Chapter 130: The Battle Makes Everything Clear

Unlike Yang Ze, Shui Ziming’s expression was somewhat somber. He had not expected Yang Ze to hold out for so long, nor had he anticipated that Yang Ze would become his opponent at such a time.

However, Shui Ziming quickly regained his composure. Since he had run into Yang Ze, it was actually a perfect opportunity to properly settle the score. In this martial arts tournament, weapons were blind; if things got heated on the arena stage, it was normal to be unable to pull back in time. While killing was forbidden, accidentally inflicting a severe injury was entirely acceptable.

Shui Ziming began to plot. He was not at all worried about losing to Yang Ze, as he deemed such a thing impossible. He was a "half-step first-grade" expert who had refined true essence; how could he possibly fall to a mere registered disciple at the ninth stage of true essence energy?

Yang Ze observed the somber-faced Shui Ziming and knew without a doubt that he was calculating something malicious. Yet, he did not fear Shui Ziming’s schemes, for he, too, was considering how to deal with his opponent. Before a single blow was struck, both men were already harboring their own intentions, staring at one another with battle intent rising in their eyes.

The deacon overseeing the arena sensed the tension. Several outer disciples assisted him in securing the corners of the stage to prevent any unexpected incidents.

At the command, the match began. Shui Ziming and Yang Ze lunged forward simultaneously. In an instant, their respective auras surged to their peak, and their fists and palms collided with a thunderous impact.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

The two figures clashed head-on, trading blows with intense ferocity. Yang Ze unleashed a palm strike infused with true essence energy, tearing up the surface of the arena. Shui Ziming sidestepped, evading the force of the blow. In return, Shui Ziming threw a punch, the wind howling as his true essence vibrated outward, gouging a large crater into the arena floor. Even Yang Ze dared not take such a punch head-on and was forced to retreat.

After dozens of exchanges, Yang Ze was startled by Shui Ziming’s strength. Having secured a spot among the top hundred registered disciples previously and now having broken through to the half-step first-grade, his power was indeed formidable. Through several bouts, Yang Ze utilized his "Great Whirlwind Piercing Footwork" to maneuver, yet he already showed signs of falling behind. If this continued, defeat was certain.

At this moment, Shui Ziming’s offensive grew even more fierce. His fists, now coated in a layer of true essence, struck out with violent gusts that swept across the stage, accompanied by a torrent of raw energy. Yang Ze’s expression turned grim. He raised his right hand to conjure a defensive palm wind, but it was insufficient to block the incoming gale, and he was forced to retreat rapidly.

Barely a few steps back, Yang Ze vaulted into the air, dodging the true essence attack. He landed behind Shui Ziming and struck toward his opponent’s back with his right palm. Shui Ziming spun around and threw a punch, a ripple of force vibrating from his fist. Yang Ze hurriedly brought his other hand up to meet it. He blocked the shockwave with both palms but was still sent reeling backward. As he channeled his strength to dispel the lingering vibration, he noticed that the sleeves of his robe had been completely shredded.

He was inwardly shocked; the power of true essence was indeed far superior to that of true essence energy.

Shui Ziming, having refined true essence and stepped into the half-step first-grade, required Yang Ze to expend a massive amount of true essence energy just to neutralize each of his attacks. Seeing Yang Ze’s strained appearance, Shui Ziming sneered.

"Give up. You are no match for me. The gap between ninth-stage true essence energy and the half-step first-grade is insurmountable!"

"Whether or not I am a match, we shall see once the fight is over," Yang Ze replied, his face devoid of fear. He circulated his "Nurturing Qi Technique," and his aura climbed back to its peak. He swung his palms, manifesting a swirling barrier of energy around himself. Then, he pressed both palms forward, launching the gathered energy in a massive blast that tore another layer off the arena floor and surged toward Shui Ziming.

Shui Ziming snorted and unleashed a blast of true essence from his hand. The debris and dust kicked up by Yang Ze’s attack exploded into a thick, swirling fog before it could even reach him.

Inside the dense fog, Shui Ziming’s vision was obscured, but his ears caught the sound of several wind-piercing projectiles. He focused his mind and thrust his hands out. With true essence condensed in his palms, he successfully intercepted the incoming strikes. The attacks hit his palms, causing no injury—only leaving a few white marks.

However, the assault did not end there. More sounds of whistling wind followed. Shui Ziming frowned, parrying constantly, but even with his focus, he eventually suffered a lapse. In the fog, several attacks slipped past his guard, piercing his clothes and leaving small puncture wounds on his skin.

Feeling the pain, Shui Ziming’s expression turned vicious. "Hiding and sneaking about, Yang Ze! Is this all you have? Do you think these petty tricks can threaten me? I will show you what true power looks like!"

Before he could finish his sentence, Yang Ze burst out from the fog, accompanied by a flash of blade light. Wielding his long saber, Yang Ze rushed toward Shui Ziming and unleashed a "Ferocious Tiger Descending the Mountain." The blade descended with surging Qi, aiming directly for Shui Ziming’s head.

Shui Ziming’s eyes glinted. The moment the saber appeared, he sensed a killing intent and, without hesitation, channeled all his true essence. He grabbed out with both palms, catching the blade. The Qi shattered against his hands, but Shui Ziming did not stop; he clamped his palms together, trapping the saber. He poured his true essence into the blade, widening a pre-existing notch until the steel was riddled with cracks. With a crisp *snap*, the saber shattered.

The weapon that had accompanied Yang Ze from Yuyang City to the Piao Miao Martial Academy was finally destroyed.

At the critical juncture, before Shui Ziming could strike, Yang Ze threw the remaining hilt aside and reached behind his back, tearing away a black cloth. He grabbed the hilt of the weapon sheathed beneath: the Blood-Shatter Blade. Sealed for months, it finally drew blood.

A flash of light erupted; the moment the Blood-Shatter Blade appeared, a bloody aura emanated from its edge. Shui Ziming felt a momentary sense of disorientation upon sensing the malevolent spirit of the blade.

Yang Ze seized this split-second opening. He swung the Blood-Shatter Blade, executing the "Tiger Kill" technique. By the time Shui Ziming recovered his focus and saw the blade descending, he instinctively met it with his true essence-infused palms.

The moment they touched, Shui Ziming immediately regretted it. The sharpness of the Blood-Shatter Blade erupted; his true essence was unable to withstand the edge. Though he pulled his hand back, the blade still left a deep wound across his palm.

Sealing the wound with his true essence, Shui Ziming retreated, his face pale and grim. "This is a Sharp-Grade weapon!" he spat out, word by word.

Shui Ziming was filled with horror. He could not conceive of any other way a ninth-stage practitioner could break through his true essence. Furthermore, he could not fathom how Yang Ze possessed such a weapon; Sharp-Grade arms were incredibly expensive, and the one in Yang Ze’s hand did not look like an ordinary one.

Yang Ze locked his gaze on Shui Ziming. He had endured and kept the Blood-Shatter Blade hidden until now specifically to catch his enemy off guard, and the effect was clearly excellent. It was the right choice to use it as his trump card; with the blade in hand, he finally had a way to counter the true essence of a half-step first-grade martial artist.

"Shui Ziming, can you still laugh now?" Yang Ze swung the Blood-Shatter Blade, infusing it with his true essence energy, and the aura of the blade grew even more intense.

Shui Ziming did not answer. He furrowed his brows tightly, spread his arms, and released his true essence without reservation. He pushed his palms forward, creating a wave of force that caused the entire arena to vibrate violently. A shockwave surged toward Yang Ze.

Yang Ze moved his blade. This time, he did not use "Ferocious Tiger Descending the Mountain," but instead unleashed his "Wind-Facing Blade Slash," a technique he had never before revealed in public.

The moment the technique was unleashed, the arena was filled with killing intent. Following the intent, a blade aura manifested, swirling around the weapon.

As this scene unfolded, the deacon and the outer disciples stared at Yang Ze, transfixed. Even the elders on the high platform turned their heads to watch. Though this attack was nothing to them, the sheer purity of the killing intent displayed was enough to catch their attention.

"What martial art is this boy practicing? To possess such killing intent—if left unchecked, it will surely lead to trouble in the future," one elder remarked, staring at Yang Ze with a grave expression.