Chapter 418: Chapter 416: Easy Victory

“Fellow Daoist Lin!”

“Fellow Daoist Purple Flame!”

Above them, Lin Tiannan and the Purple Flame Demon Lord exchanged greeting gestures, while True Monarch Qi Xing, Monarch Ling Fu, True Monarch Qing Lin, and others also greeted each other one by one, appearing just like old friends reunited after a long time, although they had been fighting to the death two years prior.

On either side of Half Moon Island, cultivators from both countries were gathered, with thick murderous intent hidden among them!

“Gentlemen, I trust I am not late?”

In the sky, a voice like thunder clapped, and an elder wearing a purple robe descended slowly on a piece of Flying Sword, his body brimming with the powerful aura of a Late-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator!

The Purple Thunder True Monarch, a Loose Cultivator from Li Country, was jointly invited by Lin Tiannan and the Purple Flame Demon Lord to act as the witness.

In the dispute between Xia Country and Sangyu Country, the Purple Thunder True Monarch was initially an outsider; having such a Late-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator serve as a witness was naturally most appropriate.

“Fellow Daoist Purple Thunder.”

Lin Tiannan, Purple Flame Demon Lord, and others courteously clasped hands and smiled.

True Monarch Liu Yun spoke, “Since everyone has arrived, shall we prepare to start?”

“Good.”

The Purple Thunder True Monarch lightly raised his hand and a dark cyan jade stone slid out from his sleeve into his palm. When he infused it with mana, ripples immediately spread out, washing over the entirety of Half Moon Island in all directions.

“It’s an Array Spirit Stone…”

Lin Xuyan, with a tight frown, whispered, “It is said to be a treasure capable of detecting Array Flags and Array Plates. As long as the Array Spirit Stone is activated, any arrays concealed underground in the vicinity will be revealed. I never imagined that Senior Purple Thunder would come so well-prepared.”

Ning Daoran was astounded; he had not expected such a miraculous item to exist.

“Excellent!”

The Purple Thunder True Monarch was straightforward and chuckled, “The cultivators of Xia Country and Sangyu Country are very disciplined and have not set up any arrays in the vicinity. Thus, shall we begin?”

“Agreed.”

Lin Tiannan and the Purple Flame Demon Lord nodded together.

“Come.”

The Purple Thunder True Monarch gestured, producing a copper bowl, and said, “The two of you can place the list of cultivators who are about to fight into this copper bowl. How about I announce the pairing list?”

“Most agreeable!”

Perhaps it had already been discussed, as the two Late-stage Nascent Soul Cultivators nodded their heads in agreement with smiles.

Following that, Lin Tiannan and the Purple Flame Demon Lord took out papers from their sleeves with great accord and wrapped them firmly with magic-infused prohibitions before sending them forth with a flicker of mana.

Many curious onlookers among the cultivators used their Divine Sense to probe the papers, but understandably, they couldn’t make out the names on the papers.

“Come!”

The Purple Thunder True Monarch extended a large hand and caught the two balled-up papers midair. After dispelling the prohibitions, he unfolded the papers and, with a slight smile, announced in a voice that resonated across Half Moon Island: “For the first match, Young Friend Lin Xuyan of the Liangyi Sect from Xia Country will face the Loose Cultivator Chi Laogui from Sangyu Country. Please, the two Daoists, proceed to the stage for a decisive battle!”

Ning Daoran felt a chill; he hadn’t expected Lin Xuyan to be up in the first match. Previously, Lin Tiannan had not disclosed the order of appearances for the sake of secrecy, and it was likely the same for the opponents. Both sides had been mentally strategizing, trying to compile the most advantageous lineup for their own side.

“Brother, I’ll be back soon!”

Lin Xuyan said, taking up his sword and stepping forward.

“Be careful in all things.” Ning Daoran advised.

“Don’t worry!”

Lin Xuyan didn’t look back as he left.

Opposite him, an elder dressed in a fiery red robe also leapt into the open space at the center of the deserted island–it was the Loose Cultivator Chi Laogui.

“The two Daoists listen well.”

In the air, the Purple Thunder True Monarch indifferently said, “This duel will continue until one party concedes or is defeated or killed. There are no rules like ‘stop when a hit is scored,’ so both Daoists, please value your own lives!”

Lin Xuyan and Chi Laogui both clasped fists towards this senior from Li Country.

“Get ready.”

The Purple Thunder True Monarch floated back and said in a deep voice, “The two of you, begin!”

…

“Hmph…”

In the arena, Chi Laogui’s lips curved slightly, his body shrouded in a haze of fiery brilliance apparently due to cultivating a Fire Attribute Technique. At the same moment, a red fox suddenly appeared on Chi Laogui’s shoulder, very petite and yapping loudly.

“Oh?!”

In the crowd, a cultivator’s eyes brightened immediately, saying, “I heard that Chi Laogui has raised a very formidable red fox that has reached the Third-tier Middle status. I didn’t expect it to be true. If that red fox joins in, Lin Xuyan will be in danger!”

“You are mistaken, my friend; Lin Xuyan is the chief True Inheritor of the Liangyi Sect. He has already perfected the Liangyi Sword Technique, and with a Spiritual Treasure for protection, even with Chi Laogui’s red fox, it won’t be enough to determine the outcome.”

“I hope so!”

A group of Loose Cultivators watched tensely, all seeming quite concerned for the side of Xia Country.

“Young Friend Lin, it’s not too late to admit defeat now.”

Chi Laogui squinted his eyes and said with a smile, “If you are stubborn, I fear you might risk your life!”

“Thank you for your concern, senior.”

Lin Xuyan took a step forward, and immediately the sword intent rose under his feet, and dozens of Taiji realms “swish swish swish” appeared around him, his long sword pointed, and instantly a Flying Sword shot out like an exploratory probe, heading straight for Chi Laogui!

“Well met, indeed worthy of being a True Inheritor of the Liangyi Sect!”

Chi Laogui laughed out loud, the Fire Attribute Magical Power inside his body erupted, strands of flame climbed around him like vines, and in the blink of an eye, he was wearing a layer of fiery red Vine Armor.

“Oh?”

Ning Daoran frowned slightly, impressed. This Chi Laogui was actually a Dual Cultivator of Wood Fire like himself, and the aura from the Flame Vine Armor was extremely substantial–its defense capability was probably no less than that of a Third-tier low-grade Spirit Treasure!

“Take my palm strike!”

Chi Laogui bellowed, with palm facing the sky, and suddenly dozens of palm prints burst out from under the ground, directly enveloping Lin Xuyan.

For a moment, many of the Xia Country cultivators watching the fight were shocked, especially the female cultivators, who let out alarmed cries, all of them anxious for Lin Xuyan.

“Boom~~~”

Sword light burst forth. Lin Xuyan simply waved his long sword lightly, and immediately dozens of strands of sword intent spread out, shattering Chi Laogui’s flaming palm force. At the same time, two Lifebound Flying Swords tore through the air, aiming straight for his throat.

“Squeak squeak!”

A loud cry came from the shoulder of Chi Laogui–the Red Fox’s expression turned extremely ferocious as it pounced forth in an instant and its flames soared, its sharp claws firmly gripping the two Flying Swords.

Accompanied by a sizzling sound, the Flying Swords kept spinning as they attempted to grind down their adversary, causing the Red Fox great difficulty. Its Demonic aura rapidly dissolved, and even its claws began to show specks of blood, unable to suppress the swords.

Who was Lin Xuyan? A genius of the Ten Great Immortal Sects, a person just one step away from Nascent Soul. Naturally, a Third-tier Middle-level Demon Beast was no match for him.

“Do you really think I only have two Flying Swords?”

Lin Xuyan chuckled lightly, and as he cleaved at Chi Laogui’s palm force, six more Flying Swords flew out from behind him, attacking from all directions. In an instant, the sky was filled with dazzling sword light.

“Buddha Fire Red Lotus!”

Chi Laogui let out a fierce shout, and behind him a great Buddha image actually emerged. It seems like he cultivated some kind of Fire Attribute Technique related to the Buddha Dao. That Buddha slowly raised his hand in an all-suppressing gesture, pushing down all six Flying Swords!

“Wishful thinking!”

Lin Xuyan lifted his left hand with his Sword point, and immediately the dense sword intent surrounding him hummed, his eyes revealing a calm smile. He said: “Trivial skills, you dare to show off in the expert’s door.”

Ning Daoran facepalmed, wondering where Lin Xuyan picked up these phrases–could he perhaps also be a transmigrator?

“Hiss hiss hiss~~”

Amidst the sound of breaking through barriers, one after another Flying Sword spiraled upwards, with the sword points striking down, the Buddha’s palm was instantly punched through. Soon after, several Flying Swords turned into beams of light, falling onto Chi Laogui’s Flame Vine Armor.

“Peng Peng Peng!”

Continuous loud noises echoed as the light of the Flame Vine Armor scattered.

Chi Laogui could not fend it off and spat out a mouthful of blood; his abdomen was already penetrated by a Flying Sword, and in a blink of an eye, he was covered in bloodstains.

Although also at the Gold Core Late Stage, Chi Laogui’s foundation in Cultivation was more than just a little bit inferior compared to Lin Xuyan.

“Young Friend Lin!”

While retreating, Chi Laogui shouted aloud, “I admit defeat, please show mercy, Young Friend!”

“Shua~~”

Lin Xuyan instantly retracted all Flying Swords, each floating behind him while their sword points still aimed directly at Chi Laogui. He sneered: “Hmph, Fellow Taoist Chi, I will make an exception for you.”

Chi Laogui’s forehead creased, his face ashen. He took back the Red Fox to check on it and found that both of its front legs were severely mangled. Had he conceded any later, both front legs would likely have been crippled, perhaps causing it to plunge to the Third-tier Early Stage Spiritual Beast!

…

“The first match, Lin Xuyan wins!”

Purple Thunder True Monarch announced the result in a clear voice.

Over at Sangyu Country, countless cultivators had glum expressions, silent as the grave, deathly still.

On Xia Country’s side, cheers erupted to welcome Lin Xuyan back from his victory. With Lin Xuyan’s personality, he naturally opened his arms wide to greet everyone, inwardly exclaiming “I’m so awesome.” Ning Daoran watched this and was speechless.

Both sides, Lin Tiannan and Purple Flame Demon Lord, once again each took out a paper ball. They wrapped it with their Mana and sent it towards the distant copper bowl. Purple Thunder True Monarch grabbed the paper ball, unfolded it, and said in a deep voice:

“The second match, Xia Country’s Liangyi Sect’s Liu Wushuang will face Sangyu Country’s Master Honglu!”

“Junior sister.”

Ning Daoran and Lin Xuyan looked at Liu Wushuang simultaneously.

“Dear brothers…”

Liu Wushuang pursed her red lips, standing obediently in front of her senior brothers.

Ning Daoran said, “Master Honglu has not shown himself before, you must be cautious above all. If you can’t win, it doesn’t matter, preserving your own life is the most important thing.”

“That’s right.”

Lin Xuyan said, “That’s also what I wanted to say, you must be extra careful!”

“Don’t worry, senior brothers, I understand.”

Liu Wushuang smiled slightly, lifted her sword, and turned to leave.

On the opposite side, a young and handsome Late-stage Golden Core cultivator wearing a dark red long shirt walked out, with a sneer that wasn’t quite a smile, slowly approaching Liu Wushuang.

Ning Daoran unleashed his Golden Core Divine Sense, frantically scanning the face of Master Honglu and employing the Grey Eyes Technique to repeatedly examine his features, attempting to discern if that person was using a disguise.

“Fellow Daoist…”

Frowning, Master Honglu transmitted a message to Ning Daoran: “Such unabashed probing, don’t you think you’re going too far?”