Although the strike ended in a draw, July had managed to match the others, five in total, with his strength alone. If they were to fight one-on-one, perhaps no one present could suppress him, unless a Vigorous Martial God like Chen Qinggong intervened.
In the era when Lin Tanyu was absent, it made sense for July to occupy the position of the Strongest King on the Qingyun List.
"Emei Chasing Wind Sword Technique." Zhuang Ziruo furrowed her brow, a sharp gleam passing through her clear eyes. With a flick of her wrist, several sword flowers bloomed from her Light Sword, stabbing toward July from eight directions, each at a trickily angled approach that was impossible to avoid.
Lin Mo frowned, "Yingzi, you've taught my sword technique..."
"I... I just told Sister Zi Ruo a few tricks, the rest she figured out on her own," said Yingzi, pouting and lowering her head.
The sword technique used by Zhuang Ziruo indeed had shades of the Nine Heavens Sword Technique, but its core was still the Emei Sword Technique.
Faced with the sword flowers coming from all directions, everyone's hearts leapt, unsure of how July would respond. After all, these sword flowers weren't merely illusions but actual sword lights that could puncture holes in the body upon contact.
July's gaze shone like the sun, a burst of battle intent erupting from him. His black hair flew backward as if he were a War God, and he sent a palm strike head-on, completely ignoring the sword flowers coming from the side.
Zhuang Ziruo was momentarily stunned. Was July intent on a Pyrrhic victory, willing to take damage in order to inflict it?
But as July's palm strike landed, everyone realized that he had no thoughts of a Pyrrhic victory. His pure True Dragon Energy directly shattered the silver sword flowers nearby, with the remaining force hitting Zhuang Ziruo in the abdomen.
Zhuang Ziruo flew backward like a kite with its string cut, her sword's tip buried half a foot into the rock. Holding the sword hilt in her pale hand, she managed to stabilize herself, her exquisite face turning pale as a stark contrast of blood spilled from the corner of her mouth.
"Zi Ruo," Zhang Yesheng furrowed his brow, converging the yin and yang energy in his hands, executing the legendary Wudang technique, the Yin Yang Palm. It was rumored that only Zhang Gulu could use this move, yet Zhang Yesheng, so young, had already mastered such a powerful skill, leaving onlookers in awe.
"True Dragon Fist!"
July's gaze was lightning-sharp as he watched Zhang Yesheng form the Yin Yang Map with his palms. His face was full of frenzied battle will as he threw a punch. A nearly tangible Golden Dragon Breaking Fist soared as if flying through the skies, carrying an overwhelming aura that seemed to shatter the very air into pieces.
The Golden True Dragon collided with the Yin Yang Map, instantly shattering the map, and the remaining force struck Zhang Yesheng, pushing him back.
The summit of the mountain was shrouded in smoke and riddled with cracks, with all sand and rock turned to dust by the powerful True Qi. Wu Yihan, Li Yang, Zhuang Ziruo, Chen Yanghao, Zhang Yesheng, and others exchanged glances before once again drawing on their strengths to attack July. Yet July, protected by golden Gang Qi and infusing each move with the grand rhythm of martial arts in his gaze, not only kept the upper hand but also gradually overpowered their joint defense.
The martial artists on the mountain couldn't help but show amazement.
"It truly is July's master. How impressive!"
"My former idol was Lin Tanyu, but from now on, it's July's master."
"Surely a descendant of the Aixinjueluo family," Qu Banshan commented.
Qu Mo pouted and said, "If he weren't from the Aixinjueluo family, could he be this powerful? Everyone else relies on stacking herbs and elixirs to get stronger."
"Hmph, what do you know? If you had his martial arts talent and strong will, the Qu family would spare all its resources to train you," Qu Qingshan snorted coldly, scaring Qu Mo into silence.
"Brother Mo, it is indeed so. Although the master of July comes from a powerful family with all resources at his disposal, he himself is a martial arts genius, which is why he has achieved such success," Qu Yao spoke up.
Lin Mo watched several people fighting fiercely, their True Qi strikes nearly shattering the flat tops of the mountains, and he couldn't help but nod. If July were placed in the Cultivation World, he would undoubtedly grow into a formidable figure in the future. It was just a pity that the resources and Spiritual Energy on Earth were so scarce.
With this thought in mind, Lin Mo's gaze once again drifted toward a distant peak.
On top of the peak, a young man dressed in green robes furrowed his brows. He clearly felt someone watching him, but when he swept over the area with his Divine Sense, he couldn't find who was coveting him.
"It's possible I've been secluded for too long and am having an illusion. How could these monkeys ever detect my presence?" The green-robed youth shook his head, then turned his attention back to the battlefield, "This July does catch my eye, but the others are too weak."
"Master Chen, what level of Realm do you think the master of July has reached?" an elder asked Chen Qinggong, who was beside him.
Chen Qinggong, a grand War God who had been in reclusion for decades, had come out this time to watch the Martial Arts Tournament. A true Vigorous Martial God, his gaze seemed murky, yet occasionally a sharp glint would flash through.
"In my humble opinion, the master of July's strength is almost on par with mine," Chen Qinggong said slowly.
At those words, the people around took a sharp intake of breath.
Everyone knew of Chen Qinggong's strength. If it was said that July's strength was close to his, it meant that July hadn't yet fought with his full power.
What was even more terrifying was that July was only about twenty-five or twenty-six years old. Given a few more years, it was possible for him to reach the status of a Peak Martial God or even have a chance at the legendary God Realm.
Not only Chen Qinggong, but also sect leaders like Zhuang Daoxin and Zhang Gulu had recognized July's exceptional abilities.
The faces of those from the Aixinjueluo family showed a look of pride.
After about fifteen minutes of fighting, Zhuang Ziruo, Zhang Yesheng, Wu Yihan, Li Yang, and Chen Yanghao simultaneously pushed away from each other; they all suffered internal injuries, looking pale with blood dripping from the corners of their mouths.
Shock was even more apparent in their eyes. Besides one person they considered unbeatable, now there seemed to be another.
"It's just a pity that Lin Tanyu isn't here," July sighed with a hint of regret. His goal had always been Lin Tanyu, but when he saw Lin Tanyu half a year ago, his dispirited state left July with no desire to battle him.
"Half a year later, I thought you would show up," July shook his head inwardly.
"Is this the number one genius of your Martial Arts World?" Suddenly, a piercing voice sounded in everyone's ears.
Hearing this, everyone looked up.
They saw a figure, with hands folded behind the back, slowly descending from a mountain peak, stepping as if on invisible stairs, one step at a time.
The Void formed steps!
Many were stunned; such a feat could only be performed by someone like Chen Qinggong, a Peak Martial God.