Wang Hao’s opponent in the semifinals was Li Dedao.

Wang Hao noticed that before Li Dedao stepped onto the stage, Li Derong seemed to say something to him and even glanced at Wang Hao, likely instructing him on some tactics.

Sure enough, after the formal greetings on stage, Li Dedao launched a fierce assault. He wielded a folding fan; with a gentle wave, streams of fire shot out, displaying an extremely ferocious momentum.

The Earthen Wall Talismans in Wang Hao’s hands couldn’t withstand it. Seeing this, Wang Hao didn’t try to block head-on. Instead, he activated his Light Body Technique and began darting and dodging around the arena, occasionally firing back with fireballs! Unfortunately, he couldn’t injure his opponent either. Li Dedao wore a green jade pendant that formed a protective shield, easily deflecting Wang Hao’s Fireball Technique.

For a while, neither could gain an advantage over the other. However, if this stalemate continued, Wang Hao, whose cultivation was two minor realms lower, would inevitably run out of Qi first and be defeated sooner or later.

After fighting for a while, Wang Hao understood his opponent’s methods and knew he needed a quick resolution. He formulated a plan. Seizing the interval between his opponent’s attacks, Wang Hao dodged to a corner of the arena. With both hands rapidly casting spells, he instantly condensed five massive fireballs and launched them at his opponent, forcing Li Dedao onto the defensive.

Wang Hao kept up the pressure with relentless attacks. Simultaneously, he pointed a single hand and used the Entangling Vine Technique to restrict Li Dedao’s movement space. Finally, he summoned his Red Gold Sword. Under the control of his Grandmaster-level Object Control Technique, the sword transformed into a long rainbow streaking towards Li Dedao.

Li Dedao’s legs were bound by Wang Hao’s Entangling Vine Technique, robbing him of mobility. Dealing with the several massive fireballs was already strenuous; he had no way to handle the Red Gold Sword. Although given just a little more time he could have broken free from the vines and dodged the attack, he clearly didn’t have that time. He could only watch helplessly as the Red Gold Sword pierced his protective shield and flew towards his chest.

Seeing the danger from the sidelines, Li Yaozu immediately reached out to dispel Wang Hao’s Entangling Vine Technique and instantly pulled Li Dedao out of Wang Hao’s attack range. He declared, “Young Friend Wang wins this match!”

Li Dedao’s face turned ashen with unwillingness. But recalling the situation moments before, he saw no possibility of victory and could only lower his head in resignation.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, your son is truly interesting! Five low-level spells mastered to Grandmaster level is truly rare! Once his cultivation catches up, he will undoubtedly be number one among the younger generation!” Li Yaozu couldn’t help but praise.

Wang Yanzhao chuckled. “Fellow Daoist Li flatters me too much. They are merely a few low-level spells. Cultivation is the foundation. My son is twenty-four this year and only at the sixth layer of Qi Refining; he cannot compare to the prodigies of the Li family!”

On the side, Li Derong couldn’t help but take another look at Wang Hao. She then stepped onto the stage and defeated Wang Yanping in just a few breaths, avenging Li Dedao in a way.

The final four were determined. No rogue cultivators remained; the Lei family was also eliminated. Only Wang Hao, Li Derong, Zhao Mingjian from the Zhao family, and Cheng Yanxue from the Cheng family were left.

There was no further drawing of lots; they simply matched male against male and female against female!

Zhao Mingjian’s cultivation was also at the eighth layer of Qi Refining. He carried a sword on his back and wore a yellow gourd at his waist. Having defeated a ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivator from the Lei family showed he had real skill. Wang Hao didn’t dare be careless.

From what he understood, this person excelled in using flying swords. That gourd could both attack and defend, containing immense cold energy with great power. During the round of sixteen matches, Wang Hao had seen this person use the cold energy from his gourd to freeze an opponent’s magical instrument, securing an easy victory.

As soon as they took the stage, Zhao Mingjian seized the initiative by throwing a stack of Fireball Talismans at Wang Hao.

Wang Hao could only dodge passively while simultaneously throwing out Earthen Wall Talismans to form high walls in front of him.

Boom! The earthen walls were struck by fireballs but did not collapse. However, almost instantly after the fireballs hit, over ten sword lights shot forth.

“Dammit! Are all sword cultivators this shameless? Ambushing an old-timer like me…”

Wang Hao dodged repeatedly but was still struck by three sword lights. One was dissipated by his protective shield’s energy; another was blocked by the shield gifted by Old Wang; but the last one landed squarely on Wang Hao’s body, leaving a three-inch gash on his arm. If Wang Hao hadn’t shifted slightly at the last moment, that sword strike could have severed his entire arm!

Sword cultivators were reputed to be invincible within their realm; now Wang Hao had personally experienced it.

This first injury also angered the usually even-tempered Wang Hao!

He decided to repay in kind: Fireball Talismans, Falling Stone Talismans, Ice Arrow Talismans, Water Dragon Talismans, Golden Light Talismans—he threw them out without regard for cost while inwardly wincing in pain; this was his accumulated savings over three years!

Various attacks covered more than half of the arena floor. Even though Zhao Mingjian was a sword cultivator with superior movement skills for his level, he couldn’t handle so many simultaneous attacks. He could only summon the gourd at his waist to release icy air that enveloped himself.

Some of the spells were dissipated by the cold air, but it wasn’t enough. Gritting his teeth, Zhao Mingjian took out a blue pearl and suspended it above his head while chanting incantations. Upon activation, it emitted a blue light that froze everything around it—even fireballs turned into frozen flames unable to advance further.

Judging by Zhao Mingjian’s expression, though, it wasn’t easy; he was clearly consuming significant Qi.

After throwing out talismans non-stop initially (and feeling heartache over them), and now having used up most of his talisman reserves, Wang Hao didn’t idle either: he continuously used his Object Control Technique for sword attacks while occasionally casting Fireball Technique or Entangling Vine Technique to restrict Zhao’s positioning options.

For some time now, one side saw flying sand and stones creating quite a spectacle, while the other side remained frozen and silent, where even a pin drop would be heard.

Zhao’s methods were sophisticated and powerful but equally Qi-intensive; plus, he dared not retract the gourd or the blue treasure pearl lest he be immediately submerged under the ocean-like onslaught from Wang Hao’s attacks.

“Hoist with one’s own petard,” Wang Hao sneered coldly from the sidelines as he engaged in a battle of attrition, continuously releasing talismans while controlling his flying sword for attacks.

Finally, when Zhao Mingjian had nearly exhausted himself, the blue pearl above his head suddenly emitted a crisp cracking sound, giving way first under the strain.

Without protection from the blue pearl, Wang Hao’s violent assault instantly arrived; using the last bit of his Qi, he unleashed ten consecutive fireballs. They scrambled to strike Zhao Mingjian’s defensive spirit shield, causing massive amounts of steam to rise. His protective shield grew thin and finally shattered with a loud boom.

Zhao Mingjian was sent flying backwards, while Wang Hao, due to exhaustion, collapsed onto the ground—truly a scenario of mutual destruction!

Helped off stage by others, his father hurried over, handing him several healing and qi-replenishing pills.

“Well done! Father never expected you possessed such strength!”

“Heh… I didn’t expect it either. Probably not because I’m awesome, but because they were just too weak!” Recalling his experience over the past six years, he never felt particularly outstanding. Isn’t it just practicing six spells to Grandmaster level? Isn’t that something anyone can do?

The surrounding crowd fell speechless, stunned by his audacious remark. Yet upon reflection, it seemed right: several higher-cultivation opponents had been defeated by him, so how could the mockery be excessive? If you’re so great, go beat him then!

“My young son is ignorant; please don’t mind!” Old Wang had to step forward to placate the situation.

Wang Hao was extremely speechless. They really were scrubs. He didn’t believe that disciples of major sects or great families would be defeated by him!

Thinking back, the rules had indeed favored him: late-stage Qi Refining cultivators can briefly wield Tier 2 Low-Grade magical instruments. Although the duration isn’t long, their power could easily shatter Wang Hao’s defenses. In that scenario, no matter how many trump cards he had, he wouldn’t have time to use them!