Only I am Venerable

Chapter 292: Chapter 290: Killing You in One Strike

Even the most intense battles grew dull after a while. Moreover, aside from the two Cui family disciples who died at the very beginning, the subsequent fights had only resulted in serious injuries at worst. No one else had died.

This was incredibly dull for those seeking a thrill, and everyone knew the truly intense battles wouldn’t begin until the second round.

The biggest highlight of this first round, however, was none other than the potential matchup between Qin Li and Cui Leng. Almost everyone hoped they would face off, but the odds were slim.

But to everyone’s surprise, the two were actually pitted against each other!

Instantly, everyone—from the spectators of the various families and sects outside to the Martial Artists in the preparation area—perked up, their faces alight with excitement as they watched Qin Li face Cui Leng.

"Hey, brother, you think this Golden Palace is sentient or something? Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence, matching Young Master Qin with that Venerable from the Cui Family?"

"Who can say for sure? Young Master Qin Li of the Qin Family is a stunningly talented young man, but I don’t think he can actually defeat Cui Leng!"

"Pfft, haven’t you heard? Qin Li already fought Cui Leng once on the way here."

"That’s exactly why I’m saying it! You think a Venerable Realm Martial Artist wouldn’t be prepared after that first encounter?" The corner of the man’s mouth curled in disdain as he continued, "I, for one, am betting on the young Venerable from the Cui Family to win!"

"Hmph, I hope Young Master Qin wins!"

"I hope Young Master Qin takes down that Cui Family Venerable!"

"That’s right, the Cui family is too arrogant!"

"But Qin Li is arrogant too!"

"Are you asking for a beating?"

"So what if I am? What are you gonna do about it, huh?"

"..."

Chaos erupted in the crowd as two bickering old men had to be forcefully separated, though neither was willing to back down.

Similar scenes were playing out all across the Xuanwu Platform.

Everyone’s spirits soared, their attention completely captured by the impending battle between Qin Li and Cui Leng.

Qin Hanyue watched her son in the arena, her heart fraught with tension. She knew Qin Li couldn’t hear her, but she desperately wanted to tell him to be careful.

Qin Wenxuan, who had already advanced past the first round, watched his son nervously from within the rest area’s barrier, silently cheering him on.

In the preparation area, Shangguan Shiyu watched Qin Li quietly. She was the only one who felt no worry for him whatsoever, for she had absolute faith in his strength.

’You are my husband. You are the sky above my head. You will never fall!’

"Are you surprised?"

Qin Li and Cui Leng spoke the same words at almost the exact same time.

The crowd outside was first stunned, then erupted in an uproar!

The confidence both men had in their own strength was simply dumbfounding.

If Cui Leng’s confidence stemmed from his strength as a Venerable, then where did Qin Li’s come from? From his power at the Celestial Integration Realm?

Even those on good terms with the Qin Family couldn’t help but twitch their lips. ’This Qin Li...’ they thought, ’He seems so low-key, never one to actively provoke others, but in reality, he’s as arrogant as they come!’

In truth, most people believed that Cui Leng must have held back in his previous fight with Qin Li. No one thought a Venerable Realm expert, going all out, would fail to defeat a Celestial Integration Realm Martial Artist.

"Cui Leng, your Cui Family has had some bad luck, huh? Aren’t you a Super Family? You claim to have brought only elites, so how is it that so few made it past the first round?" Qin Li grinned, ruthlessly rubbing salt in Cui Leng’s wound.

A muscle in Cui Leng’s jaw twitched, but he managed a faint smile. "One Venerable tournament proves nothing. As for you, you’d best pray for your own sake, Qin Li. To be honest, you’re going to be carried out of here horizontally today. I told you before: you will be utterly crushed!"

"Asshole. Make your move. I’m already sick of hearing you talk."

Completely ignoring Cui Leng’s stunned expression, Qin Li slowly drew his Blood-Drinking Sword.

Outside, those close to the Qin Family—especially the young people in the preparation area and the rest area for first-round victors—couldn’t help but double over in laughter.

In all of history, Qin Li might just be the first person to so brazenly and shamelessly insult a Venerable Realm expert to their face.

"Mere words!" Cui Leng’s voice was bone-chilling. The Cold Snow Sword materialized in his hand, transforming into a streak of white light that blasted toward Qin Li.

An oppressive, chilling aura accompanied the sword strike.

"Thousand-Mile Ice Seal!"

Shen Le and Lin Heng, who had both easily won their first-round matches, paled and cried out in alarm simultaneously.

"What’s Thousand-Mile Ice Seal?" someone asked, looking puzzled.

"You don’t even know that? Thousand-Mile Ice Seal is... Look!" The man trailed off, his eyes glued to the arena, before suddenly shouting.

But no one paid his shout any mind. Everyone’s attention was already completely fixated on the battle between Qin Li and Cui Leng.

As Cui Leng’s sword slashed toward Qin Li, the ground of the entire arena instantly turned a vast, frosty white. The very air seemed to freeze. Countless spiderweb-like cracks appeared across the white ground, then, as Cui Leng advanced, they exploded violently!

It was as if a giant carpet had been ripped up from one end, sending a sky full of white blades shooting toward Qin Li, like a volley of arrows loosed by an entire army!

"Gods, that’s terrifying!" someone muttered, their mouth twitching as their eyes filled with horror. Nearly all the first-round victors were thanking their lucky stars that they hadn’t been matched against this Supreme Powerhouse from the Cui Family.

The Venerable Realm was truly extraordinary!

Qin Hanyue’s hands were clenched so tightly around the hem of her robes that the magnificent fabric was crumpled into a ball. She had unknowingly torn a hole in it.

Qinling Mountain stood ramrod straight, like a javelin. His weathered old face showed no emotion, but the slightly trembling hands hidden within his sleeves betrayed his inner turmoil.

Qin Wenxuan’s hands were clenched into fists. At this very moment, he wished he could take Qin Li’s place and receive Cui Leng’s attack himself.

Shangguan Shiyu remained perfectly still, her clear eyes as placid as the water in an ancient well. She stared, transfixed, at the spot where Qin Li was engulfed by the swarm of white blades. Only a single conviction remained in her heart: ’My husband is a peerless hero. He will win!’

Shen Le’s heart was pounding with anxiety. ’Brother,’ he thought, ’I’ve bet everything on you. I even got into a massive fight with the Sect’s Elders over this! They don’t believe, but I do. You can’t let me down. You just can’t!’

Lin Heng narrowed his eyes, staring unblinking at the arena. It felt as though time itself had stopped. He didn’t even dare to breathe, afraid he might somehow disturb the highly anticipated battle.

Atop the magnificent Golden Palace stood a figure cloaked entirely in black. She was plainly visible, yet not a single person could sense her presence.

Her cold eyes were devoid of any emotion, a far cry from the coy, charming woman she was in front of Qin Li. She silently watched the battle below. ’Little one,’ she thought, ’I will not intervene today. I want to see for myself just what abilities you possess that made Master choose you as his successor after ten thousand years! If you are truly worthy, then I will follow you through mountains of daggers and seas of fire, protecting you and watching you grow. But if you lack that worthiness, I will leave and never return. Master is gone. Simply carrying his aura is not enough to take his place!’

Outside, a smile finally appeared on the faces of the Cui family—the first truly relaxed expression they’d worn since the tournament began. The Venerable Elders, their followers, and their members in both the preparation and rest areas all wore the same look.

’Qin Li’s defeat is certain!’

’Once Thousand-Mile Ice Seal is unleashed, not even an Earth Venerable could withstand it! They would have no choice but to dodge!’

’And in an arena this small, where could Qin Li possibly run?’

’So, die!’

A final smile spread across Cui Leng’s face, but this one was filled with mockery.

’Trash like you thinks you’re worthy of fighting me?’

BOOM!

The entire floor of the arena exploded! A tide of white blades filled every inch of space, leaving only the spot where Cui Leng stood untouched.

The smile on Cui Leng’s face widened, and the expressions of the Cui family members became even more relaxed.

The space within the arena seemed to fall into a strange stasis. In the eyes of the spectators, the white blades appeared to hang motionless in the air.

In reality, this was a phenomenon caused by extreme speed. The human eye could no longer keep up with the blades’ velocity; what everyone saw were merely afterimages.

BANG!

Another deafening bang. At this point, the Cui family members were completely at ease. These were all signs that Thousand-Mile Ice Seal had reached its peak power!

The Cui Family’s Venerable Elders all let out a long, simultaneous sigh of relief. They exchanged glances, seeing the smiles on each other’s faces. To them, killing Qin Li was more satisfying than winning the Golden Palace’s prize.

"Leng’Er’s Thousand-Mile Ice Seal has been perfectly mastered!" one of the Cui Family’s Venerables declared proudly.

Just then, a stunning flash of purple erupted from within the white maelstrom! The timing was perfect, cutting off the Cui Family Venerable mid-sentence. At that same instant, everyone’s vision seemed to return to normal.

It all happened with unbelievable speed.

A brilliant ball of purple light erupted from within the storm of white blades. Then, a single beam of Sword Qi sliced through them all, cleaving viciously toward Cui Leng!

This world-shattering sword strike, imbued with supreme Sword Intent, was utterly unavoidable!

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I had a ton to do today and only just got back tonight, so it’ll just be three Chapters for today.

I still owe everyone two Chapters. I’ll release five tomorrow in a big burst so you can all read your fill!

Recommendation votes, monthly passes—show your support, show some passion! The more passion you show, the more passionate Xiaodao’s plot will become!

Also, I’m announcing a new super group for 500 members: 83808619. I had to disband the old group because people kept posting adult images. This new group is clean and has dedicated admins. Everyone is welcome to join. I’ll pop in from time to time, and I hope we can build a healthy and harmonious community.