How did a bastard like him become an immortal?

Both sides mobilized all their true energy to unleash their strongest attack. Now, Li Muyun, with his domineering triple transformation, had also stepped into the Golden Core realm, and the gap between their realms had been erased in a short time.

Zhao Tianming clapped his hands together, and a thick black aura spread from his palms, like ink drops falling into clear water, forming a watercolor painting in the air. As the painting unfolded, a terrifying aura rose up, as if a raging storm was crashing down. As he carved the character in the air stroke by stroke, the aura gradually reached its peak!

"Mysterious Ink - Charge Character!"

A huge, jet-black character “冲” (chōng) charged forward, carrying the aura of a massive army!

"Well done!"

Li Muyun shouted loudly, stood with his legs in a bow stance, and supported his right arm with his left arm. The light on his right arm became even more dazzling, and the terrifying and domineering true essence stirred up the dragon pattern on his right arm to emerge, with a dragon roar.

Even the most powerful magical artifacts couldn't withstand the domineering immortal technique, and the Wine Immortal Sword could barely endure it. However, the right arm, which had fused with the Three-Headed Divine Flood Dragon Pearl, absorbed the domineering true essence as if swallowing the ocean. Only when the dragon pattern fully lit up did Li Muyun stop injecting it. He wasn't afraid that the divine dragon's right arm couldn't withstand it; he was afraid that the power of this move was too great and his body couldn't bear it.

However, the sheer power of this domineering true essence was already terrifying enough; this punch could truly split mountains and shatter rocks!

"bring it on!"

With a sudden clench of his fist, Li Muyun raised his right arm, unleashing a terrifying burst of power with each punch!

"boom!"

That punch, though it was just thrown, already unleashed a deafening roar. The golden light transformed into the phantom of a three-headed divine dragon, and a dragon's roar exploded out!

The character "冲" (chōng) transformed into a black dragon, churning and roaring, carrying the momentum of a thousand troops as it clashed together.

In an instant, the world changed color, the dragon's roar echoed, true essence exploded, and the momentum soared to the sky!

The crowd below the stage was terrified and stood frozen in fear. If they were caught in the aftershocks, they would probably lose their lives. However, the terrifying pressure made their legs go weak, and they almost lost the ability to escape.

However, upon seeing this, the four grandmasters of the martial arts arena immediately flashed and transformed into streaks of light, arriving at the four corners of the arena. The four of them unleashed their true energy, and the grandmasters' true energy completely surrounded the arena. Although the terrifying aftershocks of the collision between the two made the grandmasters' true energy boom loudly, it still could not break through and all of it exploded within the arena.

The arena was reduced to dust, smoke and dust rose everywhere, and the earth shook.

The people from various sects in the stands also sighed in amazement, saying that the younger generation was truly gifted, and that they actually had such combat power at the Golden Core stage.

Sword Maniac drank heartily with smug satisfaction, arousing considerable envy among the crowd. Such a talented prodigy had actually been recruited by the Sword Pavilion.

Tian Shouzhong flicked his whisk, his old face darkening, and snorted, "You sword fanatic brat, you're lucky your Sword Pavilion acted quickly, otherwise I would have tied him up and taken him to Dragon Tiger Mountain!"

“Junior Brother is my brother, my dearest friend and family. Even if you offered me a sacred mountain in exchange, my Sword Pavilion would not waver in the slightest.”

Sword Maniac shook his gourd and laughed. He knew he had struck gold this time. Not only would his junior sister be grateful to him, but his master would also be grinning from ear to ear.

Even the top ten disciples of the Sword Pavilion, who were considered exceptionally talented, did not possess this level of combat power at the Foundation Establishment stage. This level of immortal technique, if not for encountering the equally monstrous Zhao Tianming, would likely have been too much for even a second-stage Golden Core cultivator to withstand.

Thinking of this, the sword fanatic suddenly remembered that Zhao Tianming was still unaffiliated. Should he be recruited to the Sword Pavilion as well?

He turned to look at the others, and saw that the people from all the major sects were staring at the arena with their eyes gleaming, and they all seemed to be tense and ready to rush down at any moment.

......

As the dust settled, two figures slowly emerged from the ruins. Everyone stared wide-eyed, eager to know who among the two prodigies would emerge victorious.

Zhao Tianming's gray robe was now in tatters, and his face was pale. A jet-black bead appeared in front of him, emitting a faint black light that enveloped his entire body.

On the other side, Li Muyun's figure also appeared in everyone's sight. He was enveloped in a faint dark golden light, a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, and his face was deathly pale.

"The arena is gone, how do we settle this?"

Who won?

"It seems like everything's fine. Is it a tie?"

The crowd began to murmur amongst themselves as they looked at the two boys who were still standing.

Shi Miaochan immediately rushed down from the stands, disregarding her elegant long dress as she ran to the ruined arena, her beautiful eyes filled with worry. However, before she could enter the arena, she was stopped by the true energy of the four grandmasters.

"Why are you stopping me, the princess? I want to see Young Master Yun's injuries!" Shi Miaochan coldly rebuked.

The four grandmasters looked at each other, bowed, and one of them said, "Your Highness, the contest between the two is not over yet, you cannot go in."

Shi Miaochan coldly surveyed the crowd, "As referees, you have a responsibility to protect the safety of the autumn examination candidates. If anything happens to Young Master Yun, this princess will make you pay!"

The four grandmasters all smiled wryly and agreed, not daring to say another word. This was His Majesty's adopted daughter, a princess of the Tang Dynasty, and they couldn't afford to offend her.

The candidates were filled with envy at the sight, having long heard the rumors about Li Muyun and Princess Miaochan, and now it seemed to be true.

Amidst the ruins, Li Muyun wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. The golden light was also fading. He swayed and laughed, "Brother Tianming, our competition is not over yet. Let's continue."

Li Muyun had already exhausted eighty or ninety percent of his true essence, and his domineering triple transformation had also dissipated, but the fighting spirit in his eyes was even more intense. This was the first opponent he had encountered besides Brother Yang with whom he had fought to such an exhilarating degree.

Zhao Tianming looked at the black bead in front of him and gave a bitter smile. He reached out and held the bead in his palm, sighing, "Young Master Yun, I've lost. I said I wouldn't use magic weapons, but I was forced to use them at the last moment. I admit defeat."

After saying this, Zhao Tianming bowed to the Crown Prince on the platform and said softly, "Your Highness, I have done my best and have repaid your kindness. Farewell."

The crown prince looked at Zhao Tianming coldly, "You could have won, why didn't you use your magic weapon?"

Zhao Tianming's gaze was clear, as if he hadn't noticed the Crown Prince's coldness. He said calmly, "I have my principles. A defeat is a defeat. Besides, even if I used a magic weapon, would I be able to win?"

He smiled faintly at Li Muyun, "Young Master Yun, you held back too, didn't you?"

"Really?"

Li Muyun's lips curled up imperceptibly, then he watched Zhao Tianming's slender figure walk out of the training ground, a flash of silver light disappearing from his eyes.