Chapter 1441: Chapter 1441: Do You Think You’ve Won?
At this moment, with the threat of death looming over him, Lu Tianwen no longer cared about the orders from that one individual; he knew that preserving his own life was the most important thing.
Otherwise, even if he killed everyone in the Meridian Refining Master Association, if Lu Tianwen lost his life, it would still be a case of losing more than he gained.
What the people below could think of, Lu Tianwen naturally could also think of. He wanted to take Yun Xiao hostage at lightning speed and then force out the truth of the Red Powder Skull’s antidote.
At this moment, Lu Tianwen unconsciously believed that the master of the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud had given him a fake antidote. Since Yun Xiao could return the deadly poison, he should have the capability to neutralize it.
Right now, Lu Tianwen admitted to himself that his Poison Meridian Skill was likely inferior to Yun Xiao’s, but he knew that regardless, his Meridian Qi Cultivation Combat Power could not lose.
Lingyun Realm, that was already another Great Realm beyond the Heavenly Rank Third Realm, fundamentally different from the Floating Life Realm; even a hundred Cultivators at the Peak of the Floating Life Realm might not be a match for an Early Stage Lingyun Realm expert.
However, Lu Tianwen seemed to have forgotten that at this moment, he was no longer the Early Stage Lingyun Realm powerhouse at his peak. When the deadly poison of the Red Powder Skull afflicted him, the outcome could no longer be altered in any way.
Had it not been for Yun Xiao harboring many doubts in his heart, Lu Tianwen might have already become a true blood-colored skeleton amidst the change of seals.
"It seems you still don’t understand your situation!"
Thus, just as Lu Tianwen was about to move, Yun Xiao sighed softly, and then when his seal changed, Lu Tianwen’s charging figure came to an abrupt stop.
It was a transformation from extreme motion to extreme stillness, and this time Yun Xiao didn’t even need to do anything further. Lu Tianwen’s body stiffened and he collapsed directly to the ground, trembling all over.
This could be considered the fulfillment of Yun Xiao’s earlier prophecy for Lu Tianwen to kneel and beg for mercy. Although Lu Tianwen did not do it willingly, seeing his kneeling state now, everyone felt a sense of emotion.
That was the Vice President of Spirit Fighting Commerce, a genuine Early Stage Lingyun Realm powerhouse, a Heavenly Rank Intermediate Poison Vein Master, now kneeling before Yun Xiao at a mere ten feet away.
Watching this scene, everyone cast awe-filled eyes toward that young man in plain clothes, even including Huashan Old Monster Gu Huashan, who had been constantly cursing Yun Xiao with unwillingness.
You have to know that Gu Huashan was only at the Peak of the Floating Life Realm. Compared to the Early Stage Lingyun Realm Lu Tianwen, the difference was as vast as the heavens and the earth, with no comparison at all.
Even Lu Tianwen at the Early Stage Lingyun Realm was made to suffer so miserably by Yun Xiao. Gu Huashan had reason to believe that if he made a move against Yun Xiao, he might be the one kneeling now.
Initially thinking of finding some opportunity to regain face, Gu Huashan had certainly dismissed that idea. That kid named Yun Xiao was simply too enigmatic and unpredictable.
Especially that skill of the Poison Meridian, which could not only return the poison used by the opponent but also render it unresolvable. Such a method could truly be called miraculous.
As for Xu Ban beside Gu Huashan, he secretly rejoiced amidst his fear, because he knew very well that if that day at the trade assembly he hadn’t been forced by his teacher to apologize, he might have already been a dead man.
Yun Xiao’s display on the stone platform engendered reverence in numerous hearts, and made those potential adversaries harboring petty schemes dispel their unrealistic thoughts.
On this continent, ultimately the strong are revered. When you possess means that others cannot counter, all plots and conspiracies are rendered ineffective.
Because you cannot guarantee that after your failure, you can still retreat intact. People like Gu Huashan, though narrow-minded, act with extreme caution. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have made Xu Ban apologize back then.
Only, at that time, Gu Huashan didn’t fear Yun Xiao, but was wary of Lianyun Mountain’s domain, as he still wanted to participate in the Meridian Refining Conference and didn’t want to be directly expelled from Lianyun Mountain before the conference began.
It must be said that Gu Huashan was lucky, at least compared to Lu Tianwen at that moment. Hadn’t he seen the Vice President of Spirit Fighting Commerce, forced to kneel with a face twisted beyond recognition?
"Look at his hands!"
Suddenly, from a certain place below the stage, a voice filled with fear exclaimed, drawing everyone’s gaze to Lu Tianwen’s hands.
There, the pink mist lingered, but now, Lu Tianwen’s hands no longer had skin and flesh, only ten stark white finger bones and the crimson palm bones they were attached to.
No one knew how the Red Powder Skull was refined; its corrosive effect seemed to target only flesh, leaving the bones entirely unscathed.
The flesh corroded and clung slightly to the finger bones, but soon, Lu Tianwen’s ten finger bones turned starkly white, even emanating the unique phosphorescent glow of bones.
To outsiders, this clearly seems terrifying, with everyone feeling their scalp tingling and secretly deciding never to become enemies with the young man named Yun Xiao, lest they end up like Lu Tianwen, whose tragic fate serves as the best warning.
"Stop!"
Just as everyone thought Yun Xiao was about to take Lu Tianwen’s life, a soft voice came from the young man, leaving everyone perplexed.
After Yun Xiao’s soft voice fell, the pink mist rapidly corroding Lu Tianwen’s wrist flesh suddenly halted, as if it were an obedient Meridian Spirit.
"Now, I ask, you answer. If there’s even half a word of falsehood, you should know the consequences!"
Yun Xiao paid no attention to the thoughts of the spectators below. Seeing his face cold, his tone appeared clear and stern, and his words sent a shiver through many hearts.
"Haha, Yun Xiao, do you think you’ve won? This is the scene of the Meridian Refining Conference competition. Do you really dare to kill me here?"
Everyone thought Lu Tianwen was cornered and would have to compromise, but the Vice President of Spirit Fighting Commerce snarled viciously, his words stirring everyone’s spirit.
"I surrender!"
Before everyone returned to their senses, Lu Tianwen had already uttered three words again, and these words instantly brought everyone to attention.
As Lu Tianwen said, this is the competition site of the Poison Meridian Path at the Meridian Refining Conference. Although there is no rule against killing, all actions must cease once one side voluntarily surrenders, or else it violates the rules of the conference.
Even during the Poison Meridian Path competition, Lianyun Mountain arranged many Medical Pulse Masters to standby, ready to act immediately once someone was poisoned or injured, as long as they voluntarily surrendered.
Every Meridian Refining Conference’s Poison Meridian competition has an unwritten rule that no matter how fierce the prior fight, once one side voluntarily surrenders, the winning side is obliged to remove the toxic poison for the losing side.
It seems Lu Tianwen is relying on this to provoke the Meridian Refining Master Association into not being able to shelter Yun Xiao, so that after voluntarily surrendering, Yun Xiao cannot act against him and must detoxify the poison.
"This old bastard..."
Suddenly hearing Lu Tianwen’s voice, even Qian Sanyuan, seated in the northern area, couldn’t help but curse lowly, his tone revealing a strong sense of unwillingness.
Because Qian Sanyuan instinctively thought, this indeed was a good method for Lu Tianwen to save his life, as this wasn’t a life-and-death battle, but a Poison Meridian competition of the Meridian Refining Conference.
No matter what, Yun Xiao is a genius from Lianyun Mountain. If he breaks the rules of the Meridian Refining Conference on his own, it would likely severely damage Lianyun Mountain’s reputation.
Almost everyone believed that after Lu Tianwen surrendered, Yun Xiao would have to give up his methods and detoxify him, otherwise even if he won the championship, it wouldn’t be deserved.
"Hehe, you’re really good at playing the game!"
On the stone platform, Yun Xiao first blinked slightly, then his face revealed an unusual smile, seemingly not troubled by the dilemma before him.
"Indeed, Yun Xiao, this is the Meridian Refining Conference’s competition site, I have now voluntarily surrendered, and according to the rules, you must detoxify me!"
At this moment, although Lu Tianwen’s palms hurt down to the bone, he felt quite proud, believing he had finally caught Yun Xiao’s weakness, so that for the fairness and justice of the Meridian Refining Conference, Yun Xiao could only compromise.
"The rules of the Meridian Refining Conference are indeed so, however..."
Hearing this, Yun Xiao nodded slightly, first affirming the statement before sharply turning the conversation, continuing: "First, that’s your own Red Powder Skull, and I don’t have the antidote. Secondly..."
At this, Yun Xiao paused again, and as everyone’s faces showed surprise, he continued, "Just now you acted first, meaning you’re the one who already broke the rules first, now talking to me about rules, where does your position stand?"
Eventually, Yun Xiao’s voice turned sharper, causing everyone’s faces to show odd expressions before they thought of the truth, now pondering deeply.
The first reason Yun Xiao mentioned, everyone listened and passed it; to say he has no antidote, no one would believe that. But the second reason is indeed fact. Isn’t Lu Tianwen just a foot away from Yun Xiao?
Earlier, it was indeed Lu Tianwen, acting in a fit of anger and shame, who attempted to control Yun Xiao first. He simply failed to anticipate the severe potency of the Red Powder Skull.
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