Chapter 49: Desiring a Battle!
Southern Region advances.
Next, it's the contest between the Northern and Western Regions.
In the previous session,
The Western Academy ranked second,
While the Northern Academy took the top position.
Although separated by just one rank, the difference in strength is quite significant.
Atop the platform,
Emperor Tianming smiled and said, "This year, with Jian Chaomian from the Northern Region, we might once again clinch the victory, right?"
Seeing Emperor Tianming favoring the Northern Region didn't surprise anyone,
After all, the Sunset Dynasty resides in the Northern Region.
Woodshi chuckled, "Chaomian has touched the threshold of Sword Intent, but others are strong too. For instance, Master Qin's disciple has reached the threshold of Wood Elemental insight, and Zhang He has cultivated his Vajra Body to a high level. So, there are variables."
His words sounded modest, but he clearly favored Jian Chaomian.
Hearing this, Emperor Tianming looked down and said with a smile, "I'm actually looking forward to seeing the performance of the sword cultivators from the Southern Region."
Sword cultivators from the Southern Region?
Isn't that Ye Qiubai?
Qin Tiannan glanced over, furrowing his brow slightly.
As the dean of the Southern Region's Hidden Dao Academy, he naturally understood some things about Ye Qiubai.
Now hearing Emperor Tianming's words,
He feared that Emperor Tianming's purpose in coming here was indeed for Ye Qiubai!
This gave Qin Tiannan a bad feeling.
"To crush those with higher realms with only late-stage Purple Mansion Realm strength, his talent must be exceptional. I wonder how he would fare against Jian Chaomian."
"Let's first see the contest between the Western and Northern Regions."
On the other side,
On the stage of martial arts,
The battle between the Northern and Western Regions had already begun.
Each side had four participants,
Among them, three were evenly matched.
After Zhang He eliminated one opponent upon entering the stage, both the Western and Northern Regions were left with only one participant each,
Both were the leaders of their respective groups.
The battle between Jian Chaomian and Zhang He!
Both were at the same level,
Both at the early stage of the Sea of Qi Realm.
Zhang He cultivated the Vajra Body of the Buddhist Sect, invincible in flesh!
While Jian Chaomian had touched the threshold of Sword Intent, unstoppable!
This battle was highly anticipated as well!
But Jian Chaomian was more favored.
After all, not only in the Northern Region, but also in the other three regions, Jian Chaomian's name was extremely famous!
Among the younger generation, he was the foremost swordsman!
Possibly on the path to becoming a Sword Saint!
With such accolades, Jian Chaomian's reputation was extremely prominent!
Ye Qiubai also looked curiously upwards.
He too wanted to know how this peerless swordsman among his peers would perform.
The elders stepped back, and the contest began.
Zhang He clenched his fists, surrounded by a Buddha light, and with a tremor in his step, he charged fiercely towards Jian Chaomian!
Jian Chaomian held his sword with one hand, the other behind his back, watching Zhang He approach without making a move.
Only when Zhang He got close did he strike with his sword!
This strike was extremely ordinary, without any fancy sword aura.
It was just covered with that faint thread of Sword Intent!
Yet, this trace of Sword Intent made everyone present furrow their brows involuntarily.
It was exceedingly sharp!
Even Zhang He's expression changed drastically.
Immediately, he shouted loudly, and his whole body was covered in Buddha light, resembling a golden armor!
The Vajra Body of the Buddhist Sect!
The art of refining the body from the Western Region's Buddhist Sect!
When cultivated to the highest level, it could be unstoppable!
However, in this world, there was hardly anything truly unstoppable.
Facing Jian Chaomian's Sword Intent.
Zhang He's fists were pierced directly, bloodied.
Against Sword Chao Mian's sword, the Buddha Gate Vajra Body was surprisingly vulnerable.
This astonished everyone.
Zhang He's face changed in shock as he retreated, clutching his fist.
Sword Chao Mian remained unfazed.
"Comparable in realm, yet unable to make Sword Chao Mian budge?"
"Just one sword pierced Zhang He's Buddha Gate Vajra Body."
"If Sword Chao Mian truly comprehends the sword intent, how powerful would he be?"
The wasteland watched, equally serious.
Honestly assessing, though he touched the threshold of the Wood Realm, it was far below the Sword Realm.
Facing Zhang He, he feared he wouldn't fare much better.
Moreover, Zhang He's techniques greatly countered the wasteland's.
This tallied to the Southern Domain possibly only obtaining third place.
Third place, still insufficient to alter the matter of Qin Tian Nan's replacement!
This greatly displeased the wasteland.
Xin Hongyi then walked to Ye Qiu Bai's side.
His face was still pale and he asked, "Ye Qiu Bai, if you fight Sword Chao Mian, who will win?"
Ye Qiu Bai lightly replied, "I will win."
As a swordsman, he spoke directly and would not lie, nor beat around the bush.
What he said was what he meant!
Like Ye Qiu Bai believing Sword Chao Mian wasn't his match.
By now, the battle on the martial stage had been decided.
Zhang He, with a body seemingly covered in golden armor, now had several bloody holes!
His energy was greatly weakened!
Yet Sword Chao Mian still stood unmoved!
His expression unchanged.
The outcome was clear at a glance.
The elder now ascended the martial stage, eyeing Sword Chao Mian approvingly, then declared, "In this battle, Sword Chao Mian is victorious!"
"Simultaneously, one remains from the Northern Domain, advancing."
The Northern Domain's advancement.
Unlike the surprising outcome in the Southern Domain.
Seemed as expected.
It was expected, holding the position of hosts.
Not taking first place was odd.
Zhang He stepped down.
However, Sword Chao Mian remained standing.
Everyone was puzzled.
Even Wu Deshi looked over.
Just as everyone was puzzled.
Sword Chao Mian looked toward the direction of the Southern Domain Academy team.
His gaze fell upon Ye Qiu Bai.
His words were shocking!
"Nothing more to see here. Let's settle our victory."
Everyone was shocked!
"Who?"
"Directly challenging someone from the Southern Domain Academy?"
"Could it be the wasteland? But the wasteland's strength is almost on par with Zhang He. How could he provoke Sword Brother's fighting spirit?"
However, the wasteland did not think so, as Sword Chao Mian's gaze was obviously not on him.
But on Ye Qiu Bai behind him!
In Sword Chao Mian's eyes, the wasteland did not see him!
This made the wasteland involuntarily surprised, why would Sword Chao Mian want to challenge Ye Qiu Bai, who had such a big difference in realm?
On the high platform, the four deans watched this scene with interest, without intervening.
Ye Qiu Bai met Sword Chao Mian's gaze and smiled faintly, "Is this within the rules?"
Sword Chao Mian remained expressionless, "Why would it not be within the rules? None of the others are my match, only you make me unable to see through."
Arrogant!
Extremely arrogant!
But no one refuted Sword Chao Mian!
From Sword Chao Mian's earlier effortless defeat of Zhang He, what he said was true.
However, everyone wondered, why would Sword Chao Mian say he couldn't see through Ye Qiu Bai?
Clearly, the other was only in the late stage of the Purple Palace Realm.
A whole realm lower than Sword Chao Mian!
Ye Qiu Bai.
How could he be qualified?