I'm a major player in a parallel universe

Yang Haoxuan nodded and, together with his opponent, walked toward the martial arts platform. The other disciples eagerly followed, excitement buzzing in the air. On the Tianhe Continent, a spectacular duel was like a thrilling action movie for the crowd.

As they walked, the discussions began.

"Yang Haoxuan punched out a hundred or so gold coins just now. With that kind of strength, I'm sure he'll win!" one disciple said confidently.

"I disagree," another disciple countered. "Yang Ying stepped into the seventh level after his last battle, and it's been several months now. He's more than familiar with his attacks. As for Yang Haoxuan, he's made rapid progress, but his foundation isn't stable, and his moves aren't fully honed! Strength alone isn't enough."

"Exactly! Besides, Yang Haoxuan relied heavily on medicinal pills for his cultivation. His internal energy hasn't been properly refined. Didn't he also make a ton of Qi Gathering Pills last month? He's probably drained his energy—this match is still up in the air!"

"Right! A martial technique is divided into cultivation methods and offensive moves. Earth-level techniques may have helped Yang Haoxuan reach the seventh level quickly, but his strength still lacks refined techniques. His power is brute force, not finesse."

More and more people sided with Yang Ying, simply because they were more familiar with him. To them, Yang Haoxuan was still a stranger, and that unfamiliarity bred doubt.

Yang Ying was clearly enjoying the conversations around him, his chest swelling with pride. Before long, they arrived at the Yang family's martial arts platform. Standing below were a group of disciples, their eyes filled with excitement and envy. Both Yang Ying and Yang Haoxuan, with their seventh-level cultivation, were the goals that these disciples aspired to.

Among the crowd were Yang Peng and Yang Ruolan, the inseparable pair. Yang Peng looked on at the two dueling figures with jealousy. Though both possessed the strength of seventh-level martial artists, Yang Peng instinctively hoped that Yang Haoxuan would lose. He turned to Yang Ruolan and asked, "Do you think Yang Ying will win?"

"No," Yang Ruolan replied flatly, her eyes fixed on Yang Haoxuan's face. His calm, fearless expression, coupled with a subtle smile, radiated confidence and conviction that was hard to ignore.

"Impossible… he can't be that strong," Yang Peng muttered reluctantly, his voice tinged with jealousy. Seeing Yang Ruolan's unwavering faith in Yang Haoxuan, he couldn't help but sulk.

Yang Ruolan raised her brow at his words, clearly not pleased with his attitude. But before either of them could say more, the duel began.

Yang Ying's Tidal Technique was a graceful, fluid martial art known for its tremendous offensive power. It was one of the three great techniques of the Yang family disciples.

Yang Ying charged at Yang Haoxuan with a fierce expression, moving incredibly fast with an unpredictable footwork—clearly a technique from Tidal Technique. In the blink of an eye, he was upon Yang Haoxuan.

His palm slashed upward like a blade, aiming straight at Yang Haoxuan. A wave of water-like energy surrounded his arm, adding a sinister aura to the attack. If the attack landed, it would either kill or maim.

Unmoved like a mountain, Yang Haoxuan was forced to retreat repeatedly, feeling the heat as the palm brushed dangerously close to his body. His throat was nearly pierced by Yang Ying's outstretched fingers.

In an instant, Yang Haoxuan realized that the Tidal Technique wasn't just a feminine martial art—it became even more sinister and dangerous as the practitioner mastered it.

Before Yang Ying's first attack even landed, the next one was already on its way.

With a malicious grin, Yang Ying launched a series of swift, water-like strikes. His attacks were relentless, each one aimed to wear down his opponent. Yang Haoxuan had no choice but to keep retreating, unable to fight back.

This was exactly what the onlookers had expected. After all, a practitioner's familiarity with their moves was crucial. Yang Ying's martial technique was so refined that even if his strength was inferior, his skill more than made up for it. Yang Haoxuan had no way of countering such a smooth and aggressive attack.

Yang Peng couldn't help but laugh at the sight.

But Yang Haoxuan was far from helpless. This was his first real battle against someone at the same level, and he feared taking a direct hit. So he moved cautiously, constantly analyzing Yang Ying's every move, waiting for the right moment.

Suddenly, Yang Haoxuan stopped retreating. Without dodging, he stepped forward, his hands glowing with Spiral True Power, causing Yang Ying to freeze in disbelief. He stared at his opponent, unsure of what had just happened.

Yang Ying's eyes shifted, and he was momentarily filled with fear. He hadn't expected Yang Haoxuan to suddenly discover the secret of the Tidal Technique. If that were the case, why had Yang Haoxuan chosen this precise moment to strike?

Yang Haoxuan had indeed figured it out. The Tidal Technique was based on the ebb and flow of tides—rising and falling in a continuous loop. The technique's external appearance was deceptive, hiding the deadly rhythm beneath its soft, flowing energy. The waves of energy created by the Tidal Technique seemed harmless at first, but once trapped in its cycle of attacks, the opponent's chances of winning dwindled with each passing second.

Yang Haoxuan's realization came at a critical moment, when his options were running out. Fortunately, Spiral True Power was powerful enough to break through the trap and create an opening.

With a burst of energy, Yang Haoxuan charged forward. He realized that the Tidal Technique, while overwhelming in offense, left its user vulnerable in defense. That was why he had initially held back—without a careful analysis, he might have fallen into the trap of its continuous assault.

Yang Haoxuan wasn't trained in traditional martial arts techniques, but he had watched enough boxing matches in the past. With his heightened physical condition and the power of Spiral True Power, he now had the agility and precision to strike effectively.

With a swift jab and an uppercut, Yang Haoxuan forced Yang Ying to retreat. The water-like energy surrounding Yang Ying's attacks, which had seemed so intimidating, was shattered by the powerful swirl of Yang Haoxuan's energy. The flow of water-like energy dissipated as it was torn apart by the Spiral True Power.

As he continued to dance around Yang Ying, landing punch after punch, Yang Haoxuan couldn't help but laugh. Each strike, infused with Spiral True Power, sent Yang Ying stumbling backward. Even though Yang Ying was at the seventh level of martial arts, the force of each blow was enough to overwhelm him.

The sudden reversal left the crowd stunned. "What kind of fighting style is this? It's so strange, yet Yang Haoxuan moves with incredible agility. He's like a monkey jumping around, but there's something distinctly sharp about his movements."

As they watched, more and more disciples began to admire Yang Haoxuan's skill. The reputation of the Earth-level martial art was well deserved. Even Yang Peng, who had been rooting for Yang Ying, fell silent, recognizing that the fight was already over.

"What… what just happened?" Yang Ruolan murmured to herself, her eyes wide in disbelief.

On the platform, Yang Ying was still standing, but he was clearly on the brink of collapse. Yang Haoxuan's approach was methodical—unlike others who would have knocked him out quickly, he seemed to be savoring the moment, slowly breaking him down.

"Today, I'm going to show you—thirty years of river east!" Yang Haoxuan shouted as he delivered a left hook to Yang Ying's face. "And thirty years of river west!" Another right hook landed with precision.

Two punches landed squarely on Yang Ying's face, and blood poured from his nose. He finally paid the price for his previous arrogance.

"Don't mess with me after I've crossed over!" Yang Haoxuan growled as he delivered a powerful punch to Yang Ying's chest. At that moment, all the frustration he had built up was released, and he felt significantly lighter.

The disciples watching below saw the outcome was clear and gasped in amazement.

"Stop!" Suddenly, a voice shouted from the back of the crowd. It was a young man's voice, one that clearly wasn't Yang Haoxuan's fourth uncle.

However, the voice seemed to carry an almost magical power. It caused Yang Haoxuan to stop mid-punch. As he was about to strike again, he noticed a flash of white behind Yang Ying.

A figure soared through the air, leaping over ten meters high, brandishing a longsword. The figure landed between the two combatants, and with one swift move, the sword forced Yang Haoxuan back.