Chapter 98 - 93: Martial Arts Exchange Finale
Upon hearing this, Jiangnan Prefecture Lord Hong Ying burst out laughing. "Haha, you are not wrong, National Preceptor. Lu Changfeng’s Talent is indeed impressive. He is a rising star of my Jiangnan Prefecture."
"What’s more, the next one to fight is also a Swordsman, hailing from the Divine Sword Sect here in Jiangnan Prefecture. National Preceptor, you won’t want to blink."
The Daliang National Preceptor spoke slowly. "I shall wait and see."
...
Lu Changfeng had left the center of the plaza. He hadn’t even used his trump card, yet he had managed to comprehend Advanced Sword Intent mid-battle and slay Baili Xiong. The rewards had been substantial.
At this point, the score between Daliang Country and Jiangnan Prefecture was tied at two wins apiece.
Bai Yimeng was up for the next match.
Bai Yimeng was a bug in the system; her true strength was definitely no weaker than Lu Changfeng’s.
Lu Changfeng had seen her opponent’s status panel, and he couldn’t imagine any way for them to win against her.
’Even if her opponent could just force Bai Yimeng to reveal her Ancient Bloodline Talent, that would at least be something for me to see.’
But the reality of the situation left Lu Changfeng disappointed.
On the field, Bai Yimeng immediately revealed her cultivation at the Eighth Level of the Blood Forging Realm and her terrifying Sword Intent. In the end, with a single move—One Sword Ascends to Immortality—she beheaded her opponent.
Bai Yimeng never even had the chance to use her Demon Fiend Bloodline Power.
With that, the fifth match of the Martial Arts Conference concluded. Jiangnan Prefecture now held a temporary lead of three to two.
Five matches, four deaths.
And all of them had been top-tier geniuses.
Given enough time, they could have grown into titans of the Martial Arts world.
Even the most ordinary citizens of Jiangzhou Prefecture realized that something was amiss with this Martial Arts Conference.
The outcome of this Martial Arts Conference might very well decide the future of Jiangnan Prefecture, and perhaps even the entire Song Country.
The impact of this Martial Arts Conference was so immense that news of it was bound to spread far and wide, regardless of the final outcome.
The names of Lu Changfeng and the other eight participants would be forever enshrined by the people as heroes of the Song Country, their deeds sung and celebrated.
...
The sixth match began soon after.
This was a duel between Tendon Transformation Martial Artists.
Fighting for Jiangnan Prefecture was Yani Yani of the Yani Family, one of Jiangnan’s Eight Great Families.
Name: Yani Yani
Root Bone: Middle A Class
Talent: Middle Grade Talent [Blast Fist]
Yani Yani was an Elder of the Yani Family’s younger generation. In his early forties, his cultivation had already reached the Peak of the Tendon Transformation Martial Master Realm.
Rumor had it that he had cultivated the Yani Family’s Rock-Shattering Flow Boxing Technique to its apex and, by combining it with his own Talent, created his unique Rock Explosion Fist Technique.
Yani Yani’s opponent was a Grand Martial Artist from Daliang Country, Song Peiyuan.
Name: Song Peiyuan
Root Bone: Lower A Class
Talent: Middle Grade Talent [Cotton Palm]
"Elder Yani, that fiend Song Peiyuan specializes in Palm Techniques. He’ll likely try to entangle you in close combat," Lu Changfeng advised.
Yani Yani cupped his fist toward Lu Changfeng. "Understood. I’ll go win another round for us!"
Yani Yani circulated his Inner Energy and leaped into the plaza, his figure like that of an eagle.
At the Grand Martial Artist Realm, one’s Inner Strength can be projected out from the body. By cultivating even a basic Lightweight Skill, a martial artist could leap about freely, achieving speeds a galloping horse couldn’t match.
Song Peiyuan also took the field, and the two quickly engaged in battle.
When Grand Martial Artists fought, they began unleashing their powerful techniques from more than ten meters apart.
Song Peiyuan used his Inner Strength to fire Palm Seals at Yani Yani. Likewise, Yani Yani punched with both fists, sending out waves of Fist Seals formed from his Inner Strength.
Just as the Palm Seals and Fist Seals were about to collide, the Fist Seals launched by Yani Yani suddenly exploded.
The Palm Seals were instantly obliterated.
This was none other than Yani Yani’s Rock Explosion Fist Technique.
The two traded dozens of blows from a distance, and gradually, Song Peiyuan began to fall into a disadvantage.
Thus, Song Peiyuan began to press forward, engaging in close-quarters combat!
Only at close range could the entangling nature of his Palm Technique be brought into full effect.
Yani Yani, naturally, was unafraid and met him with fists raised.
Song Peiyuan’s Palm Technique was indeed a perfect match for his Talent. Its layered, intricate moves soon had Yani Yani’s fists trapped in an endless entanglement.
But soon, Song Peiyuan realized something was amiss.
A series of faint explosions began to sound from his body.
’What is this?’ Song Peiyuan wondered in alarm.
Yani Yani, however, let the corners of his lips curve upward. His Rock Explosion Fist Technique was, after all, unique to him.
During close-quarters combat, he could convert his Inner Strength into tiny ’rock explosion’ seeds and attach them to his opponent’s body.
After a set time, these seeds would detonate, disrupting the flow of Inner Strength within the enemy’s body.
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
The explosions on Song Peiyuan’s body grew more frequent. His own Inner Strength was being interfered with, its flow restricted.
With his Inner Strength restricted, his movements naturally slowed. Yani Yani swiftly seized the opportunity, landing a heavy ’Rock Explosion’ punch on Song Peiyuan’s chest.
With a sickening crack, Song Peiyuan spat a mouthful of blood and was sent flying backward.
Yani Yani pressed his advantage, giving Song Peiyuan no chance to concede, and unleashed a flurry of Fist Seals into his chest!
After a series of explosions, Song Peiyuan’s chest was blown to a bloody pulp, his life completely extinguished.
Jiangnan Prefecture had won another round, now leading four to two.
Only three matches remained in the Martial Arts Conference.
As for Jiangnan Prefecture, they needed only one more victory to end this peculiar Martial Arts Conference.
"Hahaha, National Preceptor! It seems you’ll be going home disappointed this time," the Jiangnan Prefecture Lord, Hong Ying, crowed with laughter.
The Daliang National Preceptor’s face was impassive. "Mansion Master, do not underestimate the resolve of Daliang."
Hong Ying’s smile slowly faded. "Oh? My Jiangnan Prefecture is filled with exceptional talents. I would advise you not to underestimate us either, National Preceptor."
By now, the sky was growing dark.
A full moon was already hanging high in the sky.
A gust of autumn wind swept by, carrying a distinct chill.
In the third-to-last match, Jiangnan Prefecture’s combatant was Elder Chen Xuanfeng of the Shadowless Sect, one of the Ten Great Sects of Jiangnan.
Name: Chen Xuanfeng
Root Bone: Middle A Class
Talent: Middle Grade Talent [Feather Body]