No one expected that Chen Jiuyang, who had only opened four acupoints, would reach the finals.
This was surprising.
Mu Hongyi looked at Chen Jiuyang, who had dozens of silver needles inserted in his upper body and still looked somewhat youthful, and did not rush to attack. "I admire you for reaching this stage at the age of twenty-three."
"Whether it's the Profound Realm, refining pure attribute true qi, or reaching this point on the Martial Ranking."
"Any one of these achievements would make people admire you."
Chen Jiuyang: "You are too kind."
Mu Hongyi: "It's not flattery. Although you are admirable, you are at your limit and will ultimately fall at my hands. I pity you."
"If you had opened the twelve major acupoints, even if I had stepped into the Half-step Earth Realm, I might not have been able to defeat you on this martial stage."
This was the truth, and Chen Jiuyang could not refute it.
Chen Jiuyang said, "I just want to see where my limit is, how far I can go, and leave without regret."
"A sound mindset, excellent." Mu Hongyi nodded slightly. "After today, you, Chen Jiuyang, will be famous throughout the land."
At this moment, Chen Jiuyang suddenly felt the yin and cold energies within him stirring, as if wanting to break free from his body.
Chen Jiuyang's expression lit up. The plan had succeeded, and he had finally reached this point.
"Ah!"
He could no longer suppress the yin and cold energies within him. The two energies collided with his pure yang true qi, causing Chen Jiuyang's body to convulse in pain, his face contorted, and cold sweat pouring out. He fell to the ground, screaming uncontrollably.
"Whoosh!"
This scene surprised everyone, and also made many people worry and sneer.
In the audience, Qiu Yihan's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly.
Granny Gui sighed, "It seems the injuries can no longer be suppressed. There's no need for anyone to intervene; he should be defeated now."
The limping old man frowned, "That's not right. This kid has already refined pure yang attribute true qi. Where did this yin and cold energy come from?"
Chen Jiuyang lay on the ground, with yin and cold energies surging from his body, leaving many confused and bewildered.
Granny Gui exclaimed, "Did this kid suppress his strength before? No matter where this yin and cold energy in his body came from, his strength is now declining, and he can't control this yin and cold energy. Oh no, if he's unlucky, his meridians might be damaged, hindering his future cultivation path."
Although Chen Jiuyang was in great pain, his heart was filled with joy. The yin and cold energies within him were finally being expelled.
This meant that the Yao family's Nine Yin Devouring Yang Array had been broken.
Mu Hongyi frowned, "Chen Jiuyang, your injuries can no longer be suppressed. Do you concede?"
"Concede?"
Chen Jiuyang's body was still convulsing, but he slowly got up from the ground, wisps of white mist emanating from him. He gritted his teeth and said, "If I, Chen Jiuyang, am to lose, I will be defeated. I will never concede!"
Mu Hongyi said, "Chen Jiuyang, you have already proven your talent and potential. Do not ruin your future by worsening your injuries. Conceding now is not shameful. Why insist on being stubborn?"
Chen Jiuyang's body trembled, and his face contorted as he roared, "Only by being stubborn can I see my limit! Otherwise, why would I participate in the Martial Ranking? I might as well go home and play with mud!"
"Alright!" Mu Hongyi was also moved by Chen Jiuyang's fighting spirit and determination. He cupped his fists, bowed, and said, "We are both martial artists. I apologize for insulting you earlier!"
"One move, just one move, let's decide the winner, how about it?"
Chen Jiuyang's lips curled into a not-so-pleasant smile. "Alright."
He was determined to win this Martial Ranking championship and climb to higher vistas to see!
Those alluring heights!
Mu Hongyi opened his folding fan and said loudly, "I won't take advantage of you. I'll let you make the first move!"
The audience nodded slowly. Mu Hongyi's approach was right. Chen Jiuyang was at the end of his rope and could not possibly defeat him. Since Chen Jiuyang insisted on persevering, they would give him a chance to prove himself.
Regardless of the outcome, everyone would accept it. The Confucian sect was quite principled.
"Then I apologize, I'm taking this Martial Ranking championship." Chen Jiuyang grinned, then took a deep breath, circulating all his true qi and divine soul with all his might. The veins on his forehead bulged, blood slowly flowed from his wounds, and he said word by word in a deep voice, "Instant Annihilation Martial Art—Instant Radiance!"
He slowly raised one hand, his index and middle fingers together like a sword. The true qi within him exploded outwards, converging towards his fingertips, continuously condensing and compressing, gradually forming a wisp of crimson sword energy!
"This is!"
At this moment, countless people were shocked and exclaimed, rising from their seats: "Divine Intent Skill! This is a technique that only Earth Realm Grandmasters can master!"
"How is this possible!"
"He, a mere Profound Realm cultivator, has already mastered the unique mark of an Earth Realm Grandmaster!"
"A peerless genius! What a peerless genius!"
"Oh no!"
Mu Hongyi's face turned pale. He had overestimated himself. How could this Chen Jiuyang be so monstrous? To have mastered the Divine Intent Skill at such a young age, even among Earth Realm Grandmasters, few could master such a technique.
"...Go," Chen Jiuyang smiled slightly, and the crimson sword energy on his finger shot towards Mu Hongyi.
Mu Hongyi gritted his teeth, holding his folding fan, and quickly circulated all the true qi within him, forming a protective qi shield.
"Rumble!"
The sound of a terrifying true qi explosion echoed on the martial stage.
"Bang—"
A figure was sent flying backward and fell off the stage. It was Mu Hongyi. His folding fan was smashed to pieces, and his shoulder had a charred, pierced wound.
The packed stadium, with twenty thousand seats filled, fell into deathly silence.
The next moment, a thunderous roar of cheers erupted.
"He won!"
"Chen Jiuyang wins!"
"My heavens, what did I just see!"
"Excellent, excellent! Our province has produced an extraordinary peerless genius!"
"Today, we must celebrate for Feng Province!"
On this martial stage, only the victor was remembered with cheers, and today, Chen Jiuyang was remembered by countless people!
"Ha!" After using that move, Chen Jiuyang was truly at the end of his strength and had no fighting power left.
Even the proud Qiu Yihan couldn't help but show a hint of joy on her face.
"Congratulations, Saintess! Congratulations, Saintess!"
The limping old man and Granny Gui said respectfully.
"This Chen Jiuyang has the potential to become our sect's Holy Son. He will surely reach the pinnacle in the future. Congratulations, Saintess, for discovering a peerless genius for our Holy Sect!"
If a Profound Realm cultivator at twenty-three was talented, and someone who could defeat an opponent two realms higher at twenty-three was a genius, then someone who could comprehend the Divine Intent Skill, possessed only by Earth Realm Grandmasters, at twenty-three was undoubtedly a peerless genius, one that might not be seen even once in a century.
Qiu Yihan sat in her chair, a smile on her cold, beautiful face, and said softly:
"He deserves a reward!"