Chapter 854 - 822: Sudden Upheaval
Originally, four Golden Core cultivators were gathered here, which already made Zhao Tianxu wary of them.
Now, two more Golden Core cultivators had arrived, and using their Divine Sense to probe, those two were at least at the seventh layer of Golden Core, which made Zhao Tianxu even more cautious.
Time flew by, and before one incense stick burned out, the battle commenced.
Zhao Tianxu set the mood and recounted the progress of the previous battles, and finally, the duel between two Divine Maidens began.
On one side was Cyan Cicada Divine Maiden.
On the other side was Jade Orchid Divine Maiden.
Many were eagerly anticipating the outcome of this battle to see who was the most formidable.
Splish-splash.
The two women flew into the Thousand-Mile Mountain and River Painting, their graceful figures moving within the image, evoking a sense of watching beauties within a painting.
They maneuvered and displayed their techniques in the painting, every move visible to the spectators, with no concern about the size limitations of the scroll affecting visibility.
The crowd watched as Cyan Cicada Divine Maiden, besides wielding the Celestial Flow Dual Swords, also summoned a cyan Lotus Platform spiritual artifact.
The cyan Lotus Platform hovered above her head, unfolding its effect, and released a Cyan Lotus Realm, covering an area of ten thousand feet square, enveloping Jade Orchid Divine Maiden.
The effect of this Cyan Lotus Realm could enhance Cyan Cicada Divine Maiden’s combat power by about thirty percent, boosting her magic, Divine techniques, Qi Blood, and Magical Power.
While the Cyan Lotus Realm did not affect Jade Orchid Divine Maiden, it made defeating Cyan Cicada Divine Maiden significantly more challenging.
Moreover, Cyan Cicada Divine Maiden’s ability to wield dual swords allowed her to attack both near and afar, making the battle difficult for Jade Orchid Divine Maiden.
In the initial dozens of rounds of the duel, neither gained an advantage, with both evenly matched.
However, as the battle progressed, the advantages provided by the Cyan Lotus Realm became increasingly apparent.
With similar Qi Blood Magical Power, Cyan Cicada Divine Maiden consumed less than Jade Orchid Divine Maiden.
Moreover, in terms of body technique agility, Cyan Cicada Divine Maiden’s Cyan Illusion Cloud Water Body Technique was remarkably effective, allowing her to deftly evade Jade Orchid Divine Maiden’s attacks several times while counterattacking.
Thus, the battle between the two women reached a climax, with cultivators observing intently.
Zhao Tianxu squinted slightly, speculating on the outcome of the battle, occasionally discussing with the three Golden Core cultivators around him.
It didn’t take much longer before a resolution was reached in the battle.
The crowd saw Cyan Cicada Divine Maiden seize an opportunity, breaking through Jade Orchid Divine Maiden’s defense with a sword. The Celestial Flow Dual Swords hovered at her opponent’s chest, determining the victor.
"I lost."
Jade Orchid Divine Maiden let out a bitter smile.
If Cyan Cicada Divine Maiden hadn’t stopped the attack in time, it wouldn’t just be floating in front of her chest; it would have pierced through.
This was indeed mercy from her opponent.
She naturally wouldn’t continue fighting, realizing she had no chance of winning.
"Thank you for letting me win."
Li Qingchan smiled slightly and withdrew the Celestial Flow Dual Swords.
Winning this time wasn’t easy for her either, as she had expended seventy to eighty percent of her Magical Power.
The contest wasn’t over yet.
Jade Orchid Divine Maiden had only lost one match, and there was still a chance for her to turn the tide if she won the next two rounds.
They each sat by the riverbank, absorbing the power of the Luminous Stones to quickly recover their Qi Blood and Magical Power.
The crowd didn’t have to wait too long.
In just a moment, the two women restored themselves to peak condition and embarked on the second battle.
Having learned from the first match, this time, Jade Orchid Divine Maiden held nothing back and chose to go all out, using some high-tier talismans for restraint.
Even the cyan Lotus Platform became a target of her attacks.
She unleashed several fierce assaults, forcing Li Qingchan to defend the cyan Lotus Platform.
This tactic also weakened Li Qingchan’s offensive power.
The battle between the two women was extremely intense.
This time, the clash lasted over six hundred rounds, with both giving their all, exhausting their Magical Power until Jade Orchid Divine Maiden finally revealed more vulnerabilities, allowing Li Qingchan to strike her fragrant shoulder.
The power of this strike wasn’t significant, but for the exhausted and weakened Jade Orchid Divine Maiden, it was enough to be the last straw to break the camel’s back.
Jade Orchid Divine Maiden took this hit, let out a muffled groan, and her graceful body staggered in midair, about to fall into the rushing river below.
Even knowing that the river was an illusion, Jade Orchid Divine Maiden’s face still showed a look of panic.
Seeing this, Cyan Cicada Divine Maiden waved her jade hand, releasing a gentle force that swept toward Jade Orchid Divine Maiden, holding her aloft and preventing further descent.
Cyan Cicada Divine Maiden had already consumed most of her Magical Power, with little remaining.
After performing this action, stabilizing Jade Orchid Divine Maiden’s plummeting form, her pale face appeared even more strained.
Upon realizing her falling body was supported by a force, Jade Orchid Divine Maiden understood what was happening.
She couldn’t help but look at Li Qingchan, who returned a faint smile.
Even though Li Qingchan, due to Magical Power and physical exhaustion, smiled bitterly and weakly, feeling helpless, in Jade Orchid Divine Maiden’s eyes, that smile was so endearing and lovely.
"Thank you."
Jade Orchid Divine Maiden softly expressed her gratitude, deeply appreciative of Li Qingchan’s assistance that kept her from falling into the river and becoming a soaked chicken.
Thus, the battle between the two women came to an end.
Li Qingchan won the contest this time, making her the likely candidate for enshrinement.
Neither had any intention of continuing the fight; they each took out Luminous Stones, slightly restoring some Qi Blood Magical Power, preparing to fly out of the Thousand-Mile Mountain and River Painting.
The spectators, upon seeing the end of the contest, eagerly anticipated the imminent enshrinement, soon to receive the Three Saints’ Divine Radiance.
Whoosh!
Just then, a sudden rush of wind drew the attention of those nearby.
The crowd turned to look, and in the next moment, they saw a pouch-shaped Magical Artifact suddenly appear in midair, approximately the size of a person, aiming at the Thousand-Mile Mountain and River Painting.
A powerful suction force surged toward the Thousand-Mile Mountain and River Painting, clearly intending to take it away.
"Who is it?"
"What audacity!"
Amidst the astonished exclamations of the surrounding crowd, two Golden Core Ancestors from the Three Saints Sect voiced their reprimand, and one of them took action immediately.
People watched as the Golden Core Ancestor from the Three Saints Sect unleashed a move, and with a wave of his sleeve, a golden stream burst forth from his cuff, shooting toward the pouch-shaped Magical Artifact.
This golden stream was about a meter wide, its power reaching the Late-stage Golden Core level.
In the blink of an eye, the golden stream burst forth with a mighty sound, striking the pouch-shaped Magical Artifact.
