However, it could be said that apart from Ye Luo’s initial visit to the Heavenly Palace Corporation, there had been no further interactions afterward. Yet now, the Heavenly Palace Corporation still chose to lend its support.

Huaxia people!

Simply because they were all Huaxia people!

"Thank you!"

Ye Luo didn’t know what was inside the ring, but he accepted it without hesitation. Regardless of what the ring contained, one thing was certain—it was a gesture of goodwill from the Heavenly Palace Corporation.

It turned out Ye Luo wasn’t alone after all.

As Ye Luo stepped forward, yet another person approached him.

"Your Highness, they harbor malice toward you. This is an amulet crafted by my father for me. Please take it; it might be useful in critical moments!"

Ye Luo was momentarily stunned. He did not recognize this person, yet one thing was certain—this individual was merely a special recruit admitted into the Royal Academy!

Indeed, he truly wasn’t alone. A faint smile emerged on Ye Luo’s lips: "Don’t worry, I’ll be fine! Don’t forget, I’m a prince!"

Ye Luo didn’t accept the amulet. Though the willingness to assist Ye Luo shown by both the Heavenly Palace Corporation and this individual was a recognition of Ye Luo’s identity as a Huaxia citizen,

Ye Luo understood that the Heavenly Palace Corporation had its own trials too.

In fact, tonight, Ye Luo felt some guilt. Since he had privileges now, why not leverage them to aid the Heavenly Palace Corporation? After all, he was no more than a pawn in the Great Tang Empire.

But of course, now was not the time for such thoughts. Ye Luo strode to the arena with resolve, or perhaps resignation, before declaring loudly: "I challenge Nan Mingchen, Blade Master!"

What!

This declaration shocked countless people!

Could this guy be insane?

If not for Ye Luo’s status deterring them, many sneering remarks would have been made!

Nan Mingchen, ranked twenty-eighth! His ranking was well-deserved; some even thought it was underranked!

And Ye Luo?

Ranked merely one-hundredth, his placement was riddled with controversy.

And now he dared challenge Nan Mingchen, ranked twenty-eighth—was he courting death?

Nan Mingchen’s lips curled into a sinister smile. He didn’t hesitate and stepped forward.

Only now did Ye Luo get a clear glimpse of this figure hidden amidst the crowd.

In truth, Nan Mingchen and two others had also received orders—to seize any opportunity to kill Ye Luo!

Ye Luo’s ability to deal with demon spirits had already drawn the attention of the Demon Clan!

"Fine, I accept your challenge, Your Highness. Let’s have some fun!"

Fun?

Indeed, wasn’t it just "fun" in the eyes of the crowd for Nan Mingchen to "play" with Ye Luo, only to kick him off the arena with ease?

How confident was Ye Luo at that moment?

None, absolutely none!

After all, each of these opponents was long-famed, their Cyclone Realm cultivation not merely for show. Ye Luo might brush off ordinary Cyclone Realm practitioners,

but these figures had undoubtedly awakened their spiritual essence!

Take Nan Mingchen, for instance—his Soul Severing Knife was specialized for severing souls. Could this unique ability be anything but awakened spiritual power?

The duel between the two adhered strictly to the rules, so no one intervened.

Referee?

Unnecessary. The arena itself served as the referee—whoever was knocked off lost, especially since this battle imposed no restrictions on any techniques!

"Your Highness, are you ready?"

Nan Mingchen asked indifferently, yet the great sword in his hand was already firmly gripped.

Ye Luo curled his finger lightly, replying coolly: "Come at me!"

Boom!

Suddenly, Nan Mingchen’s entire body erupted in intense radiance, all of which consolidated in a flash upon the massive blade in his hand. He leaped high into the air, unleashing his full force with evident premeditation!

Some spectators were astonished—they couldn’t comprehend why Nan Mingchen was giving it his all against a mere Cyclone Realm First Stage prince.

"Perhaps it’s just Blade Master’s way..."

That was someone’s speculative remark, though very few knew this duel was, in fact, a life-and-death battle!

Ye Luo’s gaze sharpened. Nan Mingchen’s sudden eruption indeed caught him off guard, but fortunately, Ye Luo was not entirely unprepared.

Dragon Soaring Nine Heavens activated in an instant. Meanwhile, Xiao Qi appeared on Ye Luo’s shoulder, though this time translucent.

Seven-colored Power emanated from Xiao Qi’s hands and infused into Ye Luo’s body.

With Xiao Qi’s assistance, Ye Luo could finally wield Seven-colored Power freely. Moreover, Xiao Qi, endowed with spiritual intelligence, could assess situations independently.

Such as now: Ye Luo didn’t give any orders, yet Xiao Qi instinctively applied Seven-colored Power to Ye Luo.

For the first time since acquiring Seven-colored Power, Ye Luo actively utilized it in an observable manner.

"That—that’s..."

A powerful figure abruptly stood up.

He was an envoy from the Eighth Region.

At this moment, his eyes were filled with shock.

The Seven-colored Power, while mystical in the Great Tang Empire, on Earth, or to Ye Luo, was something the Eighth Region had long been exposed to.

The Cyclone Realm, also known as the Martial Realm, based its cultivation on condensing Qi Cyclones.

And the next realm—the Spirit Martial Realm—required the fusion of elemental forces to gain unique skills.

Yet in the entirety of the Eighth Region, possessing mastery over three or more elemental powers was exceedingly rare!

Mastery wasn’t mere acquisition—it required the ability to wield a power, not merely obtain or know of it.

At this moment, the envoy from the Eighth Region couldn’t help but be astounded.

After a moment, however, he sat back down: "Impossible. This is merely a small nation in the Ninth Region. How could someone master seven elemental powers? No, it must be an anomaly—a chance inheritance of these powers, but merely borrowed, not mastered!"

His sudden movement naturally drew the attention of others, though none dared inquire further. Instead, the crowd’s focus returned to the duel between Ye Luo and Nan Mingchen, hoping to uncover something extraordinary within.

With the boost of Seven-colored Power, Dragon Soaring Nine Heavens provided terrifying speed to Ye Luo. Thus, even with Nan Mingchen’s advantage of surprise, he couldn’t land an attack on Ye Luo.

"Dodging quite swiftly, aren’t you? Well then, let’s see how you’ll handle this strike!"

Nan Mingchen chuckled lightly, seemingly dismissing Ye Luo entirely.

Yet his offense remained meticulously calculated and relentless.

"Soul Severing Knife—Ten Thousand Slashes!"

The Soul Severing Knife technique—it was none other than Nan Mingchen’s signature skill, his ultimate maneuver!

Slash!

Slash, slash, slash...

The sound could be heard clearly—each vibration of the countless Qi Swords.

That’s right, Nan Mingchen’s weaponized Qi Swords had the ability to vibrate.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a single Qi Sword descended upon Ye Luo. At the same time, tens of Qi Swords came into motion.

Yet was it over?

No, this was merely the beginning!

As those tens of Qi Swords launched, the skies filled with an overwhelming density of thousands of Qi Swords. Ten Thousand Slashes wasn’t just a name—it was the culmination of Nan Mingchen’s most devastating strike. Though the technique left him visibly drained, his lips still curved in a self-assured grin, for in his eyes, Ye Luo was already doomed!