Chapter 177: One Finger Breaks All Techniques

On the high platform of Zhongtian Peak.

The Saint Sect Leader sat at the top, asking softly, “Junior Brother Wuya, does the Saint Sect have any hope this time?”

“Rest assured, Senior Brother, last night I had them stay at Wuming Peak.” Supreme Elder Wuya revealed a faint smile.

"Hmm..." The Sect Leader Yan, upon hearing this, nodded with satisfaction. "It would be fitting for me to welcome them personally, to show how much we value the Nine Heavens Sect."

...

Elder Wuyan, standing beside his senior brother, knew that the Sacred Sect must win this strongest prodigy battle. Although the current prodigies of the sect were not as strong as those in the previous session, victory did not solely depend on strength; sometimes, strategy was needed.

By arranging the Nine Heavens Sect at Nameless Peak, wouldn't that brat Lin Fan have no choice but to entertain them properly?

"Brother Yichu, did you rest well last night?" Sect Leader Yan came personally, and Liang Yichu naturally treated him with respect.

"Don't worry, Sect Leader. Everything was fine last night," Liang Yichu said, though inwardly he was somewhat puzzled by a few disciples' listlessness, unsure of what had happened.

But that didn't matter much, as long as his own personal disciples were well and could secure first place in the Genius Competition.

……

Lin Fan stood among the genius disciples, waiting for the opening of the Ultimate Genius Battle. This competition was very important for both sects. Although it was originally a pact made by the ancestors of the two sects, by now it had become more or less a contest between the disciples of the two sects.

"Dong..."

At that moment, the sound of a gong rang out. Wuya Chang stood on the high platform. "The 1000th Ultimate Genius Battle officially begins. The rules of this competition: ten disciples from the Holy Sect, ten disciples from the Nine Firmament Sect. The disciples of the two sects will draw numbers against each other. Holy Sect's number one will face Nine Firmament Sect's number one. Friendship first, competition second. No taking lives. The final winner will be recognized as the ultimate genius of both sects. Now, begin drawing numbers."

"Uncle Master, go draw the numbers," Zong Hentian said as he stood up.

"Mm."

In the middle of the martial stage, there were two sealed boxes. The disciples of the two sects went up to draw numbers.

The moment Lin Fan stepped onto the stage, he waved toward the disciples of the Sacred Sect.

"Uncle-Master will surely win..."

"Uncle-Master will surely win..."

Just then, Zhang Ergou took the lead, standing on the viewing platform, waving a banner and shouting. He had followed the Sect Leader's instructions from yesterday and made a large banner.

Especially since the home ground was now the Sacred Sect, they had to overwhelm the opponent in momentum and instill fear in them.

With Zhang Ergou taking the lead, those outer disciples who admired Lin Fan cheered one after another, and the entire Zhongtian Peak echoed with shouts of encouragement for Lin Fan.

In the hearts of these outer disciples, Lin Fan was the one they admired most. In this battle of the strongest prodigies, they naturally wanted their own sect to win.

On the high platform, Sect Leader Yan showed a faint smile, feeling gratified by the scene.

"Brother Yichu, do you see the vitality of the Sacred Sect disciples?" asked Supreme Elder Wuyu with a smile.

Liang Yichu glanced at Wuyu and said nothing, "Not bad."

Liang Yichu certainly wouldn't admit to this, but he also noted the scene in his heart. When the next strongest prodigy competition was held at the Nine Heavens Sect, he would make sure they showed the vitality of the Nine Heavens Sect disciples.

The Nine Heavens Sect disciples standing on the draw platform, hearing the continuous shouts, felt a slight stir in their hearts.

Shocking, truly shocking.

Deep inside, they began to feel a bit nervous.

The disciples of the two sects began drawing numbers, then stood in a row. An ordinary elder stepped forward to register.

"Uncle-Master, what number are you?" Zong Hentian looked at his own number plate and then asked.

"Ten," Lin Fan said after a glance.

"I wonder what number Xin Feng from the Nine Heavens Sect drew," Zong Hentian said, slightly nervous.

After the ordinary elder had registered all the number plates, Lin Fan took a look. Xin Feng had drawn number one, which was not on the same path as his.

"The match begins."

"Jiuxiao Sect's number one, Xin Feng, versus Sacred Sect's number one, Qiu Tianran."

On the Sacred Sect's side.

"Junior brother, go for it." Zong Hentian looked at Qiu Tianran, patting his shoulder and saying.

"Mm." Qiu Tianran nodded, took a slight breath, then leaped onto the stage.

On the Jiuxiao Sect's side, it was much quieter. Xin Feng went on stage expressionlessly; his only enemy was Lin Fan. As for the others, Xin Feng did not take them seriously.

The disciples in the spectator stands cheered for their sect's senior brothers.

"I don't want to hurt you. You should concede." Xin Feng stood on the stage, speaking with a calm expression.

"Senior Brother Xin Feng, this junior knows he is no match for you, but to retreat without fighting is impossible." Qiu Tianran said.

Xin Feng gave a cold snort and said nothing more.

"The match begins..."

At the command of an ordinary elder, the first match officially started.

"Senior brother, forgive my offense." At this moment, Qiu Tianran's aura surged, and a long halberd was grasped from the void.

The disciples in the spectator stands gasped in amazement, shocked by the sight before them.

"That child Tianran is indeed not bad." Supreme Elder Wuyai looked at the situation below and nodded.

"But it's still not enough." Liang Yichu said with a smile.

Although this disciple of the Sacred Sect was strong in strength, compared to his own apprentice, the gap was far too great.

"Hmph." Wuyai snorted. This old fellow, still so pretentious.

"Nine Dragons Annihilation."

At that moment, Qiu Tianran roared, his whole body blazing with golden light. Nine golden dragons shot out, coiled around the halberd, tore through layers of void, and struck toward Xin Feng.

Xin Feng stood with his hands behind his back, unflustered. He slightly raised his hand and extended a finger.

"Break."

In an instant, space seemed to freeze.

When Qiu Tianran's halberd touched Xin Feng's finger, it immediately halted, then, as if struck by an unbearable force, gradually disintegrated.

The nine golden dragons coiled around the halberd let out a miserable cry and instantly vanished into ashes.

A flash of black light appeared.

Qiu Tianran felt as if his heart had stopped. When he came to his senses, he found a fingertip pressed against his forehead.

At that moment, Qiu Tianran's heart turned cold, and a sense of death enveloped him.

"You have lost." Xin Feng withdrew his finger and turned his back, saying.

Qiu Tianran stood still, then finally lowered his head, cupped his fists, and said, "Thank you, senior brother, for going easy on me."

The Sacred Sect disciples in the spectator stands fell silent in shock. They hadn't expected the first match to end in such a loss.

In an instant, truly in an instant, without any reaction at all.

On the other hand, the Jiuxiao Sect erupted in cheers. Those cheers, like a heavy hammer, smashed the excited hearts of the Sacred Sect disciples into pieces.

"Brother Wuyai, how about that? One finger breaks ten thousand techniques—the supreme realm of the sword path." Liang Yichu said with a smile.

"Hmph..." Wuyai turned his head away, unwilling to answer, and threw a glare at him.

"First match, Jiuxiao Sect's Xin Feng wins."

"Second match, Jiuxiao Sect's number two, Feng Xiaoling, versus Sacred Sect's number two, Zong Hentian."