"Take this—my spear!"

Wasting no time, Liu Xing unleashed the Liu Clan's signature Overlord Spear Technique.

Sensing the aura of a Yellow Rank First-Tier Peak warrior, Tang Yan smirked inwardly. Decent strength, but still far beneath him.

With a slight release of his inner energy, Tang Yan wielded his longsword and advanced.

The crowd widened their eyes in disbelief as Tang Yan fearlessly met the spear head-on. By all logic, this battle should have been decided in a single move.

Clang!

The sharp clash of metal echoed, and gasps filled the air.

Tang Yan had actually blocked the attack!

A Mortal Rank Eighth-Tier warrior had just withstood a full-force strike from a Yellow Rank First-Tier opponent?

Before anyone could recover from the shock, Tang Yan was already counterattacking, his sword thrusting straight for Liu Xing’s throat.

Feeling the oppressive force of the sword’s energy, Liu Xing’s expression changed drastically.

Damn it! This isn’t Mortal Rank Eighth-Tier—he’s clearly Yellow Rank First-Tier!

But before he could react, Tang Yan’s blade was upon him.

The Flowing Cloud Sword Technique—as ethereal as drifting clouds, fluid as flowing water, omnipresent and ever-changing. The seemingly slow swordplay masked an intricate network of unpredictable and perilous attacks.

Even Old Master Tang couldn’t help but rub his eyes in astonishment.

It wasn’t Tang Yan’s internal energy that shocked him, but rather his swordsmanship.

Isn’t that our Tang Clan’s Flowing Cloud Sword Technique?

Yet, the way Tang Yan wielded it seemed… even stronger?

As he carefully observed, the old master finally realized what was different.

It was the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique—but subtly altered.

Realizing this, Old Master Tang felt both furious and amused. This little brat learned an upgraded version of our sword technique and didn’t even bother telling me?!

Despite having the same cultivation level, Tang Yan’s superior technique and battle awareness gave him an overwhelming advantage.

Under Tang Yan’s relentless assault, Liu Xing could only retreat, barely able to keep up.

It all happened in mere seconds.

"Tang Yan is Yellow Rank First-Tier!"

The skilled warriors in the crowd immediately recognized the truth.

Liu Xing, overwhelmed and flustered, left an opening in his defense.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Tang Yan’s eyes gleamed, and he seized the opportunity, delivering a powerful kick straight to Liu Xing’s dantian.

Boom!

Liu Xing had no time to defend—he was sent flying, landing heavily on the ground, unconscious.

A smirk played at Tang Yan’s lips. Another crippled Liu Clan warrior.

"Xing'er!"

Liu He roared and leaped onto the stage, checking Liu Xing’s pulse. As his face darkened, he turned to Tang Yan with a chilling glare. "If something happens to him, you’ll regret it!"

"We all agreed—until someone concedes, the fight continues. Liu Xing never admitted defeat. If anything, I was merciful for not delivering a finishing blow. Liu Clan’s Head Liu He, remember to send those three Tier-Three Beast Cores to the Tang Clan tonight."

Tang Yan was completely unfazed by Liu He’s threats, sheathing his sword and returning to his seat.

"You broke through to Yellow Rank First-Tier?"

Wu Xuan gasped. Just days ago, he had still been at Mortal Rank Eighth-Tier!

"Hehe, just a lucky breakthrough," Tang Yan said humbly.

City Lord Lin Xiao, watching from above, felt speechless. No wonder Tang Yan had agreed to the fight so readily—he had already reached Yellow Rank First-Tier!

Strictly speaking, Tang Yan had never lied. The Liu Clan simply made their own false assumptions. Lin Xiao could only announce, "Tang Yan is the winner!"

The Liu Clan elders were seething. They had wanted to humiliate the Tang Clan, yet now it was their turn to be the laughingstock.

"The Tang Clan has become this deceitful? Hiding his strength and pretending to be weak?" Liu Changyu growled.

"I never once claimed I was Mortal Rank Eighth-Tier. Your misjudgment is your problem, not mine."

Tang Yan’s voice turned cold. "Besides, your Liu Clan wanted a Mortal Rank warrior to fight a Yellow Rank warrior. What was your true intention?"

"Did you think the Tang Clan was an easy target?

The Tang Clan has always upheld peace, never provoking others, but that does not mean we are afraid.

Tonight, both the destruction of the Four Seas Gang and Liu Xing’s defeat should serve as clear warnings.

If anyone believes the Tang Clan is weak, they’re welcome to test their luck!"

Many of the smaller factions within Cloud City, who had been on the fence, felt their blood boil at Tang Yan’s bold words.

Some regretted not siding with the Tang Clan earlier—if only Tang Yan had been just a bit stronger, the risk of allying with them would be much lower. After all, once Old Master Tang passed away, would the Tang Clan truly be able to hold their ground?

Tang Yan had anticipated this concern.

By participating in tonight’s tournament, he aimed to dispel those doubts.

As long as he displayed enough strength, the Tang Clan’s influence would rise again.

"The rules state that anyone at Yellow Rank Third-Tier or higher may challenge the former Top Eight directly, correct?"

Tang Yan’s voice rang through the night sky.

Gasps spread through the crowd.

He wanted to challenge Cloud City’s Top Eight?

Did that mean he had Yellow Rank Third-Tier strength?

"Tang Yan of the Tang Clan challenges Liu Changyu of the Liu Clan!"

As the audience watched in stunned silence, Tang Yan’s aura began to rise.

Yellow Rank Second-Tier!

Yellow Rank Third-Tier!

…

The rising energy continued to intensify, finally stopping at Yellow Rank Sixth-Tier!

A suffocating silence engulfed the arena.

Then, an eruption of chaos.

The city’s infamous "First Young Master Scoundrel" was actually a hidden expert!

At Yellow Rank Sixth-Tier, he was absolutely capable of entering the Top Eight!

The Liu Clan elders’ faces darkened further. They recognized the sword technique Tang Yan had used—it was indeed the Tang Clan’s Flowing Cloud Sword Technique.

But it had been modified—its power was even greater than before.

Their plan to cripple Tang Yan had completely fallen apart.

"Tang Yan, why don’t you challenge me instead?"

A calm yet commanding voice rang out.

Liu Zhi stepped forward.

The once-boisterous arena instantly fell silent again.

As the undisputed number one among Cloud City’s younger generation, Liu Zhi was rumored to be Yellow Rank Eighth-Tier!

In high-level combat, even the smallest gap in power could determine the victor.

Tang Yan’s expression remained unreadable as he quickly weighed his options.

Even if Liu Zhi was at Yellow Rank Ninth-Tier, he was confident he could fight on equal footing.

He wasn’t here to claim the championship.

He was here to prove that the Tang Clan was not in decline—to inspire the city’s wavering factions to stand by them.

"Very well," Tang Yan said, his lips curling into a smirk.

"If I can endure twenty moves from you, I’ll consider it my victory."