“Hmm?” Ruo Yu, though dodging her opponent's attack, suddenly noticed something unusual.

A second later, her eyes shifted, looking at the sword in her hand…

"A heartbeat?" Ruo Yu wondered to herself after she clearly heard the sound coming from the sword.

She raised her eyes to look at her opponent and glanced at the spectators around the arena… judging from their reactions, the sound… seemed to be audible only to the sword's wielder.

"This… could it be…" Ruo Yu's mind raced, and she quickly realized what this sound meant.

"Junior! Now you know fear… but it's too late!" On the other side, Yao Ni Tian, seeing that Ruo Yu hadn't moved, assumed she was intimidated by his technique. Therefore, he arrogantly continued, "Watch as I subdue you!"

With that said, he spun around and unfurled the Extermination Kasaya he was wearing. The kasaya suddenly enlarged in mid-air, covering the sky like a garment, and rolled towards Ruo Yu.

At that instant, it was seen…

*Chi ying—*

A sword's hum, carrying a dazzling golden light.

As the light suddenly rose, the wind and clouds stirred!

The numerous evil spirits hovering in the sky were startled by this golden light and fled in panic, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

"That's!"

"Impossible!"

"Who exactly is she… why does she have that thing?"

Among the spectators, some who knew their stuff understood what had happened just by seeing the light, so they were instantly shocked…

At the same time, on the arena.

"This sword…" Ruo Yu completely ignored the kasaya formation in mid-air. She just lowered her head and looked at the [Sealed Saint], which had already "unsealed," and muttered, "Too strong…"

This phrase "too strong" was not admiration, but a statement of objective fact. What she meant was… the power of this sword had already exceeded the limit she could control.

*Sha sha sha—*

Just as Ruo Yu was in a daze, the giant kasaya had already fallen a few meters above her head. However, just as the kasaya was about to roll down, the sword in Ruo Yu's hand… suddenly flashed with golden light again.

The sky-filled kasaya containing the power of evil spirits was instantly turned into powder and vanished into thin air, just by being illuminated by that golden light.

"What!" Yao Ni Tian, seeing this, revealed a look of horror and instinctively retreated several steps. "You… what sword is that in your hand?"

"Hmph…" Ruo Yu snorted coldly, her icy gaze falling on her opponent again. "Is there still a need for you to know?"

This question… to Yao Ni Tian, sounded like a declaration of imminent death.

"Indeed… a person who is about to die doesn't seem to need to know such things."

At this moment, Yao Ni Tian's eyes changed. His state of mind had never been so peaceful and indifferent…

He was a seeker of the Way who had gone astray, a devil in monk's robes; his existence was a trampling of the Buddha. And his "Way" was destined to be a dead end.

Now, as he reached the end of this dead end, what he saw… was a seeker's purest original intention.

Unfortunately… it was already too late.

A figure moved, a sword rose.

Li Ruo Yu, no longer holding back, transformed into a stream of light along with the sword in her hand.

No need for techniques, no need for strategy, just a simple advancing slash was enough to end this battle.

Because, the true face of the [Sealed Saint] was…

[Name: Xuanyuan Sword]

[Type: Weapon]

[Quality: Legendary]

[Attack Power: ???]

[Attribute: None]

[Special Effect: When fighting evil, demons, spirits, monsters, chimeras, and goblins, the player's attack power is increased to ten times its theoretical limit]

[Equipment Requirements: Melee Specialization S, Spiritual Arts Specialization C, Level 45 or higher]

[Note: Ancient sword of the holy way, legendary divine weapon, one of the ten ancient artifacts. Forged by the gods from the copper of Mount Shou for the Yellow Emperor. One side of the sword body is engraved with the sun, moon, and stars; the other side is engraved with mountains, rivers, plants, and trees; one side of the hilt is inscribed with the art of farming and animal husbandry; the other side is inscribed with the strategy of unifying the four seas. It contains infinite power and is an supreme divine sword for slaying demons and eliminating evil.]

*Chi—*

Two figures passed each other, the sword light flashed, and blood splattered.

Yao Ni Tian's century-old foundation and fierce evil power were shattered into pieces by this one sword… exploding and dying.

"Martial arts performance ends." The roar of the arena's reporting statue immediately sounded, "Winner, Si Yu Ruo Li. Loser, Yao Ni Tian."

Hearing the voice, Ruo Yu coldly sheathed her sword and slowly walked off the arena.

The entire venue was silent…

…

At the same moment, inside the main hall of Gu Zhi City.

"There… seems to be some kind of power awakening at the martial arts arena…"

The "person" who said these words was sitting on a huge, luxurious throne engraved with the copper紋 of an eight-headed serpent, Yamata no Orochi.

His posture seemed relaxed. His body was slightly tilted, his head was cocked to the side, his eyes were slightly closed, and one hand was propped on his jaw.

He had white hair, pale purple skin, and his entire body was covered in black python scale armor (not worn, but a part of his body). He was tall and imposing.

He was the one and only… Orochi, existing only in this special script world, transcending space and dimensions, truly super extremely unparalleled and invincible.

In short… Orochi.

Commonly known as… Zhi-ye.

"Hmm… seems to be very powerful holy power…" Da Ji, leaning against Orochi's throne, replied, "Should we send someone down to take a look?"

"Lord Orochi," Ping Qing Sheng, who was in the next seat beside the throne, interjected, "How about this humble one…"

"No need," Orochi immediately interrupted Ping Qing Sheng. "You stay here." He paused. "We… haven't finished our conversation."

The Demon King's orders were unquestionable, and Ping Qing Sheng immediately fell silent.

Two seconds later, Orochi opened his eyes and looked at a seat on his right: "Ghost god of the human realm, why don't you go…"

"Hmph…" The person sitting in that seat didn't seem to respect Orochi very much. He snorted and stood up. "Understood, I'll go take a look."

This man wore a three-pronged purple-gold crown, a scarlet cotton hundred-flower robe from Western Sichuan, a beast-faced chain armor with a swallowing head, and a lion-mane belt.

It is said that… He is a magnificent seven-foot Han, with sword-like eyebrows and tiger-like eyes surpassing Pan An. Since childhood, he practiced martial arts with superb skill, earning a reputation for courage that crowned the universe. A general leading thousands of troops is like taking something out of a bag with ease. The fine steed Red Hare adds wings to the tiger, and the halberd of Fang Tian terrifies enemies. Looking around with disdain, he laughs loudly: all the heroes in the world are in vain!

The peerless general among ghosts and gods, besides Lu Fengxian, who else could it be?

"Lu Bu." General Lu was not far away when Orochi added, "Since you're going down, you might as well… have some fun at that martial arts tournament."

"Hmm?" Lu Bu turned his head. "What do you mean?"

"This king…" Orochi replied in a deep voice, "has high expectations for you, and hopes that you will also join the ranks of those challenging me."

"Heh…" Lu Bu grinned upon hearing this. "Good… just what I wanted."

"Impudent!" Ping Qing Sheng stood up and glared at Lu Bu. "Are you trying to rebel?"

*Whoosh—*

Before the strange monk could finish speaking, a huge scythe had already arrived, cutting through the wind, its blade stopping right in front of his neck.

"Sit down," Orochi, holding the scythe, said these two words in a cold tone.

Cold sweat dripped from Ping Qing Sheng's bald head… He stepped back nervously and slowly, and sat back in his seat.

After a moment of silence, Orochi slammed [Between Worlds] (the name of his giant scythe) into the ground and said in a voice filled with gravity, "There is no betrayal when one has never sincerely submitted to me."

"Oh? Did you see through me?" Lu Bu wasn't nervous at all. Even the Demon King's might couldn't intimidate him.

"Of course," Da Ji, who was beside Orochi, retorted before Orochi could speak, "You're always saying 'Only those who defeat me are qualified to challenge Orochi.' To put it bluntly… you joined us just to 'get your prey more conveniently,' didn't you?"

"Since you've put it that way…" Lu Bu said, raising his halberd with one arm and pointing it at the throne, "Then let's not beat around the bush, Orochi. Let's settle this here!"

As soon as these words came out, the two rows of demon generals sitting in the main hall stood up one after another, drawing their swords and stretching their bows, surrounding Lu Bu.

"All of you, step back." However, Orochi gave another inexplicable order.

The demon generals did not dare to disobey and could only comply.

After they dispersed, Orochi looked at Lu Bu and continued, "Now is not the time for you and me to fight. You should go…" He closed his eyes again. "Don't forget to take Zhang Liao and Diao Chan away from Gu Zhi City as well… When you have no worries and have successfully passed the trials of the martial arts tournament… challenge this king again…"