Chapter 477: Just One Move

"I've heard of your great name, Ye Liuyun, for a long time; it's a pleasure to meet you today! I didn't expect Brother Ye to come up and challenge me!"

After Lu Wentong stepped onto the stage, he politely greeted Ye Liuyun, truly like a scholar.

Ye Liuyun also courteously said: "I use a blade, you use a sword, that matches blade intent and sword intent. Fighting with fists is meaningless."

"I see!" Lu Wentong suddenly understood, realizing Ye Liuyun didn't intend to vie for rank at all. "Then we stop as soon as we touch. One move should reveal the strength of the intent."

"Fine, touch and stop, one move decides victory!" Ye Liuyun nodded in agreement, then drew the Demon Slaying Sword from his back.

Lu Wentong didn't disdain him merely because he couldn't discern the blade's grade. For any martial artist concerned with intent, even an ordinary knife—or a wooden staff—has little effect on the intent.

Thus Lu Wentong gave his all; the previously weak aura around him suddenly shifted, and he appeared fierce.

When Ye Liuyun's domineering blade intent burst forth, Lu Wentong's complexion immediately turned sour. He didn't need to continue; he knew Ye Liuyun was far stronger.

Ye Liuyun's overwhelming blade intent instantly shattered Lu Wentong's fierce sword intent. Under this intent, his sword intent could not manifest at all.

Sensing the moment, he sheathed his sword, bowed to Ye Liuyun and said, "I lose! I didn't expect to witness such powerful blade intent here; truly there are those above us! I humbly submit to your superiority!"

He had always believed himself the top sword of the Golden Peng region. In weapon intent, no younger generation could surpass him. Today he finally witnessed the newcomer Ye Liuyun's strength. Ye Liuyun's blade intent was more than a star and a half stronger than his.

Ye Liuyun also sheathed his blade, bowed to Lu Wentong and said, "We can spar again when the chance arises!"

"Definitely!" Lu Wentong, seeing Ye Liuyun's friendly gesture, gladly agreed to make another friend.

Thus Ye Liuyun naturally took the third seat, while the others yielded in order. It turned out that those ranked tenth had to challenge those with a ranking.

For the remaining battles, Ye Liuyun no longer paid attention; he simply sat, closed his eyes to rest his spirit, waiting for the contest to end.

He didn't expect that, though he didn't wish to challenge Crown Prince Jin Yuanhao, Jin Yuanhao wouldn't let him off.

"Hmph! It's just blade intent. You think if you don't challenge me I can't deal with you!" At that thought, he used Divine Sense to send Transmission Voice to a few subordinates, ordering them to challenge Ye Liuyun.

After Ye Liuyun successfully issued his challenge, many people immediately went to the host to register, rushing to challenge.

Piao Yun held back for now. She feared that if she went up too early, many would challenge her, so she waited.

But Xiong Batian directly challenged Jiang Wanhao. It was obvious this was arranged by the Golden Peng Dynasty.

Their duel was truly spectacular. Xiong Batian leveraged his bloodline power for advantage, while Jiang Wanhao relied on his realm advantage. He was an old‑school Heavenly Gang Third Layer Martial Cultivator. Ye Liuyun's Golden Pupil could see his True Essence; it seemed he was deliberately suppressing his realm, otherwise he could have broken through to Heavenly Gang Fourth Layer.

Thus the two fought evenly, exchanging over two hundred moves, until Xiong Batian, at the cost of some injuries, defeated Jiang Wanhao and claimed sixth place.

Nevertheless, their strength was evident to all. Those lacking ability would no longer readily challenge them.

The most challenged were the ninth and tenth ranks; those positions changed frequently.

Just when Ye Liuyun thought he had nothing to worry about, the fifth‑ranked He Wei suddenly stepped forward to challenge him.

Ye Liuyun felt a bit surprised when Xiong Batian transmitted to him, "That guy is the Crown Prince's guard." At that moment his Divine Sense noticed the Crown Prince's smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

He Wei was robust and massive, broad shoulders and a round waist, his muscles like iron knots. He was clearly a body‑refining master, his realm already at Heavenly Gang Third Layer.

"Ye Liuyun, do you dare not accept the challenge?" Seeing Ye Liuyun remain still, He Wei couldn't help mocking him.

In truth, Ye Liuyun was pondering what method to annihilate him so that others wouldn't dare provoke him again.

Upon hearing that, Ye Liuyun said nothing more, but smiled and stepped onto the arena.

"Hmph, what a pretender, just a fame‑seeking scoundrel! On the arena, it's still about strength." He Wei curled his lip, his aura exploding, muscles tightening, shielding himself like a solid iron block.

He assumed Ye Liuyun would fight him with blade intent. Unexpectedly, Ye Liuyun's Golden Pupil directly unleashed Golden Crow Holy Fire and Blood Thunder.

"Even if you're a piece of iron, I'll melt you!" Ye Liuyun thought. The Golden Crow Holy Fire from his Golden Pupil blazed outward at full force. He didn't conserve True Essence, aiming for deterrence.

He used Golden Crow Holy Fire to deter others from provoking him. Even a Heavenly Gang Seventh Layer Martial Cultivator couldn't withstand his current Golden Crow Holy Fire, let alone a mere Heavenly Gang Third Layer practitioner.

This Golden Crow Holy Fire melts everything; it instantly burned through He Wei's True Essence Body Shield, igniting him. At the same time, Blood Thunder roared fiercely; before He Wei could even turn to ash, Blood Thunder shattered him into several pieces, each still coated with Golden Crow Holy Fire, and within moments they were burned to nothing, his death grotesquely tragic.

A wave of gasp‑filled breaths rose from the audience. Yet Ye Liuyun smiled broadly at Crown Prince Jin Yuanhao, his eyes full of mockery.

Jin Yuanhao's complexion turned very sour. He hadn't expected He Wei couldn't even block a single move from Ye Liuyun. "Does Ye Liuyun truly possess such strength?" He often sparred with He Wei, yet had never won so effortlessly.

The entire audience, seeing Ye Liuyun glance at the Crown Prince, all understood what was happening.

"Ye Liuyun truly lives up to being the one who dared to seize the queen! What a bold nerve!"

"The Golden Peng Dynasty just looks for trouble! Ye Liuyun never challenged them, yet they go after him! In the end they only deliver heads!"

These murmurs reached the royal ears, and immediately some Elders and ministers expressed discontent with the Crown Prince's actions.

"If you're not confident, don't do such a disgraceful thing! This is just handing a face to be beaten!"

However, the Crown Prince had arranged more than just He Wei—several others had already signed up to challenge Ye Liuyun. At this moment their hearts grew cold; it seemed that when they faced Ye Liuyun, they could only concede.

Unexpectedly, those who later challenged Ye Liuyun were not even given a chance to concede. As soon as the host announced the start, Ye Liuyun immediately launched a Spiritual Soul Attack.

Even those equipped with sacred artifacts defending against Spiritual Soul Attacks couldn't evade Ye Liuyun's Spiritual Soul Attack and the dual strike from his Golden Pupil. Moreover, not a single person could withstand a single move from Ye Liuyun.

The Crown Prince's arranged participants dwindled to a few; none dared step onto the stage. Consequently they were disqualified, losing any chance to compete.

Among the top ten, aside from the Crown Prince and Xiong Batian, there were no other royal members. They originally had the strength to claim half the slots, but now they were completely wiped out.

The Golden Peng Dynasty suffered a heavy loss, yet they could do nothing to Ye Liuyun.

All the spectators now regarded Ye Liuyun as the strongest contestant of this selection tournament, awaiting his challenge to the Crown Prince.

Crown Prince Jin Yuanhao clenched his teeth, his mocking gaze fixed on Ye Liuyun, daring not to show any sign. He felt he couldn't block Ye Liuyun's attack. "He's unbelievably strong! If he challenges me, I won't be able to keep my rank!"

Thinking that, he lacked the courage even to meet Ye Liuyun's eyes, sitting there anxiously.