18: The King's Banquet (Part 2)

Behind Chu Yu, a Purple-robed Youth nodded slightly and flashed towards the arena.

"Lu Tai of the Lu Family, Tianyun Country, please enlighten me."

"Less talk, more fight!"

Clang!

A blood-colored long saber fell into Peng Li's hand, drawing a spark across the arena, clearly a top Low Grade Spiritual Artifact.

Seeing this, Lu Tai also took out a spiritual sword, which was a Low Grade Medium Grade Spiritual Artifact.

"Why aren't you rolling off the stage!"

Peng Li said disdainfully to Dai Hong.

"You—!"

Dai Hong glared at Peng Li resentfully, dragging his severely injured body and leaving the arena in a sorry state.

Lu Tai and Peng Li instantly engaged in battle. Both were at the Transformation Sea Realm Third Heaven, with similar strength, but Lu Tai, relying on the advantage of his Spiritual Artifact, subtly gained the upper hand.

"Blood Wolf Slash!"

Peng Li's entire body erupted with Killing Intent, extremely fierce.

Swoosh!

A several-zhang long blood-colored Saber Qi appeared, tearing through the air, and ruthlessly struck towards Lu Tai.

Lu Tai's expression changed slightly. This guy only attacked and didn't defend, completely fighting in a way that exchanged injuries, as if he had some deep hatred with him.

"Ghost Shadow Steps!"

Lu Tai did not want to fight in close quarters, so he used his movement technique to maneuver around him.

Aura, once it erupts, then declines, and by the third time, it's exhausted.

He only needed to wait until Peng Li's Aura weakened, and he would naturally win easily.

"Have the guts not to run!" Peng Li shouted.

"We Cultivators should always advance bravely! What kind of skill is it if you only know how to dodge and evade?"

"Idiot!"

Lu Tai disdained him. He wasn't so foolish as to go head-to-head with such a brain-dead guy.

The two moved and flashed, one chasing and one fleeing, leaving trails of afterimages on the arena. People below the True Essence Realm couldn't even see their shadows, only two streaks of light flying around.

Suddenly, a sneer appeared on Peng Li's lips, and his speed instantly surged by a large margin.

"Die!"

Peng Li erupted with full power, slashing down with a heavy strike.

Lu Tai was greatly alarmed, not expecting his speed to suddenly increase so much. He could only hastily block with his sword horizontally.

Bang!

Lu Tai's body was instantly sent flying, crashing heavily into the Formation barrier surrounding the arena.

"Die!"

Before he could react, Peng Li closed in again, unleashing a full-force saber strike aimed at his waist.

If this strike landed, Lu Tai would undoubtedly die.

...

On the high platform, Long Qing instantly stood up. Lu Tai was one of the top Prodigies of their Tianyun Country, and he absolutely could not die here.

Just as he was about to make a move, the old man serving as the referee at the edge of the arena had already acted first.

This old man was a Royal Family Consort, possessing Fa Xiang Realm cultivation.

A force, as if Transmigrating through space, instantly struck Peng Li's blood-colored long saber, saving Lu Tai.

Peng Li was interrupted and somewhat annoyed, but upon sensing the faint, terrifying Aura emanating from the old man, his annoyance instantly vanished.

He shot Lu Tai a disdainful look, "You're the idiot. Do you really think I'm just a reckless brute!"

Lu Tai, having narrowly escaped death, was still somewhat shaken. Hearing Peng Li's words, he merely gave a wry smile and turned to bow to the old man, saying:

"Thank you, Senior, for saving my life."

"Hmm."

The old man nodded faintly, "This time, Peng Li wins."

A cheer immediately erupted all around.

Only the people from Tianyun Country had unpleasant expressions on their faces.

"Left Xiao, you go."

Chu Yu snorted coldly, speaking to the last Youth behind him.

Left Xiao nodded, stepping into the air and walking towards the arena. His movements were unhurried, yet his speed was extremely fast.

He was dressed in white, his figure tall and slender, like a jade tree in the wind. His handsome thin lips were slightly upturned, and a gentle smile hung on his face. What a gentle and handsome Young Master, like a piece of jade.

Among the crowd, many Young Misses instantly became infatuated.

"Hmph, putting on an act!"

Peng Li snorted disdainfully.

Left Xiao smiled faintly and said, "Left Xiao of the Four Symbols Palace, Tianyun Country, please enlighten me."

Peng Li said nothing, directly slashing at him with his saber.

But after less than three exchanges, he was lightly slapped off the arena by Left Xiao.

"This guy... Transformation Sea Realm Sixth Heaven..."

Li Yuanbao's eyes narrowed slightly. With this, his chances of entering the top three were slim.

"Transformation Sea Realm Sixth Heaven, so strong!"

The young Prodigies of Great Jin were all stunned.

"To Cultivate to Transformation Sea Realm Sixth Heaven before thirty, how terrifying!"

"Can anyone among us defeat him?"

"I heard the Fifth Prince has a Lightning Spirit Battle Body, and at twenty-eight, he's already at Transformation Sea Realm Fifth Heaven. Perhaps he can fight him."

"Young Master Lian of the Boundless Sword Sect is now at Transformation Sea Realm Eighth Heaven, but unfortunately, he's just over the age limit. How great would it have been if it were a year earlier."

"Young Master Lian was the champion of the previous Junlin Banquet..."

Everyone whispered among themselves.

Left Xiao waited for a long time, but no one came onto the stage. He couldn't help but look around and say, "If no one comes onto the stage, then this first place will be mine."

"Old Xu, aren't you going up?"

Li Yuanbao asked.

Xu Ziqian was currently drinking with Wu Ning and replied, "No rush, the big shots always appear last."

"..."

As soon as Xu Ziqian finished speaking, the Fifth Prince of Great Jin stepped through the air, landing in the arena amidst gazes of admiration and reverence.

After the two greeted each other, they immediately began to fight.

The Fifth Prince of Great Jin possessed a Lightning Spirit Battle Body and formidable combat power. Even though he was one minor Realm lower, he was only slightly at a disadvantage.

The two fought inextricably, having exchanged hundreds of blows in the blink of an eye.

Li Yuanbao sighed, "Both are at Transformation Sea Realm Fifth Heaven, but why is the gap between people so large?"

This battle lasted for half an hour, and in the end, Left Xiao still won.

The Prodigies of Great Jin sighed in disappointment.

At this moment, Xu Ziqian stood up.

"It's my turn now."

...

"My dear Xu, I heard before that your grandson is very learned and exceptionally talented. I never expected him to also be a Cultivation Prodigy. Such talent is rare in the world, truly a great fortune for the country!"

Jin Emperor laughed loudly.

Not far away, an elderly man with white hair showed a wry smile.

"This old subject is humbled. Great Jin has many talents, and Prodigies are like clouds. My grandson does not deserve such praise from Your Majesty."

Grand Tutor Xu evaded the crucial point. He also only had a superficial understanding of Xu Ziqian's situation.

Jin Emperor smiled faintly, his gaze fixed on the arena.

"Brother Zuo, you've just been through a great battle and consumed too much. How about letting others go on stage first, and we'll fight last? What do you think?"

Xu Ziqian displayed his Transformation Sea Realm Sixth Heaven cultivation and proposed to Left Xiao.

"Very good, it shall be as Young Master Xu says."

Left Xiao was slightly surprised and readily agreed.

The two yielded the arena, and other Prodigies subsequently took the stage.

The Junlin Banquet was the highest-spec Prodigy gathering in Great Jin; those without True Essence Realm cultivation were not even qualified to participate.

But this session was different. The Prodigies of Transformation Sea Realm appeared from the beginning, directly creating a climax. Those who appeared later were also Transformation Sea Realm. People of True Essence Realm basically didn't even have a chance to go on stage.

Transformation Sea Realm was already considered among the ranks of the strong in Great Jin, and there weren't many Transformation Sea Realm Prodigies under thirty.

There were less than twenty in total.

Most were above twenty-five years old.

And most were at Transformation Sea Realm First or Second Heaven.

As one battle after another concluded, Li Yuanbao also went on stage.

He barely managed to defeat a Transformation Sea Realm Fourth Heaven, but directly conceded when facing the Fifth Prince.

As expected, he should be able to rank fourth in this Junlin Banquet.