Chapter 266 - 186: Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation, Life and Death Platform

Chapter 266: Chapter 186: Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation, Life and Death Platform

The mountain peak platform was crowded with disciples of the Moyun Sect. They chattered in low voices about the upcoming battle, a crowd of gleeful onlookers.

The participants, the referee, the audience.

Three roles, three different states of mind.

"Chief Venerate Han has been in seclusion for many days. I never thought he’d come out specifically for such a trivial matter. I wonder who on that stage could possibly be worthy of his attention?"

The man in the silver robe was Jia Linqing, an Inner Sect Elder from the Punishment Hall. He was the true referee for this life-and-death match; the Elder from the Earth Fire Hall was only a witness.

However, all three were in the Foundation Establishment Realm and thus qualified to act as referees. That was why the public announcement had stated all three would serve as such.

Jia Linqing took two steps forward, his figure gliding just above the ground to the edge of the Life and Death Platform. He came to a graceful halt... his gaze swept over the two of them as he slowly began to speak.

"Before the battle begins... as is customary, I must ask: is the conflict between you two truly irreconcilable?"

"Reporting to the Elder, the enmity from having my path obstructed cannot be resolved."

Meng Tianhua spoke respectfully. Obstructing one’s path was a catch-all excuse. In the eyes of Cultivators... such enmity was a feud to the death.

"And you?" Jia Linqing asked Zhao Zuo.

"Reporting to the Elder, it cannot be resolved."

Zhao Zuo replied, his gaze fixed on Meng Tianhua ten meters away. At first... he had wanted to ask Meng Tianhua why he would gamble his life over a few Spirit Stones. But eventually, he came to understand. Every Cultivator is a Path Seeker, but their ways and means differ greatly. There was no longer any need to ask.

"Very well." Jia Linqing pushed off with his legs, and in the next second, he was hovering in midair. He looked down on the two of them, his tone still devoid of any emotion. To him, a grudge between two disciples of the Qi Cultivation Realm was not worthy of his attention.

He was only here because... it was his duty.

He had no interest in who won or lost, which was why he hadn’t even asked for their names.

"Begin."

Jia Linqing’s voice fell from on high. Meng Tianhua instantly drew his Magical Artifact, planting his legs into the ground like tree stumps. He gripped his saber with both hands, body leaning slightly forward, eyes locked on Zhao Zuo.

Before joining the Moyun Sect, he had been a Tribulation Cultivator, so his combat experience was naturally vast. He believed he had few rivals in the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, especially since his Cultivation was now approaching the Eighth Layer, thanks to Pill Medicine he had taken over the past three months.

Still, Meng Tianhua watched Zhao Zuo with great caution, intending to let his opponent make the first move.

In truth, Zhao Zuo was also observing Meng Tianhua. He identified the Magical Artifact in his hands as a Wide-Backed Long Saber forged from Ink Pattern Steel—a Middle Grade Magical Artifact.

’Why isn’t Meng Tianhua using the custom-made Upper Grade Magical Artifact an Inner Sect Disciple like him should possess? Or perhaps... there’s a condition for using that weapon.’

’Either way, it won’t change the final outcome.’

Zhao Zuo drew his Black Flame Saber, activated a speed-enhancing Divine Wind Talisman, and shot toward Meng Tianhua like an arrow from a bow, his saber slashing horizontally with vicious force.

The voices of the disciples around the Life and Death Platform dwindled as nearly everyone fixed their attention on the battle, hoping to gain some inspiration, or... experience, from the fight on the stage.

When Meng Tianhua saw how direct and simple Zhao Zuo’s attack was, he couldn’t help but smile inwardly, as if he could already see the final outcome.

’I’m about to get my hands on a huge pile of Cultivation resources.’

But in the next second, Zhao Zuo was already within two meters of him, the blade burning with black flames descending upon his body...

"So fast,"

Meng Tianhua exclaimed in surprise. He hurriedly raised his long saber horizontally to block while reflexively activating a Second Tier Defense Talisman—the Golden Light Body Protection Talisman!

It was a higher-grade version of the Vajra Talisman, capable of withstanding a full-force blow from an Upper Grade Magical Artifact. It was Meng Tianhua’s life-saving trump card.

Zhao Zuo activated the dormant Qi Blood within him. A blinding golden light erupted from his body as it visibly swelled.

His frame grew stout and powerful, veins bulging on his skin. From a distance, he resembled an Arhat cast from solid gold.

The three Foundation Establishment experts watching from the clouds saw the moment Zhao Zuo made his move. They instantly recognized that he was also a practitioner of an extremely powerful Body Refining Technique, and had already reached a profound level.

"The outcome is already decided... But this man doesn’t seem like a disciple from the Earth Fire Hall. Such killing intent is more like that of a disciple from Shenxiao Hall," Jia Linqing murmured.

"You have... a point." The man in the short shirt and red robe actually agreed. Watching Zhao Zuo’s sense of timing, he had to admit the boy didn’t fight like an Artifact Refiner unskilled in combat.

At the same time, all the Mana in Zhao Zuo’s body erupted. His Spiritual Pressure washed over the area like a tidal wave, and Meng Tianhua, standing right in front of him, immediately felt a terrifying force.

"This feeling... You... you’re not at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer!?"

Meng Tianhua muttered under his breath. Despite the terrifying pressure, he hadn’t lost his cool and was still searching for a way out of his current predicament.

CLANG.

The two Magical Artifacts clashed in midair. Meng Tianhua was driven back by the immense force, but Zhao Zuo gave him no quarter, pressing forward and putting even more power into his strike.

"Yang Flame Talisman!"

Meng Tianhua activated a Talisman with one hand. A golden fireball, one meter in diameter, smashed down from a height of about three meters.

"Golden Light Shield."

A golden barrier expanded outward from Zhao Zuo’s chest, blocking the falling fireball. Simultaneously, he put more force into his arms, channeling his Mana to raise the temperature of his saber’s edge.

SHKK!

Zhao Zuo’s Black Flame Saber sliced clean through the Magical Artifact in Meng Tianhua’s hands. The severed edge glowed red and began to melt as the heavy head of the saber clattered onto the surface of the Life and Death Platform.

At the same time, black flames surged from the saber’s edge to envelop Meng Tianhua’s body, threatening to incinerate him in the next instant.

This triggered a Defensive Magical Artifact on his body, forming a pale blue barrier in front of him. Within the barrier, streams of water seemed to flow.

"I still have my Nether Water Shield! I still have a chance!"

Meng Tianhua had not given up. He pulled a spare Middle Grade Magical Artifact from his Storage Bag, intending to continue the fight.

The Black Flame surged, swift as a gale, wrapping Meng Tianhua in a great black cocoon. At the same time... Zhao Zuo pushed his long saber forward in a simple thrust.

CRACK.

A crack appeared on the pale blue barrier. The black flames poured through it like a ravenous beast breaking into an undefended sheep pen.

Zhao Zuo seized the opportunity, thrusting his Black Flame Saber through the crack from a wickedly precise angle... and ran Meng Tianhua through.

Two seconds later, Zhao Zuo withdrew his long saber.

The battle was decided.

From beginning to end, Zhao Zuo saw no fear or regret in Meng Tianhua’s eyes. He had calmly accepted his death.

’We are all just lonely Path Seekers...’

’It is only the paths we choose that are different.’

...