Chapter 196: Chapter 190: Atmosphere
BOOM!!
Xiang Ji’s body was sent flying high into the air before falling directly off the tall stage, landing with a heavy thud.
Only then did the crowd notice that Xiang Ji, who was originally tall with incredibly well-built, full muscles, was now covered in scabs of dried blood. His skin looked shriveled and wrinkled, giving him the faint, unsettling appearance of a man in his twilight years.
The Reversed Five Qi, a technique of Breaking the Pot and Sinking the Boat, had already placed a massive burden on his body. The instantaneous burst of the Blood Halberd Technique had consumed too much of his blood, and on top of that was Ye Jian Mountain’s final, all-out collision. With all these factors combined, it was nearly a miracle that Xiang Ji hadn’t died instantly.
Although his body was on the verge of collapse, what was more important was the light fading from his eyes, leaving behind only unwillingness and gloom.
His Celestial Dragon Extreme Breakthrough had been defeated head-on. He had failed his legacy and the trust countless people had placed in him.
This feeling was even more unbearable to him than dying on the stage right then and there.
The Ancient Overlord of old had never known defeat, but after his first loss, he lost everything. It was because his conviction was shattered. The stronger one’s self-esteem and the firmer one’s will, the more violent the backlash when it is broken.
And so, he took his own life at the Wujiang River.
Xiang Ji was now in a similar state.
The blow from this battle was immense. If his spirit continued to wane, given his current injuries, the consequences could be severe.
WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!!
Several figures instantly appeared at Xiang Ji’s side—it was Zhao Xuanqi and the others.
At the same time, the ringside referee also rushed over. He was clearly from the Martial Arts Association, and he immediately produced a bottle of Golden Willow Jade Liquid that looked to be a full half-kilogram.
"Give it to me."
Zhang Hongyun immediately stepped forward and snatched the Golden Willow Jade Liquid from the referee. He simultaneously took out a needle pouch, and with a wave of his arm, used the special Doumu Primordial Soul Needle technique to instantly pierce Xiang Ji’s body with countless Silver Needles, which began to vibrate slightly.
WHOOSH!!
He twisted open the cap of the Wound Medicine bottle and with a light wave of his hand, spilled out some of the medicine. With a series of flicks from his fingers, he used precise force to break the falling liquid into tiny droplets that landed at the base of every Silver Needle. The medicine then seeped into Xiang Ji’s body along with the needles’ vibrations, instantly taking optimal effect.
Xiang Ji’s weakening aura stabilized in an instant. At the very least, his life was no longer in danger.
Only then did Zhang Hongyun move in to take Xiang Ji’s pulse.
"His internal organs are a complete mess, almost as if they’ve been burned through. His Qi and Blood are almost entirely depleted, and nearly all the bones in his body are shattered. With injuries of this severity, it’s hard to say if he can make a full recovery even with enough high-grade Wound Medicine. But the most important thing is..."
Zhang Hongyun said in a low voice, looking at Xiang Ji’s eyes.
Although his condition had stabilized, the desolate look in his eyes had not faded.
In the human body, the spirit is master of all. If the will grows despondent, the recovery from injury will inevitably be greatly affected. For a patient, optimism and despair can lead to two very different outcomes for their body’s recovery.
If Xiang Ji couldn’t overcome this blow, it wasn’t impossible that he would end up a cripple.
"Xiang Ji, a single victory or defeat proves nothing. If you admit defeat now, then you’ll have truly lost."
Lu Yuanxiang said.
"Pull yourself together! As long as you’re alive, there’s still a chance to turn the tables!"
Zhao Yuan chimed in.
However, Xiang Ji’s eyes remained vacant.
"It seems the so-called Ancient Overlord was indeed falsely praised by the world. Worthy of the name? Is this all there is? Taking his own life at the Wujiang River was the act of a coward."
Zhao Xuanqi spoke in a cold, detached voice, his expression calm. He looked down at Xiang Ji on the ground as if he were looking at a pile of trash.
Everyone thought he was using reverse psychology, but from his expression and bearing, there was no sign of falsehood. The contempt was genuine, coming from the heart.
"An Overlord? Is that supposed to mean someone who is undefeated? In my eyes, a true Overlord stands tall between heaven and earth in victory, and endures in defeat, striving to rise again. How can the way of the Overlord be constrained by victory or loss? To crumble after a single defeat is truly the act of a coward. I once thought highly of you, but looking at you now, it might be better if you just died. Why would I, Zhao Xuanqi, associate with a coward?"
Zhao Xuanqi spoke faintly, then actually turned and walked away from Xiang Ji’s side without a backward glance.
"Holy Beast Fist, is it? You talk a big game. It was Xiang Ji this time, but it’ll be your turn next. I hope you’re still as tough as you sound right now when that time comes."
Up on the stage, Ye Jian Mountain stood at the edge of the ring. His massive body blocked the light, casting a large shadow that enveloped Zhao Xuanqi.
At this moment, numerous wounds were visible on his body. A dozen or so chunks of flesh had been sliced off by the Blood Halberd Technique. Blood streamed down his body, and the reek of it filled the air. The sense of pressure he exuded was one of extreme, overbearing fury.
Zhao Xuanqi glanced at the man, said nothing at all, and turned to continue walking toward the rest area.
’There was no point in saying more. If they were to meet in the ring, then they would understand everything.’
Seeing Zhao Xuanqi walk away without a word, Ye Jian Mountain sneered. He glanced at Xiang Ji, a flicker of regret in his heart that he hadn’t managed to kill his opponent with that one blow, leaving behind a potential future threat.
’Still, looking at his condition, he’ll be a cripple even if he lives.’
Unexpectedly, just as Zhao Xuanqi’s figure was about to disappear into the crowd, some of the light suddenly returned to Xiang Ji’s eyes.
Then, his utterly exhausted body finally reached its limit. His eyes slowly closed, and he fell completely unconscious.
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