The giant elder announced the result, and Jian Bufan stepped down from the battle platform. A new duel immediately began.

The two combatants were evenly matched, and their battle was incredibly fierce, further exciting the crowd below.

Duel after duel unfolded. Some were won by those with powerful Cultivation, while others were stunning upsets where weaker cultivators managed to turn the tables.

However, the rankings in this round were determined by the number of victories, so a single loss didn’t mean a contestant was out of the running for the top ten.

Besides, even if they couldn’t make the top ten, they could still fight for a high rank among the rest.

Stepping onto the Barbarian God Battle Platform wasn’t just an honor; there were also mysterious rewards. The higher one’s rank, the more precious the treasures, which could greatly advance their Cultivation.

Of course, even those who were defeated didn’t fall into despair. After all, they had all dreamed of standing on the highest stage, fighting to the end, and becoming the most dazzling figure.

Furthermore, with only one or two losses, they still had a chance. They would bet everything on their remaining matches, vowing to fight with all their might to break into the top ten.

Therefore, the battles to come promised to be even more spectacular.

The crowd below the platform waited in tense anticipation. The fights would be relentless, the opponents stronger and stronger. The contestants had no choice but to fight for their lives.

Meanwhile, Ye Wushuang’s expression was calm. With an unparalleled beauty by his side, he looked particularly relaxed and at ease.

Jian Bufan walked over, cradling his sword, and stood beside Ye Wushuang.

"You know, your Cultivation is incredibly strong, and you hide it so well," Ye Wushuang said. "I bet you weren’t even using your full strength just now, were you?"

’He easily defeated an expert at the Spiritual Spring Fifth Layer!’

’The last time I saw him fight, against the Shadow Demonic Fox, was the first I understood his true strength. But after the trials in the Earth Palace, Jian Bufan became someone else entirely.’

’His comprehension of the sword is just staggering!’

Nearby, Yunn Xiao and Dii Qingxue were also watching Jian Bufan with a newfound appreciation. Before, he had been inconspicuous, never drawing any attention. But when he actually fought, he had shocked them all.

Ye Wushuang guessed to himself, ’Jian Bufan’s strength is probably enough to contend with the Spiritual Spring Sixth Layer, at least!’

"Why don’t you guess?" Jian Bufan shrugged, refusing to answer the question and leaving Ye Wushuang to wonder.

"Me, guess?" Ye Wushuang paused. "I can’t see through you, but you’re definitely hiding a lot of your strength. It’s more than just the Spiritual Spring Sixth Layer."

"Aren’t you the same!" Jian Bufan’s eyes narrowed as he sized up Ye Wushuang. "You took first place in the Barbarian God Battle Path assessment, finishing even faster than those at the Spiritual Spring Sixth Layer. Your own strength is hidden even deeper. If I don’t hold something back for when I face you, I’m afraid I’m guaranteed to lose!"

"So you just assume you’ll lose?"

Ye Wushuang shook his head.

Seeing this, Jian Bufan was left speechless. There was a deceptive, almost mischievous quality to Ye Wushuang’s smile.

"Next match: Ye Wushuang versus Nan Shan!"

The giant elder’s voice boomed again as the tournament continued.

"Nan Shan!"

Ye Wushuang’s smile faded. He murmured the two words, "Nan Shan." Then he turned, smiled, and said, "My turn!"

With that, Ye Wushuang walked onto the battle platform.

Now that it was Ye Wushuang’s turn, Jian Bufan’s gaze was fixed firmly on the platform. ’I can’t fathom this guy’s strength,’ he thought. ’I can’t see through it at all!’

Dii Qingxue, Yunn Xiao, Mo Wentian, and the others watched intently. Ye Wushuang seemed to have changed significantly since the Barbarian God Battle Path.

On the battle platform, Nan Shan was already standing opposite Ye Wushuang.

The two of them were acquainted; they had even had a conflict back in Barbarian King City.

"Ye Wushuang," Nan Shan began, "I know that I will lose to you today."

Gazing at Ye Wushuang, Nan Shan spoke, and his words were completely unexpected.

’Admitting defeat before the fight has even started? Is he about to surrender?!’

In an instant, the crowd’s eyes narrowed, their gazes turning strange. Nan Shan, the top genius of the Nan Family, was giving up this easily? ’Can someone like that really be called a genius?’

’Even if you lose, it should be in battle! A defeat like that, while still a loss, is honorable. But to surrender without a fight is a disgrace! It soils the title of ’top genius’!’

But Nan Shan ignored the thousands of strange and mocking looks from the crowd. He calmly met Ye Wushuang’s gaze and said, "You are immensely strong. You defeated First Young Master Di with ease. Beating me will be just as simple for you."

"And so?"

Ye Wushuang’s eyes flickered. "You intend to surrender?"

"No!" Nan Shan shook his head. "You misunderstand. Now that I am on this platform, I will fight, even knowing I will ultimately lose. However, before that happens, I wish to experience it for myself—the palm strike you used to defeat First Young Master Di. Your full-powered version of it."

As he spoke, a sharp, intense aura suddenly erupted from Nan Shan.

This aura had not diminished in the slightest, despite his certainty of defeat.

The crowd was stunned. When Nan Shan had first stepped onto the platform and calmly admitted he would lose, everyone had assumed his spirit was already broken, that he had no will to fight left.

But now they realized they had been wrong—completely and utterly wrong. Instantly, the disdainful looks in the crowd’s eyes faded away.

Nan Shan’s spirit had not been defeated. On the contrary, it grew even stronger, reaching its absolute peak as he prepared to face Ye Wushuang’s palm strike!

Hmm?

Ye Wushuang’s eyes narrowed. ’Nan Shan knows he will be defeated, yet he still wants to fight. He wants to face my Heavenly Concealing Hand!’

That aura, brimming with intense Battle Intent, moved Ye Wushuang.

To fight while knowing you will be defeated—such honest courage was truly admirable.

"I accept!"

Ye Wushuang nodded. He would set aside his conflict with the Nan Family; for this courage alone, he was more than willing to grant Nan Shan’s request.

The giant elder in the sky watched the two of them, a bright glint in his eyes. It seemed he found these two youngsters quite interesting.

RUMBLE!

Ye Wushuang unleashed his aura. His hands formed a Profound Hand Seal, and a surging wave of energy burst forth, sweeping across the battle platform. The energy contained a potent force, and within that force was a terrifying power that made every heart in the crowd tremble.

The expressions on many faces grew solemn. The power Ye Wushuang was displaying was even greater than before. They had no idea where his limits truly lay.

In the eyes of the crowd, this white-robed figure at the Spiritual Spring Second Layer was a complete enigma.

Nan Shan’s expression turned incredibly solemn as a powerful, competitive intent surged from within him.

He had been defeated by Yuh Huatian before, but he hadn’t fallen into despair over it. Instead, he had finally recognized his own shortcomings. Compared to a true genius, he still had a long way to go.

He wanted to find out just how great that distance was. That was why he had chosen to test himself against Ye Wushuang’s palm strike.

"Heavenly Concealing Hand!" Ye Wushuang’s eyes snapped open, and his clasped hands suddenly flew apart. A crimson light once again filled the sky—an all-too-familiar sight.

This was the very move that had defeated the arrogant and ignorant First Young Master Di!

However, its power was now even greater.

RUMBLE!

A massive, crimson hand that blotted out the sky emerged from the blood-red void, descending swiftly to cover the battle platform. The platform itself began to tremble under the immense energy.

"White Tiger Profound Seal!"

With his brow furrowed in concentration, Nan Shan unleashed all his power, forming the phantom of a white tiger that charged toward the sky-blotting crimson hand!

In the eyes of the crowd, that White Tiger charged forward fearlessly. It surged upward with grim determination, heedless of victory or defeat, its only thought to clash with the great crimson hand!