1097: When Would You Fight?

When Would You Fight?

Countless were watching the arena in King Li's Palace, viewing two people fighting onstage. The spectators were unusually silent.

Everyone was drawn to what was happening on the battlefield.

"Some power indeed," many gasped. The battles had gone far enough that they consisted almost exclusively of clashes between titans at the pinnacle of their training. All of the mighty ones remaining were frighteningly powerful.

There was only one person who took to the sky over the battlefield, whose palm was infused with the might of the great path, erupting through the air and down on his opponent. The fighter at the receiving end was unable to hold out for long and was quickly thrown back.

"18 consecutive victories."

Many were astonished at the scene playing out before them.

A lithe figure clad in a golden, elegant robe was visible on the platform. His gaze was condescending, and he stood tall in the air.

18 consecutive victories. That young man had fought round after round without a break, regardless of who he fought. His confidence was, indeed, like no other.

Furthermore, top-notch forces of the Upper Worlds were already extending their invitation to him.

That man was from the County of Shangqin and was named Qin Cang.

Qin Cang finally turned around and, with a flash, returned to the corner of the County of Shangqin. Many breathed a sigh of relief. There were a lot of people who found themselves utterly incapable of showing off their prowess with him around; they would probably just have ended up being overwhelmed.

Unsurprisingly, Qin Cang might have actually been one of the strongest individuals below the Saint Plane in Dali.

"Spectacular." By then, even King Li had come to praise him. Many nodded in agreement. Qin Cang was indeed very powerful and had already touched the great path. His Voidwalk and Mudra of the Void techniques were also extremely formidable, and there was hardly anyone capable of fighting him.

His 18 consecutive victories had silenced the massive number of spectators around the platform in King Li's Palace.

"What do you think?" the Sword Saint of Fierce Wind, who had not spoken for quite some time, then asked Ye Futian.

He knew that Ye Futian had already been able to touch the great path. He thought: Finally someone who you'd find worthy of fighting, no?

"He's okay," Ye Futian said plainly. He had watched Qin Cang fight, as well. Qin Cang was the first to have touched the great path among the fighters who had competed.

Cultivators like that were but few, even if one searched throughout the entire Lower Worlds of Dali.

His prowess was at the pinnacle, after all, right below Saint Plane.

Being able to touch the great path unaided meant that half of one's being was breaking into the Saint Plane.

The Sword Saint of Fierce Wind smiled, finding it amusing that even someone as powerful as Qin Cang was only able to make the young swordsman say, "he's okay."

Just how powerful did mighty fighters need to be, in his eyes?

Yet another person emerged on the platform at that moment. Many gasped in shock; it was apparent that they recognized the person who walked out.

"Zuo Zhengdao of Dongyang," they said. It was, to be sure, Zuo Zhengdao of the County of Dongyang, and he was very renowned in his home county indeed.

"Is he really that famous?" some asked curiously. It was only natural that not everyone from throughout the Nine Counties of Dali knew of Zuo Zhengdao.

"He's known to be the number one figure below the Saint Plane in Dongyang."

Some people sported solemn looks. Zuo Zhengdao walked onto the platform after Qin Cang stepped off. It was apparent that he intended to fight Qin Cang at a later time.

Those two mighty individuals would probably fight at least once later on.

Many mighty fighters hesitated somewhat, seeing as Zuo Zhengdao was of such renown. However, one from the County of Nanyue emerged onto the platform. His eyes were brimming with vigor as he gazed at his opponent. It was precisely because this contender was so powerful and renowned that he judged that he would earn greater prestige when he defeated him.

Doom. That mighty one from the County of Nanyue stepped out and the air shook. Boundless, heavy pressure emanated from him, shrouding Zuo Zhengdao's surroundings. However, Zuo Zhengdao simply stood calmly where he was, with his eyes fixed on his opponent.

The mighty one from the County of Nanyue continued to walk. Every step seemed to fall on the minds of the spectators, imbued with the extremely overbearing pressure of the rules.

"This guy really is formidable," many whispered to themselves deep within. The man who had emerged from the County of Nanyue was definitely no weakling.

The people from the County of Nanyue all knew who he was—a very renowned figure.

This mighty individual walked step by step diagonally above Zuo Zhengdao, like some kind of celestial god, and looked extremely overbearing. He lifted his hand and threw a palm attack below, with power capable of pulverizing mountains and rivers.

At that moment, Zuo Zhengdao burst suddenly forth with an extremely dazzling glimmer. Golden divine fires erupted from his body, which he basked in like some god of war. After seeing his opponent make a move on him, he simply lifted his hand. He pointed a finger in the air and tore through his opponent's attack.

The palm attack crumbled within mere moments, and the underlying rules were nowhere to be found. The power of that one finger burst with dazzling light and continued shooting upwards at his opponent's body. The one above threw palm attacks in a frenzy, but quickly found that Zuo Zhengdao flashed into a move the very next moment. His finger was pointed forward yet again. Their surroundings basked in his power. His opponent was quickly shrouded in divine light and looked terrified.

"I yield," he shouted, feeling as if he was going to be destroyed at the very next moment.

Zuo Zhengdao's opponent's body was thrown back with a boom. His clothes were torn apart, and blood could be seen at the corner of his mouth; his hands were still twitching.

"The power of the great path."

Many saints surveyed the scene and deemed Zuo Zhengdao's power indeed adequate to fight Qin Cang toe-to-toe.

The mighty fighters of the Nine Counties felt pressure on their shoulders.

Zuo Zhengdao continued to score consecutive victories in the following battles. No one was able to fight him. He ended up bagging 18 consecutive wins, just like Qin Cang, before walking off.

"Who in the County of Yan would be able to fight them?" the County King of Yan asked. Both Qin Cang and Zuo Zhengdao were very formidable, and, as the County King of Yan, he naturally hoped that one such powerful figure would emerge from his county.

An individual rose and walked up to the platform. He was none other than Li Hanxing of the Ziwei Sword Clan.

Many mighty fighters from the holy lands of the County of Yan looked startled. The County King of Yan then asked, "So, Li Hanxing has been able to touch the great path, then?"

"You'd know soon enough, my lord," The Sword Saint of Ziwei replied. The faces of the other sword saints froze. If the Sword Saint of Ziwei was putting it that way, then it was extremely possible that Li Hanxing had indeed been able to touch the great path.

The following battle was as they had speculated. Li Hanxing burst with frightening sword will, and none who came forward were able to withstand his sword attacks.

Three extremely formidable fighters stepped up, one after another, in these battles, and their entry brought the event to its climax.

"What do you think now?" Huanxue said, asking for Ye Futian's opinion—something she would not have done otherwise. Ye Futian had never previously thought much about the swordsmen of the County of Yan, after all.

However, it became evident at that moment that Li Hanxing had indeed been able to touch the great path, but had been keeping a low profile all the while. Ye Futian was the complete opposite—so much so that he was considered a freak.

I wonder if he is feeling ashamed of himself now, she thought.

"No comment," Ye Futian replied. Huanxue glanced at him. There seemed to be no hope of making him admit to anything.

She wanted to see how he would join the fight, instead.

Li Hanxing, having returned to the corner belonging to the Ziwei Sword Clan and the County King of Yan, said with a smile, "Seems like Li Hanxing is truly the number-one below Saint Plane among the swordsmen of the County of Yan."

Many nodded in agreement. Li Hanxing had been able to touch the great path and possessed formidable sword techniques to boot, so much so that he had earned the approval of the County King of Yan. That meant that he deemed both princesses beneath Li Hanxing in terms of combat prowess.

Every single battle that was fought after that was extremely spectacular. While no other top-notch individual who had touched the great path emerged, every single combatant was of formidable combat prowess. Each and every battle was a clash between titans.

As the battles raged on, many came to realize where they stood. Those of insufficient strength did not dare even to set foot onto the platform. The same could have been said even for those from holy lands.

Nie Yun of the Sword Clan of the Gale entered the battlefield as well, but he lost in battle to a top-notch fighter from the County of Xichu.

No other new challengers from any of the holy lands went up onto the platform after that. Those who had never lost in their prior battles began to fight other powerful combatants. Besides competing for the chance to train in the Upper Worlds, they were also doing so to hone their own martial will.

Chi Xiao and Chi Yao from the Crimson Phoenix Sword Clan lost, one after another.

Kai Huang of the Juque Sword Clan subsequently lost, as well.2

As the battles continued, Li Hanxing became the only one among the swordsmen of the County of Yan who had yet to lose a battle.

Even the two princesses lost to the most powerful figures from the County of Changhe. However, Li Hanxing quickly stepped into the battlefield to avenge them and defeated the people who had beaten them. That act earned him some points with the swordsmen of the County of Yan.

By then, Li Hanxing had become the only hope for the swordsmen of the County of Yan.

"Splendid," King Li said in praise. Hardly anyone was stepping onto the platform at that point. Zuo Zhengdao was standing tall on the battlefield, and it seemed as if no one dared to challenge him.

Li Hanxing eventually rose from the corner of the County of Yan. He moved alongside his sword and stepped onto the platform, standing opposite Zuo Zhengdao.

Loud cheers and roars rang out in the King Li's Palace.

Was a battle between fighters at the top of the heap about to begin?

Even Lu Chuan and the other top-notch figures from the Upper Worlds came to pay close attention to the battlefield, looking forward to the upcoming battle.

"Who do you think would win this battle, sir?" Princess Li You asked Lu Chuan, who was at her side, with a smile.

"Zuo Zhengdao seems to have a better chance. But, then again, Li Hanxing has a fair chance as well," Lu Chuan replied.

"Li Hanxing has exceptional talent, and, if he were to train in the Sword Mountain of the Upper Worlds, his way of the sword would definitely be able to reach greater heights." Li You's smile looked gentle and pretty.

The battle on the platform began.

Zuo Zhengdao was bathed in divine light like a golden, heavenly furnace. He looked indestructible and invincible, and his fingers seemed to be swords themselves.

Li Hanxing's sword will of Ziwei resembled the stars, and every sword will was imbued with supreme offensive powers. Both figures fought on the platform. Violent auras swept through the place, and King Li's Palace was surprisingly quiet. Everyone was paying close attention to the clash of the titans going on up above.

Both men traded blows using pure offensive skills and clashed an untold amount of times. Li Hanxing's sword finally broke with a "boom." His body was thrown backward, and blood spilled from his mouth.

Zuo Zhengdao's shirt was torn at the same time, as well. However, it was clear that Li Hanxing lost the fight.

The people of the County of Yan, their eyes fixed on the battle, all gasped. Li Hanxing's swordplay was superb, but he still proved unable to beat Zuo Zhengdao. Li Hanxing walked off the stage dejectedly.

Qin Cang then emerged and asked Zuo Zhengdao if he needed rest. Zuo Zhengdao replied that he would like to continue.

The vast royal palace was completely silent while this battle raged on. Everyone kept their eyes at the two violent figures, as if the spectators have all stopped breathing altogether.

"A battle between supreme individuals, who are, indeed, right below the Saint Plane," the County King of Yan said with approbation.

King Li had gathered mighty individuals from all over the Nine Counties, with the mighty ones from the Upper Worlds coming down to witness the battles. The very battle before them was, indeed, a fight between titans.

Qin Cang eventually won against Zuo Zhengdao. The fight seemed to prove that he was, in fact, peerless below Saint Plane.

Countless eyes gazed at the two combatants with reverence. Despite having lost the fight, Zuo Zhengdao continued to stand proud.

Qin Cang remained standing where he was after Zuo Zhengdao walked off the battlefield. No one else went up the platform after that.

King Li then asked personally, "Is there anyone from the Nine Counties of Dali who would like to fight?"

No one else answered. There was simply no one who dared to fight Qin Cang after seeing what he was capable of.

"Are you still going to keep your sword sheathed?" The Sword Saint of Fierce Wind asked Ye Futian in a low voice. Many from the County of Yan turned to look at Ye Futian, not caring much. That guy had been extremely boisterous, but, after seeing that battle between titans, they deemed him to cowardly to emerge and fight.

Ye Futian took one look at Qin Cang. He smiled and shook his head lightly before taking a drink from his cup.

"No one else will challenge Qin Cang after this battle. You won't have another chance if you are still going to keep your sword sheathed. Regardless of whether you win or lose, it's best to have those from the Upper Worlds see what you are capable of," the Sword Saint of Fierce Wind added. Even the people from the holy lands of the County of Yan turned to look at the sword saint with startled looks.

It seemed that he placed a lot of trust in the Seventh Swordsman.

Ye Futian put his cup down and looked at the platform nonchalantly, saying, "No one from the Nine Counties of Dali is worthy of having me draw my sword. I shall leave it at that."

pqdm.com