Chapter 575 - 193: All Parties Gather, the Day of the Finals
But when her thoughts turned to the final match tomorrow, the smile in Sun Ningxiang’s eyes faded, replaced by a touch of worry.
’My junior brother is formidable, yes, but his opponent is Chu Yunhai.’
Chu Yunhai had held the top spot on the Hidden Dragon List for many years. He was a legendary figure, renowned throughout the Xuanzhen Sect and even the entire Jintai Prefecture as a top-tier prodigy whose strength was unfathomable.
’Tomorrow’s duel is going to be incredibly dangerous and difficult.’
....
As evening fell, the afterglow of the setting sun dyed the mountains of Celestial Derivation Peak red.
In a spacious courtyard halfway up the peak, the bluestone-paved ground was immaculate. In a corner of the yard, an old locust tree’s myriad branches drooped, swaying gently in the wind.
Chu Yunhai stood under the tree with his hands clasped behind his back. His blue robes fluttered in the evening breeze, his expression as serene as ever, as if the final battle tomorrow was the furthest thing from his mind.
Yuwen Mingjue stood respectfully about three steps to his side, his head slightly bowed. His expression was fawning, a complete transformation from the sullen man he’d been during the day.
After a moment of silence, Chu Yunhai spoke first, his voice devoid of any emotion. "What brings you here?"
Yuwen Mingjue quickly bowed and replied respectfully, "I came to update you on the Divine Flame Fruit, Senior Brother Chu. The fruit is on its way to Jintai Prefecture and should arrive in five days, barring any unforeseen circumstances. As soon as it gets here, I will deliver it to you personally."
At the mention of the three words "Divine Flame Fruit," Chu Yunhai’s impassive expression finally softened. He gave a slight nod and uttered a single word: "Good."
Yuwen Mingjue noticed the change in Chu Yunhai’s expression and breathed a silent sigh of relief. He knew the prodigy’s mood had finally improved a little.
He cautiously glanced up at Chu Yunhai and asked, choosing his words carefully, "Senior Brother Chu, your final battle with that Yang Jing is tomorrow, so I won’t disturb your training any longer. I was just wondering... are you confident you can defeat him?"
Chu Yunhai’s brow furrowed at the question. His indifferent gaze swept over Yuwen Mingjue, carrying a hint of imperceptible coldness. "In the arena, the tide of battle can turn in an instant. No one can say for certain who will win or lose."
Yuwen Mingjue’s heart skipped a beat, his expression tightening. ’Could it be that even Senior Brother Chu isn’t confident he can beat Yang Jing? Has Yang Jing’s power really reached such a terrifying level?’
Just as his mind was reeling, Chu Yunhai’s voice sounded again, now laced with an unshakable confidence. "However, you can rest assured. I have a certain degree of confidence. I promised you I would teach Yang Jing a lesson in the arena. Since I’ve given you my word, I will not go back on it."
Yuwen Mingjue was overjoyed to hear this. The anxiety that had gripped him instantly vanished.
’He knew it. Senior Brother Chu was no ordinary man. His words might have sounded modest, but they were a guarantee of victory.’
The thought of Chu Yunhai giving Yang Jing a harsh lesson in the arena tomorrow brought a look of excitement to Yuwen Mingjue’s face, and he found himself filled with eager anticipation.
...
On Lingxi Peak, the area with the Training Rooms halfway up the mountain was quiet. Most of the disciples had already left, and only a few of the rooms were still occupied.
Inside a Level C Training Room, Yang Jing was focused on cultivating the Mountain-Breaking Seal.
He was bare from the waist up, his bronze skin covered in fine beads of sweat. Within his Dantian, three streams of Inner Qi had completely fused, transforming into a formidable power that was both unyielding and pliable, surging through his meridians.
As he circulated the Heart Method, his fists cut through the air, each movement steady and powerful. The wind generated by his punches whistled, carrying the faint sound of metal striking stone.
At times, he would throw a punch, the force behind it as heavy as a mountain, seemingly capable of denting the very air before him.
At others, he would turn and spin, a flurry of fist-shadows that combined raw power with a trace of the agility from the River-Crossing Technique.
His figure weaved back and forth across the Training Room. With every footfall, the bluestone slabs on the floor trembled slightly.
Each punch served to temper his fused Inner Qi, allowing him to acclimate to this explosive increase in his strength.
Now that Yang Jing had advanced his River-Crossing Technique to the Qi Eating Realm, he had virtually no weaknesses.
For offense, he had the fierce and overwhelming power of the Mountain-Breaking Seal.
For defense, he had the unbreakable Copper Skin Iron Bone of the Indestructible True Skill.
For speed and movement, his Body Technique, enhanced by the nimble swiftness of the River-Crossing Technique, allowed him to match any young prodigy in the same realm.
With these three skills combined, his power had reached a new, formidable height, leaving him with almost no discernible flaws.
Yang Jing continued to throw punches in the Training Room. Sweat dripped from his chin, splattering on the floor and forming small dark spots.
’I know I can’t keep training multiple martial arts at once like I used to,’ he thought. ’It just scatters my focus.’
’The best approach is to first advance the Mountain-Breaking Seal to the Qi Absorption Realm and build a more solid foundation. After that, I can go back to training the Indestructible True Skill and the River-Crossing Technique. My training efficiency will be several times faster then.’
...
「The night grew deep.」
Deep within Jintai Prefecture City, the Hong Family Mansion was brightly lit.
As the foremost of Jintai Prefecture’s three great families, the Hong Mansion was exceptionally grand. Its soaring, upturned eaves and intricately carved beams spoke volumes of the clan’s profound heritage.
Deep within the mansion, in a study where sandalwood incense smoke curled lazily into the air, sat Patriarch Hong, Hong Shixian, behind his desk.
He was a man in his fifties with a dignified mien. His eyes were sharp and spirited, and he possessed an air of natural authority.
Seated in a chair across from the desk was the Hong Family Grand Elder, a solemn-faced man with a full head of white hair and a matching beard.
The Hong Family Grand Elder was briefing Hong Shixian on the latest developments from the Xuanzhen Sect’s Fushan Grand Competition.
He recounted every detail with perfect clarity: from Yang Jing’s unstoppable advance through the tournament, to his victories over Lu Shaohua and Bai Ziyu to reach the finals, and finally, to the impending climactic duel against Chu Yunhai tomorrow.