Novel Full Chapter 332: Shocking Results!
Long Yutian looked at him and spoke calmly.
“Li Hao, if you are ready, you may begin.”
Li Hao gave no reply.
He simply cast a faint glance toward the Hidden Dragon Bell.
In that instant, an invisible yet palpable force surged from his eyes and struck the bell directly.
It was not an eye technique.
It was pure saber intent.
When one’s mastery of the saber reached a certain level, even a single gaze could carry the essence of the blade, sharp enough to cut through anything in its path. Such power was both silent and terrifying.
A deep metallic sound rang out.
Clang.
The Hidden Dragon Bell shook violently. Waves of golden light rippled outward as the dragon coiled around it awakened once more. With a thunderous roar, it soared into the sky.
Higher and higher it rose.
Until it reached the peak.
Nine meters.
A moment of stunned silence passed before the crowd erupted.
“Nine meters.”
“He actually reached the full height.”
“This is even higher than Su Fengyan.”
Shock spread rapidly through the plaza, and countless gazes turned toward Li Hao with renewed intensity.
One expert could not help but speak with astonishment.
“His saber intent has improved again. It has likely reached the peak of 70 percent mastery and is approaching 80 percent. At this rate, before he even turns thirty, he may condense a true blade soul and become the first saber cultivator in the Southern Martial Domain to achieve such a feat at that age.”
The commotion drew Su Fengyan’s attention. He raised his brow slightly, his expression calm as he observed Li Hao’s result.
“A saber genius like him is worthy of being my opponent,” he said in a measured tone.
Despite Li Hao surpassing his result, Su Fengyan showed no sign of agitation.
He understood the difference between their paths. His strength came from the fusion of two ancient bloodlines, granting him balanced and overwhelming power in all aspects. Li Hao, on the other hand, walked the path of the saber, a path that pursued ultimate attack power above all else.
In terms of raw offensive force, it was only natural that Li Hao might hold a slight edge.
That did not mean Li Hao was stronger overall.
Moreover, Su Fengyan had not used his full strength earlier. His strike had been casual and unrestrained. If he had chosen to exert himself, even using a fraction of his true power, reaching nine meters would not have been difficult.
Li Hao himself remained indifferent to the reactions around him.
His nature had long been shaped by the solitary path of the saber. Words were unnecessary.
After completing his attempt, he simply turned and walked away without a single comment.
Long Yutian did not take offense at his attitude. Once Li Hao stepped aside, he immediately called for the next participant.
A young man dressed in white stepped forward from the crowd.
His features were strikingly handsome, almost refined to the point of elegance, yet there was nothing fragile about him. Beneath that graceful appearance lay a domineering presence that pressed outward with every step he took. This was Huang Chen, the final member of the three great young giants.
Although his looks could easily be mistaken for someone gentle and scholarly, his aura told a completely different story. His steps were steady and forceful, each movement carrying the momentum of a dragon and the authority of a tiger.
As he approached the Hidden Dragon Bell, the ground beneath him seemed to tremble faintly, as though responding to his overwhelming presence.
Without saying a single word, Huang Chen raised his hand.
The motion was simple, yet filled with unrestrained power.
He struck.
A thunderous impact echoed across the plaza.
Thud.
His palm collided with the Hidden Dragon Bell with crushing force. The bell shook violently, releasing waves of golden light that rippled outward in all directions. The sheer strength behind the strike did not merely cause the bell to tremble. It sent the massive structure sliding backward by several meters before it stabilized once more.
At the same moment, the golden dragon coiled around the bell let out a fierce roar and shot into the sky.
Higher and higher it climbed.
Until it reached the peak.
Nine meters.
A stunned silence fell over the plaza before the crowd erupted once more.
Another nine-meter result.
In past Hidden Dragon Tournaments, reaching eight meters in the first trial had already been considered extraordinary. Yet in this single round, such a standard had been completely surpassed. Three individuals had demonstrated power at a level that defied expectation.
If Su Fengyan had not treated his attempt so casually, many believed he would have reached the same height as well.
The three great young giants had fully revealed their terrifying strength.
“They truly deserve their titles,” someone muttered in awe.
Even Li Yun could not help but feel a trace of admiration as he watched.
Su Fengyan, Li Hao, and Huang Chen had each displayed power that stood at the very peak of their generation. For a brief moment, his expression reflected that acknowledgment.
Then it changed.
The admiration faded, replaced by a blazing battle intent that burned within his eyes.
Opponents like these did not intimidate him.
They excited him.
With enemies of such caliber standing before him, the Hidden Dragon Tournament was finally beginning to feel worthwhile.
With the performances of the three great young giants coming to an end, the attention of the crowd shifted to the remaining seven experts within the top ten.
These individuals had already proven themselves by rising above countless young talents across the Southern Martial Domain. Their positions on the Hidden Dragon Ranking were earned through strength, so it was only natural that none of them would fail the assessment.
Teng Jian, ranked fourth, stepped forward and delivered a powerful strike that sent the golden dragon soaring to a height of eight meters.
Yi Yang, who held the fifth position, achieved a height of seven meters.
Song Batian, ranked sixth, matched Teng Jian’s performance with a result of eight meters.
Sha Zangtian, who stood at the tenth position, produced a result of seven and a half meters.
Each of them passed the trial without difficulty.
However, everyone present understood that the height reached by the golden dragon reflected only raw attack power. It did not represent a martial artist’s true combat ability in its entirety.
Yi Yang was a perfect example.
Although his result was only seven meters, even lower than Sha Zangtian’s, no one present would dare claim they could defeat him with certainty. Among the seven experts, there was likely not a single one who would confidently say they could overcome Yi Yang in a direct confrontation.
The reason lay in his terrifying ability.
His Eye of Insight allowed him to perceive the hidden weaknesses of any opponent and strike with precise accuracy. Against such an opponent, overwhelming him with sheer strength might end the battle quickly, but if both sides were evenly matched, facing him would become an exhausting and dangerous ordeal.