Chapter 312: Long Time No See, Chen Yu

Ye Tinglan was already prepared.

The opponent intends to "defeat the Holy Lord of Tianyao" within the known scope of those competing in the great sea tournament; naturally, they will not stray far, launching their attack near the nearby islands.

But she had originally expected an ambush...

Who would have thought they would bring a Voice-Transmitting Sea Domain? It seems they want to earn a good reputation, so they can establish themselves openly in the name of the Righteous Path hereafter.

This is truly a complete move to replace the Tianyao Holy Land.

Although she could not see Gu Zhanting's shadow, with such a clear target, Ye Tinglan would not believe it had nothing to do with Gu Zhanting.

As for the opponent's strength...

Ye Tinglan halted her Phoenix Carriage and said calmly, "If it is you, did we not already fight once? The outcome was clear; why fight again?"

As her words faded, a bald old Monk appeared beside the carriage.

It was indeed Zhao En.

Seeing Ye Tinglan standing at the bow with her hands behind her back, a look of surprise flashed in Zhao En's eyes; he then shook his head and sighed softly, "After my injuries healed, I felt I turned a disaster into a blessing and advanced further. I did not expect Holy Lord, you too have loosened the Qianyuan Pass. It seems this time we are once again on the same level."

Lu Xingzhou narrowed his eyes. Previously, this Zhao En and Ye Tinglan were opponents of the same tier, with Zhao En slightly inferior to Ye Tinglan by a fraction; borrowing the Tianshuang Qi Vein, they had collectively gained a slight upper hand, but after Lu Xingzhou persuaded Si Han to disrupt the Qi Vein struggle, they were defeated by Ye Tinglan and fled.

Though defeated, this fully proved he was not much weaker than Ye Tinglan. Now that both have improved, the outcome is truly hard to predict.

Ye Tinglan sized up Zhao En, her expression calm: "Although you are not Qianyuan, you have already glimpsed the greatness of Qianyuan; you must be a person of great breadth and spirit. Why then do you hide your head and reveal your tail, plotting in the shadows?"

Lu Xingzhou, having known this beforehand, was fine with it, but the crowd in the sea was internally shaken to their core.

Not Qianyuan, yet having glimpsed its greatness... that means he is comparable to Ye Tinglan, at the peak of Huiyang, and has slightly glimpsed a sign of breakthrough; he can be called Half-Step Qianyuan!

This already exceeds the concept of the Nine Grades in this world.

According to ancient methods, third grade to first grade are all called the Tengyun realm, and anything surpassing this realm is termed Super-Grade, with no further subdivisions; the entire Huiyang realm is Super-Grade.

The current Ye Tinglan is at the peak of Huiyang; Yuan Muyu, at the early stage of Huiyang, might have possibly glimpsed the mid-stage, yet both are called Super-Grade.

The difference between Super-Grades is vast, even greater than the difference between third grade and first grade.

Therefore, for Gu Zhanting to face Ye Tinglan head-on to determine superiority is no different than crashing into a wall of sighs; in reality, they are not even on the same level.

Even Long Qinghuang is one layer below Ye Tinglan; being the number one under heaven is no joke.

And this figure before them is obviously a Super-Grade among Super-Grades, just like Ye Tinglan; if he crosses this Half-Step, the title of Super-Grade will no longer suffice; what would it be called?

Ascension.

In ancient times, it was called Proving the Dao of Qianyuan.

Once the greatness of Qianyuan is reached, it is proving the Dao, it is ascension, it is the ultimate peak pursued by all human cultivators. Anything beyond that is the Formless Realm where the Yang Spirit is omnipresent, which is no longer a pursuit for humans.

And now, this person, at the peak of Huiyang, Half-Step Qianyuan.

One foot is already on the edge of ascension.

Uh... it sounds awesome but not that awesome, because Ye Tinglan is also at this realm...

This actually gave Lu Xingzhou a slight confusion. Guests from the Ancient Realm are all at this threshold; are there no true Qianyuan appearing? What are those above the Formless, the so-called undying and indestructible ones, doing? Or is it just a legend, non-existent altogether?

He had been gnawing on Half-Step Qianyuan every day, naturally lacking awe; now others were so shocked they could not speak.

There actually exists such a cultivation method in the world, yet it is unknown to people!

He challenges the Holy Lord of Tianyao; will the rules of the world change?

Amidst their varied thoughts, Zhao En slowly spoke: "We hid for some bitter reasons. However, what the Holy Lord said is also correct; last time hiding our heads and tails taught us a lesson, so we reflected deeply and improved. This time, is it not challenging the Holy Lord openly before the eyes of all... does the Holy Lord fear us instead?"

Ye Tinglan also did not understand why he dared to appear openly... does Half-Step Qianyuan have no restrictions?

Look at Fang Qihao and the others; at least they had to use soul usurpation and skin-suiting; why do you, Zhao En, dare to be so direct?

Ye Tinglan actually intended to fight again to get to the root of why he could stop hiding this time. If this is not clarified, people from the Ancient Realm will run into the human world at will; how will life go on afterward?

So she said, "Can anyone challenge me at will? Given your cultivation, a challenge is acceptable, but there must be a stake."

Zhao En smiled: "The Holy Lord speaks wisely. Then what stake does the Holy Lord desire?"

Ye Tinglan said calmly, "If you lose, from now on, the Golden Wind Island shall belong to Tianyao."

Zhao En narrowed his eyes: "And if the Holy Lord loses?"

Ye Tinglan smiled: "If I lose, then what you desire has already been obtained. What more is there? If I do not accept the challenge, you will obtain nothing, so you must give something. Such a simple principle, does the Holy Lord need to teach you?"

Zhao En sighed: "Worthy of the Holy Lord of Tianyao, your mind is clear. Then as the Holy Lord says, if I lose, from now on, the Golden Wind Island shall obey only the orders of the Tianyao Holy Land."

In truth, both sides knew clearly that a faction relying on soul usurpation and skin-suiting, claiming to belong to a sect, is all empty talk. Ye Tinglan proposed this only to completely dissipate the reputation accumulated in the Golden Wind Island situation, not to gain anything.

But no matter the plan, first you must win.

Ye Tinglan has shaken the world for so many years; naturally, she has such confidence and absolutely cannot harbor self-doubt. Anyway, for other matters, with Xingzhou in charge, she is very assured.