Chapter 153: Chapter 152: Qingxuan Sect vs Tingyu Building
Countless burning gazes were fixed on the arena stage, awaiting the final duel that would decide the champion.
"Shi Meng."
Elder Chen Xuan’s gaze was steady. He swept his eyes over the five disciples before him, and they finally rested on Shi Meng. He nodded slightly.
Shi Meng understood. He took a deep breath and let out a low roar. His stout body exploded with power, and like a wild bull, he stomped heavily onto the arena stage with a dull THUD.
He clenched his fists, his gaze burning as he stared toward the Tingyu Building contingent, his fighting spirit soaring.
Over on the Tingyu Building’s side, the middle-aged Elder Mo Hai wore a faint, almost imperceptible smile as he gave a nonchalant order.
"Yin Ye, you’re up."
The disciple named Yin Ye stepped forward in response.
He was small and thin with a plain face—the type you would easily lose in a crowd. But his steps were light, his feet landing without a sound as he slid onto the arena stage like a silent shadow.
A small leather pouch hung at his waist, and faint glints of cold light from within revealed that it was filled with Hidden Weapons.
"Let the match begin!" Xuanyuan Jing declared with a wave of his arm.
"Face my fist!"
With a bellow, Shi Meng pushed off with his feet, his entire body shooting toward Yin Ye like an arrow loosed from a bow.
His Fist Technique was fierce and powerful. His swinging fists stirred up a vicious wind, and his moves were wide and sweeping, intended to crush his opponent with absolute power.
However, Yin Ye was clearly well-versed in methods for dealing with such a ferocious style.
He didn’t meet the attacks head-on. His body flickered like a phantom, always evading Shi Meng’s fists by a hair’s breadth at the last possible moment.
At the same time, he flicked his hands repeatedly. With several subtle whooshes, specks of cold starlight shot toward the major acupoints on Shi Meng’s body like a swarm of venomous wasps.
It was his specialty: Flying Needles!
The tips of the needles glowed a faint blue. Though poison was forbidden in tournament matches, paralytic agents were permitted.
Shi Meng’s heart went cold, and he hastily threw punches to block or dodge.
The Flying Needles were small, but they were packed with power and came from treacherous angles, forcing him to divide his attention.
For a time, despite his immense strength, he was completely pinned down by Yin Ye’s agile, deceptive Body Technique and his impossible-to-defend-against Flying Needles. Like a giant swatting at a gnat, he had power he couldn’t bring to bear and was forced onto the defensive.
SHK!
One can’t defend forever. After several dozen exchanges, Shi Meng slipped up, and a Flying Needle grazed his left arm.
It didn’t pierce deep, but the paralytic agent on the needle spread instantly. A dull, numbing weakness overcame his entire left arm, causing his movements to falter.
A cold glint flashed in Yin Ye’s eyes. Seizing the fleeting opportunity, he closed in like a lightning strike. More Flying Needles rained down, aimed specifically at the vital points on the right side of Shi Meng’s body.
Shi Meng swung his right fist wildly and managed to block most of the Flying Needles, but one still burrowed into his right shoulder blade.
An intense numbness spread rapidly. Half his body grew stiff and sluggish, and he staggered.
Yin Ye pressed his advantage. With a tap of his toes, he silently closed the distance and struck out with a palm toward Shi Meng’s chest.
Shi Meng roared and tried to muster his strength to block, but the paralysis had severely hampered his movements. He clearly wasn’t going to make it in time.
"That is enough."
Just as the Palm Wind was about to connect, Xuanyuan Jing’s figure flashed, and he appeared between the two combatants.
With a light flick of his sleeve, a gentle power neutralized Yin Ye’s Palm Force. His other hand steadied the swaying Shi Meng.
"Yin Ye of Tingyu Building wins."
Xuanyuan Jing announced calmly. He then tapped his fingertips a few times on Shi Meng’s shoulder blade to halt the spread of the paralytic agent and fed him an Antitoxic Pill.
Shi Meng’s face flushed red, his eyes filled with indignation and frustration. At Xuanyuan Jing’s signal, he could only step down from the stage resentfully.
It was a deeply frustrating defeat. He had been taken down by a dirty trick before he could even fully unleash his strength.
"Elder, I..." Shi Meng returned to his contingent, his face etched with shame.
Elder Chen Xuan waved a dismissive hand, his tone free of blame.
"It’s all right. Your styles were mismatched; it’s not your fault. For now, focus on your Cultivation to absorb the Antitoxic Pill’s Medicinal Power."
With that, his gaze shifted to Huang Ling’er.
"Huang Ling’er, you’re up for this match. Your opponent’s Body Technique is deceptive, and his Hidden Weapons are hard to defend against. You must use skill to overcome skill and speed to counter speed."
"Yes, Elder!"
Huang Ling’er’s pretty face grew serious, and a flicker of eagerness appeared in her eyes.
Her figure unfurled, and like a graceful sparrow, she landed lightly on the arena stage to stand opposite Yin Ye.
Yin Ye looked at the newcomer, Huang Ling’er. His eyes were still cold, but now held a new sense of scrutiny and gravity.
"Let the match begin."
The moment Xuanyuan Jing finished speaking, Huang Ling’er was in motion.
She didn’t rush to attack. Instead, she pushed her Body Technique to its absolute limit, transforming into a streak of cyan light. She circled Yin Ye rapidly, her footwork so unpredictable that it was impossible to pinpoint her exact location.
Yin Ye’s brow furrowed. He was skilled in Body Technique, but Huang Ling’er’s was even faster.
He flicked his hands repeatedly, sending a rain of Flying Needles toward Huang Ling’er’s path, but she always managed to either narrowly avoid them by a hair’s breadth or skillfully bat them aside.
Huang Ling’er’s Body Technique was superb. She didn’t clash with the Flying Needles directly. Instead, she used her movements to constantly shrink Yin Ye’s maneuvering space while searching for patterns and openings in his volley of needles.
After several dozen exchanges, Yin Ye began to feel the pressure mount.
Huang Ling’er’s movements grew faster and faster, forcing him to devote more of his energy to dodging and defending. The intervals between his volleys of Flying Needles grew wider.
Finally, in the instant he took a breath—his old momentum spent, the new not yet generated—a sharp glint flashed in Huang Ling’er’s eyes.
WHOOSH—!
She accelerated abruptly, cutting into Yin Ye’s guard like a phantom. Her long, slender legs became a blur of afterimages, kicking straight for the wrist of his needle-throwing hand and the leather pouch at his waist.
Yin Ye’s face fell. In his haste, he had no time to throw any needles. He could only retreat desperately while slapping his left palm toward Huang Ling’er’s ankle in an attempt to deflect the attack.
But Huang Ling’er’s kick was a feint. Her toes merely brushed against his Palm Wind before retracting. Using the momentum, she spun, and her other leg lashed out like a whip, precisely striking the back of Yin Ye’s supporting knee.
BAM!
His stance broken, Yin Ye lost his balance and pitched forward.
He tried to struggle, but the tip of Huang Ling’er’s foot was already resting gently on the vital acupoint at the center of his back. Though she exerted no force, the threat of the condensed power she held in check was enough to make him freeze, not daring to move.
"Huang Ling’er of the Qingxuan Sect wins."
Xuanyuan Jing appeared at the opportune moment.
Huang Ling’er retracted her leg and stepped back. With an ugly expression, Yin Ye silently retreated from the stage.
On the Tingyu Building’s side, the smile on Elder Mo Hai’s face remained, but an almost imperceptible coldness flashed through his eyes.
He glanced at a disciple beside him—a man with a lean, powerful build and sharp eyes—and spoke nonchalantly.
"Cao Jun, go and test out her Leg Technique."
The disciple named Cao Jun nodded. He wasn’t particularly tall, but his lean muscles rippled with explosive power. Two gleaming daggers were tucked into his belt.
He walked onto the arena stage with steady steps, his gaze locking onto Huang Ling’er like a hawk.
"Let the match begin."
Cao Jun wasted no time on pleasantries, immediately launching an attack.
His Body Technique was as swift as a leopard’s. He kicked with alternating legs, raising a fierce gale, while his hands remained poised to draw his daggers at a moment’s notice. His attacks were vicious and sharp, a clear sign of his vast combat experience.
Huang Ling’er dared not be careless and used her own Body Technique to contend with him.
Both specialized in agility. They instantly became two blurry figures on the stage, a flurry of leg-shadows and overflowing Powerful Qi.
At first, Huang Ling’er was able to fight on even footing with Cao Jun thanks to her exquisite Body Technique.
But Cao Jun’s combat experience was clearly superior. After becoming familiar with Huang Ling’er’s fighting style, he began to specifically counter it.
Huang Ling’er began to lose ground.
Spotting a moment where Huang Ling’er was a fraction too slow in recovering her breath, Cao Jun launched a swift side kick straight at her ribs.
Huang Ling’er twisted away, avoiding a direct hit to her vitals, but the fierce wind from the kick tore a slit in her pant leg, causing her to falter.
Cao Jun seized the opening, closing in on her relentlessly. His daggers, now in his hands, became two streaks of cold light stabbing toward Huang Ling’er’s shoulders.
The color drained from Huang Ling’er’s face. She hastily used her Body Technique to retreat, but it was too late.
RIIIP!
One of Cao Jun’s daggers opened a bloody gash on Huang Ling’er’s left arm, while the other slashed toward her snow-white neck.
Xuanyuan Jing intervened just in time, stepping between them.
"This match is decided. Cao Jun of Tingyu Building wins."
Huang Ling’er bit her lip and glanced at the wound on her arm. Though resentful, she knew her opponent was indeed stronger. She had no choice but to concede and return to her contingent.
Elder Chen Xuan examined her injury. Seeing that it was only a flesh wound, he comforted her gently.
"You did well. Go get that wound treated."
His gaze then swept past the cold-faced Li Feng and Fang Han, whose aura was still unstable from his recent breakthrough.
’Having broken through to the Middle Stage of Eighth Grade, Fang Han’s strength is probably already greater than Li Feng’s.’
He made his decision.
"Li Feng," Elder Chen Xuan said, his voice steady. "You’re up for this match."
Hearing this, the arm Li Feng had wrapped around his saber tightened slightly. The sharpness in his cold eyes intensified.
He said nothing more, only giving a firm nod. Like a bolt of black lightning, his figure shot onto the arena stage, and he stood opposite Cao Jun.
Cao Jun felt the ice-cold Saber Momentum radiating from Li Feng, and his expression instantly grew solemn. He subconsciously tightened his grip on his twin daggers.
"Let the match begin!"
Li Feng moved!
There was no probing attack. His long saber flew from its sheath, the blade’s glint like a bolt of cold lightning. With a shriek that tore through the air, it chopped straight for Cao Jun’s face.
The speed and ferocity of the Saber Momentum far surpassed Huang Ling’er’s Leg Technique!
Horrified, Cao Jun crossed his daggers to block.
CLANG—!
The sound was deafening!
Cao Jun felt an irresistible force surge through his daggers. The webbing between his thumbs and forefingers instantly split open, dripping blood, and he nearly lost his grip on his weapons.
The immense force sent him staggering backward, his qi and blood in turmoil.
Li Feng pressed his advantage. The glint of his saber flashed again, sweeping toward Cao Jun like a raging tempest.
His Saber Technique was cold and domineering. Each strike, containing the potent Inner Qi of the Middle-stage of Eighth Grade and the sharp Realm of a Master-level Middle Grade Saber Technique, completely enveloped Cao Jun.
Despite his rich combat experience, the absolute gap in power and speed left Cao Jun powerless to counterattack. He could only rely on his Body Technique to desperately dodge and block, cutting a pathetic figure.
In just over a dozen exchanges, Li Feng found an opening. He swung his blade horizontally, aiming a heavy blow at Cao Jun’s chest.
"Li Feng of the Qingxuan Sect wins."
Xuanyuan Jing intervened in time to stop the blow and announced the result.
