Chapter 105: Great Strength Pulls the Mountains, Spirit Covers the World (Part II)

Lu Yuan's voice fell.

The sound of the crowd surged toward the sky like rolling waves, yet below the stage, both the Shenluo side and the Sunlight Country side fell silent.

Especially Williams and Sangtian Hengyi, the two Sixth Rank experts who were originally going to take the stage; at this moment, both were staring at Lu Yuan with icy eyes, their expressions shifting uncertainly.

The opponent had crushed Ogliev, who was of the same level of strength as them, with such overwhelming force; no matter how confident they were, they no longer had much certainty in their hearts.

But if they were to leave just like that, under the eyes of the public, their grand mobilization would seem like a joke, leaving them feeling unwilling.

Both sides remained silent, and Lu Yuan looked at Victor and Williams, who were clearly the highest in status:

"Your Shenluo Alliance is the world's number one power today, so please, take the stage first, how about that?"

Williams, who understood a bit of Chinese, had icy eyes and was just about to step forward, but the Consul Victor beside him suddenly took a step ahead, saying arrogantly,

"Do not misunderstand, we are only here today as invited guests to observe the ceremony, and have no intention of participating in this ridiculous ring match."

"Our Shenluo Alliance is the birthplace of scientific civilization; how could we participate in such a barbaric activity? You can ask the people of Sunlight Country; they are of the same root and origin as you, perhaps they are interested."

He spoke such high-sounding words, instantly infuriating the thousands of spectators around, triggering angry curses and mockery:

"Go to hell! I see you are clearly afraid of being knocked off the stage with one punch, and dare not come up!"

"Exactly, calling fear and retreat such high-sounding words, how utterly shameless!"

"These Shenluo people are nothing more than this; who is the 'sick man' after all? Hahahaha!"

The rolling waves of sound surged from all directions; although most Shenluo people could not understand what the Jinjin commoners were cursing, they knew it was nothing good, and each was filled with extreme annoyance.

"You Shenluo invade and colonize everywhere, burning, killing, and looting, yet you have the nerve to call others barbaric?"

Lu Yuan also smiled slightly:

"Stop the nonsense. Do you Shenluo people dare to come on stage to take these Three Punches of mine? This one of yours wearing the Knight's uniform seems very powerful; does he not intend to come up either?"

Fury burned in Williams's eyes, and he said coldly: "Arrogant Great Jin person, who do you think you are, daring to provoke me..."

Victor blocked Williams, who was already on the verge of a violent rage, and playing to the true nature of the Shenluo people, said with feigned ease:

"Dare not? That is truly a huge joke. You only have some brute strength; what does this little bit of skill count for under the artillery fire of our Iron-Clad Giant Ships and Steam Airships?

Let me tell you, our Lord Williams fell ill some time ago and his body has not yet recovered to its peak state. We came today just to relax; when his body recovers in a few days, you can spar however you like. As for now, he is just a spectator, understand?"

He knew clearly in his heart that Williams and the Sha'e Empire's Ogliev were basically experts of the same level. Since the opponent had failed so quickly and miserably, the probability of Williams, this Platinum Holy Knight, being able to take three punches was truly not high.

And compared to Ogliev, who was beaten like a dead dog and fled in a sorry state, avoiding the stage, while not very glorious, could at least maintain basic decency.

"Oh? Is that so?"

The opponent was clearly already afraid to take the stage, and Lu Yuan was too lazy to waste his breath, turning his gaze to the Sunlight Country group on the other side, especially Sangtian Hengyi, who stood out from the crowd:

"What about you, Sunlight Country? Could it be that you, like these Shenluo people, dare not come up to take my three punches?"

The Consul Guangye Shensi's eyes flickered, and just as he was about to find an excuse to decline, Sangtian Hengyi beside him had already taken a step forward, speaking coldly in stiff Chinese:

"Lu Yuan, is it? Based on your performance just now, you indeed possess Godly Strength, which is admirable."

"But since this is a ring match, this business of taking three punches is too much of a child's play and cannot reflect our true strength! Do you dare to have a real fight with me with blades and guns, where life and death are determined by fate?"

"Your Shenzhou Martial Arts has always claimed to be the source of the world's extraordinary cultivation paths, but I, Sangtian Hengyi, do not believe it. I must see whether it is your Shenzhou Martial Arts that is powerful, or the Ninja Martial Way of my Great Sun Empire!"

Instantly understanding Sangtian Hengyi's intention, Guangye Shensi also shouted coldly:

"Correct! This business of taking three punches on stage is equivalent to the person on stage binding their own hands and feet; it is extremely despicable and completely unfair! The Ninja Martial Way of my Great Sun Empire is not inferior to your Shenzhou Martial Arts at all, and has even surpassed the master; if we are to fight, let it be a real martial duel to the death. Do you dare?"

"Or is it that, other than having some brute strength, everything else about you is not worth mentioning?"

Sunlight Country had just won a great victory in that sea battle not long ago and had bitten a large chunk of meat off the Jin Dynasty; they were in a moment of national celebration, with their national confidence and ambition bursting.

They viewed the Jin Dynasty as a lamb waiting to be slaughtered, and viewed the millions of Great Jin commoners as sick men. To make them face a provocation from a Jin person and flee without a fight—suffering such humiliation was more painful than killing them, and the military and upper echelons would definitely reprimand them severely if they knew.

Moreover, although Lu Yuan on stage had astonishing Godly Strength, it did not mean his true martial arts prowess was very high. They were forcing a change in the rules to break the situation!

The voice fell.

The Sunlight Country's counter-provocation made the thousands of spectators on the scene suddenly quiet down, and then they erupted into bursts of angry curses:

"Go to hell! What kind of bullshit Ninja Martial Way; it's not even fit to carry the shoes of our Shenzhou Martial Arts!"

"You Sunlight Country are a tiny land; all your martial arts concepts and schools were stolen from our Shenzhou by previous dynasties! Now you dare to spout nonsense about surpassing the master?"

"Fight! Teach this group of arrogant Japanese thieves a hard lesson!"

Most ordinary commoners did not know the inside story, and the crowd was filled with indignation.

But those who had some martial arts skills were all looking at each other.

By now, most people vaguely knew that Lu Yuan only had natural Godly Strength, but few could see his martial arts realm and techniques.

But thinking about it, at such an age, the ring rules he set must be to play to his strengths and avoid his weaknesses; in terms of martial arts realm and techniques, he was likely far inferior to that world-shocking Godly Strength.

If he really agreed to cross blades with this Great Famous General of Sunlight Country in a life-and-death struggle, could he still maintain the previous miracle of invincibility?

No one knew.

And under the gaze of the masses.

Lu Yuan on the stage did not have the slightest hesitation, laughing aloud:

"Good, then as you wish. No restrictions on fists, kicks, or weapons; life and death are determined by fate. Come up!"

"Very good!"

Seeing Lu Yuan agree, Sangtian Hengyi immediately revealed a cold smile, and with a stomp of his foot, he flew onto the ring without giving the opponent a chance to regret it.

He did not expect Lu Yuan to take the initiative to change the rules just like that.

A buzzing sound swept through the crowd below the stage; whether it was the government side like Liu Guobai, or Lin Xingchao and Gu Kanshan, or even the Martial Arts Association, the Golden Blade Group, and various other overt and covert experts, all their expressions changed.

"This is bad! Why did A Yuan get provoked so easily?"

Lin Xingchao's tone was stern and urgent:

"Relying on his Godly Strength and the ring rules, he could have remained invincible; why give up his advantage to spar with this person?"

Even Gu Kanshan, who had full confidence in Lu Yuan, had a grave look in his eyes, doubting:

"He doesn't look like someone who would be provoked by a few words; there must be a reason for doing this... Could it be he still has some unknown trump card?"

Below the stage, Liu Guobai also hurriedly asked Fan Zhenxiong: "Commandant Fan, why did this Lu Yuan agree to change the rules just like that? In a formal martial arts duel, can he withstand the experts from Sunlight Country?"

Fan Zhenxiong also did not know why Lu Yuan would make this decision, and he frowned in hesitation:

"That is not certain. After all, there are too many factors that influence the outcome of a martial arts duel. Although Godly Strength already possesses an advantage, it is not the deciding factor; whether he can win will only be known after they fight."

In an instant, the entire venue was in an uproar, with discussions breaking out everywhere. The vast majority of people found it difficult to understand Lu Yuan's decision, and they hung their hearts in suspense.

As for the Shenluo Consulate side, Victor and Williams had rather unsightly expressions; clearly, they had not expected that just after their own side had lost face and tried to push the matter aside, such a change would occur.

At this moment, the area below the stage was clamorous, with countless expectant and worried gazes cast toward it. Sangtian Hengyi, whose physique was not particularly burly or tall, had a sense of being as immovable as Mount Tai. He kept one hand pressed against the Katana at his waist, squinting his eyes as he stared at Lu Yuan, whose temperament did not seem like that of a mortal:

"Beyond my expectations, you Jin Dynasty person have more courage than I anticipated. According to the martial arts rules of your Shenzhou, after going on stage, one should report their master's lineage, right? I am Sangtian Hengyi, a successor of the Tianxin One-Blade Style of my Great Sun Empire, and I practice the Tianxin Sword Dao. What weapon do you use?"

"Shenquan Sect, Lu Yuan. As for a weapon..."

Lu Yuan only responded nonchalantly, then faced the area below the stage and called out:

"I did not bring a weapon with me. Which gentleman has brought a superior sword? A common one will not do; I worry that with my strength, it will break."

At this moment, the vast majority of people around the ring were experts and masters from various sides, and there were indeed a few individuals who carried swords. As soon as Lu Yuan said this, it immediately caused a commotion.

But the one whose movements were the fastest was undoubtedly Lin Xingchao. He immediately took off his own sword and shouted:

"This Hundred-Refined Profound Edge of mine is a precious sword that can cut iron like mud; I lend it to you!"

As he spoke, he swung his arm, and the long sword, wrapped in a sharkskin scabbard, whistled as it shot out.

Lu Yuan shifted his feet slightly and caught the flying precious sword in one grasp, then looked at Lin Xingchao and gave a salute, pretending not to know him:

"Many thanks!"

Having said that, he looked at Sangtian Hengyi, who had been waiting solemnly opposite him, and said:

"We can begin."

"Good!"

Sangtian Hengyi said solemnly:

"For an opponent like you, I will exert my full strength. I hope you can give me some different surprises!"

Without any extra nonsense, the moment his voice fell, he suddenly drew in his Qi, his eyes wide with rage!

In an instant, his eyes, like those of a furious Vajra, seemed to transform into two small suns, and a sharp killing intent seemed ready to pounce out.

At the same time, his back bent into a bow in an instant. At this moment, Lu Yuan could clearly hear the sound of his back bending, his body arching, the muscles inside his body pulling taut, and his bones resonating. Amidst these sounds, immense power was accumulated, about to explode and be released.

Then, with a *clang*!

The moment the sound of the blade rang out, a bright and cruel blade light burst forth!

Arching the body! Drawing the blade! Explosion!

As the ring shook, Sangtian Hengyi slashed out with a violent blade, and the airflow around his body whipped up a fierce gale, vibrating and exploding violently with intense momentum.

Almost the instant the blade sound bloomed, his figure flashed violently, the blade light vibrating and weaving as if a swimming fish were traveling through water. In the blink of an eye, amidst the roaring gale, he stabbed directly in front of Lu Yuan, and the blade light instantly split and whistled, simultaneously shrouding Lu Yuan's heart, throat, and forehead!

At this instant.

Under the whipping of the gale brought about by the high-speed movement, Sangtian Hengyi's martial arts uniform crackled, but there was not a shred of emotion on his face; there were only two pupils flashing with cold light that had dropped to the freezing point, a gaze like that of a demon that made one want to dodge just by looking at it.

And the Katana in his hand, slashing with the force of a thunderbolt, had a blade light like phantom lightning, giving one the feeling that even without touching it, just looking at it would make one's eyes sting. It was evident how fierce the explosion of this strike was, enough to kill any enemy!

However.

*Zheng—! *

The next instant, Lu Yuan also drew the long sword in his hand.

No words could describe the elegance of this sword strike.

One only saw a biting sharpness pouring out from the scabbard like a tidal wave, then transforming into a flaming meteor traversing the long sky, transforming into lightning tearing through the darkness, and also transforming into a blinding white rainbow piercing through everything, sweeping out.

As the sharpness bloomed, including Sangtian Hengyi, the many experts below the stage, and even everyone watching from further away, all felt a blinding flash before their eyes, painful and unbearable, and they subconsciously closed their eyes.

Especially Sangtian Hengyi, who bore the brunt of it.

In this split second, he felt as if all the colors, light, scents, sounds, and so on in the human world had disappeared. All sight and all perception were occupied by that streak of sword light that seemed to want to sever one's soul.

That domineering and cold nature—of "no matter your thousand methods, I shall cut them all with one sword"—in just an instant made every hair on Sangtian Hengyi's body stand on end. He felt that even if there were a thousand armies and ten thousand horses beside him, facing this one person and one sword, he was still a lone man, naked and bare!

What kind of Sword Technique is this!?

At the moment his vision was occupied by the sword light, an incomparable, immense crisis arose in Sangtian Hengyi's heart.

He could feel the chilling, murderous, and ruthless sharpness that extinguished everything coming from the sword light, and he even began to feel the pain of having his throat sealed by a sharp sword.

This feeling of intense pain was not real, but a warning coming from his own heart.

The unknown Sword Technique before him had not yet reached his body, but it seemed to have already begun to sever his meridians, muscles, and bones... as if it wanted to split him and his soul in two!

"This sword strike, no one can block it!"

In Sangtian Hengyi's heart, such a realization emerged.

*Puchi! *

The next moment, figures crossed, blood light flashed, and a severed arm holding a Katana was thrown into the air!

To the thousands of people below the stage, it was just a moment of pain and blurring of the eyes; Lu Yuan's figure was elegant, standing in the center of the stage with his sword, his body unstained by a speck of dust;

While Sangtian Hengyi, who had been in the midst of a wild attack, stumbled, ran a few steps, and then fell powerlessly to his knees. The arm holding the blade had actually been severed at the root, and at the same time, more than ten wounds burst open on his body, with blood spraying out like rain!

(End of this chapter)