Chapter 312 - 151: Dominating the Entire Field (Part 2)
"Challenging everyone who takes the stage? This is the Immortal Ascension Conference, not his backyard!"
"Arrogant! That’s just too arrogant!"
In the Main Courtyard’s seating area, everyone shot to their feet.
They hadn’t expected Liang Cheng to be so domineering—one man challenging everyone!
On the high platform.
Liu Jingtiao’s brow furrowed slightly.
"Liang Cheng, do you have any idea what you’re saying?"
"I do."
"The rules permit open challenges. The winner advances, the loser has points deducted."
"I’m standing on this stage. I’ll take on whoever comes."
"No matter how many, I’ll take them all."
Liu Jingtiao fell silent.
He looked toward Chen Xuanfeng.
Chen Xuanfeng brought his teacup to his lips, his expression unreadable.
Liu Jingtiao looked away.
"Approved."
The moment that single word was spoken...
The air around the arena seemed to freeze.
The entire venue was silent for a moment before a reaction finally rippled through the crowd.
Everyone’s face was flushed, their eyes burning with fury.
How dare Liang Cheng be so presumptuous?
"I’ll be your opponent!"
Just then, a figure leaped onto the arena stage.
From Cyan Stone Island, Xiang Wuji.
True Gang Perfection, number one of the Cyan Stone Island Inner Sect.
He wielded a Short Halberd in each hand, their dark red shafts seeming to pulse with a fiery light.
"Xiang Wuji of Cyan Stone Island, here to witness Junior Brother Liang’s skill."
He wasted no time on words. Crossing his Double Halberds, he lunged forward!
The lunge was as fast as lightning!
This time, Liang Cheng drew his saber directly.
As the saber’s light flashed, Xiang Wuji’s Double Halberds were already at his face.
CLANG—!!!
Saber and halberds collided, sending sparks flying.
Xiang Wuji’s arms shook violently, the webbing between his thumbs and forefingers split open, and he almost lost his grip on the Double Halberds!
But he couldn’t retreat!
Gritting his teeth, he twisted his Double Halberds, attempting to bind the saber’s blade!
Liang Cheng’s Saber Momentum shifted.
Broken River!
The light of his saber surged like a furious tide, wave after wave, forcefully severing the binding momentum of the twin halberds!
Xiang Wuji let out a muffled grunt and was sent flying backward.
He landed on one knee, using his halberd for support. When he looked up, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
One move.
It had taken no more than three breaths.
Xiang Wuji was speechless.
He got to his feet. Instead of trying to attack again, he cupped his fist in his palm as a sign of respect.
"I am impressed."
Then he leaped off the stage and remained silent.
The crowd had yet to recover from the shock.
Cyan Stone Island’s top prodigy, Xiang Wuji, had been defeated.
"Next!"
Liang Cheng paid no mind to the crowd’s reaction and spoke again.
Then, a clear female voice rang out.
"I’ll go!"
From Golden Dawn Island, Liu Hongying.
True Gang Perfection, ranked second in the Golden Dawn Island Inner Sect.
She held a Foil, its blade as thin as a cicada’s wing and gleaming with a cold light.
She walked onto the stage but did not rush to attack.
"What was that saber move you just used called?"
"Nine Heavens Mountain-Breaking."
Liu Hongying nodded.
"A fine name."
She pointed the tip of her Foil diagonally toward the ground.
"Receive my strike."
As soon as the words left her mouth, her blade flashed!
The strike was as swift as a fleeting glimpse, so fast that more than half the people below the stage couldn’t even see the Sword Momentum!
But Liang Cheng showed no reaction, simply meeting it with his saber held horizontally.
CLANG—!!!
The tip of the Foil struck the very center of the saber’s blade, unleashing a piercing shriek.
Liu Hongying’s Sword Momentum faltered.
Liang Cheng rotated his saber, pressing against the Foil’s tip and pushing forward half an inch.
It was merely half an inch.
Liu Hongying, along with her sword, was pushed back three steps, the webbing of her hand splitting open. She withdrew her sword and looked down at her hand.
It was stained with blood.
She looked up at Liang Cheng.
"I’ve lost."
Without the slightest hesitation, she turned and left the stage.
Two battles, two victories, all in less than the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn.
Below the stage, no one dared to laugh anymore.
"Liang Cheng!!"
Suddenly, a furious roar echoed.
In the Profound Turtle Island seating area, a figure leaped up.
It wasn’t Meng Hu this time.
It was Luo Zhan.
He landed on the stage, a brand-new longspear in his hand.
"I am here."
Liang Cheng looked at him and spoke.
"Are your injuries fully healed?"
Luo Zhan didn’t answer, merely tightening his grip on the spear shaft in response.
Luo Zhan struck first.
No probing, no holding back.
From the very first move, he used his full power!
Profound Turtle Spear!
Sea-Suppressing Heaven-Covering!
This spear thrust was thirty percent stronger than the one he had used on the Main Courtyard’s stage that day.
The spear’s light was as black as ink, sweeping across the entire stage like a world-ending tsunami!
Liang Cheng drew his saber.
Nine Heavens Mountain-Breaking Saber!
Broken Sea!
As the saber’s light flashed, it was accompanied by Wind and Thunder.
The instant the saber and spear collided, time seemed to stand still.
The next moment.
CRACK—!!!
The spear shaft snapped in two.
Luo Zhan was sent flying backward, his back slamming into the edge of the stage. The spearhead grazed past his cheek and embedded itself three inches deep into the ground.
He looked down.
A saber gash ran across his chest from his collarbone to his abdomen. It was in the exact same position as the one on Meng Hu, and of the exact same depth.
Luo Zhan was silent for a moment.
He stood up, not even glancing at his Broken Spear.
He simply cupped his fist.
"I lost."
"The gap between us is still too great."
Then he leaped off the stage.
Three battles, three defeated opponents for Liang Cheng.
Not one of them could last a single exchange.
...
On the high platform.
Liu Jingtiao set down his teacup.
"Elder Chen."
"Mm."
"The Four Islands Main Courtyard has produced a remarkable young man. Even in the Penglai Sect’s Outer Sect, he would deserve the title of champion."
Chen Xuanfeng did not reply.
He just watched the figure in green robes on the stage, his expression full of pride.
With his saber at his waist, Liang Cheng stood unmoving amidst the swirling snow and wind.
"Is there anyone else?"
Liang Cheng spoke again.
His voice wasn’t loud.
The entire venue was deathly silent.
In the Profound Turtle Island seating area, Meng Hu gripped his long staff, his knuckles white.
Cyan Stone Island, Golden Dawn Island, Luoyun Island, Profound Ice Island...
None of the prodigies from any of the islands rose.
It wasn’t that they didn’t want to.
But after watching those three battles, every one of them had made a calculation in their minds.
And they had discovered that no matter how they fought, it would be utterly futile.
...
"Liang Cheng of the Four Islands Main Courtyard—"
An aged voice came from the high platform.
It was Liu Jingtiao.
"You have already won three consecutive matches. Your points are sufficient to advance."
"Do you still wish to continue?"
Liang Cheng raised his head.
"Are there any rules in the conference stating that a winning streak cannot be continued?"
Liu Jingtiao couldn’t help but fall silent.
"No."
"Then I will continue."
"Today, I stand here."
"The humiliation the Disciples of the Four Islands Main Courtyard suffered before was all because of me."