Sage of Humanity

Lu Ye, deviating from his usual passivity, took the initiative to attack, something that caught everyone by surprise and raised suspicions among many from Ten Thousand Demons Ridge, making them wonder if his desire to die emanated from the broken Spiritual Artifact...

In the blink of an eye, the two contestants had clashed, with the clinking and clanking of weapons. Their Spiritual Artifacts constantly collided.

Hu Ping, a combat cultivator himself, wielded a saber as his Spiritual Artifact, but it was broader and somewhat shorter than Lu Ye's, a traditional machete.

As a disciple from a 3rd grade sect, Hu Ping's own strength was not meager. Although he had no achievements in defeating opponents beyond his own cultivation level, few cultivators of the same level could match him.

Especially when he employed his wide-open saber skills, a sense of a strong wind sweeping fallen leaves emerged. If Lu Ye's saber represented sharpness and aggression, then his embodied ferocity and force.

However, once he engaged with Lu Ye, who was at the Level 5 realm, he shockingly realized that he couldn't fully utilize his saber skills. Despite the opponent's Spiritual Artifact being broken, the speed and power were beyond his ability to contend with.

After exchanging a few strikes, he found himself unable to withstand the sharp onslaught, continually retreating backward, with his palms nearly splitting open. In his perception, the one he was facing was not a Level 5 realm cultivator, but a savage beast, brimming with blood Qi.

The oppressive feeling was too strong!

With a clang, Hu Ping's figure reeled backward, his Spiritual Artifact nearly flying out of his grip. He tried to steady himself, but his feet slipped.

Too many had died on this platform, their blood staining the entirety of Golden Light Peak a crimson red. Hu Ping, who was fighting on the platform for the first time, suffered greatly from this.

A bright flash of a saber passed by; Hu Ping forcefully steadied his stance and tried to block with his saber. Yet, the slashing blow bypassed his Spiritual Artifact and struck savagely.

By the time he thought of defending, it was too late. With ample experience in life-and-death battles, Hu Ping steeled his heart and slashed at Lu Ye's throat.

The battle had lasted just ten breaths, and already the opponents were in a life and death face-off, causing a collective gasp from the crowd.

There was no panic in Hu Ping's eyes because he knew that Lu Ye's broken saber couldn't do much harm to him. Although the opponent's Spiritual Artifact was indeed of good quality, since it was broken, it couldn't unleash its original power, and hence didn't pose a great threat to him.

But his own strike was different; aiming for Lu Ye's throat, it would be a matter of life and death if the opponent didn't activate any Defense Spirit Runes!

As expected, when his Spiritual Artifact reached Lu Ye's throat, it was blocked by a spirit rune. However, rather than ceasing his attack, he continued to exert pressure, using this to deplete his opponent's spirit force.

Yet, the pain in his chest caught him off guard, blood spurted out, and Hu Ping could no longer care for anything else, hastily leaping backward using the force of the strike.

Looking down, he saw a foot-long wound sliced across his chest, his treasure armor completely sundered, devoid of any spirit light!

A chill ran down Hu Ping's scalp, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

The reason he dared to meet Lu Ye's saber head-on was firstly, Lu Ye's Spiritual Artifact was broken, greatly diminishing its might, and secondly, he had treasure armor for protection. Although not of the highest quality, the armor did offer some defense and had saved him numerous times from perilous situations.

However, this time, the treasure armor was breached and failed to provide any protection.

Wasn't the opponent's Spiritual Artifact supposed to be broken? How could it still be so sharp?

Various thoughts churned in his mind, but there was no time to ponder, as Lu Ye had already closed in taking advantage of his momentary distraction, thrusting with his saber.

Fire-red spirit force clung to the broken length of the saber, imbued with an unstoppable might, and with a roar, Hu Ping raised his saber to block.

The clinking and clanking filled the air once more, and in an instant, the two exchanged blows relentlessly, but now Hu Ping, having lost his composure, found himself completely overpowered, feeling the opponent's assault to be not only sharp but also relentless and continuous.

A dozen breaths later, Hu Ping suddenly stood rigid in place, his large saber raised high but no longer having the strength to bring it down. He looked down at his chest with eyes full of horror.
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At his chest, the broken saber had pierced unimpeded through the damaged part of his treasure armor and into his torso.

Up close, eyes locked, Lu Ye gazed at his foe with a calm expression, "My name is Lu Ye! Righteous Blood Sect's Lu Ye!"

With a kick, Hu Ping was sent flying far, crashing to the ground, motionless.

Lu Ye, panting heavily, with a staggering gait, returned to his original spot, sat down cross-legged, tossed an elixir pill into his mouth, and lowered his head.

Above Golden Light Peak, silence still reigned.

It took a good while before Hu Ping's senior brother stepped forward to check and found that Hu Ping was dead beyond any doubt!

Murmured whisperings began to spread, gradually growing into a loud buzz...

Hu Ping was defeated as well! In this battle where victory was so close for the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge side, Hu Ping was killed!

It should be noted that this battle was intended by Ten Thousand Demons Ridge to end the conflict, and in everyone's eyes, Lu Ye, with his Spiritual Artifact broken, could not possibly be Hu Ping's match.

Yet, Hu Ping died after only two strikes from Lu Ye.

Lu Ye also took two hits from him, but both were dissolved by Defense Spirit Runes.

Some cultivators had already seen the problem – it was still that Spiritual Artifact. Although it was broken, it seemed to have not affected its might.

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Zih An, the cultivator from Ten Thousand Demons Ridge, had a grave expression on his face, which had turned slightly pale. He secretly felt relieved that Lu Ye had chosen Hu Ping; otherwise, it could have been him who fell in this bout.

Everyone thought that once Lu Ye's "barghest fangs" were snapped, he would be rendered harmless—how wrong they were, as those broken fangs proved no less Sharpness!

Looking at the figure sitting quietly with his head lowered, as if he could collapse at any moment, Zih An let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Although Hu Ping's death would not affect him too much, he would be the next to fight. If he were to lose... then only the people from Sacred Fire Order would remain, and the fellow from Sacred Fire Order was weaker than both him and Hu Ping, without any hope of success.

Therefore, no matter what, he could not lose this battle!

To win, he must not let his opponent's blade reach him. The killing power of that Spiritual Artifact was too terrifying, but as a combat cultivator who excelled in close combat, it was impossible to avoid such confrontations.

He was troubled!

Before he could come up with a strategy, someone from the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge's side reminded everyone, "Time's up!"

Li Baxian glared fiercely in their direction!

The incense that had been lit when Lu Ye began his rest period had burned out. The figure of Lu Ye, who had been resting with his head lowered, lifted his head once again. With thousands of eyes watching, he stood up just as he had before, leaning on his broken saber. His body swayed, and his steps were unsteady.

A group of Ten Thousand Demons Ridge cultivators watched with twitching eyelids. Lu Ye seemed like he could collapse at any moment, but as proven time and again, once he engaged in combat, he became as ferocious as a dragon and a tiger.

If not for witnessing his continuous battles through more than forty bouts, everyone might have thought he was just putting on an act.

No one knew what kind of conviction and willpower sustained this mere Level 5 realm cultivator, who hadn't fallen and continued to be invincible on that blood-stained arena.

Zih An stepped forward as both parties reported their affiliations as usual.

A buzzing noise echoed by Lu Ye's ears, a result of overexertion, and he wasn't quite able to make out what the others were saying. But it didn't matter—his senior sister would remember.

Boom...

The moment the spirit force burst forth, two figures charged at each other. This cultivator from Ten Thousand Demons Ridge was not intimidated by Lu Ye's terrifying battle record; he did not take a defensive stance. Instead, he actively met the challenge, knowing well as a combat cultivator that offense is the best form of defense.

The clash of Spiritual Artifacts rang out, and the two figures constantly shifted and interweaved on the arena, sparks flying with each collision.

Every cultivator from Ten Thousand Demons Ridge had their hearts in their throats because they understood the stakes: if they lost this battle, there would be no chance left. Although there was one more from Sacred Fire Order, his strength was no match for either Hu Ping or Zih An, and against Lu Ye, he would only face a certain death.

Three breaths, 5 breaths, ten breaths, twenty breaths, fifty breaths...

The warriors of Ten Thousand Demons Ridge finally breathed a sigh of relief as the tide of the battle steadied.

All quietly praised their performance. Truly deserving of a cultivator from a 2nd grade sect, that foundation was indeed stronger than the others. None of those who had faced Lu Ye before could match him in a head-on clash for such a long time without showing signs of defeat.

While some were able to endure under Lu Ye's onslaught for a considerable amount of time, they were simply being chased around, intent on draining Lu Ye's spirit force to lay the groundwork for a victory for their successors. It was unprecedented for someone to hold their own against Lu Ye for so long in a head-on confrontation.

Such strength clearly possessed the potential for fighting beyond one's own rank.

At this very moment, the more Lu Ye fought, the clearer his mind became. Although his ears still buzzed and his vision occasionally blurred, the pressure from his opponent confirmed that he faced someone whose strength and speed were by no means inferior to his own.

Against such an opponent, he could only seek a swift victory.

Lu Ye was aware of his situation; his spirit force was severely depleted. Continuing the battle like this, he would surely be the first to falter. If his spirit force ran out before he could defeat his opponent, then all that awaited him was death.

As the thought crossed his mind and faced with his opponent's incoming blow, he did not attempt to block or dodge but instead struck out with his saber.

The attack startled the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge cultivator. While Lu Ye dared to take his strike, he did not dare to take a hit from Lu Ye's saber. The deaths of so many had taught him a lesson: the Spiritual Artifact in Lu Ye's hands was absurdly strong; it was not something a low-level cultivator should possess.

He hastily dodged.

The rhythm was instantly disrupted. Originally, his exchanges with Lu Ye were evenly matched, but as he started to defend, the initial Sharpness in his heart faded, and he became hampered.

With every retreat and advance, Lu Ye had already sliced with his saber seven or eight times. Although he hadn't fully achieved his aims, the situation began to turn. On the stage, Lu Ye gradually gained the upper hand, slowly overpowering his opponent.

The man was clearly aware that continuing like this was not an option. As he contemplated his next move, a cracking sound rang out, and his weapon suddenly felt light in his hand.

Looking up, he saw a sight that chilled him to the bone—his own Spiritual Artifact had been severed!

Lu Ye had fought over forty bouts, and except for having his own long saber broken by the persistent efforts of the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge side, he had never before broken an opponent's Spiritual Artifact.

While the Defense Spirit Runes were indeed powerful, the Spiritual Artifacts themselves were also robust. His previous opponents either died under his saber within a few strikes or avoided direct confrontation, so he never had the opportunity.

But it was different with the man before him, who had exchanged blows with him, with their Spiritual Artifacts colliding time and again. Even if Lu Ye didn't activate the Sharpness spirit runes every time, the opponent's Spiritual Artifact couldn't withstand it any longer.

The long saber fell with the momentum, drawing a spray of blood!

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