Chapter 52: 52

Chapter 52 - Riding the Waves, a Single Punch to Shock Them All

Wen Jueyuan stood on stage and said coldly, “Your Martial Dao has improved enormously, but if you think you’re a match for me, you think too highly of yourself.”

Huang Qianjun wiped the blood from his lips and struggled to his feet. When he spoke, his voice was raspy. “Give me a year, and I’ll leave you in the dust.”

With that, he turned and stepped off the stage. 

Wen Jueyuan furrowed his brow, then shook his head and disregarded this threat. These were nothing but the angry words of a loser, unworthy of concern.

Huang Qianjun staggered over to Huang Yunchong’s side, then feigned calm. “Father, that’s the best I can do right now. Please don’t be disappointed in me.

Huang Yunchong rose and pulled his son into a tight embrace, looking proud and deeply gratified. “I didn’t think you’d last this long. You might have lost, but you lost with honor!”

Huang Qianjun grinned, showing his teeth.

His gaze swept across the venue, but to his disappointment, the person he most wanted to see was nowhere in sight.

Meanwhile, both in and out of the venue, the spectators continued cheering Wen Jueyuan’s name with great enthusiasm.

Everyone from Guangling City, from the VIPs to the people watching from nearby boats to the civilians clustered on the riverbanks, burst into animated discussion. 

Many of the higher-ups whispered, “With momentum like this, it seems this year’s number one spot will go to Guangling City’s Wen Family.”

Another man stroked his whiskers and laughed, “That’s to be expected. After all, Wen Jueyuan is a Blueriver Sword Manor inner sect disciple, a young talent at the peak of the Blood Circulation Realm. It would be a joke if he couldn’t seize the championship!”

“Senior Apprentice Brother Ni, what do you think of Senior Apprentice Brother Wen? He’s certainly made a name for himself tonight; no one else has even come close.” Nan Ying’s gaze shifted, and she leaned close to Ni Hao and whispered in his ear, her breath tickling his skin like a lotus.

When he saw her beautiful face at such close quarters and took in her faint fragrance, Ni Hao felt a fire burning in his chest. His expression filled with pride and contempt. “Wen Jueyuan cultivates in the West Court, while I’m from the East Court. Junior Apprentice Sister, how could you compare the two of us? Were I to participate, I’d best him with ease!”

Nan Ying smiled amorously at him. “I love nothing more than that confident, disdainful side of you. That’s what a man is supposed to be like!”

Hearing that, Ni Hao felt downright blissful, but outwardly, he sighed. “Alas, we’re just here as guests. According to the rules, only inhabitants of Guangling and Cloudfall Cities are allowed to participate. Otherwise, I’d be sure to let you watch as I took Wen Jueyuan down within ten moves!”

There was much discussion on Cloudfall City’s side as well.

“Isn’t that Wen Jueyuan a bit too strong?”

“He’s an inner sect disciple of the Blueriver Sword Manor, yet he’s still participating in the Dragon’s Gate Competition? Isn’t that practically bullying everyone else?”

“Agh, don’t tell me this year’s championship will fall to Guangling City?”

….In stark contrast with Guangling City’s excitement, Cloudfall City’s spectators sighed and lamented.

Many of the youths who’d come planning to participate shrunk back, not daring to take the stage.

“Don’t tell me no one from Cloudfall City dares do battle? In that case, the championship shall go to our Guangling City’s Wen Jueyuan!” shouted one of the Guangling City higher-ups.

A burst of jeers followed this proclamation.

Many of the Cloudfall City higher-ups’ expressions soured.

Only City Lord Li Jianyu remained calm. 

When he saw this, he thought for a moment, then turned to Family Head Mo Haolong. “Brother Mo, it’s getting late. How about we open Fu Shan and the other’s eyes?”

Mo Haolong smiled and nodded. “As you wish.”

He suddenly took a deep breath, then bellowed “Tianling, where are you? Why aren’t you on stage yet?”

His voice boomed like thunder, and shockingly, it suppressed the discussion in the stands.

The spectators were confused. Has City Lord Li Jianyu arranged for some expert to take the stage?

Almost no one knew what was going on.

But although no one noticed it, Fu Shan’s fists clenched silently, and his gaze shifted.

Only he knew that, for the sake of claiming Spiritbamboo Island, Li Jianyu was about to play his real trump card!

“It’s just a match. Why put on airs? How awfully droll.” Su Yi suddenly seemed to sense something, and his gaze flitted toward the water’s surface. He shook his head.

“Hm?” Shortly after, Zhou Huaiqiu, Li Tianhan, Huang Yunchong, and the other higher-ups looked over as well. All of them were looking in the same direction.

Then, everyone else noticed that something was amiss. The sound of discussion decreased.

It was then that a startled shout emanated from further down the river’s surface.

Past the countless lanterns, a sudden wave crashed towards the venue at shocking speeds, like a flood dragon surging through the river. The resulting waves pushed who-knows-how-many boats to the sides, and countless lanterns shook violently, threatening to capsize.

The commotion drew countless spectators' attention. They could already see clearly: there was a person riding on that wave, racing across the surface of the Great Azure as if he were flying across the water.

Beneath the light of countless lanterns, he looked like a deity riding in on the waves!

“That… Is that a person?” someone lost control and cried out.

Even the higher-ups were visibly shaken, their eyes widening in unconcealed disbelief.

Riding the waves? Walking on the surface of the river?

Only someone at the Astral Manifestation stage of the Qi Accumulation Realm could accomplish such a feat!

Of those in attendance, only Zhou Huaiqiu has such skills.

Don’t tell me this new arrival is a late-stage Qi Accumulation Realm expert?

Beneath everyone’s stunned, confused gazes, that youth who came rushing in on the waves like a god or demon stretched, then jumped into the air and landed elegantly on the stage.

When he saw the spectators’ shocked expressions, he couldn’t help but laugh, as if he found this awfully funny.

“Everyone, please don’t jump to conclusions. I came here riding on a wooden board; I’m certainly no Qi Accumulation expert.” He was lean, with coppery skin, a black military uniform, and a sheathed warblade strapped to his back. There was a long, thin knife scar between his eyebrows, and he emanated a vicious, bloodthirsty air.

It was only then that the audience noticed that there was indeed a wooden board on the surface of the river.

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Apparently, he’d just used it to race across the water’s surface; he wasn’t really walking on water.

Even as the crowd relaxed, they were stunned in a different way.

Racing across the water on a wooden board still required a powerful cultivation. To accomplish such a feat at the Blood Circulation Realm made it obvious just how deep the young man’s foundations were!

“So, it was that wicked disciple!” Zhou Huaiqiu furrowed his brow, and his expression darkened.

Ni Hao and Nan Ying recognized him too, and their eyes widened in shock. 

Mo Tianling!

He was once a disciple of Blueriver Sword Manor, but due to his violent, unconstrained temper, he’d once severed a sectmate’s arm in what was supposed to just be a spar. This angered the sect’s higher-ups, and they kicked him out for good.

Afterward, he left Cloudriver Prefecture, then joined the Cloudlight Marquis’ Redscale Army. He’d been fighting life-and-death battles on the front lines ever since.

None of them would have guessed he’d show up tonight.

“So it was him! The ‘madman’ of Cloudfall City’s Mo Family!”

“Didn’t he join the Redscale Army? Why did he come back all of a sudden?” 

The venue burst into discussion once more, but this time, they were discussing Mo Tianling.

“What powerful murderous intent! It seems he’s killed no small number of people during his time in the Redscale Army…” Fu Shan furrowed his brow.

By now, Guangling City’s higher-ups realized that the situation had gotten somewhat complicated. The number-one spot ought to have gone to Wen Jueyuan, but Mo Tianling’s sudden arrival threw another variable into the mix!

“Tianling, don’t waste time! Hurry up and do battle!” shouted Family Head Mo Haolong gravely.

“Although the Dragon’s Gate Banquet is awfully dull, my father has spoken. Who am I to refuse?”

Mo Tianling smiled, then strode onto the stage. Every last spectators’ gaze followed him.

“Come on then, I’ll give you a chance to draw your sword. Otherwise, if I attack first, I’m afraid you won’t even manage that.” Mo Tianling glanced at Wen Jueyuan and laughed gleefully.

He stood there lazily, his gaze flippant, as if he were just fooling around. Both his posture and his tone were wantonly arrogant.

Wen Jueyuan furrowed his brow, but he didn’t lose his temper. On the contrary, his expression was grave. He could sense how terrifying his opponent’s aura was, but this only stimulated his will to fight.

Clang!

Wen Jueyuan drew his sword, its edge intimidatingly, terrifyingly sharp.

“Draw your blade,” said Wen Jueyuan, cold and solemn.

“You’re not worth drawing my blade for.” Mo Tianling shook his head. His tone was casual, as if he were simply stating a fact.

This time, Wen Jueyuan couldn’t help but feel his temper flare up.

He no longer hesitated. He charged like an arrow loosed from a bow, quick as could be.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

He instantly stabbed twelve times, each stab faster than the one before, flashing with dazzling light and terrifying to behold. 

The Twelve Light-Chasing Swords.

This was Wen Jueyuan’s last resort, his trump card. He’d already reached the “stepping over the threshold” level. Just a little more, and he’d achieve “proficiency”!

“I suppose this is a teensy bit interesting.” Mo Tianling’s lips curved slightly upward.

He neither dodged nor retreated, and he looked as composed as ever. When Wen Jueyuan’s sword came swinging towards him, he suddenly shouted, “A single punch is enough to defeat you!”

His aura instantly underwent a dramatic shift. His initial laziness transformed, and he charged with sudden, violent momentum.

With a roar, he clenched his right hand and swung his fist.

In the eyes of many of the spectators, it was as if Mo Tianling had transformed into a vicious beast, his gaping maw wide open as he lunged at his prey. He was brimming with bloodlust, and the audience’s hearts shook.

A piercing “clang” reverberated throughout the stage as fist and sword collided.

Wen Jueyuan’s sword went flying out of his hands. Then, he staggered uncontrollably backward.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Wen Jueyuan retreated a full nine steps back. His face was pallid, and his chest heaved violently. He couldn’t help but hack up blood.

Cough!

Blood stained his clothes, the red liquid jarring against the white fabric.

One punch!

A mere moment ago, everyone in Guangling City thought Wen Jueyuan was sure to take first place, yet now, he’d lost in just one move!

His sword was sent flying from hands, and he staggered back nine steps, coughing up blood!

The entire venue fell so silent, you could hear a cricket chirp.

Over at the banquet site, the VIP guests were dazed. Countless spectators were too stunned to speak.

Witnessing the sheer power of that fist was far too great a shock!

They practically dared not believe it. 

Meanwhile, up on stage, Mo Tianling shook his head. “Too weak! Are all the current disciples of Blueriver Sword Manor this useless?”

He then turned and looked around, his gaze deliberately lingering on Zhou Huaiqiu, Ni Hao, and Nan Ying. A blatant, mocking smile tugged at his lips.

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