221: One against three

Upon the high platform, Grand Elder Venerable Ziyang looked at the dense crowds inside and outside the square.

His brow furrowed slightly, especially at those flying boats hovering in the air.

With a wave of his sleeve, his majestic spiritual energy activated the Restriction runes around the square.

Amidst a humming sound, in the sky above the square near the Floating Island,

several massive, transparent viewing stands composed of pure spiritual energy condensed out of thin air, resembling suspended stair-like platforms.

"All Disciples, mount the viewing stands to watch the battle! No more hovering flying boats; do not disrupt the order!"

Venerable Ziyang's voice, imbued with majesty, spread in all directions.

The Disciples piloting the flying boats felt as if they had been granted a great reprieve; they hurriedly put away their Magical Artifacts,

excitedly swarming onto the spiritual energy stands that had appeared out of thin air, their field of vision instantly becoming incredibly vast.

In the preparation area, Yao Delong, Lei Qianjun, Liu Ruyan, and Mu Yuqing sat cross-legged, all with eyes closed as they regulated their breathing.

The auras of the four were either deep as an abyss, violent as thunder, blazing as fire,

or resilient as gold; though they had not yet made a move, their invisible presence already made the nearby Disciples feel oppressed.

As the figures of the various Peak Revered Masters and Sect Head White Cloud Master appeared at the main seats on the high platform,

the entire square fell silent instantly, so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

Venerable Ziyang took a step forward, his voice booming like a great bell:

"The final battle of the Core Disciple Ranking Tournament—the Floating Island Melee—begins now!

Participants: Yao Delong, Lei Qianjun, Liu Ruyan, Mu Yuqing! Ascend the island!"

"Ascend the island!"

"Ascend the island!"

"Ascend the island!"

Shouts like a mountain tsunami erupted instantly!

In the preparation area, the four opened their eyes simultaneously! Four beams of sharp light, seemingly substantial, pierced the air!

Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!

Four figures turned into streaks of light, almost at the same time,

instantly passing through the Formation light screen surrounding the Floating Island and landing steadily at its four corners!

The island was not large, about a hundred feet in diameter, with a ground made of hard Qinggang Stone,

and the vast Void Realm surrounding it; falling meant elimination!

Yao Delong, in clothes as white as snow, stood at the eastern corner.

Lei Qianjun, as burly as a mountain, occupied the west, with thunderous light faintly appearing around him.

Liu Ruyan's purple dress fluttered as she stood in the south, purple flames dancing in her palm.

Mu Yuqing, in a gold martial outfit, looked heroic and spirited as she stood in the north,

a small golden bell phantom flickering around her.

Almost the moment they landed, the gazes of Lei Qianjun, Liu Ruyan, and Mu Yuqing

unanimously and with deep wariness focused squarely on Yao Delong!

Pressure! An invisible pressure instantly enveloped Yao Delong!

The strength Yao Delong had displayed these past few days was too terrifying;

he had crushed everything in his path, with the only match that could be considered somewhat of a struggle being his fight against Xiao Chen,

but in the end, Xiao Chen had been carried off while Yao Delong only had his blood and Qi churning!

Against the previous tournament's champion, Lei Qianjun, he had even forced the other party to concede!

In this four-person melee, Yao Delong was undoubtedly the most dangerous target that needed to be dealt with first!

Sensing the gravity and the faint intent of alliance in their gazes,

Yao Delong was not nervous; instead, he threw his head back and let out a long laugh,

the laughter clear and resonant, carrying a pride that looked down upon the world!

"Hahaha! Senior Brother Lei, Senior Sister Liu, Senior Sister Mu!"

Yao Delong's gaze swept over the three as he spoke loudly,

"The three of you are staring at me with such rapport; it seems you intend to join forces?

Good! It saves me the trouble! Why don't you all come at me together!

Otherwise, in a one-on-one, you... won't have the slightest chance!"

As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a massive boulder dropped into a calm lake, instantly stirring up a thousand waves!

"Arrogant! Too arrogant!"

"Senior Brother Yao is so domineering! He actually invited the three of them to fight at once!"

"Can... can this work? Those are Senior Brother Lei, Senior Sister Liu, and Senior Sister Mu!"

Exclamations and discussions erupted boisterously from the viewing stands!

A flash of complexity crossed Liu Ruyan's beautiful eyes, and she parted her red lips, her voice carrying a hint of helplessness and curiosity:

"Junior Brother Yao, you are certainly... quite confident. My Revered Master specifically instructed me not to join forces with the other two against you.

However... since you've spoken up, I would also like to see,

when you go all out, exactly what level you can reach!"

Hearing this, Yao Delong's heart stirred slightly.

Martial Uncle Dan Chenzi... actually gave such instructions?

This was clearly helping him in secret, hoping he wouldn't be ganged up on so he could smoothly take the top spot.

This protective intent made his heart feel slightly warm.

"Thank you for your kindness, Martial Uncle Dan."

Yao Delong nodded slightly toward the direction of Pill Cloud Peak,

then looked at Liu Ruyan, a confident curve hooking his lips,

"But rest assured, Senior Sister; today, I will let you,

and everyone else, see my full power! Make your move!"

Before his voice finished, a sharp light exploded from Yao Delong's eyes,

and a peerlessly sharp, terrifying Sword Intent that seemed capable of cutting through all things,

awoke with a roar like a slumbering primeval Vicious Beast!

"Sword Domain—Open!"

Buzz—!

With Yao Delong as the center, the space within a radius of dozens of feet suddenly distorted!

Countless invisible and intangible, yet extremely sharp Sword Qi were generated out of thin air, instantly filling the entire space!

The air was sliced with a "chi chi" sound, and on the Qinggang Stone ground beneath his feet,

countless fine sword marks appeared silently!

A terrifying pressure, heavy as a mountain and sharp as a prison,

instantly descended upon Lei Qianjun, Liu Ruyan, and Mu Yuqing!

The faces of Lei Qianjun and the others changed simultaneously! Being inside the Sword Domain,

they felt as if they were placed within a massive millstone of blades,

where the omnipresent sharp Sword Qi frantically sliced at their protective spiritual light,

and a heavy will oppressed their minds, making their movements several degrees slower!

"Thunder Domain! Open!" Lei Qianjun roared, and the violent blue lightning around him exploded!

A Domain filled with destructive thunderous light instantly expanded, colliding fiercely with Yao Delong's Sword Domain!

Sizzle! Thunderous light and Sword Qi annihilated each other frantically; although it couldn't completely negate the Sword Domain's suppression,

it weakened the Sword Domain's influence by nearly thirty percent!

"Golden Bell Body Protection!" Mu Yuqing reacted extremely fast; the moment the Sword Domain descended, her hands formed seals!

That small golden bell phantom instantly solidified and expanded,

turning into an ancient golden bell several feet high, enveloping her entire person!

Runes flowed over the surface of the golden bell, emitting an indestructible and heavy aura! Ding ding dang dang!

Countless Sword Qi struck the golden bell, producing a dense clatter like rain hitting banana leaves,

sparks flying everywhere, yet for the moment, they couldn't break through this powerful defense!

"Purple Phoenix Prairie Fire!"

Liu Ruyan gave a delicate shout and waved her jade-like hand; that clump of Purple Extreme Heavenly Fire instantly surged,

transforming into a magnificent purple fire phoenix with a wingspan of several feet!

The fire phoenix chirped clearly, carrying a terrifying heatwave meant to incinerate the eight directions, and boldly broke through the Sword Domain's suppression, pouncing toward Yao Delong!

Wherever it passed, even the invisible Sword Qi were scorched until they distorted and dissipated!

Facing the resistance and counterattacks of the three as they displayed their Divine Abilities, Yao Delong's eyes were icy, but his movements were lightning-fast!

"Great Five Elements Sword Formation—Strangle!"

Shoo! Shoo! Shoo! Shoo! Shoo!

Yao Delong's thoughts were like lightning; the five-colored sword wheel composed of five Flying Swords erupted with blinding light,

like five roaring primeval Vicious Beasts, carrying a sharpness that tore through the void,

as it fiercely strangled toward Mu Yuqing's ancient golden bell!

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang—!

The dense, deafening sounds of clashing metal were like a sudden downpour!

The five-colored Sword Qi frantically sliced and impacted the surface of the golden bell, each collision erupting with blinding sparks and ripples of energy!

The golden bell vibrated violently, the runes flowing on its surface flickering wildly,

wavering between brightness and darkness as it let out a groan of being overwhelmed!

Mu Yuqing's face instantly turned as pale as paper, and the thick gold-attribute spiritual energy in her body poured into the golden bell like a bursting flood,

holding on desperately as her feet plowed two deep furrows into the hard Qinggang Stone ground!

Her heart was in a state of immense shock; the power of this sword Formation was clearly several times stronger than what he had shown in previous battles?

Yao Delong had actually hidden such strength!