Chapter 267: Duel

Inside the grand hall.

When Chu Tianhe asked Qin Ming this question, the hall fell silent.

At this, the other ancestral elders did not step forward to dissuade him, for they too wished to witness the true strength of this legendary Wei Kingdom cultivator—just how powerful he truly was, compared to the rumors.

The "Long Dao Ren," upon hearing the challenge from the Lingjian Mountain elder, furrowed his thick brows and replied in a deep, rumbling voice: "Since Elder Chu has such a desire to restore his disciple's honor, I shall be happy to oblige."

At this, Nalan Xi spoke up: "Since both of you agree to resolve your dispute through combat, and given the current beast disaster, let the duel be limited in scope—no lives are to be lost. I shall serve as the arbiter."

Nalan Xi, seeing that Long Dao Ren was forthright, upright, and immensely powerful, felt a desire to recruit him. Though she had failed to sway him, she did not wish for him to come to harm within the Immortal City.

After a moment's thought, she secretly whispered to Qin Ming: "Young Long, Chu Tianhe of Lingjian Mountain is no ordinary false-core cultivator defeated by Du Gu Yang."

As an elder of Lingjian Mountain, he can wield seventy percent of a Golden Core cultivator's power, and has already brought Lingjian Mountain's sword arts to perfection.

If you lack confidence, think carefully before proceeding.

Qin Ming, upon hearing this, cast a grateful glance toward Nalan Xi True Person, yet his expression remained calm and composed, showing not the slightest hint of retreat or fear.

Chu Tianhe of Lingjian Mountain, seeing that the "Long Dao Ren" had accepted, flickered a sly gleam in his eyes and said: "Since this is a martial exchange, there should be a stake. If you lose, that thunder-attribute beast core of yours becomes mine."

Upon hearing this, several nearby Golden Core elders silently cursed him for his shamelessness.

After all this, it turned out the old rascal had set his sights on Long Dao Ren's second-rank perfected beast core!

Qin Ming, upon hearing this, let out a silent sneer, then asked: "Since Elder Chu covets my beast core, what will you put forth as your stake?"

"Anything of equal value to this second-rank perfected thunder-attribute beast core—spirit stones, cultivation techniques, spiritual materials, talismans, elixirs—you may name your terms."

"As the head of a sect, I can certainly afford such things," Chu Tianhe said with a cold, forced smile.

He never once considered he might lose; Chu Tianhe had absolute confidence in his own strength—even if Long Dao Ren was a body cultivator, he was certain he could defeat him.

Hearing he could choose any spiritual material, Qin Ming internally chuckled and immediately nodded in agreement.

Afterwards, the crowd exited the grand hall.

The duel ground was set upon a vacant stretch of land on the side peak of Canghai Peak.

Hearing of a false-core-level duel, nearby cultivators rushed over en masse to watch.

False-core ancestral elders were already among the true apex cultivators of the Southern Wastes.

To witness such an event firsthand would provide ample gossip for tea and meals.

"What?!"

"Chu Tianhe, elder of Jin Kingdom's Lingjian Mountain, has challenged Long Dao Ren, the legendary cultivator of Wei Kingdom?!"

"Isn't this clearly bullying the weak?"

"Hah! Long Dao Ren of Wei Kingdom is finished—our Chu Elder recently unlocked the 'Startle of Spring Sword Intent'! No one below Golden Core can stand against him!"

"Quick! The duel is about to begin!"

"This is surely a once-in-a-millennium battle!"

"I'm betting on Long Dao Ren to win!"

…

On the side peak, a crowd of cultivators had already gathered, thick and noisy.

Of course, those who had come to watch were either qualified to reside in the core zone or rented caves on Canghai Peak—each with formidable backgrounds and strength.

"Since both of you are ready, the duel may begin," Nalan Xi declared, then waved her hand and summoned a protective barrier centered on the two combatants.

The onlookers relaxed, knowing the barrier cast by a Golden Core elder could not be broken by either combatant.

Chu Tianhe of Lingjian Mountain leapt into the arena, his aura surging as he fully unleashed his false-core cultivation base.

"Heh! I never expected this brat would actually accept my challenge—he must be overconfident in his strength."

He thinks he can challenge a false-core cultivator just because he luckily killed a second-rank perfected beast.

"Too bad—I'm no easy target."

"Ignorant brat, daring to defy Lingjian Mountain's authority—I'll give him a lesson he'll never forget!" Nalan Xi's words had barely faded.

Chu Tianhe's gaze turned sharp; even facing a Foundation Establishment cultivator like Long Dao Ren, he had no intention of holding back.

"I've heard your body cultivation is formidable. Today, let's see whether my sword is unbreakable, or your flesh is stronger."

Qin Ming, in the form of the bearded giant, showed no fear and laughed freely: "Heh! I too wish to test Elder Chu's exquisite sword techniques."

"But I'm just a crude brute—I don't know how to control my strength. If I hurt you, don't blame me."

Chu Tianhe's face darkened. He snapped coldly: "You have boldness, indeed. Words are useless—let your fists speak."

In the next instant, Chu Tianhe moved—his right hand formed a sword seal in midair and pointed upward. ZHENG! His entire aura shifted violently.

A crimson spirit sword, radiating terrifying energy, shot into the air and hovered directly above his head.

"It's a supreme-grade spirit weapon!"

"Isn't that the 'Rainbow Sword,' one of Lingjian Mountain's Twelve Swords?!"

"Gah—Chu Elder is going all out!"

BOOM! "Condense!"

Chu Tianhe's body erupted with a fierce sword intent, surging skyward as if merging with the Rainbow Sword above him—man and sword as one.

A hundred-zhang-long rainbow sword beam erupted upward, as if piercing the heavens, radiating a terrifying power capable of annihilating the world.

SHUAI! Chu Tianhe had no intention of wasting time with a back-and-forth duel against this brat—it would make him, the sect master, look weak.

So he unleashed his ultimate technique from the start.

The newly awakened "Startle of Spring Sword Intent."

As Chu Tianhe's sword seal pointed, the hundred-zhang rainbow blade sliced through space with unstoppable force, descending straight toward Qin Ming.

Even the surrounding onlookers, witnessing this terrifying sword qi, trembled in fear and held their breath for the "Long Dao Ren."

Nalan Xi, seeing this sword strike, murmured in slight surprise: "To refine sword intent to this level—Chu Tianhe is a pity. With his Earth-grade spiritual root, had he not been reckless and settled for a false-core, he might have become one of the greatest sword cultivators among Golden Core peers."

She shook her head and turned back to Qin Ming as Long Dao Ren—she was certain he could not withstand this strike, and prepared to intervene.

But just as she was about to act—

She saw Long Dao Ren made no move to dodge, so she paused to watch further.

Qin Ming, even facing this sword technique, felt no fear. His True Gang Form had reached its third transformation—only needing beast essence blood to achieve the legendary "Ultimate Body."

At this moment, facing Chu Tianhe's false-core level, he still had ample room to spare.

As the crowd remained stunned by the awe-inspiring sword technique of Chu Tianhe, elder of Lingjian Mountain—

Suddenly!

A colossal crimson four-armed demon ape phantom emerged from Long Dao Ren's body!

The moment the crimson demon ape appeared, an ancient, primordial beast aura descended—CRACK!

Under this overwhelming power, even Nalan Xi's protective barrier cracked like glass! PANG! The demon ape's four arms surged into massive palms, slamming together in unison to catch the descending rainbow blade—directly stopping it with bare hands!

"Impossible?!" Chu Tianhe's face twisted in disbelief.

But what followed stunned him even more.

The crimson demon ape's four arms clenched with crushing force—CRACK!

The hundred-zhang rainbow blade shattered instantly, dissolving into countless sparks that vanished into the air.

ZHENG! The Rainbow Spirit Sword, now uncontrollable, was seized by the demon ape's palm and casually retrieved by Qin Ming.

Chu Tianhe, caught utterly off-guard, lost his connection to his spirit sword and spat a mouthful of blood. Before he could even recover—

The crimson demon ape clenched its five fingers into a fist, crossing hundreds of zhang in an instant, and slammed toward him!

(End of Chapter)