Chapter 94: Advancing to the Top Four

Ye Lingxi’s voice was weak, clearly from the immense strain of activating the Ice Phoenix Feather: “This is the primordial law within the Ice Phoenix Feather—though only a thread, it’s enough to immobilize Itachi.”

She raised her hand, and a razor-thin ice blade pierced through the gaps in Lei Kai, aiming straight at Qin Hao’s chest.

Qin Hao suddenly smiled: “Itachi think that’s all I’ve got?”

He bit down hard on his tongue and spat a mouthful of essence blood onto Lei Kai: “Thunder Pattern—Explosion!”

Lei Kai instantly shattered, and the violent thunderlight not only shattered the Ice Phoenix’s phantom form but also nullified Ye Lingxi’s ice-blue fingertip aura.

The residual shockwave struck her, sending her flying backward to crash against the edge of the arena, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

Qin Hao walked slowly toward her, the thunderlight receding: “Itachi’re strong. Forcing me to use essence blood to explode—beyond my expectations.”

“But Itachi must understand: the gap between Wanghou Realm and Wu Zong peak isn’t just cultivation—it’s mastery over law.”

Ye Lingxi pushed herself up from the ground, only to find her spiritual power utterly depleted. She looked at Qin Hao and shook her head helplessly: “I lost.”

The referee stepped forward and announced: “First match of the Top Eight: Qin Hao wins!”

In the audience seats, the Ye family’s section murmured in regret, but Ye Ting nodded and said to his subordinate: “This child, at Wu Zong Realm, has already grasped a thread of law—she hasn’t disgraced the Ye family.”

On the other side, Jiang Xia and Wang Teng rushed onto the stage at once to help Ye Lingxi up and carry her down for healing.

The next few matches were almost all one-sided crushes, until the final match: Jiang Xia versus Li Jiuyuan.

Both were top contenders in Wanghou Realm, and this final Top Eight match would decide who advanced to the Top Four.

“Old Xia, Li Jiuyuan was one of the first in our generation to break through. Itachi got this?” Wang Teng asked, worried.

Jiang Xia thought for a moment, then curled and straightened one finger: “Nine point one percent. Lucky number.”

“Six ooh”

The final match of the Top Eight—the most anticipated of all.

Jiang Xia, the upstart Wanghou from within, who had shattered one miracle after another, faced Li Jiuyuan, one of Wu Alliance’s most cherished prodigies and the first to break into Wanghou Realm.

The two stood on the stage, locking eyes.

“Brother Jiang, I’ve long heard of your name.”

Li Jiuyuan bowed, his voice deep and resonant: “I’ve watched your battles against Akatsuki Jin and Cui Jue. Impressive. But my sword relies on overwhelming force—watch yourself.”

Jiang Xia felt the mountain-steady aura radiating from him and nodded: “Your courtesy is appreciated. Please, teach me.”

The referee waved: “Begin!”

Li Jiuyuan made no attempt, and roared: “Heavy Mountain Sword Domain—Activate!”

Instantly, gravity within a radius of dozens of meters surged, thickening the air as if it had turned to syrup.

He stepped forward, and the arena floor trembled slightly as his black iron greatsword slashed downward in a simple, direct vertical strike!

“Mount Tai Crushing Down!”

The strike seemed slow, yet it sealed off every possible escape route for Jiang Xia—the overwhelming sword pressure suffocated all breath.

The audience erupted in gasps: “A normal Wangjie beast hit by that would be crushed on the spot!”

“Jiang Xia’s eye technique is famed for its strangeness, but against absolute power, will it even work?”

Facing this crushing strike, Jiang Xia’s Rinnegan appeared in his eyes.

“Shinra Tensei!”

A powerful repulsive force erupted from him, colliding head-on with the heavy sword pressure!

“Boom—!”

A muffled thunderclap sent a ring-shaped shockwave rippling outward, shaking the surrounding barriers violently.

Jiang Xia flung a handful of kunai toward all sides of Li Jiuyuan.

“Good technique!” Li Jiuyuan’s eyes flashed with sharp light; he flipped his wrist, changing the downward slash into a horizontal sweep: “Thousand Soldiers Sweep!”

The greatsword swept toward him with even wilder force, shattering the kunai into fragments, its blade now aimed straight at Jiang Xia.

Jiang Xia’s left eye instantly activated into Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan—the crimson pupils swirling with intricate patterns.

“Susano’o!”

Blue spiritual energy surged skyward, instantly coalescing into a half-body skeletal Susano’o, its bony arm clenching into a fist, charging straight into the sweeping greatsword!

“Clang—!!!”

The clash of metal rang deafeningly; sparks flew where the skeletal fist met the black iron blade.

This time, Jiang Xia’s Susano’o staggered half a step back, fine cracks appearing along the bony arm.

“Power is truly astonishing,” Jiang Xia thought inwardly. In raw strength alone, his initial Susano’o form was indeed slightly inferior.

Li Jiuyuan’s greatsword kept slashing relentlessly—each strike heavy and crushing, amplified by the Heavy Mountain Sword Domain, nearly grinding Jiang Xia and his Susano’o into dust.

“Old Xia’s being crushed!” Wang Teng stomped his feet in agitation on the stands.

Ye Lingxi watched intently: “Li Jiuyuan’s law domain severely restricts Jiang Xia’s mobility—he’s forcing him into a brute-force endurance battle.”

Onstage, Jiang Xia used Susano’o to parry continuously, seeming on the defensive—but his gaze remained icy calm.

His Sharingan rapidly analyzed the flaws in Li Jiuyuan’s sword patterns.

“Found it!” As Li Jiuyuan gathered power for a devastating downward chop, Jiang Xia’s right Rinnegan flared brightly.

“Rinnegan: Shinra Tensei!”

The target wasn’t Li Jiuyuan himself—but the black iron greatsword in his hand!

A sudden, immense suction gripped the greatsword; Li Jiuyuan felt a sudden heaviness, and the blade wobbled slightly off course!

“Now!” Jiang Xia unleashed the full power of his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan: “Susano’o—Second Form!”

The skeletal half-body instantly sprouted veins, flesh, and muscle, becoming denser and more solid; a blazing blade coalesced in its grasp. Seizing the fleeting opening, he slashed!

“Crash!”

The blazing blade struck precisely where Li Jiuyuan’s guard had opened during his strike. Though Li Jiuyuan barely managed to raise his sword in defense, his power was too scattered to fully concentrate.

“Boom!”

Li Jiuyuan was slammed backward by the blow. Before he could raise his sword again, Jiang Xia flashed forward, appearing beside the Flying Thunder God kunai planted behind him.

Another slash—before Li Jiuyuan could counter, he and his sword were sent flying, crashing hard into the barrier, his throat rising with blood as he spat it out.

His black iron greatsword clattered to the ground.

The domain vanished instantly.

Li Jiuyuan struggled to his feet, wiped the blood from his lips, looked at his fallen greatsword far away, then at Jiang Xia, whose aura remained steady, and let out a bitter laugh.

“I’m impressed. I lost.”

He lost with full acceptance—Jiang Xia hadn’t broken him with brute force, but with skill, finding his flaw. He had to admit, he was inferior in this.

The referee announced loudly: “Final match of the Top Eight: Jiang Xia wins! Advances to the Top Four!”

The entire arena erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.

Jiang Xia once again proved his strength through his mastery of eye technique and tactics.

“Old Xia, Itachi’re awesome!” Wang Teng roared in excitement. Ye Lingxi exhaled softly, a faint, barely noticeable smile touching her lips.