Translator: AnubisTL
"Dugu Ao, don't let your guard down. Be prepared to fight at any moment!" Ouyang Qi frowned deeply, his voice low and grave.
Dugu Ao nodded, but A Fei muttered beside him, "This Thirteenth Brother is pretty strong. He's about equal to me in the same realm."
At these words, Zong Shixuan and the others rolled their eyes. Ouyang Qi grew even more worried. Based on his years of experience teaching students, those who spoke the most arrogantly usually suffered the most brutal beatings.
The young man named Shi San on the arena appeared formidable, but who knew what the real outcome of a battle would be?
Combat wasn't just a matter of realm; it was a comprehensive test of combat experience, temperament, and willpower.
Clearly, Brother Thirteen had already fallen into the trap of overconfidence, the prelude to certain defeat. Let's hope things turn out well.
"Go, Thirteenth Brother! Show them the spirit of Great Chu!"
Wu Qi and the other spectators swallowed nervously, their hearts pounding with anxiety. They feared Brother Thirteen would be instantly defeated the moment he stepped onto the arena.
On the side of the Great Chu Dynasty, no one except Monk Wu De believed Shi San could truly endure thirteen consecutive battles. Simply surviving and walking off the arena would already exceed their expectations.
After all, in the previous three Heavenly Pride Battles, the Great Chu Dynasty's opening act had never once survived to leave the arena.
"Miss Yi, kill that arrogant little pretty boy!"
"Ruin his handsome face, tear his mouth apart, and make him never dare to be so arrogant again!"
"Heaven's Chosen of the Great Chu Dynasty? Bah! Just here to die!"
"..."
As the winning side, the Great Wei Dynasty's audience was in a frenzy. While jeering, they also speculated on how many breaths the Thirteenth Brother could endure under the corrosive effects of Yi Jianghua's venom.
On the arena, the Thirteenth Young Master remained expressionless, his breathing steady and rhythmic.
In truth, even without Gu Feng's command, he would have volunteered to participate in the Heavenly Pride Battle. He wasn't a cultivator of the Great Chu Dynasty, nor did he possess any sense of duty to fight for its honor.
He simply couldn't bear the stifling pressure he had endured by Gu Feng's side for so long.
He had always been a cheerful person. For the first two decades of his life, under his sister's protection and with his own extraordinary talent, he enjoyed a superior status within the East Sea Dragon Clan, living a life of ease and comfort.
But overnight, his world shattered. His family was wiped out, his sister held captive. He seethed with resentment, desperate to unleash the murderous intent that had been building within him.
Memories flooded back, and his usually calm eyes gradually turned crimson. His aura surged like a hidden undercurrent.
"Little brother—, why don't you come to Great Wei? Sister will pamper you!" Yi Jianghua, who cultivated a poisonous art through unorthodox methods, was covered in festering sores that made her look utterly terrifying. Her seductive glance sent shivers down one's spine, even provoking nausea.
"Come to Sister, and I'll keep you happy day and night!"
Her appearance had twisted her mind, leading her to develop a perverse obsession with men, especially enjoying forced encounters.
"Sister~~~~"
Yi Jianghua swayed her hips, still calling him "Sister" with each breath, unaware of the sacred place the word "sister" held in the Thirteenth Young Master's heart.
"You ungrateful wretch! Since you refuse to embrace your sister's embrace, then..." Seeing the Thirteenth Young Master remain unmoved, Yi Jianghua's eyes turned cold. She activated her Cultivation Method, and a foul-smelling venom erupted from her pores, flowing across the arena with a sizzling sound.
"Shut your mouth!!!"
The Thirteenth Young Master's eyes blazed crimson as he stepped forward.
Each step he took was as steady as a mountain, with strange lights manifesting beneath his feet, carving out a patch of pure land amidst the flowing venom.
Terrifying fluctuations flickered across his body, and the Spiritual Radiance he emitted actually purified the black miasma in the air.
"You have defiled the name of 'sister'! Die!"
The Thirteenth Young Master's voice was low and menacing. A surge of killing intent erupted from his body, crashing against the Array Formation surrounding the arena with a crackling sound.
A true master's first move reveals their caliber, and the Heaven's Chosen from both nations were stunned!
This was a Peerless Prodigy!
As the word "die" fell, the arena trembled slightly, and a vast amount of Spiritual Power was drained, converging into a colossal palm that reached toward the heavens!
Boom!
Swept by an overwhelming aura, a giant palm descended above Yi Jianghua's head, casting the shadow of death over her. She froze in terror, staring blankly, utterly motionless.
Before the horrified gazes of millions of cultivators, this renowned Heaven's Chosen of Great Wei didn't even attempt to resist. She was instantly reduced to a bloody pulp.
A flash of flame erupted, and the mangled flesh and flowing venom vanished in an instant.
The arena cleared, leaving only the upright figure of Brother Thirteen. There was no trace of Yi Jianghua left.
The entire arena fell silent, even the howling northwest wind ceasing its roar.
"W-we... won!!!" Ouyang Qi stammered, his voice barely a whisper.
"Hahaha, we really won! Brother Thirteen defeated Yi Jianghua in a single move!"
"Heavens! Great Chu has finally won! We've taken the lead for the first time!"
"..."
The Great Chu side erupted in thunderous cheers, their excitement bordering on madness. They clamored to learn Brother Thirteen's origins.
"Damn bald monk, where did you find such a ruthless monster?!" Zong Shixuan roared, his composure shattered.
"So strong... so fierce... so domineering!" Wu Sheng, usually taciturn, spoke three words in rapid succession, completely out of character.
"Impressive, truly impressive. I'm no match for him," Dugu Ao chuckled, shaking his head in admiration for Brother Thirteen.
"..."
The Heaven's Chosen of the Great Chu Dynasty gathered around Monk Wu De, pressing him for details about Brother Thirteen's identity. The monk forced a wry smile and shook his head. "I don't know the specifics. All I know is that he agreed to participate in the arena battle after receiving orders..."
Enslaving the Dragon Clan was a grave matter. Even Monk Wu De, despite his usual unreliability, understood the gravity of the situation and naturally wouldn't reveal the truth to the crowd.
Orders!
Those two words sent Zong Shixuan and the others' hearts pounding and their souls trembling. They weren't fools. Monk Wu De's use of the word "orders" implied that Brother Thirteen was backed by an even more powerful and noble figure.
Ouyang Qi and the other senior officials of the Grand Harmony Academy exchanged glances. They weren't overly optimistic. Such a figure helping Great Chu could bring both blessings and disaster.
"Vice-Prefect Ouyang, there's no need to worry. The person behind Brother Thirteen won't harm Great Chu!" Monk Wu De, quick-witted as always, immediately sensed their concerns. He subtly hinted that they shouldn't be overly anxious.
"Mm, when the time comes, I'll trouble you to introduce us so I can express my gratitude in person," Ouyang Qi nodded solemnly. The person behind Brother Thirteen had done Great Chu such a great service that they deserved a face-to-face thank you.
"If nothing goes wrong, he'll be back as soon as he's finished handling his family affairs," Monk Wu De murmured.
Everyone turned their gaze back to the Arena. The Thirteenth Young Master, who had just slain Great Wei's Heaven's Chosen, stood there as if nothing had happened. He didn't cheer, didn't show joy, and didn't even change his expression.
He simply lowered his head and stood silently on the Arena, waiting for the next Heaven's Chosen to arrive.
The atmosphere in the Great Wei camp was somber. The Heaven's Chosen's eyes flickered as they occasionally glanced at the Thirteenth Young Master on the Arena, assessing his strength.
After a long pause, a Heaven's Chosen slowly stepped onto the Arena. As soon as he arrived, he unleashed his aura, as if facing a formidable enemy.
Across from him, the Thirteenth Young Master raised his eyes slightly, his expression unchanged. His gaze locked onto the Great Wei Heaven's Chosen, and he licked his bloodthirsty lips.
"Second one!"
With those words, he shot forward like a bolt of lightning, moving so fast it seemed like teleportation.
Long overshadowed by Long Xun'er's brilliance, his true nature as a Dragon Clan Heaven's Chosen had been overlooked. Now, facing the Great Wei Heaven's Chosen, his true sharpness was revealed.
The battle began!
The battle ended!
It was over in a flash—no more than three breaths. It looked as if they had exchanged a single blow. The Great Wei Heaven's Chosen was bleeding from seven orifices, his Dantian shattered, his pupils glazed over, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.
Th-th-this...
Too strong!
The Great Wei side had gone wild. Even the usually composed Ouyang Qi was waving his fists, venting years of pent-up frustration.
"Who exactly is backing Brother Thirteen? To command such a Peerless Prodigy!"
"Unbelievable! Brother Thirteen's combat strength rivals any Sea Condensation Realm cultivator at the eighth level."
"In terms of defying cultivation levels, perhaps only the late Gu Feng could match him. We all fall short."
"..." Zong Shixuan and the others were completely humbled. Their cultivation levels were similar to Brother Thirteen's, yet their combat strength was at least a level lower. What they couldn't understand was why such a Peerless Prodigy would willingly serve another.
And who dared to command such a Heaven's Chosen? Wouldn't they fear retribution later?
Much time passed, but Great Wei still hadn't sent out another Heaven's Chosen.
It wasn't that they lacked stronger contenders; it was simply not the right time. Great Wei's mission in this Heavenly Pride Battle was to crush the morale of Great Chu's cultivators.
They had expected it to be as easy as drinking water or eating food, but instead, they had encountered a formidable opponent right from the start.
"I didn't expect Great Chu to have such a Heaven's Chosen besides Zong Shixuan and the others..."
"We underestimated the difficulty of this Heavenly Pride Battle. Everyone, get serious."
"..."
The leading Heaven's Chosen from Great Wei wore solemn expressions, but they weren't overly concerned, confident that victory would ultimately belong to them.
"What are you dawdling for? I said I'd only fight thirteen matches. The next eleven trash, come at me together!"
Shi San's swift victory over his opponent hadn't satisfied his pent-up frustration. He craved a wild, all-out battle.
Whoosh!
The moment he spoke, the entire arena erupted in an uproar. Millions of spectators were stunned beyond belief.
"Young Brother Shi San, don't do it!" Ouyang Qi shouted, trying to stop the Thirteenth Young Master's reckless behavior.
But Shi San ignored him completely, not even turning his head. He simply fixed Great Wei's side with a contemptuous gaze.
"Heh, since Brother Thirteen is so confident, Great Wei will gladly accept your challenge!"
A Great Wei Heaven's Chosen sneered. Taking on eleven opponents at once was practically suicide. If they could defeat him, Zong Shixuan and the others would be no threat.
Eleven figures floated onto the arena, surrounding the Thirteenth Young Master.
At that moment, a flicker of expression finally crossed Shi San's face.
"Now this is getting interesting..."
With that, he attacked!
Twelve figures clashed in a fierce battle. After just a single exchange, blood splattered across the arena.
Shi San, who had remained calm until that moment, suddenly roared, his hair standing on end, each strand radiating a halo of light.
Roars shook the heavens as the Thirteenth Young Master channeled his Spiritual Power, sending several Heaven's Chosen flying with a single punch. An invincible aura radiated from him.
Each strike was earth-shattering, causing the Array Formation runes on the arena to flicker erratically, as if they might extinguish completely at any moment.
This was truly astonishing. The Thirteenth Young Master had fought against a crowd of opponents and still managed to dominate them.
The crowd was stunned. Spectators gaped, their pupils shrinking to the size of mung beans.
The battle was fierce but brief, ending in life or death in the blink of an eye.
Covered in blood, the Thirteenth Young Master crushed the final head and slowly stepped off the arena.
Duan Yansheng and the others watched in awe, instinctively clearing a path for him.
Millions of cultivators watched him in respectful silence.
"Too fast! I didn't even get to see him fight!" Monk Wu De complained.
"I was only told to fight thirteen matches. I never said I'd fight them one at a time!" the Thirteenth Young Master replied coldly.
Ouyang Qi and the others were still in a daze, unable to believe what had just happened.
The world was ever-changing, and events unfolded too quickly. Just moments ago, they had been agonizing over who to send into battle. Now, Great Wei had lost thirteen Heaven's Chosen in an instant.
This was an unprecedented victory! In just the time it took to brew a pot of tea, they had surpassed the combined results of the previous three Heavenly Pride Battles.
At that moment, Ouyang Qi desperately wanted to ask the Thirteenth Young Master what treasures he desired, promising that the Great Chu Dynasty would fulfill any request.
However, the words remained unspoken. Such a question would be an insult to a Heaven's Chosen. How could such a figure be sullied by mere treasures?
"Quick, quick, quick! Report the results here to Prefect Chu and His Majesty the Emperor of Great Chu immediately!" an Elder from the Grand Harmony Academy shouted excitedly.
The surrounding spectators finally realized what had happened and erupted into passionate cheers.
Whoosh!
But the cheers were short-lived, drowned out by the arrival of a new figure.
The Great Chu Dynasty's Peerless Prodigy, One Sword to the Grave, had entered the arena!
He stood like a peerless divine sword, radiating invisible sword qi that surged like a flood, crashing against the hearts and minds of everyone present.
We're doomed!
Who could possibly stand against this Young Sword God of Great Chu?
The crowd instinctively turned to the Thirteenth Young Master, but he had already left the arena and could no longer participate.
The prodigy's appearance caused Ouyang Qi's brow to furrow. His gaze swept across the crowd, lingering on Zong Shixuan and others, but he ultimately gave up.
It seemed that no matter who stepped forward, only one outcome awaited them: defeat.
"This man's attacks are unparalleled, but he can only sustain a few strikes. Who's willing to waste time wearing him down?" Ouyang Qi's voice was low. Against someone like Song Zhong, the only option was to grind him down; outright victory was impossible.
"Monk Wu De, how about you?"
"Er—, let me wait a little longer. If no one suitable appears in half an incense stick's time, I'll step up."
Song Zhong was a tough opponent, and Monk Wu De had no certainty of victory. He was waiting, waiting for Gu Feng to arrive.
Time ticked by, second by second. On the Arena, Song Zhong's eyes remained closed, the terrifying sword qi radiating from him growing ever more potent. Sword marks crisscrossed the Arena's surface.
Just as half an incense stick's time was about to expire, and Monk Wu De prepared to step onto the Arena, a stunning figure appeared from the horizon.
Like a fleeting glimpse of a celestial being, she descended gracefully.
In an instant, the gazes of millions of cultivators in attendance were drawn to her.
Her presence was simply too dazzling. The noble aura she exuded compelled everyone, including Ouyang Qi, to instinctively lower their heads.
She was like a Goddess descending to the mortal realm, inspiring awe and reverence. Even a fleeting glance from her eyes unleashed an endless stream of captivating charm.
Who is she?
In that instant, this thought flashed through everyone's minds.
"Benefactor Long, you've arrived! Has he come yet?" Monk Wu De's face lit up as he recognized the stunning features. He hurried over to Long Xun'er, his sandals slapping against the ground.
"He can't make it for now. Let me take the next Heavenly Pride Battle!"
Long Xun'er spoke with decisive authority, then leaped onto the arena.
Gazing at the breathtaking woman before him, Song Zhong trembled. A flicker of emotion stirred within him, and he wanted to speak.
But before he could utter a word, Long Xun'er unleashed a radiant beam of light toward him.
The beam shimmered with terrifying power. Song Zhong felt a tidal wave of Spiritual Power crash over him. Instinctively, he channeled his own Spiritual Power and swung his sword.
Clang!
The divine light that had illuminated the entire arena faded. A broken sword plunged into the arena floor. Song Zhong's face drained of color, his pupils turned ashen gray, and with a thunderous crash, he collapsed to the ground.
One Sword to the Grave—a sword that could not end another's life, only his own!
The Great Wei's Young Sword God, fallen!
Silence, deathly silence!
Shock, unprecedented shock!
Everyone stood frozen like fools, frantically rubbing their eyes, unable to believe what they had just witnessed.
My God, One Sword to the Grave had been instantly killed!
After a long moment of stunned silence, the crowd finally realized that the woman, whose beauty seemed otherworldly, was actually at the peak of the Sea Condensation Realm's eighth stage!
Her combat power rivaled that of a Soul Core Realm cultivator.
The Heaven's Chosen from Great Wei all rose to their feet in unison, their pupils contracting and their bodies trembling.
How could this be? How could Great Chu have such a formidable existence?!
"Who... who is she?" Ouyang Qi's lips trembled, wanting to shout but unable to speak from sheer excitement. His old face flushed crimson.
"She's... another expert sent by him to help Great Chu in the Heavenly Pride Battle," Monk Wu De stammered weakly, his lips twitching.
Before this, even he hadn't known that Long Xun'er was actually at the peak of the Sea Condensation Realm's eighth stage.
"Damn it, Patron Gu, how the hell did you manage to enslave this peak eighth-layer Condensation Sea realm dragon? This is absolutely inconceivable!" At this moment, the monk Wu De let out a soul-wrenching cry.
(End of the Chapter)
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