Yang Cheng's entire aura was restrained, like a bottomless, still dark pool—calm and undisturbed.
When he slashed with his palm like a blade, the motion seemed as gentle as a sudden breeze rippling spring waters.
The blade intent, flowing like water, didn't seem threatening at all.
But—
When it fell, it erupted like a tidal wave crashing against a cliff, releasing a blade intent too vast to imagine.
"This blade intent!"
Leng Qianyu's expression changed instantly.
Yang Cheng's blade intent at first felt like a stream—calm and harmless. But once it exploded, everyone realized—it wasn't just a stream.
It was thousands of streams converging into a raging river.
This kind of intent could scare off flood dragons, shake mountains, and make ghosts and gods tremble.
Everyone present now truly understood what it meant to sweep across the six directions, cutting through the heavens with blade intent alone.
Nangong Yi's pupils shrank. His hair stood on end from the sheer threat of that blade.
There was no time to think. He raised his long blade horizontally, pouring all his true qi into it, trying to block the fatal blow.
"Boom!"
A deafening roar rang out, like the sound of the world being born, shaking everyone's ears until they buzzed.
Those with weaker strength had their qi and blood churn violently and stumbled backward in retreat.
Under that intense impact, Nangong Yi was flung back like a kite with its string cut.
Blood soaked his whole body, his aura withered, his robes torn to shreds, and blood streamed from multiple wounds.
Everyone looked utterly shocked. Their eyes on Yang Cheng were full of disbelief.
Who would've thought that the three-year-old Crown Prince of the Great Zhou could possess such terrifying strength? Just one strike—and he seriously injured the famed Divine Son of the Eastern Wastes, Nangong Yi.
"This... how is this possible?"
The geniuses of the Great Zhao Empire were dumbfounded.
Even Nangong Shu's eyes bulged. He had thought that even if he couldn't beat Nangong Yi, he was still a top-tier genius among his peers.
But now, seeing Yang Cheng's power, he realized the terrifying gap between them and a true monster.
Even Lin Shu's mouth fell open.
So His Highness was this strong?
Tang Xingyu's earlier panic was gone, replaced with glowing eyes. "Chengcheng's amazing."
"Your Highness," Shen Muxue whispered, eyes full of admiration.
"Not bad at all."
Yang Cheng looked at Nangong Yi and gave a nod of approval.
He meant it.
Though Nangong Yi was injured, he had taken that strike head-on.
Clearly, Yang Cheng had underestimated him.
This Divine Son of the Bian'an Divine Sect—future sect master—was definitely on a different level from Baili Guan.
But these words felt like a slap in the face to Nangong Yi.
"Yang Cheng, don't go too far!"
Rage surged in Nangong Yi's heart. "When I show you my real strength, I hope you can still say that."
He already understood how terrifying Yang Cheng was, and didn't dare to hold back anymore.
"Divine Blade of the Other Shore—Sea-Splitting Form!"
Rumble!
Nangong Yi slashed out. The overwhelming blade light engulfed the sky.
In that instant, everyone seemed to see a god wielding a blade against the sea.
Blade fell—sea split.
The destructive power was beyond words.
"What a move—Sea-Splitting Form."
"The Divine Son of the Bian'an Divine Sect really is no joke."
The gathered geniuses were shaken.
That one slash made it clear—Nangong Yi hadn't been serious earlier.
Yang Cheng's eyes remained calm.
"Absolute Godblade Technique."
He used his palm as a blade again, performing a move from the "Absolute Godblade Technique" the system had given him.
In a flash, a severed hand appeared in the void.
Even though it was just a hand, its pressure was more terrifying than Nangong Yi's godlike image.
"That blade intent is terrifying."
All the geniuses felt their scalps go numb, like their blood was about to freeze.
It was just too overwhelming.
"What kind of blade art is this?"
"It feels like it could sever heaven and earth, even kill gods."
"Why have we never heard of any blade technique like this in the Great Zhou?"
Many voices trembled.
Yang Cheng's palm came down.
True qi surged around the severed hand, forming a massive true qi blade that followed and slashed down.
That slash was like heaven's fury unleashed, cold light sweeping the world.
Mountains broke. Stars shattered.
Nangong Yi's blade looked like a god defying the heavens, trying to stop disaster and turn fate.
It was surreal.
But just in terms of blade intent, Nangong Yi was already falling behind—reduced to a struggler.
In the next instant—
The two blade lights clashed.
It was like heaven clashing with a god.
Endless blade light and true qi exploded in a flash.
Moments later—
As the light faded slightly, everyone saw a figure forced back several zhang.
His feet carved deep grooves into the ground.
Then his legs gave out. He dropped to one knee.
That figure—was Nangong Yi.
Blood streamed from his mouth and nose. His face twisted with frustration and disbelief.
He had gone all out. He had even performed better than usual.
But why—why was he still no match for Yang Cheng?
"This can't be!"
His voice cracked. His eyes were bloodshot.
Yang Cheng's small frame stood quietly.
Though he was much shorter than Nangong Yi, he somehow felt taller.
"You're no good at being a person," Yang Cheng said. "Even worse with a blade."
He paused and added, "But don't get too discouraged. You do have one strength. When it comes to being a dog—you're way better than me."
Nangong Yi almost coughed up blood.
"Yang Cheng, you think you've got me cornered?"
He gritted his teeth.
"Oh?"
Yang Cheng raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Looks like the Divine Son of the Bian'an Divine Sect has a trump card left?"
Nangong Yi gave a cold laugh, forcibly calming his turbulent qi and slowly standing up.
Then a strange blood mist suddenly surged from his body. Like a living thing, it wrapped around him and began healing his wounds.
"Secret Art of the Other Shore—Yellow Springs Guide!"
As Nangong Yi shouted, the blood mist around him suddenly boiled.
His aura surged higher and higher, and within just a few breaths, it had already surpassed his previous peak.
"Yellow Springs Guide? That's a secret art of the Bian'an Divine Sect! It burns blood essence to forcibly boost strength!"
Leng Qianyu's pupils contracted, her voice low and shocked.
"Has Nangong Yi lost his mind? That kind of secret art might give you a temporary burst, but the cost is huge. At best, you lose cultivation. At worst, your foundation's ruined!"
The geniuses of the Great Zhao Empire all looked shaken.
But Nangong Yi couldn't care less anymore.
In just this short time, his cultivation had gone past the peak of the Martial Master realm and stepped into the Martial Grandmaster realm.
That meant he could now use a blade form that wasn't possible before.
His eyes turned blood-red, staring at Yang Cheng with a twisted look. He growled, "Yang Cheng, today I'll show you what the true 'Blade Dao of the Other Shore' really is!"
Before he even finished speaking, the long blade in his hand burst with a dazzling red light.
Cracks formed on the blade like molten lava, revealing the crimson fluid flowing inside.
That liquid looked alive, crawling along the edge of the blade, finally forming a savage blood blade.
"Blood Hell Slash of the Other Shore!"
Nangong Yi roared, and the blood blade tore through the air with a piercing howl.
As it cut through the void, even the air corroded, hissing and burning.
The ground around them blackened and cracked from the shockwave of blade energy.
"This is bad."
Everyone on the Great Zhou side tensed up.
Who would've thought that someone like Nangong Yi would resort to this just to fight Yang Cheng?
"Can the Crown Prince of Great Zhou withstand this?"
Everyone from the other factions locked their eyes on the two locked in combat.
Only Yang Cheng still looked calm.
In the next moment, his right hand closed slightly, and a long blade formed quickly out of condensed true qi.
"You want to see real blade intent?"
Yang Cheng looked up. In his eyes, it felt like the stars were spinning in reverse.
"Then I'll grant your wish."
He flicked his wrist, and the blade of true qi slashed upward at an angle.
"Absolute Godblade Technique—Extinction of Gods and Demons."
A radiant arc of blade light swept down like moonlight.
Its core glowed blindingly bright, like the heart of a galaxy.
Thin as a cicada's wing, the blade light rippled outward like waves, cutting off everything around it.
Though the blade seemed slow, it was actually faster. In a flash, it collided with Nangong Yi's blood blade.
Time and space froze for a split second.
Then—
"Boom!"
A thunderous explosion rocked the battlefield as blood-red and silver light erupted and mixed.
Everyone saw a flash of light. The world was blanketed in a burning white.
When their vision returned, a deep, blackened crater several zhang wide had appeared on the ground.
"Pu!"
Nangong Yi coughed up blood, staggering back a few steps, his face pale as paper.
Yang Cheng calmly lowered his blade, robes fluttering, not a single strand of hair out of place.
He glanced at the pale, broken Nangong Yi and said lightly, "That's it?"
The whole crowd went silent.
Nangong Shu's legs went weak, his body trembling uncontrollably.
He had actually tried to challenge Yang Cheng earlier?
Many of the other geniuses clenched their fists so tightly their nails dug deep into their palms.
How was Yang Cheng this strong?
At this point, no one could understand it.
Nangong Yi had already used a blood-burning forbidden technique and pushed his realm to the Martial Grandmaster level.
And even that didn't shake Yang Cheng.
This was ridiculous.
"What realm is he actually at?"
Someone from the Ice Palace asked in a hushed voice.
"Half-step Martial Master," Leng Qianyu said solemnly.
Nangong Yi wasn't some average nobody.
And while Yang Cheng was monstrous, in the fight, he had inevitably revealed a trace of his true cultivation.
That might fool others, but not someone like her—a top-tier genius.
"Hiss..."
A lot of people gasped.
Half-step Martial Master!
If it were anyone else here, that level wouldn't be surprising.
But Yang Cheng was only three years old.
A three-year-old at half-step Martial Master—no one had ever even heard of such a thing.
In that moment, it was like watching a new star rise.
No—
Not a star. A blazing sun.
If Yang Cheng didn't die young and kept growing like this...
Then it wouldn't be long.
While the others were mere stars, Yang Cheng would be the sun that outshone them all.
"But even a half-step Martial Master shouldn't be this strong," the first person argued.
"Yeah."
"Nangong Yi briefly reached Martial Grandmaster."
Everyone started reacting again.
They still couldn't wrap their heads around how Yang Cheng had done it.
Even Leng Qianyu couldn't explain it.
Yang Cheng was like some kind of freak, smashing all her understanding to pieces.
"Brother Nangong, let's work together."
Suddenly, Baili Guan charged through the air, aiming straight for Yang Cheng's back.
"Alright."
Nangong Yi's dim eyes lit up.
What happened today had shattered his confidence.
That belief in his own invincibility had cracked.
But after hearing Baili Guan, one thought sprang to mind.
Yang Cheng was the source of his humiliation.
So if he killed Yang Cheng, that shame would vanish.
At this point, Nangong Yi no longer cared about appearances or pride.
He only wanted one thing—
Yang Cheng, dead.