138: Chapter 138 First Place in the County Military Examination

As a small golden sword flew toward Ye Yisong, a Red Lotus silently drifted above Young Master Qi's head, casting a blood-red hue over half the sky that was intoxicating.

"Kindred spirit."

Since that was the case, Ye Yisong's guilt could be slightly alleviated. Launching a sneak attack was already somewhat dishonorable, but since Young Master Qi was also resorting to sneak attacks, Ye Yisong could not be blamed for ruthlessly detonating the Green Lotus.

"Explode!"

A mushroom cloud, far larger than any previous one, rose from beside Young Master Qi. This Red Lotus was different from the Green Lotus Ye Yisong usually released; it not only contained Ye Yisong's own Spiritual Qi energy but had also absorbed fifty to sixty percent of the Spiritual Qi energy from Young Master Qi. Coupled with the effect of the red light, it was uncertain if Young Master Qi could survive.

Ye Yisong met sword with sword. The standard Third-Grade Low Grade precious sword issued by his Family quickly proved unable to withstand the force, shattering inch by inch until fragments were scattered all over the ground.

After shattering Ye Yisong's precious sword, the small golden sword did not continue flying forward; it simply dissipated into the air.

After all, the master of the small golden sword was nearly finished; there was no energy left to support the operation of the small golden sword, so it naturally dissipated on its own.

After the smoke cleared, the crowd did not see Young Master Qi in a disheveled state. When he reappeared before everyone's eyes, he still retained the appearance of an elegant and graceful Young Master, though he was clutching a shattered jade pendant in his hand with a pained expression.

This jade pendant was a life-saving item personally bestowed upon him by the Wei Family Old Ancestor. It was said to be able to withstand a single strike from a Martial Ancestor in the Late Stage. He never expected it to be wasted here. Young Master Qi was filled with regret; why had he chosen to sneak-attack Ye Yisong at the end?

Without that final sneak attack, he might not have wasted this life-saving item.

The Wei Family Old Ancestor would bestow a life-saving item upon every expert in the Wei Family who comprehended a Martial Dao Seed or achieved a Breakthrough to Martial Ancestor. It was limited to that one time, intended to remind the members of the Wei Family to be cautious when out in the world.

In truth, Young Master Qi was overthinking things. Even if he hadn't launched a sneak attack, once Ye Yisong had secretly maneuvered the Red Lotus into position, he would have ruthlessly detonated it regardless. The Red Lotus had absorbed too much Spiritual Qi, and Ye Yisong could not safely retract it into his body; detonation was the only path.

Since it had to be detonated, why not return the energy to its master!

Besides, after Young Master Qi's Spiritual Qi was exhausted, he kept playing word games, refusing to admit defeat, and even moving off the arena at a snail's pace. Did he really take Ye Yisong for a fool?

"I admit defeat."

Seeing that Ye Yisong was about to make a move again, Young Master Qi decisively called out his surrender. In his current state, he could not withstand any more of Ye Yisong's torment.

"If you had admitted defeat earlier, wouldn't there have been less trouble?" Ye Yisong curled his lip and said with an expression of disdain.

This time, Young Master Qi did not respond. He leaped off the arena in one step, returned to the Wei Family's rest area, hid himself within, and disappeared from sight.

"This Ye Yisong is too strong; even the Formation couldn't defeat him."

"Is he really still a Martial Master?"

"It's a pity for the Wei Family; their two seeded players both fell at the hands of Ye Yisong alone."

"The Ye Family is truly lucky to have produced such a Prodigy."

"I reckon it won't be long before we have to address this Ye Yisong as Grandmaster Ye."

"Thirteenth Brother, you're awesome!"

"First place!"

The loud discussions from the Martial Artists below the arena did not affect the two remaining opponents on the stage.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, please offer your guidance." Ye Yisong cupped his hands in a salute.

"It is I who must ask Fellow Daoist Ye to show mercy." Ye Yisong's matches had all involved blowing people up quite severely, leaving quite a bit of trauma in Wang Xianliang's heart.

Wang Xianliang had planned to go into closed-door Cultivation immediately after participating in the Prefecture Examination to achieve a Breakthrough to Martial Ancestor in one go; he could not afford to sustain a serious injury at this critical juncture.

"Fellow Daoist Ye, shall we decide the outcome in one move?" Considering his own various circumstances, Wang Xianliang proposed his suggestion.

"Alright!" Ye Yisong readily agreed. He just happened to be lacking a subject for his experiment; he was just dozing off when a pillow was delivered—truly a happy and congratulatory occasion!

"Please," Wang Xianliang said, gesturing with his hand.

Ye Yisong did not stand on ceremony and directly manifested two Nine-Colored Green Lotuses, floating before his chest. The two Green Lotuses displayed a beautiful green color, flickering as they oscillated between reality and illusion, making them difficult to perceive clearly.

Wang Xianliang held a long saber horizontally. His Martial Dao Seed materialized and fused into the long saber. The long saber immediately emitted a roaring sound, and a violent aura surged forth, causing one to feel heart palpitations.

"Nine-Flame Void Realm Slash."

After both sides were prepared, Wang Xianliang did not hold back this time. He slashed forward with a strike containing ninety percent of his power. A tornado-like Saber Qi, arrogant and domineering, seemed as if it would cleave the heavens and earth apart. The roaring sound generated from its friction with the air made people's ears ache.

Ye Yisong was not to be outdone. He gently pushed forward one of the Green Lotuses floating before his chest. This Green Lotus seemed to fly incredibly slowly, yet in an instant, it rapidly passed through the imposing tornado of Saber Qi, heading straight for Wang Xianliang's body.

At the same time, he transformed the remaining Green Lotus into a defensive barrier to protect his own body. Ye Yisong could feel that the power of Wang Xianliang's strike had certainly reached the threshold of a Martial Ancestor; if he were accidentally grazed by it, he would definitely suffer.

Wang Xianliang was terrified. How had Ye Yisong's Green Lotus passed through his Saber Qi to reach his side? Upon closer inspection, one would notice that this Green Lotus had some differences from the Green Lotuses Ye Yisong had previously manifested.

One could see a small Talisman carved onto one of its petals. It was precisely this Talisman that had performed the great feat just now, finding the gap in Wang Xianliang's attack and using a teleportation method to bring the Green Lotus directly to within three meters of Wang Xianliang.

This Green Lotus was incomparable to the ones Ye Yisong had used before; this was a Green Lotus that had integrated Ye Yisong's Martial Dao Seed. Its power itself had reached the Martial Ancestor threshold, and with the addition of the attached rays of red light, its power was not a whit weaker than the strike of some two-star Martial Ancestors.

"I admit defeat."

Feeling the threat of death, Wang Xianliang hurriedly raised his hand to admit defeat. With ninety percent of his strength transformed into Saber Qi and slashed out, the remaining ten percent of his Spiritual Qi was certainly insufficient to block the power of this Green Lotus's detonation.

With the previous example right before his eyes, Wang Xianliang did not want to trigger his own life-saving jade pendant.

Like the Wei Family, the Wang Family would also bestow precious life-saving jade pendants upon the outstanding Prodigies of the next generation of their Family. They were both for saving lives and as a reminder.

The tornado-like Saber Dao Spiritual Qi had just transformed into nine giant flaming Dragons when it was extinguished by a single palm strike from Official Wu Tian. Simultaneously extinguished was the Green Lotus that Ye Yisong was about to detonate. Official Wu Tian strolled across the sky, emitting a dazzling golden light—what a Grandmaster demeanor.

"Ye Yisong wins!"

A majestic voice emanated from Official Wu Tian's mouth, spreading in all directions.

"Thirteenth Brother won, Thirteenth Brother won!"

"Thirteenth Brother is first place in the Prefecture Examination!"

Ye Yitian and the others cheered and jumped for joy, feeling happy for Ye Yisong.