An ear-splitting screech rang out as the longsword Magic Treasure collided with the Moon Obscuring Seal. With a glaring burst of light, both Magic Treasures were sent flying, returning back to the hands of their respective users.
However, within those few breaths of time, the purple tornado was already right upon Yan Cheng. Yan Cheng closed his eyes, and his body suddenly turned illusory. The purple tornado charged right through his body, and the berserk, cyclonic winds screamed out as they smashed into the protective barrier surrounding the arena. The impact caused the entire barrier to ripple and shake intensely.
âWhat cultivation method is that?!â a disciple cried out in shock.
âIt should be the cultivation method that comes with the Moon Obscuring Seal, known as the Moon Obscuring Illusory Transformation. It allows the user to use the radiance of the three moons to temporarily protect oneâs body from harm. But by the looks of it, this move will be difficult to use a second time,â a disciple who was rather well-informed about the top-grade Magic Treasures of Mingxin Mountain said calmly, gazing up at the three moons sitting high in the sky.
Although Yan Cheng managed to avoid the Qingyang Yin Wind with his Moon Obscuring Illusory Transformation, his complexion looked rather pale.
He didnât have any defensive-type top-grade Magic Treasures. An ordinary defensive-type Magic Treasure wouldnât be enough to block the attacks of the Qingyang Whip.
Although the Moon Obscuring Seal was a top-grade treasure, and an offensive-type one at that, it had already been blocked once by Guan Luâs longsword-type Magic Treasure. Even if Yan Cheng tried to use it again, the end result would still be futile.
Seeing Guan Lu about to use the Qingyang Yin Wind again, a bitter smile rose to Yan Chengâs lips. âI admit defeat,â he declared.
Guan Lu put the Qingyang Whip away with a wave of his hand, his expression unchanging. He nodded once to Yan Cheng, then stepped on his flying sword and left the arena.
âGuan Lu enters the top 5,â Tao Yuanbai announced. â8th place, Kou Zun, please select your opponent.â
Kou Zun entered the arena and looked up at the ranking list on the massive screen of light. âI will choose Xu Disheng,â he said eventually.
âI bet 200 spirit stones on Kou Zun!â a disciple shouted excitedly, hurriedly placing the spirit stones on the betting table.
â30 spirit stones on Kou Zun!â
âIâll bet 120 spirit stones on Kou Zun!â
Within moments, the ten or so disciples who were hosting betting tables had stacks of spirit stones shoved in their faces, the majority of which were betting on Kou Zun.
Kou Zunâs choice wasnât outside of anyoneâs expectations.
Li Cangyun and him were of similar strength, and the other five geniuses had Psychic Magic Treasures. That left the relatively weaker-looking Xu Disheng as his obvious, straightforward choice.
The phantom image of the Yin Yang Diagram appeared below Xu Dishengâs feet. He was just about to fly onto the arena when he heard a clear, sonorous voice in his ears. âJunior Martial Brother Xu, I bet 5,000 spirit stones on you this time, you know.â
Xu Dishengâs figure paused momentarily. He replied indifferently without even turning around, âHelp me place a bet of 5,000 spirit stones on myself then. If I lose, Iâll give you the Smoky Cloud Screen.â
He willed the Yin Yang Diagram forward and flew onto the arena.
He Junyu shook his head with a wry smile. He walked up to the betting table once more and took out an interspatial ring. â1:4 odds, huh? Iâll bet another 5,000 spirit stones.â
Tao Yuanbai glanced at Xu Disheng. Thinking back, the only thing somewhat remarkable about him was that ghost Dao secret technique he used to kill Zhao Yueban. However, he wasnât sure if Xu Disheng would use it again in this fight against Kou Zun.
He nodded his head and said, âYou may start.â
Kou Zun gazed at Xu Disheng. The two of them had seen each other in the Mirage Sea Realm, in the center of Lightning Cloud Stone Island, but they had never really talked. âAs a newly risen genius, you should act within your own limits, Junior Martial Brother Xu. Even though you managed to get lucky and kill Zhao Yueban, your troubles with Ghost Controlling Peak probably havenât been completely resolved yet, so it would be better for you to just admit defeat here. I can at least do you that much of a favor.â
His tone was aloof and arrogant, and he clearly didnât really view Xu Disheng with any regard. Even though he spoke of doing him a âfavorâ, it sounded almost like he was bringing himself to perform an act of charity for him.
The gilded trim on the black material of the Soul Suppressing Vestment began to glow with a faint golden light, and Xu Dishengâs black hair, tied up in a jade band, began to flutter in the wind. Motes of golden light began to appear around the vestment, blinking in and out of existence around his body.
As the true nature of the Soul Suppressing Vestment manifested, Xu Dishengâs expression changed, seeming to become even more apathetic. He looked up to the sky and asked Tao Yuanbai, âPeak Master Tao, in the final round, is it permitted to fatally wound the opponent?â
Tao Yuanbaiâs brows furrowed, and he looked back at the Spirit Masters behind him, but they were all meditating. None of them seemed to be paying any attention to the scene going on below.
Eventually, he responded, âThis⌠If someone admits defeat, the other party must immediately put a stop to their attacks.â
These words were quite ambiguous.
But Xu Disheng understood his meaning. If someone didnât admit defeat in time and were killed, the sect wouldnât find trouble with the person who killed them.
However, it was just like the matter with Ghost Controlling Peak. Within the sect, no one would cause trouble for him, but as soon as he went outside of the sect, he had to be very careful.
To Kou Zun, this treatment was like receiving an insult of the highest order. Seeing Xu Disheng blatantly ignore him, Kou Zunâs normally calm temperament kindled into a fiery rage.
In fact, his anger towards Xu Dishengâs disregard of him wasnât unfounded.
After all, Xu Disheng didnât have any powerful backer or master. The only affiliation he had was Celestial Tide Spirit Master.
However, Kou Zunâs backer, Pure Ocean Spirit Master, wasnât inferior to Celestial Tide Spirit Master in any way. Moreover, the importance their respective Spirit Masters attached to each of them were completely different.
âI wonât kill you, but Iâll make sure to beat you to a pulp and cripple your cultivation,â Kou Zun said coldly. A small, intricate array diagram appeared in his hand, and several top-grade longsword Magic Treasures began to revolve threateningly around him. A strong aura of slaughter was practically oozing from the array.
âItâs the Demon Punishing Array Diagram!â
âMy goodness, Senior Martial Brother Kou already took out the Demon Punishing Array Diagram. He must really be angry.â
âXu Disheng is far too young and naive. He actually provoked Senior Martial Brother Kou to this degree. He already took out the Demon Punishing Array Diagram, so why isnât Xu Disheng admitting defeat yet?â
Many disciplesâ eyes turned red with greed as they slammed spirit stones down on the betting desks.
âI bet on Kou Zun!â
âAll-in on Kou Zun!â
The ten or so disciples hosting the betting booths immediately closed off their tables and repeatedly called out, âWeâre no longer accepting bets!â
The Demon Punishing Array Diagram was refined by a peak Primordial Spirit stage Primordial Lord, based on a certain picture scroll.
It was said that there was an array diagram on this picture scroll, which had four swords portrayed on it. Each sword was powerful enough to shake the heavens and rend the earth!
The Demon Punishing Array Diagram was a treasure refined with the utmost care of this Primordial Lord, and it was originally supposed to be a Psychic Magic Treasure. But at the final critical juncture, the spiritual incantation fell short by a syllable, so it ended up as only a top-grade Magic Treasure.
Even He Junyu, who was standing below the arena, had a grave expression as he spectated the scene taking place. If he were the one up there in the arena, even someone of his caliber would face a swift defeat if he didnât promptly take out the Thunderflame Pagoda!
Xu Disheng examined the array diagram. At that moment, a thumping sound resounded in his mind, and he seemed to recall something from his memories. As it turned out, he seemed to have seen a similar array diagram before in the past.
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