Chapter 586 - 195: The Grand Competition Concludes, the Final Rankings
Once this grand competition was over, the sect could bring them into the fold and nurture their talents. By providing them with ample resources and recognition, the sect would forge ever-deeper bonds with them.
By then, there would be no need for any deliberate prodding. These youngsters, as they grew, would naturally take the initiative to protect the Xuanzhen Sect and its interests, becoming its strongest pillars.
...
Below the arena stage.
In the area where the Yunxi Peak disciples were gathered.
Yuwen Mingjue squeezed his way to the front row, his expression incredibly grim as he stared at the arena stage.
He had been desperate to see Chu Yunhai unleash his might and give Yang Jing a ruthless beating, but the current situation was the exact opposite of what he’d expected.
Not only was Yang Jing not the one being suppressed, but Chu Yunhai was being forced back again and again. He had nearly been severely wounded by Yang Jing and looked like he couldn’t hold on much longer.
Yuwen Mingjue’s face grew even darker, so grim it looked like it could drip water. A hint of venom and resentment surfaced in his eyes.
He had never imagined Yang Jing could be so formidable. ’How can Chu Yunhai be so useless?’ he cursed inwardly. ’He can’t even handle Yang Jing!’
Just last night, he had made a special trip to Celestial Derivation Peak to visit Chu Yunhai. Chu Yunhai had sworn to him that he would undoubtedly defeat Yang Jing and teach the man a harsh lesson on the stage, satisfying Yuwen Mingjue’s grudge.
And now? Chu Yunhai himself was on the verge of defeat.
Suddenly, Yuwen Mingjue’s gaze sharpened. He noticed a startling change suddenly overcome Chu Yunhai, who had been on the ropes.
A terrifying aura, far more powerful than before, erupted like a dormant volcano, sweeping across the entire arena stage.
Even Yang Jing, who had been on a relentless offensive, instinctively halted and stared warily at Chu Yunhai.
Yuwen Mingjue’s eyes lit up, and the dark expression on his face mostly vanished as realization dawned on him.
’I knew it! How could Chu Yunhai possibly lose to Yang Jing? Of course he had a trump card hidden away!’
...
Elsewhere.
Among the crowd of Lingxi Peak disciples, Sun Ningxiang stood on her tiptoes, her gaze fixed on Yang Jing’s figure on the stage. Her hands were unconsciously clenched into tight fists.
Her cultivation was still low, stuck at the Peak of Dark Energy Realm. She couldn’t clearly perceive the changes in the auras of the two combatants like the more powerful senior disciples could, so her understanding of the battle was neither immediate nor complete.
However, she could quickly pick up on the shifting tides of the battle from the discussions of the disciples around her.
"What is that aura coming from Chu Yunhai? It’s so powerful!"
"Yang Jing’s in danger! Chu Yunhai was holding back a lot of his true strength!"
Hearing the gasps of alarm and worry erupting all around her, Sun Ningxiang’s heart instantly clenched.
She knew the situation now seemed unfavorable for Yang Jing, which made her even more worried. Her heart leaped into her throat, and her breathing grew ragged.
...
On the arena stage.
Yang Jing’s expression was solemn, his gaze as sharp as a hawk’s, fixed intently on Chu Yunhai.
He hadn’t let his guard down for a single moment.
Even when he’d had the absolute upper hand, forcing Chu Yunhai into a constant retreat, he had remained vigilant. He knew that as the top name on the Hidden Dragon List, Chu Yunhai couldn’t possibly have so few tricks.
Now, seeing Chu Yunhai reveal such an astonishing trump card, Yang Jing’s heart sank despite having been mentally prepared. An intense sense of danger washed over him like a tidal wave.
Chu Yunhai felt the power swelling within him. His qi and blood surged like a tidal bore, and even his meridians seemed to burn hot.
His gaze fell upon Yang Jing, a complex mix of emotions churning within him.
There was indignation, shock, and a sliver of the ferocity that comes from being cornered.
In fact, earlier in the year, he had accidentally awakened his War Body during a life-or-death trial.
This special constitution was his greatest secret, his ultimate trump card. Chu Yunhai would never have revealed it unless he had absolutely no other choice.
This time, however, faced with Yang Jing’s relentless pressure, he had been forced to reveal it.
Chu Yunhai had been stuck at the Peak of Qi Eating Realm for a long time, the bottleneck proving as unbreachable as an iron wall.
Breaking through to the Qi Absorption Realm was still immensely difficult to achieve in a short period, even for someone with his outstanding talent and a special constitution like a War Body.
And this Fushan Grand Competition was his best chance.
He had to take first place in the Fushan Grand Competition. Only by using the sect’s reward, the Yunqiao Jade Marrow, along with the Divine Flame Fruit and other treasures he would soon acquire, could he hope to shatter his bottleneck in one fell swoop and step into the Qi Absorption Realm.
If he succeeded, his strength would skyrocket, and he would even be qualified to challenge the position of Celestial Derivation Peak’s lead disciple.
Furthermore, in the upcoming Jintai Grand Competition, he could truly rank among the top prodigies of Jintai Prefecture’s five great sects and make a name for himself throughout the entire prefecture.
Therefore, no matter what, Chu Yunhai would not allow himself to lose this fight!
A look of utter resolve flashed in Chu Yunhai’s eyes. With a low roar, he pushed the power of his War Body to its absolute limit.
The Inner Qi in his body instantly began to boil, surging and churning like a river bursting its banks as it coursed wildly through his meridians.
He stomped his foot hard against the ground. His body shot forward like an unsheathed sword, carrying an unstoppable momentum. He fully activated his Refining Gang Palm, the wind from the strike whistling with a sharp, air-rending sound as he charged ferociously toward Yang Jing.
In that instant, his strength, speed, and even the sheer volume of his Inner Qi all increased by a significant degree. His overall power skyrocketed, and the aura emanating from him was terrifying to the extreme.