Chapter 211: Chapter 124: As Busy as a Marketplace, Ji Qingyue Gets Carried
This contrast between light and shadow was a fundamental law of the world, a principle of balance between yin and yang.
Thanks to his fusion with the Great Dream of Thousand Years and the Rhythm of Life, the candlelight fire in Zhong Ming’s pupils had gained new properties. Its radiance could do more than just incinerate Divine Souls and malevolent energy. Like a reflection in a mirror, it could also draw out the Heart Demons lurking in a person’s subconscious.
Moreover, the more an enemy’s Divine Soul was damaged and the more weaknesses plagued their heart, the more easily the Heart Demon was drawn forth.
Song Qingyan had closed his eyes, seemingly to resist Zhong Ming. But this action also meant that he had abandoned all hope of victory and now saw Zhong Ming as an unbeatable superior.
This extreme terror and awe, illuminated by the candlelight fire, caused a Heart Demon to quickly fester within his heart.
"You’re scared. You’re terrified. You know you can’t beat Zhong Ming!"
Song Qingyan: "Shut up!"
He roared at the chaotic voices in his mind, but instead of dispelling the Heart Demon, his shouting only made his weakness and terror all the more apparent.
"Don’t deny it. You’re scared, you’re terrified. And hiding won’t solve anything. He’s... already here!"
BOOM!
As the Heart Demon’s voice echoed, Song Qingyan felt a sudden wave of heat on his back. Subconsciously, his Divine Soul within his Sea of Consciousness turned its head and looked up at the sky.
Then, a sight that would be seared into his memory for the rest of his life appeared before him.
A cold, merciless pupil, radiating endless majesty, hung suspended above his Sea of Consciousness like a Great Sun, illuminating every last detail within it.
The next moment, this majestic Great Sun transformed into an immense Candlelight Dragon. It glared down with furious eyes, causing his entire Sea of Consciousness to tremble.
’When?’
’Didn’t I close my eyes?’
Those were his last thoughts. The very next instant, besieged by the Heart Demon and suppressed by the Long Wei, he quickly met his defeat.
As Song Qingyan collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, Zhong Ming shook his head.
’It’s not as simple as closing your eyes to block me. My Dao Rhyme - Flow of Water allows my light to penetrate the body in the form of waves.’
’Against me, closing your eyes is completely useless!’
Fortunately, Zhong Ming had held back against his own subordinate.
At the last moment, Zhong Ming not only retracted the light and heat from his pupils, but also swept his Divine Sense through Song Qingyan’s Sea of Consciousness and burned the Heart Demon in the Shadow to nothing.
"Another one down. How many seconds did this one last?"
"Three seconds!"
The battle in the middle of Crescent Lake continued. The Cultivators on the shore weren’t bored in the slightest; having discovered that Zhong Ming showed mercy to Cultivators who had signed a contract, they had started counting the seconds to secretly compare who was stronger.
However, the record for the person who had lasted the longest so far was a mere five seconds.
Song Qingyan’s three-second defeat left many people feeling quite disappointed:
"That short? Didn’t he close his eyes? I thought doing that would let him last longer."
"Heh..." Some people laughed at that comment. "As if Lord Zhong Ming’s Pupil Technique could be broken just by closing your eyes."
"It can break illusions and pierce through the Mist, and now even closing your eyes is useless... Lord Zhong Ming’s Pupil Technique feels invincible!"
"What do you call this, ’One Pupil to Break All Arts’?"
Watching Zhong Ming win battle after battle, and seeing how no one could evade his Pupil Technique no matter what they tried, made the people on the Crescent Lake Shore hold him in even greater awe.
But beyond this awe, some people began to get other ideas.
SWISH...
The next moment, someone leaped towards the center of the lake.
This scene made his companion’s expression change, and he sent an urgent voice transmission, his face filled with anxiety:
"Are you crazy? Lord Zhong Ming isn’t someone you can just challenge!"
"Of course I know that. But Lord Zhong Ming isn’t harsh with those who’ve signed the contract. I won’t die from challenging him... and more importantly, by doing this, I can join Princess Qingyue’s camp!"
"With Lord Zhong Ming on her side, he’s guaranteed a place as a Child of the Morning Star. And Princess Qingyue will be able to claim many of the Qinghe Heroes spots, too."
Upon hearing this, his companion finally understood.
"That’s right. Princess Qingyue isn’t just known for her benevolence anymore. With Zhong Ming’s support, she’s a real power in the Qinghe Commandery Mansion, one with the qualifications to be a player on the board."
"If I pledge allegiance to her and get Lord Zhong Ming’s help in the Star Moon Treasure Vault, my chances of becoming a Qinghe Hero will increase... And even if that doesn’t work out, with Lord Zhong Ming around, Princess Qingyue will acquire a lot of resources, which can help my cultivation!"
SPLASH...
With that thought, he too flew towards the center of Crescent Lake.
"Miss Qin, I want to sign a contract! I want to challenge Lord Zhong Ming, too..."
Offering a helping hand in a time of need may be rare, but there is never a shortage of people willing to jump on the bandwagon.
Zhong Ming’s unparalleled power had completely changed everyone’s assessment of Ji Qingyue. She was no longer a marginalized Commandery Princess to be ignored, but a true player who could manipulate the chessboard.
Whether it was to find a powerful backer or to have an easier time in the upcoming journey to the Star Moon Treasure Vault, everyone was now swarming toward Princess Qingyue’s boat.
With so many people trying to sign up at once, Mrs. Qin was becoming overwhelmed.
As for Ji Qingyue, she watched the bustling scene before her, her expression somewhat dazed.
She couldn’t help but recall how, just a few days ago, she had wanted to do what she could. She had taken her attendants and guards to visit over a dozen sects, extending invitations to dozens of people.
