The crowd below grew larger and larger, everyone watching in disbelief at the scene unfolding before them!
Dan Wulan and Dan Wuque had already defeated their opponents and stepped down from the Ascension Platform, only to witness the unbelievable sight!
Atop the arena, a figure in a white robe embroidered with begonias, hair wild and unrestrained, sleeves fluttering, struck with a sword at twelve people!
"The terrifying fluctuations of Spiritual Energy on the platform must have reached the Peak Refining Void stage!!"
"How could he possibly possess such terrifying combat power?!"
"Could this mean... Elder Su's combat power can actually touch the Peak Refining Void?!!"
"It's hard to say. Elder Su reaching the combat power of Peak Refining Void might be due to the enhancement from the Qingping Sword. However..."
"Does this mean that Elder Su is the foremost cultivator below the Peak Refining Void?!"
Gasps of astonishment rippled through the crowd!
The noisy discussions spread wildly around the area like a tidal wave!
At this moment, in the tenth competition zone, this particular arena had undoubtedly become the most eye-catching place within the entire Ascension Platform!
Su Bei, battling twelve people on his own, was utterly fearless. The two sides seemed locked in an evenly matched contest!
BOOM!!
High on the platform, the Sacred Land elders watched gravely, Wang Tong's eyes filled with disbelief at the execution of Sword One!
It was Sword One from the Sword Sect's own Sword Scripture!
Wenren Pingxin took a deep breath, her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but a thousand words died on her tongue. Her delicate fingers clenched tightly, her eyes filled with tension as she watched the arena!
This Su Bei can actually cultivate the Sword Scripture to such a degree!
Truly worthy of being the Sword Sect's Supreme Method, the Sword Scripture! Yumen Du squinted, gazing at the sky filled with vast purple Sword Qi, muttering to himself.
CLANG—
Just as Yumen Du's voice fell, the stalemate on the platform was finally broken!
The purple Sword Qi intertwined with the twelve streams of light in the sky, and the ground beneath the arena cracked, fissures spreading across its surface!
SWISH!
The purple Sword Qi surged magnificently!
In that instant, all the azure lotuses converged and vanished. Not a single flower remained, only Sword One, spanning the world!
At this moment, the waves stilled, the great winds ceased, and the clouds hung motionless!
—Time itself seemed to freeze!—
The only existence in the world was this one sword.
And only this one sword.
Sword One, profound and unyielding!
The world seemed to lose its color, leaving only black and white. Within this monochrome expanse, only Su Bei and those twelve individuals retained their vivid hues!
SPURT!
Twelve jets of blood sprayed out instantly as the twelve figures were sent flying backward, gliding a great distance across the Ascension Platform.
The dust settling slowly revealed Su Bei leaning on his sword, his feet carving deep grooves into the arena floor as he slid backward. He had nearly split the entire platform in two, the scar left by the Qingping Sword deeply branded onto its surface.
SPURT!!
A mouthful of blood erupted from him, staining his white robe with crimson spots like plum blossoms.
Su Bei took a deep breath, wiped the corner of his mouth, a hint of eagerness in his eyes!
His internal organs were violently shaken by the terrifying impact, his heartbeat accelerating.
RUSTLE—
The twelve men rose to their feet, their gazes fixed gravely on the man before them.
Finally, the elder in the green robe spoke, his voice hoarse, "Elder Su, I, Lin Mo, admire your strength!
"I, Lin Mo, admit that no one on this stage could withstand a single sword strike from you!
"But... this is, after all, the Ascension Platform. All the Sacred Lands, everyone in the world, is watching.
"I, Lin Mo, also cannot concede. The twelve of us, even if we have to wear you down, can exhaust you!"
"..."
One by one, the figures calmed their chaotic Spiritual Energy. Their eyes were heavy as they looked at the man before them. They took up their weapons once more, their eyes filled with respect and solemnity!
Twelve streams of Refining Void Spiritual Energy instantly permeated the heavens and earth!
Each aura was characteristic of those at the pinnacle of the hundred Great Sects across the Twenty-One Provinces.
Below the stage, Dan Wulan bit her lip tightly, her delicate hands clenched, watching the scene before her with misty eyes.
In the Sword Sect's residence, Wenren Pingxin and the other Sword Sect Disciples were speechless, silently watching the figure in the white robe atop the high platform.
No one jeered at Su Bei. At this moment, no one dared call Su Bei arrogant!!!
On the Elder's Platform, the Sacred Land elders took a deep breath. Finally, a Peak of Dao Integration elder sighed at length and said leisurely, "One man fighting twelve of the same realm to a standstill!
"This Su Bei, even if he is defeated, this battle will likely be recorded in the annals of history..."
Ji Nanjue's eyes flickered, and she bit her lip.
Wang Tong remained silent, his gaze dark as he watched Su Bei on the stage.
Everyone watched this scene with somber expressions. After a long while, the murmuring discussions inevitably rose once more:
"Elder Su is probably going to lose!!"
"Yes, just as Elder Lin said. Though Elder Su's power can withstand their joint efforts, he is ultimately alone. He will sooner or later be exhausted of strength and Spiritual Energy..."
"They don't need to use their full strength, but Elder Su has to go all out with every sword strike!"
"Even so, Elder Su has more than enough reason to be proud!"
"The foremost cultivator below the Peak Refining Void!!"
"..."
Atop the arena, Su Bei looked at the twelve people before him with a calm expression.
「The night was like ink.」
It slowly enveloped the land. Fresh blood continued to flow from the corner of Su Bei's mouth. The night wind drifted past, carrying a faint scent of blood.