Waste? Someone actually dared to call Mo Water a waste.

The crowd's eyes focused on Li Xiaoyao, their expressions freezing. At this moment, Li Xiaoyao was still dressed in the attire of an outer disciple. Could he still be an outer disciple?

Nangong Shang furrowed his brows slightly. Li Xiaoyao's entry into the inner sect had been personally approved by him. So why was he still wearing the outer sect's attire? Moreover, in the Canghai Sect, the four people Nangong Shang valued the most were Chen Tiexing, the Butcher, Mo Water, and Li Xiaoyao.

Now, Chen Tiexing had already made his mark, the Butcher was growing stronger, and Mo Water's potential seemed limitless. As for Li Xiaoyao, though still weak, he was already showing great promise, with an unlimited future ahead.

These individuals were seen by Nangong Shang as the future pillars of the sect. He hoped there wouldn't be significant conflicts among them. However, it seemed something was off between Mo Water and Li Xiaoyao.

"What qualifications do you have to point fingers? At least in front of me, you are still a waste." Mo Water's icy blue eyes emitted a sinister cold light, fixed on Li Xiaoyao.

"Such a narrow view. Someone like you, I really don't know what right you have to call others waste." Li Xiaoyao's tone grew increasingly mocking, drawing amused expressions from the crowd. Though far from Mo Water's strength, Li Xiaoyao dared to speak to him this way—it was audacious.

"Do you think you're more qualified than me?" Mo Water asked with a sneering tone.

"Of course, I am not qualified, but I would never easily insult others as waste." Li Xiaoyao began walking slowly towards the life-and-death platform, his voice calm.

"Standing as the top of the inner sect and insulting other disciples as waste, what will you do when the powerful core disciples insult you as waste?"

"Hmph, even if the core disciples are stronger than me now, I will surpass them in the future. What right do they have to call me waste? As for you, you will never have the chance to surpass me!" Mo RWater's arrogance was evident, making the inner disciples of Canghai Sect feel humiliated, though they couldn't refute his exceptional talent.

"Ridiculous!"

Li Xiaoyao had already reached the edge of the life-and-death platform. He stepped onto it with firm steps.

"In the eyes of many, you, Mo Water, are a prodigy, a genius. But in my eyes, you are just a fool. I don't understand why the sect values you so highly."

The crowd was stunned. Not only did Li Xiaoyao insult Mo Water, calling him a fool, but he also dared to question the sect's judgment—a bold move.

"You're looking for die!!!!!"

Mo Water's sinister smile emerged as he watched Li Xiaoyao step onto the platform.

"The sect tournament is meant for disciples to give their all, to fight for the glory of the inner sect ranking. It's natural for lower-ranked disciples to challenge higher-ranked ones. Even if they lose, it's not shameful. But you, Mo Water, incite and even order others to kill the challengers. You are without compassion!"

"Standing as the top inner disciple, insulting those below you as waste, oppressing your fellow disciples—you, Mo Water, are unjust!"

"An unkind and unjust person, no matter how strong your talent, what use are you to the sect? If the sect faces a crisis, can it rely on someone like you to save it? The first to betray would likely be you. Even with unparalleled talent and future strength, of what use would you be to the sect?"

Li Xiaoyao's three statements silenced the entire space. An unkind and unjust person, no matter how talented, of what use are they to the sect?

"Boom."

A chilling aura swept across the area as Mo Water stepped forward, and the temperature on the life-and-death platform dropped sharply.

"Are you angry now? I haven't finished speaking yet!" Li Xiaoyao sneered disdainfully. With a light leap, he landed in the center of the life-and-death platform, looking down at Mo Water.

"The vastness of the Cangyun Continent is beyond measure. How many places have you, Mo Water, been to? How many geniuses have you encountered? Yet you dare to look down on the world with such arrogance. Moreover, with your mere cultivation of the third level of the Spirit Martial Realm, you are but a weakling in the grand scheme. Even in the Snow Moon Kingdom, there are countless people stronger than you. Where does your pride come from?"

"You, Mo Water, are short-sighted, a mere frog in a well. Not only are you unrighteous and unjust, but also lacking in wisdom!"

Li Xiaoyao's words sent a shiver through the crowd. Even Nan Gongshang and Xiao Hongchen were slightly moved. This young man's insight was anything but ordinary.

As for Mo Water, he was trembling with rage. Li Xiaoyao's cutting words shook his revered status among the crowd. He could feel the change in their gazes.

Even the spectators in the stands were affected.

And it seemed Li Xiaoyao wasn't planning to let him off easily.

Gazing towards the stands, Li Xiaoyao's bold voice rang out.

"Such a short-sighted, unrighteous, and unwise person, yet he is revered like the stars and the moon, loved by the elders, valued by the sect, and looked up to by many. As an outer sect disciple of Canghai Sect, I feel ashamed. Is it possible that Canghai Sect has no one better?"

Is it possible that Canghai Sect has no one better?

The bold words echoed through the space, shaking the hearts of the Canghai Sect's people. Li Xiaoyao called Mo Water arrogant, but wasn't he himself even more so? Daring to suggest that Canghai Sect had no one, this was beyond mere arrogance.

"How dare you, an outer sect disciple, insult the sect! Seeking death!" On the stands, an outer sect elder, Lu Yuan, who had previously denied Li Xiaoyao an inner sect token, shouted angrily.

"It is precisely because the sect has people like you that it is in decline," Li Xiaoyao retorted coldly, casting a disdainful glance at Lu Yuan. "As for being an outer sect disciple, so what? Does being an inner sect disciple make one much stronger?"

"You five, relying on your strength, slaughtering your fellow disciples—is that impressive? Have you ever considered what your fate would be if someone stronger than you emerged?"

Li Xiaoyao glared at the five inner sect disciples who had killed the five challengers earlier. "Although the sect master has rules against challenging inner sect disciples who have already fought, I believe no one would say I am taking advantage if I were to challenge the five of you. Even the sect master would agree."

As Li Xiaoyao's words fell, the crowd was stunned. Was he actually planning to challenge the five ranked inner sect powerhouses?

He must be insane! Li Xiaoyao had to be mad!

Even if Li Xiaoyao had grasped the sword intent and could fight beyond his level, these were five experts at the second level of the Spirit Martial Realm. A single attack could easily claim his life.

Yet Li Xiaoyao was boldly declaring his challenge against all five. If that wasn't madness, what was it?

Even Han Kui's jaw dropped. This guy...

In the crowd, Zhao Xinyi was momentarily stunned, her beautiful eyes fixed on Li Xiaoyao. She had always thought that while Li Xiaoyao was talented, his strength lay more in his potential. She had planned to recruit him, believing that with time, he could become a powerful figure and carve his name on the ranking stone. However, now, facing those already on the ranking stone seemed a bit far-fetched.

But Li Xiaoyao had given her a huge surprise. This scoundrel actually wanted to challenge five ranking stone experts? Did he not realize how formidable they were?

"You idiot," Zhao Xinyi cursed softly in her heart, feeling a bit worried for Li Xiaoyao. He had insulted these individuals; they surely wouldn't let him off easily.

Even Nangong Shang was surprised, his brows slightly furrowed. Li Xiaoyao intended to challenge five Spirit Martial Realm level two experts? If anything went wrong, it would be bad. Besides, Li Xiaoyao had been personally granted inner disciple status by him, so why was he still claiming to be an outer disciple?

"Five people are too many. Start with just one," Nangong Shang suggested, unwilling to let Li Xiaoyao take such a risk. After all, Li Xiaoyao was someone valued by certain individuals, and if something happened to him, it would be hard to explain.

"No...no..no...no need! All five can come at me together," Li Xiaoyao replied calmly, seemingly indifferent to the concern.

"If you want to die, I'll grant your wish. One person is enough!" One of the five sneered, his voice cold. Li Xiaoyao, daring to challenge all five of them, was simply courting death.

"Everyone, attack together. I don't want to see him alive for another second," interrupted Mo Water, his voice filled with hatred. Li Xiaoyao's earlier words had deeply humiliated him, accusing him of being unrighteous, unwise, and even treacherous to the sect. His hatred for Li Xiaoyao had reached its peak.

The five experts exchanged glances. Though each wanted to personally kill Li Xiaoyao, Mo Water's command was not to be ignored.

In an instant, five figures leapt onto the central life-and-death stage, their gazes fixed coldly on Li Xiaoyao. The combined aura of the five Spirit Martial Realm level two experts locked onto him, filling the space with an oppressive atmosphere.

"Remember, the one who kills you is named Yue Yang!" one of them declared, his body surging with fiery brilliance. As he extended his hand, a massive, blazing palm imprint materialized, the air around it crackling as if the space itself were burning.

The fiery palm imprint surged forth with overwhelming force, and the other four experts launched their attacks simultaneously. The sheer combined might of five Spirit Martial Realm level two experts was palpable, even to those watching from below the stage.

Li Xiaoyao, surrounded by the onslaught of powerful attacks, seemed destined to be overwhelmed. But then, a formidable aura erupted from him. A domineering palm imprint suddenly materialized, vast and majestic, as if covering the entire eight desolations.

"The pinnacle of the Eight Desolation Palm, imprints spanning the heavens and earth!" the crowd murmured in astonishment. The expansive palm imprint collided with the incoming attacks, causing a thunderous explosion that echoed through the air.

"Go to the fucking hell!!!!," Yue Yang roared, breaking through the clash with his fiery palm imprint, relentlessly advancing. Despite Li Xiaoyao's mastery of the Eight Desolation Palm, challenging five experts simultaneously was still too ambitious.

But just as Yue Yang's fiery imprint approached, a sharp cry resounded. "Sword."

The cry was followed by a dazzling light, a sword gleam that seemed to emerge from the heavens themselves. Swift and radiant, it sliced through the fiery sea around Yue Yang, leaving him momentarily frozen. A thin line of blood appeared on his neck, a stark reminder of the fatal strike.

The crowd's hearts trembled. They had momentarily forgotten that Li Xiaoyao's true strength lay not in his palms but in his sword. One strike, and the world seemed to dim. A single sword stroke, and Yue Yang's life ended.

"Was that the Draw Sword Technique?" someone in the crowd murmured, recognizing the skill with disbelief. The Draw Sword Technique had always been considered a useless martial skill, a mere chicken rib. Yet in Li Xiaoyao's hands, it transformed into an unparalleled force—swift as lightning, precise to perfection, and utterly unpredictable.

The brilliance of that single strike left everyone stunned.

"No wonder Elder Bei values him so highly. With such talent in martial skills, who could possibly match this youth?" Nangong Shang's regard for Li Xiaoyao rose even further. A Spirit Martial Realm level one disciple, mastering the Eight Desolation Palm to its peak and wielding the Draw Sword Technique with such deadly precision—truly extraordinary for someone who had just entered the inner sect.