Mudra, Great Vajra Wheel Mudra, Outer Lion Seal, Inner Lion Seal, Outer Binding Seal, Inner Binding Seal, Fist of Wisdom Mudra, Sun Wheel Seal, and Treasure Vase Seal!

Shen Xiu rapidly formed the seals, chanting the mantras: "RIN! PYO! TO! SHA! KAI! JIN! RETSU! ZAI! ZEN!"

Wang Lingfei saw these nine great characters of the mantra manifesting rapidly in the air, enveloping him from above, below, left, and right. He knew instantly this was bad and tried to withdraw, but with a thunderous crash, the nine characters suddenly exploded!

The crowd heard a massive boom, like a bomb detonating in the arena. Wang Lingfei was instantly blown into unrecognizable pieces and fell to the ground without a sound!

"What!" Everyone’s eyes widened in shock. For the first time, they looked at Shen Xiu with genuine fear. They couldn't comprehend how this Shen Xiu could survive being pierced through by a magic treasure, only to use the Mantra to severely wound Wang Lingfei?

Shen Xiu kicked Wang Lingfei aside, then grinned as he pulled the short sword from his chest, tossing it forcefully beside the Three Sovereigns Sword, where it stuck firmly, displayed like a trophy to the crowd.

The black mist swirling around Shen Xiu’s pierced chest gradually subsided, and his chest returned to normal, leaving only a tear in his clothes.

Shen Xiu laughed wildly, "Weak! Utterly weak!"

The cultivators of the various sects sucked in a cold breath. They wondered: What now? Even Zhang Cunyi, Zhang Tianhe, and Wang Lingfei have lost! These three were the top young masters in the current cultivation world; even if other sects had hidden talents, they wouldn't surpass them! If even they were defeated in one move, who could possibly defeat this arrogant Japanese man?

A wave of panic swept through the crowd. Zhou Qin couldn't help but whisper to Li Yundong, "Master, you should go. We can't let this Japanese man continue to be so arrogant!"

Li Yundong's face was grim. He nodded, about to step forward, when Zi Yuan suddenly reached out and pressed his hand.

Zi Yuan smiled slightly and said, "Let me go!"

Li Yundong was startled. "Zi Yuan, you're going?"

Zi Yuan countered, "What, you have no confidence in me?"

Li Yundong was momentarily speechless. He said, "But..."

Zi Yuan smiled faintly. "Don't worry, if I dare to step onto the stage, I am certain of victory! You must remember, before you defeated me, I was the foremost master among the younger generation in the cultivation world!"

With that, Zi Yuan gracefully descended and approached the crowd with an ethereal, fairy-like bearing. She said in a cool voice, "I am Zi Yuan of the Ling Gong Sect, Zhengyi School! I look forward to your guidance!"