There was no need for the announcer to introduce them further.
Both Yu Tianheng and Sword Wine were widely renowned in in the Heaven Dou Grand Spirit Arena.
Before Sword Wine appeared,
Yu Tianheng held the record for the fastest promotion to Silver Badge.
He possessed a top-tier beast-type Martial Soul—the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon—and was heir to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, one of the three Upper Sects. He also served as the captain of the Heaven Dou Imperial Battle Team.
The spotlight around him was dazzling.
So dazzling that it overshadowed an entire generation of young talents in Heaven Dou City.
But now, the name "Sword Wine" shone just as brightly.
One battle, one sword.
A 21 consecutive victories.
The fastest promotion to Silver Badge in history.
His reputation wasn't inherited—it was carved out blade by blade.
As the two combatants stepped onto the stage,
The crowd's cheers exploded like thunder.
"Sword Wine! Kill Yu Tianheng for me!"
"Yu Tianheng! Break Sword Wine's blade!"
"One sword! Still one sword! Even against Yu Tianheng, Sword Wine will only need one!"
"He's Rank 39 with a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul! I don't see how Yu Tianheng loses!"
"Shut your damn mouth, Sword Wine is invincible!"
"Who are you talking to? You wanna throw down right here in the arena?!"
Before the fight had even begun on stage,
The audience below was already scrapping.
Li Zhexian glanced around, amused by the chaos.
"Sword Wine—getting distracted at a time like this. Don't you think that's a bit disrespectful?"
Yu Tianheng spoke coldly, displeased by what he perceived as a lack of regard.
Li Zhexian drew his gaze back and lowered his voice deliberately.
"One sword."
"…Hm?"
Yu Tianheng frowned.
"What did you say?"
"I said, I'll still only use one sword."
Yu Tianheng narrowed his eyes, staring at the white-robed figure a few meters away.
"You're underestimating me, Sword Wine."
And it wasn't just Yu Tianheng.
When the crowd heard Li Zhexian's words,
His supporters lost their minds in ecstasy, but Yu Tianheng's fans jeered and cursed in fury.
—
Second-Floor VIP Box
Yufeng clenched his fists.
"This guy is way too arrogant!"
Osler frowned as well. He agreed—Sword Wine was being outrageous.
The Shi brothers, built like twin black towers, slowly shook their heads.
Clearly, they didn't believe Sword Wine could defeat their captain with just one sword strike.
Ye Lingling remained silent, her blue eyes fixed on the stage.
Dugu Yan twirled a lock of her purple hair around her slender fingers, the corner of her mouth lifting in a sly, seductive smirk.
"Unless…"
"…he's been hiding his strength."
—
Third-Floor VIP Box
Xue Qinghe returned and fixed his gaze on the stage, lips parting lightly.
"Porcupinefish, Snake Lance."
"Yes, Young Master?"
"I will not allow Li Zhexian to be harmed."
The two Titled Douluo sighed quietly and nodded.
"…Understood."
The fight hadn't begun,
But the stage was already saturated with killing intent.
Yu Tianheng took a step forward—
A low thunderclap boomed out of nowhere.
A purple Spirit Ring rose from beneath his feet.
"Third Spirit Ability—Thunder Fury!"
His eye sockets filled with molten thunder. At the corners of his eyes, arcs of lightning flared a full foot long.
Beneath his exposed skin, lightning surged like a flood.
Zzzzzzt—!
Zzzzzzt—!
From a three-foot radius around him, arcs of electricity lashed outward like serpents.
Audience members seated nearby suddenly felt their entire bodies tingle; their hair stood on end.
Lightning had always been known for its raw, destructive power.
Now, watching Yu Tianheng standing like the son of thunder, many in the crowd were visibly shaken.
But—
He wasn't finished.
Two yellow Spirit Rings flared in succession.
"First Spirit Ability—Thunder Dragon Claw!"
Purple-blue dragon scale patterns emerged on his arms. His fingernails extended into half-foot claws wrapped in crackling arcs of thunder.
"Second Spirit Ability—Thunder Crash!"
Dozens of lightning snakes erupted from his scaled palms, cascading like a thunderstorm toward Li Zhexian.
At the same time,
Boosted by Thunder Fury, his Thunder Dragon Claws slashed down with devastating force.
To the untrained eye, it seemed to happen slowly—
But in truth, it all unfolded in a flash.
From the activation of three Spirit Abilities to the full-force assault—
It all happened in an instant.
Boom—!
Boom—!
Yu Tianheng charged like a bolt of thunder.
Blue-violet lightning surged between the scales on his arms.
The stones on the platform trembled and lifted into the air, suspended by the magnetic force of the storm.
The air split with a hiss.
And faintly, one could hear the roar of a tyrannosaurus.
Blue-purple lightning lit up the faces of the stunned crowd.
This display of nature's fury was terrifying.
Yu Tianheng's full-powered assault exceeded everyone's expectations.
At that moment—
Even Sword Wine's diehard fans fell silent.
—
Second Floor
Yu Feng let out a breath.
"It's been a while since Boss went all out…"
"One sword to beat him? I'd love to see how Sword Wine plans to stop that!"
Osler and the Shi brothers nodded in agreement.
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling were focused intently on the stage.
—
Third Floor
"…So calm. Too calm."
Porcupinefish Douluo murmured:
"From the moment Yu Tianheng activated his Spirit Abilities, Li Zhexian hasn't moved. Either he's frozen—or he's absolutely confident."
Snakespear Douluo's interest was piqued.
"Hm. Looks like we won't need to intervene."
"But I'm curious—what trump card could he possibly have to match a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon user who's a full rank higher?"
Xue Qinghe's eyes locked onto Li Zhexian's figure on the stage. A faint golden light flickered deep within his gaze.
As Yu Tianheng's thunderous charge closed in, the wind whipped Li Zhexian's white robes violently.
His eyes suddenly turned sharp—like a sword drawn from its sheath.
Zheng—!
A crisp sword cry rang out.
A three-foot-six Qinglian Sword materialized out of thin air in front of him.
He raised a hand—
And grasped the hilt.
As his fingers closed—
A purple Spirit Ring wrapped around the Qinglian Sword.
"Second Spirit Ability—Three Swords of Elegance."
This was the ability granted by the Spirit Ring of a mutated Spirit Beast—the Three-Tailed Sword Scorpion King.
The next strike: Sword speed ×300%, Sharpness ×300%.
A lotus-shaped brand glowed on the blade, radiating translucent green light and an aura of unimaginable sharpness.
In that instant—
Everyone watching felt a sharp pain in their eyes and instinctively closed them in panic.
Li Zhexian's sword—
Could not even be looked at directly!
But Yu Tianheng did not flinch.
He sneered.
"Sword Wine, if this is all you've got, today is where you fall!"
"Roar—!"
Lightning gathered, forming the shape of a rampaging dragon howling at the sky.
Yu Tianheng's aura surged again—
Even more terrifying than before.
"…Yu Tianheng, today, you'll be my test subject for a sword technique of my own design."
Under countless stunned gazes,
Li Zhexian raised the Qinglian Sword, trailing sparks like starlight.
He drew two fingers across the edge—
The lotus on the blade lit up in brilliant starfire.
Hum—!
Hum—!
The Qinglian Sword cut streaks through the air, leaving echoes behind.
Its speed had broken the sound barrier.
The sword tore the air like silk—
Even the dust in its path was sliced clean in two.
Li Zhexian felt his palm begin to tremble—
He nearly couldn't hold on as the Qinglian Sword surged like a shooting star, ready to take flight on its own.
"First form of the Qinglian Sword Song—Yaoguang Sword."
Facing Yu Tianheng's thunderous charge—
Li Zhexian brought the sword down.