Lan An's face darkened. No wonder the Tyrant's Bearing quest offered such a tempting reward—a Physique Summon. The difficulty was astronomical.
His suppressed cultivation wasn't the issue; the restriction to earth techniques was. His Spirit Earth Cauldron, the smallest in his dantian, lagged behind his other cauldrons, severely limiting his battle prowess. Facing hundreds of prodigies with only earth techniques to dominate the arena seemed nearly impossible.
Moreover, the round ended when eight fighters remained. How could he complete the quest to stand alone?
Moving toward the arena's center, Lan An observed the chaos. Let the masses thin each other out. When the numbers dwindled, he'd devise a way to oust them all.
His earlier Earth Splitter had been terrifying, drawing wary gazes. Prodigies now avoided him, intimidated by his might.
"Hmph, I doubt he can unleash that move again," Bai Lie sneered, though caution stirred within. Even he felt threatened by Earth Splitter.
"Indeed, using such a technique at Early Spirit Transformation must've drained his spiritual energy. Foolish," Bai Yang agreed, masking his unease.
High above, Bai Lian Hua's eyes gleamed. She noticed Lan An had held back with Earth Splitter, pausing his Heavy Sword to spare the ambusher's life.
Though Lan An suppressed his cultivation to Early Spirit Transformation, Bai Lian Hua, at Peak Spirit Transformation, saw through his mercy. She admired his restraint—most competitors held no grudges, making killing unnecessary.
Contrastingly, Yu Chen's ruthless slaughter, leaving corpses under his spear, soured her mood.
"This kid's not bad," Crown Prince Bai Tian mused, eyes narrowing at Lan An. "If Little Sister didn't favor him, I might've recruited him as a general. Pity, his fate is death."
Bai Lian Hua's fixation on Lan An kindled Bai Tian's killing intent.
"Who's this Wen Lang? The Yellow Sand Continent's never heard of him."
"He looks young. Why isn't he known at Mysterious Yellow Academy?"
"That sword he wields feels like it weighs ten thousand jun."
"After this, Wen Lang's name will echo far!"
Spectators buzzed as Lan An dismantled Qi Ming's team. Though rumors of his challenge to Yu Chen had spread, many doubted. Now, witnessing his strength, they believed he could rival Yu Chen.
Having scattered the wolves, Lan An advanced leisurely toward the center. Not all feared him, though.
A figure blocked his path.
"Brat, I don't care what trick you used to kill my warhorse, but under the elders' watch, dare you try it now?" Bai Chun snarled, eyes venomous. This man had humiliated him before the city—unforgivable.
"I don't know what you're babbling about, nor who you are," Lan An said, feigning ignorance with a faint smile. His body cultivation surged, propelling him upward.
If you block my path, you're out.
"Mountain Suppression!"
His Heavy Sword, heavy as mountains, crashed toward Bai Chun's head.
"He dares attack the Young Lord!" the crowd gasped.
Nangong Yuan's eyes widened. The fool provoked her husband—did he expect Lan An to stand still? Were the White Sand Empire's royals brainless?
Reality proved her right.
"Good! You dare strike this Young Lord? You've eaten a tiger's guts!" Bai Chun grinned ferociously, sensing the attack's power and not daring to underestimate it.
"Low Heaven-Grade Technique—Immovable Mountain!"
Seals formed, earth energy surging, merging with the sand to create a mountain shield before him.
Bai Chun stood confidently behind it, mocking Lan An with his gaze.
His confidence crumbled.
Lan An didn't relent, channeling Early Fifth Revolution strength to its limit. Earth energy enveloped his Heavy Sword, multiplying its weight exponentially.
Mountain Suppression struck.
True to its name, before Bai Chun's disbelieving eyes, Immovable Mountain cracked and collapsed into the sand.
Lan An's arms tingled, bones creaking from the effort, but Bai Chun's shield was no more.
"Break my Immovable Mountain? Die!" Bai Chun roared, pointing a finger.
"Earth Rending Finger!"
Lan An smirked. Even the Third and Fourth Elders' version couldn't kill him. This whelp's attempt was laughable.
His Heavy Sword blocked.
Clang!
The finger strike clashed, neutralized completely.
"Gentleman's Demon-Slaying Fist!"
A fist imbued with absolute power rocketed toward Bai Chun's face.
The air tore, Bai Chun's hair standing on end. Forming seals, he shouted, "Earth King Seal!"
Lan An's expression shifted. He'd been battered by the elders' version of this technique, but Bai Chun's was far weaker.
Bai Chun, oblivious, brimmed with confidence in the empire's famed technique. The Earth King Seal spun fiercely in his hands.
"Be suppressed!" he sneered, unleashing it.
Thanks to this technique, he'd been invincible thus far.
But he was a frog in a well.
Gentleman's Demon-Slaying Fist, taught by Wu San Niang, was no ordinary technique. Enhanced by earth energy, Lan An's veined arm unleashed a brutal punch.
Boom!
Fist met seal, clashing fiercely in midair.
Lan An's hand stung, skin peeling and bleeding slightly, but the Earth King Seal trembled, pushed back, and shattered before Bai Chun's bulging eyes.
Crack!
Though weakened, the fist's remnant force struck Bai Chun's face.
Noticing Bai Chun's hidden armor, Lan An had targeted his face.
Teeth shattered, blood sprayed, and Bai Chun flew ten meters.
Silence fell.
The Earth King Seal was legendary, created by the empire's ancestors observing the Ancient Bear Prison Earth's earth energy. Its name symbolized unyielding, noble power, reserved for those of high status or great contributions.
Yet now, it was shattered—brutally, directly.
How could they not be stunned?
Though Lan An had used this fist against Yu Chen, Yu Chen lacked access to the Earth King Seal, making this moment far more shocking.
Hidden in the void, elder powerhouses grimaced, their ancestral technique crushed like a fly in their throats.
"Wen Lang used a body technique. Everyone knows body techniques outshine spiritual ones in raw power," the Second Elder said, consoling himself.
"Indeed, body techniques are rare. Even wealth can't buy them. This kid's luck is immense," the White Sand Emperor said impassively, his thoughts unreadable.
Body cultivators were scarce, and those creating body techniques rarer still, making their value incalculable and seldom traded.
"Body cultivators typically outmatch spiritual ones. Wen Lang, a dual cultivator, leaves the Young Lord little chance," the Fifth and Sixth Elders exchanged glances, concluding.
"Zhong Wu Ming wasn't a body cultivator. This kid has other fortunes," the Great Elder stroked his beard, pleased by the legacy's heir.
Among them, a man resembling the White Sand Emperor—Lord Bai Zhi, Bai Chun's father—watched silently. As Bai Chun was battered, his eyes shrank, a flicker of killing intent hidden within.
"Roar! I'll kill you!" Bai Chun staggered up, his broken jaw slurring his words like a vengeful ghost.
Lan An regarded him coolly, hands weaving seals.
Desolate Universe Suppression Seal formed, its aura capable of quelling the cosmos, ready to crush Bai Chun.
Feeling mortal danger, Bai Chun refused to back down despite the humiliation. With a thought, a golden spiked mace appeared, gleaming under the sun, its menacing spikes chilling the crowd.
"Peak Heaven-Grade Artifact—Earth Gold Mace!"
Someone recognized it, gasping. Even in Ninth-Grade factions, Peak Heaven-Grade artifacts were rare.
This was Lord Bai Zhi's famed weapon from youth, now passed to Bai Chun.
Gripping the Earth Gold Mace, Bai Chun's confidence surged, glaring at Lan An. "This Young Lord will see you dead!"
Lan An's eyes narrowed. This fool provoked him relentlessly, demanding his death. Time to end him.
Desolate Universe Suppression Seal roared forth, its cosmic pressure sweeping the arena toward Bai Chun.
"Haha, taste a Peak Heaven-Grade artifact!" Bai Chun laughed coldly, raising the mace.
"Earth Mace Quells Thousand Armies!"
The mace vibrated, absorbing earth energy, swelling to the size of a small sun above Bai Chun.
"Shatter!" he roared, smashing it against the seal.
Boom!
The arena quaked, dust rising.
Lan An's eyes tightened. Piercing Weakness Sight revealed his seal shattered by the mace, though the explosion left Bai Chun battered, coughing blood.
A glint of killing intent flashed. Under the dust's cover, Lan An charged with his Heavy Sword.
Bai Chun, elated at breaking Lan An's technique, prepared to press his advantage.
"Young Lord, danger!" a voice boomed, startling him.
Lan An loomed above, coldly declaring, "Earth Splitter!"
"Who dares harm the Young Lord?" a black figure appeared beside Bai Chun—General Black Bird, Yu Chen. His Black War Spear hummed.
"Jade Shatter!"
Yu Chen thrust his spear, the famed Jade Shatter aimed at Lan An's sword.
Lan An sneered. At Mid Void Refinement, you'd give me pause. But at Early Spirit Transformation, without Black Sand, you dare block me?
His Heavy Sword struck brutally.
Boom!
Yu Chen's arms numbed, bones rattling. Jade Shatter crumbled against Earth Splitter like an egg against stone. The spear flew from his hands.
"How is this possible?" Yu Chen muttered, stunned.
Yet he'd saved Bai Chun's life.
Silence gripped the arena, Lan An's might surpassing all expectations, humbling even Bai Lie and Bai Yang.
"Earth Gold Mace!" Bai Chun seized the moment, swinging at Lan An's head.
But Piercing Weakness Sight and All-Seeing Thousand Miles weren't for show. Every move was under control.
"Mother Earth's Embrace!"
A sand egg enveloped Lan An.
Clang!
The mace struck, cracking the shell—a Peak Heaven-Grade artifact's power.
As the egg shattered, Lan An emerged, grinning at Bai Chun.
"Desolate Universe Suppression Seal!"