Chapter 171 - 165: Unavoidable
Yu Changsheng knew this day would come. He and Huang Suyu were bound to face each other sooner or later.
He had to admit that Huang Suyu put considerable pressure on him. Especially now. With his Foundation Establishment cultivation and Minor Sword Intent, Huang Suyu was the strongest opponent of his generation that Yu Changsheng had ever faced.
As for Huang Suyu, he had never imagined that the boy he’d once dismissed—someone he could have crushed like an ant—would now stand before him like this.
But it didn’t matter. What was important was that he would be the one to end this grudge himself.
The crowd of spectators silently backed away, giving the two more space. Miao Wenlun’s face was etched with worry. He hesitated, wondering if he should help Yu Changsheng, but after the latter shot him a look, he dismissed the thought, a wave of relief washing over him.
As fellow disciples of Beast Taming Peak, they were supposed to advance and retreat together—that’s what they had agreed upon before coming here. But in the current situation, not only was this clearly a private grudge between Yu Changsheng and Huang Suyu, but he also felt that if he rashly intervened, the outcome wouldn’t be any better for him.
Miao Wenlun never knew there was such a deep-seated grudge between Yu Changsheng and Huang Suyu. If he had, he probably wouldn’t have so easily promised Yu Changsheng that they would face everything together.
The Elders watching from the outside world were already paying special attention to Yu Changsheng and Huang Suyu, so they were all somewhat surprised to see the two now facing off.
"This... I never expected such a grudge between Yu Changsheng and Huang Suyu. It looks like it won’t end until one of them is dead. Should we stop them?"
Elder Hai asked hesitantly.
"Normally, we wouldn’t interfere in the trial. But from the looks of it, this fight will be to the death. It would be one thing if they were insignificant disciples, but both of them are exceptionally talented. Losing either one is not an outcome we wish to see."
Elder Li was the first to offer his opinion, shaking his head as he said:
"No. You all heard them. There is an irresolvable private grudge between Yu Changsheng and Huang Suyu. If we rashly intervene, it will only make things worse for both of them, and their hatred will only deepen. It’s better to let them vent it all now and, as they said, settle everything once and for all."
"But what if something happens to one of them?"
Yun Hejing said through gritted teeth, her face filled with worry.
Elder Li chuckled, stroking his beard as he spoke in a thoughtful tone, "With us present, do you truly worry about casualties? After a winner is decided, we will naturally intervene to prevent either of them from falling."
"Besides, they both have Teleportation Jade Tubes. If things go south, won’t they just teleport out? And Huang Suyu is right—without this battle, his Jian Xin will be tarnished, and his future path will be limited."
Although Elder Li didn’t say it outright, his words betrayed a clear lack of confidence in Yu Changsheng’s chances. In truth, this was what most of them were thinking.
Yu Changsheng had been impressive, but in their minds, he was at best on the same level as Gu Zhen. There was still a considerable gap between him and Huang Suyu.
And when Huang Suyu revealed his Minor Sword Intent, that gap seemed to widen infinitely. Elder Li had completely made up his mind to take Huang Suyu as his disciple, so his words were, overtly and covertly, spoken for Huang Suyu’s benefit.
Seeing this, Yun Hejing didn’t press the matter further. She simply watched in silence, ready to intervene the moment something went wrong.
All that was left was to silently pray for Yu Changsheng in her heart.
’Don’t be stubborn. If you’re in danger, crush the Jade Tube and get out immediately...’
Clearly, she didn’t have much faith in Yu Changsheng winning this fight either.
What she didn’t know was that someone had already tampered with Yu Changsheng’s Jade Tube. Yu Changsheng had tried it; the teleportation function didn’t work at all.
...
Above the seven-thousandth step, the pressure was already at the limit for an ordinary disciple. Even Foundation Establishment Cultivators felt immense pressure here and could not linger for long.
But Yu Changsheng and Huang Suyu seemed completely unfazed by the environment. Amid an explosion of Sword Intent, Huang Suyu made the first move. He took a single step, and his Sword Intent erupted, heaven-shaking and unstoppable. His aura suppressed the surroundings, changing the very color of the sky as if countless bolts of Celestial Thunder were suddenly echoing around them.
Yu Changsheng’s expression changed. With a wave of his hand, the Red Refining Snake, Colorful Star Deer, and Golden-Winged Eagle appeared as he rapidly retreated.
The spectators couldn’t even react; they weren’t qualified to perceive Huang Suyu’s speed. Only Yu Changsheng, relying on his powerful Divine Sense, managed to snap his head up and barely make out Huang Suyu’s movements.
But while his Divine Sense could see, his body couldn’t necessarily react. At this moment, Yu Changsheng could only sense that Huang Suyu had moved, and just in the nick of time, the Red-Training Snake Beast Shadow appeared to block for him.
In the end, he had only just achieved Physical Foundation Establishment and lacked the corresponding Foundation Establishment cultivation to coordinate it. He still needed time to adapt before he could unleash the full power of his Foundation Establishment Body.
What was worse, the Minor Sword Intent significantly suppressed Yu Changsheng’s Divine Sense. Just from a brief exposure, he felt his Sea of Consciousness ripple and a stabbing pain spread through his mind.
Ultimately, a dominant Divine Sense without the corresponding cultivation to support and utilize it was incomplete.
And now, even as Yu Changsheng’s qi, blood, and cultivation surged to form the Red-Training Snake Beast Shadow, it lasted for only a moment. The Beast Shadow let out a mournful cry and collapsed as Huang Suyu appeared directly in front of him.
In the next instant, an unbelievably terrifying shockwave, world-shaking and unstoppable, erupted before his eyes, threatening to obliterate everything.
A thunderous BOOM echoed through the clouds. Yu Changsheng’s whole body shook violently, and he was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string. His face was pale and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but he had no other injuries.
The armor formed by his surging qi and blood had blocked Huang Suyu’s probing attack.
Huang Suyu’s eyes lit up. He sneered, "I was wondering what you were relying on. Interesting. So it’s Physical Foundation Establishment. Not bad at all. I’d like to see how long you can hold out."
As he spoke, Huang Suyu moved again, but he didn’t use his sword. It seemed that, to him, dealing with Yu Changsheng didn’t even warrant drawing his blade.
The Red Refining Snake roared and slammed its body toward Huang Suyu. The Golden-Winged Eagle flew low, its wings continuously launching Wind Blades. The Colorful Star Deer also let out a cry to the heavens before stomping heavily toward Huang Suyu.
Huang Suyu frowned. His hands moved like swords, slashing down fiercely.
In the next instant, a purple sword blade materialized in midair, annihilating countless Wind Blades before slashing fiercely toward the Golden-Winged Eagle!
A purple radiance bloomed, the Sword Light world-shatteringly brilliant. The Golden-Winged Eagle shrieked in pain. At the critical moment, its wings underwent Petrification as countless feathers fell away.