Watching the other matches, Wang Hao had learned a great deal. Most Qi Refinement cultivators lacked diverse techniques and relied on basic maneuvers. Many won simply by overwhelming lower-level opponents, ending the fight swiftly. Only a handful of contests between similarly powered fighters lasted any length of time.
Of course, some might be holding back their true skills for later rounds.
In the semifinals, Wang Hao faced Li Dedao of the Li family. Before stepping onto the stage, Wang Hao had noticed Li Dedong whispering to him and shooting a tactical glance in his direction—no doubt passing on pointers.
True enough, as soon as the match began, Li Dedao struck ferociously. Wielding a folding fan, he flicked it and bursts of flame roared forth in an overwhelming torrent.
Wang Hao's Earth-Wall Talismans failed to hold back the flames. He didn't attempt a direct block but instead Light-Body–stepped to evade, darting around the arena and occasionally hurling small fireballs—but they did no lasting harm. Li Dedao wore a jade pendant that summoned a sturdy protective barrier, shrugging off every fireball.
For a time, neither man could gain the upper hand. But if the stalemate continued, Wang Hao—two cultivation tiers lower—would exhaust his mana first and be defeated.
After studying Li Dedao's pattern, Wang Hao realized he needed a swift finish. Seizing a brief opening as Li Dedao's fan paused, he retreated to a corner and summoned five massive fireballs with both hands, flinging them in rapid succession. Li Dedao was forced on the defensive.
Pressing his advantage, Wang Hao hammered him with a relentless volley. Then, Entangling Technique ensnared Li Dedao's legs, and with practiced ease Wang Hao called out the Crimson-Gold Sword. Channeling his Master-Level Direction skill, the sword transformed into a golden arc and flew straight for Li Dedao's chest.
Caught in the entangling net and battered by fire, Li Dedao had no means of escape. Though he might have broken free in an instant, the sword struck first—piercing his barrier and aiming for his heart.
"This bout goes to Young Master Wang!" he announced.
Li Dedao's face was ashen with frustration, but he bowed his head in defeat—he had simply stood no chance.
"Master Wang, your son is extraordinary. Six basic Master-Level spells are exceedingly rare! If he refines his cultivation, he will surely lead the new generation!" Li Yaozu praised in awe.
Wang Yanzhao smiled and replied modestly:
"Master Li is too kind. Those are only a handful of basic spells—cultivation is the true foundation. My son is already twenty-four and only at Sixth-Level Qi Refinement; he cannot compare to the Li family geniuses."
Beside him, Li Derong shot Wang Hao another glance—then mounted the stage herself. In just a few moves, she defeated Wang Yanping—avenging her clanmate.
Thus the four finalists were set: no wandering cultivators remained, and the Lei family had been eliminated. The field comprised:
Wang Hao (Wang clan)
Li Derong (Li clan)
Zhao Mingjian (Zhao clan)
Cheng Yanxue (Cheng clan)
This round would pit men against men and women against women—no drawing of lots this time.
First came Zhao Mingjian, an Eighth-Level Qi Refinement cultivator. He carried a sword on his back and a yellow gourd at his waist, having just beaten a Ninth-Level Lei clan member by sheer cunning. Wang Hao would not underestimate him.
Zhao Mingjian stepped forward and unleashed twelve Fireball Talismans at Wang Hao:
Wang Hao simply dodged and raised several Earth Walls for cover.
"Rumble!" The earth barriers held against the onslaught—but immediately, a dozen Flying Sword blades whistled through the air.
"Damn! Sword cultivators really play dirty? Bombarding an old man like me with tricks?"
Wang Hao tried to evade, but three blades grazed him. One struck his barrier, another was caught by his protective Wood Shield, but the third slashed his arm—an eight–inch cut! Had he not wiggled free at the last moment, his arm might have been severed!
He now felt firsthand the famed prowess of peer-level sword cultivators.
That wound also stoked Wang Hao's normally cheerful temper into fury!
Determined, he retaliated with every resource he had—barrage after barrage of Fireball Talismans, Falling Rock, Ice Arrow, Water Dragon, and Golden Light spells, as if running down his grand savings from the last three years with abandon.
The arena roared with magic: flame, stone, ice, water, and light in furious contest. Even Zhao Mingjian, with his unmatched mobility, could not dodge the torrent. He summoned his gourd to unleash a blast of chilling air.
The ice blast neutralized some attacks, but not enough. Teeth gritted, Zhao Mingjian brandished a blue spirit bead above his head. Activating it, the bead glowed and instantly froze the surrounding space—turning even the fireballs into "frozen flames" that could not press forward.
But the cultivation cost was obvious—Zhao Mingjian's strained expression betrayed his mana drain.
Meanwhile, Wang Hao pressed the assault, wielding his sword with Master-Level Direction, interspersed with talisman throws and Entangling Technique to pin his opponent in place.
Fire and dust clashed with ice and silence.
Though Zhao Mingjian's tactics were sound, his resources were dwindling. He dared not lower the bead or gourd—either move would leave him vulnerable to Wang Hao's unrelenting flurry.
"Attacking yourself," Wang Hao murmured wryly, pushing the contest to a mana duel—casting talismans and guiding his sword in equal measure.
At last, when both fighters were near collapse, Zhao Mingjian's blue bead cracked and shattered with a sharp snap—first among his defenses to go.
Without the bead, Wang Hao's final surge rolled in like a tsunami. Using his last mana, he summoned ten Fireball Talismans that slammed into Zhao Mingjian's last shield, vaporizing it in a burst, and then driving the cultivator out of the ring.
Both men collapsed in exhaustion and injury. Wang Hao was assisted off the stage while Wang Yanzhao rushed forward, pressing healing and mana-restoring pills into his son's hand.
"Well done—you've far surpassed my expectations!"
"Hehe, I never expected it myself! Maybe it's not that I'm amazing… but rather that they were too weak!" Wang Hao laughed, recalling his six years of toil, and realized that his real edge came from a single-minded effort: training six spells to Master level. For him, that had been an achievable goal with consistent focus.
Those nearby gaped at his brazen boast—but who could argue? He had just defeated several higher-level opponents in a row.
"My son is young and headstrong—please forgive his bluntness!" Wang Yanzhao hastened to smooth things over.
Wang Hao sighed. Indeed, his opponents had been too weak. He doubted disciples from greater sects or clans would fall so easily! Reflecting further, he saw how the tournament rules had favored him: Advanced Qi Refiners could briefly wield Second-Order artifacts—powerful enough to shatter his defenses before he had a chance to play any of his secret cards!