If one was to claim that Xiang Shaoyun's victory over Zhou Haoyu was luck, one definitely had to accept that he possessed true strength after his victory over Ling Zhiyan. All the people that were jeering at him earlier shut their mouths.

  They were all geniuses. Anyone capable of participating in this competition in the first place would be a future pillar of the dominion. They were no idiots, and they were all coming to a realization that it wouldn't be smart to offend a freak like Xiang Shaoyun.

  He stood on the stage, and he did not care to challenge anyone. He only waited silently for challengers. Today, he would fulfill his promise to his master and become the number one disciple.

  This title might not be important to him, but this would still be him strongly making his existence known to the Ziling Sect. Many people were awed by his display of strength, but many were also unhappy with him. Song Fan still wanted to determine a victor between him and Xiang Shaoyun, so he decided to step onto the stage.

  But before he could, Xiang Chenxi stopped him and said, "He has changed. I'm afraid you won't be his opponent anymore."

  Even prior to this, when Xiang Shaoyun was still a seventh-stage Dragon Ascension Realm cultivator, he could already give Song Fan a hard fight. Now that he was a peak Emperor, would Song Fan still be his match?

  "No, I must fight him. Even if he has advanced, he might not have consolidated his strength. And even if he did manage to consolidate his strength already, I can still defeat him," said Song Fan confidently.

  He then leaped onto the stage and pointed his spear at Xiang Shaoyun as he roared, "We did not manage to end our fight previously. Let's end it once and for all here!"

  "You won't cut it. Get your so-called Little Overlord up here instead," said Xiang Shaoyun with a shake of his head.

  Xiang Shaoyun was slightly interested in the Little Overlord, and he wanted to see if he was actually related to him. Or, to be precise, he wanted to see if that person was related to Xiang Zixuan.

  "You can say that after defeating me," said Song Fan as he stabbed his snake-shaped spear forward repeatedly.

  Numerous snakes were sent toward Xiang Shaoyun. They surrounded him with an overbearing might, presenting a fearsome sight to behold. Song Fan's attacks looked ordinary, but their might definitely wasn't.

  Xiang Shaoyun did not bother using a weapon, nor did he bother dodging. He faced the attacks head on with the Unrivaled Sky Crushing Punch. These energy snakes weren't able to do anything to him.

  After undergoing the baptism of a real battlefield, Xiang Shaoyun's battle instincts had grown considerably. No matter what technique his opponent used, he could use the simplest and most straightforward method to defeat the opponent in the shortest time frame possible.

  There was no mercy on a battlefield, and he similarly wouldn't show any mercy on the stage. After shattering the energy snakes sent by Song Fan, he forged ahead toward Song Fan, intending to end the fight in one fell swoop.

  Song Fan seemed to have expected that Xiang Shaoyun would be able to smash through his attacks. His face remained calm as a burst of power erupted from within his body. Tearing through his clothes, scales started growing on his skin. They were even on his face, and they made him look incredibly ferocious.

  His transformation gave everyone a shock. One of them was particularly knowledgeable and exclaimed, "Is this the Beast Transformation Technique?"

  "The Beast Transformation Technique is an extremely hard to cultivate ancient technique, and it was supposedly lost many years ago. It actually reappeared here. He is indeed worthy of being a True Martial Academy disciple.

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  "The Beast Transformation Technique can increase his combat strength, but it can only stay active for a limited amount of time. He might not necessarily be able to defeat his opponent before he runs out of time.

  "Just watch. I have a feeling this will be an interesting match."

  Xiang Shaoyun initially planned to defeat Song Fan as quickly as possible, but when he saw the beast transformation, he was no longer in any rush. He wanted to see just what else his opponent was capable of.

  "Bring it on. This is where your streak of victories ends," declared Song Fan confidently.

  "So now you're neither a human nor a monster. Are you happy this way?" sneered Xiang Shaoyun.

  "You shall die for your insolence!" Song Fan roared and charged forward like an arrow.

  After the beast transformation, Song Fan had naturally become extremely powerful. Even his speed had reached a shocking level. He instantly reached Xiang Shaoyun and stabbed his spear forward.

  "I managed to hit him!" Song Fan cried out in excitement.

  Alas, what he saw next was Xiang Shaoyun gradually fading into nothingness. He had struck nothing but an afterimage, and he instantly had an ominous feeling. He cursed, "Shit!"

  By the time he reacted, Xiang Shaoyun's attack had already arrived beside him.

  Major Slab Palm!

  Xiang Shaoyun slammed both his palms forward repeatedly, aiming for a single spot. He unleashed 18 consecutive palms instantaneously, sending Song Fan flying and coughing blood. Fortunately for Song Fan, he was able to forcefully twist his body midair and charge Xiang Shaoyun once again as if completely fine.

  Snake Swallowing the Elephant!

  A massive snake appeared and bit down at Xiang Shaoyun. The snake displayed the bearing of a being capable of consuming everything in existence. Anyone would feel tiny in the presence of this great serpent, and a sense of helplessness would rise within one's heart.

  This was an ultimate technique Song Fan had obtained after great hardships, and it granted him a strength matching a fifth-stage Soul Foundation Realm cultivator. It even gave one the urge to just surrender and not fight.

  Facing the massive snake, the Shark Devourer Saber appeared in Xiang Shaoyun's hand. His presence changed in its entirety as waves of blue radiance started rippling out of it. A vast ocean and a massive shark appeared. Rushing forward with a torrential sea wave, the shark charged the snake.

  The snake seemed to have the upper hand as it attacked ferociously, forcing the shark into a defensive position as it protected itself with the layers of waves. Before long, the situation turned around. The waves became more and more furious, and after rippling forward seven times, the massive shark jumped out of the water and bit at the snake's head.

  The blue saber radiance occupied the absolute upper hand now as the snake crumbled apart. Song Fan hurriedly started retreating, not wanting to give Xiang Shaoyun a chance to follow up with attacks. Xiang Shaoyun naturally wouldn't give up on this opening, and he swiftly gave chase.

  "You might be slightly stronger than me, but don't you dream of dealing me any real injuries," said Song Fan as he entered a fully defensive stance. His strengthened body, armor, and layers of thick defensive barrier worked together to form an ultimate defense protecting him.

  Xiang Shaoyun remained silent and continued attacking with the Seven Overlapping Waves Slash. Song Fan wasn't even able to defend himself in time, as Xiang Shaoyun's attack was too fast. Furthermore, the attacks came unendingly, with all of them aimed at a singular point.

  Song Fan's defenses collapsed completely, including his scales and armor. He was nearly cut in two from his waist, and when it seemed like he was about to die, he was kicked off the stage.

  Chapter 977: Is This Really Your Dragon Phoenix Academy's Abandoned Disciple?

  Everyone sank into silence when they saw Song Fan being kicked off the stage. Not a noise was made, and even the challenges going on at the other stages were put on a temporary pause.

  Xiang Shaoyun's moves weren't particularly flashy, and they even looked crude. However, each move he made carried a might that seemed capable of sweeping away everything in his way.

  One ought to know that Song Fan was a prodigy ranked highly in the True Martial Academy. He was a right-hand man of the Little Overlord. Thus, the easy way in which he was defeated had shocked many people.

  Xiang Shaoyun did not say anything. He did not feel any pride from putting Song Fan down. On the contrary, he was bored. He longed for an intense battle, and he hoped that the next challenger would be able to give him some pressure. Perhaps this was the type of loneliness all who stood at the peak would feel.

  Dugu Qiubai, the number one genius of True Martial Academy, looked at Xiang Shaoyun with a trace of slight interest in his eyes. However, he quickly shut his eyes again, as though Xiang Shaoyun's current performance was still not enough for him to personally make a move.

  The atmosphere turned repressive, and for a while, there were no new challengers. Zhan Wushuang couldn't hold himself back anymore, but instead of challenging Xiang Shaoyun, he stepped onto a different stage and blasted a True Martial Academy disciple off the stage with only several punches, creating a stunning performance.

  "Xiang Shaoyun, I hope you can last until the end," Zhan Wushuang issued his challenge.

  "The same goes for you," replied Xiang Shaoyun nonchalantly.

  In the past, Zhan Wushuang was someone he had to slightly look up at, but now, Zhan Wushuang was someone on equal standing with him. It was even possible that Xiang Shaoyun could afford to look down on Zhan Wushuang now. That wasn't even arrogance. It was merely the loftiness any worthy cultivator would have, the confidence that one was unequalled.

  Time passed, and eventually, Jiang Qi from the Sacred Deer Academy also took over a stage and gained some prestige for her academy. She looked like an ordinary sweet girl, but the potential she displayed was absolutely comparable to the top geniuses there.

  The Nine Palace Academy also occupied a stage.

  The disciple occupying the stage was the Nine Palace Academy's number two genius. His combat strength was impressive, and his attacks were overbearing. He was able to quickly occupy the stage for his academy.

  And thus, the True Martial Academy was momentarily occupying no stage, and their faces turned unsightly. Even so, they were in no rush as they still had a decent number of genius disciples who had yet to make a move. People like Dugu Qiubai, Little Overlord, and Dugu Qiubai were still staying put.

  As far as the True Martial Academy was concerned, those three were definitely going to be part of the Four Blazing Suns, with the final member of the four to be the only variable.

  Shortly after, True Martial Academy's Gu Feng made her move. She selected Jiang Qi as her opponent, trying to snatch a stage for her academy.

  Gu Feng fought at her full strength, harnessing the bloodline of an actual phoenix to grant her valiant combat prowess. Even with her strength, she was only ranked seventh in the True Martial Academy. One could see just how intense the True Martial Academy's internal competition was.

  However, Jiang Qi was someone the Sacred Deer Academy had taken great care at cultivating. She was no weakling, and she had an Innate Water Star Physique and a nine-star physique that allowed her to combine strength and gentleness when fighting. She was well-rounded in offense and defense. She also had a great mastery over the profundity of water, and with her strength, a massive battle erupted between her and Gu Feng.

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  After an intense fight, Jiang Qi defeated Gu Feng and preserved her spot on the stage. The Sacred Deer Academy elder was pleased with Jiang Qi's performance. If she was defeated so soon after getting on the stage, it would be a source of embarrassment for their entire academy.

  As time passed, Xiang Shaoyun had also won several fights in a row. There were some who kept refusing to believe that he was as strong as he seemed. They wanted to test his strength, and they ended up being defeated one after another.

  "Is this really your Dragon Phoenix Academy's abandoned disciple?" a True Martial Academy elder asked Shadowflash and Feng Huosuo.

  "Yes. Don't be blinded by his potential. He has a terrible character," said Feng Huosuo.

  A Nine Palace Academy elder said, "I personally think this child is decent. Since he has been abandoned by your academy, we can consider recruiting him after all this is over."

  "I think so as well. This child looks good, and he is practically dripping with righteousness. The Sacred Deer Academy is willing to make an exception and recruit him," said a Sacred Deer Academy elder with an appreciative look.

  "Haha, our True Martial Academy will be the best fit for a good sapling like this," said the True Martial Academy with a hearty laugh.

  As for Feng Huosuo and Shadowflash, their faces darkened. They were the ones who had framed and forced Xiang Shaoyun out of the academy. But now, he had turned into a treasure in the eyes of the other academies, and the two were greatly upset by it.

  "You might not know this, but it was all thanks to these two elders that my young master became the Dragon Phoenix Academy's abandoned disciple," the wolf guard's voice rang out.

  Next, the wolf guard appeared out of nowhere.

  "Wolf guard, don't think that you can run your mouth just because you're a high-level elder," said Shadowflash.

  "Hehe, are you afraid of admitting to what you did? My young master is overflowing with talent, and even my master looks at him favorably, which is why my master accepted him as a disciple. For selfish reasons, the two of you forced him out of the academy. You can scheme all you want, but you will eventually pay for it. My young master will emerge as the champion, and I'll see what you have to see after returning to the academy," mocked the wolf guard.

  That was the truth. As the abandoned disciple of the Dragon Phoenix Academy, if Xiang Shaoyun proceeded to become the competition's champion, the Dragon Phoenix Academy's reputation would be completely ruined.

  As the key persons who had forced Xiang Shaoyun out of the academy, Shadowflash and Feng Huosuo would definitely face some complications in the academy. One ought to know that this competition was something the four academies attached great importance to.

  It wasn't going to be easy for the Dragon Phoenix Academy to advance from third place after staying there for so many years. If Xiang Shaoyun was still their disciple and emerged as the champion, everything would change.

  Alas, it was too late for them to change anything. The elders of the other academies finally understood what was going on, and their eyes lit up in excitement as they started considering recruiting Xiang Shaoyun.

  "Hmph. You really think he will be the champion? I doubt so," said Feng Huosuo with a cold snort.

  "Keep watching, then. If the young master can't even do that much, he won't be qualified to be my master's disciple," said the wolf guard confidently.

  The competition continued. After about half of the disciples were eliminated, Xiang Shaoyun, Zhan Wushuang, Jiang Qi, and the Little Overlord were the ones remaining on the four stages.

  Xiang Chenxi, the Little Overlord, had gotten on the stage by defeating the Nine Palace Academy's number two disciple. From that, one could see just how strong he was.

  The Nine Palace Academy disciples were naturally unable to accept that they did not have even one of the stages under their name. Finally, Jiu Tian, their number one disciple, made a move with Zhan Wushuang being his target.