After dismounting, he instead rushed to the front. The moment Zhong Ruochen passed by him, she sensed something was wrong. Already on guard, she saw the fatal sword slash coming and casually swept a hand across.
Clang!
With a loud metallic crash, the sword struck her metal glove. The ambush failed, producing nothing more than a shower of sparks.
For Yu Qing, however, closing the distance to Zhong Ruochen was all he needed. Without anything in mid air to use for leverage, this single clash gave him exactly that. Borrowing the force of the impact, he immediately unleashed the movement technique of the Swimming Dragon Art, and an endless stream of sword attacks followed.
The instant he began attacking, he did not dare hesitate in the slightest. The memory of Xiang Zhen having his sword snatched away was still fresh in his mind. Afraid of suffering the same fate, he opened at full speed from the very beginning, determined to cut his opponent down.
The moment his sword technique unfolded, Zhong Ruochen was greatly alarmed. She had guessed his sword was fast, but it was still far faster than she had anticipated. It was so fast that she could not find even the smallest opening to seize it with her iron hands. Her body spun and flipped through the air. In an instant, palm shadows poured in every direction like torrential rain, blocking and deflecting every strike.
Yu Qing became nothing more than a blurred figure as sword followed sword. Circling Zhong Ruochen, he attacked from every direction, creating the effect of an entire group besieging her despite fighting alone.
The continuous ringing of colliding metal echoed through the air without pause, sharp enough to pierce the ears.
This was the first time Yu Qing had ever unleashed the complete form of the basic moves of the Dust Sealing Sword Art, thirty six swords in a single breath, against a single opponent.
It was not that he had never wanted to use it before. He simply had never found a suitable opportunity. Even when sparring with Nan Zhu and Mu Aotie, there had been no need. They could not withstand the technique at all, unable even to block halfway through, making it impossible for him to display its complete form.
Since mastering the complete form of the thirty six swords in one breath, this was his first genuine use of it in real combat.
He had never imagined that the first time he used it would already be at full strength. Nor had he imagined doing so before countless spectators, and while fighting in mid air.
In an instant, blurred figures circled Zhong Ruochen over and over, surrounding her completely.
The figure trapped within the assault also spun and twisted in every direction, rotating like a whirling top. Her pair of iron palms wove an impenetrable curtain of steel, refusing to let the deadly edge of her opponent’s sword advance even half a step further.
Yu Qing could not break through Zhong Ruochen’s defence, while Zhong Ruochen, facing such a dangerous sword technique, did not dare counterattack rashly, afraid that even the slightest opening would prove fatal.
Outside the spherical iron curtain formed by her palms, the cold flashes of the circling sword resembled beautiful snowflakes dancing through the air.
Yet the sound of those snowflakes falling rang out with endless intensity.
The speed of their descent through the air also slowed.
Yu Qing attacked with one sword after another, but each strike also served as leverage for the next, allowing him to maintain the complete form of the thirty six swords in one breath while suspended in the air.
Zhong Ruochen was doing much the same. She was not using any flight technique either. Every palm strike borrowed force to spin her body into position for the next.
The sight left the spectators below utterly stunned. The two seemed to be fighting a battle in the heavens.
The audience below could feel that the rotating tornado had already stopped, because the wind itself had died.
Without the tornado supporting them, the two instead began an intense aerial battle, fighting so fiercely that neither fell.
Yu Qing’s figure in the sky became especially difficult to distinguish. Viewed from such a distance and with sunlight distorting the image, no one could tell how many Yu Qings were actually flying through the air.
Those countless figures looked like immortal swordsmen descending from heaven to strike a single point, or like dragons playing with a pearl. It seemed as though more than a dozen Yu Qings were attacking Zhong Ruochen from every direction at once. The spectacle was breathtaking.
“Could it be they aren’t relying on techniques at all, but are floating in the air purely through cultivation?”
“Impossible with Initial Profound cultivation, unless Kunling Mountain is deliberately going easy. Unless neither of them is actually at the Initial Profound Realm.”
“Even Upper Profound cultivators couldn’t do this. Surely Kunling Mountain hasn’t secretly allowed two High Profound cultivators into the Rising Sun Tournament?”
“Just how agile must Zhang Zhichen’s movement technique be? He really does look like an immortal descending from heaven.”
“No wonder he dared leap up first and claim the number one arena.”
“Anyone bold enough to seize first place really is extraordinary.”
Discussions broke out across the stands, with exclamations everywhere. Even the Initial Profound cultivators could clearly feel the vast gap between themselves and the two fighters in the sky.
Wen Xin and Xiao Hong repeatedly looked up into the sky, then listened to the discussions around them. Gradually they understood. The Ah Qing they had once known had already reached a realm others could only admire.
On the host platform, Qin Fujun gazed upward in shock. As an Initial Profound cultivator herself, she keenly felt the enormous gulf between herself and those two. This was no longer merely a difference in techniques. It was a difference in talent.
Kunling Mountain was no ordinary sect, and as the final disciple of one of its Law Enforcement Elders, she had access to many advanced teachings. She possessed considerable insight and knew very well that what those two displayed could never be achieved by cultivation techniques alone.
Even if the exact same techniques were placed before her, she doubted she could master them in ten or twenty years, let alone at their age. She might never succeed in her lifetime.
That was the reality of cultivation. Talent and comprehension mattered above all else. Most cultivators would spend their entire lives trapped in the Initial Profound Realm. Even among fellow disciples with identical cultivation resources, only a tiny handful would ever break through into the Upper Profound Realm, let alone High Profound.
As for reaching the Half Immortal Realm, such individuals had always been rarer than phoenix feathers and qilin horns.
People were fundamentally different, and so were the results they achieved. Cultivation techniques alone could never bridge every gap.
Nan Zhu and Mu Aotie stared upward in complete astonishment. This was also their first time seeing the complete form of the thirty six swords in one breath, and unleashed at full power.
Only now did they truly realise just how great the gap between themselves and Old Fifteen really was.
Shi Dao, standing among the crowd, wore an expression of admiration. He thought that when he returned home, he could at least give his family and friends an explanation. Losing to someone of this calibre was nothing to be ashamed of.
Wu Ronggui and Xiao Changdao exchanged glances from time to time. The latter increasingly felt that he had narrowly escaped disaster.
Kui Kui stared at the battle overhead and muttered, “There are this many experts of this level at the Rising Sun Tournament? Out of the four people staying in my courtyard, two turned out to be monsters. Am I really that weak?”
He could not help glancing back at the challenge plaque hanging beneath the number one position. Earlier he had confidently declared that another person had appeared to compete with him for first place. Now he suddenly felt rather embarrassed at the thought of hanging his own plaque there.
Knowing full well he would only humiliate himself and still charging in anyway, would that not make him a fool?
Wen Ruowei also stared upward in shock. She had assumed her brother in law was doomed this time and would certainly be taught a lesson by her sister. She had never imagined he could actually fight her sister on equal terms in such an unreachable battle. Just watching it made her scalp tingle.
Her brother in law, the so called greatest literary talent under heaven, had completely exceeded her imagination. The phrase accomplished in both literature and martial arts was no longer enough to describe him.
“Wow. Wow. Amazing. Wow. Wow. No wonder they’re competing for first place.”
Princess Chaoyang danced excitedly in the VIP section, utterly thrilled by the fight. From time to time she asked her mother, “Mother, it looks like Shang Yue has completely lost the ability to fight back. Is she going to lose? She’s going to lose, isn’t she?”
Her tone clearly revealed that she wanted Zhong Ruochen to lose. There was no helping it. Zhong Ruochen was a woman, while Yu Qing was a man.
Yan Yi watched the battle in silence, her brows slightly furrowed, seemingly surprised. Although her daughter asked repeatedly, she paid little attention, merely replying calmly, “Not necessarily.”
Li Chenghu glanced at Princess Chaoyang’s behaviour and could not help laughing. He could easily guess what his niece was thinking. Her change of heart had been astonishingly decisive. He also felt that his sister in law had truly come up with an excellent plan.
Turning back towards the sky, he sighed. “Who would have thought Dragon Light Sect would produce such a talent? It would be a pity to expel someone like this from the sect. I wonder whether Dragon Light Sect simply refuses to adapt, or what they were thinking.”
Hearing this, Zhao Dengzi quietly glanced towards Xiang Lanyuan. He knew she was aware that this Zhang Zhichen was fake. Yet neither the Empress nor the Prince seemed to know the truth.
He only dared ponder this silently. He would never ask. Who knew whether it involved some hidden matter between the Directorate of Great Enterprises and the Imperial Court?
Xiang Lanyuan, also watching the battle overhead, looked rather surprised. She had not expected the situation to reverse so suddenly.
Unlike everyone else, she had learned some of the inside story much earlier. The moment Zhong Ruochen became entangled by Yu Qing and the fight shifted into close combat, she immediately realised Zhong Ruochen was in trouble.
After observing Zhong Ruochen’s true strength for a while, she felt that unless something unexpected happened, she already knew how this battle would end.
Long Xingyun watched with the corner of his mouth twitching uncontrollably. His face had practically twisted sideways. He nervously squeezed and released the folding fan in his hand again and again.
Yin Shanhe, seated in the stands, watched with a solemn expression. After staring for some time, he lowered his gaze towards Young Pavilion Master Long beneath the host platform and sighed softly.
At this moment, Yu Qing himself was shocked.
He had believed his sword speed was already fast enough.
He had never imagined Zhong Ruochen’s palm strikes would be equally fast.
He had not expected that the first time he unleashed the complete form of the thirty six swords in one breath, he would encounter someone whose attack speed matched his own.
Before him, Zhong Ruochen resembled a thousand armed deity, seemingly impossible to overcome.
Yu Qing knew that if this stalemate continued, he could not sustain it much longer. The complete form of the thirty six swords in one breath consumed far too much magical power. Driving the Swimming Dragon Art movement technique to such extremes without pause naturally came at a heavy cost.
Meanwhile, blood had already begun seeping from Zhong Ruochen’s arm. The sleeve around the wound was stained with spreading crimson, yet she did not dare slow even slightly. She knew that hesitating for a single instant could lead to irreversible destruction.
She too was astonished by Yu Qing’s sword speed. She had known it was fast, but never imagined it could reach such terrifying heights. After all, he was creating the effect of an entire group besieging her all by himself.
One person creating the force of a siege already exceeded everything she had imagined.
A single man with a single sword had trapped her in mid air so completely that she could not even escape, reducing her to nothing but defence. It was simply terrifying.
Over the years she had done everything possible to compensate for her lack of combat experience. Her master had given her every resource imaginable to support her, yet she had never even heard of such a sword technique.
She knew perfectly well that her speed was actually inferior to his. He was moving across a vast area while she remained fixed at the centre defending.
Anyone could tell which was harder, maintaining extreme speed across a wide area or within a tiny space.
Even with that advantage, she had still been forced entirely onto the defensive. The bitterness in her heart was indescribable, yet she had no time to dwell on it.
She gritted her teeth and endured, knowing they were already close to the ground. Once they struck the earth and his attack formation broke apart, she would finally have an opportunity to seize an opening and counterattack.
Yu Qing also realised they were only about a hundred zhang above the ground.
He was not afraid of exposing a flaw. What he feared was exhausting himself before then. Even after landing, he would not be able to continue fighting for long, and would ultimately lose.
A fierce light flashed through his eyes.
He decided to gamble everything.
He chose to abandon the advantage he had worked so hard to establish.
He chose to give up the encircling formation he had already achieved against Zhong Ruochen.
The countless sword lights circling Zhong Ruochen suddenly vanished.
Caught in the middle of her relentless defence, Zhong Ruochen was momentarily thrown off balance.
Why would her opponent voluntarily abandon such an overwhelming advantage?
On the VIP platform, Xiang Lanyuan’s eyes flashed. She murmured so softly that only she herself could hear.
“It’s here.”
…
The breathtaking scene of attacks resembling dancing snowflakes vanished in an instant. Most of the spectators were left bewildered, including Yan Yi and Li Chenghu.
Yet in the next heartbeat, Yan Yi, who had been watching the battlefield intently, suddenly narrowed her eyes.
The thirty six swords in one breath had stopped.
The Swimming Dragon Art movement technique had also ceased.
Having just circled above Zhong Ruochen in the Coiling Dragon stance, Yu Qing swung his arm and struck once more.
This time there were no dancing sword shadows, no dazzling movement techniques. Everything seemed to simplify in an instant.
There was only one sword.
At least, that was what the vast majority of the spectators saw.
The two fighters had descended much closer to the ground, allowing most cultivators in the arena to see clearly.
They watched as man and sword shot forward like a streak of light, stabbing directly at Zhong Ruochen.
But to Zhong Ruochen, who faced the attack head on, it was entirely different.
The countless sword shadows were gone, yet what replaced them was an overwhelming sense of fatal danger.
Everyone else saw one sword.
She saw three.
The endless sword shadows before had never made her feel death approaching.
These three simple swords did.
There had to be a reason.
The previous sword shadows, though numerous, had come in discernible layers.
Now all three swords arrived together, seemingly without any distinction in timing, attacking simultaneously, leaving her nowhere to dodge and nothing she could block.
That was right.
Yu Qing had once again used the Three Swords as One technique he had previously employed against Shi Dao.
It was also the highest level he had currently reached in the Dust Sealing Sword Art.
The Dust Sealing Sword Art consisted of six forms.
The thirty six swords in one breath was merely the foundation.
The first form fused thirty six swords into one.
The second fused eighteen.
The third fused nine.
The fourth fused three.
The fifth reduced everything to a single sword.
The sixth was called No Sword Goes Unreached.
The entire sword art was a process of transforming complexity into simplicity. According to the manual, the fewer the sword moves, the greater their power.
What Yu Qing used now, however, was not the true Three Swords as One of the fourth form.
He was nowhere near that level yet.
What he was actually attempting was the incomplete first form, the fusion of thirty six swords into one.
At present, he could barely merge three.
He had no idea how effective this incomplete first form would be against a true opponent.
He had never genuinely tested it before.
The battle with Shi Dao had hardly counted.
He especially had no idea whether it would work against an expert like Zhong Ruochen.
He only knew this represented the highest level he could currently reach with the Dust Sealing Sword Art.
If even this failed, then he had no remaining means of defeating her.
At that point, all he could do would be find an opportunity to withdraw from the arena.
In other words, admit defeat.
So he gambled.
He willingly abandoned the encirclement he had painstakingly established.
The gamble immediately filled Zhong Ruochen with alarm.
She was momentarily at a complete loss.
There was no longer time to evade.
Unlike before, sheer speed alone could no longer solve the problem.
Three swords were arriving at once.
In her haste, she could only block with two hands.
She instinctively made the choice most likely to save her life.
Protecting the fatal points first was always the correct decision.
Yet the instant her hands met the blades, her heart sank.
She had missed.
More precisely, she had blocked empty air.
A horrified thought flashed through her mind.
He knows illusion techniques?
Is this an illusion?
She watched helplessly as the third sword approached.
Quickly changing direction, she grabbed it.
This time she caught it firmly.
Only then did she realise that this sword alone was real.
What she did not know was that whichever two swords she chose to block would always be false.
The one she failed to block would always be the real one.
These three swords could all be considered illusions.
Or they could all be considered real.
Believing them to be illusions was not wrong.
The sword technique itself existed precisely to create that illusion.
The agonising pain piercing her heart, however, was undeniably real.
She felt it before she even realised what had happened.
Yu Qing had succeeded.
His sword pierced into her body.
Blood immediately sprayed into the air.
Zhong Ruochen clamped both hands around the blade.
She could see the murderous intent in Yu Qing’s eyes.
She knew he intended to kill her.
She could feel that he wanted to slice her body open with a single stroke.
To split her in half.
She desperately gripped the sword already embedded between her shoulder and chest, refusing to let him move it.
At the same time, her other palm blasted towards Yu Qing.
Yu Qing responded with equal speed.
Using the Dragon Capturing Hand, he locked onto her wrist, gripping it so tightly she could not move it at all.
Zhong Ruochen could sense that her cultivation was slightly higher than his.
She was gradually forcing the sword back out of her body.
Yet strangely, the wrist he had seized refused to break free.
His gripping method was peculiar.
Or rather, the strength of his fingers far exceeded what his cultivation level should have allowed.
The moment he caught her wrist, Yu Qing immediately used the momentum to swing his body, subtly changing their positions in the air.
Now it was Zhong Ruochen whose back faced the ground.
Terror instantly filled her eyes.
She reacted more slowly than Yu Qing.
She was also far inferior to him in close quarters combat.
It was already too late.
She could only pour every ounce of cultivation into defence.
Yu Qing, meanwhile, used every bit of his strength to prevent her from slowing their descent.
Boom!
Her back slammed violently into the earth.
Yu Qing’s plan had succeeded.
Fortunately, they had not been too high above the ground when they completely lost control of their fall.
The two had already been clashing head on with all their cultivation focused on close combat.
Combined with the tremendous impact of striking the ground, the force blasted both of their face coverings away.
For the first time, they saw each other’s true faces.
Yu Qing had no time to admire the beauty before him.
Gripping the sword hilt tightly, he drove it forward once more.
The blade pierced clean through her body, pinning her directly to the ground.
Fresh blood poured from the wound.
Zhong Ruochen gasped in pain.
Looking at the man pressing down upon her, determined to kill her, she finally saw his fierce features clearly.
Then dust swallowed her vision.
The collision had sent dirt and debris exploding everywhere.
Beside them was already a mountain of loose earth, left behind by Zhong Ruochen’s earlier tornado technique.
In the VIP seats, Yan Yi shot to her feet, almost moving to intervene.
Li Chenghu also stood, his expression grave.
Xiang Lanyuan quickly glanced at their reactions.
Zhao Dengzi slowly rose as well, equally solemn.
Every one of them had clearly seen Yu Qing’s sword pierce Zhong Ruochen’s body.
And it was Zhong Ruochen whose back had struck the ground.
Long Xingyun stared with his mouth hanging open.
That damned Scholar really would not kill his fiancée, would he?
From the look of things, he truly had no idea who she was.
Of course, it was hardly surprising.
Before entering the cultivation world, noble young ladies rarely met the men they were destined to marry.
The problem was that she was Earth Mother’s disciple.
Had that damned Scholar really just killed Earth Mother’s direct disciple?
“Sister!”
With a cry of grief, Wen Ruowei ignored every rule of the Rising Sun Tournament and flew straight into the arena to rescue her sister.
Kunling Mountain disciples had already been stationed around the arena.
Seeing this, they immediately rushed up to stop her.
“You may not interfere!”
They were no match for Wen Ruowei.
With a single exchange, she blasted them aside.
Her figure vanished into the dust.
A loud bang sounded from within.
Yu Qing was kicked flying.
Since Zhong Ruochen had still been locked together with him, he had no opportunity to defend himself.
He could only take Wen Ruowei’s attack head on.
Desperate to save her sister, Wen Ruowei had not held back.
Yu Qing staggered several steps after landing.
Blood even sprayed from his mouth.
The entire arena erupted into uproar.
Many spectators stood.
Wen Xin and Xiao Hong watched anxiously.
Nan Zhu, Mu Aotie and Baili Xin could no longer remain seated.
All three leapt into the arena.
The lone Kunling Mountain disciple nearby could not stop so many people.
Nan Zhu and Mu Aotie hurried over to support Yu Qing.
Mu Aotie asked whether he was all right.
Nan Zhu pointed furiously at the two women emerging from the dust and roared.
“So the Rising Sun Tournament allows helpers into the arena now? Is there no justice left? Where are the people of Kunling Mountain? Are they all dead?”
Qin Fujun and the officials supervising the matches all hurried into the arena.
In the VIP section, Princess Chaoyang also became indignant.
Rushing to the front, she pointed into the arena and shouted,
“Master Zhao, since when does the Rising Sun Tournament allow outside interference?”
She had now completely taken Yu Qing’s side.
Had her mother not been present, she might well have rolled up her sleeves and jumped into the arena herself in defence of fairness.
“Be quiet.”
Yan Yi, already walking forward, casually grabbed her daughter by the ear and dragged the troublesome girl behind her.
Tie Miaoqing slowly rose as well.
Her eyes were filled with uncertainty.
She had already recognised Yu Qing’s face.
If his long hair alone had made recognition difficult, Nan Zhu and Mu Aotie rushing out to support him removed all doubt.
Even had Yu Qing still been masked, she would have recognised him.
Beside her, Sun Ping also stared in astonishment.
She had never dreamed that the person competing for first place in the Rising Sun Tournament would turn out to be Yu Qing.
Unable to help herself, she looked worriedly towards the immensely powerful Li Chenghu.
Xiang Lanyuan, having also recognised Yu Qing, felt her heart pounding wildly.
She quietly turned to look at Governor Mi Yunzhong standing behind.
Seeing no reaction from him, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Portraits and real people were, after all, never exactly the same.
Besides, the former Scholar was still wearing his hair loose.
Wen Ruowei helped Zhong Ruochen out from the gradually settling dust.
She held a blood stained sword in her hand.
It was Yu Qing’s sword.
She had pulled it from where it had pinned Zhong Ruochen to the ground.
Zhong Ruochen looked utterly bedraggled.
Her hair was dishevelled.
Her clothes were in disorder.
Blood stained much of her body.
She walked weakly, her face pale.
Though the clothing over her shoulder and chest had turned crimson, the wound itself had already stopped bleeding, the flow halted by emergency pressure point sealing.
Whoosh!
Wen Ruowei flung the blood stained sword back towards Yu Qing.
Mu Aotie stepped forward and caught it.
Nan Zhu pointed furiously and cursed.
“What are you trying to do? Is no one going to stop this? Have all the people of Kunling Mountain died?”
If he had thought he could win, he would already have charged forward himself.
Wen Ruowei ignored him completely.
Pointing at Yu Qing, she angrily shouted,
“You bastard!”
She raised a hand to tear away her own face covering.
She wanted him to see exactly who she was.
She wanted him to realise who he had injured.
She wanted to ask whether he felt no shame.
Yet Zhong Ruochen grabbed her hand and shook her head.
“We’re leaving.”
“Sister!”
Wen Ruowei protested.
She felt letting Yu Qing go so easily was far too lenient.
She had even spoken well of him before.
Yet he had shown her sister such ruthless intent to kill.
“Leave.”
Zhong Ruochen’s tone admitted no argument.
Furious, Wen Ruowei stamped her foot.
She could only support her sister and leave, walking straight out of the arena.
Master Zhao Dengzi of Kunling Mountain, who had personally come to maintain order, raised a hand.
He signalled his disciples not to interfere.
He instructed them to step aside and allow the sisters to leave.
He then turned decisively to Qin Fujun.
“Zhang Zhichen is victorious. Announce it.”
Yu Qing had already turned his back towards the VIP seats.
He jabbed Nan Zhu several times with his hand.
Only then did Nan Zhu realise what he meant.
His expression changed dramatically.
Quickly tearing a strip of cloth from his own clothing, he covered Yu Qing’s face once more.
After whispering something to Mu Aotie, the pair quietly slipped away.
…
Baili Xin looked at Old Seven and Old Nine hurrying away, then at Yu Qing, who had covered his face once more.
Half understanding the situation, she eventually nodded at Yu Qing’s signal and also returned.
Inside the arena, a group of Kunling Mountain disciples rushed out carrying tools, taking advantage of the break between matches to level the battlefield again.
Under everyone’s gaze, Wen Ruowei helped Zhong Ruochen leave the arena.
Instead of taking seats beside the field, the sisters departed the venue altogether.
Zhao Dengzi summoned Zhan Yunqi and instructed him to personally escort the sisters with the sect’s finest healers and their best medicines.
Only after personally settling matters at the arena did he finally leave.
People in the stands immediately shouted after him, demanding to know why Wen Ruowei had been allowed to interfere with the match without punishment.
Seeing this, Qin Fujun hurried after the departing Sect Master, quietly seeking further instructions.
At that moment, Long Xingyun flashed into the arena.
To everyone’s surprise, he actually reached out to support Yu Qing’s arm with obvious concern.
“Brother Zhang, are you all right? Those two sisters went too far. Ignoring the tournament rules like that was simply lawless.”
His words were courteous, and so were his actions.
He appeared genuinely concerned, even grabbing Yu Qing’s wrist and discreetly using his cultivation to examine his injuries.
The scene left Yin Shanhe utterly stunned.
Apart from Long Xingyun’s own mother, he had never seen anyone receive such attentive concern from the Young Pavilion Master.
Now there was a second.
It was unbelievable.
A moment later, however, his brows lifted.
He realised exactly what the Young Pavilion Master was actually doing.
Tie Miaoqing and Sun Ping exchanged astonished looks from the VIP section.
Neither could believe the apparent closeness between Long Xingyun and Yu Qing.
Standing nearby, Xiang Lanyuan also stared in confusion.
Yu Qing himself was equally bewildered.
Only after noticing Long Xingyun examining his injuries did he realise the man was not pretending.
He truly was checking his condition.
The motive behind that concern, however, was another matter entirely.
Yu Qing immediately showed no courtesy.
With a casual flick, he shook off Long Xingyun’s hand and muttered coldly,
“Get lost.”
Long Xingyun laughed awkwardly.
“Brother Zhang, that’s hardly friendly.”
He withdrew his hand, unable to hide his disappointment.
He had confirmed that although Yu Qing had suffered internal injuries, they were not severe.
With a day or two of recovery, he would be practically fine.
Trying to exploit his injuries in a challenge match would be difficult.
He had judged correctly.
Although Yu Qing had taken Wen Ruowei’s kick directly, he had not been completely defenceless.
He simply had no chance to evade while locked together with Zhong Ruochen.
Besides, Wen Ruowei had never intended to kill him.
Returning to the other competitors, Long Xingyun shook his head and sighed.
“What a mess. That woman really kicked him hard.”
Everyone immediately stared at him.
“How badly is he injured?”
Long Xingyun unfolded his fan and sighed while waving it.
“Very badly. I doubt he’ll recover in less than a month or two.”
Hearing this, many competitors looked towards Yu Qing again, their eyes gleaming.
After all, everyone had seen him coughing up blood.
Kui Kui, in particular, looked eager to make a move.
Meanwhile, Qin Fujun returned to the platform and loudly announced,
“The challenge for first place has concluded. Zhang Zhichen has successfully defended his title.”
Someone in the stands immediately shouted,
“What about the person who violated the rules and attacked inside the arena? Is that simply being ignored?”
Voices of agreement instantly spread through the crowd.
Truthfully, Yu Qing himself wanted to ask the same question.
No one wanted to take such a beating without seeking justice.
Unfortunately, with his current circumstances, he dared not press the matter.
Otherwise, he would never have bothered hiding his face again.
“Everyone, please remain calm.”
Qin Fujun repeatedly gestured for silence before raising her voice once more.
“Rest assured, Kunling Mountain will investigate this matter thoroughly and provide everyone with an explanation. However, the tournament remains our top priority. The competition must continue and cannot be delayed because of one individual’s actions.”
With that assurance, the crowd gradually settled down.
Qin Fujun then turned towards the competitors below.
“Does anyone wish to challenge for first place today? Positions two through ten remain vacant.”
The competitors once again hesitated.
Kui Kui rolled the nameplate in his hand, his eyes fixed on the number one position.
Long Xingyun noticed this and quietly smiled.
Just then, Yu Qing’s voice sounded beside him.
“How much longer are you planning to drag this out?”
Long Xingyun turned.
Seeing Yu Qing standing there while the surrounding competitors watched, he replied rather awkwardly,
“You’re injured. I don’t want to win unfairly.”
Yu Qing looked him up and down with some surprise.
When had this fellow suddenly become so considerate?
“Suit yourself. Two days from now then. Let’s settle everything as soon as possible.”
Hearing this, Kui Kui considered for a moment before putting away his own nameplate.
Since the current champion had requested two days to recover, challenging now would accomplish nothing.
The champion had that right.
He might as well wait until Long Xingyun and Zhang Zhichen fought first.
Then he could issue his own challenge afterwards.
Several others shared exactly the same thought.
Had Long Xingyun not just claimed Yu Qing would need months to recover?
Better to let him test the waters first.
Long Xingyun glanced at the crowd’s reactions while lazily waving his folding fan.
He said nothing further.
When it became clear that no one intended to challenge, Yu Qing had no interest in standing around like a fool any longer.
After greeting Qin Fujun and claiming he needed to recover from his injuries, he departed early.
He had no intention of returning over the next two days.
Whoever wished to challenge him would have to wait until after he recovered.
The people in the VIP section were equally bored.
Watching Yu Qing leave first, Li Chenghu grunted.
“An unexpected twist. There goes several hundred million.”
Those who understood knew exactly what he meant.
Had Zhong Ruochen secured first place, the enormous prize money would have gone to the Yin Kingdom’s court.
Now the tournament rules would apply.
The court was hardly going to rob a competitor for the money.
Hearing those words, Sun Ping’s eyes flickered.
Tie Miaoqing continued staring after Yu Qing’s departing figure, her expression complicated.
Empress Yan Yi also rose.
“It seems they won’t make up their minds until the third day’s deadline. Chaoyang, let’s return.”
Everyone immediately stood to escort her.
“Your Majesty, let’s go together,” Li Chenghu replied before beckoning to Tie Miaoqing.
“They’re all weighing the advantages now. Nothing more will happen today. If anything interesting occurs, Sect Master Zhao will naturally inform us.”
Zhao Dengzi quickly agreed,
“Your Highness is absolutely right.”
And so the VIP section gradually emptied.
…
By late afternoon, Yu Qing slowly opened his eyes from meditation.
His internal injuries had fully healed.
His face covering had naturally been removed.
His once loose hair was now tied behind his head.
Why had he recovered so quickly?
He knew the reason perfectly well.
Minor injuries healed rapidly.
Severe injuries took longer.
Even now, he still could not decide whether the strange condition within his body was a blessing or a curse.
He had pondered that question countless times.
There was still no answer.
He reached up and took hold of the necklace around his neck.
Once again, he touched the bead resting inside the silver mesh pouch.
It felt exactly the same as before.
Yet he vaguely sensed some kind of connection had formed between himself and the bead.
Once more he channelled his cultivation into it to investigate.
Immediately the same strange sensation from before returned.
Inside the bead seemed to exist something impossible to describe.
It felt alive.
It seemed to be murmuring softly.
As though trying to communicate with him.
Yet he could not understand a single word.
The moment he withdrew from that state and examined it normally with his cultivation, however, it became nothing more than a solid stone.
As though nothing mysterious existed within at all.
He knew exactly when the change had begun.
It happened after the bead absorbed his blood.
Again and again he immersed his consciousness inside, trying to understand what had changed.
But there was nothing.
Only an indistinct haze of chaos.
Eventually he gave up.
Just then, footsteps sounded outside.
Someone knocked on the door below.
“Brother Zhang, are you in?”