Chapter 1909

Upon hearing that Wu Zhong actually proactively proposed to suppress his own cultivation to Emperor Sovereign Realm and engage Ye Zhangqing in a fair duel, Huang Lao's heart instantly had no more worries.

After all, this time he personally acted to help Wu Zhong suppress his cultivation; thus, this brat would have absolutely no chance to regret even if he wanted to.

Regarding battles between peers of the same realm, Huang Lao had full confidence and absolute faith in Ye Zhangqing.

If not for that, why would Bai Yuan, having eaten his fill with nothing to do, specially rush to Bin Hai Jie to earnestly ask him to serve as Ye Zhangqing's Protector of the Way?

If truly under the same realm Ye Zhangqing still could not defeat Wu Zhong, then even Huang Lao himself would have to reconsider whether he should continue serving as Ye Zhangqing's Protector of the Way.

At that moment, Hei Lao beside them spoke with a grim expression.

"Impossible..."

However, before his words were finished, Wu Zhong completely ignored him, and without waiting for Hei Lao's words to fully fade, he coldly replied.

"Good, you still have some guts."

Seeing Wu Zhong's resolute attitude, Hei Lao, whose words had already risen to his lips, had to forcibly swallow them back down.

In his eyes, a flash of uncontrollable anger flickered, like a raging fire.

This brat is truly foolish, his mind completely blinded by endless jealousy, causing him to lose even the most basic reason.

As the saying goes, good advice cannot persuade a damned ghost; now that he has lost his absolute advantage in cultivation, what chance of victory does he still have?

Although Hei Lao doesn't really know Ye Zhangqing, considering that even someone as venerable and perceptive as Huang Lao willingly serves as his Protector of the Way, Ye Zhangqing certainly cannot be an ordinary person.

You must know, Ye Zhangqing's current cultivation is merely at the Emperor Sovereign Realm.

Then, what reason could cause Huang Lao to value him so highly?

After thinking it over, aside from his astonishing talent and his superb Chúyì, there seems to be no other more reasonable explanation.

Such a simple and obvious principle—could this utterly foolish brat possibly not understand it at all?

Hei Lao grew more and more furious, the anger in his heart surging like tumultuous waves, continuously rolling and rising.

However, now that things have come to this, no matter how angry he becomes, he is powerless to turn the tide; there is simply no way to stop the impending clash.

At that moment, the hitherto silent Huang Lao suddenly spoke lightly.

"Begin."

Accompanying his offhand remark, an intangible pressure instantly enveloped Wu Zhong like Mount Tai pressing down on an egg.

This pressure was like an invisible giant hand, forcibly suppressing Wu Zhong's originally profound and unfathomable cultivation to a level comparable with Ye Zhangqing's.

It is worth noting that this pressure solely targeted Wu Zhong's cultivation for suppression, without causing any substantive effect on his other bodily aspects.

In other words, Wu Zhong at this moment can still go all out without reservation, deploying all the strength he possessed when his cultivation was at Emperor Sovereign Realm to face the challenge ahead.

Huang Lao stood there steadily, his expression calm, showing no sign of secretly tampering.

For someone of his stature and status, engaging in such petty tricks would be beneath him and damage his dignity.

Moreover, he was genuinely curious, wanting to see with his own eyes just how formidable Ye Zhangqing's true combat power could be.

Previously, all the rumors about Ye Zhangqing either came from Formation illusions or hearsay; Huang Lao had never personally witnessed his true bearing.

Especially when he heard Bai Yuan compare Ye Zhangqing to those Yāoniè of the Immortal Realm, Huang Lao's doubts grew—could Ye Zhangqing really possess such ability?

At this moment, Wu Zhong clearly sensed that his cultivation had been suppressed, yet his face remained composed, without a trace of panic, and he did not utter a single complaint.

After all, this fair battle was his own proposal; having decided to fight, he naturally must accept any possible outcome.

After confirming that aside from his cultivation being suppressed there were no other abnormalities, Wu Zhong's originally calm, water-like gaze began to shift gradually.

In the depths of his pupils, it seemed a flame burned fiercely, and an intense fighting spirit surged like a tide, wildly gathering.

Today, he swore before Huang Lao that he would defeat Ye Zhangqing in the most open and honorable manner.

He intended to prove with his actions that Huang Lao's earlier rejection of him and choice of this Ye-surnamed fellow was a grave mistake.

Wu Zhong, whether in talent, strength, or background, far surpasses that Ye-surnamed individual by hundreds or even thousands of times.

Ye Zhangqing had no interest whatsoever in what Wu Zhong was thinking.

He regarded Wu Zhong with a calm expression, even appearing somewhat nonchalant.

He slightly raised his hand, gesturing that Wu Zhong could make the first move if he wished.

This gesture utterly enraged the already dissatisfied Wu Zhong; his already blazing anger erupted like a volcanic eruption, becoming even more vigorous by a full three parts.

Wu Zhong's eyes widened as he glared at Ye Zhangqing, letting out a roar of anger.

Immediately afterward, he exerted force with his feet, his body shooting forward like an arrow released from a bow, rushing straight at Ye Zhangqing.

His speed was astonishing, as if he could reach Ye Zhangqing in the blink of an eye, leaving the opponent no time to react.

At the same time, Wu Zhong's hand had somehow gripped a coldly gleaming kitchen knife.

With his charge, the knife traced a fierce arc in the air, accompanied by a tearing wind, and descended upon Ye Zhangqing's head with the force of Mount Tai pressing an egg.

Yet, faced with Wu Zhong's ferocious and sharp assault, Ye Zhangqing remained firmly planted, not moving an inch.

Just as Wu Zhong's blade was about to strike his body, Ye Zhangqing suddenly swung his right arm, his palm lashing out like lightning.

In the instant that followed, a crisp 'slap' rang out as Ye Zhangqing's palm firmly landed on Wu Zhong's cheek.

The slap carried tremendous force; Ye Zhangqing, striking first despite acting after, delivered a heavy blow before Wu Zhong's blade could fall.

The next second, the originally mighty Wu Zhong, brandishing his knife, seemed struck by an irresistible force and suddenly lost his balance.

He flew backward like a kite with its string cut, utterly helpless, his appearance wretched to the extreme, resembling the earlier fallen Hei Lao—truly a case of old and young cooperating in perfect harmony.