Chapter 160

Chapter 160: Then I Admit Defeat

The next day, the second round of competition began.

After yesterday’s elimination round, only eighty participants advanced to the second stage.

"The first match, Ao Lie of the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace versus Juefa of Little West Heaven Temple."

"Senior Brother, please enlighten me."

Ao Lie wore black dragon robes, divine light flickering in his eyes. After a night of meditation, his cultivation had thoroughly stabilized. His aura grew more profound, radiating divine majesty with every movement.

"Please begin."

Juefa, dressed in a white kasaya robe, replied courteously.

As soon as the words left his lips, Juefa channeled his magic power. His kasaya abruptly left his body, covering the sky and darkening the earth. Divine patterns flowed outward, while Buddha’s chants echoed between heaven and earth. A gleaming golden Buddha statue hovered in the air, its palm pressing down mightily.

BOOM!

Buddha light swirled as terrifying power crushed space itself. Trapped beneath the kasaya sealing the heavens, Ao Lie had nowhere left to hide.

ROAR!

A dragon’s roar shook the void. Ao Lie didn’t bother summoning any treasure; instead, he met the monk’s spiritual art head-on with his physical body.

CRASH!

Drawing power from the Saint Dragon Emperor Sutra, Ao Lie’s hand transformed into a Dragon Claw. Metallic scales rang like iron as it clashed directly with the Buddha’s descending palm.

With one earth-shaking strike, Ao Lie tore apart Juefa’s divine technique, shredding the kasaya robe. He charged toward Juefa, awe-inspiring like a surging rainbow.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Spiritual arts flew as they exchanged dozens of blows in an instant. Though Juefa’s mana surpassed Ao Lie’s in sheer intensity, his physical body proved vastly inferior.

Within mere moments, Juefa lost his momentum. Retreating in retreat, he could only rely on Buddhist magic and sheer mana to hold his ground.

"Ao Lie’s won."

Watching the battle unfold, Qi Wuhen clicked his tongue in amazement. "That kid’s truly a big black horse. He broke through to saint level just before battle, and now he’s actually beating a mid-saint realm monk!"

"If he faced off against me, he’d actually make me draw my spear."

"So vain." A prodigy from Godfall Ridge rolled his eyes. "Even if Ao Lie squeezes into the top twenty, he’d at best hold his own against you for some time."

"Mark my words—if you fought Nangong Zhandao, you probably wouldn’t last three moves."

"You underestimate me that much?"

Qi Wuhen glared fiercely. "Let’s settle this right here between us, then."

"Bring it on."

"Shut up!"

A vein throbbed on Meng Feixian’s temple. She seemed ready to slap Qi Wuhen dead on the spot. "Will you bunch ever quiet down? Give me some peace, for once!"

"…Okay."

That prodigy saw Meng Feixian speak and immediately fell silent.

Qi Wuhen was supremely proud and said, "If you’re scared, just say so directly."

Slap!

A crisp sound rang out; Qi Wuhen fell with his left cheek to the ground, and a palm print appeared on his face.

"Sister Meng…" Qi Wuhen looked wronged and pitifully.

Boom!

A thunderous explosion sound rang out; Ao Lie broke through Monk Juefa’s golden body, punched him off the battle platform, and achieved victory.

"Senior brother, I accept your concession," Ao Lie saluted with cupped hands.

"Patron, your bloodline of the ancestral dragon is truly powerful—this humble monk is far inferior," Monk Juefa, though defeated, still smiled and was not affected by the loss.

"Senior brother, you flatter me."

Ao Lie stepped down from the battle platform, and Ao Bing looked at his son with eyes full of pride.

"Father Emperor, your son has fulfilled the mission honorably," Ao Lie said with a smile.

"Good, good, good."

Ao Bing was overjoyed and said expectantly, "Lie’er, if you can break into the top twenty, after this matter ends, Father Emperor can appoint you as the heir to the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace."

"By then, no one will dare to criticize."

Ao Lie’s expression changed slightly.

He had no interest in the heir’s position and did not want to become the next lord of the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace.

He glanced toward Ji Xinyu; her beautiful eyes were filled with tenderness.

But seeing Ao Bing’s intense gaze, for a moment, Ao Lie did not know how to refuse.

"As for this matter, relying on me alone is difficult to resolve."

Ao Lei sighed in his heart; he was, after all, a son, and disobeying his father was deeply unfilial.

"It seems I need to ask an elder for help."

"Next, Qi Wuhen…"

Yang Xuanzhan continued to announce.

"It’s this young master’s turn."

Qi Wuhen shifted from his pitiful expression to an arrogant one and said, "See how this young master will trample them underfoot."

His opponent was a prodigy at the late Sage stage.

This person came from Empress Nuwa Palace and was also extremely arrogant.

"Last time at the Red Dust Demon Sect, I wanted to meet you but missed the chance. This time, I’ll show you the power of Empress Nuwa Palace," the youth from Empress Nuwa Palace said coldly.

"Neither human nor demon, you freak—this young master isn’t afraid of you," Qi Wuhen declared disdainfully.

"I am of the divine clans."

The young man from the Empress Nuwa Clan flew into a towering rage. Their lineage traced back to the ancient Empress Nuwa, a true descendant of the divine clans. Yet in Qi Wuhen’s mouth, they were called shemales?

"Still shemales,"

Qi Wuhen chuckled mockingly.

Killing intent flashed in the eyes of the Empress Nuwa Clan group.

"I demand your life!"

The young man from the Empress Nuwa Clan channeled his Technique. Power erupted as a divine axe materialized out of thin air. He swung down, and three distinct principles manifested in succession: Thunder, Green Wood, and Later Earth.

In an instant, endless green vines sprouted and tightly bound Qi Wuhen.

Strikes of Divine Thunder rained down, turning his entire body as black as charcoal.

The eruption of the Later Earth’s power firmly imprisoned him.

"How pleasant."

Yet, Qi Wuhen remained completely unharmed. With a mere thought, his divine spear blazed with a fierce light. A single spear thrust shattered the sea of green vines, annihilated the ocean of thunder, and tore apart the power of Later Earth.

He charged with his spear, its intent erupting. The spear traversed time and space, piercing straight through the chest of the young man from the Empress Nuwa Clan.

"His strength has increased again."

Bu Linglong stared at Qi Wuhen, her gaze shifting slightly.

Previously at the Red Dust Demon Sect, Qi Wuhen’s strength had only slightly exceeded Meng Baiyu’s. The young man before her now was comparable to Meng Baiyu in power.

It should be noted that Qi Wuhen had needed to use his cyclical powers to subdue Meng Baiyu then.

But now, a mere ordinary spear thrust had wounded the young man from the Empress Nuwa Clan.

"Ant! How dare you wound me?"

The young man from the Empress Nuwa Clan erupted in fury. His true form manifested: a human head atop a serpent body. Within his bloodline, streams of divine light flowed.

He activated his treasures, gripping the divine axe in one hand and a golden bowl in the other. His hands clasped together, and the golden bowl instantly blazed with countless divine patterns, ensnaring Qi Wuhen.

The young man’s serpent tail flicked out, tracing an inexplicable, trackless arc, as he shot into the golden bowl itself, intent on taking Qi Wuhen’s life.

"Want my life? You’re not qualified yet!" Qi Wuhen sneered, thrusting his spear towards his adversary.

Abruptly,

a golden net manifested inside the bowl, suppressing all of Qi Wuhen’s energies. He found himself powerless to act.

The young man’s divine axe descended, biting deep into Qi Wuhen’s shoulder.

"Playing dirty tricks?"

Qin Wuhen roared with fury. Madly channeling the Four Poles and Eight Wastelands Scripture, he instantly broke free from the restraint. Violently invoking the Four Poles Reincarnation, the spear surged with cyclical power. A single thrust shredded the net.

Overwhelming cyclical power surged forth, nearly swallowing the young Empress Nuwa clansman whole.

"I’ll have your life!"

Qi Wuhen snarled, eyes filled with savage ferocity.

Crack!

Under one spear strike, the divine axe shattered. The young Empress Nuwa clansman was pinned helplessly onto the void.

Bang!

With a slight shake of his arm, the young man from the Empress Nuwa Clan exploded with a thunderous blast, his body shattered and soul blasted apart.

"Second Brother."

A Beautiful Young Woman from the Empress Nuwa Clan stared fixedly at the scene.

Sensing her gaze, Qi Wuhen glanced back. Right in front of her, he stowed the golden bowl into his storage ring.

"I will remember you."

"His life is mine. No one else may contest it."

The young woman’s voice was icy, tinged with chilling murderous intent.

"My life belongs to me!"

Qi Wuhen slung his divine spear over his shoulder and slowly descended from the battle platform.

The battles did not cease.

One prodigy after another took the stage.

As soon as one left, another took their place.

"Senior, when will I become as powerful as them?" Ye Xian’er gazed longingly, her heart burning with passion after witnessing the fierce clashes.

"You will surpass them one day," Ye Xu replied lightly.

Those nurtured by his own hand were destined to become the most exceptional prodigies in the realm.

Still, time was needed.

"Master, this Yan Duxing is a rogue cultivator. Shall I send him a message?" Yang Xuanzhan’s eyes flickered as he considered Yan Duxing.

This man’s potential surpassed even Ning Wudao’s.

On the battle platform, Yan Duxing was locked in combat with a demon cultivator from the Mystic Law Sect. Both unleashed their full might, striking and counter-striking without a moment’s respite.

But before long, the demon cultivator’s energy waned, and he began to relentlessly dodge.

Yan Duxing held the upper hand throughout the clash.

Dao King watched with great interest.

Hearing Yang Xuanzhan’s suggestion, Ye Xu’s gaze settled upon Yan Duxing.

His eyes glimmered faintly as he spoke lightly, "Yan Duxing’s path of cultivation is already set, pointed straight to the Great Dao. There’s no need to disrupt his journey. Leave him be."

"What a shame," Yang Xuanzhan sighed, regret clear on his face.

If Yan Duxing could be drawn under the banner of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, he’d surely rise swiftly through the ranks and stand as a pillar of strength.

However, since Ye Xu showed no such inclination, Yang Xuanzhan dared not act on his own.

Bang!

Amidst a resounding explosion, Yan Duxing sent the demon cultivator flying with a single punch, securing his victory.

"I concede."

Yan Duxing said with cupped hands.

"You win," that demon cultivator said, wearing an unyielding expression. But he was defeated in the end and had to leave in frustration.

For the final match, it was Nangong Zhandao’s turn to step forward.

"The usual."

Nangong Zhandao gazed at his opponent, a woman from the Moon God Clan who was in the late saint realm, but when she looked at Nangong Zhandao, her face was filled with fear.

"Senior brother, could you just go through the motions?" the woman requested via mental transmission.

If she ended up like Nangong Zhandao’s previous opponent, that would be too shameful.

Nangong Zhandao shook his head.

In his view, that was nothing less than wasting time.

"Since it is so, then I admit defeat."

With a look of grievance, the woman turned and walked down from the battle platform.

"…"

Everyone was dumbfounded.

Was Nangong Zhandao really that frightening?

A genius at the late saint realm, yet she didn’t even dare to take action?

After getting down from the battle platform, Lan Youruo felt both amused and exasperated. "Nangong, wouldn’t it be alright to give her a little face?"

"A waste of time."

Nangong Zhandao said lightly.

Lan Youruo smiled bitterly.

Nangong Zhandao was indifferent by nature, and she could do nothing about it.

"Everyone, the second round of the competition has reached its end."

Yang Xuanzhan looked around and said, "Tomorrow’s battle will determine the top twenty spots."

Hearing this, everyone became excited.

The top twenty was not only an honor, but it also came with rewards from the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

Especially the bodhi tree—even Nangong Zhandao felt a bit tempted.

"Everyone, go back and rest first, tomorrow we battle again."

Yang Xuanzhan said with a smile.

One after another, everyone departed.

Before leaving, the Beautiful Young Woman from the Empress Nuwa Clan passed by Qi Wuhen, with the atmosphere filled with hostility.

The young man in linen also approached Ao Lie, with a strong provocative air.

In the previous two rounds of fighting, most of them had conserved their strength.

However, once the competition for the top twenty started, absolutely no one would hold back.

Tomorrow’s battle would be the true start of the most exciting part.