Pointing the Halberd at Luo Qianqiu.

Pointing the Halberd at Luo Qianqiu....

Qin Wentian's ancient halberd whirled in a mesmerizing dance, infused with the potent energy of the Mountain-type Divine Essence. A faint shadow of the Xuan Wu Black Tortoise materialized, its defense as unyielding as a mountain. The razor-sharp ancient slaughter word imprints crashed against his defenses, but they couldn't breach his impregnable shield.

"Hmph," Sikong Mingyue snorted disdainfully, striding closer until he stood face-to-face with Qin Wentian. Extending his palms, a myriad of ancient slaughter word imprints converged into a monstrously sharp sword, a weapon forged solely for the art of killing. As it thrust forward, cracks marred the illusion of the Xuan Wu Turtle, forcing Qin Wentian to stagger back.

Sikong Mingyue, with his windswept hair, exuded an aura of awe-inspiring power. He and Qin Wentian seemed to belong to different realms altogether. Today, he was determined that Qin Wentian would meet his end at his hands, and he harbored no intention of showing mercy.

"You think you can treat me like thin air? Well, if you're so eager to meet your maker, I'm more than happy to oblige," Sikong Mingyue sneered as he advanced, a tempest of killing intent swirling around him. He resembled a god of slaughter, prepared to kill without hesitation, regardless of who dared to oppose him.

Qin Wentian did something unexpected—he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The crowd was bewildered. Had he already resigned himself to his fate?

The spectators exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of Qin Wentian's intentions. Some were worried, while others eagerly anticipated his imminent demise.

But in that very moment, an astonishing aura radiated from Qin Wentian's body. His blood seethed within him, his long hair fluttered in the wind, and it appeared to darken to a shade of black so profound it seemed to absorb all light. The crowd was entranced, feeling as though Qin Wentian was undergoing a profound transformation.

Even Sikong Mingyue, who stood before him, couldn't help but notice the change. The tempestuous killing intent surrounding him seemed to slow, and he frowned, his brows furrowing in confusion. Could this be a manifestation of a Bloodline Limit?

Qin Wentian's dormant bloodline power awakened, and an incredible transformation swept over him. His body grew in size and strength, exuding the aura of an ancient desolate beast—a sovereign of Heaven and Earth.

In an instant, Qin Wentian's eyes snapped open, unleashing an overwhelming Godly Monarch's aura that commanded unwavering obedience from all things under the sky. Sikong Mingyue involuntarily quivered under its influence.

Amidst the crackling and rattling sounds, Qin Wentian's body expanded, towering like a Monarch, an Ancient God peering down upon the insignificant world below. His veins pulsed with inexhaustible power as he firmly gripped the ancient halberd, pointing it at Sikong Mingyue.

"What a terrifying Bloodline Limit. It's as if his body underwent a complete reconstruction. Such a Bloodline Limit would surely be ranked exceptionally high," whispered some of the more knowledgeable spectators in awe. Bloodline Limits were exceedingly rare, but they understood the various grades and the powers they bestowed.

Qin Wentian's Bloodline Limit not only enhanced his strength but also exuded an aura of absolute dominance, a trait reserved for high-tier Bloodline Limits.

"The only advantage you both hold is a higher cultivation base. I fail to comprehend why you wear that repugnant arrogance on your faces as if the world revolves around you," Qin Wentian calmly continued. "Sometimes, a higher cultivation base means nothing. When I, at the 7th level of Arterial Circulation, defeat both of you, I want to witness how your arrogance crumbles."

With each word, Qin Wentian stepped forward, embodying the very essence of world dominance.

A gentle breeze swept the platform, and countless eyes were fixed on Qin Wentian. At this moment, almost everyone was captivated by his presence.

"With so many eyes on me, how can I possibly disappoint them?" Qin Wentian took a deep breath, his battle intent reaching its zenith.

Once, he was a nobody, navigating the Royal Capital's dangers and risks. Back then, even a slightly elevated regard from the Ye Clan could have spelled his doom. Yet, even with their disdain, he had nearly fallen to Orfon and Ye Zhan's treachery.

Once, he stood alone, unnoticed, with no friends to speak of. But now, amidst the numerous enemies he'd made, he also knew there were those who genuinely wished him well.

The Mo Clan, the Divine Weapon Pavilion, the Emperor Star Academy, Mo Qingcheng, Mu Rou, and even that rotund joker, Fan Le—they all placed their hopes on his shoulders. How could he possibly let them down?

Stepping onto the Jun Lin Banquet stage, his goal was clear: to contend for the number one position. He was brimming with confidence, more than ever before. The champion of this Jun Lin Banquet would undoubtedly be him.

His blood surged with excitement as Divine Energy coursed through his body, flowing smoothly through his Stellar Meridians and surging out from his palms. His aura continued to ascend, showing no sign of stopping.

Sikong Mingyue, who had initially observed him with curiosity, now felt his self-assuredness waver as Qin Wentian's aura skyrocketed uncontrollably.

Qin Wentian's aura rose in a frenzy, but he made a conscious effort to restrain it, knowing that unchecked power could damage his vital organs.

Boom! Qin Wentian transformed into a streak of light, lunging forward with the Mountain Splitter technique. The ancient halberd radiated an overwhelming aura, as if it sought to shatter everything in its path.

"KILL!" Sikong Mingyue bellowed in anger. The enormous sword forged from slaughter imprints clashed directly with the ancient halberd. A devastating shockwave rippled outward, forcing Sikong Mingyue to retreat a step. Though just one step, it felt like an unbearable humiliation.

Boom! Another halberd strike followed. Qin Wentian appeared as a martial deity, his strength reaching incredible heights.

Sikong Mingyue's expression soured, and the Astral Energy within him surged. He raised his palms, shattering the giant sword into fragments. Numerous ancient slaughter word imprints condensed into a towering "杀" symbol that shot forward to meet the halberd strike.

With a thunderous collision, the ancient halberd shattered the "杀" symbol. Sikong Mingyue was pushed back three more steps, his countenance now thoroughly unsightly.

"COME!" Sikong Mingyue roared in madness. Despite his retreat, his aura remained relentless. His killing intent grew stronger as countless word imprints materialized, floating before his palm, each brimming with a terrifying Sword Qi.

"Die," Sikong Mingyue thrust his palms forward, sending countless imprints transformed into a blood-red light hurtling toward Qin Wentian with an awe-inspiring might that sent shivers down even the most courageous hearts.

However, Qin Wentian simultaneously unleashed another strike, this time using the Fallen Star technique. Spectators watched in awe as it seemed like countless constellations transformed into spirals, violently descending. A deafening rumble echoed through the platform, causing it to break apart and consume the slaughter word imprints. The remaining constellation spirals surged towards Sikong Mingyue, who hurriedly defended. The impact was so intense that it made him vomit blood and stagger back.

The platform echoed with the dull thud of impacts as Sikong Mingyue was forced to retreat to the very edge, leaving a pool of blood in his wake.

In the silent air, the question lingered: how could Qin Wentian's attacks be this devastating?

The audience was enthralled by the Jun Lin Banquet's contestants this year. Initially, they had thought Chu Chen was the dark horse, but before he could savor the glory of being in the top three, Qin Wentian had yanked it from under him. And what's more, he hadn't been at his strongest when he defeated Chu Chen. Now, he sought to assert his dominance over Sikong Mingyue.

Qin Wentian calmly continued, his aura remaining as terrifying as ever. His composed voice felt like a slap to Sikong Mingyue's face. "Your arrogant words—do you still stand by them? You, at the 9th level of Arterial Circulation, do you truly believe you have the right to be so conceited?"

All the bold statements Sikong Mingyue had made earlier now hung in the air, their emptiness exposed by the current turn of events.

Qin Wentian gripped the ancient halberd tightly, advancing relentlessly toward Sikong Mingyue. Sikong's face contorted with unsightly agony. Rather than launching a direct strike, Qin Wentian chose to approach step by step. It was as if he aimed to make Sikong Mingyue surrender before the entire audience.

With each step, Qin Wentian's killing intent surged, leaving no doubt that he was ready to kill. After all, he had already dispatched 2nd Sword and 3rd Night.

As the gap between them diminished, Sikong Mingyue's expression became increasingly anguished. "I concede," he uttered, a simple sentence that drained him of all strength, an admission that Qin Wentian was beyond his match.

Qin Wentian halted, and Sikong Mingyue bowed his head in shame. He then leaped off the platform. Qin Wentian had snatched the position of 2nd ranker from him.

Fan Le couldn't contain his excitement. "Damn, this is incredible!" he exclaimed, thoroughly impressed. He couldn't help but admire Qin Wentian's stunning performance. "This guy is stealing the show!"

The crowd was still in shock. Qin Wentian had seized the 2nd rank directly from Orchon's grasp? And it seemed like he had no intention of stopping there, as he now pointed his halberd at Luo Qianqiu on the first towering platform.

Qin Wentian had experienced numerous confrontations with Luo Qianqiu, who had always looked down on him. Now, he stood before Luo Qianqiu as an equal, ready to prove himself.

Without any grandiose words, Qin Wentian simply said, "Your turn." It was an announcement, a declaration of his intent to compete for the number one position at the Jun Lin Banquet.