After Tanner Shaw and the others left, the Santos Family watched them, their expressions varied.
The Li Family contestant was shocked, hurriedly withdrew his saber, and tossed it into the air. Everyone watched as he controlled the saber, making it spin rapidly overhead.
Ronald Santos and the others snapped out of their thoughts and quickly answered, "He's a friend of Tanner Shaw from the Shaw Family. He's been here for half a year."
Evan Yang observed the saber art and saw its rotation followed a strict pattern. If outsiders tried to snatch it, they’d have to time it perfectly—otherwise, the spinning blade would slice them.
But for Dustin Du, his forearm was incredibly tough. He reached out with one hand, flashed over to the saber, and, before everyone’s eyes, chopped down hard.
He knocked the saber flying to the ground. The Li Family contestant was stunned and quickly retrieved his weapon, staring wide-eyed at Dustin Du.
Without pausing, Dustin Du flashed forward again, appearing in front of the Li Family contestant. His speed was as fast as anyone, and he struck the opponent directly.
The Li Family contestant was sent flying and fell off the stage.
Just like that, Dustin Du easily became the winner of the first match.
"Tanner, do you think Evan can actually defeat the Wang Family?" Lexi Lynn knew Evan shouldn't be able to match an early Out-of-Body, but she still asked out of curiosity.
Ronald Santos added, "Make sure to cripple him. I want everyone to know what happens to anyone the Shaw Family sends." With that, he left.
"Such incredible speed!" Tanner Shaw exclaimed in shock.
Evan Yang just smiled. "He is fast, but that doesn't mean there are no openings."
Tanner Shaw couldn't quite figure out Evan's meaning, so he kept watching the second match.
Evan Yang hadn't expected the news to spread so fast. He'd barely reached the Shaw Family gate when their guards excitedly welcomed him and his friends.
"Looks like word travels fast," Tanner Shaw was thrilled. He hadn't expected to win, but thanks to Evan, they took the first match.
"Young man, you're still so young—your future is bright. You should consider conceding," Daniel Wang advised Evan Yang as soon as he stepped onto the stage.
The crowd agreed; if you can't win, just surrender and avoid getting injured. Otherwise, your promising future would be ruined.
As for the fourth and fifth matches, Evan and his friends didn't pay much attention. When the Star Lord announced the first day's matches were over and tomorrow would continue, Tanner Shaw led everyone away, full of excitement.
Seeing Evan ignore his advice, Daniel Wang took out two hammers. He poured all his early Out-of-Body Realm power and momentum into them. If an ordinary person were struck, they'd be smashed to a pulp.
But to avoid standing out too much, Evan Yang suppressed the double acceleration from his Fly-Fire Boots and only used his Phantom Six Steps.
Six quick afterimages flashed by, then merged into one beside Daniel Wang. "Why haven't you attacked yet?" Evan asked.
Even though it was only six steps, the effect was as if he had crossed the whole stage in one. To outsiders, it was astonishing.
"This kid's speed isn't bad either," the other clans secretly muttered to themselves.
Meanwhile, the Star Lord sharply noticed the power of this movement art, thinking to himself, 'If only I could get my hands on that technique.' His mind began to wander.
Evan Yang had no idea the Star Lord was someone nearing the end of his lifespan, desperately searching for arts and pills to extend his life.
So he had no clue that just by using this footwork, he'd already caught the Star Lord's attention.
"Even if a Spirit-Wandering cultivator is this fast, so what?" Kade Santos sneered, surprised but still cold and dismissive.
The other clans heard this and agreed: in the end, he's just Spirit-Wandering. Speed alone isn't enough—without real power, he can't possibly beat an early Out-of-Body opponent. So everyone relaxed, waiting for Evan to lose.
"Tanner, do you think Evan can actually defeat the Wang Family?" Lexi Lynn knew Evan shouldn't be able to match an early Out-of-Body, but she still asked out of curiosity.
Tanner Xiao shook his head. "I don't know either. I've only seen him defeat late-stage Spirit-Wandering opponents, never someone at early Out-of-Body."
Seeing Evan's speed, Tanner and Lexi Lynn were unsure, but the other clans were convinced Evan didn't have enough power to beat an early Out-of-Body expert.
It was like a child fighting an adult—even if you were fast, how could you hurt a grown man with your fists? Even if the Wang Family contestant stood still, letting Evan hit him, at most he'd get scratched, but serious injury seemed impossible.
But what happened next overturned everyone's expectations. The Wang Family contestant was startled when Evan got close, then sneered, "A Spirit-Wandering Great Perfection wants to approach me? Die!" He swung both hammers at Evan.
Evan flashed past with his footwork, appeared on Daniel Wang's other side, and smiled, "Sorry about this!" He threw a punch.
Without his gauntlet, Evan could freely unleash twentyfold strength. Fiftyfold only happened occasionally, depending on luck.
But even at twentyfold, Daniel Wang was caught off guard—his waist buckled instantly. He roared, "Ah, you—I'm going to kill you!"
Everyone was confused—what technique had Evan used to make the Wang Family contestant suffer so much? Actually, only Daniel Wang knew: Evan's punch was terrifying. He'd assumed Evan was just Spirit-Wandering Great Perfection, but the blow felt like it came from an early Out-of-Body expert.
Daniel Wang grabbed his hammers, trying to smash Evan.
But Evan quickly flashed away again, smiling, "Let's see how many punches you can take." Evan knew that even at twentyfold strength, he could hurt an early Out-of-Body. A few more punches and serious injury was inevitable.
Daniel Wang had already experienced it once and didn't want to go through it again. He shouted, "You—I'm going to kill you!"
The crowd all wore strange expressions—how could Daniel Wang, an Out-of-Body cultivator, be forced into such a state by Evan's punch?
So everyone watched the fight with suspicious eyes, unable to believe what they were seeing.
Evan ignored their stares, focusing only on flashing past the hammers, timing his attack, and landing another punch.
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Daniel Wang felt that same pain again, as if his waist was about to snap.
"You—you!" Daniel Wang's face turned red, unsure if it was from anger or pain.
Evan just smiled, and the crowd grew even more curious about the fight.
By now, Daniel Wang was clearly slower than before. From his footwork, it was obvious Evan's two punches had already injured him.
"I'm going to finish you," Daniel Wang growled.
"You want to finish me? I don't think you have the chance," Evan Yang said with a smile. He flashed behind Daniel Wang, who spun around instantly.
But as he turned, he took a punch to the chest.
Evan hadn't expected this punch to reach fortyfold strength. It sent the already shaky Daniel Wang flying off the stage, landing in front of the crowd, twitching as he stared at Evan.
At that moment, everyone realized this Spirit-Wandering 'beggar' was not simple. People recalled he'd once easily beaten four opponents. Some had claimed those four let him win, but now everyone believed it wasn't luck—he truly had the strength to challenge even early Out-of-Body experts. Defeating peers seemed inevitable.
The Star Lord was moved and stood up, while the judge stepped forward to announce, "Third match—Shaw Family wins."
Tanner Xiao and Lexi Lynn hadn't expected this outcome, so Tanner rushed over to Evan's side, delighted. "Evan, you—"
"Let's talk when we get back," Evan Yang replied with a smile.
After three matches, both Dustin Du and Evan Yang became the focus of attention. But most people believed Dustin Du would win—after all, he was truly at the Out-of-Body Realm, while Evan was still Spirit-Wandering. Some thought the 'beggar' must have used some clever tricks to win.
As for the fourth and fifth matches, Evan and his friends didn't pay much attention. When the Star Lord announced the first day's matches were over and tomorrow would continue, Tanner Xiao led everyone away, full of excitement.
Lexi Lynn also left with her group.
After Tanner Xiao and the others left, the Santos Family watched them, their expressions varied.
"Who is this Evan Yang?" the Star Lord suddenly asked the Santos Family.
Ronald Santos and the others snapped out of their thoughts and quickly answered, "He's a friend of Tanner Xiao from the Shaw Family. He's been here for half a year."
"What's his origin?" the Star Lord asked curiously.
"We don't know," Ronald Santos shook his head.
"His realm is Spirit-Wandering, but he can defeat early Out-of-Body. He's definitely not ordinary." The Star Lord muttered, then left with his guards.
"That beggar—how can he explode with such power?" Ronald Santos snorted once the Star Lord left.
Kade Santos had long suspected Evan Yang could unleash such strength—otherwise, he wouldn't have disrupted the Black Hand Syndicate's third attack. But seeing it for himself was still surprising.
"Young master, don't worry. If I meet him, I'll cripple him," Dustin Du said coldly, staring at Evan's back.
"Good, I trust your strength," Kade Santos nodded.
Ronald Santos added, "Make sure to cripple him. I want everyone to know what happens to anyone the Shaw Family sends." With that, he left.
The audience had already dispersed, and news of the five matches quickly spread throughout Purple Sky City and then all of Northridge Star.
What amazed everyone most were the first two matches—one blocked a weapon with bare hands, the other was a Spirit-Wandering versus Out-of-Body fight.
A Spirit-Wandering cultivator defeating an Out-of-Body opponent was thought impossible, so many Spirit-Wandering and even hidden Out-of-Body experts hurried to Purple Sky City to witness this firsthand.
Evan Yang hadn't expected the news to spread so fast. He'd barely reached the Shaw Family gate when their guards excitedly welcomed him and his friends.
"Looks like word travels fast," Tanner Xiao was thrilled. He hadn't expected to win, but thanks to Evan, they took the first match.