193: Round-robin begins

The grouping was complete, and ten Profound Iron Arenas lit up simultaneously, with the first round's match list instantly projected upon them!

"Group Seven, Arena One, Match One: Yao Delong (Luoxia Peak) versus Sun Hai (Spirit Plant Peak)!"

Following the Elder referee's announcement, Yao Delong shifted slightly, appearing in the center of Arena One as if he had teleported. His white robes were as pristine as snow, and he looked calm and composed.

His opponent, Sun Hai, a Disciple from Spirit Plant Peak at the Early Golden Core Stage, leaped onto the arena with a bitter expression.

He had naturally heard of Yao Delong's formidable reputation, but now that the arrow was on the bowstring, he had no choice but to fire.

"Senior Brother Yao, please offer your guidance!"

Sun Hai took a deep breath, his hands forming incantations. Green light radiated from his body as countless tough vines burst from the ground, winding toward Yao Delong like spirit snakes in an attempt to restrict his movement.

Yao Delong did not even look at him, simply taking a calm step forward.

Hum—!

An invisible, vast, and terrifying will, like the descent of heavenly might, suddenly descended!

The space of the entire arena seemed to freeze instantly, becoming thousands of times heavier!

The air became as thick as mercury!

Those fiercely dancing and winding vines, when still several feet away from Yao Delong's body, were like they had crashed into an invisible wall of sighs composed of billions of Sword Qi!

They instantly froze in mid-air, unable to advance even an inch!

The green spiritual light flowing on the vines flickered frantically, emitting an unbearable "creaking" sound, as if they were about to shatter into pieces the next moment!

The Battle Intent on Sun Hai's face instantly turned into extreme shock and fear!

He only felt as if he had been thrown into ten-thousand-year black ice, or as if he were carrying an ancient sacred mountain on his back!

His spiritual power circulation completely stalled, and even breathing became incredibly difficult.

His much-prized plant control technique was as fragile as a child's toy in the face of this absolute power!

"I... I concede!" Sun Hai's face was deathly pale as he shouted with all his might, his voice distorted and warped by the extreme pressure.

The Elder referee immediately announced: "Yao Delong wins!"

The entire process took less than a single breath! Yao Delong had not even made a move!

"Whoa—!"

The stands were in an uproar!

Although they had expected it, witnessing the power of the legendary "Sword Domain" with their own eyes still left countless Disciples shaken to their cores!

"Sword Domain! It really is a Sword Domain!"

"Too terrifying! Just the pressure alone left an Early Golden Core Stage cultivator with no power to resist!"

"How is one supposed to fight this? Below the Late Golden Core Stage, I fear they don't even qualify to make him take action!"

In the stands, Liu Rumei and Luo Miaomiao excitedly waved their little hands, their pretty faces flushed red: "Martial Uncle Yao (Brother Delong) is so amazing!" Their crisp cheers were exceptionally pleasant amidst the crowd.

Not far away, Lin Shishi's cold, clear eyes were filled with shock and disbelief: "Sword Domain... Senior Brother Yao has actually already comprehended a Sword Domain!"

She knew deeply what a Sword Domain meant; it was a Realm that countless Sword Cultivators pursued their entire lives but could never attain! For Yao Delong to have mastered it while in the Golden Core Realm, his talent for the Dao of the sword was simply shocking and world-defying!

Xiao Huohuo was even more excited, slapping his thigh hard: "My goodness! A Sword Domain! Although I practice the blade, this kind of 'momentum,' this feeling of controlling heaven and earth... it's too domineering! I, Xiao Huohuo, am definitely going to cling to Senior Brother Yao's thigh!"

On the high platform, Sect Head White Cloud Master nodded slightly, his eyes revealing undisguised approval: "This child has already grasped the true essence of the Dao of the sword."

Dan Chenzi, Dan Chenzi, stroked his beard and smiled: "His Foundation is solid, his will is refined; such a Sword Domain is a natural result."

Chiyan Peak Master, Fairy Ji Yanshuang, stared at Yao Delong with burning beautiful eyes, making no effort to hide her appreciation: "This kid! This old lady likes him more the more I look at him! Within this Sword Domain, there is actually a faint trace of the Pure Yang true essence that can burn everything to ashes! Without Late Golden Core Stage cultivation and a powerful Divine Soul and will, one doesn't even have the qualification to stand before him!"

In the following matches, Yao Delong's opponents were all Disciples at the Middle or Early Golden Core Stage. The results were without suspense.

"Group Seven, Arena One, Match Three: Yao Delong wins!" (Opponent was Middle Golden Core Stage; under the pressure of the Sword Domain, they conceded after holding on for three breaths.)

"Group Seven, Arena One, Match Five: Yao Delong wins!" (Opponent was Early Golden Core Stage; upon getting on the arena, they were pressed by the Sword Domain until they could not move and conceded immediately.)

"Group Seven, Arena One, Match Seven: Yao Delong wins!" (Opponent was Middle Golden Core Stage; they brought out a defensive Magic Treasure and struggled bitterly in the Sword Domain for five breaths before the Magic Treasure's spiritual light dimmed, and they voluntarily conceded.)

Yao Delong was like a walking blazing sun; wherever he went, his opponents were swept away like grass before the wind. He never truly made a move, relying solely on the vast and abyssal pressure of his Sword Domain to sweep along the way, his points accumulating rapidly.

Finally, the Group Seven round-robin tournament reached its middle stage.

"Group Seven, Arena One, Match Eleven: Yao Delong (Luoxia Peak) versus Wu Feng (Spirit Forging Peak)!"

What was meant to come had finally arrived. Upon hearing his name, Wu Feng's burly body trembled violently, and his face instantly turned deathly pale.

He took a few deep breaths, forcing down the fear in his heart, and bit the bullet, stepping onto the arena heavily, step by step. Each step felt as if he were treading on the tip of a blade.

He looked at the calm-as-water white-robed figure opposite him, his eyes infinitely complex—filled with fear, regret, and even a trace of unwilling stubbornness.

"Yao... Senior Brother Yao." Wu Feng's voice was somewhat dry. He cupped his fists, trying hard to straighten his back. "Please... please offer your guidance!"

He had made up his mind: even if he lost, he would lose with dignity! He absolutely could not be like those people before, who conceded without even having the courage to make a move!

Yao Delong looked at the burly man before him, who had provoked him many times in the past, yet was now so nervous that his muscles were trembling slightly, his eyes calm and waveless.

He naturally remembered Wu Feng's actions, but those provocations seemed so childish and ridiculous in the face of Meng Bi's two lethal ambushes. This Wu Feng, though reckless, combative, and narrow-minded, still acted openly and had not been as sinister and vicious as Meng Bi, who had wanted to put him to death.

"Make your move." Yao Delong spoke indifferently, still with no intention of taking out his weapon.

Upon hearing this, a flash of determination crossed Wu Feng's eyes! He knew this was his only chance!

"Roar—!"

He let out a beast-like roar, his muscles instantly bulging, and blue veins like coiled dragons popped up beneath his bronze-colored skin!

His Middle Golden Core Stage spiritual power erupted without reservation, and earthy-yellow light condensed into a thick layer of rock armor on his body!

He gripped a massive mountain-splitting hammer that shimmered with a cold metallic light with both hands; it was the very technique he was proud of, the Spirit Forging Peak's ultimate art—the Mountain-Shaking Hammer Technique!

"Earth-Splitting, Mountain-Collapsing!" Wu Feng poured all his fear, unwillingness, and even a trace of regret into this hammer strike!

The massive mountain-splitting hammer brought with it a terrifying shriek that tore through the air. Earthy-yellow spiritual power gathered frantically, condensing into a massive, incomparably solid hammer phantom that seemed capable of shattering mountains, and with the momentum of Mount Tai pressing down, it smashed directly toward Yao Delong's head!

This strike condensed everything he had learned in his life, and its power far exceeded his performance when fighting other Disciples previously!