OBS Chapter 2179 A Real Man
Chapter 2179 A Real Man
"Junior Sister Cao, please!" Zhong Ming greeted her.
"Senior Brother Zhong, please!" Cao Feiyu returned the greeting, her Autumn Water Longsword already half an inch out of its sheath, its cold light gleaming.
"start!"
The moment Elder Qingxu finished speaking, the bell rang. Having learned his lesson from Chen Fei, he knew all too well the importance of seizing the initiative and setting up formations.
hum!
Centered on the bell, the light within a radius of hundreds of miles suddenly became distorted and blurred, and the flow of time also underwent subtle changes.
Instantly, invisible and intangible spacetime barriers were generated, isolating this area from the outside world and forming an independent array space controlled by Zhong Ming.
Upon being in that environment, Cao Feiyu immediately felt her body stiffen, and her movements and even her thoughts were invisibly slowed down and disturbed.
At the same time, Zhong Ming made a hand seal with his left hand, and a point of dazzling, glass-like spiritual light flew out from between his eyebrows, instantly transforming into a light shield as thin as a cicada's wing, firmly protecting his entire body.
The Immortal True Light Mirror!
"Clang!"
The sword rang out clearly and melodiously, like a dragon's roar echoing through the heavens.
A chilling sword intent erupted from Cao Feiyu, spreading like mercury across the entire array space in an instant.
The ninth level of the Heavenly Sword Technique was fully unleashed.
Cao Feiyu's aura rose steadily, her black robes fluttering and rustling even without wind. Her clear, cold eyes now transformed into two ancient, icy pools, reflecting the heavens and the sword's edge.
"The sword falls!"
She parted her cherry lips slightly, without any earth-shattering momentum or dazzling sword light, she simply swung her sword in the direction of Zhong Ming.
This sword strike was slow and light.
But just as she swung her sword...
"Hey!"
An invisible blade tore through the brocade; the array Zhong Ming had set up using the Eternal Spacetime Array was actually cleaved open. It wasn't a violent break, but rather the special spacetime formed by the array retreated and disintegrated on its own before that chilling sword intent.
A sword intent capable of severing all cause and effect ignored the stagnation of time and space, pierced through the barrier of the formation, and struck directly at the Undying True Light Mirror in front of Zhong Ming.
"Buzz!"
The glass-like light shield trembled violently, bursting out with dazzling light. The Daoist principles of birth and death flowing on it operated wildly, attempting to dissolve and eliminate this sword intent.
Zhong Ming's expression changed drastically. He felt that his Undying True Light Mirror was struggling to operate in the face of this sword intent.
Zhong Ming was horrified and frantically channeled his Yuan Power to reinforce the Spirit Light Mirror. At the same time, the array puppets beside him burst forth with dazzling light.
Eternity is empty, yet we are worlds apart!
He attempted to distort the spatial distance between himself and Cao Feiyu, creating a labyrinth of time and space to slow down the erosion of the sword intent.
At the same time, array runes containing the power of space and time lit up, transforming into invisible chains that wrapped around Cao Feiyu, attempting to interfere with her swordplay.
However, once Cao Feiyu's sword is unleashed, it is like a torrent of silver raining down from the heavens, with no possibility of stopping.
With a slight twist of her wrist, she unleashed the second, third, and fourth sword strikes in quick succession.
Each sword strike seemed effortless, yet the sword intent it contained grew ever sharper and more terrifying with each strike.
The sword intent was formless yet omnipresent, filling the entire training ground. It ignored the spacetime labyrinth set up by Zhong Ming, pierced through layers of array barriers, and continuously slashed and eroded the glassy light shield.
If Zhong Ming could cultivate the Undying True Light Mirror to the ninth level, he could withstand the Heavenly Sword Intent, but unfortunately, he was just a little short.
"Crack..."
A sound like shattering glass rang out, and a tiny crack appeared on the light shield formed by the Undying True Light Mirror. Although it was instantly repaired by the Dao of Life and Death, the frequency of the cracks appearing increased, while the repair speed decreased.
More importantly, that fleeting crack allowed the omnipresent, chilling sword intent to seep into his mind and interfere with his formation setup.
He felt his mind was being frozen, the speed of setting up the formation was getting slower and slower, and the power of the formation was constantly diminishing.
Eternal emptiness, time and space reversed!
Zhong Ming gritted his teeth and unleashed his trump card, attempting to briefly reverse a small area of spacetime to interrupt Cao Feiyu's sword strike.
However, Cao Feiyu's sword intent had already locked onto this world and the will of Heaven.
Time and space can be reversed, but how can fate be reversed?
The sword intent representing divine punishment flowed along with the reversed spacetime, becoming even more unpredictable and difficult to defend against.
"puff!"
Finally, after Cao Feiyu unleashed her umpteenth sword strike, the Immortal True Light Mirror in front of Zhong Ming trembled violently, its light dimmed completely, and it dissipated into specks of light.
A sword intent, refined to its utmost, pierced through the final defense and gently touched Zhong Ming's throat.
The chilling sword intent sent shivers down Zhong Ming's spine. All his movements came to an abrupt halt, and the light emanating from the puppets beside him vanished instantly.
He lost!
Cao Feiyu's swordsmanship did not rely on brute force or speed to overcome skill, but rather on sword intent and Daoist principles to crush his formations and spiritual light. Her sword intent represented a certain rule of the Heavenly Dao, possessing a natural restraint and erosion over lower-level defenses and the Dao of Time and Space.
"I... lost." Zhong Ming's throat was dry as he managed to utter the three words with difficulty, a bitter smile appearing on his face.
Yesterday I was defeated by Chen Fei’s unpredictable array formations, and today I was defeated by Cao Feiyu’s all-pervasive sword intent. Having encountered two such monstrous opponents in succession, I can only say that I am destined to be unlucky with that top-grade spiritual material.
Cao Feiyu sheathed her sword, and the chilling sword intent that had permeated the entire arena receded like a tide. She nodded slightly to Zhong Ming: "Senior Brother Zhong, you flatter me."
The voice remained cool and clear, but without arrogance.
"The winner of the Class A Martial Arts Arena is Cao Feiyu!"
Elder Qingxu's voice rang out at just the right moment.
Cao Feiyu, relying on the fully unleashed ninth level of the Heavenly Descent Sword Technique, defeated the array master Zhong Ming with overwhelming sword intent, and advanced powerfully.
The clash between sword intent and array formation, the erosion and disintegration of Daoist principles, broadened the horizons of all the onlookers and left them in awe.
As Cao Feiyu gracefully exited the stage, Elder Qingxu did not stop and continued to announce the next match.
Finally, it was the turn of another highly anticipated top disciple, Xu Ziqian.
Xu Ziqian's opponent was from Zhenyue Peak, renowned for its body-refining techniques. This man was tall and robust, with bulging muscles, like an iron tower. Standing in the training ground, he exuded an intimidating aura.
However, when he faced Xu Ziqian, who was slowly walking into the training ground, his expression became extremely solemn.
Although Xu Ziqian did not exert his full strength yesterday, the strength he displayed by defeating his opponent with ease was already remarkable.
Moreover, with Chen Fei's outstanding achievements as a precedent, any body-refining cultivator who takes the stage now will be unconsciously compared to him, greatly increasing the pressure.
"Zhenyue Peak, Shi Meng, please enlighten me, Senior Brother Xu." The towering man clasped his hands and said in a deep voice, his voice as loud as a bell.
Xu Ziqian remained calm and simply nodded slightly: "Huang Shanfeng, Xu Ziqian, please."
"start."
As soon as Elder Qingxu finished speaking, Shi Meng roared and a powerful aura, as heavy as a mountain, suddenly erupted.
Shi Meng went all out from the start, throwing a punch at Xu Ziqian.
Facing this punch, a faint glint flashed in Xu Ziqian's eyes, but he remained standing still, neither dodging nor avoiding, and did not even make any defensive or parrying gestures. He simply slowly raised his right fist.
His movements were not fast, even somewhat slow, which contrasted sharply with Shi Meng's lightning-fast attacks.
But the moment he raised his fist, an aura carrying a desolate, profound, and solemn presence quietly emanated from his body.
His body did not expand as exaggeratedly as Shi Meng's, but in an instant, he became incredibly tall and majestic, like an ancient and eternal sacred mountain, or a deity guarding the heavens.
Beneath the skin, there is a subtle, dark golden sheen that flows, not an outward radiance, but a restrained yet incredibly solid texture.
A god is about to descend upon the world; suppress him!
"boom!"
Like the deafening roar of two mountains colliding, the explosion was deafening. Centered on the point where the fists struck, a circular shockwave suddenly spread out, sending up clouds of dust.
Immediately afterwards, in the eyes of all the onlookers, the menacing Shi Meng was as if he had been struck head-on by an ancient divine mountain, and his whole body was thrown backward at a speed even faster than when he had charged.
His right arm, which had been exchanging blows with Xu Ziqian, cracked with a sharp "crack" and twisted at an odd angle, clearly indicating that the arm bone had broken.
He crashed heavily onto the ground dozens of miles away, tumbling several times before finally coming to a stop.
In contrast, Xu Ziqian's feet did not sink even a fraction of an inch.
He slowly withdrew his fist, the faint dark gold patterns on his body disappeared quietly, and the desolate and heavy aura also quickly subsided.
One punch!
Another single punch decides the outcome!
The entire arena fell silent for a moment. Although everyone had some idea of Xu Ziqian's strength, no one expected that Xu Ziqian would only use one punch when facing Shi Meng, the direct descendant of Zhenyue Peak, who was known for his strength.
It seems that only at this moment did Huang Shanfeng's direct disciple reveal his true strength.
However, what shocked everyone even more than the result was the aura of the martial arts technique that Xu Ziqian had just displayed.
"What...what kind of body-refining technique is that? It has such a terrifying aura."
"This doesn't seem to be the lineage of any peak in our Danchen Sect..."
"Desolate, profound, majestic... carrying an aura of divinity?"
"Wait a minute, don't you guys think that Senior Brother Xu's demeanor just now was very similar to those heavenly generals who patrol the heavenly gates?"
"Heavenly Gate? Heavenly General Technique?"
"Hiss, that's possible. That aura, that majesty, does indeed bear some resemblance to the Heavenly General Technique."
"But it is said that when cultivating the Heavenly General Technique, the phantoms of celestial generals accompany one, creating a spectacular phenomenon. Senior Brother Xu did not seem to have any such phenomenon just now?"
"It is quite different... Senior Brother Xu's aura is more restrained and more solid, less majestic than the divine, and more profound and solemn than the human."
After a brief silence, an even more intense uproar and discussion erupted. All eyes were fixed on Xu Ziqian, filled with shock, curiosity, and curiosity.
The battle physique that Xu Ziqian just displayed had an aura that was too unique, completely different from any body-refining technique recorded in the Danchen Sect.
It's more like the ancient Heavenly Court that has long been lost in the river of history, and the legendary Heavenly Court's heavenly soldiers and generals who possessed supreme power and patrolled the heavens.
At the summit of the mountain, the wind sweeps and the clouds drift.
The commotion and excitement generated by several intense battles quickly subsided and subsided when Elder Qingxu calmly announced the start of the next match, transforming into a deeper anticipation that permeated every inch of space.
As the final match between the top ten and the top five came to a close amidst countless gazes of amazement and regret, the vast training area gradually quieted down.
All eyes were drawn involuntarily to the five figures standing quietly at the very front of the waiting area.
Chen Fei, dressed in a simple blue robe, possessed a profound and unfathomable aura, as deep as an ancient well, and a calmness that captivated the heart.
Cao Feiyu, dressed in black with a cool and aloof demeanor, stood tall and straight like a sword, her body shrouded in a chilling sword intent.
Xu Ziqian is tall and upright with a resolute face, exuding a sense of vastness and weight.
And two other people.
One of the men, dressed in a dark purple outfit and with a slender build, was none other than Li Jue, a direct descendant of the Heavenly Blade Sect.
The other person was dressed in a light green silk dress, with a slender figure and a gentle and graceful temperament, like a secluded orchid in a valley. She was Qinghe, the direct descendant of Lingzhi Peak.
She wasn't known for her formidable combat prowess, but she was renowned throughout the sect for her mastery of the Green Wood Longevity Technique and the Rejuvenating Hand, and was even more skilled in healing and support. Her ability to fight her way to the top five was something many disciples hadn't anticipated.
"We've finally made it to the top five."
"The ownership of the three top-grade level 16 spiritual materials will be decided among these five people."
Who will ultimately reach the top and claim the title?
Countless gazes swept back and forth over the five figures, comparing, speculating, and analyzing, creating an atmosphere of intense excitement. The allure of three sets of sixteenth-grade top-rank spiritual materials filled the final stage of the competition with endless suspense and attraction.
Elder Qingxu's gaze calmly swept over the five people below, then swept over the dense crowd of onlookers around him. His aged yet authoritative voice was like the clear tolling of an ancient bell:
"In the final stage, the top three will be determined. To ensure fairness and to showcase your true combat capabilities to the fullest extent, the final stage will adopt a round-robin format."
"A war of attrition?"
The moment those words were uttered, a murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd. Although they had anticipated an exceptionally fierce competition in the final stages, the news that it was truly a series of elimination matches still sent a chill down their spines.
This means that each person needs to compete against the other four in a match, and the person with more wins ranks higher.
This tests not only absolute strength, but also endurance, resilience, adaptability, and strategies against different opponents.
After Elder Qingxu finished speaking, he gently waved his sleeve.
hum!
The transparent energy barriers of the three huge martial arts arenas, which were originally arranged in a "品" shape, began to flicker. Then, the light of the barriers quickly dimmed and shrank, eventually turning into specks of light that merged into the array patterns on the ground and disappeared.
Meanwhile, the central Jia-character martial arts arena, with its hemispherical transparent barrier shining brightly and rapidly expanding its area, instantly encompassed the areas of the other two martial arts arenas.
"The Central Martial Arts Arena will serve as the venue for all the final battles."
Elder Qingxu pointed to the merged, enormous martial arts arena, his voice echoing in all directions, "Now we will draw lots to determine the order of the first round of matchups."
As soon as he finished speaking, the huge void battle diagram reappeared in front of the platform, but this time, only five names remained on the diagram.
The five names, Chen Fei, Cao Feiyu, Xu Ziqian, Li Jue, and Qing He, were like five stars, slowly rotating in the void, shimmering with different lights, and finally settling in pairs, forming a duel.
When the first pair of names, prominently displayed side by side, were clearly seen, the entire summit of Wendao Peak erupted in a clamor louder than ever before.
"Chen Fei versus Cao Feiyu?"
"The first match is between them? A battle between Daoist couples?"
"This rule of avoiding the same peak, in the final stage, indeed no longer applies."
"Who will win? Senior Brother Chen Fei's defense and strength are practically unbeatable, but Senior Sister Cao's sword intent seems to be specifically designed to break through all kinds of defenses..."
"Hard to say, hard to say, this is going to be interesting to watch."
The buzz of discussion spread like a tsunami. Everyone was excited, their eyes wide, eager to see what sparks this highly anticipated couple would ignite on the final stage.
Even on Elder Qingxu's usually impassive face, a very faint ripple passed through.
It is not uncommon for Daoist couples to compete in sect competitions, but it is extremely rare for two people like Chen Fei and Cao Feiyu to both make it into the top five and demonstrate overwhelming strength compared to their peers.
In the waiting area, Li Jue's fingers gently caressed the hilt of his sword. His cold face remained expressionless, but his eyes were sharp as knives.
Qinghe covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her beautiful eyes darting between Chen Fei and Cao Feiyu, looking on with an expression of anticipation for a good show.
However, the two protagonists, who were the focus of countless gazes, reacted in completely different ways.
A subtle look of surprise flashed across Cao Feiyu's cool and aloof face; she clearly hadn't expected to draw Chen Fei in the first round.
Chen Fei showed no surprise or fluctuation on his face at the result. He didn't even look at the void battle diagram; the moment the result was announced, he simply turned his head slightly to meet Cao Feiyu's gaze.
Eyes facing each other.
He nodded gently to her, a subtle gesture that conveyed a tacit understanding that needed no words.
"In the first round, Chen Fei will face Cao Feiyu." Elder Qingxu's voice rang out at the right time, setting the stage for this highly anticipated duel.
Under the watchful eyes of countless excited and curious people, Chen Fei and Cao Feiyu strode towards the huge and empty central training ground.
Chen Fei moved with ease, his blue robe fluttering slightly, his aura calm and profound. Cao Feiyu, in his black robes, stood tall and straight, each step accompanied by the faint sound of a sword, clear and sharp.
The two walked side by side; the man was as calm as a mountain, and the woman as aloof as a sword. There was a strange sense of harmonious beauty between them, which drew envious glances from many young disciples.
Soon, the two arrived at the center of the training ground and stood about ten miles apart. A mountain breeze blew by, fluttering their clothes. The atmosphere in the arena was tense, yet also filled with a subtle and indescribable tension.
Off the field, everyone's hearts were in their throats, their eyes glued to the screen, afraid of missing a single detail. Xu Ziqian, Li Jue, and Qing He were all completely focused, trying to glean more information about the two from this duel.
Elder Qingxu's gaze fell on the two people in the arena, and his aged voice rang out again: "The duel begins!"
After he finished speaking, neither of the two people on the field made a move.
"I concede defeat in this battle," Chen Fei said with a slight smile.
Admit...admit defeat?
Chen Fei withdrew his hand, nodded slightly to Cao Feiyu, then turned around and walked back to the waiting area with a composed gait.
Cao Feiyu stood there, a radiant smile spreading across her face. She turned and walked back to her seat.
It wasn't until Chen Fei and Cao Feiyu had safely returned to the waiting area and stood in their respective positions that the surrounding chatter began.
"This...that's it? We're not fighting anymore?"
"Senior Brother Chen Fei...is willingly giving up to Senior Sister Cao?"
"You can do that?"
"Why can't we do that? This is a tournament where each person has to fight four matches. Senior Brother Chen Fei can voluntarily concede one match and give Senior Sister Cao a win. What's wrong with that? The rules don't prohibit conceding."
"That's true... but this is too much..."
"What do you know? This is a real man. What does a victory or defeat matter for a Daoist partner? Senior Brother Chen Fei must think that even if he loses this match, he can still win all the subsequent duels and secure the top-tier spiritual material."
"Senior Brother Chen Fei has absolute confidence in himself."
"It's not just confidence, it's downright domineering. They don't care about the gains or losses in this match at all."
"Senior Brother Chen Fei's thoughtfulness...tsk tsk, it's truly enviable."
"Yes, did you all see Senior Sister Cao's smile just now?"
"Sigh, look at them, and then look at me... Daoist partner? What's a Daoist partner? Can you eat them?"
After the initial shock, the disciples quickly recovered, and a torrent of discussion, exclamations, sighs, and even envy and resentment erupted like boiling water. (End of Chapter)