Chapter 209: Watching the Duel at Zijin Ridge

Qin Ming left Jialing City, mounted his Silver-Winged Frost Bee, and headed back toward Wangyue Island.

He flew through the air for about half a day.

Suddenly.

His powerful spiritual sense detected a large gathering of cultivators several miles away.

There lay a rolling mountain range, along which a green stone Great Wall had been built, winding endlessly like a coiled dragon nestled among the peaks.

Qin Ming had originally intended to leave directly, but when he overheard the topics of discussion among the cultivators rushing toward the site, his interest stirred.

He immediately retracted his Silver-Winged Frost Bee into his spirit beast pouch, revealed his Foundation Establishment cultivation base, then casually intercepted a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator to ask questions.

The Qi Refining cultivator was piloting a magic boat, speeding toward the gathering spot, when he was suddenly blocked.

A flicker of anger flashed in his eyes, but upon sensing the magical power radiating from the other man far surpassed his own, a smile returned to his face.

"Heh! Esteemed elder, what can I do for you?" The Qi Refining cultivator bowed respectfully, face beaming with forced deference.

He gazed at the burly, bearded giant before him and silently cursed his luck, dread flooding his heart.

Qin Ming feigned profundity and snorted: "Hmph! Why the rush? Am I that terrifying?"

"You brat, tell me plainly—what's happening up ahead? If your answer doesn't please me, I'll break your legs!"

The late-stage Qi Refining cultivator trembled violently at these words and hurriedly replied: "Respected elder, today is the day Lord Linghu Yang has challenged Wei Wuyan, the First Sword of Wei State. In a moment, they will duel atop Zijin Ridge—many cultivators have rushed here to witness this once-in-a-century spectacle."

"I'm also hurrying to watch the show."

Qin Ming froze. He hadn't expected it to involve Wei Wuyan.

"Cough! Tell me more—who is this Linghu Yang? How dare he challenge Wei Wuyan?"

"Huh? You don't know? Linghu Yang is the recent sensation among recluses—he defeated a False Golden Core elder with only a Foundation Establishment realm, and his name has shaken the entire Wei State cultivation world."

Qin Ming frowned, recalling—he'd indeed heard whispers about this man back in Canghai Xiancheng, and the name lingered faintly in his memory.

'No wonder he dares challenge Wei Wuyan—he must have real strength.'

"Alright, get lost," Qin Ming grunted.

The Qi Refining cultivator, as if granted amnesty, bowed hastily and fled, drenched in sweat.

"What bad luck! Is today just not a good day to travel? Why did I run into this demon? Lucky he's not a true monster—if he were, I'd be dead."

…

Qin Ming watched the cultivator's retreating back and mused: 'Interesting…'

'I might as well take the chance to see what the peak Foundation Establishment strength in the Wei State cultivation world really looks like.'

With that thought, Qin Ming flew toward Zijin Ridge.

A stick of incense later.

Qin Ming arrived at the duel site—Zijin Ridge was packed with people, buzzing with excitement.

"Who do you think will win this fight?"

"Obviously Linghu Yang! He defeated a False Golden Core elder—he's a once-in-a-century prodigy!"

"Wei Wuyan is the First Sword of Wei State—his reputation isn't empty! After decades of cultivation, his sword Dao must be perfected beyond mortal comprehension. Linghu Yang won't last a single blow against him."

"Dare you bet? I'll wager my top-grade magic treasure."

"Fine! But we agree beforehand—if you lose, you hand over that hundred-year Wind Spirit Herb!"

"Done! Who's afraid of whom?"

"..."

This scene repeated endlessly across Zijin Ridge.

Qin Ming stared in astonishment—before the duel had even begun, the crowd of cultivators was already placing bets.

Zzzt! Zzzt! At that moment, two dazzling streaks of light shot from the distant sky, arriving in an instant.

Two imposing figures hovered in midair, locking gazes.

Linghu Yang stood tall, eyes sharp, facial features rugged and unyielding, cradling a top-grade spirit blade. He spoke calmly to Wei Wuyan: "This duel will decide victory—and life or death."

"As you wish," Wei Wuyan replied, expression utterly unmoved.

The surrounding cultivators, hearing this blunt, brutal opening, felt their blood surge.

Qin Ming, hidden nearby in the air, had already probed their spiritual power—he found their cultivation bases nearly identical.

Zzzt! Zzzt! The battle erupted instantly.

In the sky, two lights clashed, bursting into blinding radiance, drawing gasps from below.

Boom! Boom! Two thunderous crashes rang out—Wei Wuyan and Linghu Yang had already clashed in midair.

Some cultivators felt the overwhelming energy but couldn't make out what had happened.

Qin Ming saw clearly: in a flash, the two Foundation Establishment prodigies had exchanged dozens of blows. Visible to the eye, a crimson sword light and a blue aura intertwined, crashing from sky to ground, leveling nearby peaks.

Many onlookers, terrified by the sheer power, immediately fled, riding their magic treasures far away.

Afraid of being caught in the residual shockwaves and meeting a fatal end.

For a moment.

Distant mountains cracked, dazzling spells exploded in succession, dust rolled thickly.

Wei Wuyan, the First Sword of Wei State, wielded a top-grade spirit sword. His body shimmered with sword light—sometimes forming a shield, sometimes a sword array—repeatedly forcing Linghu Yang into peril.

Wherever the sword light passed, nothing could withstand it—all turned to dust.

But Linghu Yang was no easy opponent—he wielded a golden longblade, surrounded by five-colored flame, his aura rivaling that of a False Golden Core.

"Hmph! Brother Wei, impressive! Next is my ultimate technique—if even this can't defeat you, I yield." Linghu Yang's eyes blazed with madness, his battle intent fierce. He touched his forehead—a drop of dark red blood floated out, instantly landing on the blade's surface.

Boom! The ancient golden longblade, as if awakened by some force, vanished in a flash of golden light.

Clearly, he had sacrificed his essence and lifespan to activate a terrifying secret technique.

Then Linghu Yang clasped his hands together, lifting them above his head.

Boom! A blue blade shadow, dozens of zhang tall, instantly appeared around him, radiating a force capable of destroying heaven and earth!

Even Wei Wuyan frowned, silently cursing: "Damn fool!" Qin Ming, disguised as the bearded giant, stood nearby watching the spectacle, thoroughly engrossed—

Then he sensed something wrong.

Wei Wuyan stood directly ahead of Qin Ming, and he hadn't anticipated that Linghu Yang's attack, fueled by burning essence, would be this powerful.

Qin Ming was about to retreat when Linghu Yang's blade shadow, with unstoppable force, slashed toward Wei Wuyan! Boom! The cultivators on Qin Ming's side, staring at this blade that split the sky, turned pale with terror, silently lamenting their poor positioning.

They hadn't expected watching a show to turn into a death trap—they could only pray Wei Wuyan could withstand this devastating technique.

"My god!"

"Is Linghu Yang's attack even beyond Foundation Establishment limits?"

"This guy's insane—we can't dodge in time!"

"I hope Wei Wuyan has a counter—otherwise he's dead!"

As the crowd scattered in panic—

The dozens-of-zhang-long blue blade shadow, under Linghu Yang's control, surged again, rising over ten more zhang, then slashed straight down!

An unexpected sight appeared.

Faced with such a terrifying final move, even Wei Wuyan, the First Sword of Wei State, chose not to block it.

He pulled out a gray talisman, slapped it onto his chest—and vanished from his spot.

Instantly reappeared a li away.

Even Qin Ming was stunned.

"Damn! Wei Wuyan chickened out!"

"It's over! The blade's coming—run!"

"Too late—we're dead!"

"..."

Qin Ming's face twitched—he hadn't come here just to watch, yet he'd still been caught in the crossfire.

The peak attack from Linghu Yang had locked onto the airspace where he stood—unless he had a space-transcending talisman like Wei Wuyan's, escape was impossible.

Nearby cultivators screamed in despair.

Roar! At that moment—

A colossal, blood-red, four-armed giant shadow appeared in midair, towering over twenty zhang, reaching from earth to sky.

The moment it appeared, an invincible aura surged outward in concentric shockwaves.

Cultivators caught in the blast were like tiny boats tossed by a tidal wave—flung sideways, some even falling from the sky.

The blood-red four-armed giant shadow faced the descending blade without flinching.

Crack! Crack!

It extended all four arms, fists clenched, transforming into four massive fists—like a blood-colored demon god—it crossed dozens of zhang in an instant and slammed upward at the blade shadow!

Boom! Boom! Boom! CRACK! After a series of earth-shattering collisions, the blue blade shadow shattered instantly under the giant's fists, dissolving like foam.

Boom! The residual force of the punch didn't fade—it struck Linghu Yang directly, sending him flying like a cannonball into the mountain behind him.

A clear, black, " Tai "-shaped depression appeared on the mountainside. Sssss! The onlookers gasped—not just from relief at surviving, but from sheer shock at what they'd just witnessed, their minds still reeling.

Wei Wuyan, not far away, also stared in awe, gazing at Qin Ming's bearded giant form, his heart in turmoil. (End of Chapter)