This single finger strike contained the most powerful force of fire essence Jiang Chen had ever wielded. He had absorbed the fire crow king's crystal core, drawn upon the fire essence from two fire spirit vein caves, and recently consumed the Scarlet Cloud Fruit — his reserves of fire essence had grown to truly terrifying levels.
And this finger technique was a martial art he had cultivated during his recent seclusion: the "Starburst Finger." This divine ability, when mastered by the great powers of the myriad heavens, could pierce through an entire plane with a single thrust, annihilate an entire continent — its power could truly shake heaven and earth.
Jiang Chen had only grasped the barest surface of this technique, but by condensing his fire essence into a single finger, the searing power unleashed in that one instant was more than enough to destroy anything.
Luckily, Wu Chen had released his grip in time. Even so, the overwhelming fire essence still spread outward, scorching his palm through the residual heat. Had it not been for those mysterious gloves, Wu Chen's entire hand would likely have been completely destroyed.
This terrifying sight left Wu Chen horrified. His expression changed drastically as he stumbled back several steps, staring at Jiang Chen with pure shock.
Wu Chen had been on a roll, crushing Li Yuan of the Treasure Tree Sect and Wang Tuo of the Myriad Spirit Sect in succession. His confidence had ballooned, and he had developed a strong sense of superiority toward martial artists from the Sixteen Kingdoms Alliance.
So when he lashed out with his whip, he had fully expected to utterly dominate Jiang Chen. He never imagined that this opponent was nothing like any of the others before him.
Jiang Chen had crushed Wu Chen in essentially the same way Wu Chen had crushed Li Yuan and Wang Tuo.
This single finger strike shattered the invincible Wu Chen's composure entirely, and the three great sects erupted in cheers.
As expected of Jiang Chen — the moment he acted, the battle transformed completely.
The previously overbearing Wu Chen now looked ashen-faced and panicked, giving everyone from the three great sects an overwhelming sense of vindication.
Though Jiang Chen hadn't even completed his entry ceremony yet, at this moment, they already regarded him as their champion — the three great sects' sole hope of reclaiming their honor and turning the tide.
The old ancestors exchanged glances, each finding a measure of relief in the other's eyes. Clearly, in Jiang Chen, they had found hope.
Zuo Lan, too, had not expected Jiang Chen to make such a dramatic difference the moment he stepped forward.
He knew Wu Chen's strength well. Though Wu Chen was only at the ninth level of the Spirit Realm, he could absolutely hold his own even against Spirit Kings from the Sixteen Kingdoms level.
Yet Jiang Chen had destroyed Wu Chen's prized whip with a single finger strike, and had nearly obliterated Wu Chen's hand to boot.
What kind of technique was this? Even Zuo Lan couldn't immediately figure it out.
Having suffered a setback, Gu Xiong leapt forward with his towering frame, gripping the Wind-Cleaving Saber. He raised the blade high, drawing upon the power of the nine heavens, and surged forward with a devastating overhead slash.
"You think you're worthy of using a saber?"
Jiang Chen let out a cold laugh, stepped forward, and walked straight into the path of the oncoming blade — no dodging, no flinching, as though deliberately meeting the edge head-on.
"What is he doing?" The spectators below the stage were stunned by Jiang Chen's reckless move.
The old ancestors exchanged bewildered glances, none of them knowing what Jiang Chen was playing at.
Even Zuo Lan, a Earth Origin Realm powerhouse, found the sight unbelievable. He knew better than anyone how devastating Gu Xiong's saber was.
Was Jiang Chen really this arrogant, walking straight into Gu Xiong's blade? Wasn't that suicide?
Jiang Chen was hardly throwing his life away. As he moved, his Heavenly Eye Divine Pupil operated at full power, seeing through every detail of Gu Xiong's saber technique with perfect clarity.
Gu Xiong's blade was fast and ferocious, but under the analytical gaze of the Heavenly Eye Divine Pupil, every movement was broken down step by step, as though seen in slow motion.
In a single glance, Jiang Chen had read the entire trajectory of Gu Xiong's saber.
With the full picture laid bare, Gu Xiong's strike was about as threatening as a child waving a wooden sword in front of him.
Jiang Chen suddenly flicked his wrist, transforming his palm into a blade, and slashed diagonally.
Clang!
His palm-blade trailed a blinding arc of golden light and struck the flat of Gu Xiong's saber dead center, producing a piercing metallic ring.
Gu Xiong felt the shock travel through his tiger's mouth. A tremendous, inexplicable force surged through the blade's spine, straight into his grip, up his entire arm, and in an instant invaded his internal organs.
Gu Xiong's whole body went numb, as though struck by lightning.
Jiang Chen's palm-blade continued its arc in a downward chop.
Crack!
Another crisp sound rang out as Gu Xiong's Wind-Cleaving Saber snapped cleanly in two.
"Scrap metal, and you dare show off your saber skills? Get off the stage!"
Jiang Chen barked coldly and drove a kick into Gu Xiong's stomach.
"Bang!"