“Clench your teeth and hold on! I don’t believe we can’t block this guy!”
Long Chen was a man of spirit. Although just a child, after the tragedy of his parents’ death, he had matured far beyond many his age.
“Thirty-first Sword!”
A terrifying roar of flames erupted. Liu Taiyin’s strike made Long Chen feel as if he were plummeting into a scorching hell, utterly unbearable.
“Crack!”
At that moment, Long Chen’s protective true essence shattered completely. His defence was half undone.
“I won’t lose!”
Long Chen roared, his body surface glowing golden yellow. The broken scales began repairing themselves continuously.
“Thirty-second Sword!”
This was Liu Taiyin’s final strike, its power so fierce it sent Long Chen flying.
“Is Long Chen alright?”
Leng Hao asked Ling Xiao tensely.
He knew Long Chen was Ling Xiao’s friend.
“Don’t worry, Liu Taiyin lost! Long Chen looks battered, but he withstood Liu Taiyin’s strongest attack without revealing his ultimate trump card. A splendid victory.”
Ling Xiao smiled.
His keen eyes saw that Long Chen’s defence had reached its limit, scales fully shattered.
His body was drenched in blood.
But these were mere superficial wounds, nothing exaggerated. For a dragon, they were just skin-deep, healing quickly without much time.
However, Liu Taiyin’s last sword had drained him utterly. He was nearly exhausted, unable to fight further.
“Senior Brother Ling, you mean Long Chen blocked it?”
Leng Hao asked in surprise.
“Not exactly blocked. He was on the brink at the end, victory hanging by a thread. But the kid’s spirit, energy, and mind all surged then, something Liu Taiyin didn’t expect. If they fought again, Liu Taiyin couldn’t unleash the thirty-second sword!”
Ling Xiao laughed.
He felt some admiration. Long Chen truly lived up to his Golden Dragon heritage. Such talent was astonishing, even making Ling Xiao envious.
Long Chen, covered in blood, slowly rose from the ground. His shattered scales were healing steadily.
He said excitedly, “Brother Liu, you’re worthy of being one of the Holy Dynasty’s Six Young Masters. Your attack power is formidable. If I hadn’t poured all my strength into defence, I might not have blocked you.”
Liu Taiyin shook his head with a wry smile.
He could barely stand, sitting on the ground. “You’re too modest. I used my ultimate technique and still couldn’t defeat you. You’ve won.”
Long Chen chuckled, the bronze cauldron behind him spinning. Golden inscriptions flashed, absorbing part of Liu Taiyin’s luck.
In an instant, his luck rose to seven cauldrons, with a shadow of an eighth.
Liu Taiyin’s luck was substantial, so this boost was massive.
“Terrifying Long Chen, truly impressive!”
“Yes, now I suspect he might even be stronger than Ling Xiao!”
“Another Young Master defeated. I wonder which of last year’s Young Masters can defend their glory.”
“Only three left undefeated, the Holy Son, Mo Wushang, and Bai Qianjiao!”
Long Chen was carried off by Lin Bei and the Divine Sword Sect members for treatment. With Ling Xiao’s healing pills, those superficial wounds were trivial.
Plus the dragon race’s innate recovery, there was nothing to fear.
After Liu Taiyin and Long Chen’s battle, the matches continued.
…
“Next up, Bai Qianjiao versus Hong Li!”
Another heavyweight clash.
Bai Qianjiao was last year’s third Young Master, while Hong Li was this year’s highly anticipated newcomer, even considered stronger than Bai Qianjiao.
Among the current top ten in points, only four women remained: Ji Mingkong, Bai Qianjiao, Hong Li, and Hong Sanmei.
Ji Mingkong disguised as a man, so the audience was unaware.
Hong Sanmei paled in strength and looks compared to the top three, and her consecutive losses to Qin Bixue and Ling Xiao had diminished her prestige.
Thus, Bai Qianjiao versus Hong Li was an absolute duel of beauties.
Moreover, both hailed from the Bishui Divine Palace, the most mysterious of the twelve sects.
They might not match Tianwang Sect in power but surpassed it in secrecy.
Bai Qianjiao always appeared calm and detached, seeming desireless, like an otherworldly fairy.
Even when others said she was inferior to Hong Li, she never refuted. She simply won match after match in her steady way.
Many might not realise she was perhaps the most envied woman.
Hong Li’s personality differed completely from Bai Qianjiao’s.
Though equally beautiful, Hong Li was more masculine, exuding bold dominance, a queenly aura.
At the young giant level, with looks that outshone all, their entrance caused a huge stir.
“Bai Qianjiao is absolutely an established young giant, third among the Holy Dynasty’s Six Young Masters. Hong Li isn’t exactly a rising star, but her true ascent is this Martial Arts Festival. Who do you think will prevail?”
“They’re the twin flowers of Bishui Divine Palace. Honestly, I hate to see them fight. Why not let each get three points?”
“Yes, Bishui Divine Palace disciples are mostly women, each prettier than the last. Marrying one would make my life worthwhile.”
“Look at you. At your level, they wouldn’t glance your way.”
“Pity their talent still falls short of that woman.”
“You don’t mean Princess Consort Yu Xuan Yue, do you?”
“Exactly her. Yu Xuan Yue and Ji Fulang are once-in-ten-thousand-years geniuses on Tianlong Continent. Even the Human King from ten thousand years ago might not surpass this couple in talent.”
“Tsk tsk. I hear Yu Xuan Yue isn’t just a rare genius in ten thousand years on Tianlong Continent; even in the entire Xuan Realm, she’s the same. Her beauty, across the Xuan Realm, ranks her among the Thirteen Beauties, a top beauty.”
“Such a shame; these are just legends. We’ve never seen Yu Xuan Yue’s true face.”
“I’ve seen her from afar once. Her smile could topple cities; I nearly fainted.”
“That exaggerated?”
“Believe it or not. Anyway, the match is starting. Since we’ve never seen a woman of Yu Xuan Yue’s calibre, watching these two little beauties is fine.”
Small-town warriors might not know Yu Xuan Yue, but outside those backwaters, discussions of geniuses often mentioned her or Ji Fulang.
As if only they were true geniuses.
