Feel free to give any feedback; if they listen to even one word, consider it my loss. That was probably the organizers' mindset. No matter how many netizens flooded the official website's comment section, the organizers neither responded nor explained, simply pretending they hadn't seen anything.

The difference between officialdom and commercial organizers was starkly evident here. The Provincial Martial Arts Tournament is an activity in the training process of Star Martial Warriors like us, not a commercial competition for public viewing. They don't care about viewership ratings; watch it or not, it's up to you.

After a night of commotion, those who needed to calm down eventually did. The remaining two groups did not put on the spectacle of a fight to the death.

The next morning, Wang Lan and his group arrived back at their stands and settled down. Seeing Mu Shaoyun again, they both could sense that the other's aura had changed. Wang Lan's change was due to a desire to perform strongly after his major upgrade. As for Mu Shaoyun, perhaps he felt threatened by Wang Lan.

Under the eager anticipation of the audience, the battle between Xiao Zi and Xu Ruo began. Xu Ruo's Flame Attribute broad-range Star Martial Skill swept across the arena, giving everyone a taste of the desert's scorching heat and the ruthless power of fire.

Even though Xu Ruo's Star Martial Skill was overwhelmingly powerful, she met the man who completely countered her. Xiao Zi's fighting style was like that of a refined gentleman, each move an exhibition of art.

While others treasured their Star Power as invaluable, rationing a single unit as if it were two, Xiao Zi generously unleashed his Star Power in torrents. Ever seen Water Surge?

Many students probably had; this Water Attribute B-grade Star Martial Skill was something many aspired to. The water flow not only attacked opponents but also added a layer of water wall defense for oneself, integrating offense and defense.

But in Xiao Zi's hands, Water Surge felt like a galaxy pouring down, the ocean itself inverting. The relentless waves of the onslaught were so fierce they made people see the waves (làng) as wolves (láng)!

Xiao Zi stood at the crest of the waves, his palms moving lightly, and the seawater charged like a battalion of ten thousand horses.

Facing such overwhelming force, Xu Ruo could only raise her hands and surrender. Even if she had many powerful Flame Attribute Star Martial Skills left to use, like Scorching Steam, Intense Heat Ray, or Boiling Water Strangulation, what was the use? Useless!

Did she really need to push Xiao Zi to the point of using the Thundering Tsunami to hold her underwater before she would be satisfied? When Xiao Zi finally ceased his Star Martial Skill, the Earth Attribute Star Martial Warriors hurriedly diverted the massive amount of water into the artificial lake.

Just diverting the water and repairing the arena would take at least half an hour.

"Fighting Xiao Zi is a real headache," someone remarked.

"You better think about how you're going to fight Mu Shaoyun," Jiang Xinyu said worriedly in a low voice. "You're up soon. Are you confident?"

"Confidence is something I've never had in any fight. But didn't I make it to the top eight? Even though Mu Shaoyun hasn't yet met an opponent who can force out his full strength, I want to give it a try."

It didn't feel like much rest had passed before the second match was announced. Wang Lan and Mu Shaoyun leisurely stood up and walked towards the arena. For the audience of Suzhou City, this match was both heart-wrenching and highly anticipated.

If one had to describe the mood of the Suzhou City audience at this moment, it would be like trying to eat three bowls of food while sobbing.

There were two competitors. One was their beloved Wolf King, who had never disappointed them. The other was Mu Shaoyun; his performance had been as steady as an old hand throughout, and he still exuded an unfathomable aura.

Either of them was a strong contender for the championship.

If the contestants of this Provincial Martial Arts Tournament were to be graded, Wang Lan, Mu Shaoyun, and Xiao Zi, all of whom had broken through to the Star Cloud Stage, would be in the top tier—and there were only three of them!

Their clash was definitely a visual feast. But this showdown had come too early.

"You really surprised me," Mu Shaoyun said, speaking first as they stood on the battle platform. "We're not in the same class, so I don't know much about you, other than that Duan Ziqi suffered a big loss at your hands."

"To awaken your Star Martial Warrior talent at the end of your second year and reach this level in just one year. Truly impressive!"

"You've surprised me too," Wang Lan replied. "To reach this stage in the Provincial Martial Arts Tournament, almost all the contestants have shown their trump cards, but you haven't revealed even the tip of the iceberg. If you're so strong, why do you hide your strength at school?"

"I'm not hiding. My performance at school is merely to meet the school's requirements. As long as I can secure first place, anything more is a waste. Enough talk, let's begin."

As soon as he finished speaking, Mu Shaoyun disappeared in an instant. The speed of his Earth Travel Skill was so fast that even if Wang Lan stared without blinking, he still didn't see how Mu Shaoyun vanished.

To be able to burrow underground at that speed, his movement through the soil surely won't be slow, Wang Lan thought. In a flash of intuition, he slapped his palm onto the ground.

"Electric Net—"

CRACKLE—

A spiderweb of lightning instantly spread out from Wang Lan as its center. Amid the electric arcs, countless clods of earth tumbled and leapt.

BOOM— Just three meters behind Wang Lan, a figure burst out from the ground. In less than three breaths, Mu Shaoyun had closed in on Wang Lan.

SWOOSH—

Wang Lan suddenly flicked his hand, and a flame rose from his fingertips. The flame detached from his palm and turned into a crescent-shaped Flame Sword, slashing towards the emerging figure.

RIP—

Like the sound of scissors tearing through ragged cloth, the figure was bisected at the waist in mid-air. Blood sprayed like a downpour.

"Ah—"

This scene shocked countless people to their feet.

The invincible Mu Shaoyun, defeated in just one exchange? And not just defeated, but... dead?

Wang Lan was also startled, but in the next instant, a strong gust of wind came from behind him. Without time to hesitate, he quickly drew Ghost Wail and countered with a slash.

CLANG—

As the first clash rang out, the flash of blades instantly filled their vision. Wang Lan's short sword and Mu Shaoyun's battle saber erupted in a dazzling light.

"What... What's going on? Wasn't that figure Mu Shaoyun?"

"Obviously not, but damn, it looked so alike," said a fat man, lowering his binoculars with a long sigh. "It turned out to be an earth clone. But heck, it was made so skillfully, identical to the real person! And that blood made from mud, did it have to be so lifelike?"

"If it weren't lifelike, how could it deceive anyone?" a red-dressed, alluring woman in front of the fat man said coldly. "Even though you're all high school seniors, your awareness is far inferior to Mu Shaoyun's. On a real battlefield, if it's not real, you'll die."

This beautiful teacher, from an unknown Star Martial Academy, made her point. When she spoke, the students behind her fell silent. Although the students qualified for the Provincial Martial Arts Tournament were the pride of the heavens, each more arrogant than the last, they still knew who deserved their respect.

At this moment, a growing commotion spread through the stands.

Wang Lan and Mu Shaoyun were currently engaged in close combat, one wielding a short sword and the other a battle saber, slashing at each other. It was merely Basic Combat, yet bafflingly, it produced light and shadow effects similar to Star Martial Skills.

From a distance, the center of the combat looked like a glowing orb, enveloping both fighters. Those of higher cultivation realms could discern that this was the reflection and refraction of their blades' light in the sun, but those of lower realms could only watch in ignorant awe.

It wasn't just the spectators who were in ignorant awe; Wang Lan, in the midst of battle, felt it too. He knew his own capabilities; he had already upgraded his Basic Sword Skill to the Gold level.

Gold-level swordsmanship represented reaching the realm of formlessness. His sword techniques and momentum were no longer bound by rigid forms; each move harmonized with the natural forces of the universe. With swordsmanship of this caliber, forget Star Cloud Stage, even in the Galaxy Stage, few would possess such profound Basic Combat power!

Yet, Mu Shaoyun's every move flows like clouds and water, completely unaffected by my sharp assaults, Wang Lan mused. Has Mu Shaoyun also cheated? Does he have a 'golden finger' too? Otherwise, how could his Basic Combat abilities be this strong?

SCHINK—

Wang Lan's sword sliced through Mu Shaoyun's saber light. His left index finger shot out, and a beam of golden fire erupted from his fingertip like a laser. This sudden attack didn't make Mu Shaoyun panic or even change his expression; instead, he abruptly spat a jet of water from his mouth.

Wang Lan instantly reversed his grip on Ghost Wail, holding it horizontally in front of him. The jet of water smashed against Ghost Wail's blade, and Mu Shaoyun, in turn, was violently propelled backward by the recoil.

The two disengaged from their deadlock, each standing at opposite ends of the arena.

Electric arcs flickered around Wang Lan. In a blink, they wrapped around his entire body, and the cry of myriad birds echoed from his Thunderbolt Sword.

Mu Shaoyun's expression changed, and he instantly shot back again.

Wang Lan coldly lifted his head. With a BOOM, the ground beneath his feet suddenly cracked open. In that same instant, Wang Lan's figure vanished.

RUMBLE—

Earthen walls suddenly rose from the ground, one after another, as if set up by invisible hands like a line of dominoes.

In Wang Lan's vision, time around him seemed to slow down countlessfold. Wrapped in electric light, his speed surpassed all limits. Yet, even at such velocity, the earthen walls rose at a speed that was not the least bit inferior to his own.

But lightning countered earth; the defensive power of the earthen walls could not withstand a lightning attack.

He thrust his sword at the earthen wall before him. The wall was instantly eroded by electric arcs and disintegrated into dust in a flash.

To the onlookers, however, the series of earthen walls that rose seemed to shatter without warning, as if destroyed by an invisible armor-piercing projectile.

When the final earthen wall was blasted apart, Wang Lan's gaze fixed solely on Mu Shaoyun. At that moment, however, ripples began to spread around Mu Shaoyun, quickly extending from his body down to his feet. The instant Wang Lan stepped into this rippling zone, his expression changed dramatically.

Intense gravity pressed down, making Wang Lan instantly feel as if he bore a weight of ten thousand catties. In that same instant, he understood Mu Shaoyun's strategy.

With Thunder Activity, my speed increased severalfold. For Mu Shaoyun to have a chance of winning, his only option was to reduce my speed, and the only way to do that was by increasing gravity.

But do you think this alone can stop me?

The electric arcs around Wang Lan flared violently. His body, which had just slowed, suddenly accelerated, and he charged toward Mu Shaoyun, thrusting his sword at Mu Shaoyun's chest.

BOOM—

An earthen wall rose from beneath at the critical moment, blocking Wang Lan's path. The sword pierced the wall, and it exploded violently. In that moment, Wang Lan's eyes revealed his astonishment.

"Compound Star Martial Skill… You've really mastered the use of Compound Star Martial Skills as well."

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