"This level of physique, you're not in the second stage!"
Qi Ye's terrified roar echoed across the summit of Sky Dome Peak.
At that very instant, the energy users engaged in combat paused in their tracks.
Not in the second stage, what did that mean? Could it be that they had someone in the third stage here?
"Qi Ye, are you sure?"
Ye Gong disengaged from Jiang Taixu's encirclement, retreating with a grave expression as he asked.
Qi Ye clutched his chest, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes fixed on Xu Mu as he stammered, "Sure, I'm absolutely sure. His physique is definitely not that of a second-stage cultivator."
"So dense, so powerful. When he hit me, it was as if the heavens themselves had collapsed. My abilities were like paper; they couldn't stop him for even a moment!"
"What!"
Not just Ye Gong, but everyone's faces contorted in shock at the description. Jiang Taixu also looked at Xu Mu with some astonishment.
A collateral member of their Jiang family possessed a third-stage physique? Even Ye Gong hadn't broken through to the third stage, yet he had achieved it!
"Could it be that Father made other arrangements behind my back?" Jiang Taixu stared intently at Xu Mu with a solemn expression, then suddenly felt fortunate that he hadn't clashed with him earlier. Otherwise, he would be the one disgraced.
"Ye Gong, surrender. Stop this futile struggle," Jiang Taixu thought, then said to Ye Gong.
Ye Gong's subordinates cowered in fear, unsure of what to do.
Initially, they believed Ye Gong was the strongest present, just a single step away from breaking into the third stage. That was why they had followed him, risking everything, and engaged in fierce combat despite being outnumbered by more than two to one.
But now, they never imagined that the opposing side would have a third-stage physique cultivator, and with double their numbers! How could they possibly fight?
"Don't panic. He's just a physique cultivator. Just keep him at bay," Ye Gong said, slowly drawing a slender willow-leaf sword from his waist, which glinted in harmony with his broken eyebrow.
Instantly, an incredibly potent and sharp sword intent surged through the space.
"Qi Ye, take a hundred men and hold off that Mu Xu. After I kill Jiang Taixu, I'll return to deal with him alongside you!" Ye Gong declared, then fiercely charged towards Jiang Taixu with his sword. Jiang Taixu's expression was furious, and he condensed his soul energy into a sword, preparing to confront Ye Gong head-on.
However, the moment their attacks collided, Jiang Taixu's body was sent flying backward. His white robe was casually torn by the sword intent, revealing numerous bloody gashes.
Jiang Taixu lay on the ground, spitting blood, and looked at Ye Gong in shock, "You... you've broken through!"
Ye Gong heard him and replied arrogantly, "Let me tell you the truth. I had already broken through long before the preliminary rounds of the Myriad Races Assembly began."
"The rumor that I was just one step away from breaking through was a deliberate ploy to lure you all here to kill me. Jiang Taixu, you have been under my control from beginning to end."
Ye Gong spoke, his sword in hand, casually clearing obstacles in front of him with his sword intent, while glancing at Xu Mu.
"Although this person's appearance was not part of my plan, when it comes to a third-stage sword cultivator versus a third-stage physique cultivator, there's no need to elaborate on who is stronger."
"Once I kill you, it will be his turn to die!"
Ye Gong declared, slicing through everyone in front of him, before delivering a final strike towards Jiang Taixu. However, at this moment, Jiang Taixu's expression, beyond his terror, held a hint of an inexplicable smile.
Ye Gong felt something was amiss.
He instinctively sensed danger but couldn't pinpoint its source.
So, he prepared to forcibly interrupt his own strike.
But it was too late.
From the crowd, a limping cultivator among the "obstacles" he had casually cleared earlier, rose from the fallen bodies. Wielding two daggers as long as his forearms, he charged towards Ye Gong's back like a ghost.
His speed was astonishing, so fast that even Jiang Taixu, who had been intently watching his movements, could only perceive a blur of afterimages.
He instantly reached Ye Gong's back.
Then he plunged the dagger in.
"Ah!!!"
In an instant, Ye Gong retracted his sword. He instinctively used the sword hilt to push backward, sending the figure flying, but the dagger had already pierced him.
By a hair's breadth, perhaps the thickness of a strand of hair, the dagger would have reached Ye Gong's heart, but at this moment, it was deflected and didn't advance further.
"What a pity."
Seeing that Ye Gong hadn't died, Jiang Taixu lamented.
"I had hoped he would kill you directly, but I didn't expect you to have broken through to the Glorious Realm already, thus surviving."
Jiang Taixu said, looking at Ye Gong.
Ye Gong crouched, afraid to make any large movements. Countless sword edges swirled around him as he unleashed his full power, shredding everything within a five-foot radius.
However, this move was not for offense but defense. He had nearly died, and now he couldn't let anyone get close.
Who had thrown that knife?
Ye Gong shook the dagger from his forearm, looking at its bronze-silver hilt and the black blood staining it, and immediately recalled a name.
"Jiang Zheye!"
Ye Gong exclaimed the name in shock, then looked up ahead.
Standing before him was an ordinary young man, clad in plain cloth, with an unremarkable appearance. Yet, as Ye Gong met his gaze, he felt an instinctive fear.
Yes, even though he was in the third stage, Ye Gong still felt fear in front of Jiang Zheye.
Because Jiang Zheye was a born assassin.
He had seen many members of the Ye family.
In the end, they had all died without exception.
And Ye Gong had almost met his end at his hands just now.
"You're participating in the competition too? How could the Jiang family let you take such a risk!"
On the other side, Qi Ye and the others kept their distance from Xu Mu, their attention also drawn to Jiang Zheye.
They couldn't comprehend why the Jiang family would send Jiang Zheye to intercept Ye Gong. It seemed like a completely unworthy endeavor.
Even if the interception succeeded, the Jiang family wouldn't gain much. But if it failed, they would lose the most talented genius of their generation.
Indeed, Jiang Zheye was the most talented member of the Jiang family's direct lineage this generation, capable of holding his own in the Myriad Races Assembly, even having a chance to contend for the top ten.
Yet, at this moment, he was being used to intercept Ye Gong.
Jiang Zheye drooped his shoulders, remaining silent, simply gazing at Ye Gong.
Ye Gong knew that his opponent was waiting for his ability to subside before finding an opportunity to kill him.
"But even you are only in the second stage, aren't you?" Ye Gong, before his ability ended, unhesitatingly consumed his most precious elixir, expelling the poison from the dagger and instantly stopping the bleeding.
"Jiang Zheye, you are indeed fast, and I never expected you to be here. But it seems you also didn't anticipate that I am in the third stage."
"Now that I know you're here, can you stab my back again!"
Ye Gong said, then drew his sword and charged directly at Jiang Zheye. A vast net of sword energy intertwined, slicing everything in its path.
His expression was one of fear, yet laced with a touch of arrogance and madness. He knew he was in the third stage, and Jiang Zheye was only in the second. No matter how skilled, the latter was still only a second-stage cultivator and should not be his opponent.
As expected, under Ye Gong's furious assault, Jiang Zheye gained no advantage. Jiang Taixu even joined in. Despite their full combined effort, they were still being suppressed by Ye Gong, appearing quite battered.
"Damn it, hurry and think of something!" Jiang Taixu's body bore more and more sword marks. He couldn't help but say to Jiang Zheye beside him.
Jiang Zheye's expression remained unchanged throughout, seemingly at ease. However, the wounds on his body were increasing, proving that he was also no match for Ye Gong.
While this was normal, how could he accept it? The situation had reversed countless times in such a short period. Were they really going to end up defeated?
But in the very next second, Jiang Zheye's body suddenly vanished from the space.
Ye Gong instinctively sensed danger and abandoned his attack, switching to defense.
However, to everyone's surprise, Jiang Zheye's shadow did not charge towards Ye Gong.
He appeared behind Qi Ye.
...