389: Chapter 33 Reaching the Finals

Upon hearing Meng Li's words, Zhang Lingyu frowned, intending to increase his output, using the corrosive properties of the Five Thunder to dissolve the protective shield of the Six Meridian Sword Casket.

At this moment, the Shaoshang, Shaoze, and Shangyang Swords flew back.

Zhang Lingyu had no choice but to retreat first.

Meng Li, however, leaped up, stepping onto the Shaoshang Sword and soaring into the sky with a swoosh.

Seeing this, Zhang Lingyu's frown deepened.

Because during Meng Li's ascent, the Shaoze Sword and Shangyang Sword were completely unaffected, relentlessly pursuing him. Moreover, whether it was an illusion or not, he felt as if these two Flying Swords could fight autonomously; not only were they exceptionally agile, but they also coordinated with each other.

Even though he activated his lightning magic, greatly increasing his speed, he found it difficult to escape their intertwined entanglement, instead being made to look utterly wretched.

In just this short while, his clothes were already battle-damaged, and he had sustained several new cuts on his body.

In the audience seats, Lu Jin watched the Shaoze Sword and Shangyang Sword tying up Zhang Lingyu, stroking his beard as he spoke to Zhang Zhiwei beside him, "Old Celestial Master, the two Flying Swords Entangled (entangling) Zhang Lingyu seem to be using a combined sword technique."

Zhang Zhiwei nodded: "That's right, that is indeed a combined sword technique."

Lu Jin laughed: "Wielding Flying Swords to execute a sword technique against an opponent—in all the years I've been alive, this is the first time I've seen such a thing. This kid surnamed Bai is truly a Genius!"

Zhang Zhiwei narrowed his eyes: "If I'm not mistaken, this White Sword Immortal is not only a Great Sword Immortal but also an Artifact Refiner."

Upon hearing this, Lu Jin was first stunned, then nodded: "It's entirely possible."

Immediately after, he sighed with emotion: "One person possessing the abilities of both a Great Sword Immortal and an Artifact Refiner, and he has already achieved such mastery. This kid's future is immeasurable!"

Zhang Zhiwei agreed with a soft sigh: "The younger generation is formidable."

Lu Jin said: "Your little apprentice is probably going to lose."

But Zhang Zhiwei stated: "Lingyu has already lost."

"How so?" Lu Jin looked at Zhang Lingyu, who was still fighting on the field, with surprise on his face.

Zhang Zhiwei explained: "After the White Sword Immortal ascended a second time using his swords, he was already in an invincible position. The Five Thunder is turbid and heavy; it cannot materialize to support Lingyu's ascent like the Golden Light Mantra can. Even if Lingyu switches back to the Golden Light Mantra to repeat his old trick, it will be difficult to pose a threat to the White Sword Immortal, as those two Flying Swords are not just for show."

"Most importantly, the combined sword technique used by those two Flying Swords can not only trap people but also kill them."

"If this wasn't a match that stops at a light touch, but a life-and-death battle, Lingyu wouldn't just have a few scratches on his body."

Seeing Zhang Zhiwei say this, Lu Jin observed intently and found it was indeed the case.

The Shaoze Sword and Shangyang Sword circled Zhang Lingyu incessantly, yet they stopped just short of vital points, or even avoided them entirely.

Not long after, Zhang Lingyu also noticed this point. He felt both annoyed and fortunate, which finally turned into a sigh.

Subsequently, he stopped his movements and said to the referee on the high platform: "I concede."

"Zhang Lingyu versus the White Sword Immortal, the White Sword Immortal wins!"

Seeing Zhang Lingyu concede, the referee announced the result loudly.

When this result came out, many in the audience were in an uproar.

"They were fighting so well, why did Immortal Master Lingyu suddenly concede?"

"It must have been too frustrating."

"Indeed. It was fine at the beginning; his opponent was the White Sword Immortal, a living person, and their fight had back-and-forth moments. Towards the end, Immortal Master Lingyu was completely fighting those two swords, and he couldn't win after fighting for so long. If it were me, I wouldn't want to fight either."

"That may be true, but he conceded too quickly. He should have persisted a little longer; maybe he could have made a comeback from a disadvantage."

"A comeback from a disadvantage? How? The White Sword Immortal is in the sky, and Immortal Master Lingyu can't fly."

"Even if he could fly, it would still be hard to turn the tables."

"That's right. That White Sword Immortal's sword casket is a protective Magical Artifact, and he has several more Flying Swords in it. The White Sword Immortal has been wielding three Flying Swords for so long without showing any weakness from exhaustion, which shows that wielding three Flying Swords simultaneously is far from his limit."

"Hiss~, so you're saying the White Sword Immortal was hiding his strength?"

"Isn't that obvious?"

"Perhaps Immortal Master Lingyu realized this point, which is why he chose to concede."

...

Meng Li ignored the discussions of the audience, retrieved the Shaoze Sword and Shangyang Sword, and then left the arena controlling the Shaoshang Sword.

On the other side, the result of Wang Bing's match against Zhang Chulan also came out.

Wang Bing's physical skills were average, and his Restraining Spirits and Dispatching Generals couldn't deal with Zhang Chulan. Furthermore, the spirit entities he summoned were restrained by the Yang Five Thunders.

Therefore, without any surprise, Zhang Chulan won.

Not only did Wang Bing lose, but he was also severely injured in public by Zhang Chulan, who held a personal grudge.

Wang Ai, who was watching, stomped his feet in anger, but due to the Celestial Masters Residence and Zhang Zhiwei, he couldn't interfere with the match. Unable to do anything to Zhang Chulan, he finally had to call for medical personnel to take Wang Bing away for treatment, secretly recording this debt in his heart.

After Zhang Chulan won, he learned about Meng Li's situation from Cang Long and felt a headache coming on.

Because he didn't have a good way to deal with Meng Li's Flying Swords at the moment.

"How about I go bury him tonight?" Feng Baobao suggested cleverly.

"No, absolutely not!" Zhang Chulan quickly vetoed, then explained: "After burying Daoist Wang last time, Sister Baoer, you've already exposed yourself. Fortunately, Daoist Wang didn't hold a grudge, and the matter was quietly resolved, but it still caused a bad impression."

"The White Sword Immortal, based on the current situation, is even harder to deal with than Daoist Wang."

"Sister Baoer, you might have a very hard time handling him, and if another problem arises, it will very likely cause public outrage."

"That would be counterproductive."

"Then what should we do?" Feng Baobao asked.

Zhang Chulan sighed: "We have to force it; I'll just have to fight him."

...

The next morning.

Meng Li and Zhang Chulan entered the arena right on time.

The referee announced loudly: "The Luotian Grand Ritual Finals, Zhang Chulan versus the White Sword Immortal, begin!"

As soon as the voice fell, Zhang Chulan loudly said to Meng Li: "Brother Sword Immortal, we've already reached the finals. The difference between first and second place isn't huge, so there's no need to fight over who goes first. Let's change the game—how about a single decisive blow?"

Meng Li smiled: "Sure, how should we play?"

Zhang Chulan replied: "It's very simple. We stand facing each other, and simultaneously launch one attack from a distance. Whoever injures the other first wins, how about that?"

As soon as this proposal was made, many people in the audience started discussing it.

"Has the Shameless Jade Bother gone mad? The White Sword Immortal plays with Flying Swords; if they compete like this, he's bound to lose!"

"Not necessarily. Zhang Chulan knows lightning magic and can also attack remotely. Moreover, with the boost from his lightning magic, his speed is very fast, giving him a real chance to dodge the Flying Swords."

"Zhang Chulan can dodge, but can the White Sword Immortal? Even if his speed isn't as fast as Zhang Chulan's with lightning magic enhancement, if he can't dodge, he can still activate the protective shield of the Sword Casket to defend. Wouldn't that result in a draw?"

"That makes sense."

"Given Zhang Chulan's treachery and cunning, he couldn't possibly not have thought of these things."

"Knowing all this, why would he propose such a competition? Could it be that he has some hidden trump card?"

"Unclear."

"We'll know by watching."

"They're starting."

...