Chapter 547 - 530: Pride
Now in the quarter-finals, all the prodigies were beginning to reveal their true strength. No matter how ostentatious their earlier performances had been, none of it mattered anymore. True power and foundation had to be measured against a worthy opponent.
The so-called invincible Dragon Race had suffered their first, spectacular defeat.
And Lin Jinghao had proven his strength—the strength of the one chosen by Vast Sea, the heir to the number one sect of Human Cultivators.
Without a doubt, Lin Jinghao would put immense pressure on the remaining Cultivators.
How much of his strength had Lin Jinghao even used against the Dragon Race?
’The Nine Luminaries Cyan Dragon Body?’
Wang Meng, Mingren, Jii Wanli, and the others wore intrigued expressions. Clearly, the Nine Luminaries Cyan Dragon Body didn’t intimidate them; it only ignited their will to fight.
It seemed no one had wasted the past three years. The real show was only just beginning.
The second match: Jii Wanli of the Ten Thousand Spirits Sect versus Suo Ming of the Holy Hall.
Suo Ming possessed the ultimate Skill Technique of a Body Cultivator: the Undying Body. Did Jii Wanli have a way to counter it?
Yang Ying and the others instantly grew tense. Everyone knew exactly what was at stake in every battle at this stage.
Thunderbolt was even more nervous. Once, he had been the one instructing this quiet, overlooked disciple. Now, Suo Ming had far surpassed him.
The Undying Body, the strongest Skill Technique of a Body Cultivator, combined with the Forbidden Hammer—this was going to be a real fight!
Psychologically, Suo Ming also had the advantage. As the underdog challenging the favorite, all he had to do was perform. The pressure was all on Jii Wanli.
The Holy Hall Beings were brimming with confidence, mainly due to Ma Tian’Er’s timely arrival. The restorative power of the Tree of Life was incomparable to any Pill. Suo Ming was undoubtedly at the absolute peak of his confidence and strength.
And as for willpower, that went without saying. For a Holy Hall Disciple to have made it this far, nothing could break their will.
Suo Ming took the stage, carrying his Forbidden Hammer, which pulsed with a red light. He looked majestic and imposing. The Forbidden Hammer was enough to strike fear into the hearts of Talisman Cultivators and Sword Cultivators alike. Paired with the Undying Body, he was the kind of opponent that would give anyone a headache.
Suo Ming’s opponent was Jii Wanli, possessor of the Golden Wing Roc Body, and known as the fastest among all Human Cultivators.
This was a contest of speed versus power. Although Jii Wanli’s fame was great and his strength immense, he was bound to have a hard time against such a tenacious opponent as Suo Ming.
The Cultivators were all abuzz, eagerly awaiting the start of the battle. It was expected to be a grueling war of attrition. The key was whether Jii Wanli could find Suo Ming’s Vital Point. For Suo Ming, it was a question of whether he could wear Jii Wanli out.
Both had a chance!
The crushing defeat in the previous match didn’t seem to have dampened the Dragon Emperor’s spirits. His expression remained calm. By choosing to engage with the mortal world, the Dragon Emperor had clearly prepared himself for such outcomes.
The Dragon Race’s arrogance had led them to withdraw from competition. But without crisis, how could they evolve?
Although humans had a unique advantage, they used it to compensate for their weaknesses. What humans could do, the Dragon Race could do as well.
It was just that in the past, the Dragon Race had been too disdainful to try. Now, they needed to change.
And change inevitably brought growing pains.
When Celestial Dragon was carried away, the looks on Linglong’s and Purple Dragon’s faces were clearly pained, as if they couldn’t accept what had happened.
But this was the price of growth.
Nothing is invincible.
Listening to the discussions of the nearby Sect Leaders, a faint smile touched the lips of the Extreme Dao Immortal Venerable.
’Is the Star Alliance so powerful? Truly unified?’
’Since ancient times, one truth has always held: he who laughs last, laughs best.’
Facing Jii Wanli, Suo Ming naturally didn’t dare to be careless. This was one of the few people his leader had identified as a threat. He had to give it his all.
Suo Ming was ready.
Jii Wanli smiled faintly. "Are you ready? I’m starting, then."
He then walked toward Suo Ming step by step, his footfalls light and rhythmic.
The atmosphere instantly grew suffocatingly tense. The more relaxed Jii Wanli appeared, the more dangerous the situation was.
How would Jii Wanli begin? He had to be wary of the Forbidden Hammer, which could interfere with his Magic—that was true even for his Golden Wing Roc Body.
Jii Wanli made his move.
A single palm strike sliced in between Suo Ming’s Dual Hammers. The hammers seemed to be closing, but they were too late.
Suo Ming’s body swayed, freezing for an instant.
BOOM...
Suo Ming collapsed.
All the Cultivators who had been expecting a grueling battle were dumbfounded. What just happened???
A single, seemingly casual palm strike had taken down the Undying Body?
The Cultivators everywhere burst into an uproar. The problem was, many of them had seen Suo Ming’s fight against Dangtian and his terrifying Undying Body... ’Damn, could it be that his serious injuries haven’t healed?’
’But even so, he shouldn’t have been knocked down by a palm strike that looked like something even we could handle.’
"Jii Wanli of the Ten Thousand Spirits Sect is victorious."
Even many of the Cultivators in Sky City were abuzz with discussion, unsure of what had just happened. Only the Sect Leaders remained silent and composed.
Facing the clamorous arena, Vast Sea gestured for silence. "In that last attack, Jii Wanli actually delivered a total of one hundred and ninety-eight palm strikes. His speed was so immense that it created the illusion of a single blow."
"Nothing is indestructible; only speed is unbreakable," Jii Wanli said with a faint smile.
His tone was humble, but his words sent a shockwave through the other Cultivators.
Lin Jinghao had just demonstrated the overwhelming power of the Nine Luminaries Cyan Dragon, and now, in the second match, Jii Wanli had unceremoniously fired back with a demonstration of his own.
Nothing is indestructible; only speed is unbreakable!
Suo Ming’s Undying Body was certainly formidable, especially its ability to withstand continuous attacks and wars of attrition. However, the power generated by Jii Wanli’s High-Frequency Burst Attack completely exceeded any normal defensive capacity. Suo Ming’s Undying Body was shattered before it could even endure half the blows.
The manner of victory was unexpected, but the result itself was not. At this level of competition, any outcome was possible. Still, no one had anticipated Jii Wanli to be quite so tyrannical. A sense of pity for Suo Ming was unavoidable.
But this was only the beginning. There were more fights to come!
Jii Wanli advanced, not disappointing the supporters of the Golden-Winged Roc King in the slightest.
The third match: Bu Qingyun of the Cyan Cloud Sect versus Zhou Qian of the Holy Hall.
It really was starting to feel like the Holy Hall against the world.
Compared to the persistence of a Classical Saint Cultivator like Zhou Qian, Bu Qingyun’s journey to this stage had been far less conspicuous, maintaining the calm and composure of a classical Cultivator.
Just standing there, he exuded a reassuring presence.
Zhou Qian didn’t have much to say. Facing Bu Qingyun, his only chance lay with his Soul Balance Holy Statue.
Judging by the distance between them, Bu Qingyun didn’t seem concerned about it.
The battle began.
Zhou Qian successfully summoned his Soul Balance Holy Statue, causing the Holy Hall Disciples to breathe a huge sigh of relief.
A good start is half the battle.
Bu Qingyun stood with calm resolve, allowing the balance to shift. But just then, a sliver of doubt appeared in Zhou Qian’s mind.
The Balance Holy Statue measured the power of the soul, searching for its weaknesses.
Bu Qingyun was calm, composed, and powerful. His will had no flaws.
’And from the previous battles, the Soul Balance Holy Statue specializes in attacking the weaknesses of human nature. What happens if someone is truly fearless?’
Bu Qingyun’s serenity was like an invisible force.
The Soul Balance Holy Statue hesitated. Clearly, there were no openings in its opponent’s power.
Unable to find a specific weakness, it could only judge the overall quality of his soul.
Bu Qingyun remained composed, watching his side of the balance sink little by little.
As the Sect Leader’s Disciple of the Cyan Cloud Sect, he represented not only his sect but also the final bastion of the Classical Sword Cultivators.
He was proud of this. He lived for this.
A flash of light, and the soul judgment failed. Zhou Qian had locked himself in his own technique.
Bu Qingyun looked at Zhou Qian and said coolly, "In this world, it’s not only the Holy Hall Disciples who have conviction."
The fact that the Holy Hall had five members in the quarter-finals seemed to have drawn the ire of the masses.
Bu Qingyun of the Cyan Cloud Sect is victorious.
*(The battle is heating up! I’m desperately in need of a monthly ticket, thank you!) (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)*