Chapter 123
The sound of rain was deafening, drowning out Yin Huacheng's gasps and heartbeat.
Water droplets fell onto his scant exposed skin, yet they couldn't touch him, as if a slick barrier repelled them.
He moved silently through the forest by the roadside, weaving around obstacles with the fluid grace of a serpent, his movements swift and eerie.
A pair of vertical pupils fixated on the silhouette of the boy ahead.
Far enough.
He was ready to strike.
But at that moment, the boy turned around, looking directly in his direction.
Their gazes locked, and Yin Huacheng's heart skipped a beat.
It was too calm.
The boy showed no fear; in fact, he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
"Yin Huacheng, brother, it's a good thing you’re so easily agitated."
"Otherwise, I probably wouldn’t have waited for you today."
Li Mo spoke softly.
"You were waiting for me?"
Yin Huacheng's body began to uncontrollably twist, his neck elongating suddenly, scales piercing through his skin, his eyes transforming into cold, serpentine slits.
"This place is a void of heaven and earth."
"I'll kill you, erase all traces, and leave behind a swallow from the Xiyu Tower."
"Then it will be said that you died at the hands of the Xiyu Tower. Who would know it was me?"
He wasn't sure if he was threatening Li Mo or trying to convince himself.
"How coincidental."
A strangely shaped hammer fell into his hand.
Li, the rain-soaked night, hammer not sword, Mo.
"I thought the same at first."
"Die!"
Yet it was Yin Huacheng who struck first, his body trembling violently, as if a hundred beasts were roaring within him.
Li Mo seemed to hear a shriek.
Was it a snake? Or a dragon?
The aura was like that of a primordial beast, a terrifying pressure emanating purely from brute strength, not some ethereal charm.
But...
Crack—
A thunderous roar erupted, a lightning serpent slashing through the night, momentarily dimming the world.
A voice rang out, loud and clear.
Even the rolling thunder couldn’t drown it out.
A hammer?
As that blow fell.
Yin Huacheng wanted to roar, but found himself unable to make a sound.
The rain suddenly froze, then was violently sucked back into the sky, creating a brief vacuum.
Seventh Seal of the Universe, Sixth Seal—Calm the Tempest.
With this hammer.
The Xuan Dan shattered, internal energy collapsed, and Yin Huacheng, who had harmed countless people, his beastly form refined to perfection, seemed to be easily crushed.
He was driven into the ground, his bones shattered.
"Sigh, hitting so hard, what should I say to you?"
Qian Bufan stepped out from behind the rain, accompanied by Xue Jing.
Xue's expression was one of regret as he sighed:
"At least he’s still breathing."
With a stomp, Yin Huacheng was forced out.
At that moment, he was in a pitiful state, hardly recognizable as human, as the flesh on his body seemed to have developed a will of its own, turning against him.
"Yin Huacheng... why go to such lengths?"
Qian Bufan sighed heavily.
If Yin Huacheng was like this, then Yin Huaxuan could not possibly be unaware.
It only indicated that this elder from the Beast Peak might be the source of the blood refinement of beasts.
"Back at Wangyue Cliff, Shang Wu almost stumbled upon the truth."
Xue Jing frowned.
Yin Huacheng's body was already on the brink of collapse.
Using healing medicine would only exacerbate the backlash from his flesh.
"The sect leader is already aware of this matter."
"Li Mo, just act as if nothing happened. We will handle Yin Huaxuan ourselves."
Xue Jing pondered.
The Demon Cult was mysterious; they might have means of communication unknown to them.
"Give him a taste of pain..."
"Sure thing."
Bang—
It happened quickly.
Xue Jing and Qian Bufan watched as the boy retracted his hammer, momentarily silent.
It looked quite painful.
Yin Huacheng's departure was anything but peaceful.
You didn’t plan on letting him live from the start, did you?
...
Inside Dongli Manor.
At the banquet.
Bai Jinghong suddenly stood up, meeting the gaze of the elder beside him, and said, "Everyone, the Blood Phoenix Secret Realm is extremely dangerous."
"Our Hengyun Sword City is compassionate and does not wish for anyone to lose their life in vain."
"If you cannot withstand my three strikes, then I see no reason for you to enter the secret realm and take risks."
His tone was calm, but the underlying message was clear:
"Everyone here is beneath me."
"What level do you think you are to compete for opportunities with me?"
It was arrogant, but he had the right to be.
In his twenties, a top talent on the Qianlong List, ranked among the top hundred in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, he was a guest of honor in the Great Yu Imperial City, even among royal relatives.
And he was arrogant, but not foolish.
If Yin Huacheng were present, Bai Jinghong wouldn’t dare make such a boast. Though he looked down on his opponent's talent, he knew Yin Huacheng was no pushover; taking three of his strikes would be a walk in the park.
Indeed.
Bai Jinghong's gaze was like a sword, sharply sweeping across the crowd, and most people dared not meet his eyes.
Of course, there were exceptions.
Tie Qi's eyes burned with intensity, showing no signs of backing down.
Luo Yu frowned, thinking, you’re putting on a show, so what should I do?
And then there was Bing Tuzi.
She was still busy drawing ice cream.
A figure burst in from the storm, and everyone recognized him as Li, the true disciple from Qingyuan Sect.
The boy smiled shyly at the crowd, polite and humble; anyone who saw him would call him a sunny youth, a gentleman.
Who would have thought he had just wielded the power of the world to crush a God-Viewing Realm expert?
He sat down beside Bing Tuzi and whispered, "What’s going on? Why is everyone so quiet?"
---
Chapter 122: Bing Tuzi's Sword Defeats the Stalwart Character of the Kind-hearted Li Da.
Looking at Bai Jinghong standing in the hall, the crowd began to murmur.
Those who hadn’t reached the God-Viewing Realm knew their own limitations and naturally wouldn’t step up to embarrass themselves. Meanwhile, a few young talents with some strength were reluctant to be the first to challenge, hoping someone else would test Bai Jinghong's depth.
The atmosphere was heavy, with whispers and mutual avoidance.
"Is there no one from the Eastern Wasteland's talents willing to spar with me?"
"Then the Blood Phoenix Secret Realm will belong to my Hengyun Sword City."
Bai Jinghong said lightly, hands behind his back.
"You’re being too domineering; this secret realm is unclaimed."
"Why should we follow your rules?"
The hall erupted into chaos, voices of discontent rising.
Bai Jinghong scanned the room, a slight smirk on his lips:
"In the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, strength reigns supreme."
"So, my rules are the rules. Do you understand?"
His words echoed, and the fervor of the crowd momentarily stilled.
The atmosphere quieted.
Except for...
"Let’s eat some watermelon first; if we finish it, we can use the leftovers to make ice cream."
"Watermelon-flavored?"
"Yeah, shaped like Patrick Star. I’ll slice it first."
Li Mo said, pulling out a watermelon he had just picked from the field, then brandishing his Zhi Xiao sword, he made a few gestures before stabbing it in.
Noticing the gazes from beside him, he turned to see Luo Yu and Luo Yao; the former looked somewhat speechless, while the latter was fixated on the watermelon.
"Do you two want some?"
Little Li was quite the hospitable host.
The crowd: "?"
Bai Jinghong: "?"
Here I am, testing the heroes, and you’re over there slicing watermelon.
Do I have no dignity?
He was about to speak.
"Your sword is sharp, Bai Jinghong, but my Daguang from the Gangdou Sect is no slouch either!"
"I’ll give it a try!"
Tie Qi slammed the table and stood up.
With a long spear in hand, it gleamed coldly.
"Just in time!"
Bai Jinghong had no choice but to retract his gaze.
The two exchanged blows, divine intent clashing, and they were soon engaged in combat.
On the first strike, Tie Qi staggered back, unable to match the sword's edge. On the second strike, the sweeping blade moved like water, yet he didn’t dodge...
His upper body suddenly separated from his lower half, wielding the spear downwards, forcing Bai Jinghong to defend.
Bai Jinghong clearly hadn’t expected that Tie Qi, already half-disabled, would have such a trick as 'divided action.'
Just as he was about to pursue, Tie Qi laughed and said:
"Three strikes have passed."
Bai Jinghong: "....."
He darkened his face and sheathed his sword.
Though Tie Qi had withstood three strikes, everyone in the hall was astonished. Even Tie Qi, a fellow in the God-Viewing Realm, had to resort to tricks.
The Qianlong List's prodigy was too strong.
"Hiss..."
The crowd collectively gasped.
"Hiss..."
Little Li took a bite of watermelon, so delicious that he gasped in surprise.
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