The fish possessed thick, tightly-packed scales of cyan and gold. Its tail fin, as soft as silk, sliced through the frozen clouds. In its mouth, it held a crystal-clear pearl, its surface adorned with hazy patterns, radiating immense pressure.
Everyone looked up at the sky, their hearts filled with awe.
A fish leaping into the sea, yet this was no ordinary fish.
This was undeniably a dragon-fish.
Yan Yu sensed the pressure emanating from the sky, his expression turning grim. His sword intent was withdrawn, his senses amplified to their absolute limit, awaiting the dragon-fish to enter striking range.
"It's over. He can't possibly withstand this move."
The Patriarch of the Dongfang clan spoke, his tone brimming with absolute confidence, as if Yan Yu were already dead.
Hearing his words, the other elders of the Dongfang clan suddenly remembered something, their eyes widening in realization as they exclaimed:
"He received the Dragon God's blessing from the ancestral statue!"
"No wonder! I was wondering why the pearl held in that fish's mouth looked so familiar. It turns out he's already received the blessing of the Carp Dragon God, and that pearl has transformed into a Dragon Pearl!"
On the other side, elders from other families shook their heads, lamenting for Yan Yu. "What a shame. I never expected Dongfang Yu Chu to be so cunning. Under the Dragon God's blessing, he can use a fifth-stage ability. This Yan Yu is in for it now!"
"What!" Upon hearing this, hundreds of thousands of clan cultivators above the clouds were shocked. Many of them didn't understand what this Dragon God's blessing entailed. But after the previous person's explanation, everyone now knew that this move by Dongfang Yu Chu was an ability that only a fifth-stage Domain Lord could use.
In a second-stage battle, using a fifth-stage ability would undoubtedly crush the enemy. Even if Zuo Mingqiu or Chen Changkong were here, they would have to retreat.
No one believed Yan Yu would win. And even if he lost, no one would mock him, because Dongfang Yu Chu had already revealed the strength to contend for a Supreme seat.
But what no one expected was that, facing this colossal, hundred-zhang dragon-fish, Yan Yu did not choose to yield.
He chose to unleash a sword strike towards the sky.
Yan Yu brought his two fingers together, all the acupoints in his body opening. The latent abilities within his Golden Core were surging, as if they would erupt from his body at any moment.
The instant the dragon-fish entered Yan Yu's perception range, he dragged his Dao Sword from the ground upwards, cleaving a sword light potent enough to shatter mountains and rivers.
"Go!"
With a single strike, the sword qi surged like a celestial rainbow. The ascension stirred up countless waves. Even after the waves had spread for thousands of kilometers, the sharp sword intent contained within the air could still bisect the gushing water of the Jade Pond.
It was as if the water were suspended in mid-air.
Chen Changkong gripped his sword with both hands, holding it before him. Sensing the pervasive mist-like sword intent surrounding him, and gazing at the sword light that threatened to split the azure sky in two, a brilliant gleam suddenly erupted in his eyes.
Because he knew that in the realm of the sword, he had finally found an opponent of his own age. That person was Yan Yu.
And the outcome of this match, he no longer needed to contemplate. Yan Yu would surely win.
For how could someone he considered an opponent lose to Dongfang Yu Chu? Even if Dongfang Yu Chu could unleash a fifth-stage ability, so what?
No matter how exquisite your myriad Dao techniques, I shall cleave them with a single sword.
If one sword is not enough, then two.
But Yan Yu only unleashed one strike. The moment the sword light met the dragon-fish, he remained motionless, standing rooted to the spot, without any further action.
Xu Mu knew this meant he had won.
"—Crack!"
The dragon-fish’s body was cleaved in two by the sword light. Its tough, dense scales were shattered by the radiating sword qi, and the vast expanse of ice-bound clouds were also dispersed, becoming light, mist-like particles suspended in the air.
"RUMBLE GRRRRRR!!!!"
In a violent explosion, the dragon-fish's body and the sword light simultaneously vanished in the sky seven thousand meters high, turning into dust and smoke, merging with the wind.
"Impossible!"
Dongfang Yu Chu roared hysterically, unable to believe what was happening before his eyes. His ultimate trump card had been shattered by Yan Yu's single sword strike, without even getting a chance to fall onto the battle platform!
"This is impossible, it can't be real!" Outside, Dongfang Jingyi cried out in disbelief. She couldn't comprehend how that dragon-fish had been so easily shattered by Yan Yu, whom she had looked down upon, with just one sword strike!
"Who is that brat!"
Gazing at Yan Yu on the battle platform, his eyes like agate blue gems, and recalling the sword light that had just flashed, capable of shattering the very heavens, their curiosity about Yan Yu's identity reached its zenith.
"I will kill you!" Within the Jade Pond Immortal Realm, Dongfang Yu Chu, unable to contain his rage and fear, roared and ignited the Yin element abilities within his body.
His eyes turned ashen white, as if accumulating some more formidable ability, intent on a mutual destruction with Yan Yu.
But before he could make any further move, Yan Yu's Dao Sword had already pierced through his soft armor and plunged into his chest.
"Puchi—!"
His chest pierced by the Dao Sword, Dongfang Yu Chu's charge-up was interrupted. He spat out several mouthfuls of blood, his head lowering with unwillingness. He looked at the sword in his chest, his eyes filled with a hint of confusion.
When did this sword get here?
"There is no fourth move."
Yan Yu spoke, his two fingers together, controlling the Dao Sword to pull out of Dongfang Yu Chu's body and instantly return to his hand.
His expression was calm, for it was only natural. He had promised to let Dongfang Yu Chu have three moves before the battle, and that was precisely three moves, no more, no less.
And now, the three moves were over, and he no longer needed to wait for the opponent to gather his strength.
"So fast..." Dongfang Yu Chu was stunned. A trace of realization, mingled with bitter sorrow, appeared on his pale face.
So, Yan Yu's promise of three moves truly meant he would only get three moves, not a deliberate taunt, but a statement of fact.
So, the opponent had always possessed the ability to interrupt, or even instantly kill him, but had refrained from doing so out of adherence to his promise.
Dongfang Yu Chu's expression was vacant. Like the dragon-fish shattered by the sword light, his Dao heart had cracked.
As a genius of the Dongfang clan, who harbored ambitions to ascend to the pinnacle of all races and become a Supreme, he had fallen in the top thirty-two, eliminated by an unknown swordsman.
This swordsman had not used his full strength, had even given him three moves, and if he hadn't given those moves, perhaps his dragon-fish would never have had the chance to emerge from the sea of clouds in the first place.
In other words, he would have been instantly killed.
With such a record, what right did he have to be called a prodigy of the Dongfang family, or to covet the highest pinnacle of the Supreme?
"I lost."
Dongfang Yu Chu chuckled bitterly, crushing the jade slip. He then knelt on the ground, spitting blood, his consciousness rapidly fading.
But in his daze, he still raised his head with great unwillingness and stared at Yan Yu, asking, "Can you tell me, what was the name of your final sword strike?"
Yan Yu pondered for a moment, then replied earnestly, "Fish Slayer."
"Fish Slayer..." Dongfang Yu Chu, upon hearing the name, couldn't help but cough up several more mouthfuls of blood, chuckling mockingly. "Why not Dragon Slayer? That fish would have become a dragon someday."
Yan Yu heard this and calmly replied, "Then, when it becomes a dragon, I will rename the technique to Dragon Slayer."
The implication was clear: I can slay you, no matter what you become, now or in the future.
And so, heaven and earth fell silent. Everyone's expressions were incredibly varied, all of them subdued by Yan Yu.
Even Xu Mu below the stage couldn't help but click his tongue and exclaim, "Senior Brother Yan Yu is far too arrogant."
"But, it's quite cool!"
"Cough cough—"
Upon hearing this reply, Dongfang Yu Chu's emotions flared, and a wave of stabbing pain emanated from his chest. The gaping wound was filled with frost and sword qi, incessantly eroding his internal organs, significantly diminishing the healing effect of the pills.
At this moment, a divine radiance descended from the sky, illuminating Dongfang Yu Chu. His figure then gradually became ethereal, and he was teleported out of the Jade Pond.
"Since you've won, why not proactively withdraw your sword intent and let him suffer less, making it easier for him to heal?"
After Dongfang Yu Chu disappeared, Zuo Mingqiu, from below the stage, clapped his hands, acknowledging Yan Yu's strength.
However, he also posed his question.
It was evident that Yan Yu's final sword strike had deliberately infused some abilities, causing Dongfang Yu Chu's injuries to be far more severe than they appeared on the surface. Sword qi had permeated his entire body. If not treated properly, it could even lead to disability.
But why? Dongfang Yu Chu was clearly meeting Yan Yu for the first time. Why did the latter display such great animosity towards him from the start, even conceding three moves to fight him, and then, after winning, leaving such sword qi, risking retaliation from the Dongfang clan?
Zuo Mingqiu couldn't understand, so he asked directly. Yan Yu's answer was equally direct.
"None of your business."
Yan Yu said, sheathing his sword. Under the gazes of awe and battle intent, he sat cross-legged by the Jade Pond and began to meditate.
"Wait a moment!"
Just as Zuo Mingqiu shook his head with a smile, Chen Changkong's fighting spirit ignited, and Yan Yu was about to begin his rest, a middle-aged man's apparition with an extraordinary bearing appeared in this space. His voice echoed throughout the Jade Pond, and everyone turned to look at him.
Xu Mu stared at the unfamiliar judge, a bad premonition stirring within him. The latter was not announcing the match results, but was asking Yan Yu to stop healing. What was the meaning of this?
This middle-aged man of extraordinary bearing strode to in front of Yan Yu, staring down at him.
At this moment, Yan Yu also stood up, his expression calm, meeting the man's gaze. He spoke first, "What is it?"
The man looked at Yan Yu and said indifferently, "I am one of the five judges selected from the hundred races for this Ten Thousand Races Assembly."
"I suspect you used an item that violated the competition rules during the recent battle, and I will investigate you."
"I did not violate any rules," Yan Yu stated.
"Then can you explain how you shattered that dragon-fish?" The man placed his hands behind his back, his eyes fierce and oppressive as he stared at Yan Yu. "To be frank, that dragon-fish might not be invincible, but among all the geniuses I've ever encountered, no one could shatter it so easily."
"I suspect your sword qi does not belong to you, but was released through talismans or other methods, therefore, I will investigate you!"
This statement stunned everyone inside and outside the secret realm. Then they understood the man's meaning. In essence, he believed Yan Yu should not have unleashed such a powerful sword strike, and therefore accused him of cheating.
But was this possible? Putting aside the fact that numerous sophisticated artifacts were used to detect participants before the Ten Thousand Races Assembly, even if someone managed to smuggle prohibited items into the secret realm, who would dare use them in front of the entire world?
The price would not just be death, but their families and regions would also be affected.
So, had Yan Yu truly cheated?
The initially somber Dongfang clan, upon witnessing this scene, regained some of their spirit. No one spoke, they merely prayed in silence that Yan Yu had indeed violated the rules, and that Dongfang Yu Chu had not lost.
"That sword strike was not easy. It only appeared easy because you saw it," Yan Yu replied after a moment of silence. "But I cannot explain the details to you, because this is my ability."
"As for that dragon-fish, to my knowledge, I am not the only one who can shatter it head-on. If you say you haven't seen it, then your knowledge is limited."
This declaration caused the world to fall silent once more.
Countless people's mouths hung open in astonishment. They couldn't comprehend what Yan Yu was saying, daring to provoke the judge in such a manner. Was he not afraid that this judge, who transcended ordinary Domain Lords, would kill him in anger?
As expected, the middle-aged man, who had been openly challenged and questioned, grew angry. His eyes turned slightly cold, and suppressing his killing intent, he spoke, "Whether I have seen it or not is not for you to comment on."
"Now, truthfully reveal your family, sect, and all events that have occurred in your life. And open your spatial storage bag to allow me to search. No concealment is allowed!"
"I did not violate any rules, why should I allow you to search," Yan Yu, upon hearing this, did not comply with the man's demands, still looking at him calmly and asking.
"Are you sure you won't cooperate with me?" The judge, the middle-aged man, stared at Yan Yu and asked again.
"Think carefully before you answer, because this will implicate your family and sect."
"Yes." Yan Yu nodded and calmly replied, "I will not cooperate."
"If you have any issues, feel free to find my master."