"If I were Xin Ci, I'd forfeit this match. We've already secured a spot in the Four Symbols Academy, and I'd still get ten thousand academy points and a Yellow Dragon Pill," someone commented.
"Yeah, even though there's a spirit-grade top-tier martial skill as a reward, Nalan Wuchang is vicious. There's no need to risk serious injury for a mere martial skill," another added.
Before the fight even began, many had already written Xin Ci off.
"Did you hear that? Everyone thinks you'll lose. If you don't want to be crippled, get off the stage yourself!" Nalan Wuchang maintained his incredibly arrogant demeanor.
"Xin Ci, with your current strength, defeating Nalan Wuchang is almost impossible. It's more important to give up first place and enter the Four Symbols Academy," Elder Han also advised Xin Ci through a message.
Xin Ci knew that both his cultivation realm and martial skills were far inferior to Nalan Wuchang's. However, he had no intention of giving up.
"Elder Han, you once said that in the path of cultivation, learning to protect oneself is most important."
"But I cultivate not only to become stronger, but also to refuse to be subjugated by others. This is just a match, not a fight to the death. If I retreat now, what's the difference between me and the me who was timid, subservient, and chopping firewood at the Su family back then!"
Xin Ci's eyes were resolute; he had to fight this battle.
Upon hearing Xin Ci's firm reply, a hint of surprise flashed in Elder Han's eyes, followed by a smile of relief.
"Well said! You truly are the disciple I've chosen. The Eternal Continent has countless geniuses; how could my disciple, Han Jue, be afraid to challenge a mere Nalan Wuchang."
Although he knew Nalan Wuchang's strength was comparable to the Profound Realm, he wasn't unfamiliar with facing Profound Realm experts. The oppressive aura of that Azure Flame Wolf in the Lin Chuan Forest back then was no less than Nalan Wuchang's.
In an instant, Xin Ci launched an attack. Five cross-shaped locks erupted from the ground beneath Nalan Wuchang.
Crimson Judgment Five Forms, Earth Roar Form.
Nalan Wuchang's Qi Dispersion Reversal technique was useless against this piercing attack.
Simultaneously with Earth Roar Form, Xin Ci immediately unleashed the Eight Variations of the Wandering Body. Multiple afterimages appeared around Nalan Wuchang, and several sword energies shot out from various directions.
Facing such a tightly packed barrage of attacks, Nalan Wuchang merely curled his lips in disdain, remaining rooted to the spot without moving his feet. He clasped his hands together, and a soil-yellow barrier enveloped him.
Xin Ci's sword energies and cross-shaped locks could not penetrate the barrier.
Six Forms of Crouching Dragon, Coiled Dragon Shield.
Nalan Wuchang then looked at Xin Ci triumphantly, his provocative gaze seeming to say, "Is that all?"
Xin Ci's expression instantly turned grim. The spirit-grade top-tier martial skill was indeed extraordinary; even the mid-grade spirit artifact cross-shaped locks couldn't break through it.
Nalan Wuchang didn't give him time to think. He stomped his foot and shot towards Xin Ci. His index and middle fingers formed a claw, executing the same move that defeated the young prince – Dragon Fang Thrust.
Xin Ci reacted swiftly, immediately controlling the cross-shaped locks to defend. With the Cage Form, he spun the locks around himself. Although the hardness of the cross-shaped locks blocked the Dragon Fang Thrust, the resulting impact forced him to retreat over ten steps.
"Oh, I didn't expect your chain martial skill to be like my Six Forms of Crouching Dragon, a technique that combines offense and defense," Nalan Wuchang said, slightly surprised that his Dragon Fang Thrust was blocked.
"However, don't think that blocking my Dragon Fang Thrust makes you qualified to be an opponent. Don't forget, my spirit artifact hasn't been revealed yet!"
Upon hearing this, the crowd gasped. That's right, Nalan Wuchang still had a spirit artifact!
"Let you all feast your eyes and witness my young master's spirit artifact."
Nalan Wuchang put on a pair of cyan claw gauntlets. This was his mid-grade spirit artifact – the Azure Scale Claws.
Xin Ci sensed a familiar aura from the Azure Scale Claws and couldn't help but exclaim, "Could it be a Blue Scale Serpent!"
"Precisely. This spirit artifact was refined from the poisonous fangs of the Blue Scale Serpent. This means my Azure Scale Claws are poisonous," Nalan Wuchang proudly displayed his spirit artifact, his gaze turning cold.
"It's time to end this tedious spar!"
Xin Ci still didn't give up. No matter how strong Nalan Wuchang was, most of his moves required close combat to be effective. Only by attacking from a distance did he still have a chance.
Five cross-shaped locks descended like meteors. The sharpened tips, glinting in the sunlight, streaked through the air like five bolts of cold light.
Crimson Judgment Five Forms, Falling Star Form.
This move was incredibly powerful, even leaving five deep gouges in the stage, which was as hard as a spirit artifact. Unfortunately, Nalan Wuchang moved like a yellow flash, easily weaving through the cross-shaped locks and appearing before Xin Ci.
Six Forms of Crouching Dragon, Wandering Dragon's Shadow.
Xin Ci immediately unleashed the Cage Form for defense. Nalan Wuchang sneered. His left hand, clad in the Azure Scale Claws, brought his two fingers together.
Six Forms of Crouching Dragon, Crouching Dragon War Spear!
A finger strike, like a piercing spear, instantly broke through Xin Ci's chain defense with an all-penetrating aura. It directly pierced Xin Ci's left shoulder, leaving a bloody hole.
Xin Ci couldn't help but cough up a mouthful of blood and was sent flying backward, tumbling to the edge of the stage. Fortunately, Xin Ci gritted his teeth, regained his senses, and pressed his hand against the ground, preventing himself from falling off the stage. However, he felt his consciousness blurring, likely due to the poison from the Azure Scale Claws.
He was about to use the Eternal Dao Scripture to refine the toxin when Nalan Wuchang appeared before him. Bringing his two fingers together again, he raised them, preparing another Crouching Dragon War Spear.
"It's over, loser!"
Judging by Nalan Wuchang's tone, he intended to cripple Xin Ci, which wasn't the first time he had done so. The match rules only prohibited killing, not maiming an opponent.
"Damn it, move faster, body!" Xin Ci watched the finger strike about to descend, feeling unwilling.
Suddenly, he felt the flow of time around him drastically slow down, and a gentle, melodious female voice entered his ears.
"Fight with confidence. I've temporarily lent you the ability of the Star Wheel Eyes."
Xin Ci anxiously shouted to the voice, "Wait!" He desperately wanted to know who the voice belonged to.
"Wait? Ridiculous!" Nalan Wuchang mistook Xin Ci's words as being directed at him and continued to thrust his finger down without hesitation.
But at that moment, he saw a vast universe and an infinite galaxy in Xin Ci's eyes. Then, a stunningly beautiful star wheel appeared in Xin Ci's pupils.