Chapter 118: Complete Victory

After unleashing that strike, Ye Cheng’s face turned deathly pale. The third stage of the Thousand Shadow Spear Technique, "Ten Thousand Shadows into One," had forcibly condensed a thousand strikes into a single blow. The toll on his vitality was immense, draining nearly ninety percent of the essence from his body.

Even with Ye Cheng’s abundant vitality, such a terrifying expenditure was difficult to sustain. He now fully understood why Tie Muqing had resorted to burning his own blood essence; the force required for such compressed techniques was like a bottomless pit, and Tie Muqing’s internal reserves were far inferior to his own.

"The youth invited by the Nangong family is truly defy-defying. He was still hiding his strength! The momentum of his attack is on par with Tie Muqing’s blood-burning technique."

"His talent is monstrous. I wonder which faction could have cultivated such a genius."

A spear's radiance and a halberd's glow, both equally fearsome, collided violently as the crowd watched with bated breath. Many stared wide-eyed, desperate to see which of the two geniuses would emerge victorious.

This duel was no longer merely a contest between two individuals; it determined which side would secure all the spots for today’s "Heavenly Selection." For both the Blood Fiend Gang and the Nangong family, the stakes could not be higher.

"Boom!"

A thunderous roar erupted from the point of impact. Ye Cheng’s spear pierced through Tie Muqing’s defense, and the powerful shockwave slammed into Tie Muqing’s abdomen. The recoil also surged toward Ye Cheng, who reacted instantly, shaking off the residual force with a flick of his spear, though the webbing between his thumb and forefinger split open from the impact.

Seeing the situation turn dire, Tie Muqiu’s expression shifted abruptly. He stood up, his voice booming with profound vital energy as he shouted, "Stop!"

As he rose, the Nangong family members, led by Nangong Hao, immediately tensed up, fearing the old man would intervene to kill Ye Cheng, but they were a step too late.

The bluestone arena collapsed into a hundred-foot-deep crater. Amidst the flying debris, two battered figures were sent hurtling backward.

Under the stunned gazes of the crowd, Tie Muqing failed to regain his balance. He was sent flying out of the arena, vomiting blood, and collapsed onto the gravel. His life or death was uncertain, though the sheer amount of blood covering him suggested he was at least severely injured. Tie Muqiu flashed to his side instantly to check his condition, his face growing increasingly grim.

In contrast, the crowd gasped as they looked at Ye Cheng. Even after facing a technique fueled by burning blood, Ye Cheng only suffered minor wounds. After swaying slightly and showing a pale complexion, he appeared largely unscathed.

The clash ended in a complete victory for Ye Cheng. He clenched his fist, feeling the weakness spreading through his arm, and gave a wry smile. "Ten Thousand Shadows into One is truly demanding. I only managed to compress twenty percent of its potential with all the vitality I had."

"Yet, the power is incredible. Even at twenty percent, it possesses the attack power of a peak Initial Elemental Realm expert. Crossing a major cultivation realm—it’s truly astonishing." Ye Cheng’s eyes gleamed.

"If I could unleash ten percent of its full power, even a master at the Great Completion of the Elemental Realm might be severely wounded if caught off guard. This will be my trump card. If I can refine this to reach its full potential, perhaps I won't be so passive if I face Luo Long again." A smile tugged at the corners of his lips at the thought. The memory of nearly losing his life to Luo Long remained vivid in his mind.

"I underestimated you before. I didn't expect this martial art left by your father to be so intriguing. To allow someone to bridge such a gap in power is rare. If it weren't for a lack of 'spirit,' it would have transcended secular martial arts to become a Spirit-grade technique," Elder Mu’s voice echoed in Ye Cheng’s mind. Despite the many experts present, as long as he did not manifest, those without a Primordial Spirit could not detect his presence. Not even ancient Dan-realm experts like Tie Muqiu or Nangong Hao could perceive the mysteries of a Primordial Spirit.

"Then Master, what level is this Thousand Shadow Spear Technique my father left behind? I feel that even high-end martial arts don't have this kind of terrifying power," Ye Cheng asked, puzzled. In his experience, nothing compared to it. Even the Spirit-grade technique Nangong Xue had acquired in the ancient cave seemed slightly inferior in raw power.

"It should be considered the pinnacle of secular martial arts. Your father must have been exceptionally gifted, but he likely created this before breaking through to the Primordial Spirit realm, which is why it lacks that 'spirit' and its power is capped. It is truly remarkable that he could create such a powerful technique before reaching that level." Elder Mu paused briefly, his tone turning more affirmative as he continued, "Rumor has it your father traveled to another plane of existence. If he hasn't fallen, it is entirely possible that he has become a formidable powerhouse."

Hearing this, a bitter smile touched Ye Cheng’s lips, but his dark eyes revealed a firm resolve. "One day, I will find him."

After this silent vow, Ye Cheng scanned his surroundings. Seeing the excitement of the Nangong family and the pleasant surprise in Nangong Xue’s eyes, he offered a slight nod. The murmurs of the crowd drifted toward him.

"What a formidable youth," an elderly man remarked, his voice filled with disbelief.

"Such strength! I truly want to spar with him!" a mercenary said, his eyes filled with a longing for battle. He himself was at the peak of the Blood Essence Realm, though he was well over twenty.

"The boy invited by the Nangong family is too strong. Even Tie Muqing burning his blood essence was no match. You want to spar with him? You’re just asking for humiliation," a fellow mercenary retorted bluntly.

Ye Cheng paid little mind to the chatter. He had no intention of lingering on the shattered arena. With his victory, the spots for the "Heavenly Selection" were secured. As he turned to step down, a furious voice thundered across the training ground.

"Good! Very good! You dared to destroy my grandson’s dantian—do you think you can just walk away like this?"