Chapter 230: Joining Forces

What is going on with this guy? Although he previously managed to withstand the joint attack of Liu Yuebai and his companion single-handedly, he is now standing perfectly still. Is he trying to act as a living target for them to beat up?

At this moment, many people under the spectator stands erupted into an uproar upon seeing Yang Yan's choice. While they had been shocked that Yang Yan could repel the combined attack of Liu Yuebai and his partner, they believed his strength was, at best, that of a quasi-Spirit-Channeling Realm practitioner—not even reaching the half-step stage. Such strength should not have been enough to ignore the combined assault of two peak Spirit-Sensing Realm cultivators.

Seeing Yang Yan’s seemingly arrogant posture, the icy murderous intent on the faces of the charging Liu Yuebai and his companion deepened. The spiritual energy within them surged into their palms, and the martial arts techniques they unleashed became even more fierce.

The combined power of the two attacking together was no longer the ordinary strike that had left Liu Zhengqing defeated earlier. Facing such an attack, even a half-step Spirit-Channeling Realm cultivator would not dare to be careless. Liu Yuebai and his partner’s intentions were simple: they wanted to make this cocky guy pay in blood.

Under the horrified gaze of the crowd, the two figures rapidly closed in on Yang Yan, their fists and palms—cloaked in immense spiritual energy—thundering toward his chest.

Just as their attacks were merely inches from Yang Yan, a terrifying aura, like a tidal wave, suddenly erupted from within his body. With Yang Yan at the center, a horrific spiritual energy storm was instantly unleashed. Liu Yuebai and his companion, who had held sneers on their faces, had their expressions shift violently. Caught in the wake of the expanding spiritual storm, their bodies felt as if they had been struck by a heavy blow. Like kites with severed strings, they were sent flying off the stone platform under the crowd’s shocked eyes. They landed pale-faced, spitting out blood, staring with disbelief at Yang Yan, who hadn't even moved an inch.

"How is this possible?! This aura... he has completely entered the Spirit-Channeling Realm!"

The scene was witnessed by everyone, and a chorus of gasps filled the air.

From the aura Yang Yan had just released, it was clear his strength had reached the level of the Spirit-Channeling Realm—and not just the quasi or half-step stage, but the true first layer of the Spirit-Channeling Realm!

A Spirit-Channeling powerhouse at only sixteen or seventeen years old? In the Liu Clan, where geniuses were abundant, this was nothing short of sensational. Compared to this youth, the so-called geniuses of their own family were nothing but garbage.

On the main dais, Liu Zong stood up abruptly, his aged face etched with profound shock. Although he had vaguely sensed Yang Yan’s extraordinary nature before, he had not expected that the boy had successfully stepped into the Spirit-Channeling Realm. At only sixteen or seventeen, such cultivation talent was truly monstrous.

The elders and high-ranking members of the Liu Clan behind Liu Zong wore expressions of utter disbelief. They could not fathom how an outside helper hired by a branch family member who had been expelled could be so formidable.

"This... in this match, Liu Zhengqing of the Jinhuan City branch is the winner."

After being stunned into silence by the spectacle, the referee finally regained his composure to announce the result.

*Whoosh!*

As the referee’s voice fell, the atmosphere under the stone platform turned fiery. Gazes filled with wonder, envy, and complexity fixed upon Yang Yan on the platform, and the uproar resonated throughout the venue.

Facing this, Yang Yan’s expression remained unchanged. He had only released a tiny fraction of his aura—at most, the level of someone just entering the Spirit-Channeling Realm. Yet, even that small amount was far beyond what the peak Spirit-Sensing Realm Liu Yuebai could compare to; thus, their martial arts techniques had been shattered in an instant.

Yang Yan always preferred to be well-prepared; he never revealed his true strength until the most critical moment. It was better to keep some trump cards hidden when in an unfamiliar place. With his current powerful soul strength, even someone like Liu Zong, who had reached the Spirit-Sea Realm, would find it difficult to detect his true depth.

Once the referee’s verdict was delivered, Yang Yan walked toward Liu Zhengqing without pausing. He had missed his good friend, whom he hadn't seen in over half a year.

"You really are a monster. I never imagined you’d become this strong in just half a year," Liu Zhengqing said, rising quickly to greet him and patting Yang Yan on the shoulder with a smile.

As a good friend, he was sincerely happy for Yang Yan’s strength, though he couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion. When they first met during the Clan Tournament, Yang Yan’s strength had been slightly lower than his own. Yet, in just half a year, the youth had not only closed that gap but surpassed him, and the distance between them was only growing.

Liu Zhengqing was a proud person who hated to lose. Although he and Yang Yan were brothers, he had secretly been competing with him, hoping to surpass him through diligent practice. But today, when Yang Yan revealed his strength, he realized he would likely never be able to catch up. The only reason he had managed to rise from the fourth layer of the Spirit-Sensing Realm to the peak in six months was due to his hard work and a few fortunate encounters; otherwise, he never would have reached this level.

"You aren't doing too badly yourself," Yang Yan smiled.

"Leave the rest of the matches to me," Yang Yan said, looking at the traces of blood still lingering on the corner of Liu Zhengqing's mouth.

Having gathered information through various means during his stay, Yang Yan had gained a rough understanding of the conflict between Liu Zhengqing and the main Liu Clan. Consequently, his disdain for this so-called Liu Clan had only grown.

It wasn't for any other reason than the fact that they had forcibly driven out the descendants of those who had sacrificed so much for the family; such behavior was despicable in Yang Yan's eyes. With his current power and influence, he was not inferior to the Liu Clan, so he held them in absolute contempt. He would not allow his friend to remain in a family filled with such backstabbing and heartlessness. The only reason he stayed to continue the tournament was to prove, in front of all of Shangzhou, just how foolish the Liu Clan’s decision had been.

As Yang Yan walked off the platform, the commotion subsided, and the next match began.

"In this match, Liu Zongsheng of the Liu Clan faces Liu Baiyang!"

As soon as the referee announced the start, both figures leaped onto the platform. However, the moment the match began, the youth named Liu Baiyang conceded under the stunned gaze of the crowd!

"As expected of the patriarch’s grandson. Liu Zongsheng’s strength must have reached the Spirit-Channeling Realm. To reach this level at only twenty years old—he can truly be considered the number one in the younger generation of Shangzhou," whispers rippled through the stands as they saw the ease with which Liu Zongsheng secured his victory.

"Why don't I join you later? We are bound to face Liu Zongsheng eventually. He is the patriarch’s grandson, and it looks like his strength has also formally entered the first layer of the Spirit-Channeling Realm, just like yours," Liu Zhengqing said with a grave expression to Yang Yan.

Although he saw Yang Yan as being at the first layer of the Spirit-Channeling Realm—a match for Liu Zongsheng in a one-on-one fight—that guy would surely have hired a strong helper to ensure victory. And with his own peak Spirit-Sensing Realm strength, there was a massive gap compared to the Spirit-Channeling Realm. But as a brother, he couldn't hide behind Yang Yan. If it came down to it, he would fight to the death, even if he lost, he would lose with dignity.

"Don't worry about it. I told you, leave the matches to me. Just sit back and watch," Yang Yan replied with a wry smile, a warmth spreading through his heart.

True brotherhood meant standing by one another even when facing certain defeat. There were few people Yang Yan acknowledged as friends, and Liu Zhengqing’s nature was exactly why he earned that status. Seeing Yang Yan’s confidence, Liu Zhengqing stopped worrying; he knew Yang Yan’s personality—he never let himself suffer at the hands of others.

After the referee announced Liu Zongsheng’s victory, his gaze turned toward Yang Yan with a hint of coldness. Yang Yan noticed this, and a strange expression crossed his face. It seemed this guy had pegged him as his greatest obstacle.

However, Yang Yan chose to ignore the provocation of such a minor clown. After one glance, he looked away, not bothering to pay him any more mind.

"Just you wait. When we meet, I’ll make sure to knock your teeth out," Liu Zongsheng muttered maliciously, his face darkening as he saw Yang Yan ignore him.

With the conclusion of this match, the second round ended, and exactly four teams remained. Yang Yan had already assessed the three other teams. Aside from the one led by Liu Zongsheng, the other two consisted of peak Spirit-Sensing Realm cultivators. In the subsequent draw, those two teams were unlucky enough to be matched against Liu Zhengqing and Liu Zongsheng respectively.

The third round was almost comical. Before the matches could even start, both of those teams announced their surrender to the referee. This left the third-place match to be decided between those two, while the first and second place would be contested between Liu Zhengqing and Liu Zongsheng.

The two teams had clearly shown self-awareness. While the gap between the peak Spirit-Sensing Realm and the Spirit-Channeling Realm was just one step, it was like a chasm. They made the right choice; otherwise, they would have endured a beating, lost the match, and humiliated themselves in front of everyone. Anyone with an IQ above five would not make the wrong choice.

The situation was now clear: the next patriarch would be chosen between Liu Zhengqing and Liu Zongsheng. Even if one won the tournament, it didn't guarantee the position—there would still be voting by the clan elders. However, the tournament result carried significant weight, which was why Liu Zongsheng valued it so highly. As the patriarch’s grandson, he had enjoyed priority access to the best cultivation resources, and his accomplishments were as much a product of family support as his own talent.

"The following match will decide the champion of this year’s Clan Tournament, and the winner will earn the qualification to become the next patriarch. I announce the match, begin!"

As the referee’s voice echoed, the arena erupted into a fervent atmosphere. This was rarely seen in previous tournaments—two young Spirit-Channeling practitioners facing off was extremely rare. In the eyes of the cultivators present, this was moving beyond a mere clan competition and into the realm of a serious clash between experts. After all, in Shangzhou, a Spirit-Channeling practitioner could easily lead a small faction. To see two young men of this caliber fight was genuinely exciting.

"Kid, I am surprised you reached the Spirit-Channeling Realm at such an age. But it’s a pity you chose to wade into the muddy waters of our Liu Clan," Liu Zongsheng said coldly, staring at Yang Yan.

Yang Yan ignored him, merely shrugging with a helpless smile.

"I had no choice. I didn't want to participate in this so-called tournament, but since my good friend is here, I’ll just have to play along with you all."

Yang Yan did not bother to hide his words, and they reached everyone's ears, causing many to change color. His tone showed that he didn't put the Liu Clan in his eyes at all. They hadn't seen such an arrogant youth in a long time. In Shangzhou, the Liu Clan was the law; even other major powers would avoid offending this local snake. Yet, this sixteen-year-old seemed completely indifferent to their status. Many began to speculate about his background, wondering which major power he came from to be so dismissive.

The members of the Liu Clan on the main platform looked displeased, but with the match in progress, no one dared to speak.

"How arrogant! Very well, I won't waste my breath. Don't blame me for ganging up on you." Liu Zongsheng’s face darkened instantly. With a sneer, he beckoned, and a figure flashed out from behind him. As the figure appeared, two massive auras erupted simultaneously.

"Spirit-Channeling Realm! Another young Spirit-Channeling practitioner!"

"I’ve seen it all today. Since when is the Spirit-Channeling Realm so cheap? Three practitioners under twenty have appeared today!"

The crowd broke into another uproar. Liu Zongsheng clearly didn't intend to hold back. As the grandson of the patriarch, he valued victory above all else. He would not allow someone from a lowly branch family to steal what was his. He wanted a crushing victory to silence the crowd.

Having seen Yang Yan defeat Liu Yuebai, he knew he couldn't guarantee a win alone. He wouldn't waste time—he would go straight to a two-on-one fight. As for Liu Zhengqing, he ignored him completely; a peak Spirit-Sensing practitioner was no different from an ordinary mortal in the eyes of a Spirit-Channeling expert.

Facing Liu Zongsheng’s shout and the sudden appearance of his helper, Yang Yan remained calm and detached.

"Kid, let’s see how long you can keep up this act." Liu Zongsheng’s anger flared. As the grandson of the Liu Clan patriarch, he had never been looked down upon like this. He would teach this brat a lesson.

He signaled his helper, and both figures, wrapped in vast spiritual energy, charged toward Yang Yan.

Fists containing sharp, piercing winds struck at Yang Yan, but he smiled calmly, his hands behind his back. With a light tap of his foot on the stone, he dodged the lethal blow by a hair’s breadth.

Just as he dodged, a sound of rushing wind came from behind—the helper had launched an attack. Yang Yan remained unhurried, his body bending into an impossibly dangerous arc. To the spectators, it was a narrow escape, but on the main dais, Liu Zong’s expression turned increasingly solemn.

The youth gave him a mysterious feeling, as if a thick mist obscured his true strength. What others saw as a dangerous dodge, he perceived as a cat playing with mice—a deliberate, mocking display.

Liu Zong was right. Yang Yan did not put their attacks in his eyes at all; he was simply toying with them. He had no affection for the Liu Clan members, and since they wanted to be humiliated, he would make sure it was a grand one.

The fact that Yang Yan only dodged made Liu Zongsheng and his helper grow increasingly frantic. To them, Yang Yan was like a slippery eel; every time they thought they had him, he would narrowly escape. Their patience was rapidly wearing thin.

"Kid, you forced our hand!"

With a cold shout, both Liu Zongsheng and his helper stopped their physical assault. Their hand seals began to shift rapidly. As they moved, a terrifying energy fluctuation emanated from their bodies. The fire-attribute spiritual energy in front of them gathered until, in moments, it formed a massive fire serpent, hissing and flicking its tongue at Yang Yan with a ferocious, terrifying aura.

The two were using an extremely rare "Cooperative Martial Technique." Two cultivators with identical spiritual energy attributes could practice this together; when unleashed in tandem, the technique was more than twice as powerful as one launched by a single person!