164: Chapter 123 The Southern Territory Dingding

Chen Xuan frowned.

"Revered Master, Zhang He, he..."

"Zhang He has a trump card," Master Liu Yun interrupted him. "Your trump card must be saved for the very end."

Chen Xuan was silent for a moment, then nodded.

Zhang He leaped onto the high platform.

He wore a green Daoist robe with a long sword hanging at his waist, his Late Stage Foundation Establishment aura steady and well-rounded.

"Qingcang Sect, Zhang He."

Over at the Buddhist Sect, Budong looked at Nianzhen.

"You go."

Nianzhen nodded and leaped onto the high platform.

She drew her sword; the blade was snow-white, with three blood grooves along the edge.

"Buddhist Sect, Nianzhen."

Zhang He looked at Nianzhen, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

Nianzhen looked at Zhang He, her expression calm.

"You are not my opponent."

Zhang He did not answer.

He drew his sword, the sword light like a rainbow, slashing toward Nianzhen.

Nianzhen did not move.

Not until the sword light was right in front of her did she raise her hand and thrust out with her sword.

The tip of her sword precisely struck Zhang He's blade, shattering his sword light.

Zhang He retreated three steps, his hand numb.

Nianzhen did not give him a chance to catch his breath.

Her sword thrust out again, this time even faster, swift as lightning.

Zhang He blocked horizontally with his sword.

The tip of her sword struck his blade, causing it to bend and then snap straight.

Zhang He was knocked flying and landed on the high platform.

He flipped himself up to stand, a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth.

Nianzhen looked at him.

"I said it before: you are not my opponent."

Zhang He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

"Is that so?"

He took a jade talisman from his Storage Pouch and crushed it.

The moment the jade talisman shattered, a green light flew out from the fragments and merged into his body.

His aura began to climb.

Almost in an instant, he reached Foundation Establishment Perfection.

Zhang He's aura stopped at Foundation Establishment Perfection.

His eyes turned green, and his hair also turned green.

The Qingcang Sect's secret technique, the Azure Wood Longevity Art.

At the cost of burning his Lifespan, he could raise his cultivation by one Realm for a short time.

Nianzhen's brows furrowed.

"A secret technique?"

Zhang He did not answer.

His sword unsheathed, green light like a rainbow slashing toward Nianzhen.

Nianzhen blocked horizontally with her sword.

The green light collided with her blade, and Nianzhen was knocked back several steps.

The webbing of her hand split open, and blood dripped down the hilt.

Zhang He's sword slashed over again.

This time, it was faster and more ruthless.

Nianzhen did not meet it head-on.

She sidestepped to dodge, the sword tip grazing her sleeve and leaving a cut on the cuff.

Zhang He's sword did not stop.

Sword after sword, each one faster than the last.

Nianzhen was forced to the edge of the high platform.

She gritted her teeth, and the sword in her hand lit up.

The scriptures on the blade began to flow, and golden light erupted from the sword.

The Soul-Severing Sword, a Buddhist Sect Spiritual Artifact, specifically counters the Divine Soul.

Zhang He's sword struck the golden light shield, but it was like cutting into cotton; he could not exert any force.

Nianzhen raised her hand and thrust out with her sword.

The tip of her sword pierced Zhang He's chest, and blood splattered.

Zhang He groaned, his body stiffening.

The scriptures from the Soul-Severing Sword submerged into his body, eroding his Divine Soul.

His eyes turned back from green to black, and his hair turned back from green to black.

The Azure Wood Longevity Art was broken.

Zhang He knelt on the ground, spitting out blood.

Nianzhen withdrew her sword and stepped back several paces.

She looked at Zhang He, her expression calm.

"You have lost."

Zhang He raised his head and looked at her.

"I have not lost."

He propped himself up with his sword and stood, covered in blood.

"I can still fight."

Nianzhen looked at him, silent for a moment.

"You have a lot of backbone."

She paused.

"But backbone cannot save you."

She raised her hand and thrust her sword toward Zhang He's chest.

Zhang He did not dodge.

He closed his eyes, waiting for that sword.

The sword tip stopped three inches from his chest.

Nianzhen withdrew her sword and stepped back.

"You may go."

Zhang He opened his eyes and looked at her.

"Why?"

Nianzhen did not answer.

She turned and walked back to the Buddhist Sect side.

The area around the high platform was silent for a moment, then erupted into earth-shaking cheers.

"We won!"

"Zhang He won!"

"The Southern Region has pulled back a victory!"

"Two to one, there is still a chance!"

Zhang He stood on the high platform, covered in blood.

He looked at Chen Xuan and nodded.

Then he knelt on the ground and passed out.

People from the Qingcang Sect went up to the platform and carried him down.

Chen Xuan looked at Zhang He's back, silent for a long time.

Nianzhen had spared Zhang He.

She had not crippled his Dao foundation, nor had she taken his life.

She had simply defeated him.

But would the people of the Buddhist Sect spare him?

No.

Immortal Master Kumu would not.

Budong would not.

Fa Ming would not.

Huike would not.

They just didn't want to do anything too ugly in front of everyone.

Once the competition ended, once the Southern Region lost, and once Wanyao Immortal City fell into the hands of the Buddhist Sect...

What would they do?

Chen Xuan dared not think about it.

He gripped his sword hilt tightly.

The third round.

It was his turn.

Chen Xuan leaped onto the high platform.

He stood in the center of the high platform, his hand on his sword hilt, his expression calm.

The morning light fell upon him, stretching his shadow long.

"Liuyang Sword Sect, Yun Qi."

Over at the Buddhist Sect, Budong looked at Fa Ming.

"You go up."

Fa Ming nodded and leaped onto the high platform.

He was shirtless, his muscles knotted, and his skin had a faint golden luster.

Indestructible Vajra Body.

Fa Ming looked at Chen Xuan, the corners of his mouth curling up.

"Foundation Establishment Perfection?"

He laughed.

"Your Senior Sister was at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment, and I crippled her."

"Your Senior Brother was at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, and he was almost killed by my Senior Sister."

"You are at Foundation Establishment Perfection; how many moves can you last?"

Chen Xuan looked at him without speaking.

His sword remained sheathed.

Fa Ming's smile faded.

"What? Are you afraid?"

Chen Xuan shook his head.

"It is not fear."

"It is that you are going to die!"

His sword was unsheathed.

The three bright moon sword emitted a clear, resonant hum in the morning light.

Sword Light Differentiation.

Nine sword lights transformed into nine bolts of thunder, slashing toward Fa Ming.

Fa Ming raised his hands to block.

The sword light struck his arms, sparks flying everywhere.

He retreated a step, nine white marks appearing on his arms.

Fa Ming looked down at those white marks, his pupils slightly contracting.

"Your sword is stronger than your Senior Sister's."

Chen Xuan did not speak.

His sword slashed out again, this time with Sword Dao Thunder Sound.

Thunderous sword light exploded on the high platform, and countless hair-thin bolts of lightning sealed off all of Fa Ming's escape routes.

Fa Ming's expression changed.

He put his Indestructible Vajra Body to full use, golden light erupting from within his body and wrapping him in a golden light shield.

The lightning struck the light shield, causing it to tremble violently and develop cracks.

A trace of blood spilled from the corner of Fa Ming's mouth.

He gritted his teeth, desperately maintaining the light shield.

Chen Xuan's sword did not stop.

The sword light struck the light shield one after another, the cracks growing larger and more numerous.

Fa Ming could not hold on.

The light shield shattered.

The sword light slashed into him, leaving nine bloody gashes on his chest.

Fa Ming groaned, retreated several steps, and knelt on the ground.

He looked down at the wounds on his chest, blood flowing out.

Golden light flickered at the wounds, attempting to heal them.

But they could not heal.

The thunderous power of the Sword Dao Thunder Sound remained in the wounds, eroding his flesh.

Fa Ming raised his head and looked at Chen Xuan.

"How could you be this strong?"

Chen Xuan did not answer.

He walked up to Fa Ming and looked down at him.

"You crippled my Senior Sister's Dao foundation."

Fa Ming's expression changed.

"What are you going to do?"

Chen Xuan raised his hand, his sword finger pointing at Fa Ming's Dantian.

"Repaying a debt."

Fa Ming wanted to dodge.

But Chen Xuan's sword finger had already arrived.

A burst of Sword Qi flew from his fingertip, piercing into Fa Ming's Dantian.

The sound of a Dantian shattering exploded in the air.

Fa Ming's body arched, and he spat out blood.

His aura began to plummet.

Foundation Establishment Perfection.

Foundation Establishment Level 9.

Foundation Establishment Level 8.

His cultivation was dropping rapidly, his Meridians were snapping, and his magic power was dissipating.

Chen Xuan withdrew his sword finger and stepped back several paces.

Fa Ming lay on the high platform, covered in blood.

His eyes were still open, the light in his pupils dimming bit by bit.

"My Dao foundation..."

He muttered to himself.

"My Dao foundation is shattered."

The area around the high platform was silent for a moment, then erupted into earth-shaking cheers.

"He's crippled!"

"The Buddhist Sect person is crippled!"

"Senior Brother Yun is mighty!"

"The Southern Region won!"

"Three to two, the Southern Region won!"

The Cultivators of The Three Sects cheered; some hugged each other, some knelt on the ground, some roared at the sky.

Liu Lili stood under the high platform, her eyes reddened.

She looked at Chen Xuan on the high platform, her lips trembling.

"Junior Brother, you did it."

Chen Xuan stood on the high platform, covered in blood.

It was not his blood.

It was Fa Ming's blood.

He looked at Fa Ming lying on the ground, his expression calm.

In his heart, there was no joy, only coldness.

Senior Sister Wen Yao's Dao foundation was shattered.

Fa Ming's Dao foundation was also shattered.

An eye for an eye.

Fair.

But it was not enough.

Senior Sister Wen Yao's Dao foundation could never grow back once shattered.

The same for Fa Ming.

But this exchange was not fair.

It would never be fair.

Chen Xuan turned and looked toward the Buddhist Sect.

Budong stood at the edge of the high platform, in a grey monk's robe, barefoot, his face calm.

He glanced at Fa Ming lying on the ground, then looked at Chen Xuan.

"You crippled him."

Chen Xuan looked at him.

"He crippled my Senior Sister."

Budong was silent for a moment.

"The competition is meant to stop at the point of injury."

Chen Xuan smiled.

"Stop at the point of injury?"

His smile was cold.

"Your Senior Sister almost killed my Senior Brother, and your Junior Brother crippled my Senior Sister's Dao foundation; you call this stopping at the point of injury?"

Budong did not speak.

The voice of Immortal Master Kumu came from the Buddhist Sect's encampment.

"Enough."

A golden light flew from afar and landed on the high platform.

The light dispersed, revealing an old man with white hair and white eyebrows.

His face was kind, like a Bodhisattva in a temple.

But his eyes were not right.

When looking at people, it was like looking at objects.

Immortal Master Kumu.

Late Stage Golden Core.

His aura was overwhelming, pressing down on the Cultivators around the high platform until they could barely breathe.

Immortal Master Kumu glanced at Fa Ming lying on the ground, then looked at Chen Xuan.

"You crippled my Disciple."

Chen Xuan looked at him.

"He crippled my Senior Sister."

Immortal Master Kumu nodded.

"Fair."

He paused.

"But fairness is defined by the strong for the weak."

He raised his hand, and a golden palm print descended from the sky, striking toward Chen Xuan.

Chen Xuan wanted to dodge.

But the pressure of a Late Stage Golden Core was too strong.

He could not move.

The palm print was right in front of him.

A sword light flew from afar and slashed at the palm print.

The palm print shattered.

Master Liu Yun landed on the high platform, blocking in front of Chen Xuan.

His white hair fluttered in the wind, his left sleeve hanging empty at his side.

"Immortal Master Kumu."

Master Liu Yun's voice was cold.

"The competition has ended. The Southern Region won. Wanyao Immortal City belongs to the Southern Region. Your Disciple is crippled, my Disciple is also crippled. Fair."

Immortal Master Kumu looked at Master Liu Yun.

"Fair?"

He laughed.

"You, a Middle Stage Golden Core with a severed arm, are worthy of talking to me about fairness?"

He raised his hand, and another palm print appeared.

This one was stronger than the last.

Inside the palm print was a golden Buddha statue, its face compassionate but its eyes cold.

Maitreya Descends.

Immortal Master Kumu's innate Divine Ability.

Master Liu Yun's expression changed, and the sword in his hand lit up.

Innate Sword Talisman, sealing five Sword Intents inside.

He drew out one Sword Intent and slashed toward the palm print.

The Sword Intent collided with the palm print, exploding into a blinding light.

The high platform shattered, gravel flying everywhere.

Master Liu Yun retreated several steps, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

Immortal Master Kumu did not move an inch.

He looked at Master Liu Yun and smiled.

"Not bad. You can take a palm strike from me."

He paused.

"But what about the next one?"

He raised his hand, and another palm print appeared.

This time, the palm print was larger and stronger.

Master Liu Yun's face was pale.

His Innate Sword Talisman only had four Sword Intents left; even using them all would not block this palm strike.

But he did not retreat.

He stood in front of Chen Xuan, not retreating a single step.

Chen Xuan looked at his Revered Master's back, a surge of anger rising in his heart.

Immortal Master Kumu was bullying them too much.

But anger was useless.

He could not defeat Immortal Master Kumu.

Late Stage Golden Core was not something he could deal with.

Just then, a golden light flew from the horizon and landed on the high platform.

The light dispersed, revealing a middle-aged man.

His face was lean, his eyes deep, and his Middle Stage Golden Core aura was as thick as a mountain.

Central Province Liu Clan, Liu Changqing.

The Nascent Soul True Lord of the Liu Clan did not come, but he had sent his Disciple.

Liu Changqing looked at Immortal Master Kumu, his expression calm.

"Kumu, the competition has ended. The Southern Region won. The Buddhist Sect should withdraw."

Immortal Master Kumu looked at him, silent for a moment.

"Liu Changqing, do you represent the Central Province Liu Clan?"

"I do."

Immortal Master Kumu nodded.

"Good."

He withdrew the palm print and turned to look at the people of the Buddhist Sect.

"Let's go."

Budong nodded, and taking Nianzhen and Huike, they supported Fa Ming and walked toward the north.

Immortal Master Kumu walked at the very back.

When passing by Chen Xuan, he stopped.

"Young man, you are not bad."

He paused.

"But people who are 'not bad' often die young."

He stepped forward and continued walking.

Chen Xuan watched his back, his hand on his sword hilt.

Immortal Master Kumu.

Late Stage Golden Core.

The remnants of the Buddhist Sect.

The threat to the Southern Region.

He had to eliminate him.

But not now.

Now, he was not strong enough.

When he reached Golden Core, when he gathered the Golden Nature, when he forged his Blessed Land.

By then, he would settle the score with Immortal Master Kumu.

Chen Xuan withdrew his gaze and turned to look at Senior Sister Wen Yao.

Senior Sister Wen Yao lay on a stretcher, her face pale, the Red Lotus Petal Mark between her brows already dim and lusterless.

Her Dao foundation was shattered.

Her cultivation had dropped to Qi Refining.

Chen Xuan knelt down and held her hand.

"Senior Sister, I will cure you."

Senior Sister Wen Yao opened her eyes and looked at him.

"Junior Brother, you don't need to comfort me."

Chen Xuan shook his head.

"It is not comfort. It is a promise."

He looked into Senior Sister Wen Yao's eyes.

"I will definitely cure you."

Senior Sister Wen Yao looked at him for a long time.

Then she smiled.

"Okay."

Liu Lili walked over and knelt beside Chen Xuan.

"Junior Brother, let's take Senior Sister back."

Chen Xuan nodded.

He stood up and, together with Xiao Ye, lifted the stretcher and walked toward the Inner City.

Behind them, the ruins of the high platform smoked in the morning light.

The Cultivators of The Three Sects were cheering.

The Southern Region won.

Wanyao Immortal City was preserved.

But there was no joy in Chen Xuan's heart.

Senior Sister Wen Yao was crippled.

The Buddhist Sect was still there.

Immortal Master Kumu was still there.

This war was not over yet.