154: Take a liking

Li Pingan watched as Long Lie stood back up, his dark eyebrows furrowing with a hint of gravity.

The Divine Profound Mountain Shaking Art circulated within his body, causing a faint golden light to ripple across his skin, as if every punch held the weight of a thousand tons.

Just as Long Lie regained his footing, hundreds of yellow paper Talismans slid out from his sleeves.

He didn't dare delay for a second, flicking his wrist to scatter the Talismans around the Arena Stage like heavenly petals. The moment the paper touched the ground, they emitted faint spots of light and vanished into the stage.

“Bang!”

Li Pingan wasn't about to give him the chance to set up a Formation in peace. The bluestone of the Arena Stage instantly cracked into a spiderweb pattern as he shot toward Long Lie like an arrow.

He threw a punch straight at the man's chest.

Looking at that unstoppable punch, Long Lie's pupils shrank; he didn't dare entertain the thought of meeting it head-on.

He tapped the ground with his toes and retreated rapidly, simultaneously pulling a Token glowing with a faint red light from his Storage Pouch. A clear crack was visible on the Token.

Although this Magic Treasure had been partially repaired, it was ultimately nowhere near its former glory.

A scorching heat filled the air as a seven-zhang-long Fire Snake Spirit gradually took shape, letting out a sharp hiss.

Long Lie didn't expect to defeat Li Pingan with such a small trick.

It was merely a stalling tactic to buy time.

For a deep-scheming old Cultivator like him, in a life-and-death grudge, the strategy was always to plan before acting—slowly whittling away the opponent's Qi before delivering a fatal blow.

Below the Arena Stage, Ye Hao squinted at the fire snake. “It seems its power is much weaker than before. If this man doesn't have any new tricks, Senior Brother has won this match.”

“Isn't he still setting up a Formation?” Mu Wanqing asked curiously.

Ye Hao shook his head. “In the Myriad Spirit Affinity Realm, the seven Flying Swords he used for his Formations all fell into my hands. Even if he has another Formation, its power certainly won't match the previous set.” He paused before adding:

“This man likes to slowly consume the opponent's Qi during a fight, plotting step by step. But the thing Senior Brother fears least is competing in Qi capacity.”

Mu Wanqing thought of Li Pingan's Heaven-Loathing Divine Body, and her eyes curved slightly, two lovely dimples appearing on her round, oval face.

On the Arena Stage, two figures blurred as they exchanged moves.

The more Long Lie fought, the more shocked he became. Why was this person's martial physique so unreasonable? Ordinary Body Cultivators shouldn't have this kind of ability; they were usually just fodder for him to slaughter.

As he was pondering, a chill ran down his back.

Long Lie didn't dare be negligent and immediately dodged. The fire snake hissed, about to pounce on Li Pingan.

Li Pingan dispersed it with a single punch, leaving only tiny sparks to slowly reform in the air.

Seeing the fire snake broken, Long Lie felt his heart tighten and could only continue to retreat. He swung his long sword so fast it was airtight, Sword Qi crisscrossing everywhere, but with every collision of sword and fist, his arm was shaken numb. He had to use the recoil of the Sword Qi to pull away again.

Long Lie's heart raced, and he swung his sword even faster. Sword flowers scattered like a rainstorm and Sword Qi wove together, attempting to delay Li Pingan's movements.

“Almost... just a little longer...” Long Lie gritted his teeth, constantly calculating the time in his Sea of Consciousness.

Azure lightning gathered in Long Lie's hand as he used the Azure Nether Lightning Summoning Art to assist his maneuvering.

Finally, as Li Pingan's fist closed in again, a flash of joy crossed Long Lie's eyes, and he shouted:

“Activate Formation!”

As the words fell, a blinding golden light suddenly erupted around the Arena Stage!

The hundreds of yellow paper Talismanic Incantations he had secretly scattered earlier turned into points of light, connecting into lines and then surfaces, instantly weaving into tens of thousands of golden grids.

The grid tightened, quickly enveloping the entire Arena Stage.

Li Pingan, situated in the center of the Formation, looked like a bird trapped in a cage.

At the very moment Long Lie's mind relaxed, the youth's body suddenly left several afterimages in place, his speed jumping up a level.

“Roar—!”

A world-shaking Dragon roar suddenly rang out!

Around the dark-skinned youth, an ancient and heavy phantom appeared. The phantom was entirely azure-green, with distinct scales and claws. Its Dragon whiskers drifted with a majesty that looked down upon the world; it was clearly the form of an Azure Dragon.

As soon as the Azure Dragon Phantom appeared, it pounced toward the Long Lie outside the Formation with an Aura of world-ending destruction.

Long Lie's pupils constricted, and the blood in his body nearly froze.

He never imagined that this seemingly honest and simple dark-skinned youth would be hiding such a calculated move.

Li Pingan had suppressed his speed and power to a certain level during the previous exchanges specifically to wait for the moment the Formation was complete and his opponent's guard dropped.

He immediately unleashed the Azure Dragon Phantom, the most lethal part of the God-Tier Divine Ability Four Symbols Rotation Art, aiming to defeat the enemy in one move.

Before his Senior Sister had taken the stage, he had heard Ye Hao talk about the battle with this man. At that time, Li Pingan had already decided how he would strike if he faced him.

The Azure Dragon Phantom was too fast. Long Lie had no time to react and could only watch as the phantom, carrying immense force, slammed into his chest.

“Puff!”

Long Lie felt as if he had been hit by a ten-thousand-ton boulder. He was sent flying like a broken kite, crashing heavily onto the bluestone floor outside the Arena Stage.

The fire snake that had just reformed slowly dissipated, and the surrounding Formation dimmed.

“How... how can this be...” Long Lie struggled to lift his head, blood leaking from the corners of his mouth, his eyes filled with confusion and despair. “How could I lose again...”

Long Lie looked up at the sky, unsure if he was muttering to himself or asking the entity within him.

A final response came from the Spatial Ring: “Disciple, take care of yourself. This master is going into a deep sleep.”

On the Arena Stage, the Azure Dragon Phantom gradually vanished. Li Pingan withdrew his hand seal, his dark face still expressionless.

Just as he was about to step down from the stage,

a voice as thick as a tolling bell suddenly came from above, making the eardrums of the Cultivators present tingle.

“Good! To think that in this Heavenly Selection Grand Ceremony, I would encounter such a fine prospect!”

Everyone looked toward the source of the sound. From the four floating high platforms beneath the clouds, a figure in purple and gold drifted down.

Yu Tianxiang of the Haotian Sect fixed his gaze on Li Pingan, his face showing unmasked admiration.

Floating above the Arena Stage, he announced loudly: “This youth, my Haotian Sect wants him!”

Qi Yue lightly pulled her sleeves and looked at the Sect Master sitting beside her, worriedly saying: “Sect Master~”

Chen Xuan had just put down his white jade wine cup when Qin Tianxing, who had been sitting opposite him, vanished. With a flash, Qin Tianxing also drifted down, standing a few yards away from Yu Tianxiang.

“Fellow Daoist Yu, the competition isn't over yet. Isn't it a bit too hasty to snatch someone like this? Moreover, according to the rules, for this Heavenly Selection Grand Ceremony, it is my Yin Shen Sect's turn to pick Disciples first.”

Yu Tianxiang clapped and laughed. “Fellow Daoist Qin, don't take offense. This kid simply suits my taste too well. To have such achievements at such a young age—if he joins my Haotian Sect, he will surely become a powerhouse of the Profound Realm within a hundred years. Why don't you let me have him? If the Yin Shen Sect has any needs in the future, I will certainly provide my full support. Consider it a personal favor, how about it?”

“Not interested.” Qin Tianxing refused without hesitation, his tone decisive.