Chapter 79: The Celestial Qi of Zhou Tian!
Seeing that Xuanji was furious, Luo Ruoqin quickly came to his senses and bowed deeply.
“It was my own momentary lapse in judgment, brought on by urgency. I beg you, sir, to forgive my transgression!”
“Hmph!” Xuanji gave a cold snort, his anger receding. “Since you admit your fault, I’ll let it go this time. But if you repeat it, I’ll report it to the sect and see you punished for insubordination!”
“Thank you, sir!” Luo Ruoqin nodded repeatedly, relieved. Yet soon his thoughts turned, and he glared furiously at Shen Yan.
“Scoundrel! How dare you use such poisonous means!”
His words drew all eyes to Shen Yan once more.
Shen Yan wiped the blood from his lips and replied calmly, “Life and death are decided in the arena. If he can kill others, why can’t others kill him? After all these years, do you still have no shame?”
“You—!” Luo Ruoqin was enraged by Shen Yan’s words, but had no retort.
Xuanji spoke again, “Life and death are decided in the arena. Since Xu Mao took to the stage, he must be prepared to die.”
He looked at Shen Yan, inwardly marveling at his ruthlessness. He hadn’t expected Shen Yan to actually kill Xu Mao on stage, making the situation difficult to resolve. But whatever the difficulty, it must be resolved. Xuanji turned to Luo Ruoqin and then glanced at the gathered crowd.
“The second round is still won by Zhou. Now, who will step up for the first round?”
The crowd fell silent, their eyes falling on Luo Ruoqin. At this point, who else but the ancestor of the Luo family could take the stage?
Zhou Shun had proven himself a true sword cultivator—decisive and merciless. He cared nothing for whether the three families would become enemies henceforth. Such a figure, if not subdued in one blow, was best left unprovoked. With his ruthless approach and astonishing strength—able to defeat a sword cultivator at the peak of Qi Refinement despite being only at the late stage—any who offended him would find no peace.
The Xu family, after mourning, also looked to Luo Ruoqin. Now, their only hope rested with the Luo family’s late-stage Qi Refinement ancestor.
Luo Ruoqin ignored the Xu family, instead fixing a piercing gaze on Shen Yan. After a long silence, he spoke coldly, “For the third round, I shall test your skill myself!”
His voice was icy. If he could have refused, he would have; he truly did not wish to fight this third bout. Shen Yan had already proven his strength, defeating a peak Qi Refinement opponent with ease. He was not someone to be underestimated. With such determined temperament, if he advanced to the peak, his power would surely become even more terrifying.
Now, stepping into the third round, Luo Ruoqin had no certainty of victory. Even if he were to win, he doubted he could kill Shen Yan, and the price would be steep. But he had no choice. The three families were united; Xu Mao had died at Shen Yan’s hand, and through Luo Ruoqin’s arrangements. If he did not avenge Xu Mao, the alliance would surely dissolve.
Moreover, the Xu family had lost their head, leaving valuable spiritual fields unguarded. Luo Ruoqin coveted them. Most importantly, Xu Mao’s four superb magical artifacts were now in Shen Yan’s possession. If he could reclaim them, he’d be unmatched in the Qi Refinement stage.
With these thoughts, Luo Ruoqin steeled himself and shouted at Shen Yan, “Let me see what you’re truly capable of!”
As his words fell, Luo Ruoqin’s beard and hair bristled, his eyes flashed with sharp light, and a commanding aura radiated from him.
The crowd was startled.
“This old fiend is more formidable than ever! The Luo family’s Supreme Astral Qi technique is truly extraordinary!”
“I heard he was a renowned battle cultivator in his youth.”
“He’s been at the peak of Qi Refinement for decades. If he’d had a Foundation Pill in his youth, he’d likely be a Foundation Establishment cultivator by now.”
Luo Ruoqin had achieved Qi Refinement peak decades ago. Though aged now, as a body cultivator his power was unfathomable, making him the strongest among those present.
Could he defeat Zhou Shun? Everyone watched with anticipation.
Shen Yan did not waste words. He leapt onto his sword and attacked first—his first time taking the initiative in the three rounds, suggesting Luo Ruoqin posed real pressure.
“Hmph!” Luo Ruoqin snorted and, without using artifacts, met Shen Yan’s fierce sword light barehanded.
A sharp clang resounded as Luo Ruoqin struck, and behind him astral shadows flickered visibly. His fingers glowed with white light as he struck the Flowing Cloud Sword, leaving five distinct marks.
He had cultivated the Zhou family’s Supreme Astral Qi technique to perfection, just one step from mastery. Then, even Foundation Establishment cultivators would not easily best him, attesting to the technique’s might.
Its unique astral qi was a deadly weapon, rivaling any ordinary sword cultivator.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!”
Luo Ruoqin pressed the attack, his astral qi pounding relentlessly—a brute-force approach that left Shen Yan no room for clever tricks.
After several heavy blows, the Flowing Cloud Sword’s brilliant light dimmed.
“Zhou Shun has fought tirelessly, first against Xun Zheng, then Xu Mao. His spiritual power is nearly spent!”
“Especially after breaking Xu Mao’s four superb magical artifacts with a single sword, he must be exhausted now.”
Many shook their heads in pity, doubting Shen Yan could win. Xuanji too frowned, wondering how to resolve the situation.
A metallic clang rang as the Flowing Cloud Sword flashed, but Luo Ruoqin blocked the blow. Shen Yan stumbled back, blood splattering as he retreated.
On the stage, Shen Yan’s sword was battered and cracked, his hand bloodied—a gruesome sight.
“This is the power of Supreme Astral Qi. Luo Ruoqin’s hands are as strong as a low-grade defensive artifact. If only we Qi Refinement cultivators could obtain a Foundation Pill. With Luo Ruoqin’s talent, he would not have lingered here for so long.”
Everyone sighed, their eyes returning to the stage.
Shen Yan seemed gravely wounded, while Luo Ruoqin pressed forward without restraint, intending to finish Shen Yan in a single blow.
Yet Shen Yan’s expression remained cold. He rose upon his sword, and the Flowing Cloud Sword’s light grew even fiercer. Suddenly, a blue sword flare flashed, like a waterfall, slashing straight toward Luo Ruoqin.
A deafening clang exploded, dazzling all eyes. For a long while, no one could see, and even when their vision returned, their ears still rang, unable to recover.