In the blink of an eye, the two had already charged at each other.

Wang Lan's hands summoned the Solar Wheel, which, like the Sacred Fire Order he wielded, was both dazzling and powerful. Lei Tianxu, on the other hand, had his entire arm transformed into a Thunder Eel, with electric arcs like countless tiny silver needles emitting a dazzling light.

At their first exchange, Wang Lan was shocked. Lei Tianxu was not the tank-like warrior Wang Lan had imagined but a high-agility type. His movement speed and neural reflexes were unbelievably fast, and with the stimulation of lightning, his speed became even more extraordinarily fast.

As Wang Lan slashed down, he found nothing but empty space before him. By the time he realized this, a strong sense of crisis struck him from behind. In less than 0.5 seconds, Lei Tianxu had not only dodged his attack but had also moved behind Wang Lan to initiate his own.

With no time to hesitate, the Star Cloud Sword Dance was unleashed, producing over a dozen afterimages that burst forth like a peacock spreading its tail feathers. Lei Tianxu, like a streak of lightning, instantly shattered Wang Lan's scattered afterimages.

As the afterimages dissipated, the sound of thunder still echoed in Wang Lan's ears. His figure rapidly retreated, dragging two long furrows in the ground.

The momentary, intense exchange gave way to a slight pause for breath, while in the stands, almost everyone watched tensely, their eyes glued to the action.

Wang Lan stood with his body slightly bowed, warily watching Lei Tianxu, who stood casually upright before him. Seeing the grave expression in Wang Lan's eyes, Lei Tianxu smiled.

"Many people underestimate me because of my physique, so consider that a warm-up. This time, you won't hold back, will you?"

"Thank you for your consideration, Lei," Wang Lan said, clenching his teeth tightly.

"Wang Lan, you can equip your Star Palace Artifact as well; I don't mind. My Thunder Snake Drill hasn't broken a Star Palace Artifact yet."

Wang Lan didn't retaliate. Arcs of electricity flashed around him once more, and in the blink of an eye, they completely enveloped him. Instantly, Wang Lan moved, the lightning trailing behind him seeming to form a cloak, and the world around him came to a complete standstill.

The instant Wang Lan moved, Lei Tianxu moved as well. Although their outward manifestations differed, the Star Martial Skill they both employed essentially achieved the same result: using lightning to stimulate all their muscles, allowing their bodies to erupt with incomparable speed.

The world seemed to contain only the two of them—two men, moving so fast they were mere streaks of silver light, exchanged blows rapidly in the arena. Each punch and kick demonstrated both the art of combat and the terrifying beauty of violence.

This was an exceptionally high-quality, high-intensity fight, but for the on-site audience and those watching the live broadcast, it wasn't quite as accommodating. Those watching the live stream were somewhat better off, as cameras could slow down the footage, allowing them to catch glimpses of the action. However, spectators at the venue, already far from the fight, had to rely on their own abilities to see clearly.

"This must be a championship-quality battle, right?" Xu Xiangwen asked Jiang Xinyu as he came back to his senses. Wang Lan was strong, but in Xu Xiangwen's impression, he hadn't been so strong that Xu Xiangwen couldn't even fight back—no, couldn't even see his movements clearly.

But Wang Lan had many hidden cards, so Xu Xiangwen wouldn't have found it incredible if he were even stronger. Facing Wang Lan, whom Xu Xiangwen considered already so powerful, the fact that Lei Tianxu could fight him to a standstill was hard for him to accept.

We're all at the Star Cloud Stage. Seeing them fight like this makes me feel like I might be a fraud.

"I'm afraid even championship quality might not be this high," Gong Feiyu said with a grave expression. "When I thought Wang Lan had mastered a Thunder Attribute Star Martial Skill and could perform compound Star Martial Skills, I almost believed he was the champion. I underestimated the heroes of the world; there are too many freaks in the provincial martial arts competition. Who would have known Lei Tianxu, whose name wasn't well-known before, could be such a monster?"

"I would still have a fighting chance if I were to confront Lei Tianxu," Jiang Xinyu said, a fierce fighting spirit glinting in her eyes. "Lei Tianxu is a Thunder Attribute Star Martial Warrior, and warriors of this attribute are inherently very powerful. The only thing that can defeat thunder is wind."

As the saying goes: laymen watch the spectacle; experts watch the technique. Xu Xiangwen and the others were not laymen, but it was impossible to discern the details of the fight from such a distance. However, the many examining instructors present could follow the action.

"Thor!" A young man sitting next to Eld Di, a confident smile touching his lips, said with certainty, "Teacher, that's Thor! It's been lost for nearly two hundred years."

"Yes," Eld Di said calmly.

"The Thor Star Martial Skill requires exceptionally strong physical talent, and very few have mastered it since its creation. The nation has been good to this young man, to give him such a powerful S-rank Star Martial Skill, and he actually learned it."

"Mr. Xuan, merely mastering an S-rank Star Martial Skill isn't that big of a deal," Lu Zhao said indifferently.

"Of course, it's not a big deal in itself, but mastering an S-rank skill at his Star Cloud Stage Cultivation Level is quite exceptional, especially one as difficult to cultivate as Thor. But the young man he's fighting..." Xuan Lin trailed off, his eyes widening slightly before he continued, "He's actually mastered three A-rank Star Martial Skills, all to a profound level, and he's even... learned to use compound Star Martial Skills? Which noble family does this boy hail from? I'd like to pay them a visit."

"Lin, are you thinking of taking a disciple?" Eld Di asked with a playful smile.

"Descendants of noble families all have their own legacies. Even if I wanted to, they might not be willing. But exchanging insights wouldn't be bad. What do you think, Teacher?"

"He is no scion of any noble family," Lu Zhao said, looking strangely at the man named Xuan Lin, skepticism filling his eyes. He doesn't even know Wang Lan. Is he really from Eld Di's lineage? Could he be an imposter?

"What? Not from a noble family?" This time, Xuan Lin's expression became grave. "How can someone not from a noble family lay such a solid foundation? Basic Combat, utilization of Star Martial Skills, and even mastering the application of compound Star Martial Skills? Without a profound heritage, without someone specifically guiding him, it's nearly impossible to achieve this on his own."

"I know this child; he is indeed not from any Star Martial noble family. In fact, it hasn't even been a full year since he awakened as a Star Martial Warrior."

"What?" Xuan Lin lost his composure this time.

Lu Zhao continued, "At the end of June or the beginning of July last year, Wang Lan awakened his Star Martial talent on his own. Three days later, he visited the beginner's trial field, and seven days after emerging from it, he was already at the Star Shine Stage. He then learned the A-rank Star Martial Skills, Star Cloud Sword Dance and Flame Sword. Six months ago, he anonymously entered the Star Martial Arts Tournament and won the championship in one go. By February or March of this year, he had already mastered the application of compound Star Martial Skills—and a fused application at that."

As Lu Zhao explained, Xuan Lin's expression changed continuously.

His mouth fell slightly agape, and it took him a long while to regain his composure. "Truly a genius," he finally managed.

It was just that Lu Zhao had recounted it all so casually that Xuan Lin had to actively process the implications of such talent. To awaken autonomously at sixteen was already monstrous. Awakening so late usually implied mediocre talent, yet Wang Lan had broken through to the Star Shine Stage in a mere ten days. In less than a year, he had gone from a new awakening to his current level. Who in the world possessed such talent?

"This Wang Lan's talent... it's almost on par with Little Junior Sister's. Teacher, you didn't come to Suzhou City specifically for him, did you?"

"Yes and no!" Eld Di, who wasn't eccentric, replied with a cunning riddle.

"I've also heard of Princess Yu Ruoyun's talent," Lu Zhao interjected. "But Mr. Xuan, once you learn what Wang Lan's first Star Martial Skill was, you probably won't think that way anymore."

"Oh? Didn't you say it was Star Cloud Sword Dance and Flame Sword?" Xuan Lin asked.

"Neither!" Eld Di did not speak in riddles this time. Instead, he gazed absently at the two fierce competitors locked in a dragon-and-tiger battle in the arena and sighed deeply. "The first Star Martial Skill Wang Lan learned was Phoenix Form..."

CRACK—

Xuan Lin abruptly twisted his neck. That sharp crack was the sound of his neck turning, a sound so crisp it made Lu Zhao cringe.

"Phoenix Form? How did he learn Phoenix Form? How did he get the chance to learn it and even master it? How is that possible? The minimum requirement to learn Phoenix Form is the Galaxy Stage! Even Senior Sister learning Phoenix Form at the Star Cloud Stage was a stroke of immense luck..."

It wasn't that Xuan Lin was overreacting; the news was like a massive tsunami to him.

When Xuan Lin became Eld Di's disciple, Wang Ling had already left on a mission. Not witnessing the true face of the Flame Emperor was Xuan Lin's biggest regret. Among all his senior brothers and sisters, he was probably the only one who had never seen the Flame Emperor. Even Little Junior Sister had been held by the Flame Emperor when she was small.

In Xuan Lin's heart, the most respected person was undoubtedly Eld Di, but the one he admired most, without a doubt, was the Flame Emperor. He hadn't learned the Flame Emperor's signature Star Martial Skill, Phoenix Form; his senior brothers and sisters hadn't learned it either. And now, some kid who had popped up in Suzhou City had learned it. This made it very difficult for him to digest the information.

"Don't be so easily startled; you are, after all, at the Star Sea Stage," Eld Di admonished calmly. "Wang Lan is a child Little Phoenix adopted seventeen years ago. However, when you interact with Wang Lan in the future, never mention that he was adopted; he doesn't know."

"So he's Senior Sister's child! That makes sense then," Xuan Lin exclaimed.

Lu Zhao's mouth twitched slightly at the side. *Makes sense? Makes sense my foot!* The whole reason I brought it up was to hear your family's take on it. Is Wang Lan's monstrous talent really not a problem? Wang Lan is a formidable general in my hands, practically a mascot. But the thought of his abnormalities always unsettled me. Learning Phoenix Form at the Star Shine Stage? That's unreasonable no matter how you look at it. And I heard he has an all-attribute physique that detection instruments can't even pick up. Even I, Lu Zhao, can be curious, can gossip! And you just dismiss it with 'that makes sense'? How on earth does that make sense?!

Seeing Lu Zhao's expression, Xuan Lin seemed to grasp his meaning, smiled, and said, "He's Senior Sister's child, so what's so unreasonable about it? Even if he isn't her biological son, she raised him. Talent, well... it can be somewhat contagious."

Heh, that's a new one on me.

BOOM—

Just then, a powerful explosion erupted from the dueling arena. Lightning flashed wildly, and faint smoke rose from the scorched earth. Two figures were flung backward like cannonballs.

Lei Tianxu fared better, his feet carving two deep furrows into the ground as he landed. Wang Lan, however, tumbled repeatedly, rolling a full twenty meters before coming to a stop.

This battle, with its high-frequency close-quarters combat, had already been raging for five minutes.

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