Ye Qing, how did you do that?

"Nephew-disciple Ye Qing!"

On the viewing platform of Luoxia Peak, Liu Ruyan shot to her feet, her beautiful face etched with anxiety and worry.

She also did not have high hopes for Ye Qing.

Golden Core First Layer versus Golden Core Third Layer—there was simply no contest!

She didn't know what exactly had transpired between the two, but she had only one thought in her heart: she absolutely must not let Zhao Qian harm Ye Qing in the slightest!

"Whoosh!"

Liu Ruyan could no longer remain seated. Her figure shot forth, transforming into a streak of light as she urgently flew towards the combat circle in the sky.

The Second Layer of Golden Core cultivation within her body operated without the slightest reservation.

At this moment, Liu Ruyan only hated that her own strength was insufficient.

If she also had Golden Core Third Layer cultivation, she could seize this opportunity to help Ye Qing together, kill this Zhao Qian first, and give him a harsh lesson!

On the other side, on the highest viewing platform.

Sect Master Lu Changhe furrowed his brows slightly.

He had originally intended to speak up and stop this farce. Fellow disciples harming each other, especially on an occasion like the Sect Grand Competition—what kind of spectacle was this!?

But just as he was about to speak, his heart suddenly stirred.

A thought emerged uncontrollably.

"Wait..."

Lu Changhe's gaze fell once more upon Ye Qing's tall and straight figure.

Lin Xueer and Su Chan, two individuals who were previously completely unknown.

In Ye Qing's hands for just three short months, they had undergone a complete transformation, both possessing the terrifying combat power to challenge beyond their Realms, rivaling prodigies on the hidden dragon ranking list.

Then... as their Revered Master, the very person who single-handedly created this "one sect, two prodigies" miracle, Ye Qing himself.

What kind of scene would his true strength present?

Was he really just an ordinary, run-of-the-mill Golden Core First Layer Cultivator?

Once this thought arose, it could no longer be suppressed.

A flash of sharp light gleamed in Lu Changhe's eyes, and the words on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back.

He decided to wait and see a little longer.

To see just how much more surprise this young man could bring him!

After all, with him, the Nascent Soul Late Stage Sect Master, present here.

Even if the worst outcome occurred.

If Ye Qing proved no match for Zhao Qian, he was confident he could intervene in an instant to preserve Ye Qing's life.

Lu Changhe guaranteed that Ye Qing would not suffer the slightest harm today!

...High in the sky, Zhao Qian, who was confronting Ye Qing, sneered coldly at this moment, feeling utter disdain in his heart for Ye Qing's overestimation of his own abilities.

"Overestimating your own strength!"

He snorted coldly in his heart.

Yes, I admit your skill in teaching disciples is heaven-defying! One sect producing two prodigies is indeed incredibly, unfathomably impressive!

But so what?

You, Ye Qing, are ultimately just a junior at the Golden Core First Layer! And I, Zhao Qian, am at the Golden Core Third Layer! And I could break through to the Fourth Layer of Golden Core at any moment!

In the Golden Core Realm, a difference of one layer is the difference between heaven and earth! What do you have to fight me with?

Harboring killing intent towards me, wanting to kill me? What a ridiculous joke!

Zhao Qian's eyes flickered. If this weren't the Taiyi Sect, with the Sect Master and so many fellow disciples watching.

Zhao Qian would even be inclined to go for the kill right now, to execute Ye Qing on the spot!

But now... this is fine too!

Since you are the one who provoked me, who publicly revealed killing intent towards me, then I will 'accidentally' severely injure you!

When the time comes, even if the Sect Master questions me, I'll have something to say!

Once this thought formed, a fierce glint exploded in Zhao Qian's eyes!

"Ye Qing! Since you're seeking death, I'll grant your wish!"

He decided to strike first to gain the upper hand. With an angry roar, the magic power within his body erupted like a volcano!

"Fiendfire Divine Palm!"

Boom!

A massive palm imprint, condensed from crimson true essence and carrying a dense fiendfire aura.

Descended towards Ye Qing, blotting out the sky and sun!

Wherever the palm imprint passed, the air sizzled as if being scorched, faintly seeming to distort.

The sheer force was utterly terrifying!

"Not good!"

Liu Ruyan, who was rushing over at high speed, saw this and turned pale with fright. Without thinking, she prepared to intercept.

But she knew in her heart that she was, after all, only at the Second Layer of Golden Core, a minor Realm below Zhao Qian.

Even if she exerted her full strength, she feared she could only weaken this palm's power by thirty or forty percent. The remaining portion would still be something Ye Qing couldn't withstand!

However, before she could even make a move.

The next moment!

A sudden change occurred!

Facing that seemingly world-destroying palm, Ye Qing's expression remained calm. He didn't even bat an eyelid.

He merely... formed his fingers into a sword and gave a light flick towards the massive crimson palm imprint.

"Clang——!"

A clear, melodious sword cry resounded through the heavens!

The sound wasn't loud, but it seemed to carry a Soul-piercing magic, causing the hearts and minds of every Golden Core Realm Cultivator present to tremble violently!

Immediately after, an exceedingly brilliant azure sword light burst forth from Ye Qing's fingertip!

That sword light seemed ordinary and unremarkable at first glance, lacking any earth-shattering imposing manner.

But it seemed to contain some fundamental principle of heaven and earth, moving so fast it surpassed the visual and even Divine Thought perception limits of the vast majority of people present!

Rip!

A soft sound, like cloth being torn.

The sky-blotting crimson palm imprint, before this azure sword light, was as fragile as a thin sheet of paper.

It was effortlessly split cleanly in two!

Then, the sword light continued its momentum unabated, flashing past and disappearing!

"Pfft——!"

In the air, a figure was struck as if by lightning, spewing blood wildly. Like a kite with its string cut, the entire person was sent flying backwards heavily from high in the sky!

All of this happened in an instant.

"Junior Brother Ye Qing!"

Liu Ruyan's heart tightened. She cried out instinctively, thinking the injured person sent flying was Ye Qing.

But when she focused her eyes and saw clearly, she froze for a moment.

Because the figure vomiting blood and being sent flying was wearing the robes of a Danxia Peak Elder... it was unmistakably... Zhao Qian?!

The entire arena fell silent for a moment!

Everyone was stunned dumbfounded by this unbelievable scene!

What happened?

Just now... what exactly happened?

The Peak Revered Masters and Elders with profound cultivation had their pupils contract violently at this moment, their faces filled with incredulous shock!

They had seen it clearly!

They had seen it perfectly clearly!

Just at the moment Ye Qing's sword strike was unleashed, just as that azure sword light was about to pierce Zhao Qian's heart.

A formidable barrier of magic power abruptly appeared in front of Zhao Qian!

It was Danxia Peak's Peak Revered Master, Li Cangyun, who had suddenly sensed something amiss and instantly made a move!

That magic power barrier blocked at least seventy percent of the sword light's power for Zhao Qian!

Yet even so, the remaining residual force still severely wounded Zhao Qian, who was at the Golden Core Third Layer!

What did this mean?

It meant that if not for Peak Revered Master Li Cangyun of Danxia Peak's instantaneous rescue.

Zhao Qian... under that sword strike just now, would likely have already been... annihilated, body and Soul!

One sword strike!

Instantly killing a Golden Core Third Layer Cultivator?!

But in everyone's eyes, Ye Qing only had the cultivation of the Golden Core First Layer.

How on earth did he manage to inflict such damage?