The “Phoenix” circling in pursuit was massive and majestic. Swirling vortexes of varying sizes, spinning and swaying, resembled elegant feathers. Yet small had its advantages, and large had its drawbacks. The lift generated by the vortexes could not catch up to Xiang Zhen, who flew high into the sky. The distance between the two grew wider and wider. Eventually, Xiang Zhen’s figure became a tiny black dot in the high sky, barely visible even to cultivators’ eyes. Zhong Ruochen, who had been casting spells with both hands to drive the “Phoenix” higher, had to give up. She steered the “Phoenix” to soar and circle in the air. She believed her opponent would eventually have to return, or else it would mean forfeiting the match.
Exclamations of surprise rose continuously from the surrounding stands. Of all the fights seen so far, this one had delivered the strongest visual impact. Outsiders watched the spectacle, experts watched the technique. Some sharp eyed observers noticed something in the phenomenon of Zhong Ruochen’s technique, but they dared not be certain, nor did they dare speak rashly, fearing they might cause a commotion they could not take responsibility for. But there were also bold ones. For instance, Li Chenghu in the VIP seats asked Yan Yi, “Sister in law, is this the phenomenon created by the ‘Thousand Hands Cloud Turning Technique’?” Yan Yi nodded slightly. “In those years, my master held three techniques. My senior sister chose this one. Birds and beasts, ever changing, all phenomena were within her turning hand. This girl’s realm is ultimately too shallow. Otherwise, an opponent trapped within could not easily escape.” Zhao Dengzi, seated nearby, listened with tilted ear while looking up at the sky. He then turned back and signalled his sect’s disciples to roll back the sunshade above, making it easier for the honoured guests to watch. Almost everyone in the entire venue was looking up at the sky.
Yu Qing felt somewhat pained, and even secretly somewhat embarrassed. Both challengers could fly into the sky. How was he, the defending champion, supposed to fight them? Kui Qiu, also looking up at the sky, could not help but click his tongue twice. “That blockhead, who would have thought? He flew so high that even his shadow is gone.” Suddenly, a contestant raised a finger toward the sky and shouted, “Look, he is coming down.” Everyone focused their gazes. Straining their vision, sure enough, the black dot that had vanished in the high sky had reappeared. Occasionally there were flashes of light. Everyone could guess it was sunlight refracting off the sword blade.
High in the sky, Xiang Zhen, who had been standing on his sword diving downward, suddenly crouched and grabbed the sword hilt. He swung the sword downward. His entire body and the sword formed a perfectly straight line. Resistance lessened, and his descending speed abruptly increased. The determination in his eyes did not diminish in the slightest. Sword in hand, he charged toward the hazy “Phoenix” soaring above the earth. One man, one sword, with no intention of turning back. A stream of light fell from the heavens, and its speed grew faster and faster. This time, even ordinary people in the stands could see it. They all knew that the person who had flown into the sky was coming down again.
The “Phoenix” soaring in the air seemed to be coming at just the right moment. It flapped its wings and rushed upward to meet that stream of light. From the spectators’ side view, the speed of the descending stream of light was incomparably faster than the “Phoenix’s” upward speed. All eyes were fixed, the entire venue fell silent. Everyone knew the two contestants were about to clash again. One going up, one coming down, in an atmosphere of universal anticipation, it was as if a collision between heaven and earth was about to occur.
In the VIP seats, Empress Yan Yi suddenly frowned. “Ultimately too lacking in combat experience. The power of this accumulated strike, most upper profound cultivators might not be able to block it. If this girl does not dodge in time, she will likely be killed by a single sword strike.” Li Chenghu, looking up at the sky, said, “Although this sword strike is powerful, it has already exceeded the limit that this Xiang Zhen’s own cultivation can control. Once they collide head on, his cultivation cannot protect his physical body. He too will be shattered to pieces. This is a desperate, no holds barred approach.” Empress Yan Yi’s brows suddenly furrowed deeper. “This girl really has no sense of judgment. If she does not evade in advance, with her cultivation she cannot possibly dodge this strike. That sword’s speed is too fast.”
As if hearing her cry, the “Phoenix” heading upward suddenly changed expression within its head. As the two sides approached, Zhong Ruochen finally sensed the terrifying power of her opponent’s strike. Her hands moved rapidly to cast control spells. The vortexes of varying sizes spun. The “Phoenix” flying upward finally twisted its posture, shaking its head and wagging its tail to fly horizontally, intending to avoid the stream of light rushing down from above. Yet it was ultimately a bit too late in reacting. The two sides were already very close. Compared to the diving speed, the “Phoenix’s” massive body could not possibly completely avoid it. Moreover, the person charging in would not let it avoid.
Wind whistled past his ears. Xiang Zhen’s gaze shifted. He suddenly murmured to himself, “My sword has wings!” It seemed he was encouraging himself. There was a popping sound from the protective qi around him. The veins on his neck bulged out. It seemed he was exerting his full strength to control the sword. In the eyes of the crowd, the rapidly falling stream of light suddenly curved. Just as when he had been about to fall out of the arena earlier, it suddenly traced an arc. In the VIP seats, Empress Yan Yi’s expression changed. Two words escaped her lips, “Not good!” Li Chenghu remained motionless, a rarely seen solemn expression fixed on the changes above. Although they were all participants in the Chao Yang Assembly, some things could not be helped. Some people’s lives were simply cheaper, while some people’s lives were far more precious. Some people dying would mean nothing, while some people’s deaths would indeed have consequences.
Zhong Ruochen, controlling spells in mid air, also sensed something was wrong. Her hands moved continuously. The massive “Phoenix” body flipped, waving both wings to strike at the incoming stream of light. The curving stream of light was like a huge splash on the “Phoenix’s” body, instantly sinking into the “Phoenix.” Then the crowd saw the “Phoenix’s” body suddenly expand. Inside the phoenix head, Zhong Ruochen was greatly alarmed. She sensed the resistance of the “Phoenix” she had been casting spells to build up. It was almost ineffective, unable to effectively curb her opponent’s impact speed. There was no time to think. She exerted her full strength to dodge swiftly. In that instant, she saw a human figure suddenly appear from the haze. Before she could see clearly, it had already flashed past with a boom. The powerful qi gusts scraped against her. The speed was truly too fast. A cold gleam nearly cut her in two. Fortunately, using the “Phoenix” as resistance had somewhat delayed her opponent’s speed. She twisted her body and flipped to dodge, barely scraping past the sharp edge. But as said before, the speed was too fast. She did not completely avoid it. A sharp pain came from her arm. She subconsciously knew her arm was injured, but at this moment she could not attend to it at all. Her previous thought remained, continue dodging with all her might.
Boom. The “Phoenix” in the air first expanded, then collapsed, as if it had been blown to pieces. In the eyes of the audience below, it was merely a tiny stream of light. With a thunderous strike, it slaughtered the “Phoenix” in mid air. That majestic scene, the shock of such powerful destruction, was deeply imprinted in many people’s hearts. That massive thunderous impact made everyone feel as if the very air they breathed was roaring. The air itself seemed to boil.
Wen Ruowei, watching from the sidelines, stood up in shock, badly frightened. Staring at the explosion in the air, she cried out in alarm, “Sister!” Zhong Ruochen flew toward the ground. She turned her head and saw the bloody gash on her arm. She quickly cast a spell to check her injury. Xiang Zhen, who had burst out from the exploding “Phoenix,” was not much better off. His clothes looked like an ancient painting long neglected. Though still a garment, it had inexplicably become mottled, full of irregular holes. Many fragments seemed to have flown from the clothes. His protective qi had also failed to preserve his clothes under the powerful impact force.
He glanced at his opponent, whom he had failed to bring down. He did not stop. His figure traced another arc above the heads of the spectators in one stand. He stepped on his sword and soared into the sky once more. Seeing his intention to come again, Yu Qing below the stage once more felt pained. He inexplicably thought of the scene where Xiang Zhen had said he wanted to compete with him. He felt like ten thousand horses were galloping chaotically through his heart. That fellow’s attack power was simply too terrifying.
Zhong Ruochen landed gracefully. She looked up at the sky and saw her opponent rising into the air again. She also saw the exploding dust falling slowly like a massive curtain. Seeing her sister was not seriously harmed, Wen Ruowei pressed both hands to her chest and let out a heavy sigh of relief. Li Chenghu in the VIP seats also felt slightly relieved. He turned back to look at the Empress, whose brows had already relaxed. “Fortunately, her reaction was quick enough.” Yan Yi snorted coldly. “What is fortunate? She nearly lost her life, and she was injured by someone.” Zhong Ruochen stared at her opponent flying away in the sky. Her hands did not stop. She actually cast aside decorum, tore off a strip of her skirt, and bound it around the wound on her arm. Then she crossed her hands through her sleeves left and right. When her hands emerged again, they were plated with a dark metallic sheen.
She had put on a pair of gloves, a pair of gloves constructed from fine metal chains. Those who had already been guessing her origins from her technique earlier, upon seeing these dark metallic gloves, became even more certain of her background. They were secretly shocked. Zhong Ruochen quickly swept her gaze over the people in the stands. A flash of determination passed through her eyes. She would never let a certain person look down on her, and she would never let a certain person see her as a joke.
The dust exploding in the air covered her like a curtain, also causing a wave of people on the surrounding stands to cover their mouths and faces. But soon, everyone felt the familiar suction. The enveloping dust was rapidly being drawn away by the flowing air. Vision cleared. The crowd immediately saw the flying dust concentrating toward the centre of the arena. The scene of violent churning was also familiar. Many vortex pillars of wind quickly appeared, soon transforming into that “Phoenix” once more. The “Phoenix” looked up to the sky and once more flapped its wings to fly upward, once more ascending high, once more chasing in the direction its opponent had flown. Though its flying speed was far inferior to that of an opponent riding a sword, this time it did not hesitate, continuously raising its head to fly upward.
“Is this woman stupid from being hit? The power of that blockhead’s sword strike, she was lucky to dodge it once, and she dares to go up and taste it a second time?” Kui Qiu below the stage, arms crossed, clicked his tongue while staring at the sky. There was also a sense of amazement. He had not expected Xiang Zhen to be so powerful, realising he had previously underestimated that blockhead. Long Xingyun heard this, withdrew his gaze from the sky, glanced at him, and showed contempt. He scoffed, “Stupid brute.” After cursing, he looked back at the sky. He knew Zhong Ruochen’s identity. According to his guess, how could a disciple of the Earth Mother lose to an unknown wandering cultivator? What face would that leave him? Though he also did not know how Zhong Ruochen could block that terrifying strike, he even doubted whether upper profound cultivators could block that strike, but he was still willing to believe the Earth Mother’s disciple would win. Kui Qiu did not need to look to know which bastard was cursing him. It was not convenient to fight privately here, so he could only stare at the sky and snort coldly, “Do not be in a hurry. I will beat you into a stupid brute later.”
“Here it comes again.” Someone stared at the sky and shouted excitedly. The crowd looked carefully. Sure enough, they vaguely saw the stream of light rushing in again. This time the “Phoenix” neither dodged nor avoided. It went straight up to meet it.