Chapter 185

Chapter 185: Purple Lightning Shatters the Blood Sea

"Hmm?"

Ku Ruo, clad in blood-red robes, glanced at Qiu Ran ascending the platform as suspicion flashed in his eyes.

"Why does she hold such intense hostility toward me?"

"Could there be other grudges between us besides the lower sect incident?"

He carefully combed through his memories but found nothing. The Blood Shadow Sect’s territory stood farthest from Tiger-Chasing among the Four Sects of the Northwest – their paths had never crossed before.

Though Tiger-Chasing had destroyed his lower sect while Daoyuanshan reaped the benefits, this woman now acted like he’d stolen some great advantage.

Abandoning further speculation, Ku Ruo steadied himself. Regardless of reasons, victory remained his only objective.

"Third round of the Perfect Battle – begin!"

"Blood Sea!"

"Purple Lightning Calamity!"

Both combatants activated their Spiritual Manipulation simultaneously. Their auras, already at the peak of twelfth-level Gathering Qi, surged even more fiercely.

Clang!—

Boom!

Boom!

Qiu Ran transformed into a streak of Purple Lightning. Each movement unleashed deafening thunderclaps that shook watching disciples to their core. Lower-ranked observers hastily sealed their ears with spiritual power to avoid fainting from the soul-rending noise.

Ku Ruo dissolved into a crimson shadow. Though his offensive power paled against Qiu Ran’s, his Spirit Projection held unique properties.

Purple and crimson blurs whirled across the Debate Platform amidst continuous explosions of thunder and blood.

"Incredible!"

"Look at them go!"

"I can’t even follow the movements!"

Novice disciples cheered at the spectacle while true experts focused elsewhere. Their experienced eyes tracked the Debate Platform’s surface and the air above – where true killing moves took shape.

Ku Ruo’s "Blood Sea" Spirit Projection gradually turned the platform into a churning Pool of Blood. Meanwhile, a violent Purple Thundercloud coalesced overhead. All knew the battle’s outcome hinged on these converging techniques.

Yang Lingrui squinted desperately but could only catch fleeting shadows – the gulf between their cultivation realms too vast for proper observation.

In the end, it was only through Chen Yang’s consciousness that he could understand what was happening on the stage.

"Fortunately, the Immortal Master left behind a wisp of Divine Thought; otherwise, I’d truly be blind on this journey," he thought.

During this duel, Chen Yang’s consciousness enabled him to witness crucial exchanges.

Both his comprehension of the Spiritual Manipulation method and combat experience showed substantial improvement.

Soon after, the killing moves of both fighters took shape simultaneously.

"Calamity Lightning!"

"Blood Erosion!"

As Purple Lightning descended toward Ku Ruo, the entire Pool of Blood erupted, engulfing Qiu Ran within it.

Now came the trial of endurance.

Whichever side faltered first would lose the duel.

Though Ku Ruo had suffered during earlier skirmishes with Qiu Ran, his confidence now visibly grew.

While Thunder techniques suppressed blood arts, his Blood Erosion possessed exceptional resistance to thunder.

Standing within the Pool of Blood, he only needed to endure a few Purple Lightning strikes to claim victory!

"I’ve long heard of Daoyuanshan’s renowned thunder techniques! Today I’ll savor them properly!"

When the first Purple Lightning struck, Ku Ruo summoned crimson giant hands to swat it aside.

Against the second strike, he retaliated with over a dozen blood arrows.

As the third bolt fell, he vanished into the Pool of Blood using his escape technique.

Each successive Purple Lightning grew stronger. From the third strike onward, Ku Ruo abandoned defense for evasion.

Blood Shadow Sect members aboard the cloud ship smirked.

However formidable Qiu Ran might be, she remained at the Twelfth Level of Qi Gathering. How high could her thunder calamity skills possibly reach?

Three lightning strikes had fallen – even allowing three more, if Ku Ruo endured them, the battle’s outcome would be decided.

CRACK!

The fourth Purple Lightning arrived with intensified force and speed.

Ku Ruo strained his escape technique to its limits to dodge.

ZAP!

The fifth strike pierced through the clouds.

Ku Ruo failed to evade completely. Forced from his blood escape state, the lightning seared his right shoulder, leaving a gash.

"Hsss! That burns!"

Gritting his teeth, he smeared blood plasma from the Pool over the wound, dulling the pain.

The ominous rumble continued…

As the muffled thunder rumbled, the sixth Purple Lightning began to form.

This time, Ku Ruo sensed extreme danger from the thundercloud.

He was shocked that Qiu Ran had truly cultivated the sixth Calamity Lightning, his face turning grave.

He knew if he failed to dodge this strike, it wouldn’t be mere surface wounds like before.

Crack!

The purple Calamity Lightning descended violently, tearing through the surrounding spiritual energy.

"Blood Garment Dissolution!"

Ku Ruo roared as his body and crimson robes simultaneously shattered.

By using this life-saving technique, he narrowly avoided the lightning strike.

When his body reformed, Ku Ruo’s face resembled pale snow with dimmed eyes.

"Success! We’ve cleared it!"

"First victory secured!"

Blood Shadow Sect elders rose cheering.

Having dodged six Purple Lightning strikes, Ku Ruo should be this round’s winner.

From the High Platform, Xiao Yize shook his head in quiet amusement at their celebration.

If Qiu Ran’s capabilities ended here, how had she evaded capture for years?

Two breaths later, Ku Ruo paled at new rumbling above him.

"Sev-Seventh Calamity Lightning? Impossible!"

Blood Shadow Sect elders froze in disbelief.

None expected a twelfth-level Gathering Qi cultivator could manifest the Seventh Calamity Lightning!

"Disaster! This is fatal!"

Ku Ruo’s legs buckled under the lightning’s terrifying aura.

After Blood Garment Dissolution, he was completely drained – neither resisting nor evading remained possible.

His wavering concentration caused flaws in controlling the Blood Erosion.

Zzzt!

Thunder Sparks pierced the blood prison as Qiu Ran broke free.

The watching disciples gasped at her appearance.

Blood Erosion had stripped her limbs to bare bones, yet purple lightning crackled across her skeletal frame.

Seemingly impervious to pain, she propelled her lightning-infused bones forward, Lightning Blade aimed at Ku Ruo’s neck.

Snap!

Lanyue Sect’s protector intervened as Qiu Ran neared her target.

Seeing the Lightning Blade blocked, Ku Ruo collapsed to his knees, trembling with relief of surviving a disaster.

When his mind cleared, realization struck.

"You bluffed! There’s no Seventh Calamity Lightning!"

He shouted at Qiu Ran.