In the first round of the Sect Competition, all inner sect disciples and core disciples were required to be present, as they could be challenged at any time.

Li Lin was no exception.

When he saw Li Xiaoyao step onto the life-and-death platform, Li Lin's heart began to pound. This guy dared to challenge him, which clearly meant he had reached the Spirit Martial Realm.

However, Li Lin soon relaxed, as Li Xiaoyao had called not only his name but also Yu Zhendong's.

Yu Zhendong's strength was far superior to his. With his powerful Sword Martial Soul, Li Xiaoyao daring to challenge him was undoubtedly seeking death.

As Li Lin stepped onto the life-and-death platform, he couldn't help feeling a bit nervous. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, his heart wavered.

"Why did you call him up here?" Yu Zhendong glanced at Li Lin, his eyes filled with disdain. He looked down on Li Lin.

"Both of you, come at me together."

Li Xiaoyao didn't answer Yu Zhendong's question and instead spoke calmly, causing Yu Zhendong's gaze to slightly narrow.

Arrogant. Insanely arrogant.

In the thousand-year history of the Canghai Sect, no one had ever challenged two high-level disciples during the Sect Competition.

As an outer sect disciple, Li Xiaoyao had challenged two inner sect disciples, one of whom possessed a powerful Sword Martial Soul. Li Xiaoyao had shattered the sect's records.

"An outer sect disciple with such audacity—if he gains even greater power in the future, won't he disregard the sect entirely?"

Atop the gorge, Xie Yun spoke coldly, drawing a chorus of agreement. Xie Yun wasn't just powerful and influential; he also had Xie Canglan backing him. Few would dare not give him respect.

Nangong Shang, however, merely cast Xie Yun a faint glance, his face expressionless, making it hard to discern his thoughts.

As for Elder Bei in the small hut, he chuckled and shook his head. "This kid doesn't know how to keep a low profile, does he?"

"Both of us? Who do you think you are? You're nothing but trash!"

Yu Zhendong's expression darkened. Who was he? A powerful Sword Martial Soul possessor and an inner sect disciple.

To him, Li Xiaoyao was a nobody—someone he looked down on, someone he could crush at will. Yet this nobody had called his name on the life-and-death platform, challenging his dignity.

And it wasn't just his dignity Li Xiaoyao was challenging—he wanted to trample on it. By challenging both of them at the same time, Li Xiaoyao was treating him, Yu Zhendong, as if he were nothing.

"Exactly! Who do you think you are, daring to challenge us? Brother Yu Zhendong possesses a Sword Martial Soul and has overwhelming strength. He could destroy you with a single move! Let's see how long you can keep acting arrogant!"

Li Lin flattered Yu Zhendong loudly. If Yu Zhendong dealt with Li Xiaoyao for him, he wouldn't need to lift a finger, which was, of course, the best outcome for him.

Yu Zhendong seemed quite pleased with Li Lin's flattery, a smile forming on his face. He said, "Heh, Li Lin, you're right. As an outer sect disciple, he isn't even worthy of me drawing my sword. Go ahead and deal with him for me."

"Of course, Brother Yu. An outer sect disciple like him is hardly qualified to challenge you. However, to demonstrate your authority, I believe it's necessary to let such a lowly character understand your might."

Hearing Yu Zhendong's words, Li Lin's heart sank. He had no absolute confidence in defeating Li Xiaoyao.

"Shameless!" the crowd muttered in disdain as they watched Li Lin's behavior. "He's completely tarnished the reputation of the Canghai Sect. How disgraceful."

"What a joke," Li Xiaoyao sneered. "Li Lin, back when I was choosing martial techniques in the Sun and Moon Pavilion, you had a conflict with Shen Chen. Scared of his reputation, you became the laughingstock of everyone present. Then you noticed me, an outer sect disciple, and took your anger out on me. You threatened to cripple me and called me trash. Now that this 'trash' is challenging you, why are you hesitating?"

"And you, Yu Zhendong, a so-called genius Sword Martial Soul possessor. You attacked me without reason that day and claimed you could kill me anytime. You humiliated me simply because I was an outer sect disciple. Now, I'm standing right in front of you. Where's your sword?"

Li Xiaoyao spoke coldly, and the crowd suddenly understood. So that's how it was—these two inner sect disciples had bullied Li Xiaoyao when he was still an outer sect disciple. Now that his strength had grown, he was here to settle the score.

Yu Zhendong's eyes darkened as he turned to Li Lin. "I'll give you three breaths. If you don't attack, I'll cripple you first."

Li Lin's heart sank, and he gritted his teeth in anger, silently cursing Yu Zhendong.

Yu Zhendong was venting his frustrations on Li Lin after being provoked by Li Xiaoyao. The scene was eerily similar to how Li Lin had once taken his anger out on Li Xiaoyao.

"Fine! I'll cripple him for you first," Li Lin said through clenched teeth, forcing himself to charge at Li Xiaoyao.

Li Xiaoyao shook his head slightly. Such a pathetic individual—how did he even make it into the inner sect?

"Fuck offfffff！！！！！！"

With a casual wave of his hand, Li Xiaoyao unleashed the Eight Desolation Palm. Four palm imprints tore through the air and landed squarely on Li Lin.

"Boom!"

Li Lin, one of the weakest inner sect disciples, was sent flying off the life-and-death platform by the sheer force of the attack, landing below in a heap.

Li Xiaoyao didn't spare him a second glance. Instead, he turned to Yu Zhendong. "Didn't you say you were going to kill me? What are you waiting for?"

"Just four palm imprints, and you're already this full of yourself?"

Yu Zhendong recognized the technique Li Xiaoyao had used—the Eight Desolation Palm. In the Canghai Sect, many disciples practiced this martial technique. Most could master four or five palm imprints, but the real challenge lay in advancing beyond that.

Li Xiaoyao had only executed four palm imprints. Even if he could manage five at full strength, it was far from enough to be a threat to Yu Zhendong.

"While I did say I'd kill you, this is the Sect Competition. Even on the life-and-death platform, killing isn't allowed. So, I'll just cripple your cultivation, break your limbs, and make your life worse than death."

Yu Zhendong's voice was cruel, and his hatred for Li Xiaoyao was evident.

As Yu Zhendong placed his hand behind his back, a dazzling light shimmered. His sword, as clear and cold as autumn water, gleamed brilliantly. A palpable aura of killing intent spread through the air, permeating the surroundings.

But that was not all. Behind Yu Zhendong, his Martial Soul manifested—a sharp, ethereal sword pointed toward the heavens, as though it aimed to pierce through the very fabric of the world.

"A Sword Martial Soul possessor truly has no equals. Li Xiaoyao is in danger now."

The crowd near the life-and-death platform felt the suffocating intensity of the sword aura, an oppressive force that made them deeply uneasy.

"So, you're so fond of the sword? Then let me show you what it means to sword cultivator！！"

Li Xiaoyao spoke calmly, drawing the sword strapped behind him. Instantly, an overwhelming surge of sword aura burst forth, clashing directly with the oppressive aura emanating from Yu Zhendong.

"What? He's also a sword cultivator? A Sword Martial Soul possessor?"

The crowd was stunned by the sword aura radiating from Li Xiaoyao. Even Yu Zhendong's eyes narrowed slightly. However, noticing that Li Xiaoyao's Martial Soul had yet to appear, a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Without a Sword Martial Soul, how can you call yourself a sword cultivator?"

Yu Zhendong stepped forward, his movement accompanied by the howl of space being torn apart. The murderous sword aura around him grew even more domineering. Behind him, his Sword Martial Soul emitted flashes of razor-sharp energy, adding to the overwhelming pressure.

Yu Zhendong's sword aura expanded aggressively, pressing down on Li Xiaoyao.

"Must one possess a Sword Martial Soul to be a sword cultivator? And does having a Sword Martial Soul guarantee one can truly master the sword?" Li Xiaoyao questioned calmly. His face was expressionless as he took a step forward, his voice resonating through the air. "You... know nothing of the sword."

At that moment, the surrounding sword aura seemed to obey an unseen command, surging toward Yu Zhendong. Even the sword aura radiating from Yu Zhendong's body was drawn in.

The energy Li Xiaoyao released at this moment went beyond mere sword aura.

"This... this is Sword Intent!"

Amidst the crowd, those with insight—especially inner sect and core disciples—felt the overwhelming force of Li Xiaoyao's mastery of the sword. Their expressions were filled with shock.

"This is Sword Intent. So powerful. He can control and channel sword aura as if it were his own, making it an extension of his will. Countless strands of sword aura now serve him, pushing down on Yu Zhendong."

"Oh my god! He's just an outer sect disciple, and he only recently stepped into the Spirit Martial Realm, yet he's already mastered Sword Intent. What terrifying talent."

Those who understood the difficulty of mastering Intent—particularly Sword Intent—were stunned. It was a feat even many peak Spirit Martial Realm cultivators struggled to achieve. Yet here was Li Xiaoyao, an outer sect disciple, commanding it with ease.

Some outer sect disciples, less knowledgeable, asked what Sword Intent was.

"It was indeed him who rang the Eightfold Bell. So, this is the reason. To possess such insight at such a young age is far beyond what I achieved in my prime. This boy is undoubtedly the future cornerstone of our Canghai Sect. A true genius. He must be nurtured carefully."

Nangong Shang immediately understood why Elder Bei held Li Xiaoyao in such high regard and why he had decisively acted to kill Xie Yun on the spot. Li Xiaoyao's talent was nothing short of terrifying.