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Chapter 329 The Ultimate Battle
The others from the Fiend Temple swiftly walked past the steps and followed Lu Zhou. They looked up and saw the flying chariot.
The black flying chariot looked like a narrow rectangular block through the leaves. Wide stripes of Formation veins were etched on the sides of the flying chariot where cultivators sent their energies into to move it. The scale of the chariot, the number of people it took to fly it, and the grandeur were rarely seen.
The others came to halt and looked at the flying chariot in awe. The flying chariot slowed down considerably once it was near Cloud Shine Forest.
Compared to that flying chariot, the Fiend Temple’s flying chariot looked as insignificant as a child’s toy.
Duan Xing looked at the flying chariot and said, “I heard that the Nether Sect has absorbed the Righteous Sect and the Clarity Sect. Its force has grown stronger ever since. In less than half a year, the number of people who joined the Nether Sect more than doubled… I didn’t expect them to have a new flying chariot as well.” He, naturally, did not know that Yu Zhenghai’s previous flying chariot had been destroyed on the Lotus Dais.
Lu Zhou merely glanced at the flying chariot before he continued on his way with his hands on his back. He did not walk to the top of Cloud Shine Peak. Instead, he walked toward an outcrop. There were several huge trees with bent trunks on each side of the rock that slanted outward. This could be a perfect place to avoid the sweltering summer heat. Duan Xing nodded when he saw Lu Zhou walking as though he was strolling in the park.
One of Duan Xing’s subordinates said, “Although Sect Master Yu put on such a grand display, I still think someone like the old senior who remains humble and simple is the true elite.”
Duan Xing turned to glance at that subordinate.
The subordinate was startled.
“You’ve got a point,” Duan Xing praised him.
The old senior stayed true to himself. Each of his steps was firm and simple, there were no flashy shows. This was the way experts should behave.
Duan Xing and the others stood on the huge boulder. All of them stood behind Lu Zhou and did not dare to move forward.
Duan Xing looked into the distance and saw the flying chariot had come to a stop. He bowed and asked, “Old senior, when are you planning to make your move, if not now?”
Lu Zhou said nothing. He merely looked at Duan Xing meaningfully before he turned back to observe the flying chariot.
Duan Xing shuddered inwardly. His palms were wet with sweat. His question was too foolish. Naturally, the old senior was waiting to swoop in and reap the benefits while the two parties fought. Rumor had it that Yu Zhenghai and Yu Shangrong’s cultivation bases were on par with their master. In fact, there was also a rumor about them having surpassed their master. He did not know if those two people had surpassed their master, but he had no doubts that they were both Eight-leaf elites.
Apart from that, the Nether Sect’s Four Great Protectors, Hua Chongyang, Bai Yuqing, Yang Yan, and Di Qing, were all first-rate elites. Apart from those four people, the Nether Sect had no lack of elites scattered across the land.
Duan Xing did not forget Si Wuya, the Darknet’s master. He wondered where the cunning and mischievous man was hiding. If the old senior planned to take them down, it was better for him to secretly observe before he made a move.
After thinking about all that, Duan Xing was even more convinced that the old senior was a true elite. He was nothing like what the rumor had said. He was not someone with a fiery temper and strength to match.
The huge flying chariot hovered above the Hundred Leaves Lake.
Yu Shangrong crossed his arms and stood on the surface of Hundred Leaves Lake. His eyes were closed. The Azure Dragon First Seat, Hua Chongyang, was the first to emerge. He cupped his fists and said, “Greetings, Mister Second.’
The Hundred Leaves Lake was silent as usual.
The clear surface of the lake was like a transparent mirror that reflected Yu Shangrong’s chiseled face. Hua Chongyang felt awkward seeing Yu Shangrong’s blatant disregard. He said again, “Greetings, Mister Second.” “…” Similarly, Yu Shangrong did not reply again.
At this moment, Bai Yuqing, Yang Yang, and Di Qing emerged as well. They stood in a row. Four of them said in unison, “Greetings, Mister Second.”
Yu Shangrong seemed to have fallen asleep. The four of them exchanged glances and were at a loss.
At this moment, inside the flying chariot, Yu Zhenghai broke into a burst of laughter. The soundwaves from his laughter spread across the Hundred Leaves Lake.
The fish at the bottom of the lake broke the surface as they leaped into the air, creating many ripples on the, otherwise, peaceful surface.
Yu Shangrong opened his eyes.
The four great protectors parted to the sides and bowed. “Sect master.”
Yu Zhenghai emerged with his hands on his back. He looked down at Yu Shangrong who was standing in the middle of the lake. Although Yu Shangrong looked small when he stood in the middle of the lake, there was no doubt he could destroy the Hundred Leaves Lake if he so wished. Finally, he said, “Second Junior Brother, how long has it been? You’ve become cold and heartless. My four great protectors are first-rate elites. They’ve always wanted to fight you. Although they know they would lose, it doesn’t stop them from trying. Why don’t you give them a chance?”
Yu Shangrong finally spoke. “My apologies, Eldest Senior Brother…” In other words, he refused.
Yu Zhenghai asked, “Why?”
“Throughout the years, I’ve fought 135 opponents… There was only a single person who has yet to die under my sword.”
Hua Chongyang, Bai Yuqing, Yang Yan, and Di Qing were speechless.
“Sword Freak Chen Wenjie, Mobei’s Sword Slave Wang Haichao, the Sect Master Wang of the First Sword King in the Green Province, the Lou Lan’s Sword Emperor of the western region, Yue Zhengrong… All of them died under my blade.” Yu Shangrong did not think there was a need for him to list out all the names. Just these few names were enough to strike fear into the listeners’ hearts. He looked up and swept his eyes across the four great protectors. He smiled faintly. “Apart from that, I don’t recommend them to watch the battle.”
The four of them exchanged glances again. They could accept that he found them unworthy to challenge him. However, he even said they were unworthy of watching the fight. The words were too hurtful even for his standard.
“It’s so that they won’t be traumatized.”
Hua Chongyang, Bai Yuqing, Yang Yan, and Di Qing were speechless.
Elites of the sword path could not help but obsess with sword skills. There were many with exceptional sword skills who plunged into the depths of self-abasement and lost their minds after witnessing Yu Shangrong’s sword skills.
Yu Zhenghai smiled earnestly and said, “You don’t have to worry about that. Those people are weak. However, if my subordinates can’t even acknowledge the fact there’s someone stronger than them, then, they’re not worthy of being in my Nether Sect.”
“Glad to hear that.”
Yu Zhenghai tapped with the tips of his feet. He flew forward as though he was as light as a feather before he dove down. He dropped swiftly. In a blink of an eye, he was already above the lake’s surface. Surprisingly, the lake’s surface remained calm. It seemed like it was not affected by the disturbance. Based on this, one could see how terrifying his control over his strength was.
Yu Shangrong uncrossed his arms and cupped his fists lightly. “Greetings, Eldest Senior Brother.” This was just a courtesy.
“Go ahead, junior brother.”
“You’re older, senior brother. Go ahead.”
“You’re younger, junior brother. You go ahead.”
“In that case, let’s do it together…”
Swoosh!
The water from the Hundred Leaves Lake that was several miles wide shot into the air under the pressure of their Primal Qi.
The water droplets fell. The water droplets seemed to be wrapped by their energies. Every water droplet formed energy cones.
The lotus leaves were now riddled with holes. The huge chariot retreated.
Si Wuya retreated as well.
The two opponents did not budge from the center of the lake. However, the energy cones did not harm them. They dispersed before they could even get near their bodies.
Water droplets continued to fall.
Energy seals that shined like starlight appeared behind Yu Zhenghai…
“Jasper Saber.” The Jasper Saber spun out of the flying chariot and flew toward its owner.
At the same time, it dropped down as a huge burst of energy shrouded it, making it look like a huge pinwheel. This was the Great Dark Heaven Memorial, the Dark Heaven Starlight.
“Longevity Sword.”
Zing!
The Longevity Sword shot out of its scabbard. There was a rain of blades. This was the Guiyuan Sword Technique, the Sword Devil’s Destiny.
The two blades clashed.
Everyone was dumbstruck.
Duan Xing’s jaw dropped. His eyeballs threatened to fall out of their sockets.
Was this a battle?
Even if they retired from the cultivation world in the future, he was certain that they would still be handsomely rewarded with a career in removing mountains.
As for the disciples of Fiend Temple, they were utterly stupefied. They did not know what to think. A battle of this level had well exceeded their imaginations and expectations. Although they had thought about the battle and what it would be like, none of them could have imagined this.
In the middle of the Hundred Leaves Lake, the two opponents stood motionlessly as a sword and saber clashed in the air.
Duan Xing exclaimed in amazement, “Is this what the Eight-leaf stage is like?”
If the disciples were this mind-blowingly powerful, just how powerful would Ji Tiandao be at his peak?
Duan Xing could no longer suppress his curiosity. He asked, “O-old senior… Who do you think will win?”
“Just watch,” Lu Zhou answered in a vague manner.
“Yes, old senior.”
Lu Zhou did not wish for their battle to end too soon. There were still about four days before the cooldown period ended. If they finished before then, he would have no choice but to take the risk and chase after them on Whitzard’s back.
Lu Zhou was not surprised by the battle before him. He had anticipated this. Both of them were evenly matched.
Meanwhile, the four great protectors who were watching the battle from the flying chariot finally understood what Yu Shangrong meant. After all, Yu Shangrong could unleash such a destructive power just by pure control of his Primal Qi. This was not as simple as a difference in the number of leaves. Even Eight-leaf elites could be starkly different from each other.
As the final water droplet fell into the lake, the Jasper Saber and Longevity Sword parted and returned to their respective owners.
Yu Zhenghai held his saber in one hand. He extended his arm straight to the side.
Yu Shangrong wielded his sword with his right hand. He stared at Yu Zhenghai.
The first exchange of blows was merely a chance for them to gauge their opponent’s strength. Yu Zhenghai laughed and said, “Indeed, your cultivation base has improved a lot, Second Junior Brother.”
“The same could be said about you, Eldest Senior Brother.”
“So, I take it that your Guiyuan Sword Technique is now in the three-soul stage?” Yu Zhenghai asked.
Accomplished swordsmen were one with their swords. It was as though their weapons were born out of their bones.
“I heard that no one has seen your Great Dark Heaven Memorial’s Sovereign Descent. senior brother. I’d like to see it.”
As soon as Yu Shangrong finished speaking, both of them instantly tap the tips of the feet on the surface of the lake at the same time
The two of them tapped the surface of the lake with the tips of their feet at the same time. This meant the battle was progressing to a higher level. Both the Jasper Saber and Longevity Sword were now wrapped in energy.
When Hua Chongyang saw this, he raised a palm. “Retreat. Climb higher!”
“Understood!” The members of the Nether Sect did not dare to be careless.
…
Upon seeing this, Duan Xing shuddered. He was overcome with the urge to flee the scene. “Old senior… Why don’t we take a few steps back and watch from there?”
Lu Zhou looked at him indifferently but did not move.
Duan Xing felt slightly relieved. They were several miles away from the Hundred Leaves Lake. The skies were clear, and their field of vision was wide. Naturally, they would feel the impact of the battle. However, he was a Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm elite, after all. It should not be a problem for him to defend himself. He nodded to himself. ‘If we’re affected by the battle, I’ll have to perform well. The fate of the Fiend Temple rests on this occasion. I can’t mess up at the most crucial moment.’