CH 196

Chapter 196 – Blazing Will to Fight Ignites a Wildfire

“Senior Martial Brother Jing, between Xu Disheng and Zhang Yangui, who do you think will take the title of Sacred Son?” Sacred Son Bai Lu asked, watching the scene displayed on the screen of light.

Jing Xingchen was standing there with the Star Beheading Sword slung over his shoulder. There were also a dozen or so Dao Foundation stage geniuses also present, gathered in this great hall to watch the Sea of Qi division of the tournament together.

Jing Xingchen’s gaze was fierce and sharp like an unsheathed blade. As he gazed at Zhang Yangui and Ji Haohan, who was struggling bitterly under the onslaught of the Jade Water True Sword, he said, “The Sacred Son of the Sea of Qi division… should be Zhang Yangui.”

A mysterious smile appeared on Sacred Son Bai Lu’s face. “Not necessarily,” he replied in a quiet tone.

Although he spoke quietly, other people heard him.

The other Dao Foundation stage geniuses in the hall looked over with doubt in their eyes. “Sacred Son Bai Lu, what do you mean by that? Even if Xu Disheng’s powers of comprehension are unparalleled and he has a rare profound law foundation, it’s still not enough to win against Zhang Yangui.”

Another person nodded his head and spoke in agreement. “Exactly. Zhang Yangui has the Jade Water True Sword and the Spirit Trapping Hoop, Magic Treasures that are nearly Profound Treasures in rank. Even I couldn’t say that I could win easily against him.”

Sacred Son Bai Lu watched Zhang Yangui through the screen of light and said unhurriedly, “Certainly, only the person who earns first place in the Sea of Qi division will obtain the title of Sacred Son. But can the position of Sacred Son only be obtained through the Eight Mountains Grand Tournament?”

Search bit.ly/3iBfjkV for the original.

A quick-witted Dao Foundation stage genius quickly picked up on what he meant. His eyes lit up and he said, “You kind of beat around the bush, but I get your point, Senior Martial Brother Bai Lu. You’re saying that with his profound law foundation and his unparalleled powers of comprehension, the Mountain Range he is from will nominate him to the Shangqing Mountain Range’s Clearheart Peak. This is indeed another way to obtain the title of Sacred Son!”

Sacred Son Bai Lu nodded, directing him an approving glance.

What they didn’t know at this point was that not too long ago, Celestial Tide Spirit Master had already drafted up a nomination jade slip and sent it off to the Shangqing Mountain Range’s Clearheart Peak.

Even the Mountain Master of Mingxin Mountain Range, Primordial Lord Yangze, had sent out a divine light towards Clearheart Peak, but the contents of it were yet unknown.

… …

Meanwhile, in the Spirit Controlling Primordial Lord’s domain in the Yuluo Realm…

“Incumbent Patriarch of the Zhao Clan, Zhao Yangzhou, wishes for an audience with Spirit Controlling Ancestor,” Ghost Punisher Spirit Master said with the proper respect and etiquette. He waited outside the domain for a response.

The Zhao Clan was a family-controlled organization, which meant it was different from a majority of the traditional organizations in the Shangqing Sacred Sect. As a result, Ghost Punisher Spirit Master referred to him as Ancestor rather than Primordial Lord.

“Ghost Punisher Spirit Master, the Primordial Lord was aware of your arrival, and has instructed me to bring you into the Domain.” A peak Dao Foundation stage youth dressed in green flew out from the domain, and called out in a clear voice. When he stood face to face with the Divine Core stage Spirit Master, he was neither servile nor overbearing.

Ghost Punisher Spirit Master nodded and followed the green-clothed youth into the domain.

“Incumbent Patriarch of the Zhao Clan, Zhao Yangzhou, greets Ancestor,” Zhao Yangzhou said, kneeling respectfully.

“You are now one of the Spirit Masters with authority in the Mountain of Law. There’s no need for you to kneel,” Spirit Controlling Primordial Lord said, furrowing his brows. With a wave of his sleeve, he sent out a divine light that pulled Zhao Yangzhou to his feet. “For you to not be standing guard in Peaceful Sanctuary Peak as Patriarch of the clan, but to come here personally… what is your purpose?”

This was one point where family-controlled organizations were different from other influences. Regardless of how high one’s cultivation was, it was always proper etiquette for one to kneel before the family’s ancestor.

But Spirit Controlling Primordial Lord was a bit different, and detested complex etiquette like this. As a result, he was a bit disgruntled by Zhao Yangzhou’s actions.

Ghost Punisher Spirit Master’s expression remained respectful. He took out the recording jade slip and handed it to the green-clothed youth, then briefly recounted the matter with Xu Disheng.

The green-clothed youth walked towards Spirit Controlling Primordial Lord and proffered him the recording jade slip.

After a while, Spirit Controlling Primordial Lord lifted his gaze, putting down the jade slip. “It certainly is a Profound Treasure.”

Ghost Punisher Spirit Master didn’t dare to look up to meet Spirit Controlling Primordial Lord’s gaze, so he had no idea what his expression was like. Inwardly, he felt a bit anxious, so he couldn’t help speaking up. “Ancestor…”

“Is there something else?” Spirit Controlling Primordial Lord said. His voice, which had become noticeably colder, entered Zhao Yangzhou’s ears, causing his heart to freeze. He no longer dared to speak further.

He was well aware that his ancestor, Spirit Controlling Primordial Lord, was no benevolent do-gooder. To rise to the Primordial Spirit stage and get where he was now, he had slaughtered tens of thousands of living beings in the Shan Mountain Territory and extracted a little less than half of the Zhao Clan’s meridians.

“You can go then.”

With his head lowered, Zhao Yangzhou couldn’t get a good grasp of the Primordial Lord’s thought process. When he heard his voice ring out once more, he again couldn’t bring himself to speak. He could only respectfully withdraw and leave the domain.

“A disciple that broke sect rules… and has a Profound Treasure,” Spirit Controlling Primordial Lord muttered to himself. His voice reverberated in the silent hall, sending quiet echoes back.

… …

A rivulet of fresh blood dripped from the corner of Ji Haohan’s mouth. In his heart, an unfettered will to fight rose up once more. With a wide grin, he cried out, “Come again, Senior Martial Brother Zhang!”

Zhang Yangui shook his head and replied, “You should back down. If I attack again, it’ll harm your profound law foundation.”

With that, he waved his hand, erasing the sword lights from the Jade Water True Sword that were hovering in the air.

“Then Junior Martial Brother will congratulate you in advance for earning the title of Sacred Son,” Ji Haohan said, natural and at ease despite losing. After cupping his hands to Cloud Stream Spirit Master, he flew out from the arena.

“Xu Disheng versus Xu Zimo,” Cloud Stream Spirit Master announced, his voice echoing throughout the sea of clouds once more.

Xu Disheng stepped on the phantom image of the Yin Yang Diagram, flying up to the arena.

“Senior Martial Brother Xu, I admit defeat,” Xu Zimo said right away with a bitter smile before even letting out a single attack.

Xu Disheng raised an eyebrow, half in doubt.

“I saw your entire fight with Senior Martial Sister Mo Yue from beginning to end. I can tell that I am not your opponent, so it would be better for me to admit defeat sooner rather than later,” Xu Zimo said. After bowing to Cloud Stream Spirit Master, he gave Xu Disheng a deep glance, then jumped on a sword light and exited the arena.

Xu Zimo was very smart.

In the battle against Xu Disheng, while his loss wasn’t guaranteed, his chances of winning were extremely small. Not to mention Zhang Yangui was still looming behind him, and he stood even less of a chance against him.

As a result, Xu Zimo didn’t even think about trying to obtain the title of Sacred Son. It would be much better for him to be proactive in getting on Xu Disheng’s good side, selling him this favor. That way, he would at least be able to gain some hidden benefits.

Cloud Stream Spirit Master looked up at the golden list of names. Seeing that only three names remained, he announced, “After this battle, the second place will be decided.”

With a wave of his hand, a golden line appeared on the list, revolving around the three remaining names.

Although he said that this battle would decide who gets second, everyone knew that if You Shao managed to roll another bye, this upcoming battle would decide who obtained the title of Sacred Son!

You Shao mainly cultivated luck and fortune. While his fighting ability couldn’t be considered weak, he had no chances of winning against Xu Disheng and Zhang Yangui.

The golden line slowly came to a stop. One end of the faintly glowing line pointed to Zhang Yangui, and the other side…

Xu Disheng!

Sure enough, You Shao got another bye. Just like that, he had secured 2nd place in the Sea of Qi division.

Clamorous chatter erupted forth, spreading like wildfire across all eight Mountains of the Shangqing Sacred Sect.

“Zhang Yangui! Xu Disheng!”

“Both of them are undoubtedly unparalleled geniuses. After this battle, we will finally know who is the superior one.”

“In the end, who will obtain the title of Sacred Son, which is only given once every 50 years?”

“The two Sacred Sons from the previous Eight Mountains Grand Tournament were Sacred Son Feng Shao at the Dao Foundation stage and Sacred Son Bai Lu at the Sea of Qi stage. But in the end, I think Zhang Yangui will be slightly superior.”

“Zhang Yangui’s chances of winning are indeed very high.”

“Xu Disheng already revealed his hidden trump cards during his battle against Mo Yue, but Zhang Yangui hasn’t revealed his fighting strength yet. His odds of winning are higher.”

… …

At the same time, in Canxia Peak’s marketplace, as well as all the countless marketplaces across the Mingxin Mountain Range and the other Mountain Ranges, there was only a single match left to bet on.

Zhang Yangui, or… Xu Disheng.

At the moment, the bettings odds steadied out at 3:1.

In other words, most people still thought that Zhang Yangui would win. After all, no matter which aspect it was, from cultivation methods, to Magic Treasures, spiritual beast, inheritance, and so on, Zhang Yangui would crush Xu Disheng in practically every one.