Chapter 204: Chapter 194: Dread
In a single move, an instantaneous burst of Triple Strength had annihilated everything.
One of the Three Celestial Assassins, defeated at the peak of his power, crashed into the Neon Camp, his fate unknown.
At the edge of the arena, Zhao Xuanqi stood tall, his gaze cast down.
High above, his aura surged like a black tide reaching for the heavens. The form of the Qilin loomed over all, its eyes looking down as if gazing upon ants.
All the Neon Martial Artists who had turned to glare in fury were stunned by the sight. The immense, oppressive force made it impossible to look directly at him. The rage in their hearts was doused as if by a bucket of cold water, and they subconsciously lowered their eyes.
Only then did they react, raising their gazes again in shock.
But by now, the edge of the arena was empty. The terrifying, tide-like aura had vanished without a trace, and the celestial radiance was gone. It was as if nothing had ever happened. Where was the figure of Zhao Xuanqi?
As it turned out, in the moment everyone had looked away, Zhao Xuanqi had instantly retracted his aura. The furiously churning Qi and Blood had calmed, and all his Secret Techniques had been deactivated. Using what seemed like Shrinking Inches, he had already crossed to the other side of the arena and was now walking down its steps.
The Neon Martial Artists’ faces were grim. A mixture of anger and humiliation churned within them with no outlet. All they could do was immediately check on Shechuan Ancient’s condition.
His organs, muscles, and bones were utterly pulverized. Besides his head and brain, which were somehow still intact, the rest of his body was a complete wreck, as if he had been turned into a boneless invertebrate.
Any other master, even one at the Martial Five Qi Chaoyuan realm, would have been long dead from such injuries.
It was only because Shechuan Ancient had shattered the "Five Snakes" earlier, activating his cells to their absolute peak and imbuing them with the properties of Harmony, that he hadn’t died on the spot.
However, even though he was still alive, saving him from such injuries would be incredibly difficult. In half an hour, Shechuan Ancient’s cells would enter a state of fatigue, at which point his condition would only worsen.
"Quick!! Get him to a medic!! Don’t waste any time."
Their leader, Ye Jian Mountain, ordered the Neon Martial Artists below him in a grim voice. They immediately fell into a chaotic scramble.
Meanwhile, the entire audience watched as Zhao Xuanqi slowly descended from the arena. The image of his final strike was still seared into their minds.
His aura had soared into the sky like a mirage—that endlessly towering form of the Qilin, like one of the Deities, impossible to look upon directly.
In that moment, Zhao Xuanqi was no different from a true deity in their eyes. Such was his lingering might that as long as he remained in their sight, no one dared to speak above a whisper.
Not until Zhao Xuanqi stepped off the arena and his figure vanished completely into the rest area did everyone feel the immense weight lift from their chests, their ability to speak finally returning.
"He... he won!! Zhao Xuanqi won!!"
"One of the Three Celestial Assassins has been defeated! The Martial Dao of the Divine Land hasn’t lost yet!! There’s still hope for the Martial Summit!"
"An aura like the sea, ascending to the heavens—who can stand against him! The Martial Dao of the Divine Land cannot lose!"
"So what if they’re the Three Celestial Assassins of the Neon Nation?! So what if they have monstrous abilities? The Three Celestial Assassins are not invincible!"
"..."
The murmurs of the crowd grew louder, swelling into a roar of cheers and astonished cries. An intense wave of joyous surprise washed over every citizen of the Divine Land.
Everyone had thought the Martial Summit was over, that the Martial Artists of the Divine Land had no chance of a comeback.
But out of that despair, Zhao Xuanqi had brought them hope.
The Divine Land could win!
As ordinary citizens, who wouldn’t want to see their country grow powerful, to see their land become stronger?
A bond of blood is not so easily forgotten.
To them, Zhao Xuanqi was their savior.
"Qilin!!"
"Qilin!!"
"Qilin!!"
"..."
It was unclear who started it, but soon the shouts merged into a single, unified chant. Countless ordinary citizens of the Divine Land began to cry out the name "Qilin."
The sound was a roaring tide. Though each individual was weak, the combined will of thousands was enough to shake the heavens and move the earth—a power no single person could ever hope to match.
The sound could be heard for miles.
"What... what is that sound?"
Near Longwu Square, a woman sleeping soundly was jolted awake by the sudden, sky-shaking cheers. She rubbed her bleary eyes, completely bewildered.
"Qilin? That’s coming from the direction of Longwu Square! Tonight was the fight between the Hundred Beasts Fist Qilin and one of the Three Celestial Assassins from the Neon Nation. From the sound of it... could Zhao Xuanqi have won?!"
Her husband, who had been fast asleep beside her, also startled awake. He rushed to the balcony and looked toward Longwu Square.
"The Hundred Beasts Fist Qilin has defeated Shechuan Ancient, one of the Neon Nation’s Three Celestial Assassins!"
"Zhao Xuanqi killed one of the Three Celestial Assassins with a single palm strike!"
"..."
Before the cheers from the square could die down, cries of celebration could be heard from the streets, their pitches rising and falling. The sounds came from afar, grew closer, and then faded into the distance again.
It was the excited spectators, running through the streets and shouting as they went, spreading the good news in every direction.
At eleven o’clock at night, a time when all should have been silent, Zhao Xuanqi’s victory had awakened the city from its slumber.
Without even waiting for the morning papers, the news spread throughout all of Jinmen in less than half an hour.
The jubilant celebration was like that of the New Year festival.
The martial spirit in Jinmen ran deep, and the Martial Summit was already a highly anticipated event. Now, this crucial victory—a powerful shot in the arm—naturally drew even more attention.
Within Longwu Square, the name "Qilin" was being chanted ceaselessly. As he walked into the rest area, Zhao Xuanqi’s steps faltered for a moment, and he turned to look back.
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