The spectacular duel concluded here, with Lin Xueyan emerging as the undisputed victor, a result that truly surprised everyone present.
So much so that even after the fight ended, many were still reeling from the shock, gazing at Lin Xueyan with wide, stunned eyes.
A King-level expert at fifteen, possessing the Innate Sword Body, comprehending Sword Intent, and wielding a Profound Skill of Earth-tier—this was an anomaly, a true monster!
They even felt it was an honor for the Eastern Region to have produced Lin Xueyan.
"What exactly did this Ye Yun do to her?"
The factions from True Martial Heavenly Sect and Golden Crest Heavenly Sect were dumbfounded.
Especially Han Zimo, who had just recovered some semblance of his senses. Witnessing Lin Xueyan's astonishing swordsmanship, his already fractured Sword Heart shattered even further!
"I... I am trash... trash... I am trash!"
Han Zimo stared blankly at Lin Xueyan, his expression growing increasingly vacant. He even started to chuckle to himself, as if the stimulus had been too overwhelming!
And if anyone present shared a similar sentiment, it would undoubtedly be Chen Wuyi from the Nine Nether Demonic Sect.
"Damn it! Well done, Ye Yun, well done, Lin Xueyan, you've truly kept your cards hidden!"
He could never have imagined that Lin Xueyan would unleash so many hidden trump cards at the crucial final moment.
Whether it was the Innate Sword Body or the Ultimate Sword Intent, possessing either was enough to make him covetous, let alone both in the same person!
But a loss was a loss. Chen Wuyi looked grimly at Xing Wu.
"My Lady, what do you think of this situation now..."
As for Shen Xin's defeat, Xing Wu seemed unfazed. She took a sip of blood and said faintly.
"There's still one more trick up our sleeve, isn't there? Since Shen Xin is already crippled anyway, isn't this the perfect opportunity to use it?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Wuyi swallowed hard.
"My Lady, are we really going to use it? What if it causes trouble..."
"Are you questioning me?"
Xing Wu glanced at him, causing Chen Wuyi to deflate instantly. He repeatedly shook his head.
"Your subordinate dares not. I will do as you command!"
With that, his face quickly took on a ferocious expression. Since he had the backing of Lady Xing Wu, what was there to worry about!
He immediately looked towards Shen Xin on the stage, whose abdomen was pierced by a sword. Chen Wuyi quietly began forming hand seals.
"If our sect cannot obtain such a genius, neither should you, Ye Yun!"
Chen Wuyi sneered. At the same time, Shen Xin on the martial arts stage, who was already in a weakened state, gradually stabilized his aura, even showing signs of growing stronger.
However, at this moment, everyone was immersed in Lin Xueyan's victory and paid no attention to the heavily injured Shen Xin.
As a result, just as Lin Xueyan turned around, Shen Xin, who was kneeling behind her, conjured a black blade in his hand and suddenly lunged forward, stabbing towards Lin Xueyan in front of him.
This sudden turn of events shocked everyone below the martial arts stage. After all, under the auspices of the Immortal Palace, it was unheard of for a defeated participant to launch a sneak attack of such lethality on the victor!
"Be careful!"
Bai Xiaoxiao from the audience was the first to cry out, but it was a little too late.
As Lin Xueyan frowned and turned, she saw Shen Xin holding a black dagger, aiming directly for her heart. His aura, at this instant, erupted with the strength of a peak King-level expert.
This all happened in a split second, and the distance between them was extremely close. Although everyone saw it, they had no time to react.
Even Yu Wenya on the stage merely narrowed her eyes, wanting to intervene but it was too late.
"Lin Xueyan, go to hell!"
Seeing that victory was within his grasp, Chen Wuyi couldn't help but show an excited expression from afar.
What if she had the Innate Sword Body? What if she comprehended Sword Intent? What if she was King-level? She would still be destroyed here by our sect!
However, as he was inwardly rejoicing, after a tenth of a second, his expression froze.
*Bang!*
Instantly, a fierce gale erupted on the stage, seemingly as the aftermath of that blow.
But as the scene on the martial arts stage became clear, those who had been worried about Lin Xueyan a moment ago were now utterly bewildered.
It turned out that at the spot where Lin Xueyan's heart was supposed to be stabbed, a golden light screen had appeared at some point, which no matter how fierce Shen Xin's attack, equivalent to peak King-level, was, it could not shake the light screen in the slightest.
Instead, Lin Xueyan, after seeing his actions, let out a cold snort.
"What a formidable sneak attack. It could indeed have killed me, but what a pity."
As she said this, she suddenly swung her Azure Cloud Ancient Sword backward, beheading Shen Xin in a single strike!
As his head rolled down, in his final moments, Shen Xin's blood-red eyes still held a look of utter confusion!
"How... how did she block it?"
Everyone was baffled, not understanding how Lin Xueyan managed to manifest such a powerful defense at the last moment, which even a peak King-level attack couldn't budge.
It wasn't until Lin Xueyan took out a cracked golden jade stone from her embrace that they finally understood.
It was a defensive magic treasure, no wonder!
Lin Xueyan stroked the Returning Heaven Jade that had saved her life, and looked towards her master below the stage. Her master nodded and smiled lightly at her, as if saying, 'Well done!'
"I truly have to thank Master for this treasure..."
Lin Xueyan murmured to herself, then turned to look at Yu Wenya and said calmly.
"Senior, regarding this counter-attack just now, is there any problem?"
Hearing this, Yu Wenya finally came back to her senses. She glanced at Shen Xin's corpse and nodded with a smile.
"Of course not. He initiated a deadly attack on you, so retaliating is only natural."
With that, her icy gaze shifted to the audience below.
"As for Sect Master Chen, could you please explain to this Palace what was going on with Shen Xin just now?"
Facing Yu Wenya's questioning and the suspicious gazes of others, Chen Wuyi felt somewhat embarrassed, but he still said in a deep voice.
"My apologies. Shen Xin's impulsive actions at the end were a result of our Nine Nether Demonic Sect's lax discipline. We will bear the consequences ourselves."
Clearly, he had no intention of admitting to Xing Wu that he had manipulated Shen Xin into an assassination attempt. Since Shen Xin was already dead, it was better to let him take the blame.
However, Yu Wenya was not foolish. She knew he had likely pulled some tricks, but there was no concrete evidence. With Shen Xin now dead, there was no one to corroborate anything.
In the end, she could only let out a cold snort and say, "This Palace does not wish to see such incidents occur again. Otherwise, we will pursue the matter to the end!"
"This Sect guarantees that we will strengthen our disciples' ideological education upon return! There will absolutely not be a next time!"
Chen Wuyi repeatedly nodded in agreement. Although he was currently arrogant, he was not so arrogant as to dare to confront Feather Fall Immortal Palace head-on.
Seeing this, Yu Wenya no longer pursued the matter and directly announced Lin Xueyan's victory.
"This Palace hereby declares that in the second match of the semifinals, the victor is Lin Xueyan of Ancient Dao Heavenly Sect!"
Immediately, excited cheers erupted from the crowd. After all, today they were witnesses to history!
They had personally witnessed the rise of an unknown disciple, the birth of the Eastern Region's, and even the continent's, most exceptional sword cultivation genius in a thousand years!