Chapter 218

On and off the stage, not a sound could be heard.

Even if someone dared guess Lu Xingzhou would win, no one dared guess he'd win so fast—only three moves total.

The first two moves seemed like a probe to test his strength; once assessed, he delivered the killing blow—clean and swift. On the surface, he had only suffered minor recoil injuries, appearing practically unharmed!

It truly proved his earlier words to Shen Tang: "I'll be back in a moment."

Members of the Dongjiang Gang climbed onto the stage to carry the severely wounded Shi Tielong away; as their eyes passed the still-standing Lu Xingzhou, they all held traces of fear.

Where did such a fourth-grade come from… is he even human?

In truth, Lu Xingzhou himself felt anything but at ease; his entire meridian network felt twisted as if by hands, the agony unbearable, his strength utterly drained—not a single bit remained.

Before all eyes, Lu Xingzhou swallowed a pill and stood still to heal.

Fully absorbing an opponent's damage into one's body is no joke; one misstep and it's suicide.

Even though the Yin-Yang Ultimate Intent Art possesses this ability, and even after long adaptation with the Yin-Yang Grinder, this is still not something to experiment with lightly. Roughly, the opponent's strength being slightly stronger than his own is the absolute limit this art can endure; if the opponent were even half a rank stronger, he wouldn't dare try it. Better to use it only against peers or lower—that's roughly a god-tier bullying technique. Crossing ranks remains far too dangerous; reserve it only as a last resort.

If his sinew and bone strengthening improves further in the future, allowing him to absorb more damage, then he might dare cross ranks again.

On stage, Zhang Rongzhi exhaled slowly: "The outcome is decided. Tianxing Sword Sect leads three wins. Shi Bangzhu, who's your next fighter?"

Shi Tielong was unconscious and couldn't answer.

A black-clad man with an ordinary, unremarkable face floated onto the stage: "I'll go."

The crowd exchanged glances; even Dongjiang Gang members looked bewildered.

They didn't recognize him—he was mysterious, known only to the boss himself. No one could even discern his cultivation level.

If cultivation level can't be discerned, there are usually two possibilities: either he possesses an extremely refined concealment art, or his cultivation is so overwhelming it crushes all levels.

Zhang Rongzhi frowned: "Sir, please state your name."

"Just a nameless nobody," the black-clad man chuckled. "I didn't come for fame—I owe Shi Bangzhu a favor, and I'm here to fight for him. Just fight. Why ask names?"

Lu Xingzhou frowned. After swallowing the pill and recovering for a while, the twisted meridians had eased considerably, the pain lessened, but his strength had recovered less than a third. Facing an opponent whose identity he didn't even know, he had no confidence at all.

Best if the sect sent a third-grade to test the opponent's approximate strength before deciding.

Even if he's a first-grade, a third-grade should still be able to gauge him.

Shen Tang thought the same, about to speak—when Ye Tinglan spoke first: "I'll go."

Shen Tang and Lu Xingzhou both felt a jolt; their faces changed at once.

Is he really a first-grade?

On this tiny, remote county arena, they'd somehow gathered two first-grades! This kind of power could topple most sect-destroying battles…

Zhang Rongzhi nodded: "This gentleman is…"

Ye Tinglan said coolly: "If he won't state his name, why should I?"

Zhang Rongzhi, who treated Tianxing Sword Sect's side with great courtesy, merely smiled at being rebuffed: "Fine. Please ascend the stage."

"I don't even need to state my name, nor do I need to step onto the stage—after all, it's just a matter of catching my breath. Too much trouble to move." Ye Tinglan said, then lazily snapped his fingers.

Others heard only a sharp "snap," but the black-clad man's expression changed drastically.

As if a thunderclap had exploded in his mind, a giant drum roared, heaven and earth howled. His head felt ready to split—blood gushed from all seven orifices in an instant; he screamed and collapsed unconscious.

The crowd below froze, stunned.

Looked so impressive climbing up, putting on a show—then got taken out by a finger snap?

Spiritual mind clash? Laypeople can't even tell what's happening—it's less entertaining than ninth-grade fists and feet exchanging blows.

The stage arbiters weren't as clueless as the crowd. Chu Zheng, the Grand Elder of Huanhua Sword Sect, invited as chief arbiter, was drenched in sweat: "This kind of spiritual shock… peak first-grade…"

"The opponent endured the strike without dying—he must also be a first-grade. Exact rank unknown."

Damn, who knew a provincial tournament would produce a peak first-grade? That's among the top few in all of Daqian!

Tu Yugui, the county garrison commander, nearly slid off his seat, too terrified to sit still.

He was from a sacred place—he'd recognized it: this wasn't just spiritual shock or peak first-grade… that was the Sacred Art, Skyquake Shock. Even a first-grade couldn't wield it so effortlessly—it was beyond first-grade… this masked woman was a Supergrade… she was the State Tutor!

They said Tianxing Sword Sect had pitifully only one ally—but no one said that ally was the number one in the world!

What right did he have sitting on the judging panel while the State Tutor fought below? Was he mad?

No, if you've got a State Tutor, why even fight? Just wave your hand and make the other side surrender outright!

Shen Tang whispered: "Mr. Ye, what is this?"

Ye Tinglan said coolly: "Number twenty on the Heroes List—Thunderclap Divine Sword Lei Chong. Known as the Lone Divine Sword. Now it seems he's likely joined Prince Jin's faction."

Shen Tang narrowed her eyes slightly.

Ye Tinglan said: "Still want to tear me apart?" Shen Tang's face flushed crimson—how could she have imagined the State Tutor would bring this up in public!

"No stronger opponents remain. The strongest is Shi Zhong's junior brother—peak third-grade. The rest are low third-grade. You handle them yourselves… hmm, that Jingxu Daoist from Lingyun Sect is also low third-grade, but stronger than the others—likely has more tricks."

Shen Tang whispered: "Thank you, State Tutor."

Ye Tinglan said coolly: "If you really want to thank me, don't reveal my identity in front of Lu Xingzhou."

Shen Tang ventured softly: "State Tutor, is this because…"

"Originally for Yama Palace," Ye Tinglan didn't hide it. "But I do truly cherish talent. Lu Xingzhou and Lu Nuonuo are among the finest of this age. If I can guide them onto the right path, the benefit to the nation and people will be immense."

Shen Tang immediately declared: "Lu Xingzhou is a good person!"

Ye Tinglan glanced at her sidelong—her mocking gaze burned Shen Tang's face crimson.

What kind of good person stares at his own sect master with that wistful look? Pitying the fair maiden? Hmph.

Regardless of their inner drama, to the crowd this was the most boring fight yet—people were already shouting: "Take him away! Dongjiang Gang, next fighter, hurry up!"

Zhang Rongzhi also said: "Tianxing Sword Sect leads four wins. Dongjiang Gang, who's next?"

Dongjiang Gang members silently ascended to carry Lei Chong away; no one dared step onto the stage for a long while.

What joke is this? Over there sits a monster who can knock someone out with a finger snap—who'd dare go up and take a snap?

But Ye Tinglan said lazily: "I agreed to assist only once."

The Dongjiang Gang let out a collective sigh of relief, only to realize they were drenched in cold sweat.

Jingxu Daozhang, the Sect Master of Lingyun Gate, stood before Lu Xingzhou, his malice in his eyes unmasked: "Lu Xingzhou, this is the consequence of committing countless evils; losing the Dao means losing support. Even your external allies are only willing to act for you once. You have truly failed at being a person."

Lu Xingzhou gave Ye Tinglan a resentful look; Ye Tinglan looked up at the sky, too lazy to pay him any mind.

During the founding ceremony of Tianxing Sword Sect back then, Lingyun Gate had provoked them, suffered Lu Xingzhou's Profound Gold Thunder Fire Great Array, and lost four people. The two sides had a blood feud; their malice was even deeper than the Dongjiang Gang's, after all, the Dongjiang Gang's conflict was merely a clash of interests, and no one had died between them.

Lu Xingzhou sighed: "Back then, the Dongjiang Gang, the Incense Burning Tower, the Cangshan Sword Sect, and your Lingyun Gate, so many families provoked us. Besides the Incense Burning Tower actually launching a surprise attack on us, do you know why I only killed your people, yet let the Dongjiang Gang and the Cangshan Sword Sect off lightly?"

Jingxu Daozhang looked at him coldly. Who could know why? Everyone knew you wanted to pull one group to strike another, but why was it me who got struck?

Lu Xingzhou said calmly: "Actually, it is very simple. It is simply because back then the Dongjiang Gang was stronger than us, so we dared not move against them. The Cangshan Sword Sect was weak, but they acted with integrity, possessing the backbone of swordsmen; I could not bear to harm them. Only you, strong yet not truly strong, and not good people either—why would I not use you as the example to set the standard?"

Jingxu flew into a rage: "Lu Xingzhou!"

"Look, your Daoist title is Jingxu 【Quiet Emptiness】, yet you are short-tempered and easily angered; truly, you shout for what you lack." Lu Xingzhou said with a smile: "What is one battle for an external ally? I, as a Guest Elder, also only fought one battle. Tianxing Sword Sect is full of talented people; we must let everyone show their faces, right?"

Having spoken, he lightly brushed his robe hem, turned, and descended the stage: "For trash like this, having a child from our Tianxing Sword Sect come out is more than enough... A'nuo, it's for you to play with."

People watched with their eyes wide open as a chubby five or six-year-old girl, eating candied hawthorn, jumped onto the high platform: "Hello, old grandpa, my name is Lu Nuonuo."

He did not know how others felt, but Jingxu Daozhang felt only naked humiliation.

This little girl, has her diaper been changed? And she comes up to fight a third grade opponent!

Although everyone knew in their hearts that "Lu Xingzhou and his disciple jointly slew Ye Wufeng," this Lu Nuonuo was no ordinary child. Yet her appearance was far too deceptive; no one dared to think that during that battle back then, A'nuo was actually stronger than Lu Xingzhou. In people's imaginations, her being able to fight and provide some distraction was already good enough.

A'nuo smiled ingratiatingly: "Old grandpa, my master told me to come on stage; I dare not disobey... How about you let me make one move, I'll complete my task and then go down."

Jingxu sneered: "Even if I let you make a move, with so many people watching, I cannot afford to lose face! If you, little brat, can so much as hit a scrap of my robe, then I..."

Before the word "lose" could leave his lips, his vision blurred; the smiling, ingratiating A'nuo had vanished from her spot, and her small fist was already driving into his lower abdomen.

What speed!

Jingxu was shocked in his heart; a patch of hooked vines rapidly formed in front of him for protection, while grass and plants on the ground grew wildly, grabbing A'nuo's ankles.

A wood-element cultivator, quite rare.

But they would never know why Lu Xingzhou wanted A'nuo to fight this battle.

The grass and plants on the ground touched A'nuo's ankles, yet suddenly, as if obeying someone's command, they loosened immediately, like a mere tickle.

The vines before him even actively dispersed; the defense, which seemed layered and stacked with hooks and thorns, combining offense and defense into one, suddenly left its center wide open.

Before Jingxu Daozhang could figure out where the problem lay, the small fist had already heavily driven into his stomach.

As if struck by a primordial giant beast, Jingxu Daozhang flew up as if riding clouds and mist, directly plummeting toward his own viewing platform; in mid-air, blood sprayed out like a rainbow.

"Bang!" His body crashed onto the viewing platform, smashing out a huge deep pit.

The Dongjiang Gang and Lingyun Gate, the sect masters of two third grade sects, unexpectedly met the same ending—smashed into the ground, creating a massive pit.

The difference was that A'nuo only made one move.

(End of this chapter)