Chapter 135 - 134: Liu Ziyan’s Intention

Sub-match Arena 1.

An intense battle at the Spirit Sea Realm level drew attention from all sides.

In the final moments, Xu Mengxin had even unleashed a Secret Technique, leading many spectators to believe there was still some suspense.

But unexpectedly, the outcome was decided in an instant.

Luo Tian gripped Xu Mengxin by the neck, hoisting her into the air.

At that same moment, the strange and unpredictable spiritual aura around him also vanished like smoke.

It had seemed to last a long time, but Luo Tian had only used the Demon Thought Technique for a single breath’s time.

When experts clashed, any single flaw could determine life and death.

Moreover, the Demon Thought Technique had just magnified Xu Mengxin’s negative emotions many times over, causing her to lose her reason and become nearly frenzied, revealing countless openings.

"The match is decided! Let her go, now!"

On Platform 1, the referee, Elder Hua Xu, shouted.

"Senior, in the match just now, she tried to cripple me,"

Luo Tian said unhurriedly.

Elder Hua Xu’s brows furrowed. As the referee, he had been watching both combatants closely to prevent casualties.

He had naturally noticed what Luo Tian mentioned, and it couldn’t have escaped the notice of other keen observers either.

"You also injured her wrist. Let’s just leave it at that,"

Elder Hua Xu mediated.

Although Xu Mengxin had the intent, she hadn’t succeeded, so it would be difficult to hold her accountable.

"Alright."

Luo Tian nodded and released Xu Mengxin.

’Without proof, it’s unrealistic to try and hold a prodigy student accountable.’

SLAP!

Before Xu Mengxin could even hit the ground, a slap sent her flying, and she tumbled off the Martial Combat Platform.

"You..."

A red, swollen, and stinging palm print was left on Xu Mengxin’s face, which was now filled with humiliation.

The humiliation was one thing.

Her wrist had been cut by Luo Tian during the fight, which would affect her flexibility and the execution of her Martial Skills in subsequent matches.

Under these circumstances,

Xu Mengxin would be lucky to even stay in the top twenty. Her hopes of entering the top ten of the Grand Assembly were now slim to none.

"Number 66, Luo Tian, is the winner."

Referee Hua Xu pretended he hadn’t seen a thing and announced Luo Tian’s victory.

This was Luo Tian’s fourth consecutive victory, earning him 12 Points.

When Luo Tian stepped down from the Martial Combat Platform,

the eyes of the students in the audience were filled with awe as they looked at him.

In that last battle, Luo Tian had displayed the terrifying strength of a prodigy, perhaps even one from the top ten of the Human List.

He was clearly a dark horse in this Wu Mansion’s Grand Assembly!

The students in Sub-match Arena 1 were filled with bitterness.

With the Death Group and now a dark horse like Luo Tian, their chances of survival were practically zero.

"That kid just used a Spiritual Secret Technique!"

"That’s right! Xu Mengxin’s mind was clearly affected. She lost control of her emotions, and the match was decided in that critical moment."

On the viewing platform, the Royal Family elders and the Holy Mansion High Level members had sharp eyes.

Although Luo Tian had used the Demon Thought Technique for only a fleeting moment, they had still seen through it.

’A Spiritual Secret Technique? So that’s your trump card.’

A cold glint flashed in the Seventh Prince’s eyes.

Hailing from the Royal Family, he was knowledgeable and had some understanding of Spiritual Secret Techniques.

Generally speaking, only Martial Artists with extraordinary talent could cultivate Spiritual Secret Techniques and possess strange abilities that even their peers would fear.

"Seventh Prince, Luo Tian is so strong. How can we deal with him?"

Liu Ziyan’s heart was in a panic.

"Don’t worry! This Prince has more or less figured out Luo Tian’s secrets."

The Seventh Prince’s face was full of confidence.

"Besides, in that last battle, he was fighting above his realm. His consumption must have been significant."

Hearing this, Liu Ziyan breathed a small sigh of relief.

Among the prodigy students, Xu Mengxin was considered to be at the bottom.

The Seventh Prince, on the other hand, was the prodigy ranked seventh on the Human List, his strength far surpassing Xu Mengxin’s.

「Time passed.」

The fourth round of matches ended, eliminating another batch of weaker students from the Wu Mansion.

By now, the number of people who had maintained a four-win streak was exceedingly small.

Including the three Spirit Sea Realm cultivators—Xia Bingyue, Li Yao, and Xi Shan—there weren’t even enough to count on two hands.

This was because the first round of sub-matches was, in essence, an elimination round.

According to the rules, those with high points from consecutive wins would be matched with others who had similar records.

Those who had been defeated would also compete amongst themselves again.

The fifth round began quickly.

Xia Bingyue, dressed in white purer than snow and with a beauty that could shake the mortal world, once again took the stage.

This time, however, her opponent was no simple character.

"Xia Bingyue versus Xi Shan!"

In Sub-match Arena 1, the students’ faces lit up with interest.

Before this, all of Xia Bingyue’s opponents had been below the Spirit Sea Realm and were defeated in a single move. It was simply too fast.

Xi Shan, however, was a Spirit Sea Realm genius ranked eighteenth on the Human List.

This time, perhaps they would get to witness Xia Bingyue’s true strength.

"Fairy Xia, after you."

Xi Shan gave a bitter smile.

He held no illusions of winning this battle; he only hoped not to be disgraced by losing too quickly.

Three Extremes Palm!

The powerful aura of Xi Shan’s Spirit Sea Realm erupted as he struck out with a majestic and domineering three-colored Palm Light that resembled a tidal wave.

The moment this palm strike appeared, the Seventh Prince, Li Yao, showed a slight change in expression.

The recently defeated Xu Mengxin wore a look of shock and uncertainty.

’This Xi Shan was actually hiding his strength. He’s at least as strong as Xu Mengxin, if not stronger.’

A sharp glint flashed in Luo Tian’s eyes.

Xi Shan was eighteenth on the Human List. He was said to have recently broken through to the Spirit Sea Realm, so the list had clearly underestimated his strength.

The instant Xi Shan made his move,

Xia Bingyue moved as well.

CLANG! SWISH!

A silver-white, jade-like Treasure Sword was unsheathed. A clear, resonant sword cry echoed across the Martial Arts platform, releasing an incomparably sharp Sword Dao aura.

’This sword strike...’

Xi Shan’s heart trembled as a dazzling, rainbow-like Sword Light filled his vision.

Outside the Martial Combat Platform,

one could only see a flash of silver-white Sword Qi, like a bolt of lightning, that filled their eyes and faces, making everything around them seem dim and colorless.

PFFT!

The three-colored tidal wave of Palm Light that Xi Shan had unleashed with his full power was annihilated instantly, as if it were made of paper, without even creating a splash.

Immediately after, he felt a chill on his cheek, and a lock of his hair was severed.

A trace of ice-cold Sword Qi flashed past Xi Shan’s throat and vanished.

"I’ve lost!"

Xi Shan was utterly convinced of his defeat.

"Fairy Xia truly lives up to her title as number one on the Human List. Among the geniuses of our generation, I’m afraid no one is worthy of you."

Xi Shan stepped down from the platform, muttering with a complicated expression.

This stunningly beautiful fairy with her icy skin and proud bones was the fairy of his dreams.

Once upon a time, Xi Shan had fantasized about training hard, defeating Xia Bingyue, and marrying this Fairy Bing Mei.

However, there were quite a few geniuses on the Human List who shared this foolish obsession, but achieving it was harder than ascending to the heavens.

’Strong! She’s so incredibly strong.’

Watching from the sidelines as Xi Shan was defeated in a single sword strike, Luo Tian’s heart trembled.

The premonition from his Creation Technique’s Spiritual Sense had been true after all.

At this stage, Xia Bingyue was in a league of her own on the Human List, unparalleled in the world, a lone warrior seeking an equal. Her sword left all others in the dust.

Luo Tian estimated that even if he went all out, surviving one or two of her sword strikes would probably be his limit.

"Very strong!"

On Platform 2, Wang Tian’s expression was grave, yet he was filled with fighting spirit and had not lost his confidence.

’Defeating an Unparalleled Celestial Maiden like her and taking her as my wife... only then would I feel a sense of accomplishment...’

On Platform 3, Yuwen Xuan’s eyes shone like brilliant stars, filled with anticipation.

Looking across the entire Wu Mansion’s Grand Assembly,

only Wang Tian and Yuwen Xuan had a glimmer of hope of defeating Xia Bingyue.

...

Sub-match Arena 1 was, without a doubt, the Death Group.

With Xia Bingyue’s appearance, the fifth round of matches proceeded with fiery intensity.

Luo Tian analyzed the situation in his mind.

’Xia Bingyue has already had her match this round. Both Xu Mengxin and Xi Shan have been defeated. The strongest person she might encounter now is the Seventh Prince, Li Yao.’

By this point, the number of people who still had a winning streak was small enough to count on one hand.

Before long, it was Luo Tian’s turn to enter the arena.

"Number 66 versus Number 33,"

the referee announced.

This time, his opponent was a complete surprise to Luo Tian.

Across the Martial Combat Platform,

a beautiful girl with a graceful, tall figure stood. Her lovely hair draped over her shoulders, and her eyes were like the cold waters of autumn.

"Liu Ziyan."

Luo Tian’s expression turned cold, a playful look appearing on his face.

He had actually overlooked it.

Liu Ziyan was also one of the people who had maintained a winning streak.

"Luo Tian!"

Deep within Liu Ziyan’s beautiful eyes was a bone-deep resentment, mixed with a trace of fear.

She remembered back at the Cyan Peak Academy.

Under her direction, Luo Tian had suffered endless humiliation and suppression, languishing in depression for over three years.

At that time, she had felt immense satisfaction, like a proud daughter of heaven looking down on a pathetic, drowning dog.

Who could have predicted that in just a few short months, the boy she once scorned would have grown so much?

Her schemes and plots to harm him had all failed, time and time again.

At this very moment, meeting at the Wu Mansion’s Grand Assembly, Liu Ziyan no longer held any advantage.

Against Luo Tian, her chances of winning were less than thirty percent.

"Ziyan, stick to the plan!"

the Seventh Prince sent via sound transmission.

"Yes."

The coldness in Liu Ziyan’s eyes intensified.

BUZZ! WHOOSH!

Liu Ziyan’s nine Qi Veins erupted. A hazy image of purple mist appeared behind her, within which a purple haze seemed to ripple, creating a magnificent and beautiful sight.

A powerful aura, rivaling that of the Spirit Sea Realm, burst forth.

"Martial Vein Power? She’s going all out!"

The crowd outside the platform was shocked.

The moment Liu Ziyan took the stage, she went all out, holding nothing back.

WHOOSH—

Liu Ziyan leaped into the air, slashing at Luo Tian with a dazzling and colorful barrage of brilliant purple crescent-shaped arcs of light.

Each of those purple crescent arcs possessed power exceeding the Half-step Spirit Sea Realm.

As they surged forward in waves, not even a Spirit Sea Realm expert could afford to take them lightly.

Guiyuan Hand!

Luo Tian circulated the Guiyuan True Skill. A thick layer of crystalline yellow light condensed on his palm as he clapped it forward with immense pressure.

BOOM! PFFT! PFFT!

The crescent arcs that came close were shattered layer by layer.

Liu Ziyan’s expression didn’t change. The Martial Vein Phenomenon of purple mist behind her grew even more dazzling.

The purple crescent arcs attacking Luo Tian grew stronger and more numerous.

Luo Tian guessed, ’Is this woman trying to wear me down?’

His Guiyuan Hand excelled at defense, and Liu Ziyan’s offensive was finding it difficult to break through.

"Blood Burning Technique!"

Liu Ziyan shouted, a ruthless look appearing on her pretty face.

BUZZ! WHOOSH!

A bloody aura rose from the young woman’s body, and the Martial Vein Phenomenon of purple mist behind her was also tinged with a layer of crimson.

As one of the more practical Secret Techniques in the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion’s collection, Liu Ziyan had also chosen to cultivate the Blood Burning Technique.

What was even more shocking was that the Blood Burning Technique gave an even greater boost to her Martial Vein Power.

In an instant, Liu Ziyan was enveloped in a purplish-red glow, her combat strength reaching the level of a prodigy student.

This was her greatest trump card for this trip to the Wu Mansion’s Grand Assembly!

Luo Tian’s expression changed slightly. It was as if he were facing a second Xu Mengxin.

Celestial Star Sword Technique, Seven-stars in a Row!

Luo Tian drew his Wind and Snow Sword. Infusing it with a bit of his Divine Vein Power, he wove a magnificent and dazzling Star Sword Light into a Seven-star Sword Net solidified with chilling intent.

Even so, Luo Tian could only neutralize Liu Ziyan’s attacks; he was unable to gain a clear advantage.

"Luo Tian! My goal is to wear you down!"

Liu Ziyan’s face, illuminated by an eerie, purplish-red aura, revealed a hint of sinister pride.

Unlike Xu Mengxin, Liu Ziyan wasn’t aiming for victory; she just wanted to exhaust Luo Tian.

In this state, Liu Ziyan would show no openings, making her even more difficult to deal with. To defeat her, one would have to engage in a true battle of attrition or pay a heavy price.

"Well done!"

The Seventh Prince, Li Yao, revealed a confident, knowing smile.