Chapter 196: High-Stakes Gambling

Thunder Law is mysterious, and its power is strong.

It is said that it transcends the Martial Dao and is a kind of immortal technique.

This vast territory once had the name "Thunder Law Life Realm." In that era, those with Thunder Law talent had a status far higher than other martial cultivators, and could even step on Pure Immortal Bodies.

It was Chan Hai Guan Wu who rose strongly and pulled the Thunder Sect down from the throne of the ruler.

The two characters "Lingxiao" represent what overrides the former Thunder Sect.

It can be said that the Thunder Sect is the only thousand-sect sect in the Lingxiao Life Realm, occupying the Eastern Border, with disciples all over the states, looking like a force that covers the sky. But compared to the prosperity and glory in history, the current one can be called the most weak and decaying appearance.

This is also why the Thunder Sect is ambitious and wants to compete for the world.

In their view, they are not rebelling, but rising again, seeking revenge, striving for strength, killing out of the Eastern Border, and restoring the glory of the ancestors.

Thunder Sect disciples who are proficient in Thunder Law are naturally top-tier in combat power in the same realm.

"Boom!"

In this block, there were bursts of thunder.

Bright electric arcs shuttled and flowed, releasing extremely strong destructive energy.

The young martial cultivators from various states watching the battle under the ring were all amazed, gathering in threes and fives, whispering and discussing. Many of them were seeing orthodox Thunder Sect disciples for the first time, truly feeling the power of Thunder Law, and admitting that they were hard to match in the same realm.

"Martial cultivators in the same realm have a hard time blocking Thunder Law with protective magic Qi; they must wear magic weapon battle suits of high enough grade."

"Metal battle suits won't work; they must be specially made to isolate and block lightning."

"Using bows and arrows, hidden weapons, or mental power, long-range attacks, should be able to counter it. But the attack speed is definitely not as fast as the arbitrary lightning, so they are at a disadvantage."

Li Youyi's movement speed was light and swift, like a shadow, ever-changing and unpredictable, shuttling through the lightning, constantly avoiding danger.

"Boom!"

Taking advantage of the gap when Luo Zhan was performing Thunder Law, he broke his protective electric aura with one finger.

Immediately after, the next palm strike arrived like a mountain, the palm wind howling like a wall of wind, knocking him off the ring.

"Thunder Sect Luo Zhan, defeated after seven moves."

Luo Zhan stood firm under the ring without injury, his expression uncertain.

He knew Li Youyi was very strong and had set his state of mind very flat, not wanting to compete for victory. But as a Thunder Sect disciple, not being able to take ten moves from the opponent was too shameful!

Li Youyi's deep appearance of a grandmaster naturally had to point out one or two things: "The Thunder Sect is worthy of being the world's number one sect; the mystery of Thunder Law and the domineering power are hard to compare with any other power in the world. Luo Zhan, do you know where you lost?"

Luo Zhan was also reviewing in his heart: "The ring you built is too small! Thunder Law can't be displayed at all; if the venue were large enough, let alone ten moves, you might not be able to defeat me in a hundred moves."

Luo Zhan considered his own mindset to be very calm and rational, but many present could hear the unwillingness in his emotions.

Li Youyi shook his head and sighed deeply: "The strong reflect on themselves, the weak blame others. You haven't seen the problems in yourself at all; you rely too much on lightning techniques, so once someone gets close to you, you lose the ability to parry."

"Moreover, your lightning techniques have a fatal flaw. After executing the sixth attack, there is a period where it is difficult to sustain the magic power. If you don't remedy this flaw and let the enemy seize the opportunity, they will take your life."

"Today, the one defeated is not the Lei Xiao Sect, but you, Luo Zhan."

In martial arts, Li Youyi often listened to the teachings of Master Guan and Master Guan, so naturally, his words were firm and logical. He could speak from the influence of magic power circulation on moves, all the way to the strength of one's power under different states of mind.

He could also offer guidance to these martial cultivators from different angles, such as flaws and advantages, intent and spirit, and so on.

In short, he had to find a sufficiently convincing reason for his mortal body to possess such immense combat power.

For example:

A peak-level understanding of martial arts.

Luo Zhan stared blankly, his expression changing abruptly, feeling as if every word of Li Youyi was the truth, as if he had been completely seen through.

"Many thanks to Young Master Li for the guidance; Luo Zhan is defeated and convinced. However, I will come to challenge again..."

Luo Zhan bowed and secretly pondered ways to remedy his flaw.

Li Youyi's voice was resonant, every word like a nail: "Who is the best fighter among the Fourth Realm of the Five Seas in your Lei Xiao Sect? Bring him here!"

"Young Master Li, Lu Wensheng is here."

A melodious voice rang out.

Lu Wensheng's body was wrapped in lightning, like a snake-shaped beam of light, crossing a distance of more than ten zhang to shoot onto the ring.

"Sizzle!"

Countless lightning earthworms immediately appeared on the ground of the entire ring.

"Heavens, even Lu Wensheng has been stirred into coming out!"

"This is the biological brother of that successor of the Lei Xiao Sect, a Nine Springs Pure Immortal Body!"

"The Nine Springs Pure Immortal Body is merely the foundation, but what Lu Wensheng is most formidable for is his lightning technique. It is said he has already cultivated the Eighteen Lightning Strike Array, capable of fighting against those of higher realms, having defeated experts of the Fifth Realm of the Five Seas many times."

"At the same realm, even the successor might not necessarily be able to defeat him."

The young disciples of the Lei Xiao Sect stepped forward in unison, spirited and heroic, all possessing an arrogant air of superiority.

Li Youyi was fully focused, scrutinizing Lu Wensheng, who stood three zhang away opposite him: "My opponent has finally appeared!"

Lu Wensheng was very graceful: "You have already fought many matches in a row; take a rest. I will wait for you to recover to your strongest state."

"No need, I am in my strongest state right now."

Li Youyi's Jade Void Breathing Method was incredibly powerful; even if the magic power in his Qi Sea was consumed, he could recover at a very fast speed. Moreover, fighting until now, he hadn't used the magic power of his third Qi Sea at all, not wanting to affect the progress of his energy accumulation.

Lu Wensheng felt the wild energy on the opponent and looked at the banners on both sides of the ring: "Why not add a little more to the bet! If you are defeated by my hand, you must hang these two banners on the gate stone pillars of Taoli Mountain; just hang them for three days."

Taoli Mountain is the ancestral mountain at the very center of Qiuzhouzhoucheng, where the Zuoqiu clan is located.

Li Youyi said: "I cannot make that decision... Brother Lu seems to have come with ill intent."

"If Zuoqiu Ting dares to write such wild words, he should pay the price. If you really can't do it, then let's change it; after you lose, take these two banners to the gate of Taoli Mountain and eat them," Lu Wensheng said.

The Lei Xiao Sect and the Dragon Gate, these insurgent armies currently in their prime, came to participate in the Qianlong Lantern Festival naturally not to carry the sedan chair for the Zuoqiu clan. Rather, they intended to use this opportunity to suppress the Zuoqiu clan and make the Due Temple turn to support them.

It can be said that even if Lu Wensheng knew Li Youyi's strength was not inferior to his own, he still regarded him merely as a lackey, his heart filled only with how to use this opportunity to suppress the prestige of the Zuoqiu clan.

Li Youyi said: "Brother Lu, what if you are the one who loses?"

"Then I will eat these two banners in front of all the martial cultivators in the world. Fair, right?"

Lu Wensheng naturally had his own calculations in mind.

On the surface, he had to defeat Li Youyi to be considered the winner.

But in reality, he only needed to withstand ten moves from Li Youyi to break the "defeat all enemies in the world in ten moves" written on the banner. At that time, would Li Youyi have the face to make him eat those wild words?

As long as he made the bet around the banner, he would be in an invincible position.

"That won't do. If you eat them, wouldn't I have to go find Zuoqiu Ting to write another pair?"

Li Youyi seemed to have some emotions as well, and added: "If I lose, what I lose is not just dignity, but also all the Gushing Spring coins and blood crystals there. I don't want Brother Lu's dignity; I only want equivalent money."

"Young Master Li..."

Qi Wangshu felt that Li Youyi was getting carried away, and that being swayed by emotions and losing his reason was no way to agree to this unreasonable bet.

Lu Wensheng was aiming his sword at the First Successor and the Zuoqiu clan.

"Don't worry about me! He was the one who wanted to trample on my dignity first; this battle must be fought," Li Youyi said.

Qi Xiao, sitting in his chair, frowned and warned: "Li Youyi, Lu Wensheng is a strong opponent even across a realm; it's best not to act on impulse. If you lose, the Zuoqiu clan will lose face along with you."

Lu Wensheng glanced at the three large boxes and one small casket, over two hundred thousand Gushing Spring coins; it was definitely a huge number. He didn't have that much wealth, nor did he want to fight a battle he wasn't sure of, and was hesitating...

"Ten moves, take down Lu Wensheng in ten moves, absolutely will not lose face for Young Master Zuoqiu." Li Youyi gritted his teeth, his gaze incomparably firm.

"Good! Good spirit, the bet is settled!"

Lu Wensheng immediately agreed, fearing that Qi Xiao would interfere and ruin this match.

Qi Xiao's expression was cold and gloomy; he rose in anger, not wanting to be associated with someone who had lost his mind.

Qi Wangshu held him back tightly, pleading bitterly, before he was finally persuaded to stay.

The two on the ring had already set their stances.

One had magic power surging from his whole body, his fighting spirit high. The other had lightning released externally, a tall battle-intent figure condensing out.

Lu Wensheng knew Li Youyi's movement speed was remarkable, so he struck first, waving his five fingers, and immediately five lightning dragons several zhang long condensed and flew toward Li Youyi.

Li Youyi naturally knew his opponent was strong, and was more serious than at any time before.

Hiding his strength in front of such an expert while pretending to go all out to defeat him was not an easy task.

He executed the Clear Void Cicada-Dodging Step, exposing his exquisite movement technique, weaving between the five lightning dragons and closing in on Lu Wensheng.

"This is your true movement technique!"

Lu Wensheng believed he had forced out the opponent's true strength, but he was neither surprised nor panicked, striking out with a palm carrying lightning to clash head-on with Li Youyi, who had closed the distance.

"Boom!"

The two met and separated instantly, each retreating three steps.

While secretly shocked by Li Youyi's terrifying power, Lu Wensheng said calmly: "I am not Luo Zhan! My magic power and physical body are both cultivated, with no short boards. You are truly strong; there are few in the Fourth Realm of the Five Seas who can match me in strength."

"But if you only have these moves, within ten moves, the one defeated will inevitably be you."

"Lightning Strike Array!"

Lu Wensheng pointed his finger at the sky.

"Mercy Boat Aperture Opening!"

Li Youyi struck out with one finger, the beam of light powerful and vigorous.

Lu Wensheng was forced to stop executing the Lightning Strike Array, waving his hand to strike out a bolt of lightning to annihilate the incoming beam of light.

"Bang! Bang..."

The finger technique and the lightning collided fiercely, neither losing to the other.

But there was only one finger technique beam, while there were many lightning bolts; it could be said that Lu Wensheng always held the upper hand.

Qi Xiao stared fixedly at the ring: "If he can keep fighting fast with fast, not letting Lu Wensheng release the Eighteen Lightning Strike Array, there is still a chance to win. But that would be after a hundred moves!"

Qi Wangshu and Zuoqiu Baiyuan were more nervous than anyone else, constantly counting the moves exchanged.

"Seven moves, eight moves... nine moves..."

"Nine moves!"

Someone shouted.

At the same time, Li Youyi, whose whole body was charred black by lightning on the ring, let out a wild roar, pressed his hands to his temples, then quickly formed seals, and chanted a spell no one could understand: "Mercy Boat saves all, free in heaven and earth, cause and effect in chaos, Dao gives birth to chaos..."

"Whoosh!"

It was still the Mercy Boat Aperture Opening move, but the power of the finger force increased greatly.

(End of chapter)