609: The duel begins

"Yao Delong has accepted Saint Kuang Wutian's challenge!"

"The God of War Platform! Quick! Hurry to the God of War Platform and grab a spot!"

"Heavens! For the Saint's first battle after coming out of seclusion, he's actually facing that fierce man who defeated a Void Refining expert as a lower realm Cultivator!"

"Hurry, hurry! Such a Peak Duel is a rare sight in a hundred years!"

The entire Nine Yang Plain instantly boiled with excitement!

Countless Escape Lights soared into the sky, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, frantically surging toward the God of War Platform in the main Peak area!

The news swept through the entire Moyang Sect like a hurricane!

Many Elders and powerful experts were stirred, as one powerful Divine Thought after another swept over!

"Hmph, using you, Kuang Wutian, as a whetstone, I'll let those monsters hiding in the shadows see me clearly!"

Yao Delong snorted coldly in his heart, his eyes sharp as swords. He instantly caught sight of a figure in the crowd slipping away during the chaos,

a figure still trailing a faint, extremely obscure, and cold trace of Devilish Qi!

He no longer hesitated, took Li Linger's small hand, and said softly, "Linger, let's go too."

"Mhm!" Li Linger nodded heavily, suppressing the worry in her heart as her eyes became incredibly firm. She believed in her Brother Yao!

The Yin and Yang Dao patterns around Yao Delong's body lit up slightly, and ripples appeared in space.

In the next moment, the two figures seemed to merge into the Void Realm, instantly disappearing from in front of the Fire Cloud Pavilion,

only to reappear high in the sky above the main Peak heading toward the God of War Platform!

His speed was so fast it was not in the least inferior to Kuang Wutian's crimson meteor!

The God of War Platform, the oldest and most sacred dueling ground of the Moyang Sect, floated between the protection of three main Peaks.

The immensely large dark-gold arena was engraved with countless profound runes,

emitting a vast and resilient aura, as if it could withstand the trampling of primordial behemoths.

At this moment, the sky and cliffs surrounding the arena were already occupied by a dense crowd of Escape Lights and figures.

Disciples from every Peak, Deacon Elders, and even some Hall Masters who rarely showed their faces on ordinary days, all focused their gazes here!

On the arena, two figures faced each other from a distance.

On one side, hair as red as fire and muscles knotted like coiled dragons, his entire body burned with golden flames that were almost tangible,

nine blurred yet terrifyingly hot phantom suns ebbed and flowed behind him,

this was the Saint, Kuang Wutian, pushing the Nine Yang Heaven Transformation Art to its limit!

He was like a god of war in the fire, his Battle Intent raging, his eyes sharp as knives as they locked onto his opponent.

On the other side, a galaxy flowed over his black Daoist robe, Yin and Yang Dao patterns swam like living things, and his aura was as deep as the sea—it was Yao Delong.

He stood tall as a pine, his gaze calm and rippleless, as if he were not on a life-and-death arena but taking a leisurely stroll in a courtyard.

This composure formed a sharp contrast with Kuang Wutian's wild and overbearing nature, causing countless people to be secretly shocked.

Kuang Wutian took a deep breath, and the scorching air seemed to burn within his chest,

he was just about to open his mouth to issue the challenge and break this invisible confrontation—

"Buzz!"

The space rippled like water, and a figure, cold as moonlight and white as frost, appeared above the edge of the arena without warning.

She had an exquisite face and a cold, aloof temperament, like the cold moon above the Nine Heavens,

it was the Hall Master of the Phantasm Moon Hall, Mo Qingxian, who rarely appeared in public!

"Hall Master Mo!"

"It's the Phantasm Moon Hall Master! Why did she come too?"

"Heavens! Hall Master Mo is so beautiful! Hasn't she been in secluded cultivation all this time?"

"Even she was stirred? The weight of this match..."

Mo Qingxian's appearance instantly ignited an explosion of exclamations from the crowd!

Her beauty and mystery were equally the reasons for her drawing so much attention.

Mo Qingxian's cold gaze swept across the field, finally landing on the two people in the arena and settling on Yao Delong.

Her cherry lips parted slightly, and her voice sounded like the clear ring of a jade chime, yet it contained an unquestionable authority that clearly reached everyone's ears:

"Today, this seat shall adjudicate for you."

"This is a sparring match to discuss the Dao; stop when the point is made. The intent is exchange and verification, to promote the Dao laws."

"Under no circumstances should you harbor malicious intent, deliberately cause serious injury, or destroy another's Dao path and Foundation!"

Her gaze focused particularly on Kuang Wutian, her tone deepening slightly:

"Yao Delong, a True Disciple, turned the tide in the Northern Territory and thwarted the sinister plots of the devilish Cultivators. His actions and merits"

"make him a model for our generation of Cultivators. You all should take him as an example and learn with an open mind!"

Mo Qingxian's words were ostensibly rules for the two of them, but they were even more for the entire audience,

highlighting Yao Delong's status and contributions to block any possibility of an 'accident' occurring.

She knew all too well that with Kuang Wutian's nature as a battle maniac and his pride currently provoked by Xiao Chen,

he might explode regardless of everything. When that time came... it wouldn't be as simple as being 'beaten to a pulp'!

Yao Delong's strength was definitely not just the Late Stage Soul Transformation it appeared to be on the surface!

Upon hearing this, Kuang Wutian completely misunderstood her meaning!

He thought Hall Master Mo's words were mainly for Yao Delong, worried that Yao Delong would suffer at his hands,

or fearing it would be hard to explain if Yao Delong were injured on Moyang Sect territory!

The pride in his heart grew even stronger, and he laughed loudly, his voice carrying absolute confidence:

"Hall Master Mo, rest assured! Our two sects have always been on good terms; I know what I'm doing!

Since it's a sparring match for verification, I will naturally show mercy and will definitely not let Fellow Daoist Yao leave any regrets here in my Moyang Sect!"

He even cupped his fists toward Mo Qingxian with an 'I understand, I'll take care of him' look.

Hearing this, Mo Qingxian's cold lips twitched almost imperceptibly, and a trace of helplessness flickered in her eyes.

This martial idiot... he completely missed her underlying meaning! Oh well, let him suffer a bit,

understanding that there is always a heaven beyond the heaven and people beyond people might be a good thing for his future Dao path.

She took one last deep look at Yao Delong, the meaning in her eyes crystal clear: 'Show mercy, don't go too far.'

Yao Delong understood in his heart and nodded slightly to show he got the message. He hadn't planned on actually doing anything to this Saint anyway.

Mo Qingxian said no more. Her figure drifted gracefully into the air, landing on a high platform with an excellent view that had already been prepared for her.

Her cold voice rang out again, like an announcement:

"Moyang Sect Saint Kuang Wutian versus Yin Yang Sect True Disciple Yao Delong—the match begins!"

The moment the words fell, the fire of battle in Kuang Wutian's eyes instantly burned to the extreme!

He was no insidious person and disdained sneak attacks. Instead, he made an extremely arrogant gesture toward Yao Delong—'I'll let you attack first!'

It was filled with absolute confidence in his own strength and a condescending attitude.

Yao Delong shook his head inwardly. This guy... was truly arrogant beyond measure.

He really wanted to just slap this eyesore of a fly away and end this boring fight.

But reason told him he couldn't do that. Firstly, this was someone else's territory, and he had to consider the Moyang Sect's face;

secondly, Mo Qingxian's request was still ringing in his ears;

thirdly... he still had to draw out the 'fish' in the shadows.

Since he couldn't end it in a second... then he would play along for a bit.

Yao Delong's eyes were calm as the power within his body quietly circulated. He did not use his most proficient Oblivion Heart Sword,

but instead chose the power of the Great Sun Sacred Body, which he had long since mastered to perfection! At the same time, his palms struck forward seemingly at random!