Chapter 123: The Strong Enemy Remains
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"Lingxian Hall! Ye! Qing! Han!"
Ye Qinghan descended into the center of the arena. Today's opponent…
Shangguan Rou?
Ye Qinghan's willow brows furrowed slightly. While she had anticipated facing Shangguan Rou eventually, wasn't today a bit too soon?
It was no secret that Shangguan Rou was a pre-determined quarterfinalist. Yet her sudden appearance to challenge Ye Qinghan now felt distinctly off.
Considering her master's suspicions and Shangguan Rou's previous warnings, she couldn't help but take this seriously.
The Vajra Ring and Sword Case were simultaneously drawn. The Vajra Ring was stored in her spiritual platform, while the Sword Case slammed to the ground at her feet, poised for action!
"And on the other side—the First Disciple of the Celestial Path Pavilion! Shangguan Rou!"
Truthfully, Dongfang Jue paid little attention to the arena. She genuinely didn't believe any mortal could surpass Ye Qinghan!
Yet upon hearing Shangguan Rou's name, her gaze involuntarily turned toward the arena. Was this Master Cheng's move?
Shangguan Rou wore a crimson gown, resembling a bride, with an empty scabbard strapped to her back as she walked slowly forward.
"Good morning, Miss Qinghan."
"Good morning too, Sister Shangguan."
The moment Su Cheng saw that empty scabbard, he froze in shock!
"Shiyao, quickly address her as senior sister!"
Su Cheng was at a loss. How could this be possible? This weapon didn't belong in this world! It was a damn Authority Weapon!
And that Blade of Judgment—it belonged to Su Cheng's former comrade-in-arms! It shouldn't exist in this world!
Dongfang Jue was also a bit dazed, staring blankly at Su Cheng's flustered expression—an expression she had never seen before.
Panic—it had no place on the sharply defined features of Master Su. Most of the time, the only thing that might make this master appear slightly flustered was his two disciples causing trouble again.
But today, this panic carried a hint of impatience and resentment!
"Senior Sister! Master…"
Her voice was drowned out by the crowd. The showdown between the two championship favorites drew a packed house, the roar of the crowd deafening. Ye Qinghan didn't hear Li Shiyao's call.
"Husband, what's wrong?" Yu Lan was bewildered by Su Cheng's agitation. Even when facing the Old Dragon King, the man had never shown fear—so why this look now?
What was wrong with that woman named Shangguan Rou?
"Bring Qinghan back! Yu Lan, hurry and bring Qinghan back!"
But it was too late. Ye Qinghan had already completed his bow and was no longer looking this way.
Shangguan Rou seemed to draw a flaming blade from the void, while Ye Qinghan continued to joke…
"Sis, that blade looks awesome, but playing with fire might make you wet the bed."
"This blade was bestowed by my master. Qinghan, beware." After her period of seclusion, Shangguan Rou appeared far more composed than Ye Qinghan.
In an instant, the two clashed!
Ye Qinghan showed no haste, casually drawing a celestial sword before leaping forward. From her perspective, Shangguan Rou merely radiated a stronger aura; her cultivation hadn't significantly changed since their last encounter.
Yet she never imagined that in the very instant their blades clashed—in the mere moment of contact—the low-grade immortal flying sword shattered as easily as paper!
Ye Qinghan did not know that this was the authority capable of severing all things in the world. Without such power, how could there be any talk of punishment?
In Su Cheng's memory, that blazing flame could ignite the heavens; this blade could shatter hope!
In that very instant, Shangguan Rou became the only person to injure Ye Qinghan since the martial contest began!
Even as Ye Qinghan sensed something amiss with the blade, it was already too late to pull away!
The blade tore a gash through his uniform, slicing from his left shoulder to his chest. This was the first time Ye Qinghan had suffered such a severe injury since becoming a disciple!
Even when his master spanked him, it hadn't hurt this much!
"Husband…" Yu Lan's eyes were fixed on the arena as her small hand reached beside her, only to feel the hem of a long robe brush against her wrist, stirring a faint breeze.
She opened her mouth to speak, but Su Cheng had already leaped forward, determined to break through the formation and rescue Ye Qinghan!
Dongfang Jue watched Su Cheng leap forward, followed closely by Yu Lan, yet remained unperturbed. He glanced at Li Shiyu, who stood nearby with an expressionless face, and asked.
"Shiyu, aren't you going to help?"
Li Shiyu took a bite of her apple and replied nonchalantly, "No."
"Why not?"
Li Shiyu turned her head, her expression once again one of looking at a fool.
"Because my master is here."
Meanwhile, Su Cheng, desperate to rescue his disciple, was intercepted—by none other than the opposing master himself: Cheng Liang, the head of the Heavenly Dao Pavilion, the world’s protagonist, the chosen one, the son of destiny.
"Master Su, it's merely a friendly sparring match. I've already instructed Rou'er not to harm Miss Chen Meng."
Cheng Liang descended from the heavens clad in white, followed by several Ling Mountain powerhouses and sect elders—clearly, this had been planned in advance!
Some Su Cheng recognized, others he did not. Their cultivation levels ranged between the Soul Transformation Stage and Fusion stages…
Cheng Liang was somewhat taken aback by Shangguan Rou's performance. He had only intended to test her, but never expected the weapon and sword technique bestowed by that fox spirit to wield such divine might!
Judging by its power, it was most likely a top-tier immortal-grade treasure!
"We're not competing anymore! I'll go tell Qinghan to concede, okay?"
Su Cheng had considered countless possibilities, even anticipating that Cheng Liang might resort to underhanded tactics, and had prepared countermeasures for each. Yet he never imagined Shangguan Rou would have her own secret weapon!
"Master Su, are you taking Ling Mountain's martial contest too lightly?"
These words came from Ling Mountain's Fourth Elder, whose cultivation and strength rivaled Cheng Liang's. Possessing two immortal-grade treasures, his power was formidable indeed!
As he spoke, several powerful figures from Ling Mountain stepped forward in unison, their presence intended to intimidate!
Just as Su Cheng was about to speak, Yu Lan stepped forward!
Yulan emerged from behind Su Cheng, dragging an imperial weapon taller than Su Cheng himself, slowly stepping into view!
The dragon's aura instantly filled the entire arena. Yu Lan, already possessing a thousand years of cultivation and wielding the Spirit Pearl left by the Old Dragon King, stood far above everyone else in power!
This overwhelming pressure sent a chill through the crowd, leaving them all wondering who this little girl truly was!
"Does your Ling Mountain sect think too highly of itself?!"
On the arena, Ye Qinghan snapped back to her senses, immediately casting divine arts to heal her wounds, too preoccupied to heed the commotion outside the ring.
Shangguan Rou's blade had actually pierced through her master's protective soft armor!
After treating her wounds, Ye Qinghan discovered something even more astonishing: the injuries inflicted by that blade were impossible to heal in the short term. Even with her full healing efforts, she could only barely stop the bleeding!
"It seems Sister Shangguan has had some extraordinary encounters these past days."
"This blade was bestowed by our master. It cuts through iron like mud, slays immortals and gods, and is invincible in battle." Shangguan Rou's long sword sliced across the sky, tracing a path reminiscent of a fiery slash, an exceptionally dashing display.
Ye Qinghan pursed her lips, slowly drawing the Frostshatter Sword. She narrowed her eyes at Shangguan Rou, but just as she prepared to strike, her master's telepathic voice reached her.
[Qinghan, kill her! Bring that blade back to me!]
Ye Qinghan truly felt fear. This wasn't a message from the Jade Pendant—it was her master's voice!
That icy tone was utterly unlike his master's usual voice. Ye Qinghan turned his head to look outside the arena, where his master and Yu Lan were being held back by several elders…
"Qinghan obeys."
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