Han Yu and Liu Ruyan quickly regrouped, their breathing noticeably heavier than before, neither of them looking nearly as composed as they had at the beginning of the battle, Su Yang had forced them into a corner far earlier than they had anticipated, and the pride that had once filled Han Yu's eyes had been replaced by a cold, unwilling determination.
This wasn't going according to plan.
Not even close.
Han Yu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and glanced toward Su Yang, who stood several dozen steps away, his sword lowered slightly, his robes fluttering in the aftermath of their previous exchange.
There was still that oppressive aura around him.
That terrifying combination of Four Seasons Sword Intent, immense Qi-Blood, and the newly revealed True Essence.
Han Yu's expression darkened.
But then his hand slipped beneath his robe.
He felt the object hidden there and a faint smile finally appeared.
Thankfully, he had prepared for this.
His master had given it to him.
His mother had personally reminded him to keep it hidden until absolutely necessary.
It wasn't an ordinary talisman.
It was a Rank 2 Fire Dragon Talisman.
A treasure capable of unleashing an attack comparable to a powerful Xuan Gang expert, and in the hands of someone like Han Yu, who possessed sufficient True Qi to activate it, its destructive power was even more frightening.
Han Yu slowly pulled the talisman from his sleeve.
The moment the paper appeared, Su Yang's expression changed.
Every instinct within his body screamed.
Danger!
His pupils contracted.
The Four Seasons Sword Intent immediately surged through his body, his muscles tightened, and his feet shifted across the ground, adopting a stance that seemed almost effortless yet contained an astonishing amount of power.
Han Yu's eyes flashed.
"Die!"
True Qi surged into the talisman.
BOOM!
The talisman instantly ignited.
The flames didn't spread outward like ordinary fire, instead they condensed into a single point before a gigantic dragon head emerged from the burning paper, followed by a serpentine body covered in crimson flames, its eyes glowing with terrifying intelligence as it roared toward Su Yang.
The temperature of the entire arena suddenly skyrocketed.
Several martial artists watching from the surrounding seats immediately retreated.
Even some Xuan Gang experts narrowed their eyes.
"Rank 2 talisman!"
"The Jade Sword Palace actually gave him something like that?"
"That's enough to kill an ordinary Marrow Cleansing expert!"
"He's using a talisman in the middle of the appointment!"
The crowd erupted.
But nobody could stop it.
The Fire Dragon had already been unleashed.
Su Yang's eyes became cold.
He didn't have time to argue.
He didn't have time to complain.
He simply moved.
His sword rose.
Four Seasons Sword Intent erupted from his body, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter appearing simultaneously around the blade, four completely different seasons seemingly converging into one continuous cycle.
Four sword strikes were launched almost simultaneously.
One carried the vitality of spring.
One contained the blazing fury of summer.
One carried the desolation of autumn.
The final strike contained the freezing silence of winter.
The four sword strikes crossed one another, yet instead of colliding, they began merging together.
The sword intent condensed.
The seasons revolved.
The four forces became one.
Su Yang's eyes flashed.
"Four Seasons Reincarnation Seal!"
He had not yet reached Entry into this technique.
His comprehension was still incomplete.
But at this moment, he didn't care.
He needed it.
BOOOOOOM!
The sword seal collided with the incoming Fire Dragon.
For an instant, the entire world seemed to freeze.
Then—
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
An enormous explosion erupted from the center of the arena.
Flames and sword intent swept outward like a raging storm, the stone beneath their feet shattered apart, cracks spreading across the arena floor as the shockwave struck the surrounding defensive formations.
The force was immense.
Su Yang planted his sword into the ground and forced his body downward, his muscles bulging as he resisted the impact, his Arhat Body releasing tremendous Qi-Blood that circulated through every part of his physique.
Even then, he was pushed backward several meters.
Han Yu and Liu Ruyan were not so fortunate.
The explosion swallowed both of them.
Smoke filled the arena.
For several breaths, nobody could see anything.
Then the smoke began to disperse.
The crowd slowly fell silent.
The arena was a complete mess.
Broken stone covered the ground.
Flames continued burning in several places.
The protective formations flickered weakly.
Yet there was only one person standing.
Su Yang.
His robes were torn, blood flowed from his shoulder, and his breathing was heavy, but his sword remained firmly in his hand.
Han Yu was lying unconscious several meters away.
Liu Ruyan had also collapsed.
Neither moved.
The result was obvious.
Su Yang had won.
But before anyone could celebrate, a strange phenomenon suddenly appeared above the arena.
Golden light descended from the heavens.
Everyone looked upward.
A single line of ancient characters manifested above the battlefield.
Rank 30 — Su Yang
Realm — Marrow Cleansing / True Essence
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then the entire city exploded.
"What?!"
"Human Ranking!"
"Rank Thirty?!"
"He's only Marrow Cleansing!"
"How can a Marrow Cleansing expert enter the Human Ranking?!"
"He has True Essence as well!"
"Wasn't Su Yang known as a cripple in internal cultivation?!"
The representatives of the great families were stunned.
The Martial Hall experts exchanged solemn glances.
The Su family members erupted into cheers.
The Liu family went pale.
The Jade Sword Palace representatives looked as though someone had struck them across the face.
Even Han Yu's unconscious body seemed almost insignificant compared to what had just appeared above the arena.
Su Yang himself looked upward with a complicated expression.
The Human Ranking had recognized him.
Then—
A golden light suddenly flashed.
Shen Bing's talisman activated.
The Golden Cover appeared around Su Yang.
For one brief moment, it enveloped his entire body.
Then—
CRACK!
The protective barrier shattered instantly.
Su Yang's expression changed.
"What—"
BOOM!
A terrifying force struck his chest.
His body flew backward like a kite whose string had suddenly been cut, crashing violently into the arena wall.
BOOOOOOM!
Stone exploded.
Su Yang's body was embedded several feet into the wall, blood spilling from his mouth as his vision blurred.
The crowd froze.
An Astral Gang aura descended upon the arena.
A figure appeared beside the unconscious Han Yu.
The Jade Sword Palace Master.
His expression was cold, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
"You dared to injure my disciple!"
His Astral Gang erupted.
The terrifying pressure instantly swept toward Su Yang, crushing the surrounding air.
Su Yang struggled to move.
His body was severely injured.
Yet before the Astral Gang could reach him—
BOOM!
A streak of lightning descended from the sky.
The Su Family Patriarch appeared directly between them.
His Astral Gang erupted with terrifying force, lightning wrapping around his body as he struck forward with a single palm.
The two forces collided.
BOOOOOOM!
The arena shook.
The Jade Sword Palace Master was forced backward several steps.
The crowd erupted in disbelief.
"That's Astral Gang!"
"So the Su Family Patriarch was an Astral Gang expert all along?!"
The Palace Master slowly raised his head, his expression turning cold.
He stared at the Su Family Patriarch for several breaths before laughing.
"So you finally reached Astral Gang."
His eyes narrowed.
"You hid quite well."
The Su Family Patriarch stood calmly before Su Yang, lightning crackling around his body.
"Leave."
The Palace Master's expression became murderous.
"This matter isn't over."
The Su Family Patriarch's gaze hardened.
"It is if you leave now."
Above them, the atmosphere of the entire Five-Year Appointment had completely changed.
The battle between the younger generation had ended.
Now, the true experts had stepped onto the stage.