I Pick up a Lost Godhood

The Immortal Commerce continued to diligently gather all sorts of intelligence, promoting themselves while simultaneously stirring the interest of cultivators. News of the Holy Hall had spread beyond Starlight City, reaching the ears of cultivators in other cities as well.

Thus far, after three rounds of elimination in the Battle of the Other Shore, only two sects had managed to keep all their members in the competition.

One was the No Illusion Demon Sect, and the other was the Holy Hall.

While it hadn’t garnered as much attention in other cities, the cultivators in Starlight City—especially those from Starlight Academy—were completely stunned.

For three years, the Holy Hall Faction had kept a low profile. Old legends had faded, and besides, the stories from that time weren’t all that incredible to begin with. Though a rumor persisted about some badass named Wang Meng, he hadn’t left much of an impression on anyone.

Wang Meng’s return had gone unnoticed, but after three rounds, everyone was forced to see the Holy Hall in a new light.

It was rumored that Wang Meng also possessed a Dragon Saint Statue. But regardless of Wang Meng’s current state, the Holy Statues of Hu Jing and her three companions, along with Suo Ming’s fearsome Forbidden Hammer, were enough to make the Holy Hall’s might known throughout Starlight City.

One could say the Holy Hall’s prestige now rivaled that of Purple Dragon and Li Mountain. They were a dark horse, an unexpected variable in the competition.

The Flower Fairy Sect had entered five disciples, but only three had advanced. For the top-ranked sect in Starlight City, this fact alone was a testament to how fierce the competition was.

By the time the main tournament began, the Holy Hall Disciples were practically buzzing with excitement. Thanks to the dominant performance of the Holy Hall Beings, another large wave of cultivators from the Four Directions Small Thousand World flooded into Starlight City, a significant number of them Holy Hall Disciples.

Zhao Xinglun’s arrangement made sense; rallying behind the Holy Hall’s advance would help consolidate the Four Directions Small Thousand World.

The Holy Hall Disciples, led by Anx Dao, were celebrating wildly. To be honest, life in the Holy Hall used to be pretty miserable if you weren’t a Thunderlight Hall disciple. Anyone who stood against Wang Meng was bound to get crushed. But things were different now. For the sake of the Star Alliance, the Holy Hall—and even the Four Directions Small Thousand World—was a single, unified entity.

The Holy Hall Faction had also made quite a few friends. As someone who had personally witnessed the Thunderlight legend back in the day, Anx Dao couldn’t resist vividly recounting the stories. Without their current spectacular performance, their past achievements in the Small Thousand Realm would have meant nothing.

Now, on the grandest stage of this Small Thousand World, a place teeming with masters, could Wang Meng create another legend?

’What’s his goal?’

’What is he trying to do?’

Inside the Little Holy Hall, Wang Meng and the others were relatively calm. They considered the previous fights a warm-up. As was their custom after each round, they would all point out each other’s mistakes, brainstorm solutions, and refine their Cultivation Techniques. Sometimes there weren’t many faults to find, but it was a habit—correct what’s wrong, and strive for more when you’re right. Hu Jing had always been meticulous when it came to establishing and enforcing these rules.

Even Master Wang had to defer to her on this.

The main tournament began. More and more of the participating cultivators became spectators; they weren’t about to go home just because they lost. A competition of this caliber was full of twists and turns and never went according to anyone’s predictions.

Now, it was time for the real test.

The first one to go up was Zhang Xiaojiang again. His opponent was an expert from the Jiuling Sect, Zhanming, who was also a Bow Cultivator.

Zhanming had also advanced triumphantly all the way. He also possessed the Life Artifact, the Cloud-Piercing Bow, just like Zhang Xiaojiang. This was a duel between two Bow Cultivators.

Zhang Xiaojiang was at the entry stage of the Second Layer of Minor Perfection, while Zhanming was solidly in the Second Layer. The difference in their Elemental Power wasn’t significant, and their Life Artifacts were of the same type. This was going to be a true test of fundamental skill.

Zhang Xiaojiang’s style was all about explosions—indiscriminate bombardment focused on suppression. In contrast, Zhanming and his Cloud-Piercing Bow had so far been defined by calm, single-arrow kills, following the traditional hunter’s path of a Bow Cultivator.

In the Star Alliance’s rankings for Bow Cultivators, Zhanming’s potential was rated in the top ten. Master Zhang, on the other hand, was a complete nobody.

For one Bow Cultivator to face another, attacking recklessly was suicide. Uncharacteristically, Zhang Xiaopang didn’t open with a barrage, instead watching his opponent calmly. Zhanming was also well aware that Zhang Xiaojiang not only had his explosive shots, but also a truly troublesome Earth Escape Skill.

The two Bow Cultivators stood motionless. In the end, it was Zhang Xiaopang who moved first. He was the type who preferred to attack and suppress from the outset; his patience was far inferior to Zhanming’s. The moment Zhang Xiaojiang moved, Zhanming knew he had already won half the battle.

A Life Artifact, especially one cultivated to perfectly match its owner’s path, was a true blessing, capable of maximizing one’s combat strength. The moment Zhang Xiaojiang’s Blast Bow appeared, shafts of light shot out. Elemental Power transformed into deadly force, and the most dangerous part was that the arrows were impossible to dodge—because they could explode.

Zhanming’s eyes remained fixed. BOOM...

The Blast Arrow detonated, filling the air with a shockwave of Powerful Qi. But Zhang Xiaojiang had already dodged. A single, swift arrow slammed into the spot where he had just been, then vanished.

Master Zhang’s Blast Arrow had missed. Without even looking back, he unleashed the full power of his Blast Bow. In Zhang Xiaopang’s own words: ’Doesn’t matter where you are, I’ll just blow you up anyway!’

An indiscriminate, full-coverage bombardment.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The crowd could only watch as Zhang Xiaojiang leaped into the air and unleashed a furious, chaotic bombardment across the Dueling Platform.

The scene was absurdly over-the-top. The surrounding cultivators were stunned into silence. Many had come to watch the main tournament specifically because of the Holy Hall’s growing reputation, curious to see how far they could go. The Holy Hall had subtly become one of the favorites, second only to Purple Dragon and Power King, and was even generating more buzz than Ling Fei.

The entire Dueling Platform erupted in explosions. The cultivators couldn’t help but imagine that if they were his opponent, they would have been blasted to bits by now. It was a completely unrefined, brute-force bombardment, yet its power was immense.

A Bow Cultivator at the Second Layer of Minor Perfection already possessed attack power superior to their peers. Combined with Zhang Xiaojiang’s Earth Escape Skill, he was truly one of the most troublesome opponents to face.

When the barrage ended, Zhang Xiaopang wore a satisfied expression. It was just like the old days; Master Zhang always loved being on the offensive. Of course, if he couldn’t win, he’d just run for his life.

’It seems nothing can stop the Holy Hall’s triumphant advance.’

The Holy Hall Beings merely hovered in silence, watching the situation on the platform. No one cheered.

As the Elemental Power dissipated, a figure walked out. It was Zhanming, his posture tall and straight. He casually brushed a wrinkle from the corner of his sleeve and looked at Zhang Xiaojiang.

"Decent talent. It’s a pity you’re wasting such a fine Life Artifact."

Zhanming had every right to be proud. The Bow Cultivators of the Jiuling Sect were in a class of their own. As a Bow Cultivator, one had to endure the most profound and bitter training, practicing arrow after arrow. There was no shortage of Bow Cultivators who pursued such wide-area attack Magic, but what did that really amount to?

’It’s all just for show.’

Zhang Xiaopang paid no mind to his opponent’s posturing. WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH... He fired another twelve arrows.

This time, Zhanming moved. The Cloud-Piercing Bow appeared in his hands. It was a simple, unadorned bow. It was hard to imagine a Life Artifact, which were typically ornate, having such a plain design.

HUMMM...

The bowstring vibrated, and in an instant, twelve arrows shot forth. Twelve sharp cracks echoed in mid-air—a perfect interception.

He had fired second, but his arrows struck first!

The Bow Cultivators in the audience knew just how difficult that was, yet Zhanming had made it look effortless.

Only then did everyone realize that Zhanming was far superior, whether in terms of his Sect’s techniques or his own fundamental training.

On the battlefield of the Other Shore, there could be flashy victories, but flashiness didn’t equal strength.

True strength was about returning to the fundamentals. It was just as Zhanming demonstrated: steady, calm, and filled with confidence. He could allow his opponent to unleash their full arsenal, find the flaws within their attack, and in doing so, grasp the true meaning of combat.

To learn Insight. To evolve!

Zhang Xiaopang seemed provoked by this display and unleashed another volley of explosive shots, but the result was the same. Zhanming moved as well.

This time, Zhang Xiaojiang’s arrows incorporated the Skill Technique of Integrating Reality and Illusion, but still, not a single one got past Zhanming’s defense.

A few illusory Light Arrows passed right through Zhanming, who didn’t even attempt to dodge. This was complete Insight.

It was the kind of confidence born from immense strength.

Zhang Xiaojiang descended from the sky and landed on the platform. Those who knew him understood what this meant: he had met his match and was preparing to escape at a moment’s notice.

’The Earth Escape Skill is only useful when you’re on the ground, after all.’

The atmosphere grew tense. The Holy Hall Disciples were on the edge of their seats, their hearts in their throats. The main tournament was the true test, but they never expected to face such a powerful opponent right at the start.

’He’s been completely figured out. This is the worst-case scenario. How can he even fight now?’

Zhanming walked toward Zhang Xiaojiang step by step, even lowering his Cloud-Piercing Bow. ’What is he doing?’

Zhang Xiaojiang wasn’t about to pass up an opportunity to attack. He unleashed his Blast Arrows. WHIZZ! WHIZZ! WHIZZ!

Streaks of light shot toward Zhanming. His body swayed almost imperceptibly, and one by one, the Blast Arrows missed. What was most terrifying was that he was altering his pace, perfectly predicting the detonation timing of the arrows.

If they couldn’t detonate at the right moment, the Blast Arrows were completely useless.

It wasn’t just his judgment, but his Body Technique. Look at that dreamlike movement. How could anyone possibly predict that?

This wasn’t for show. In the Jiuling Sect, Zhanming had faced the cruelest training methods since he was a child. It started with one person shooting at him, then two, then ten. They began with blunt wooden arrows, eventually moving on to real ones. He had reached this point step by step, through a body wracked with pain and falling down time and time again.

Attacks?

To him, such attacks were like child’s play. Only this kind of training could forge the strongest of Bow Cultivators.

This method of advancing created the most terrifying kind of pressure. For a Bow Cultivator, closer distance meant greater danger, yet Zhanming seemed completely unaffected.

Any other Bow Cultivator would be trying to create distance, but who had ever seen a Bow Cultivator like this?

Zhang Xiaojiang was finished.

That was the thought on everyone’s mind. A little bit of flashiness was useless. The Star Alliance rankings weren’t a joke. Besides, his "top ten potential" ranking was from three years ago. Who knew how far Zhanming had come since then?

The pressure was now entirely on Zhang Xiaojiang. His Blast Arrows had been completely figured out.

When only ten meters separated them, Zhanming’s Cloud-Piercing Bow moved, and he loosed an arrow.

Zhang Xiaojiang vanished in an instant. Earth Escape Skill!

’So what if you’ve seen through my attacks? If you can’t counter my Earth Escape Skill, it’s all for nothing!’

But watching Zhang Xiaojiang’s disappearing figure, a slight smile touched Zhanming’s lips.

’The Four Directions Small Thousand World is just too small,’ he thought. ’Do they really think the Earth Escape Skill is invincible?’

A muffled grunt sounded from underground. Only then did the cultivators notice that the Cloud-Piercing Arrow had also vanished. All that remained was a single hole in the ground.

Blood poured out from the hole. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com to vote for recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)