With a sharp roar from the official beside the circular platform, the highly anticipated martial contest officially commenced!

Mo Zhan stood with an air of utter arrogance, a cold smirk playing on his lips. In less than an instant, wisps of lightning erupted from his body, rapidly condensing. In just a few short seconds, those wisps coalesced into tangible serpents of electricity. These electric snakes coiled around Mo Zhan entirely, making him blaze with dazzling light. Mo Zhan, at the peak of the Third Heaven of the Innate Realm, stood proudly in the arena, wrapped in writhing electric serpents. His 'Lightning Martial Spirit' was clearly a tier above those displayed by Mo Qunyu and Mo Qi. As his complexion gradually paled, the electric snakes flickered and writhed upon his body, appearing voracious, as if ready to devour any living thing—truly terrifying.

“Your Shi family’s Petrification Martial Spirit is hailed as the Melee King of the Merchant Alliance. Heh, I’ll give you a chance. Come here. I’ll let you get close enough to fight me!” Mo Zhan laughed loudly, standing perfectly still, his face a mask of contempt, acting as if he hadn't even noticed Shi Yan.

“That kid is truly audacious!” “He has the capital for such arrogance. His lightning is far stronger than what Mo Qi displayed. This match seems to have no suspense!” “Indeed, the Shi family is going to suffer a crushing defeat this time.”

Around the fighting platform, numerous martial artists perched high on the cyan-stone tiers shook their heads and muttered. Not a single one believed Shi Yan could overcome Mo Zhan. Even those on the Shi family side looked dispirited, sighing incessantly.

“Very well.”

Shi Yan’s expression was indifferent; he paid no mind to Mo Zhan’s provocation. Unhurriedly, step by measured step, he began walking toward Mo Zhan. As he moved, his body only gradually began to petrify, slowly turning ashen-white. Before entering the arena, Shi Jian had coated his entire body with a peculiar medicinal powder. That powder served no other function than to alter the coloration of his Martial Spirit, allowing his Petrification Martial Spirit—already in its second stage—to maintain a consistent ashen-white hue. Shi Jian did this to prevent accusations of cheating, as the second stage of Petrification was not something an Innate Realm martial artist should possess.

“Kid, you were quite forceful with your words back at the Yingchun Pavilion. I hope you can maintain that firmness today!” Mo Zhan’s face was pale, a cold sneer still fixed on his lips. He remained motionless, waiting for Shi Yan to approach.

“Whether I’m firm or not, you’ll know soon enough.” Shi Yan shook his head and smiled. By the time he spoke, he was already three meters from Mo Zhan.

“Hmph!”

At that precise moment, Mo Zhan suddenly let out a low shout. The electric serpents coiled around him seemed to come alive all at once. Those electric serpents abruptly leaped from his body, shooting towards Shi Yan to entangle him.

“Not good!” Shi Tie exclaimed, shouting, “It’s happening again!” “Dodge quickly!” Shi Dang couldn't help but cry out in alarm.

“Sssst, sssst, sssst!”

The thumb-thick electric serpents, appearing animated, suddenly dispersed, coiling toward Shi Yan from all directions, leaving him no space to evade. Amidst the horrified shouts of the Shi family members, the electric serpents suddenly struck and instantly enveloped Shi Yan completely.

“Disaster!” Shi Tie’s eyes were filled with terror, his voice choked with distress. “Why is this kid so dense! Knowing exactly where Tian Yun failed, he still doesn't dodge! He’s going to follow Tian Yun’s disastrous path! He’s finished!” “It is just as expected!” “Yes, this fellow truly lives up to his reputation as a scholar of ancient texts—utterly foolish!” “It seems there’s no suspense left; he probably won’t even get a chance to strike from start to finish.”

The surrounding martial artists sighed regretfully, shaking their heads lightly, as if they had already foreseen the outcome. And indeed, the reality matched everyone’s expectations!

Mo Zhan seized the moment and charged forward. His left hand unleashed a series of sweeping arcs—the “Azure Arc Crescent Slash”—while his right hand projected “Azure Light Orbs,” driving them straight at Shi Yan, who was tightly bound by the electric serpents.

“Boom-boom-boom! Boom-boom-boom-boom!”

The Azure Arc Crescent Slashes and Azure Light Orbs rained down like hail, instantly engulfing Shi Yan in blinding radiance. Under this relentless barrage, the spectators could not clearly see Shi Yan, instinctively assuming he must be annihilated.

Flashes of electric light interspersed with dazzling azure light cut through the air, allowing the crowd to see the scene within the arena once more. —Shi Yan remained standing rooted to the spot. Aside from wisps of smoke curling from his clothes, he bore not a single scratch on his body.

“Huh?” “What is going on?” “No way?”

When the azure light dissipated and the martial artists refocused on Shi Yan, they couldn't help but rub their eyes, staring at the unmoving, rock-like Shi Yan in mild astonishment. Bei Ming Shang, who had been quietly sipping tea, suddenly looked up, staring at Shi Yan with a hint of surprise, his brow furrowed as he muttered under his breath, “Strange.”

Mo Tuo’s expression shifted slightly, though he maintained his composure, merely letting out a cold snort. Shi Jian’s frame jerked abruptly. A strange light flickered in his eyes. He took a deep breath, gripping the armrest of his stone stool tightly, his heart surging with excitement.

“Big Brother!” “Patriarch!”

Shi Tie and the Shi family martial artists looked toward Shi Jian, their faces alight with relief and confusion.

“Keep watching!” Shi Jian commanded sharply, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. Shi Tie and the Shi family retainers, though still bewildered, felt a nascent glimmer of hope.

Inside the arena. Shi Yan, still cocooned by the electric serpents, maintained a cold gaze. He felt a slight numbness from the petrification, but otherwise, nothing unusual. Faint wisps of mist diffused from his forearms, but they were instantly scattered by the light of the electric snakes, making it impossible for anyone to discern the subtle changes in his arms. Streams of negative energy, mixing with the vital essence overflowing from his hands during the onslaught, condensed into five tiny vortices, drifting around his body. The vortices, constructed using the “Magnetic Ruin Field,” contained two distinct forces. As these forces blended, they formed vortices invisible to the naked eye, slowly drifting toward Mo Zhan’s rear. These vortices were formless and intangible. Aside from Shi Yan himself, only Bei Ming Shang, whose cultivation reached the Heavenly Rank, could vaguely perceive their presence in the vast arena.

“Mo Zhan, you are very soft,” Shi Yan suddenly grinned, mocking him openly. “I stand here and let you hit me, and you can't even cause harm. How did your Mo family become one of the Five Great Families of the Merchant Alliance?”

“You court death, kid!” Mo Zhan’s demeanor drastically changed, his face growing even paler. With a savage snarl, he rushed forward, just like Mo Qi had done against Shi Tianyun—closing the distance and battering the restrained Shi Yan like a madman.

“Bang-bang-bang! Thump-thump-thump!”

Mo Zhan’s relentless strikes landed squarely on Shi Yan’s body. Blue light exploded across the arena, and waves of potent vital energy surged outward.

“Still soft, Mo Zhan. Are you a woman?” Under Mo Zhan’s furious assault, Shi Yan remained unmoving, constantly shaking his head and sneering, his verbal barbs growing sharper. “If you lack what a man should have down there, when you marry, I wouldn’t mind taking care of your wife for you, to save you the embarrassment!”

That remark was utterly vicious! Ling Yueyue, from the Ling family's side, suddenly stood up. Her delicate features were icy cold as she snapped, “Shi Yan, may you die a terrible death!”

“I will kill you!”

Mo Zhan roared, forcing out every last reserve of his potential. He lunged again like a maniac, striking wildly at the entangled Shi Yan.

“Thwack!”

Shi Yan suddenly lashed out with a kick to Mo Zhan’s chest. His one free leg sent Mo Zhan flying five meters away.

“Boring.” Shaking his head, Shi Yan suddenly gave a sharp cry and strained his hands, breaking free. As he exerted force, the electric serpents clinging to him actually snapped inch by inch! The electric snakes dissolved into a sky full of electric sparks, shooting outward from his body in all directions.

“Watch out!” “Damn it!”

The surrounding martial artists cried out in alarm, hastily conjuring vital energy to deflect the incoming streaks of lightning.

“Good kid!” Zuo Xu slapped his armrest and praised, “I like this fellow!” Zuo Shi’s eyes shimmered with strange light. She nodded at Shi Yan, smiling faintly, “This kid’s mouth is truly venomous.”

“Big Brother!” “Patriarch! Wh-what is happening?”

The Shi family contingent, led by Shi Tie, looked toward Shi Jian in astonishment and delight.

“Nothing much. The Mo family members are just too soft,” Shi Jian replied, echoing Shi Yan’s words, and suddenly felt the air in the arena become palpably fresher.

Mo Tuo stood up, his face ashen, his gaze locked onto Mo Zhan, his breathing growing heavy.

“His eyes… I feel like I’ve seen them somewhere before…” On the Bei Ming side, Di Yalan’s pretty face showed a fleeting confusion. She paused for a long moment before murmuring softly. But no one paid attention to her self-muttering now. Everyone looked at Shi Yan strangely, their gazes following his movements.

Having shed the electric snakes, Shi Yan strolled calmly towards Mo Zhan. Mo Zhan, who had just managed to scramble to his feet, roared maniacally and lunged to attack. Just then!

Mo Zhan’s body began to twist unnaturally in that specific area, swaying wildly like a willow catkin, as if something invisible was tightly gripping him there. The more he struggled, the more bizarre his body's floating became, until both his feet gradually lifted off the ground… Behind him, it was as if an invisible demonic hand had seized his neck, hoisting him into the air.

“What’s wrong?” “I don’t know. Has Mo Zhan been beaten silly?” “Does anyone know what’s happening? Why is Mo Zhan floating? Could he be at the Heavenly Rank?” “Do you think that’s possible?” The arena erupted into renewed noise.

Shi Yan finally approached Mo Zhan with a cold expression. Without haste, he extended one hand, fingers straight as a spear, and thrust them sharply toward Mo Zhan’s knee joint.

“Crack! Crack!”

Clear sounds of shattering bone emanated from Mo Zhan’s knee.

“Crack! Crack!”

Two more cracking sounds came from Mo Zhan’s shoulders.

“Thud!”

Mo Zhan’s suspended body suddenly crashed down. He landed on his knees, forced into a full kneel before Shi Yan, his face a mask of sheer horror. His hand and leg bones were shattered. Kneeling there under the gaze of every spectator, Mo Zhan felt worse than death itself. He shrieked, “Shi Yan, I will definitely kill you! Absolutely!”

“Will you?” Shi Yan’s expression was ruthless. He reached out and clamped his hand around Mo Zhan’s neck, lifting his body into the air, holding him high. Mo Zhan’s legs were bent, and flashes of lightning emanated from his body, covering Shi Yan’s arm, yet they seemed unable to stop Shi Yan’s grip. Thus, in full view of everyone, Mo Zhan was lifted high by Shi Yan’s single hand gripping his throat—this was deliberate humiliation! Shi Yan seemed intent on ensuring everyone saw the expression on Mo Zhan’s face. He even slowly turned in a circle, allowing the martial artists at every angle around the arena to witness the look of grief, fury, and terror etched onto Mo Zhan’s features.

After completing the rotation, Shi Yan turned his head and looked toward Shi Jian from a distance. A simple, undeniable message shone in his cold eyes: Kill or spare?

The arena suddenly fell into an unnerving silence. All the martial artists stared blankly at Shi Yan, their eyes wide. Dozens of meters away, Shi Jian instantly understood the query in Shi Yan’s gaze. He was filled with overwhelming satisfaction. Under Shi Yan’s scrutiny, Shi Jian’s face darkened slightly as he gave a gentle nod.

“We concede!” Mo Tuo cried out in sheer horror, having also grasped the cold meaning in Shi Jian’s glance. “We concede! We concede!”

“Match halted!” The official at the circular stage shouted in time.

“Snap!”

An exquisitely crisp sound of breaking bone suddenly came from Mo Zhan’s neck. Mo Zhan’s head listed sickeningly backward. All the martial artists stared in horror, unable to believe what they saw: Shi Yan had just crushed Mo Zhan’s neck. The entire venue was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

In front of everyone, Shi Yan, with an expression of cold indifference, violently flung his hand out, tossing Mo Zhan’s corpse away.

“Thud.”

Mo Zhan’s body landed exactly three meters in front of Mo Tuo, his head twisted at an impossible angle, unequivocally dead. Dozens of meters away, a mocking cold smile touched Shi Yan’s lips. He swept his gaze across the faces of the Mo family members, then, without a word, turned and returned to the Shi family side, sitting down solidly.

……X