Chapter 94: Seizing It

Everyone on the island turned to look in the direction of the sound.

They saw more than ten cultivators descend from the sky, all dressed in the Zhao family's white robes.

The one who had just spoken was a young cultivator with a stern countenance, radiating the magic power fluctuation of a perfect Qi Condensation stage.

Closely following him were two elderly men at the Foundation Establishment stage.

Even Li Yuanqing, standing in the center of the arena, wore a gloomy expression upon seeing their arrival.

"It's actually the Zhao family's Ninth Young Master, Zhao Chanzhen!"

"How did he come here?"

"People from the Zhao family?"

"Could they be here to cause trouble?"

"The Zhao family and our San Alliance have coexisted peacefully for decades."

"Why today..."

Li Yuanqing's face turned cold; he raised an eyebrow and asked the Zhao family members in a chilly voice, "What is the meaning of this, Young Master Zhao?"

"Do you intend to interfere in the affairs of our Seventy-Two San Alliance?"

Facing the Foundation Establishment cultivator before him, Zhao Chanzhen showed not a trace of fear and said:

"Heh, since this spiritual island belongs to no one, does that mean our Zhao family cannot participate in the auction?"

"Senior Li, that seems somewhat unreasonable, doesn't it?"

Hearing this, Li Yuanqing sneered, "Your Zhao family is already embroiled in a fierce struggle with the Lingyu Sect in Yunze Dahuang; I didn't expect you'd still have the leisure to come here and bid on a spiritual island not worth mentioning."

Upon hearing these words, Zhao Chanzhen's expression turned extremely ugly, clearly showing he had been provoked.

"As for the situation at the front lines, there is no need for Senior Li to worry about it."

"Our Zhao family has come here this time specifically to participate in the contest for this spiritual island."

"To put it plainly, if you think you can exclude our Zhao family, that is absolutely impossible."

Clearly, the Zhao family's stance was now very explicit.

The two Zhao family elders at the Foundation Establishment stage also revealed sharp glints in their eyes, staring fixedly at Li Yuanqing.

The scene immediately fell into an eerie atmosphere.

Li Yuanqing was also baffled; why would the Zhao family suddenly stick their nose in like this?

And with such an uncompromising attitude.

To tear open relations and break years of balance with the Zhao family over an island of little value...

... seemed hardly worthwhile.

After weighing his options repeatedly, he asked bluntly, "The current bidding price for the spiritual island has already reached twenty thousand spirit stones."

"Does Young Master Zhao intend to raise the bid?"

Seeing Li Yuanqing back down slightly, Zhao Chanzhen curled the corner of his mouth slightly and said, "In my opinion, after evaluating the overall value of this island, it is not worth that price."

"We should change the method of auction!"

Hearing this, Li Yuanqing's face twitched again, and he said in a deep voice, "What method do you propose?"

Zhao Chanzhen immediately replied, "In the Immortal Realm, strength is supreme; naturally, we must settle this through a magical duel."

"Here is the proposal: any cultivator present who can afford ten thousand spirit stones may participate in the contest for this spiritual island."

"Life and death will not be accounted for; participants will draw lots to duel, and the final winner needs only to pay ten thousand spirit stones to gain ownership of the spiritual island."

"It will be fair and impartial; not only will your San Alliance accept the final result, but our Zhao family will as well."

"If one lacks the strength to even protect the island, what use is there in winning the auction?"

Having finished speaking, Zhao Chanzhen waited for the San Alliance's response.

His words, though rough in manner, were not unreasonable in principle.

However, in reality, he originally intended to overwhelm them with force and seize this island at the smallest possible cost.

Even if the spiritual vein is scattered, it is still a second-grade one.

These members of the San Alliance are all Qi Condensation families; they possess no Foundation Establishment cultivators, so how can they compare to the deeply rooted Zhao family?

The cultivators present began to discuss among themselves.

They hadn't expected such a twist.

Li Yuanqing's expression shifted unpredictably; he turned around to consult with several high-ranking members of the San Alliance.

A moment later.

Li Yuanqing returned to the arena and said to the Zhao family members, "Deciding the final ownership through a magical duel is not unacceptable."

"However, our San Alliance must add two conditions."

"First, the cultivation level of cultivators participating in this duel is limited to the Qi Condensation stage; the magical duel is for sparring only and must stop before causing harm—anyone who takes another's life will be disqualified from the contest."

"Second, the spirit stones to be paid must be increased to fifteen thousand."

Li Yuanqing had clearly seen through the Zhao family's scheme and directly increased the spirit stone requirement by five thousand.

In this way, even if the Zhao family won the spiritual island, the San Alliance's losses would not be significant and would remain within an acceptable range.

"Agreed!"

Zhao Chanzhen turned back to exchange a few words with the two elders, then nodded in agreement.

Both parties reached a consensus.

Next, Li Yuanqing ordered the chairs to be removed, clearing a larger open space in the center.

"Very well, you have all heard. If anyone has designs on this island, you may all come forward to register and draw lots."

"I, this old man, shall serve as the referee for this duel; regarding safety, you may rest assured."

The moment Li Yuanqing's voice fell.

More than half of the cultivators who had just been bidding instantly fled.

As for the Zhao family side, it was actually Zhao Chanzhen himself who stepped forward; the moment he entered the arena, the expressions of all the scattered cultivators turned exceedingly ugly.

"Alas! I didn't expect Zhao Chanzhen himself to make a move."

"Fellow Daoist Qin, I advise you not to participate in this contest," Wu Jiang sighed, hesitating as he offered his counsel.

Qin Ming furrowed his brows. "Is there anything noteworthy about this Zhao Chanzhen?"

"This person stands out among the younger generation of the Zhao family in terms of strength; his cultivation talent is quite high, and while still young, he has already reached the peak of the Qi Condensation realm."

"It is said he has already cultivated the Zhao family's 'Qianyuan Sword Art' to a state of divine mastery."

"I do not mean to speak words of defeat, but I fear none of those scattered cultivators who just signed up are a match for him," Wu Jiang explained.

Upon hearing this, Qin Ming nodded.

Yet he was quite satisfied with this island; it was very suitable for his solitary cultivation.

If he were to search for other islands, he might not find any place better than this one.

In an instant.

Qin Ming made his decision.

Fifteen thousand spirit stones was a price he could accept.

As for Zhao Chanzhen... how did he compare to those several core disciples of the Lingyu Sect who had died at his hands?

Subsequently.

Under Wu Jiang's gaze, Qin Ming walked toward the arena.

Wu Jiang instantly froze in stupor. "Is this not... could it be that I failed to make myself clear?"

Qin Ming stepped forward to register, drew a lot, and then withdrew outside the arena to wait.

There were not many cultivators participating in this duel this time.

There were fewer than twenty cultivators in total.

These were all late-stage Qi Condensation and peak Qi Condensation cultivators who had confidence in their own strength.

The others, upon seeing Zhao Chanzhen enter the arena, had all abandoned this contest one after another.

Once the lot drawing concluded, the duels began immediately.

The scattered cultivators who had drawn the first set of lots stepped onto the stage to begin their magical combat.

For a moment.

Brilliant spells flew chaotically throughout the arena.

This drew exclamations of surprise from the cultivators watching on the sidelines.

After all, duels between late-stage Qi Condensation cultivators were something that scattered cultivators of lower realms rarely had the chance to witness.

The outcome of the magical combat was decided very quickly.

Among the cultivators in this duel, there was actually a beast tamer who summoned a first-stage late-period black panther demon beast.

Equivalent to a two-against-one situation, he won the duel with great ease.

After two consecutive rounds.

An unlucky ninth-layer Qi Condensation scattered cultivator drew Zhao Chanzhen.

With a single sword strike, Zhao Chanzhen severed his arm and kicked him out of the arena.

Witnessing such a sharp and incisive sword art, every cultivator participating in the duel changed color.

From then on, every scattered cultivator who encountered Zhao Chanzhen without exception announced their withdrawal.

On Qin Ming's side, he also entered the arena twice, facing opponents who were all at the late stage of Qi Condensation.

Yet under the coverage of his spiritual sense, which was comparable to that of the Foundation Establishment stage, his opponents' spells were riddled with flaws.

He casually unleashed a few basic wood-element spells and sent his opponents off the arena.

As expected.

In the final deciding match, only Qin Ming and Zhao Chanzhen remained.

Zhao Chanzhen's gaze turned grave as he looked at Qin Ming, who stood opposite him with an ordinary appearance.

A trace of vigilance flashed across his stern face.

Truly, one cannot judge a person by their appearance.

Because he had just watched Qin's two previous duels, which could be described as extremely relaxed and effortless; he had defeated his opponents using only some basic spells.

It was estimated that his true abilities had not yet been revealed.

The atmosphere at the scene instantly reached its peak.

Just as everyone thought.

A heated and boiling dragon-struggle-tiger-fight was about to begin.

Suddenly.

The corner of Zhao Chanzhen's eye twitched, and holding back his words, he said: "I admit defeat! I withdraw."

(End of Chapter)