Chapter 1433: Chapter 1433: What a Life-or-Death Duel!
"It’s him! It’s all because of him!"
Song Qiuchan looked at Yun Xiao with eyes full of unwilling resentment, mixed with extreme regret. If only time could turn back to a few days ago, back to the Nine Realms Poison Tower, perhaps she would have made a different decision.
This woman, known as the Ghostly Poisonous Woman and a Heavenly Rank Low Level Poison Vein Master, originally had no enmity with Yun Xiao. It was only because of her own greed, attempting to seize the Poisonous Spirit Qi that Yun Xiao had already obtained, that she ended up with a broken arm.
If it were just that, it would have been fine. But at this moment, right before dying, Song Qiuchan finally understood why the girl named Liu Hanyi would suddenly become her assassin.
It was definitely because, after leaving the tower, she showed hatred and murderous intent towards Yun Xiao, provoking Liu Hanyi to fiercely strike in defense of Yun Xiao.
Unfortunately, Song Qiuchan realized this too late. Under the attack of the Immortal Embryo Poison on her heart, Yun Xiao’s indifferent demeanor became the last image embedded in her mind.
A Heavenly Rank Low Level Poison Vein Master, renowned across the continent and feared by children, the Ghostly Poisonous Woman died miserably on the stone platform, without a trace of movement left.
"Is she really...dead?!"
Only when Song Qiuchan’s aura dissipated did the crowd below fully comprehend the situation. The outcome was entirely contrary to what they had anticipated.
After all, although Song Qiuchan was defeated by Liu Hanyi in the Poison Meridian Path, she was a true Floating Life Realm Late Stage expert, two small realms higher than Liu Hanyi.
Even with one arm broken by Yun Xiao, lowering her strength, she was still thought to be a greater force than Liu Hanyi, who was two small realms lower. This concept was deeply rooted among the observing cultivators.
The crowd believed that unless Yun Xiao intervened, there would be no chance to save Liu Hanyi from danger. Yet the final outcome was beyond anyone’s prediction.
Yun Xiao truly didn’t take action, and Song Qiuchan, a Floating Life Realm Late Stage master, succumbed to a mere simple action from Liu Hanyi, writhing in pain on the ground until she lost her life.
Seeing this, Qi Feng, a Heavenly Rank Low Level Poison Vein Master who had just stepped off the stone platform, broke into a cold sweat, thinking silently how fortunate he was not to have been as foolish as Song Qiuchan. It was perhaps the advantage of understanding the situation.
As for the Meridian Refining Masters affiliated with Lianyun Mountain who were somewhat concerned earlier, although shocked, their mood inexplicably improved, unaffected by Song Qiuchan’s death.
In the Meridian Refining Conference’s Poison Meridian Path competition, death is often a risk, so there are no life or death restrictions in these battles.
Sometimes the poison is so intense that if the poisoned individual stubbornly refuses to concede, even the poisoner may be unable to save them in time. This is the frightening nature of Poison Vein Masters.
Moreover, today’s events were entirely due to Song Qiuchan’s actions; she certainly couldn’t blame Liu Hanyi for being ruthless. Without the Immortal Embryo Poison, perhaps it would have been she, the genius from Sky Poison Institute, meeting her demise.
"Tsk, tsk, your Immortal Embryo Poison might even surpass my ability to resist!"
Yun Xiao glanced at Song Qiuchan’s corpse, her face still dark with poison, and mused aloud, drawing a floral smile of pride from Liu Hanyi as she turned her head.
This might be Liu Hanyi’s only source of pride before Yun Xiao, as she acknowledged she couldn’t match Yun Xiao in Meridian Qi combat power or any other techniques.
"The remaining old fellow, should you deal with him, or shall I?"
Yun Xiao, having spoken, knew the Poison Meridian Path competition was not yet over. Their opponent—the Vice President of Douling Commerce, Lu Tianwen—still awaited them.
Eventually, even Yun Xiao and Liu Hanyi will need to determine a winner. This is, after all, the Poison Meridian competition’s arena at the Meridian Refining Conference, where only one champion can emerge.
However, upon hearing Yun Xiao’s open words, Lu Tianwen’s expression naturally grew complex, while the spectators below also displayed peculiar and uneasy reactions.
After all, Lu Tianwen was the Vice President of Spirit Fighting Commerce, a half-step away from becoming a Heavenly Rank Intermediate Poison Vein Master. His Poison Meridian Skills might far exceed Song Qiuchan’s and Qi Feng’s.
Yet Yun Xiao’s tone suggested that this esteemed vice president was akin to an ant that could be easily crushed underfoot, a notion bewildering to all.
"Yun Xiao, the enmity between us shall be settled completely with today’s Poison Meridian Skills duel, how about it?"
Just as Liu Hanyi was eager to attempt, Lu Tianwen, the Vice President of Douling Commerce, suddenly shouted with somewhat sinister overtones, his intentions abundantly clear.
Now everyone knows that Lu Tianwen’s biological brother died at Yun Xiao’s hands on Impermanence Island, and between the two, it can be said there exists a death feud.
Now, Lu Tianwen is using this open and aboveboard Poison Meridian Skill contest as an opportunity to resolve this grievance, and it can be considered quite reasonable.
"In that case, let it be... life or death!"
The other party had already provoked him, so Yun Xiao certainly wouldn’t back down. Seeing him step forward and softly utter these words, the entire arena instantly erupted.
To be honest, Yun Xiao’s reputation is far greater than Liu Hanyi’s. The onlookers are perhaps more eager to see just how formidable Yun Xiao’s Poison Meridian Skill truly is?
However, earlier, Liu Hanyi defeated two Heavenly Rank Low Level Poison Vein Masters single-handedly, leaving Yun Xiao no chance to take action, which undoubtedly left some regret among the crowd.
Even though Liu Hanyi’s continuous victories over two Heavenly Rank Low Level Poison Vein Masters were exceptionally brilliant, the contest between Yun Xiao and Lu Tianwen at this moment is undoubtedly the highlight of this Poison Meridian contest.
The crowd had heard about Yun Xiao’s Meridian Qi combat prowess and had seen his alchemy skills from the Medical Pulse Technique firsthand, but there were still countless doubts about his Poison Meridian Skill.
Even if Yun Xiao broke Song Qiuchan’s arm in the Nine Realms Poison Tower, most didn’t think it was due to his strong Poison Meridian Skill, considering the Poison Tower allowed the use of Meridian Qi combat.
Back then, Yun Xiao was only at Half-step Heaven Rank and killed Lu Tianrun, who was at the Floating Life Realm Late Stage. Not to mention now, he has reached the Floating Life Realm Middle Stage, far stronger than he was on Impermanence Island.
Under such circumstances, using some formidable method to break Song Qiuchan’s arm wasn’t something inconceivable. This doesn’t necessarily indicate Yun Xiao’s Poison Meridian Skill’s strength.
But if Yun Xiao were to truly confront Lu Tianwen, in this scenario where Meridian Qi cultivation suppression is prohibited, Yun Xiao would have to fully display his Poison Meridian Skill to live up to his name.
What’s peculiar is that Yun Xiao is the one who is only at the Floating Life Realm Middle Stage, yet when facing Lu Tianwen at the Floating Life Realm Peak, everyone feels Yun Xiao is the real powerhouse.
"Despicable brat, it’d be best if you were poisoned to death on the stage!"
Beneath the platform, a pair of venomous eyes stared at the crude-clothed young man taking a few steps forward, silently cursing. This person was naturally none other than Gu Huashan, the Old Monster from Flower Mountain, who was utterly defeated in the Medical Pulse contest.
Today, Gu Huashan was utterly crushed by Yun Xiao in the Medical Vein Path, later jumping around like a clown, causing his old face to swell with humiliation.
If it weren’t for wanting to see the outcome of the Poison Vein faction, Gu Huashan would have left Lianyun Mountain with Xu Ban long ago. However, the special agreement between both parties reignited a sliver of confidence in him.
After all, Lu Tianwen’s reputation precedes him. Although he has been rumored to be in seclusion, once he reappears, his Poison Meridian Skill might even not be underestimated by the President of the Meridian Refining Master Association, Lu Yanji.
In Gu Huashan’s view, Yun Xiao’s combat power and Medical Pulse Technique are formidable, but this Poison Meridian Skill is even more perilous. If he’s not careful, he could very well lose his life on stage.
Furthermore, since both parties have vowed for a life or death contest due to the feud over a brother’s murder, the result of this contest may very well end with one party being poisoned to death.
To the onlooking cultivators who are not well-acquainted with Yun Xiao, they might favor Lu Tianwen more since he is the Vice President of the Spirit Fighting Commerce and has been a renowned figure for centuries.
And this young man named Yun Xiao, although his name has been quite resounding in recent years, due to his age, there’s no way he can compare certain aspects to the older generation of powerhouses.
Compared to these uninformed cultivators, life and death companions like Liu Hanyi and Mo Qing know just how foolish Lu Tianwen’s decision is at this moment.
If it were a contest of Meridian Qi combat power, Yun Xiao would have to exert tremendous effort, perhaps even expose all his trump cards to defeat Lu Tianwen, who is two small realms higher.
But when it comes to just the Poison Meridian Skill, both Yun Xiao and his life-and-death companions know there won’t be too many surprises in the contest’s outcome; it will undoubtedly end with Lu Tianwen’s defeat.
After all, Lu Tianwen has not ascended to the level of a Heavenly Rank Intermediate Poison Vein Master; without reaching this higher rank, he poses no significant threat to Yun Xiao.
What even Liu Hanyi and the others don’t know is that even if Lu Tianwen really reached the level of a Heavenly Rank Intermediate Poison Vein Master, Yun Xiao wouldn’t have the slightest fear. This is his absolute confidence as the Long Xiao Battle God.
"What a life or death contest indeed!"
Just as everyone was getting all fired up, a glint of brilliance flashed in Lu Tianwen’s eyes. Then he laughed up at the sky, his voice imbued with a trace of heroism and an undisguised dominance, making him truly a top-tier Poison Vein expert.
