Chapter 1697: Trapped by His Own Scheme
Violent thunder ran rampant across the arena.
Ye Ting laughed maniacally, convinced that Ling Feng was already doomed.
"What's going on?"
Suddenly, Ye Ting's expression changed.
He stared fixedly at Ling Feng, but for some inexplicable reason, it seemed as though Ling Feng's position had shifted.
"Reality Reversal!"
"Dream Illusion Rule!"
Two brilliant rays burst simultaneously from Ling Feng's eyes, striking Ye Ting with perfect accuracy.
Under the interference of the Dream Illusion Rule, Ye Ting failed to realize that the heaven and earth as he perceived them had been completely inverted.
As a result, to the astonishment of everyone watching, Ye Ting suddenly redirected his own Heavenly Punishment Spear and hurled it toward himself.
Even the Absolute Execution domain began targeting its own master.
In an instant, flesh split open across Ye Ting's body, blood spraying everywhere.
Yet he remained completely unaware, shouting excitedly, "Hahaha! Ling Feng, let's see if you can survive this!"
The entire audience was dumbfounded.
"What's wrong with Ye Ting?"
"Is he committing suicide?"
"Has he started sleepwalking in broad daylight?"
Only a handful of cultivators noticed the strange light in Ling Feng's eyes.
"Soul Dao secret art!"
"My heavens, Ling Feng is also proficient in Soul Dao!"
"He cultivates Qi, Body Refinement, and Soul Dao simultaneously!"
"This guy cultivates all three paths!"
...
On the elders' platform, the elders of Wulei Sacred Land could no longer remain seated.
Ye Ting had completely fallen into disaster.
Meanwhile, the three Hall Masters of Dongling Immortal Pool secretly rejoiced.
Ye Ting was suffering the consequences of his own actions.
As the saying went, Those who bring calamity upon themselves cannot be saved.
...
At the summit of the sacred mountain, Cangwu Divine General's eyelids twitched.
"It's the Dream Illusion Rule, isn't it?"
"That boy is simply too monstrous."
"Even for the Jiuli Divine Clan, this is a little excessive."
The Grand Patriarch's expression grew solemn.
"He is likely a direct descendant of the Jiuli Divine Clan."
After a pause, he continued, "Once the tournament ends, Cangwu, convey our clan's goodwill to that young man."
"If we can establish friendly relations with the Jiuli Divine Clan, it would benefit us greatly."
"Yes."
Cangwu Divine General nodded.
The Heaven-Sealing Clan stood aloof from the world.
Even powers such as Dongling Immortal Pool meant little to them.
But the Jiuli Divine Clan was different.
They were the absolute overlords of the Central Origin Region—a true divine race.
Compared to them, the Heaven-Sealing Clan's demi-divine bloodline was worlds apart.
---
Back on the arena.
Only when the Heavenly Punishment Spear was right before his face did Ye Ting finally snap back to reality.
"W-What is happening?"
Feeling the terrifying pressure of the spear, Ye Ting nearly lost his soul in fright.
He had clearly been controlling the spear to attack Ling Feng!
"You... How is this possible?!"
Panic completely overtook him.
Only now did he realize that he had fallen into an illusion.
Unfortunately, it was far too late.
"There's nothing impossible about it."
Ling Feng smiled faintly.
Stretching his arm, his bones crackled loudly.
The blood essence that had seeped from his skin flowed back into his body through his pores.
Moments ago he had appeared battered and bloody.
Now he was completely restored.
Only then did everyone realize—
Ling Feng had been acting the entire time.
His goal had been to focus all of Ye Ting's attention onto himself.
Against someone of Ye Ting's caliber, the Nightmare Heart Technique would not have succeeded unless Ye Ting's concentration was completely occupied.
And now...
Ye Ting had fallen into an abyss from which there was no return.
---
In panic, Ye Ting hurriedly dispelled the Absolute Execution force field.
But the Heavenly Punishment Spear was already upon him.
The horrifying power could only be endured by its creator.
BOOM!
Crackle! Crackle!
Despite frantically weakening the spear's power, the thunder spear still pierced straight through his chest.
Most of his body was charred black.
Thick smoke rose from him as he plummeted heavily onto the arena floor.
For a brief moment, silence filled the venue.
Then—
The crowd erupted.
Everyone stared in disbelief.
Some were shocked.
Others were exhilarated.
The mighty Ye Ting had finally been defeated.
---
Whoosh!
Ling Feng instantly appeared beside the fallen Ye Ting and grabbed him by the collar.
Ye Ting had barely survived after reducing the spear's power.
But Ling Feng clearly had no intention of letting him off so easily.
"Y-You... what are you doing?"
Ye Ting looked at Ling Feng with fear.
The look in Ling Feng's eyes gave him a terrible premonition.
"You're only at your current cultivation level, yet you can control Nine Heavens Punishment Lightning and even create the Heavenly Punishment Thunder Domain."
"I found that rather suspicious."
Ling Feng's eyes narrowed coldly.
"But if there's a supreme thunder treasure hidden inside your body, then everything makes sense."
His palm slammed directly onto Ye Ting's dantian.
"No!"
"You madman!"
"What are you trying to do?!"
Ye Ting completely panicked.
Ling Feng's guess was correct.
His rise to prominence had indeed come from a thunder-attributed treasure:
The Thunder Soul Divine Crystal.
It was because of this treasure that he had soared to become the number one genius of Wulei Sacred Land.
It had become his natal treasure.
His very foundation.
And now, judging from Ling Feng's intentions—
He wanted to seize it.
---
"Conveniently enough, I cultivate thunder as well."
"How about lending me this treasure for a few days?"
A cruel smile appeared on Ling Feng's face.
Thunder energy surged through his body, transforming into a pure current of lightning.
Then he began forcibly dragging the Thunder Soul Divine Crystal out from the deepest part of Ye Ting's dantian.
"AHHH!"
"My Thunder Soul Divine Crystal!"
"Stop!"
"STOP!"
Ye Ting shrieked in terror.
He could clearly feel the crystal being pulled out under Ling Feng's influence.
This was the source of everything he possessed.
With the Thunder Soul Divine Crystal, he was considered a top-tier genius.
Without it?
At best, he would merely be an above-average talent.
The thought of losing it filled him with despair.