```

Whoosh—

With a sweep of the Yang Light Sword, Zhu Yunwu’s one wing was severed and fell to the ground as blood gushed out!

"Huh huh huh—" Zhu Yunwu’s eyes were bloodshot, and his handsome face was twisted. After hundreds of rounds of combat, he had fully realized that he was no match for his opponent on his own.

Since that was the case, he had no choice but to use the Essence Blood bestowed by his Master.

As Zhu Yunwu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, he swallowed a drop of Essence Blood.

This was Zhu Tian’s Essence Blood, extremely precious, capable of allowing Zhu Yunwu to exhibit the power of the Nascent Soul Stage while in the Golden Core Stage!

An endless stream of power surged from within his body, the wounds eroded by Sword Qi hissed and smoked and healed swiftly, and a new wing grew in place of the lost one.

"Again!"

Zhu Yunwu took the initiative to attack, charging at Lu Yang.

"Stepping Heaven Technique!"

Lu Yang hadn’t anticipated that Zhu Yunwu’s attack this time would be so swift. He held the Yang Light Sword across his chest to block the hit and took several steps back to dissipate the force.

The two were once more entangled in combat but, unlike before, Lu Yang could clearly feel that Zhu Yunwu was much stronger than earlier.

Lu Yang somewhat missed the finals held in Great Xia; if someone cheated, you could report them to the referee and get them disqualified. But not this time. This time’s referee was on their side, and reporting was pointless.

Zhu Yunwu’s strikes were forceful and powerful. Lu Yang switched from offense to defense, constantly neutralizing Zhu Yunwu’s fierce attacks.

The Defense Technique.

This was a sword technique Lu Yang rarely used. He always believed that the best defense was offense. But this situation was unusual; unless he performed Intercourse Cultivation, going head-to-head with the current Zhu Yunwu was asking for trouble.

Zhu Yunwu strode through the skies, leaping high, his hind hooves gathering strength and his forehooves smashing down fiercely towards Lu Yang.

Lu Yang had anticipated this and dodged in advance, causing Zhu Yunwu to miss his target.

Zhu Yunwu twisted his body mid-air, altering his direction, and once again charged at Lu Yang.

Clang.

The Yang Light Sword was knocked away, landing in the distance.

"Without your sword, let’s see how you fight!" Zhu Yunwu sneered confidently.

Zhu Tian also breathed a sigh of relief. Despite some twists and turns, winning was all that mattered.

Qin Feng and the others cheered, seeing the downfall of Young Sect Master Lu.

"I thought this Lu fellow had some real ability, but it seems he’s just this much."

"I was worried for Brother Yunwu for a moment there. My concerns were unfounded."

"Exactly, how could Brother Yunwu lose?"

Lu Yang looked at his Yang Light Sword that was knocked away and scratched his head with some difficulty.

Picking it up was out of the question. Zhu Yunwu wouldn’t give him that chance.

To select another sword from the remaining six and continue a war of attrition?

Forget it, listen to the Invincible Elixir instead.

Lu Yang sighed, admitting the method of the Invincible Elixir was better.

He took out an Elixir and swallowed it, and a warm current gathered in his Dantian.

𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

...

The Seventh Elder uttered a light "Huh" from below the stage: "This Elixir..."

"Do you recognize it, Elder Seven?" the Fifth Elder communicated telepathically.

"I refined this Revitalizing Pill for Lu Yang."

"It sounds like an Elixir that restores spiritual essence."

"It is an Elixir that restores spiritual essence. This lad has a move that is absolutely invincible among his peers. Even I, reduced to the Golden Core Stage, couldn’t bear it—it just consumes too much spiritual essence, so I specially refined this Elixir for him."

"What kind of technique?"

The Seventh Elder chuckled, but did not answer.

...

"Die!" Zhu Yunwu shouted, as his four wings flapped, executing the Stepping Heaven Soul-Severing, blocking off all escape routes.

Lu Yang took two steps back, his right hand flipped, and immediately the weather changed dramatically. Dark clouds tumbled, and the space on the ninth level of the Heavenly Altar seemed to freeze, slowing Zhu Yunwu’s speed tremendously.

He felt as though he was no longer surrounded by air but by water, or rather something even more viscous than water, which hindered his movements.

"Look, what’s that?"

Qin Feng shouted in astonishment, staring blankly at the sky.

```

A colossal hand pierced through the dark clouds, pressing down in a slow yet inevitable and inescapable descent.

It didn’t feel like the hand struck the Heavenly Altar, but rather his very own body, filling him with a sense of powerlessness.

"Universe in Palm!" Zhu Tian recognized the move instantly, his eyes filled with disbelief as he watched the scene unfold, his Lingtai blanking out for a moment.

What sort of joke was this? Even if it was countless times smaller than the true Universe in Palm, it was still a technique that could only be used by those at the Transcendance Tribulation Stage. How could it be possible for someone at the Golden Core Stage to execute it?!

How terrifying must the opponent’s magical talent be?

Yet the reality was right before his eyes, whether he believed it or not.

Executing a move theoretically impossible at the Golden Core Stage meant that no one at that stage could withstand it!

The major powers couldn’t stay seated any longer, as this move had overturned their understanding.

They saw it clearly, Young Sect Master Lu had consumed an elixir to restore spiritual essence, not to temporarily boost his combat strength.

In other words, this was his true level of power.

Unbeatable at the Golden Core Stage.

This move was a true space-class Great Divine Skill, capable of sealing the space beneath the palm, which was why Zhu Yunwu couldn’t move.

With a thunderous boom—

A lone hand covering the skies, sealing the space, placed itself over the Heavenly Altar.

Gulp.

Upon witnessing this display, Qin Feng and the others struggled to swallow, stunned by the overwhelming power demonstrated by the move. If Zhu Yunwu was the idol chased by the geniuses of the Demon Clan Alliance, this move represented a peak of despair so high that it extinguished even the thought of pursuit in their hearts.

It was just too hopeless.

Kong Hao, who had once faced Young Sect Master Lu in combat and fell into a disadvantageous position, had used Taozhu’s power and was penalized by the judge.

"Mr. Ji, can I withstand this move?"

"I advise you to start learning the art of Possess right away to prevent joining me in death."

The five Elders whispered in secret discussion upon seeing this.

"Isn’t this almost on par with Martial Nephew Yun’s level during his Golden Core Stage?"

"About even."

The giant hand vanished, smoke and dust swirling around, obscuring the situation at the Heavenly Altar, which was protected by an Array Method that prevented the use of Spiritual Sense to peer through.

"Is Zhu Yunwu dead or alive?"

"He’s moving, he’s still alive!"

At first, everyone wondered who between the two would emerge victorious from the battle.

But after the Universe in Palm was executed, they only wanted to know whether Zhu Yunwu was dead or alive.

Being alive was already more than enough.

"Surprised? I’m still alive."

His wings trembled, dispersing the dust and smoke, and Zhu Yunwu appeared surprisingly vibrant, his injuries lighter than anyone had imagined.

"You’ve broken through to the Nascent Soul Stage?"

Lu Yang had a strong control over the battlefield. He noticed that after executing Village in the Palm, a distinct force erupted from Zhu Yunwu’s location, neutralizing most of the attack.

This was a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Stage.

"You have some insight."

Zhu Yunwu’s words were harsh, but deep down he was frightened beyond belief.

Had it not been for a breakthrough amidst a life-or-death crisis, he might have perished under that palm.

With how cold-blooded his master was, his life or death would hardly be of concern.

"So, what now? Let’s see how you plan to fight!"

Zhu Yunwu once again took the initiative, the previous move having drained the opponent of spiritual essence, reducing him to a bow at the end of its strength and no longer a threat. He would certainly not give the opponent a chance to consume an elixir.

In contrast, he himself, having broken through amidst battle, was brimming with spiritual essence.

A reversal of power.

"Heh."

Lu Yang couldn’t help but shake his head and chuckle.

"What are you laughing at?" Zhu Yunwu asked, displeased.

Lu Yang slowly raised his head, his gaze piercing as if it could see through the hearts of men, making Zhu Yunwu feel uneasy.

"You don’t really think you’re the only one who can break through to the Nascent Soul Stage, do you?"