Before leaving the stage, James and Jack infused their Qi into the platform. A few moments later, the stage was pristine once again.

As James and Jack left the platform, the crowd erupted in a ferocious roar. The participants were amazed by the prowess shown by both Elders from the Violet Sky clan.

The first fight between the Li and Markov clans had only been an appetizer. This second fight had been the main course. The last fight should be a dessert, something so sweet and addictive that you will be left desiring more. A rising expectation formed in the hearts of the crowd.

James and Jack kindly received the cheers of the audience waving back to the crowd as they left the arena and returned to the balcony of the Violet Sky Clan.

The woman in the vermilion dress had arrived at the platform when James and Jack were leaving the stage. She, however, saw the audience was thrilled with the cheer and waited for them to calm down a little.

When The woman saw the crowd had calmed a bit, without missing a beat announced: “Today you have been witnesses of the might and skill of the Elders of the Violet Sky Clan. With such strength, they will remain the guardians of our city for tens of thousands of years.”

She paused for a second and then said: “You have seen the strength of three of the four great clans. In but moments, you will see a breathtaking spectacle. One that will defy your very views of might and strength. Today, you will see the pinnacle of power of a Golden Core realm cultivator. And remember that the young seedling that will fight after will, in time, become soaring dragons and hidden phoenixes that reach such pinnacle. For the last fight, we have the strongest Elder of the Lambert clan at the eighth layer of the Golden Core realm. Please give a strong welcome to Elder Cedric.”

As the woman spoke the words, Cedric appeared on the platform. The crowd erupted in excited roars. Cedric waved back to the audience, and the crowd erupted in an uproar of cheers and applause.

The woman in the vermilion dress then continued: His opponent will be the strongest cultivator in our city at the ninth layer of the Golden Core realm. He is the great guardian of our city. Give a warm welcome to Elder Damian of the Violet Sky Clan.”

Damian arrived at appeared on one side of the stage. When he arrived at the platform, the crowd erupted in an uproar. Many throats will be sore tomorrow. Damian simply smiled back at the crowd. After a few moments of roaring from the crowd, the sound quieted down.

The woman in the vermilion dress said: “Let the fight begin”

She then sprinted with her movement technique once again toward the safety of the barrier.

Damian and Cedric exchanged a martial bow. Once they saw the woman in the vermilion dress in the safety of the barrier. Cedric took out a staff made of wood. The staff was carved with trees, mountains, and rivers. It was a breathtaking work of craftsmanship.

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Damian conjured two green jade swords with a long, pure white line along the blade. He took a sword in each hand and assumed a relaxed stance.

The crowd was silent, not wanting to miss even the smallest of detail from the fight.

Cedric slammed the tip of his staff with both hands. A small shock wave spread along the platform. At the same time. An illusory silhouette made of Qi of an ancient oak tree formed behind Cedric. The tree was at around a hundred feet. Hundreds of branches sprouted from its trunk. Its leaves were of vibrant emerald color. White fruits were hanging on some branches of the tree. A thin layer of white fire surrounded the fruits.

Air in the arena hummed and vibrated in the tree’s presence. Cultivators in the audience tried to look at the tree, only to hurt their eyes when they tried. Almost like they were seeing something far above themselves. Golden Core cultivators could see the tree without pain, yet they could feel a profound fear when looking at the tree. To them, it looked like a sovereign.

Damian waited for Cedric to make the first move. After all, it would be anticlimactic that the strongest of the two made the first move. Damian had come quite a way in both his martial arts and its cultivation. He could have broken through to the tenth layer of the Golden Core realm a few weeks prior to the tournament. But he was pushing back his breakthrough, bidding his time. He wanted his foundation to be as strong and robust as possible before attempting it.

A few moments passed. Then Cedric moved. More precisely, the roots of the tree moved. Dozens of roots sprouted from the ground all around Damian. Roots whipped around as they enclosed toward Damian strenuously fast.

Damian raised both swords and, with a swift and elegant spin. He cut the incoming roots with finesse. As soon as the roots from the tree were cut, dozens more emerged from the ground, launching a relentless assault against Damian from all angles. Damian moved, brandishing his jade swords, each movement severing dozens of attacking roots. Damian’s movements as he spun, trusted, slashed, evaded, and jumped had an uncanny elegance to them. To the audience, it appeared like Damian was dancing on the stage. Damian cut hundreds of roots, and yet even more were sprouting, aiming to trap, impale, or slash Damian.

On the Violet Sky Clan balcony. The Elders were questioning what technique Damian was using. After all, they had not yet seen this technique.

Elder Leila, however, recognized the technique, as she also practiced it. In fact, it was a technique that was taught to all the Azure Guard of which she was the commander-in-chief.

She was the one to shed light on the Elder’s doubt: “The technique’s name was ‘Tranquil Tempest Dance’ It’s a Sky rank technique. It’s the fighting technique we teach to the new recruits at the Azure guard. It delves into the principle of the center of force. The technique allows the user to exert at a moment’s notice either the full force of their body or a smaller amount. The technique is especially efficient in making it near impossible for the enemy to accustom to the user, flow, movement, and strength, as there are thousands of combinations making it hard to differentiate in battle if it’s the same martial art of several ones.”

Hiroshi responded, “I see. It’s indeed a wonderful technique. You did great on making it a basis for the Azure Guard. It will give an edge in battle.”

The Elders of the Violet Sky Balcony agreed with Hiroshi statement, as they noded or expressed their agreement.

This was a technique Damian had been learning since returning from the cave, and thanks to Cedric’s tea, he had achieved ‘Great Achievement’ in it. Without the tea, which induced a semi-enlightenment state. Damian would have needed at least six more months to achieve his current level.