Chapter 621: Peak Duel

The moment the light lotus, burning with sacred flames, took shape, it shot out directly. Wherever it passed, countless streams of light and flame flowed, appearing to form a meteor-like tail of light. With a display of extreme brilliance, it roared toward Zhong Taiqiu under the gaze of countless moved onlookers.

The reflection of the sacred light lotus in Zhong Taiqiu's pupils caused the feminine smile on his face to fade away bit by bit, for he sensed a tremendous aura of danger within this lotus.

"To have only broken through to the Void Pearl stage, yet be able to erupt with this level of resonant power?"

Zhong Taiqiu's heart was in turmoil. He had never underestimated Jiang Qing'e; even though there was a very obvious gap in resonant power levels between them, he had not expected the resonant power she unleashed this time to be this strong.

This was the strongest Void Pearl stage he had ever seen to date.

Zhong Taiqiu took a deep breath, his gaze turning sharp. No matter how monstrous Jiang Qing'e was, it would not be so easy for her to take the Seven-Star Pillar position from him!

As a former strongest Seven-Star Pillar, Zhong Taiqiu naturally had his own pride. He had accepted being gradually surpassed by Gong Shenjun and Gong Luanyu, the two juniors from the Fourth Star Academy, but if he could not even block Jiang Qing'e, who was only in the Third Star Academy, he would be too embarrassed.

Boom!

Dark green resonant power erupted from Zhong Taiqiu's body like a raging tide. From afar, it looked like a vast green river churning behind him, and he immediately formed hand seals.

Suddenly, countless silver light spots shot out from the dark green resonant power. Looking closely, these light spots were actually individual silver snake scales.

Each snake scale was engraved with strange patterns, inhaling and exhaling the energy of heaven and earth.

Many people in the arena familiar with Zhong Taiqiu whispered upon seeing this: "The 'Ten Thousand Transformations Snake Scale Art'! This is the high-level Dragon General Art that Zhong Taiqiu has mastered most exquisitely. This art has three levels: 'Green Scale,' 'Silver Scale,' and 'Gold Scale,' and he has already cultivated it to the 'Silver Scale' realm; its power is extraordinary."

"It seems Zhong Taiqiu also feels the threat; he used his strongest means right from the start."

"That's for sure. Although Junior Sister Jiang has only broken through to the Void Pearl stage, her Void Pearl stage is simply too terrifying... This is definitely the strongest Void Pearl stage in the history of the Astral Sage College."

Hiss!

Amidst the many whispers, Zhong Taiqiu's mind stirred, and he struck out with a palm. The countless silver snake scales poured out like a flood, transforming into a giant snake-scale palm about a hundred feet wide. A deep crack split open in the center of the palm, resembling a snake's mouth, flicking a snake tongue.

Boom!

The giant silver snake-scale palm struck out, causing the void to tremble violently and the energy of heaven and earth to roar, triggering a thunderous sound.

The stone slabs below began to crack continuously at this moment.

Under the gaze of countless nervous eyes, the light lotus burning with sacred flames arrived through the air, and the next instant, it collided violently with the giant silver snake-scale hand.

Rumble!

A deafening roar resounded, and massive energy shockwaves swept out in all directions. The stone slabs in the arena shattered continuously, and when the aftermath was about to reach the tiers of spectator stands, instructors maintaining order took action, manifesting energy light shields to cover the plaza.

Thump, thump, thump!

Ripples appeared continuously on the energy light shields.

However, no one paid attention to this; they only stared at the source of the energy shockwaves.

The sacred fire lotus and the giant silver scale hand were locked in a stalemate.

As the fire lotus rotated slowly, waves of sacred flames formed a giant tide. The flames contained light resonant power, and under its continuous washing, the silver snake scales began to gradually become transparent.

That was the purifying power of light resonant power!

Moreover, Jiang Qing'e possessed a ninth-grade light resonance, so the purifying power was even more overbearing and fierce. Even though Zhong Taiqiu had the strength of a six-star Heavenly Pearl, the silver snake scales formed by his resonant power could still not fully withstand the erosion of the purifying power.

"Ninth-grade light resonant power, truly overbearing and peerless!"

Zhong Taiqiu also sensed the change in the giant snake-scale hand and his eyes narrowed. He himself possessed a low-eighth-grade Demon Python resonance, so the grade of resonant power he cultivated was not low, but he had not expected his resonant power grade to be completely suppressed in the exchange with Jiang Qing'e. Fortunately, his own resonant power was extremely thick, and he could withstand the purification from the light resonant power.

In Zhong Taiqiu's pupils, the slowly rotating light fire lotus was reflected. After the previous clash, he could sense that Jiang Qing'e's current resonant power strength was likely not inferior to a four-star Heavenly Pearl stage. This was a rather abnormal matter; after all, he had never seen anyone at the Void Pearl stage who could raise their resonant power to this level.

However, he also understood that Jiang Qing'e's abnormal level of resonant power should not last long; otherwise, it would be too contrary to reason. No matter how monstrous a ninth-grade light resonance was, it should not reach this point.

"Although this light fire lotus is strong, it is not something I cannot handle."

Zhong Taiqiu's gaze flickered. As the former strongest Seven-Star Pillar, he still had enough confidence in his own methods. Although Jiang Qing''s light fire lotus made him feel a strong threat, the difference in their levels was clear, and it would not be so easy to bridge that gap.

"Very well, once I neutralize this move of yours, the challenge should be over."

With this thought, Zhong Taiqiu did not hesitate. The resonant power in his body erupted completely, and the resonant power between heaven and earth surged, as if a shrill hissing sound resounded.

"Ten Thousand Transformations Snake Scale Art, Demon Snake Swallows Heaven!"

Following Zhong Taiqiu's cold shout, the deep crack in the center of the giant palm formed by the silver snake scales tore open, transforming into a snake mouth filled with fangs. Inside the snake mouth, it was as deep as a ravine, with terrifying and cold poisonous gas surging.

The giant palm covered downward, the abyss-like giant mouth appearing to shroud heaven and earth, and under countless shocked gazes, it swallowed the light fire lotus in one gulp.

"Snake Abyss Suppression!"

After swallowing the light fire lotus, Zhong Taiqiu quickly formed seals with both hands. The five fingers of the giant snake-scale hand clenched tightly, sealing the light fire lotus trapped within like five giant pythons. At the same time, massive poisonous gas roared, attempting to grind down and erode the light fire lotus.

Under the erosion of the boundless snake poison, the light fire lotus swallowed into the giant hand seemed to begin to flicker unsteadily.

Seeing this, the students in the arena who supported Jiang Qing'e could not help but feel worried. As expected, even if Jiang Qing'e possessed a ninth-grade light resonance, was it difficult to contend with an old-school Seven-Star Pillar like Zhong Taiqiu?

Even Li Luo's eyes narrowed slightly.

This move of Zhong Taiqiu's was truly terrifying. If it were any other Void Pearl stage practitioner, they would likely have been swallowed into that Snake Abyss and ground to nothing by the poisonous gas.

"Junior Sister Jiang, you are already very impressive to be able to erupt with this level of attack at the Void Pearl stage. I feel that if you were to truly step into the Heavenly Pearl stage now, I would likely not be your match, but unfortunately..." Zhong Taiqiu stood in the air, the giant hand formed by silver snake scales suspended, the shadow covering Jiang Qing'e. He looked down at her from above and said slowly.

"Junior Sister Jiang, this move of yours seems to be useless now."

"So..."

However, just as Zhong Taiqiu's last sentence fell, Jiang Qing'e extended her slender jade hand, pointing it from afar at the giant hand formed by the silver snake scales. Her bright eyes and voice were quite cold: "Senior Brother Zhong's Snake Abyss is indeed extraordinary, but my light fire lotus may not be so easy to digest."

Her slender jade hand clenched suddenly at this moment.

The very moment her five fingers clenched, the light fire lotus suppressed by the Snake Abyss suddenly erupted with monstrous, biting sword Qi. The lotus petals shot out, each petal transforming into a holy sword flowing with sacred flames. Immediately, the sword Qi hissed, and the holy light sword Qi almost shredded the pervasive snake poison.

At the same time, the sword Qi swept past, and the Snake Abyss collapsed.

The giant silver snake-scale hand trembled violently, and light marks spread across its surface. Finally, under Zhong Taiqiu's incredulous gaze, it exploded into pieces. The holy light sword Qi poured out like a river of sword Qi, hovering above the plaza.

Jiang Qing'e took a step forward, her jade fingers forming a sword seal, and she pointed it into the air.

The torrent of holy light sword Qi roared out like a holy sword of light, breaking through all illusions and shattering all spatial obstacles, pointing directly at the horrified Zhong Taiqiu.

At this moment, because his resonant art was broken, Zhong Taiqiu's own resonant power was in a state of agitation and disorder, so he could only watch helplessly as the torrent containing monstrous sword Qi rushed toward him.

His body stung incessantly; before the sword Qi even approached, his body had already been torn by streaks of sword marks.

Zhong Taiqiu was somewhat unwilling; this change in the situation was faster than he had imagined.

But no matter how unwilling he was, the torrent of sword Qi had already poured down.

In the end, he could only grit his teeth and growl: "Junior Sister Jiang, you win!"

Jiang Qing'e changed her seal, and the roaring torrent of sword Qi suddenly became gentle. In that instant, it seemed to transform into a warm stream of light that passed through Zhong Taiqiu's body, finally turning into a sky full of light spots that exploded behind him.

As countless light spots rained down, the resonant power fluctuations around Jiang Qing''s body began to drop rapidly. She then nodded slightly to Zhong Taiqiu, and a calm, clear voice resounded in the arena.

"Senior Brother Zhong, you have conceded."