What an arrogant brat.

Many people felt a twinge of displeasure upon hearing Chang Ziqiu’s words. However, the moment Chang Ziqiu drew his saber, all their dissatisfaction vanished, replaced by expressions of shock.

As soon as the saber was unsheathed, it unleashed an incredibly terrifying saber force.

Zhao Qingping’s face changed instantly. With a flip of his hand, he took out his life-bound sacred artifact, a silver ancient mirror.

He manipulated the round ancient mirror, expanding its diameter by over a hundred times, and placed it in front of him.

“Boom!”

With a loud crash, the saber light struck the ancient mirror, alleviating most of the pressure on Zhao Qingping.

Before Zhao Qingping could react, Chang Ziqiu attacked again, gripping the saber with both hands and slashing downwards.

Swish—

The saber light flashed, carving a ten-mile-long fissure.

“Boom!”

Zhao Qingping managed to block this strike with his life-bound ancient mirror, but his body trembled slightly. The residual saber force swept over him, filling him with dread.

A fellow cultivator from the Northern Wilderness, a place he had always looked down upon, could wield such terrifying saber force. Zhao Qingping was shocked, his previous arrogance replaced by extreme tension.

“The third strike, Embrace the Moon!”

Chang Ziqiu murmured, his eyes turning sharp. With a twist of his wrist, the trajectory of the saber changed, altering the saber intent as well.

Such saber force was rare even among the Heaven’s Pride of the Imperial Province.

Facing Chang Ziqiu’s onslaught, Zhao Qingping dared not be distracted. He not only used his life-bound sacred artifact but also performed the core Dao Technique of the Heavenly Mansion Mountain Villa—the Heavenly Profound Scripture.

In just a few exchanges, Chang Ziqiu displayed overwhelming strength, gaining the upper hand. Each of his strikes contained profound saber intent.

“This guy is extraordinary. Could he be the strongest of the younger generation in the Northern Wilderness?”

“I wonder who would win in a battle between him and the Saber Sovereign.”

“The Saber Sovereign is the Holy Son of the Nether River Holy Sect. Besides those people, who could be his match?”

The Heaven’s Pride of the Imperial Province watched from afar, their brows furrowed, discussing among themselves.

As the battle continued, Zhao Qingping gradually showed signs of defeat. He gritted his teeth, struggling to hold on. Though not the Holy Son of the Heavenly Mansion Mountain Villa, he was a core disciple and couldn’t disgrace his sect.

On the tenth move, the saber, like a soul-reaping chain, instantly appeared before Zhao Qingping, causing him to show a terrified expression. He hastily activated his life-bound sacred artifact and used defensive Dao Techniques to protect himself.

“Boom!”

Despite Zhao Qingping’s all-out defense, he couldn’t withstand Chang Ziqiu’s tenth strike.

With a loud explosion, Zhao Qingping’s body was sent flying. The ancient mirror floating in front of him trembled violently, a conspicuous crack appearing on its surface, with half of its Dao charm dissipated.

This strike, though not causing significant harm to Zhao Qingping, had already determined the outcome.

If the battle continued, anyone could predict the result.

Zhao Qingping had no hope of winning, not even the ability to withstand another ten strikes from Chang Ziqiu.

“With such meager skills, you dare to boast? Truly laughable.”

Seeing that Zhao Qingping had no intention of continuing the fight, Chang Ziqiu sheathed his saber and spoke coldly.

Hearing this, Zhao Qingping’s face turned ashen, but he had no retort. He wasn’t a match for Chang Ziqiu, and saying more would only invite ridicule and humiliation.

“Stand down.”

An elder from the Heavenly Mansion Mountain Villa transmitted a message.

Zhao Qingping took a deep look at Chang Ziqiu, engraving his appearance and expression in his mind. He gritted his teeth, turned around, and retreated to the warship of the Heavenly Mansion Mountain Villa, lowering his head in shame.

“Who is he?”

Many forces began to inquire about Chang Ziqiu’s background, becoming deeply interested in him.

In this battle, Chang Ziqiu defeated his opponent in ten moves, making the Imperial Province wary of the Northern Wilderness and earning himself great fame.

“This guy’s strength definitely places him among the top of the Ten Heroes of the Northern Wilderness.”

Chen Qingyuan had been watching Chang Ziqiu in the starry sky and spoke seriously.

“This person must have many hidden cards, unfathomable.”

Wu Junyan rarely praised anyone like this.

In Wu Junyan’s eyes, only Zhangsun Fengye and Chen Qingyuan from the Northern Wilderness were mysterious and unpredictable. Now, there was another, Chang Ziqiu.

“He is very strong. I don’t think I can beat him.”

Just based on the strength Chang Ziqiu had shown, many fellow cultivators already found him formidable. Zhangsun Qian was self-aware and muttered to herself.

The Heavenly Mansion Mountain Villa, having lost face, naturally wanted to regain it.

With Zhao Qingping’s failure as a lesson, the Heavenly Mansion Mountain Villa no longer underestimated cultivators from other regions. They sent out a true disciple ranked among the top five of the younger generation in their sect.

This person was dressed in a jade robe, looking elegant and handsome.

“Wu Fengshan, it is said that he obtained a drop of phoenix essence blood in his youth and refined it, giving him extraordinary talent.”

The younger generation from various forces in the Imperial Province exchanged information, discussing with great interest.

“This will be interesting to watch.”

Most people, with a mindset of watching the excitement, remained detached.

“If the Heavenly Mansion Mountain Villa loses again, they will be utterly humiliated.”

Among the thirty-six sects of the Nine Regions of the Imperial Province, there were varying degrees of friction. Many forces were waiting to see the Heavenly Mansion Mountain Villa’s embarrassment.

In the vast starry sky, heroes from all over the world gathered, ensuring that this era would not be peaceful.

Wu Fengshan and Chang Ziqiu faced each other, neither saying a word, silently staring at each other.

Their gaze locked for half an incense stick’s time.

Suddenly, the saber in Chang Ziqiu’s left hand trembled.

Both sides moved simultaneously, the saber unsheathing once more, its blinding light causing many to squint.

With a thought, Wu Fengshan manifested hundreds of silver needles behind him.

Each needle was about a foot long, extremely sharp, emitting a chilling gleam, with ancient laws flowing on them.

Swish!

With a light wave of his right hand, hundreds of silver needles shot towards Chang Ziqiu.

Some of the silver needles blocked Chang Ziqiu’s saber force, while the rest attacked from different directions.

In an instant, Chang Ziqiu sensed a hint of danger, his pupils contracting. He quickly switched from offense to defense.

Clang, clang, clang…

Chang Ziqiu moved swiftly, holding the saber horizontally in front of him, forming an extremely hard saber intent barrier, causing all the silver needles to strike the saber intent barrier without causing any harm.

“Go!”

Wu Fengshan used a new Dao Technique, drawing a circle in the void with his right index finger.

Immediately, the circle transformed into a Yin-Yang Dao Diagram, containing profound laws.

The Yin-Yang Dao Diagram expanded continuously, reaching a diameter of ten miles.

In the next moment, the Yin-Yang Dao Diagram appeared above Chang Ziqiu’s head, rapidly descending.

“Boom!”

Chang Ziqiu’s body suddenly sank, bearing immense pressure, his facial expression slightly contorted.

“Break!”

This was a formidable opponent, making Chang Ziqiu’s blood boil with excitement. He raised his saber, slashing towards the Yin-Yang Dao Diagram above.