The duel officially began, and Tang Xi's weapon immediately astonished everyone—it wasn't a physical sword but a flaming blade formed from blazing fire. The fire was of an unknown type, but its power was terrifyingly immense. The moment it appeared, the entire arena seemed to plunge into a world of searing flames, as though capable of incinerating everything in its path.

Experienced onlookers were secretly shocked. No wonder Tang Xi had dared to make such bold claims earlier—she had managed to tame the legendary Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Spirit from the abyss of Extreme Inferno Mountain. With such a weapon, they feared that even if Han Lin, her opponent, could avoid her flaming sword and devastating kick, she would ultimately perish on the stage.

Tang Xi wasted no time with sword techniques. The flaming sword, a manifestation of the Fire Spirit, struck with full force, its power far beyond what anyone at the Foundation Establishment stage could withstand.

In response, Zhang Yiyi didn't dare to take any chances. Her sword moved with blinding speed, its flowing strikes forming a continuous shield of sword energy that encased her entirely. A swordsman's blade could both strike forward relentlessly and defend with unyielding precision.

As the two powerful forces collided, the arena was engulfed in a blinding white light. Only a handful of high-level cultivators could discern the intense battle within the light. For most of the spectators, the details were entirely obscured.

When the light gradually subsided, Tang Xi and Zhang Yiyi had each retreated to their respective sides. Tang Xi's face was ashen, while Zhang Yiyi was grinning brightly, clearly delighted.

"Ten thousand mid-grade spirit stones. Pay up now?" Zhang Yiyi demanded without hesitation, showing no intention of sparing anyone's pride.

Tang Xi was undoubtedly strong—stronger than all the opponents Zhang Yiyi had faced earlier combined. She was indeed a formidable adversary. But to think that a single fiery sword and a kick could end her life? That was laughable. Tang Xi had severely underestimated her.

Seemingly humiliated in front of the crowd, Tang Xi didn't say a word. Instead, she threw a storage pouch toward Zhang Yiyi.

In her previous three full-force strikes, Tang Xi hadn't even managed to get close to Zhang Yiyi, let alone take her life. Accepting her loss without protest, Tang Xi handed over the wagered spirit stones. She didn't care about the humiliation or the loss of face; her determination to prevent Zhang Yiyi from leaving the arena alive only grew stronger.

Zhang Yiyi scanned the storage pouch with her divine sense, confirming the number of spirit stones was correct, and then swiftly stored it away.

The spectators below immediately understood the situation. The Tang family's prodigy had suffered a spectacular blow to her pride. Not only had she failed to defeat Zhang Yiyi with a single strike and kick, but she had also lost 10,000 mid-grade spirit stones—a significant setback.

However, the duel wasn't over yet.

Having paid up without hesitation, Tang Xi only grew fiercer. She launched a relentless barrage of attacks at Zhang Yiyi, giving her no chance to breathe, determined to end her opponent's life.

Zhang Yiyi, too, was invigorated by the rare challenge. Their back-and-forth exchanges on the stage were evenly matched, leaving no clear victor for the time being.

The longer the fight went on, the more alarmed Tang Xi became. She had never expected Zhang Yiyi to rely solely on her sword, using just three repeated techniques. Yet the variations in her execution were endless, and she only grew more formidable as the battle progressed, without showing any signs of exhausting her spiritual energy.

In contrast, Tang Xi had used her Fire Spirit and several treasures, depleting her resources significantly. Yet she still couldn't overpower Zhang Yiyi.

At that moment, Tang Xi realized that she didn't have the capability to take her opponent's life. If the battle dragged on, her chances of losing would only increase. After all, she couldn't believe that Zhang Yiyi had no other techniques up her sleeve beyond those three sword strikes.

Making a swift decision, Tang Xi raised her left hand, and the bell on her wrist began to chime without any wind. The sound transformed into sharp blades, aiming straight for Zhang Yiyi's divine sense. At the same time, she waved her right hand, summoning a sixth-tier Fire Phoenix Bird, which appeared midair and charged at Zhang Yiyi with its beak wide open.

Zhang Yiyi's sea of consciousness was attacked, but her formidable divine sense didn't falter as Tang Xi had hoped. She quickly regained clarity and wasn't affected.

The real threat lay in the Fire Phoenix Bird's overwhelming pressure. With no way to evade, Zhang Yiyi could only counterattack with all her might.

Her strongest technique, the First Sword of the Starry Sky, was unleashed. Waves of sword energy surged toward the Fire Phoenix Bird, with no reservations left.

A thunderous explosion shook the arena as part of the stage was blown apart. The collision sent the Fire Phoenix Bird sprawling to the ground, its piercing cries causing Tang Xi's face to pale.

"I... lost."

Her voice trembled as she admitted defeat.

Tang Xi wasn't injured, but at this moment, she had to admit she had truly lost. Continuing the fight would only make her situation increasingly embarrassing. Deciding to cut her losses, she picked up the Fire Phoenix Bird and turned to leave the stage.

Zhang Yiyi's final sword strike had not only stunned Tang Xi but also amazed many others. Although this time Zhang Yiyi had used a new sword technique and avoided relying solely on her typical single-strike victories, the impact of today's match was far greater than the ten matches she had fought in the past few days combined.

The scene fell into an eerie silence as Tang Xi conceded defeat. No one mocked the Tang family's most celebrated prodigy for losing to a wandering cultivator guest elder of the Wang family. However, after today, no one would dare to question Zhang Yiyi's absolute strength.

When the stage's formation reset itself, signaling the continuation of the competition, the spectators gradually recovered from their shock and began digesting what they had just witnessed.

The following matches couldn't replicate the level of anticipation or excitement of the first bout. The Wang and Tang families each had their share of wins and losses, keeping the score tightly contested. Luo Qiheng, facing off against one of the Tang family's top Golden Core cultivators, showcased the formidable power of sword cultivators once again, reshaping perceptions of their absolute combat strength.

Zhang Yiyi and Luo Qiheng's reputations soared to new heights. Luo Qiheng, unsurprisingly, won his match. The sibling duo's consistent success in surpassing their cultivation level and their dominance against opponents of the same rank left a deep impression on everyone.

Many mid-tier families, their eyes gleaming with ambition, began considering ways to recruit the siblings, hoping to convince them to switch allegiances and serve their own families. Zhang Yiyi and Luo Qiheng became the coveted gems in the eyes of many, and even the Wang family head could sense the brewing crisis of losing these valuable talents. Resolving to act swiftly, the Wang patriarch decided to improve the siblings' treatment significantly, ensuring they remained loyal to the Wang family.

Time passed, and the final score was 5-6 in favor of the Tang family. The Wang family, falling short by a single match, regrettably failed their challenge. Thus, the mid-tier family rankings for the next century remained unchanged, much to the Tang family's delight.

The fact that Tang Xi, the Tang family's most promising prodigy, had been defeated by a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator became an insignificant footnote amidst the Tang family's celebrations. Meanwhile, most Wang family members wore dark, unreadable expressions. Their failure to ascend to mid-tier family status, despite years of preparation, dealt a heavy blow. Some even began blaming the patriarch's decision, questioning whether challenging the Tang family had been wise.

The results were clear: the Tang family was stronger than the Li family. Though the Wang family had lost to the Tang family by a slim margin, had they chosen to challenge the Li family instead, they might have already secured their spot among the mid-tier families.

As Zhang Yiyi and Luo Qiheng were leaving the arena, someone stopped them.

"Wait! Fellow Daoists Han, my third master deeply admires your talents. If you're willing to join the Tang family as guest elders, you may name your terms freely."

"No need," Zhang Yiyi replied bluntly, her gaze sweeping past the speaker to land on the smiling Tang Jin, the so-called third master of the Tang family, standing a short distance away. Beside him stood Tang Xi, her face expressionless.

Tang Jin didn't seem surprised by Zhang Yiyi's rejection. Seeing the two siblings walk away without hesitation, he didn't stop them but instead raised his voice deliberately to ensure everyone heard him.

"My third master says the offer stands. If either of you changes your mind, you're welcome to seek him out at any time."

Zhang Yiyi didn't look back but silently cursed Tang Jin. Whether the Tang family genuinely wished to recruit them or simply wanted to stir trouble, such a public invitation—especially in front of the Wang family patriarch—was a blatant attempt to humiliate the Wang family.

Guest elders weren't bound to a single family, but switching allegiances so soon after joining the Wang family would be a severe breach of trust and a stain on their reputation. Such behavior would make it difficult to gain the trust of any future family.

It seemed the Tang family wanted to ensure Zhang Yiyi and Luo Qiheng couldn't have a peaceful time in the Wang family. But Zhang Yiyi wasn't naive enough to fall for such a ploy.

Back at the Wang family estate, the patriarch immediately summoned Zhang Yiyi and Luo Qiheng for a private meeting.

It wasn't about punishment but rather to improve their treatment, grant them rewards, and reassure them. The Wang patriarch understood that while the failed challenge dealt a significant blow to the family, they needed to grow stronger to recover. Retaining talent and maintaining unity were his top priorities.

"Thank you, Patriarch. The Wang family has treated us with sincerity. My brother and I will not waver in our loyalty and will continue to serve the family," Zhang Yiyi declared, accepting the rewards with poise.

Luo Qiheng, though less vocal, also accepted the gifts and nodded in agreement after his sister spoke, reinforcing their commitment.

The Wang patriarch, seeing their sincerity, felt a weight lift from his shoulders. The blow of their failure seemed a little less severe.

Before leaving, Zhang Yiyi informed the patriarch of their plans to visit the Canglang Sea in a few days. She assured him they would remain reachable if the family needed their assistance.

The patriarch, impressed by her conscientiousness, gained even more respect for the siblings.

After the meeting, Zhang Yiyi and Luo Qiheng went their separate ways. Luo Qiheng headed to the family's sacred cultivation site to prepare for his breakthrough to mid-stage Golden Core. Meanwhile, Zhang Yiyi visited the Wang family's Library Pavilion, her access now upgraded to the highest level permitted for guest elders.

The Library Pavilion was extensive, with resources that reflected the Wang family's efforts to elevate themselves to mid-tier status. After presenting her guest elder token, Zhang Yiyi was allowed entry without issue.

The library was quiet, with few visitors. Zhang Yiyi used her powerful divine sense to quickly scan the catalog and select the texts and jade slips she found relevant. With her photographic memory and rapid reading speed, she efficiently absorbed a large amount of information.

After thoroughly exploring the first floor, she moved to the second, where only jade slips were available. Unlike the first floor, she found that not all the jade slips were fully accessible despite her permissions.

Her goal was clear: to prepare for their journey to the Canglang Sea. Zhang Yiyi intended to study the unique spiritual plants, beasts, and other entities of this region to avoid missing valuable opportunities—or falling into unforeseen dangers.