Chapter 104
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Chapter 104: Ghost Sword
In the blink of an eye, the day of the Outer Sect Competition arrived again. This time, Fang Lie felt much more relaxed, even prepared to lose.
His Five Elements and Eight Trigrams Dao Robe was severely damaged. Though the Treasure Essence Technique could repair it, the process was slow, needing one or two months to fully restore.
Without a protective treasure, Fang Lie knew he stood little chance against any remaining opponent. Still, reaching the top four guaranteed him an inner gate qualification, so victory no longer mattered.
However, the prizes differed greatly between first and fourth place. Sect rules stated: first place received a third-tier high-quality treasure, second a third-tier mid-quality treasure, while third and fourth got third-tier low-quality treasures. Though all third-tier, the value gap between high and low-grade treasures could span tenfold!
If possible, Fang Lie aimed higher—but wasn’t overly concerned.
The Ascending Immortal Tower buzzed with crowds. When Fang Lie and Ice and Fire Poison Dragon appeared, cheers erupted. Days of battling had earned Fang Lie respect, even from family disciples.
Most would’ve crumbled under the Thunder Tribulation Immortals’ schemes, yet Fang Lie endured, reaching the top four—a feat many admired.
The referee, once pressured to hinder Fang Lie, now felt relief. With orders void, he greeted Fang Lie warmly, no longer fearing the future Benevolence Token Lord.
At the appointed time, the referee announced, "Outer Sect Competition, fourth round, first match: Fang Lie versus Yan Nanqi!"
Fang Lie spread his golden wings and soared onto the stage. Across from him, a towering figure rode a mechanical beast—a three-zhang-long green praying mantis with four blade-armed limbs. The rider, Yan Nanqi, wore beast hide instead of Mo Sect robes.
Yan Nanqi clasped his fists. "Yan Nanqi greets Brother Fang!"
"Fang Lie returns the courtesy!" Fang Lie replied, though his magic stirred warily.
Noticing Fang Lie’s tension, Yan Nanqi laughed. "Once bitten, twice shy, eh? But the match hasn’t even started!"
Fang Lie dismissed his magic, sighing. "Too many traps—forgive my caution."
"No offense taken!" Yan Nanqi grinned. "I admire your guts! Stirring storms in Mo Sect, defying family clans, surviving their attacks to reach the top four—I’d never dare!"
Fang Lie smiled. "I stand by reason. Mo Sect’s ancestral laws favor the just. Their defeat proves evil cannot overpower good."
"Well said!" Yan Nanqi thrust a thumb up. "For that, I concede! You win!"
With a salute, he rode his mechanical beast into the distance, vanishing beyond the horizon.
Fang Lie was dumbfounded, the Referee froze, and all watching spectators turned to statues!
What just happened? Yan Nanqi stood as a famous outer gate Cultivator with overwhelming strength. Against Fang Lie who’d lost his protective treasure, he should’ve had over half a chance to win. Why surrender?
The crowd erupted. "Does Yan Nanqi actually admire Fang Lie’s character?"
"Admiration doesn’t mean forfeiting! This decides ownership of third-rank mid-grade or even top-grade treasures!"
"Listen – Yan Nanqi’s planting seeds for future harvest. Defeating Fang Lie brings small benefits, but yielding builds face and creates debt! If Fang Lie ever controls the Benevolence Token as Great Pill Master or leader of Five Great Token Lords, this favor could yield Fourth-Rank or fifth-rank treasures! Sheer speculation!"
"Brilliant analysis! Your insight cuts through clouds!"
Hearing this from the Arena, Fang Lie agreed. Yan Nanqi’s retreat wasn’t noble.
Yet this open scheme held undeniable honor. Regardless of motives, Fang Lie now owed debt requiring eventual repayment.
The Referee finally announced, "This match goes to Fang Lie!"
Fang Lie shrugged, flying under public gaze to his siblings. He couldn’t leave yet – three final Outer Sect Competition matches remained. Next he’d battle subsequent winners for top honors.
"Fifth round second match," the Referee boomed. "Gray-Clothed Rakshasi versus Gui Wuqing!"
Gray-Clothed Rakshasi floated onto the Arena as her opponent emerged – Gui Wuqing, fully shrouded in black smoke. None knew his true name or past, for he belonged to Mo Sect’s sinister Ghost Sword lineage.
Ghost Sword Dao magic enveloped practitioners in dark mist. Their Flying Swords became demonic black vapors that corrupted treasures. Though few in number, every Ghost Sword Cultivator proved formidable. Successors abandoned past identities, taking "Ghost" names. Thus only "Gui Wuqing" remained known.
Both combatants stood silent. The Referee growled "Begin!" without ceremony.
They struck simultaneously. Gray-Clothed Rakshasi released mechanical bees while Gui Wuqing unleashed his signature weapon – a shrieking black phantom bursting from his sleeve. Daylight didn’t lessen its horror, chilling every spectator to the bone.
Fang Lie stared wide-eyed at his first Ghost Sword sighting. Its appearance alone induced deep dread. Though others screamed, Fang Lie’s iron will only tightened his jaw.
Gray-Clothed Rakshasi calmly deployed crimson mechanical bees blazing with purifying flames. Though weaker, their elemental advantage forced the phantom’s retreat. Clearly prepared, she’d studied her foe.
While these bees battled the specter, her Queen Bee commanded hundreds more in relentless assault. Caught unprepared, Gui Wuqing barely activated two defensive treasures before Self-Detonating mechanical bees overwhelmed him. A green poison bee’s sting dropped him instantly.
