Chapter 169

Chapter 169: Clash Between Old and New Sects

Back-to-back clashes between the great sects had the cultivators on Fengling Terrace shouting with excitement, even though the seniors still stopped at a safe point.

Someone cried: “I never thought the final for first would be between Ninghua Sect and Flying Cloud Sect.”

“In past years it was always Heavenly Sword Sect against Flying Cloud Sect. This is my first time seeing Heavenly Sword Sect lose to someone else.”

There had been other strong newcomers before, but none like Ninghua Sect. This was their first Sect Grand Tournament, and they had already fought their way to challenge Flying Cloud Sect.

“Second place is already amazing. They even pushed Heavenly Sword Sect down.”

Ninghua Sect was strong, but most people still assumed they would take second.

They could not help it. Flying Cloud Sect had Master Ling Xiao, a mountain no one could cross.

Someone sighed: “That Immortal Lord Chang Li is a real powerhouse.”

“When he fought Sect Master Ming Xi just now, he used only three moves to knock her off the platform. They are both Mid Divine Transformation.”

“He and Master Ling Xiao both use fire arts. There will be a great fight.”

Soon, every eye on Fengling Terrace focused on the six people from the two sects. The chatter grew wild, the air close to boiling.

On the stage, though, the mood was tight and strange.

Immortal Lord Chang Li faced Master Ling Xiao, Daoist Wu Wei faced Shen Dao Chen, and Immortal Maiden Azure Luan faced Elder Fu.

They had not struck yet, but their gazes were already clashing like sparks.

The bystanders did not know the history, but the six did.

One side was Shen Sang Ruo’s new sect. The other was her old sect.

This was their first true face-to-face showdown.

Immortal Lord Chang Li’s lips held a slight smile that never reached his eyes; his eyes stayed icy cold.

Master Ling Xiao pressed his lips into a thin line and stared with cold contempt.

He had hoped Immortal Lord Chang Li would last long enough to meet him, but now that the man stood before him, he felt only displeasure.

Immortal Lord Chang Li’s strength had exceeded his expectations.

When True Lord Gu Ci stepped between the two sides, the thick hostility startled her.

Even Heavenly Sword Sect and Flying Cloud Sect, who had feuded for years, had never shown something this intense.

She said: “If both sides are ready, the final match may begin.”

Both teams raised their hands to signal they were ready.

From the waiting area, Shen Sang Ruo called out: “Master, Sect Master Wu Wei, Immortal Maiden Azure Luan, go for it!”

Even in the noisy crowd, the six on stage heard her clear voice with ease.

Master Ling Xiao and Shen Dao Chen both froze for a heartbeat.

Immortal Lord Chang Li turned, smiled, and nodded in her direction. When he looked back at Master Ling Xiao, his smile turned smug: “My little disciple is not very mature. She even has to shout for something this small. Please do not mind.”

Master Ling Xiao clenched his hand tighter inside his sleeve and cursed in his heart: [What an act.] He snorted, face still calm.

Shen Dao Chen’s face went dark. She had not said a single word to him. Did she still see him as her father?

He warned in a low voice: “Know whom to accept and whom not to accept. I hope your sect understands.”

Shen Sang Ruo was someone he had expelled. Taking her in was openly challenging Flying Cloud Sect.

Daoist Wu Wei answered with meaning: “No need for your concern, Sect Master Shen. I know far better than some people.”

“Hmph.”

Luckily, Bai Mu Mu cheered for them at that moment, and Shen Dao Chen’s face eased a little.

“Begin!” True Lord Gu Ci announced, then stepped aside and left the platform to them.

As soon as she spoke, both sides burst forth with aura.

They had been waiting for this battle for a long time.

Six Divine Transformation cultivators stood on one platform, and fierce winds whipped across Fengling Terrace at once.

It was a three-on-three, but each chose the foe they had glared at before, splitting the platform into three battlefields.

Daoist Wu Wei pulled a cane from thin air and struck at Shen Dao Chen with great speed.

Shen Dao Chen’s face sank as he drew a long whip to meet him.

In the blink of an eye, the two were locked in a tight fight.

Blue spiritual power gathered in Immortal Maiden Azure Luan’s hands. Wind domains formed around her, and the blue feathers on her robe stirred with the air.

With a sweep of her palm, the wind domains rolled toward Elder Fu like a storm.

The yellow band on Elder Fu’s wrist flashed with bright light. Power gathered in his fist as he punched into the wind and shattered it.

At the same instant, Immortal Lord Chang Li and Master Ling Xiao each summoned a massive flame.

The two waves of fire slammed together, evenly matched.

The flames, filled with overwhelming force, bathed all of Fengling Terrace in a red glow, as if they could rival the sun.

In only a few breaths, the crowd felt that this was not a friendly stop-at-a-point match.

It seemed both sides were aiming to take the other down.

From the start, they used full strength without mercy.

Even more shocking, Immortal Lord Chang Li and Master Ling Xiao were a whole realm apart, yet Chang Li still held his ground.

People had thought Ninghua Sect would not last long against Flying Cloud Sect, but now the battle looked balanced.

Someone shouted: “No way, is Ninghua Sect really this fierce?”

Another added: “Other than Azure Luan against Elder Fu, the other two fights are across realms!”

On the field, Master Ling Xiao was surprised too.

By his guess, Immortal Lord Chang Li was at best peak Mid Divine Transformation. How could he contend with him?

Immortal Lord Chang Li curled his lip. Back when he broke through to the Void Refining Stage, this kid had still been wearing split-bottom pants in that lifetime. The gap in cultivation could be partly covered with long years of battle experience.

Daoist Wu Wei was the same. In the past, he had been very strong, and only later weakened as Ninghua Sect’s luck faded.

But experience could only make up so much. There was still a real gap.

Right now, Immortal Lord Chang Li already felt the strain.

Master Ling Xiao sensed it, the cold smile at his mouth replacing surprise with scorn: [So that is all.]

A realm gap could not be crossed. In the end, the man before him would fall.

He glanced toward Shen Sang Ruo, eager to show her how he would crush her “dear master” underfoot.

He chanted, pressed his palms together, then snapped them apart, a flame floating between his hands. As he flung it forward, the spark swelled several times over like a fire dragon opening its jaws to devour Immortal Lord Chang Li!