Chapter 499: Life-and-Death Arena

Not until Xu Jin emerged from the Da Chen Imperial Palace did he retract the Seven-Kill Ironwood Sword back into his Sumeru space.

Only then did he withdraw the focus he had kept on his Earth Source star pattern.

Cold sweat had also seeped from his back.

In the year and more that had passed, today was undoubtedly Xu Jin's most dangerous encounter.

A closed environment, deep in the heart of an enemy nation, with an Eighth-Tier peak expert and an Eighth-Tier late-stage expert watching him, and the constant threat of Eighth-Tier experts and a massive number of Seventh-Tier and Sixth-Tier experts rushing in at any moment.

Yet, dangerous as it was, the final outcome did not deviate in the slightest from the deductions and analyses Xu Jin and Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao had made.

It could be said that this operation tested nothing but Xu Jin's courage.

There was not a single element of gambling involved.

The higher one's position, the more rational they become, and the more they weigh the gains and losses of their interests.

The first step in rescuing his Master and Uncle had succeeded.

But every step that followed would be like dancing on the edge of a blade.

In truth, Xu Jin and Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao had not failed to consider other, simpler, and safer methods.

For instance, using the Da Chen Emperor's status as the Deputy Sect Master of the Blood God Sect as leverage to force the Da Chen Emperor to directly rescue his Master Qi Qi Shanye and Uncle Mo Ji from Blood Moon City.

However, the success rate was too low.

The most likely outcome was that Master Qi Qi Shanye and Uncle Mo Ji would instead become Xu Jin's Achilles' heel.

Used by the Da Chen Emperor to threaten Xu Jin.

In that case, he would truly be in a hopeless bind.

Therefore, Xu Jin had to go and rescue them himself.

A quarter of an hour later, Xu Jin returned to the Four Directions Pavilion and went straight to see Ning Ning Yuchan.

"How is it? Are you confident?

If you are, then I will proceed according to the plan.

The possibility of success is very high.

If you aren't confident, then we shall skip it," Xu Jin asked.

"Let us proceed according to the plan.

I do not know to what extent his cultivation has improved.

But for these past eight years, I have practiced diligently day and night, all for the sake of this day!" Ning Ning Yuchan's gaze was incomparably resolute.

"Good."

At the hour of Shen, as the members of the Da Chen diplomatic mission set out from the Four Directions Pavilion toward the Three Origins Hall, inside the Heavenly Yang Star Palace, Great Elder Wang Kan had just invited the Heavenly Yang Star Lord's personal disciple, Sun Sun Fujia, to come out.

Ordinarily, as a senior, Wang Kan would not need to do this.

But with the current tense situation within the Star Palace, Wang Kan acted with increasing caution.

"A martial demonstration? To suppress the peerless genius of Da Chen, Xu Jin?"

"That is correct. This is the information on the peerless Da Chen genius, Xu Jin," Great Elder Wang Kan said, presenting a jade tablet.

The jade tablet contained the latest information on Xu Jin.

Extremely proficient in Earth-type star arts, possessing profound attainments in Fire-type star arts, also very strong in Wood-type star arts, as well as data on his condensation of the Primal Spirit.

After merely glancing at it, Sun Sun Fujia nodded and said, "No problem. But I want to know, how is your investigation into that Qi Qi Tian Sheng of Da Chen going?

What is his whereabouts?"

Sun Sun Fujia was not the least bit worried about anyone else.

As a peerless genius of the Heavenly Yang Star Palace, he possessed that much confidence.

The only one he feared was Qi Qi Tian Sheng.

Even after half a year of secluded cultivation and his cultivation base having doubled, he still lacked the confidence to defeat Qi Qi Tian Sheng.

Thus, he was extremely concerned about Qi Qi Tian Sheng's whereabouts.

"Sun Fujia, this Qi Qi Tian Sheng never emerged from the Seven-Kill Secret Realm.

The Shadow Palace judges that Qi Qi Tian Sheng most likely died at the hands of the Golden Pillar alien race's Eighth-Tier expert, Ju Chu Xuan, in the sixth or seventh level of the Seven-Kill Secret Realm.

Along with him, the other three Divine Dao Intents also fell into the hands of the Golden Pillar alien Ju Chu Xuan," Great Elder Wang Kan said.

"Dead?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Sun Fujia was momentarily dazed.

During his secluded cultivation over the past half-year, his goal had always been to defeat Qi Qi Tian Sheng.

After his Divine Soul cultivation broke through to the Fifth Tier and condensed into a Primal Spirit, he reflected on his previous encounters with Qi Qi Tian Sheng and still felt he lacked the certainty to win.

Later, his Cloud Tower condensed from nine levels to twenty-two in one go, reaching the limit of his cultivation.

He was already far beyond experts of the same tier; even ordinary Seventh-Tier Ninth-Layer peak experts were no match for him.

However, at the mere thought of how Qi Qi Tian Sheng had beheaded him twice before, he still lacked confidence and felt a lingering fear in his heart!

The sensation of death was too terrifying!

If possible, he did not wish to encounter Qi Qi Tian Sheng again and experience the sensation of death once more.

Hearing Great Elder Wang Kan say that the peerless Da Chen genius Qi Qi Tian Sheng had died in battle, he felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

He was at ease!

"That is correct, he should be dead. Sun Fujia, it is impossible for you to break your Dao by slaying this person now.

However, if you can suppress this Da Chen peerless genius Xu Jin with a single sword strike today, that will also be a deed that brings glory to the present age.

Before this, this Xu Jin suppressed the Seventh-Tier mid-stage Nangong Zhi with a single move, leaving our Da Chen heroes with no face," Great Elder Wang Kan said.

Hearing this, Sun Sun Fujia nodded. "Very well, I shall use this Xu Jin as my opening move today.

With today's battle, I shall vent the frustrations in my chest; tomorrow, I shall enter the Seventh Tier!"

"Then I shall offer my congratulations in advance. When that time comes, I will certainly present a gift," Wang Kan said with a smile and a bow.

"Great Elder is too kind. Let us go then."

"Please!"

The Three Origins Hall was a grand hall where the Da Chen Empire held magnificent banquets. Outside the hall was a martial arts arena two hundred meters wide and five hundred meters long.

Inside the arena were specialized martial arts formations.

Some top-tier duels, Da Chen martial examinations, or internal duels among Da Chen nobles were all conducted here.

The Da Chen Empire arranged the state banquet in the Three Origins Hall primarily for the convenience of the martial demonstration. Generally speaking, the visiting nation was considered to be fighting on home turf, and the advantages were immense.

The strength and background of the diplomatic mission members were usually probed thoroughly on the journey, allowing for targeted arrangements during the martial demonstration.

Often, such demonstrations served as occasions to boast of martial prowess.

After all, opportunities to openly and legitimately beat personnel from a foreign nation into the ground were rare.

And to do so openly in front of one's own countrymen, to raise the national prestige of Da Chen.

The spectators were incomparably excited and proud.

The combatants were even more dazzling and eye-catching.

After a battle, the combatant who won glory for the nation would absolutely become a figure of great renown in the Da Chen capital, Chang Le City.

Because of this, the number of people who came to watch was immense.

Da Chen nobles of all sizes, some high-ranking officials from the Heavenly Yang Star Palace, and imperial personnel—there were over ten thousand spectators.

Besides this, Da Chen had also invited envoys from various parties.

For instance, the envoy from Da Chu stationed in Da Chen, as well as those from the Barbarian tribes, and commercial personnel from the Wood Spirit Palace and Sumeru Palace stationed in the Da Chen capital.

There were very many people.

When Xu Jin arrived with the members of the Da Chen diplomatic mission who were qualified to attend the banquet, the Da Chen spectators had already surrounded the Three Origins Hall on all sides.

Yet, the seats on the main platform in front of the hall were left empty!

Under the reception of the Da Chen Ministry of Rites official Shi Zhengjia, Xu Jin and the others crossed the arena and walked straight toward the main seats in front of the Three Origins Hall.

Almost the moment they stepped into the plaza, the Da Chen nobles began to clamor.

"A cripple?"

"A one-armed human stick?"

"Heavens, what kind of lineup is this?"

"Does Da Chen have no one left?"

"They actually sent a bunch of disabled people to fight!"

The clamor and mockery boiled over like a tidal wave in an instant.

Even though Ning Ning Yuchan and Ying Ge had long been accustomed to the strange gazes of others, being mocked by ten thousand people still made it difficult to bear.

The sword light Ying Ge rode beneath him actually trembled uncontrollably amidst the wave of mockery.

Ning Ning Yuchan's crutch-sword, and the face hidden beneath her veil, also trembled slightly!

Xu Jin suddenly felt a pang of regret.

He felt that bringing the two of them into the diplomatic mission and into the public eye, especially at this moment, was a bit cruel.

"Official Shi, is this the quality of your Da Chen nobles?" Xu Jin suddenly spoke up.

The Da Chen Ministry of Rites official Shi Zhengjia felt very helpless about this and spread his hands. "Official Xu, you cannot blame us for this!

If they walked down the street looking like this, wouldn't they be treated the same way?

What's more, they are envoys!

I cannot block the mouths of so many people," the Ministry of Rites official Shi Zhengjia said with a faint smile.

As the diplomatic mission entered, the Da Chen nobles became increasingly unbridled.

"Since when can a cripple serve as an envoy?

In our Da Chen, those who are not good-looking cannot serve as envoys!"

"Hey, cripple, say something. Does Da Chen have no one left?"

"One-armed human stick, I am very curious, is your third leg still there?"

"Hahahaha."

"It must be gone!"

"Let's make a bet. I bet it's still there!"

"I bet it's gone!"

As the various voices reached his ears, the sword light beneath Ying Ge suddenly trembled violently.

Xu Jin sensed that Ying Ge's emotions were fluctuating intensely, becoming somewhat uncontrollable.

Xu Jin knew he could not suppress it any longer.

If he suppressed it further, Ying Ge's emotions would likely explode!

And in front of the Three Origins Hall, the Da Chen Emperor, who was already seated high on the viewing platform, was leisurely tasting peeled grapes, watching this scene with a look of leisure!

Such a scene was naturally what he had hoped for!

Such martial demonstrations were originally tricks to boost the morale of one's own people and suppress the morale of the enemy nation!

Xu Jin glanced at the Da Chen Emperor, who had no intention of stopping it. The next instant, Xu Jin led the diplomatic mission forward a hundred meters, bowed to the seated Da Chen Emperor, and suddenly said, "Emperor, the mouths of the Da Chen nobles are sharp and direct enough!"

The Da Chen Emperor glanced at Xu Jin and smiled. "Although I am the Supreme Ruler of Da Chen, I can rule the heavens above, the earth below, and countless subjects in between, but I cannot rule their mouths."

"That is true, the mouths are on them," Xu Jin also smiled. "I just wonder if their strength is as sharp as their foul mouths!"

Beside him, Heavenly Yang Star Palace Great Elder Wang Kan spoke up. "There is no need to doubt that!"

"Correct, as the Great Elder said, there is no need to doubt that!" the Da Chen Emperor also smiled.

"Then why not test it?" Xu Jin smiled.

"As long as your Da Chen envoys are willing, we will accompany you to the end," the Da Chen Emperor smiled.

Hearing this, Xu Jin bowed, nodded, and then turned to give instructions.

"Ying Ge, since the Da Chen nobles are so enthusiastic, go and set up a Life-and-Death Arena.

A man who suffers humiliation should wash it away with blood!

Let the Da Chen nobles see the style of a true man of Da Chen!" Xu Jin shouted directly.

"Good!"

The next instant, Ying Ge, filled with anger, rushed to the very center of the martial arts arena.

"Da Chen's Crippled Sword Ying Ge, today sets up a Life-and-Death Arena here. Who dares to challenge!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the Heavenly Yang Star Lord and the Da Chen ministers were stunned.

A Life-and-Death Arena?

This was playing for rather high stakes!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 500 =====