Chapter 324
Chapter 324: Challenge
Xi Ci sheathed his sword and stood quietly, gazing at Jing Hong, watching him walk slowly, step by step, back to his position.
After a few steps, Jing Hong stopped. He had arrived.
Turning around, he glanced back.
Xi Ci lifted his sword and calmly spoke: “Then erase me completely.” As soon as he finished speaking, the blade trembled, and instantly, seventy-two sword shadows shimmered into existence around him.
The Seventy-Two Swords of Shang Qing.
It was said that even Qing Huan, one of the Four Traveling Gods, had never fully mastered this art. It was the secret skill of the venerable Elder Du Mu himself.
Everyone watched with widened eyes, captivated by this legendary sword technique.
Observing the sword shadows filling the space around them, Jing Hong nodded slightly: “Not bad.”
Xi Ci leaned forward, slashing from east to west with a single sword stroke. With the first step, nine sword shadows vanished; the second step, six more disappeared; the third, four shadows faded away; by the fourth step, only two dissipated.
On the fifth step, he reached Jing Hong, the sword falling.
One decisive strike.
The remaining sword shadows hovered faintly, fleeting like elusive phantoms, leaving only a single sword that descended from Xi Ci’s hand.
In the Seventy-Two Swords of Shang Qing, fewer remaining sword shadows meant greater power. At his current strength, Xi Ci could suppress fifty-one shadows, and this strike contained everything he had. He believed it was enough to conquer the peak of martial competition.
Yet, in the very next moment, he saw something impossible to accept.
Jing Hong raised his arm, gently capturing the sword between two fingers. Instantly, every lingering sword shadow vanished, leaving only the blade in Xi Ci’s hand, angled towards the sky, utterly frozen in place.
Xi Ci also could not move.
He stared at Jing Hong, whose lips curved into a slight smile. Xi Ci’s pupils flickered.
Jing Hong smiled at him, slowly bending the captured blade.
Xi Ci watched helplessly as the sword bent, its tip steadily approaching him under Jing Hong’s pressure. He did not retreat, nor did he evade. He simply watched as the sword point came nearer, until finally, it pierced his brow and vanished.
It all flowed as smoothly as a rehearsed play.
Jing Hong shook out his hand and smiled gently at those around him, remaining silent.
Now, the way everyone gazed at Jing Hong had completely changed. The competitors didn’t know Jing Hong had raised his value to three million, and though those watching from afar did know, they had never imagined he could defeat Xi Ci so effortlessly.
In Jing Hong’s eyes, Xi Ci’s swordsmanship was nothing more than child’s play. Yet he hadn’t used any noticeable power, leaving everyone puzzled about his true abilities.
This boy, who appeared to be barely more than ten years old, had become the very center of the universe at that moment, capturing every gaze and holding it fast.
Wang Jie exhaled softly, his heart heavy. Even now, he still could not see Jing Hong’s qi. This person was terrifyingly strong. [Is he truly only at Full Star Realm? I’d believe it if someone said he had reached Hundred Star Realm.]
The following matches failed to capture anyone’s attention.
Everyone’s gaze kept drifting toward Jing Hong.
Jing Hong seemed very pleased and even took out a red envelope, waving it around strangely.
Only after several more unremarkable matches did another pairing finally catch everyone’s interest.
Zhou Ye versus Blood Vine.
Blood Vine was a cosmic giant beast from the Southern Bridge Pillar constellation, known for its extraordinary defensive abilities. During the North-South Bridge Pillar wars, Blood Vine had repeatedly plunged the Big Dipper Bridge Pillar into deep trouble. It excelled at merging with living beings to become biological armor.
However, after Li Ao’s defeat alongside the Blood Vine by Shao Gu Chen, the beast’s reputation was no longer as frightening.
Yet Shao Gu Chen, who had obtained the Enlightenment Tea, was incomparable in the first place.
Blood Vine had never truly been weak.
Zhou Ye, recognized by Star Dome Visage and highly ranked, was equally intriguing.
In his earlier battle, his overwhelming strength had left Di Kun powerless, revealing some of his abilities. Thus, this fight held everyone’s attention.
As soon as the barrier vanished, the match began.
There was nothing extraordinary.
Zhou Ye’s arrows were unavoidable, and though Blood Vine’s defense was indeed powerful, it could not endure forever. Its counterattacks failed to catch Zhou Ye, who ultimately wore it down, killing it.
An utterly uneventful fight.
Soon, it was Wang Jie’s turn.
Wang Jie’s opponent was decent enough, surpassing two hundred thousand in combat power—a true elite—but still far beneath him. Wang Jie ended the fight with a single finger.
Now, only thirty-eight participants remained.
The competition continued.
The arena expanded further, putting greater distance between fighters.
This time, Wang Jie gazed solemnly at the opponent standing before him.
Yuan Mu.
His luck was truly interesting.
Yuan Mu of Sword Court was a ruthless figure who had dared to charge through the Double Wind Line battlefield, even wounding a Hundred Star Realm master. Star Dome Visage had only six words recorded about him: “Win or die, no other choice.”
Regarding the distribution of Enlightenment Tea, external observers had criticized the decision to grant it to Xi Ci but deny warriors like Yuan Mu.
At the start of the Libra battle, Sword Court’s Pan Fan had targeted Wang Jie precisely because of this resentment.
Yet Wang Jie had never expected Yuan Mu to become his opponent in this round.
The outside world was abuzz now, not only because of Wang Jie and Yuan Mu, but also about Hou Qing Ge and Qin Xiao Shu, and particularly Wen Qing against Jing Hong.
Hou Qing Ge had obtained Enlightenment Tea, but Qin Xiao Shu’s shocking defeat of Li Ao had astonished many. His Void-based techniques, synonymous with immeasurable mysteries, meant no one could be certain Hou Qing Ge would win, not even those blindly confident in Enlightenment Tea’s distribution.
However, the greatest controversy surrounded Wen Qing versus Jing Hong.
Wen Qing was a master who had also received Enlightenment Tea. His older brother was the Heavenly Star Guardian, an invincible master of the Hundred Star Realm. Both Star Dome Visage and the Big Dipper Bridge Pillar had recognized Wen Qing as one of the strongest at the Full Star Realm, capable of vying for the championship.
The outside world had long debated his true strength.
Jing Hong, initially unremarkable, had soared to prominence with his three million score and his single-move defeat of Xi Ci, ascending instantly to legendary status.
Now, no one dared claim Wen Qing could absolutely defeat Jing Hong.
Yet whether Jing Hong could overcome Wen Qing, not even the observers could confidently declare.
This was the duel everyone had truly been waiting for.
“This is going to be interesting. All three recipients of the Enlightenment Tea are facing challenges, and each one seems uncertain.”
“Star Dome Visage has never gifted Enlightenment Tea to anyone who failed to make the top twenty. Let’s see if their record holds this time.”
“I can’t speak for the others, but that Wang Jie will certainly lose. My senior brother Yuan Mu is an extraordinary master. If it weren’t for his upcoming marriage alliance with Misty Smoke Harbor, he would have broken through long ago. Even the Sect Elder stated outright that once he does, he’ll rise directly to the top ranks of the Sword Pavilion disciples, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with senior brother Yuan Bai of the Sword Heart Demon Seed. How could Wang Jie possibly win?”
“It seems Star Dome Visage’s authority is finally being challenged.”
Outside opinions mattered little within the martial gathering. Those inside had no contact with the outside world since the matches began.
Several bouts passed, some involving skilled cultivators matched against weaker opponents. None stirred much excitement. Everyone waited anxiously.
At last, all eyes turned toward the next arena.
Hou Qing Ge versus Qin Xiao Shu.
Everyone’s gaze immediately locked onto this duel.
Suddenly, Qin Xiao Shu turned her head, eagerly waving toward Qing Kong.
But Qing Kong’s eyes remained calm and unmoved, offering no response.
Qin Xiao Shu, however, showed no disappointment.
In an instant, a streak of sword qi sliced through the air, narrowly missing Qin Xiao Shu. She spun around with an unhappy glare, calling out: “Hey, have you no manners? A sneak attack?”
Hou Qing Ge paid her no mind, fiercely unleashing her sword techniques, the blade-light filling the arena, fully aiming at Qin Xiao Shu.
At this moment, the disciples from the Sword Pool were also watching intently.
One woman spoke icily, her eyes dark with contempt: “That little wretch is disgracing our Sword Pool, resorting to sneak attacks.”
“Exactly, Mother. Once she returns, she must be disciplined.”
Another voice calmly interjected: “It’s not exactly correct to call it a sneak attack. Once the barrier dissolves, the battle has begun. Qin Xiao Shu wasn’t paying attention, and that’s her own fault.”
“Is that so? When Jing Hong approached Xi Ci, Xi Ci never drew his sword until Jing Hong himself spoke first. Compare the two and the difference is clear.”
The others fell silent.
Indeed, though it wouldn’t have mattered if Xi Ci had ambushed Jing Hong, his open behavior was undoubtedly honorable, starkly contrasting with Hou Qing Ge.
The woman’s cold laughter returned: “We’ll see how she’s punished when she returns. She somehow managed to befriend someone from Star Dome Visage and received Enlightenment Tea. If she loses, her fate will be harsh.”
The disciples exchanged glances, shaking their heads in silence.
Back in the arena, Hou Qing Ge’s sword technique grew fiercer, rapidly shifting between countless sword arts from the Sword Pool. Yet, she couldn’t land a single blow on Qin Xiao Shu.
Qin Xiao Shu floated gracefully through the air, displaying extraordinary agility, even sparing time to greet Qing Kong, clearly not taking Hou Qing Ge seriously. The disciples from the Sword Pool were deeply displeased, especially with Hou Qing Ge herself.
To them, her abilities fell short of her fame, and now she threatened to humiliate the entire Sword Pool.
At that moment, Hou Qing Ge suddenly altered her stance. Star force surged along the blade’s edge, blooming into beautiful azure lotuses made of pure sword qi.
Within the Sword Pool ranks, someone gasped aloud: “Azure Lotus Flower Burial? She can actually perform this technique?”
“Azure Lotus Flower Burial is one of our Sword Pool’s most profound sword arts. Throughout history, fewer than ten people have mastered it. In this generation, only the Later Sword Master achieved it. To think this child could too!”
“Even the Later Sword Master could only perform it upon reaching Wandering Star Realm!”
The woman sneered coldly, her gaze venomous: “A mere fluke. Some sword techniques simply suit certain people.”
As the azure lotus bloomed, sword qi froze the surrounding space, forcing Qin Xiao Shu backward in astonishment: “Good swordsmanship—but useless.” With these words, Qin Xiao Shu leaped gracefully into the void, vanishing within a swirling vortex.
All around, the azure lotuses trembled and withered away.
“What a shame. Her cultivation isn’t yet sufficient.”
“But even managing to use Azure Lotus Flower Burial at all is impressive,” many disciples from Sword Pool admitted in envy.
In the arena, Qin Xiao Shu abruptly reappeared behind Hou Qing Ge, pointing forward with one finger, unleashing the Hidden-Breaking Seal.
It was the same technique that had defeated Li Ao. Even Li Ao’s profound, ocean-deep star force had failed to block it. Hou Qing Ge’s star force was far weaker, and the finger pierced through her instantly, scattering blood across the platform.
Seeing Hou Qing Ge suppressed, many were sure this battle spelled doom.
Numerous spectators eagerly hoped for Hou Qing Ge’s defeat—to see Star Dome Visage’s tradition of Enlightenment Tea recipients ranking in the top twenty finally shattered.
Hou Qing Ge lowered her gaze, staring at her own blood falling like blossoming plum petals.
Qin Xiao Shu’s voice drifted toward her: “Anyone who received Enlightenment Tea must possess more than this. I know you’re hiding your strength, but I haven’t gone all-out either. If you keep holding back, you’ll lose.”
Hou Qing Ge turned slowly toward Qin Xiao Shu. Raising her sword, she fought once more.
Star force condensed behind her into a dark circle, and as she thrust her sword forward, this darkness passed through her body, rushing toward Qin Xiao Shu.
Once more, the Sword Pool gasped: “Sun-Eclipsing Slash? Yet another profoundly difficult art—how can she know this as well?”
But Sun-Eclipsing Slash failed.
Hou Qing Ge changed forms again.
She continuously shifted sword arts, each one causing Sword Pool disciples to marvel. They couldn’t fathom how she had mastered so many advanced techniques.
The woman’s eyes grew dark as poison, unable to speak further.
Yet Qin Xiao Shu still unraveled them all effortlessly, leaving no openings.
“If your strength is just about knowing many sword techniques, then it’s time to end this.” Qin Xiao Shu once again entered the void, unleashing the Hidden-Breaking Seal, impossible to dodge. At this moment, Hou Qing Ge coughed blood.