Chapter 323
Chapter 323: Ting Chen
Si Yao had once shown Wang Jie a few recordings of geniuses, and Xiao Mu was among them. At the time, Wang Jie didn’t recognize him, but later, through a Star Dome broadcast, he understood.
When Xiao Mu passed by someone, without even lifting a finger, that person fell to the ground.
Xiao Mu was a genius highly valued by Star Dome Visage—the young master of Armor One Sect. Who could possibly eliminate him so early?
Qin Xiao Shu stopped three meters before Li Ao.
Li Ao stared back, his eyes icy cold. Neither moved.
Above, the starforce thundered endlessly, echoing like heavenly thunder.
After a tense stand-off lasting three breaths, Qin Xiao Shu suddenly moved. He thrust a finger toward Li Ao’s back. Li Ao’s fur bristled instantly, and starforce surged through the black star-sand as he desperately tried to resist, but his back abruptly bent, as if struck by an invisible force.
Qin Xiao Shu rapidly followed with three more taps of his finger.
Li Ao’s eyes widened, teeth clenched tight. Blood burst from his mouth, and his fur snapped off, scattering in all directions.
“Dou Huo Killing Formation!” someone exclaimed.
The Dou Huo Clan indeed possessed such a lethal formation—it was their own Bridge Technique.
Li Ao had been pushed to the edge. Except for those familiar with the Path of Non-Movement, no one else understood exactly what Qin Xiao Shu had just done.
At this moment, if Li Ao did not unleash his ultimate skill, defeat was certain.
Yet Qin Xiao Shu merely smiled and turned towards Qing Kong, saying lightly: “Kong’er, wasn’t I impressive?”
Li Ao exploded with rage. This human dared dismiss his Dou Huo Killing Formation?
Li Ao’s severed fur intertwined with starforce, forming a strange Formation Dao in mid-air. It coiled, twisted, and rapidly closed in on Qin Xiao Shu, seemingly separating that space entirely. Wherever it passed, the void was dyed in magma-like crimson.
At the Eastern Dipper Bridge Pillar, the Non-Movement Sect:
A young girl covered her mouth, fearfully pointing at the glowing screen, “Master, Senior Brother is in danger.”
Far away, a pair of eyes slowly opened, gazing at the distant screen, “The Dou Huo Killing Formation—Heaven’s Path turned to ash. Once it held a Star Position, possessing unimaginable might.”
Hearing this, the little girl’s worries intensified: “Then, Master, what should we do?”
“Ha,” came the calm laughter, “Don’t worry. That tiny creature cannot even activate it.”
On the arena, deep crimson crystals pierced through the void one after another. Li Ao sneered coldly, “Human, under my Dou Huo Killing Formation, you are doomed to die.”
Yet Qin Xiao Shu was busy confessing to Qing Kong.
“Human, you—” Li Ao roared in fury. Suddenly, the Dou Huo Killing Formation vanished without a trace.
Everyone was stunned—where had the Formation Dao gone?
Li Ao was equally bewildered, looking around frantically. Where was his Dou Huo Killing Formation?
Only then did Qin Xiao Shu turn his gaze back to Li Ao, shaking his head slightly, “Path of Non-Movement, Breaking Concealment Seal. I apologize for showing such a small trick.” After speaking, he kicked Li Ao away, sending him vanishing through the air.
Everyone stared at Qin Xiao Shu in astonishment.
Was this person truly that formidable? From start to finish, he had only moved twice, yet won so decisively.
Wang Jie studied Qin Xiao Shu intently.
This man knew how to conceal his aura—Wang Jie couldn’t measure his strength through aura observation.
The Non-Movement Sect, mother-sect of the Void Mountain Range, was indeed unfathomable.
“Someone of this caliber actually lacks Enlightenment Tea? Ridiculous,” someone sighed, voicing what many were silently thinking.
After Qin Xiao Shu’s match with Li Ao, the tournament again became dull, lacking anticipation—until Ting Chen faced Mo.
Wang Jie had been too focused on Ting Chen and failed to notice her opponent was Mo from Three Chan Heaven.
Mo could be counted among the very few powerful figures from Blue Star’s trial participants who still hadn’t reached the Wandering Star Realm.
Even Qi Xue Yin and the others had reached the Wandering Star Realm by now.
The barrier disappeared.
Mo and Ting Chen stood facing each other.
Few people looked forward to this match. Ting Chen was completely unknown, with no mentions in Star Dome Visage reports. Mo, though from Three Chan Heaven, was only a Full Star Realm cultivator, hardly remarkable amid so many major sect disciples present.
Wang Jie stared deeply at Mo.
Back during the Blue Star trial, Mo wielded a sword shaped like a branch—wild and crude. Today, it was still the same sword, just slightly more sword-like, but clearly still a tree branch.
What was Mo waiting for?
“You can draw your sword. You should be at the Entering Zen stage now, right?” Ting Chen spoke first. Her voice was clear and cool, soft yet distant.
Mo looked at the woman opposite him. A strange, helpless feeling overwhelmed him.
In the Entering Zen stage, he clearly saw this woman had no openings. Even more clearly, he saw no chance of victory for himself.
Who exactly was this woman? Why had he never heard of her before?
“Might I know your name?” Mo finally asked.
“Ting Chen.”
“Ting Chen?” Mo murmured, lost in thought.
Ting Chen asked again, “Will you strike, or shall I?”
Mo released a long sigh, looking down at his sword. It was not a star artifact, thus allowed into the arena.
“Could you tell me why this is happening? I feel I have absolutely no chance against you.”
Ting Chen looked calmly at him, “When you reach Zen Transformation, you’ll understand.”
Mo nodded slowly, “I see. I surrender.” Without any hesitation or regret, he stepped off the stage and disappeared.
Most of the audience outside couldn’t comprehend this exchange, simply assuming the bald youth lacked the courage to fight.
Yet, those who understood wore grave expressions.
Their gazes toward Ting Chen changed completely.
Only at Zen Transformation could one understand the hopelessness of victory against her. Did that mean that to defeat her required Zen Retreat? How many in Three Chan Heaven had reached Zen Retreat?
Though cultivation stages weren’t everything—some youngsters like Wu Ming indeed grasped profound states early—it remained true that, generally, deeper enlightenment brought greater strength.
This girl had made even the people from Three Chan Heaven retreat without a fight.
Those were the disciples of Three Chan Heaven, whose hearts were as steady as mountains.
The arena battles continued.
Soon, it was Wang Jie’s turn.
His opponent this time was weaker than even the dagger bearer from before, so he finished the fight swiftly.
Shortly after, the second round concluded.
Only seventy-five participants remained.
This meant one fighter would get a bye and not have to battle—now it was all about luck.
The arenas expanded once again.
One man stared at the empty space before him, realizing he was the lucky one who didn’t have to fight this round. He tried desperately to contain his excitement, but his smile refused to stay hidden.
But no one paid him any attention. All eyes were focused on the first arena.
Xi Ci was standing there, and his opponent was a young boy who looked to be no older than ten.
They didn’t know the sphere’s recorded number, but outside, the world had already fallen silent. Everyone stared at the light screen, eyes fixed upon the boy.
This youth was named Jing Hong, and he had pushed the sphere’s number up to three million.
Everyone was eager to see just how strong this boy really was. A number like three million was beyond imagination—even geniuses among Hundred Star Realm cultivators might not achieve it.
Xi Ci was Du Mu’s disciple, one of the top cultivators in this martial meet. Surely, he’d notice something unusual.
Cultivators had an unspoken understanding: the stranger someone appeared, the more dangerous they usually were.
Right now, this youth standing in front of Xi Ci seemed extremely unusual. What family would allow such a young child to reach Full Star Realm? Maybe it existed, but never at a martial meet like this. If he truly was that young, they would simply wait until he reached Wandering Star Realm, or perhaps compete directly at Hundred Star Realm. There was no need to enter the Full Star Realm meet at all.
Thus, this child was definitely not as simple as he looked.
The barrier between them disappeared.
Jing Hong began walking toward Xi Ci, smiling gently.
Xi Ci narrowed his eyes, pressing his thumb onto the hilt of his sword, ready to draw.
He didn’t immediately strike because the child had no star force or fighting spirit—he genuinely seemed like a simple child approaching, making Xi Ci hesitant to act.
Jing Hong stopped about five meters away.
Because Xi Ci had drawn his sword.
If Jing Hong stepped any closer, Xi Ci would strike, no matter whether he had fighting intent or not.
Under everyone’s watchful gaze—especially those outside who knew more—Jing Hong took out a red envelope and extended it to Xi Ci: “Here, this is for you.”
Everyone: …
Xi Ci stared silently at the envelope held out to him, which had four golden words written on it—Congratulations, Prosperity & Fortune.
Jing Hong looked at him expectantly.
Xi Ci glanced at the envelope, then at Jing Hong, and forced out two words: “No, thanks.”
Jing Hong blinked curiously: “Why?”
“I don’t want it.”
“You look down on me?”
“Make your move. Stop messing around.”
Jing Hong reluctantly tucked the envelope away, sighing: “Why won’t anyone accept my gift? You people are truly impolite.” After putting it away, he turned around and said, “Fine, go ahead and attack,” casually showing his back to Xi Ci.
Still, there was no sign of star force.
He appeared just like an ordinary person.
Everyone felt strange and confused, unsure what was happening.
Xi Ci gripped his sword tightly, voice low: “What do you mean by this?”
Jing Hong waved a hand dismissively: “Come on, strike me already. You won’t hit me anyway.”
His tone was full of disdain. Xi Ci’s eyes flashed sharply. Without hesitation, he flicked his thumb, and his sword shot from its sheath, slicing through the air toward Jing Hong. There was no need for courtesy among experts—those who cared about manners usually ended up dead.
He was Xi Ci, disciple of Du Mu, junior brother of the Wandering Gods. In the future, he too would become one of the Wandering Gods.
This sword thrust toward Jing Hong missed completely under everyone’s watchful gaze. The sword’s sharp gleam sliced through empty space.
Xi Ci’s expression stiffened, staring at Jing Hong who had somehow passed his blade. Impossible—how had this person evaded? Xi Ci hadn’t even seen clearly. Jing Hong continued to walk forward with his back turned, seemingly carefree.
Many people rubbed their eyes in disbelief—how had he evaded?
Even Wang Jie stared intently, yet he too couldn’t see clearly at all. It seemed like Xi Ci’s sword had always aimed at empty space. But why?
Wang Jie had been observing qi carefully, yet from beginning to end Jing Hong had shown no fluctuation in qi at all.
Something wasn’t right. Not right at all.
Even ordinary people had qi—so why didn’t Jing Hong? What was going on here?
Xi Ci attacked again, sword shadows flashing in blurs too fast for the eye. Yet none touched Jing Hong; each strike merely brushed past him harmlessly. Jing Hong didn’t even turn his head as he kept calmly walking forward, ignoring every sword stroke.
Even more astonishingly, he was walking in a straight line.
“What the heck? He’s walking straight?”
“Impossible, didn’t he dodge every sword strike?”
“Then how is it a straight line? Could it be the power of Void?”
Qin Xiao Shu stared solemnly—it wasn’t Void Power, yet why was Jing Hong still moving straight? He couldn’t understand.
Wang Jie didn’t understand either.
Outside, everyone’s gazes grew deeply serious—even those from the Star Refining Realm fell silent.
Far away in the depths of the starry sky, Qing Huan sat quietly upon the moon, not uttering a word.
Xi Ci’s sword techniques were undoubtedly strong, yet Jing Hong remained incomprehensible to them all.
“I’m almost back to where I started,” Jing Hong chuckled softly, “you only have one chance left. Once I turn around,” he smiled faintly, “you’re finished.”