The Iron family's halberd art was considered one of the finest among the four great sects.
And Tie Dazhi had indeed devoted his lifeblood to cultivating the way of the halberd. His family's inherited halberd art was truly of extraordinary mastery.
The long halberd swept through the air like dragons and fish dancing—shimmering waves of light everywhere, as if countless carp leaped upon the river's surface beneath the setting sun. The momentum was overwhelming.
Most terrifying of all was that Tie Dazhi's Copper Serpent Iron Thread Halberd was an eighth-refinement spirit weapon. As it cut through the air, it seemed to draw upon the combined momentum of heaven and earth itself, forging a terrifying killing intent.
The power of an eighth-refinement spirit weapon was truly astonishing.
Though
Tang Hong might have known Tie Dazhi well enough, but he only knew about the Black Dragon Halberd. He had no idea the Iron family possessed an even more formidable weapon like the Copper Serpent Iron Thread Halberd.
And so, when Tie Dazhi unleashed his violent halberd art, he immediately seized the upper hand, pressing Liu Wencai into a perilous situation.
Fortunately, over these past few years of sparring with
Tie Dazhi's halberd art shifted constantly—now like a raging tempest, now like rolling thunder, then shimmering with rippling light, and then as dark as an eternal night.
The artistic conception of the halberd art was ever-changing and unpredictable.
The spectators below the stage watched with rapt attention. This could well be called the most thrilling battle since the tournament began. Tie Dazhi's domineering halberd art, dense and dazzling, was both spectacular and overbearing, its momentum so overwhelming that even those who had always dismissed Tie Dazhi were forced to reconsider their opinions.
Even Jiang Chen had to admit that Tie Dazhi seemed to have improved considerably compared to their battle back in the Royal Capital of Tiangui.
Whether in combat power or cultivation realm, there had been a substantial leap forward.
However, he wasn't overly worried about Liu Wencai. This was precisely the test he needed—the first real hurdle on Liu Wencai's path to rising as a genius.
If he could clear it, he would discover a whole world beyond what he knew.
If he couldn't, he would be nothing more than a stepping stone for others.
But Jiang Chen believed that with Liu Wencai's strength and talent, he would absolutely not sit idle and await defeat. Besides, Liu Wencai still had trump cards he had yet to reveal.
From what Jiang Chen knew of Liu Wencai, the reason he had remained on the defensive without retaliating might very well be a deliberate ruse—lulling Tie Dazhi into complacency so that at the critical moment, he could defeat his enemy in a single blow!
Tang Hong stood below the stage, his massive fists clenched tight, his face a whirlwind of expressions—sometimes gritting his teeth, sometimes glaring with fury. His face was remarkably animated.
Those who didn't know the situation might have thought he was worried about his sect brother Tie Dazhi. But in truth, Tang Hong's concern was for Liu Wencai.
The two had become sworn brothers through their sparring, long since transcending the boundaries between their respective sects.
The four Venerables seemed quite interested in this battle as well.
The Nine Lion Venerable in particular stared intently at the two fighters on the stage, his gaze sharp and unwavering.
"Old Nine Lion, you look a bit nervous," the Chasing Sun Venerable remarked lightly, delivering a subtle jab.
"Meddling old fool." The Nine Lion Venerable had never gotten along with the Chasing Sun Venerable, and when the other threw out a barb, he certainly didn't hold back.
The Chasing Sun Venerable laughed heartily. This kind of verbal sparring between the two was nothing new, and neither would truly take offense.
"Qianye, this disciple of yours from the Treasure Tree Sect certainly has an impressive presence. But I'd say he's going to lose." The Chasing Sun Ancestor turned to address the Treasure Tree Sect's Thousand Leaf Venerable.
This was yet another remark meant to sow discord.
The Thousand Leaf Ancestor smiled faintly. "Zhuiyang, it seems you're the most on edge today."
A light, airy reply that completely sidestepped the Chasing Sun Ancestor's tone, defusing the provocation entirely.
The Nine Lion Venerable let out a strange laugh. "The
"Catch up?" The Chasing Sun Ancestor scoffed. "The top four on the scoreboard—my Purple Sun Sect claims first and second place. Catch up? What do those other geniuses have to catch up to
The Chasing Sun Ancestor's tone brimmed with confidence.
The Thousand Leaf Ancestor offered a small smile but had nothing to say in rebuttal. His Treasure Tree Sect's geniuses hadn't even cracked the top four, so he was hardly in a position to boast.
But the Nine Lion Ancestor fired back: "Lei Gangyang? If I recall correctly, just a few months ago, he couldn't even handle a single mundane martial artist."
These old codgers—all at the Spirit Origin Realm—might be mighty in cultivation, but when it came to verbal sparring, none was willing to yield an inch.
And at this moment, on the stage, Tie Dazhi's onslaught surged like a tidal wave, its momentum growing fiercer with every strike—each one seeming to churn the oceans, move mountains, and shatter the very heavens.
Though Liu Wencai had remained in a defensive stance the entire time, he was never swallowed up by this storm of attacks.
Tie Dazhi, frustrated by his inability to break through, was growing increasingly agitated.
With a sudden piercing cry, a fearsome light shot from his eyes: "Liu Wencai, you dare not meet me blow for blow? You think you can win just by dodging and weaving? Fine—you want to run? Then I'll leave you nowhere to run!"
As he spoke, his technique shifted once more.
The halberd art suddenly became a web of interlocking strikes—each thrust straight and true, like silver hooks and iron brushstrokes, sweeping horizontally, then vertically, carving arcs of ghastly yellow light that gouged deep furrows through the void.
"Liu Wencai—let's see you dodge this!"