Ch. 508 - Parents

“There’s no such thing as a number one,” the Seventh Elder shook his head with a light smile. “Cultivation is something you do for yourself, not to compare with others.”

“Even so, I’ve defeated everyone in the younger generation. I’ll still take the title of number one,” Dugu Ao said confidently.

“No,” Xiao Yuexuan said from the side, “There’s still someone you haven’t defeated.”

Dugu Ao narrowed his eyes and looked directly at Xiao Yuexuan, waiting for an answer.

“Our True Martial Sacred Ground’s current Holy Son,” she said coldly.

Upon hearing this, Xu Zimo shook his head and laughed. This Sixth Elder really had it out for him.

He hadn’t intended to get involved, after all, he had finally returned to the Sacred Ground and wanted some rest.

“The Holy Son is right here. If you want to prove yourself, go ahead and challenge him,” Xiao Yuexuan said calmly.

Dugu Ao turned around, his halberd bursting with immense power.

He looked around at everyone, then locked eyes with Xu Zimo and said loudly, “Holy Son, will you give me the honor of a match?”

“You really haven’t felt the pain of reality yet,” Xu Zimo shook his head slightly.

Looking at Dugu Ao, he asked, “You really want to fight me?”

“The Holy Son can always admit defeat,” Dugu Ao replied calmly.

“Then come,” Xu Zimo said as he slowly walked onto the battle platform.

The autumn wind blew, and the trees on either side stood withering and bare.

A few dry leaves drifted slowly from above.

Dugu Ao stood with fighting spirit surging around him and said, “After this match, I plan to head to the Middle Continent. The East is too small.”

“You’re using me as your stepping stone,” Xu Zimo chuckled.

“They fear you because you’re the Holy Son. I don’t,” Dugu Ao replied.

“Since I began cultivating, I’ve relied on myself. Even when Grand Elders wanted to take me as their disciple, I refused. There are countless talents across the continent, but there’s a place for me, Dugu Ao.”

“Come on, let me see how strong you really are,” Xu Zimo smiled.

The tension between the two had built up, and the air was thick with pressure.

Disciples below whispered to each other.

“Who do you think will win?”

“Of course Senior Brother Dugu, he’s fought his way here right in front of us.”

“But I heard the Holy Son is really strong too.”

“I don’t know about the Holy Son, but I’ve seen Dugu Ao with my own eyes.”

...

Dugu Ao’s Empyrean Meridian Realm aura surged around him. At his age, that level of cultivation was extremely rare and monstrous.

At that moment, his halberd trembled slightly, emitting a deep black glow.

“Heaven-Splitting Halberd!” Dugu Ao roared, slashing his halberd through layers of space.

He tore apart the air with unstoppable momentum. His halberd technique was masterful.

He charged straight at Xu Zimo.

As the halberd came crashing down, seemingly unstoppable...

Everyone held their breath, eyes fixed on Xu Zimo to see how he would react.

Xu Zimo shook his head, a little bored. He slowly raised his right hand.

With just his index and middle fingers, he casually pinched the halberd mid-air. The motion was slow and unhurried.

But that seemingly lazy gesture completely stopped the mighty halberd in place.

It was like a raging wildfire suddenly doused by an endless sea.

All the overwhelming force behind the halberd vanished in an instant. Dugu Ao stared in disbelief.

It felt like his full power had fallen into a swamp, useless. He couldn’t even pull the halberd free.

“You’ve still got a lot to learn,” Xu Zimo said, shaking his head.

He flicked the halberd lightly with his fingers. Though it looked like a light touch, a massive wave of energy exploded outward.

With a loud boom, the halberd burst into radiant light and shattered.

Dugu Ao’s body was sent flying.

The battle platform cracked loudly. With Xu Zimo at the center, it completely collapsed.

Countless cracks spread like a spider web.

Dugu Ao’s body slammed into the chain barrier around the platform and then crashed to the ground.

He was covered in blood, and fresh blood streamed from his head.

His eyes were full of shock and disbelief as he looked at Xu Zimo.

He tried to stand, but the pain throughout his body wasn't just physical.

Even inside, his organs felt like they were being torn apart, he couldn’t move.

...

Xu Zimo walked step by step to Dugu Ao’s side and squatted down slowly.

He looked at Dugu Ao and said softly, “This is your final lesson before leaving the Sacred Ground. There’s always someone stronger. You really are talented. I’ve been to the Northern Continent and the Middle Continent. I’ve entered and left the Ten Forbidden Grounds many times, and I’ve seen countless prodigies along the way. You’d be among the top. But to me, in this era, I alone am enough.”

Hearing this, Dugu Ao stared at him for a long time.

Finally, he said with difficulty, “I admit defeat.”

“Take him for treatment,” Xu Zimo said, standing up and speaking gently to the still-stunned disciples nearby.

“Huh? Oh, yes!” one of the disciples snapped out of it and quickly responded.

Xu Zimo looked up, gave the Seventh Elder a light smile, and then turned his gaze to Xiao Yuexuan.

He said calmly, “Thank you for believing in me, Sixth Elder. I enjoy a good fight. I wonder if the Sixth Elder would be willing to spar with me? Maybe you can teach me that there’s always someone stronger.”

“This is a disciple tournament. It’s not appropriate for me to intervene,” Xiao Yuexuan replied calmly.

“Coward,” Xu Zimo said, then walked off the stage.

As he walked away, Xiao Yuexuan stared at his back, lost in thought.

She whispered, “So fast... you’ve really grown to this level.”

After Xu Zimo left, the silence around the platform erupted into lively discussion again.

“So... that’s the Holy Son of our True Martial Sacred Ground.”

“Dugu Ao is a real prodigy, and yet he couldn’t even last one move. The Holy Son is already on another level.”

“They’re just not in the same league.”

Hearing all this, Elder Wan Zhen looked at Xiao Yuexuan and asked, “So how should we rank this tournament?”

“Does the ranking still matter?” Xiao Yuexuan replied. “Whoever won, give them first.”

Elder Wan Zhen gave a bitter smile. Even though Xu Zimo didn’t officially participate in the tournament and only had one fight...

No matter who they gave first place to, Xu Zimo had already stolen the spotlight.

After thinking for a moment, he finally decided to give first place to Xu Zimo.

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