At this moment on the arena, Ye Chuan stood like a dazzling star that had burst into the sky, his overwhelming dominance sending chills down the spines of everyone present.
The elite fighters from the major super martial families could only watch helplessly as Ye Chuan bulldozed through his opponents, with most clans choosing to surrender without even putting up a fight.
His godlike mastery of thunder and fire, coupled with his invincible swordsmanship, left his adversaries utterly defenseless.
One move, one instant kill—what the hell was this?! (Slams table)
Witnessing Ye Chuan’s terrifying display, the members of the various clans felt nothing but despair. "How is anyone supposed to compete with this? Huang Haotian’s strength is downright absurd. First place is undeniably his."
Many families had already given up on contending for the top spot, shifting their focus instead to third or fourth place.
The Wang family was clearly soaring, but hey, third or fourth wasn’t bad either.
Better than ending up at the bottom, right?
...
Soon, Ye Chuan found himself standing in the final round of the competition.
His last opponent in the Super Martial Assembly was none other than the Xu family, one of the most prestigious super martial clans.
Whispers rippled through the crowd.
"Huang Haotian’s power feels on par with the veteran leaders of the super martial families. Thunder, fire, and that flawless swordplay—it’s like he’s attacking from another dimension."
"Thunderfire Sword? Interesting. I wonder if the Xu family can withstand it."
"I swear, he might even be stronger than my grandfather. Could he be some ancient expert in disguise? How else could he be this terrifying?"
"Tsk... At this rate, the Xu family will probably surrender too. There’s just no chance of winning."
Shaking their heads, the spectators had already written off the Xu family.
Keep in mind, the Xu clan had once been the top contender for the championship. Yet now, not a single soul believed they stood a chance against Ye Chuan.
However, just as the other super martial families had abandoned their pursuit of first place and turned their attention to the battle for third or fourth, the Xu family made a decision that left everyone stunned.
"The Xu family does not retreat!"
Xu Nian'an, the brightest star of the Xu family’s younger generation, stepped forward. Clad in black, his posture unwavering, he faced Ye Chuan with a gaze brimming with determination and fearlessness.
"Oh?" Ye Chuan raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.
He hadn’t expected anyone to still dare challenge him under these circumstances.
Looking at Xu Nian'an, Ye Chuan shook his head. "This guy clearly doesn’t understand the situation. Every opponent so far has been knocked out in a single move."
Xu Nian'an stared intently at Ye Chuan, his eyes reflecting both reverence for his opponent’s overwhelming strength and an unyielding resolve.
Taking a deep breath, he spoke in a low, steady voice, "Brother Haotian, I know my strength is no match for yours. But among my peers, I was once undefeated. I’ve always believed myself to be exceptional."
"Your existence has shown me that there are always greater heights."
"Today, I want to test just how vast the sky truly is. I want to see the gap between myself and a real powerhouse!"
"I want to try!"
Those three simple words, spoken by Xu Nian'an, drew a collective breath from the audience below.
True courage lay in daring to challenge the strong.
"You want to try... Heh." Ye Chuan studied Xu Nian'an, stroking his chin, a hint of admiration flickering in his eyes.
"Fine. Since you have this kind of courage and resolve, I promise I won’t take your life in this duel."
Ye Chuan wasn’t joking. In his previous fights, he hadn’t even exerted much effort, yet Lei Hao and Li Gui had already been left in critical condition.
His stats were simply too high.
Every ounce of his strength had been bought with money—poured into relentless effort and sweat.
Xu Nian'an stiffened slightly, a complicated expression flashing across his face. He knew Ye Chuan wasn’t bluffing, and he could feel the sheer magnitude of his opponent’s power.
But as the pride of the Xu family’s younger generation, he had his own dignity to uphold.
After steadying himself with another deep breath, he summoned his energy. A faint breeze swirled around his legs as his aura sharpened, growing more and more fierce.
Xu Nian'an had observed Ye Chuan’s movements carefully in previous battles. He noticed that while Ye Chuan’s attacks were devastating, his speed wasn’t flawless.
Narrowing his eyes, he thought to himself, "I excel in speed. If I can seize the right moment, I might just find an opening!"
Xu Nian'an moved!
His aura erupted as he lunged forward like a coiled panther, his speed so blindingly fast it left the audience dazed.
The wind howled past his ears, and excitement gleamed in his eyes.
As he closed in, Xu Nian'an keenly noticed that Ye Chuan’s hands remained relaxed at his sides, showing no sign of preparing to attack or defend.
"Just as I thought—his speed is his weakness!" Xu Nian'an inwardly cheered.
But just as triumph surged through him, Ye Chuan merely smirked. He lifted his foot slightly, his movement appearing slow yet carrying an undeniable weight—then stomped down hard!
"Second-tier magic—Gravity Field."
Ye Chuan’s voice was calm and low, but as he spoke, an invisible force radiated outward from him, spreading rapidly.
The next instant, Xu Nian'an’s pupils shrank. His elation vanished, replaced by sheer horror.
It felt as if hundreds of pounds had suddenly crushed down on his body. Every inch of his skin groaned under the pressure. His once lightning-fast movements slowed to a crawl, his feet rooted to the ground as if nailed in place.
"W-What is this?!" Xu Nian'an gasped, his mouth hanging open in disbelief.
He struggled against the unseen force, but it was futile. The weight only intensified, his legs trembling until, under the unbearable pressure, he slowly sank to his knees.
"I said I’d spare your life," Ye Chuan looked down at the kneeling Xu Nian'an, his voice laced with amusement yet carrying an unshakable authority,
"But that doesn’t mean you get a chance to strike."
With those words, a massive fireball materialized in Ye Chuan’s palm. The searing flames danced in his hand, their scorching heat licking at Xu Nian'an’s face.
"Take this hit. If you don’t fall, you win."
Ye Chuan hurled the fireball forward without hesitation.
Xu Nian'an clenched his teeth as the blazing sphere grew larger in his vision.
"I’ll endure it!"
BOOM!
A deafening explosion erupted as the fireball detonated against Xu Nian'an’s body, its destructive fury consuming everything in its path.