Novel11 Chapter 344 : Entering the Semifinals
Chapter 344 : Entering the Semifinals
“What happened?”“What’s going on with Fan Ran? Don’t tell me he was scared unconscious?”
“Cut it out. How could a Golden Core True Person be scared unconscious? He was probably struck by some profound divine ability!”
“That’s not right. If a divine ability had been used, there should have been fluctuations of true qi—but I didn’t sense anything at all.”
Outside the Dueling Platform, the Immortal Sect cultivators seated in the audience began discussing animatedly, breaking the silence that had shrouded the entire plaza.
Some prodigies who had already attained the rank of True Person looked even more bewildered, their gazes unanimously turning toward the Chief Disciple of the Immortal Sect, hoping for an explanation.
The reason was simple—if even they, standing outside the stage, could not understand this duel, it meant that their strength and Chen Beiwu, the Jade Purity prodigy, were not even on the same level.
That also meant that even if Fan Ran were replaced and they were sent up instead, they would likely end with the same outcome.
Sensing the gazes of his fellow sect members, the Chief Disciple of the Great Luo Immortal Sect maintained a calm expression, though inwardly he panicked.
To be honest, the duel had ended too quickly—he had not seen anything clearly either.
But to preserve his dignity, he slightly furrowed his brows, pretending he understood, and muttered in a low voice, “Junior Brother Fan did not lose unjustly.”
Hearing this, the tightly knit brows of the Great Luo Immortal Sect prodigies eased slightly.
They had not truly expected Senior Brother Fan to win. It was just that the way Fan Ran had lost on the Dueling Platform had been far too unsightly—so unsightly that it seemed as though he had fainted from Chen Beiwu’s aura suppression, as if the prodigies of the Great Luo Immortal Sect were all timid cowards.
But if Fan Ran had simply been inferior in skill and lost under Chen Beiwu’s profound divine ability, then they could accept it.
Even so, their gazes toward Fan Ran now carried a trace of pity.
A person needed face just as a tree needed bark.
Yet there were too few discerning people in the world; most simply followed the crowd.
If nothing unexpected happened, after this battle, Fan Ran would indeed become quite famous among the cultivators of the Thirteen Immortal Sects—though it was probably not the kind of fame he would want.
“Chen One-Glare,” “Fainting Fan,” “Worm Ran”…
Thinking of the labels that might follow Fan Ran in the future, the Golden Core True Persons of the Great Luo Immortal Sect wore strange expressions.
‘A single thought forming illusion, directly striking at flaws in the Dao Heart. Not bad—an impressive innate divine ability!’
Wang Chan raised a brow, curiosity flashing in his eyes as he looked toward the golden egg.
As the information had stated, the exotic Golden-Scaled creature contracted by Chen Beiwu was extraordinary. Its bloodline evolution path was not the Golden-Horned Flood Dragon recorded in ancient texts, but rather the scarcely documented Three-Headed Flood Dragon.
But there was one thing Wang Chan was certain of—being able to shatter a peak Golden Core prodigy with a single thought meant that this Three-Headed Flood Dragon likely had over nine hundred years of cultivation, comparable to a Three-Realm Demon General on par with a Golden Core Great Perfection cultivator, and possessed an extremely high bloodline grade.
‘Interesting. Is it a Fourth-Order Mysterious Beast, or a Heavenly罡 Mysterious Beast?’ The corner of Wang Chan’s lips lifted slightly.
To nurture such a Companion Beast, Chen Beiwu might only be at the late Golden Core stage, but he was certainly not to be underestimated.
No wonder he had gained the recognition of Shen Lingxing and ascended to the top of the Jade Void Ranking.
But the stronger the prodigy, the more enjoyable it would be to crush him!
‘That scoundrel does have some ability.’
Zhao Qing crossed her arms over her chest, admiration flickering in her gaze toward Chen Beiwu.
‘What, Second Sister, are you moved?’
At the sound of this spiritual transmission, Zhao Yu’s beautiful eyes shifted as she teased.
Though her Second Sister had a fiery temper, she was actually a proud appearance-lover. Otherwise, she would not have reacted so strongly to Chen Beiwu’s praise.
If it had been some mediocre cultivator with shallow cultivation and ordinary appearance praising her publicly, her Second Sister would have merely shaken her head indifferently and ignored it, adding inwardly, ‘As if there were ever a day I wasn’t good-looking.’
‘Third Sister, what nonsense are you spouting!’
Zhao Qing’s eyes flashed with embarrassment and anger, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. ‘Don’t forget the agreement between us sisters.’
Zhao Yu smiled charmingly and did not continue teasing.
The three sisters were united in mind and heart, devoted wholly to the Dao. Their cultivation technique was special, so they had no intention of seeking Dao companions.
Unless there appeared in this world a cultivator who could move all three of them at once, even if their Second Sister were moved, it would be useless—she and their Eldest Sister would never permit it.
‘Third Sister, do not be mischievous.’
Zhao Yue’s expression remained cold as she slowly closed her eyes.
Among the prodigies of the Thirteen Immortal Sects present, only Wang Chan and Chen Beiwu were worthy of her attention. The rest were not even worth watching.
“The victor, Chen Beiwu of the Jade Purity Immortal Sect.”
As Feng Binhang’s voice fell, Chen Beiwu snapped his fingers. Fan Ran, who had collapsed unconscious on the ground, immediately awoke and opened his hazy eyes.
Watching Chen Beiwu’s departing figure, confusion flashed in Fan Ran’s eyes. He instinctively looked toward True Lord Feng.
“The outcome has been decided. You may step down,” Feng Binhang reminded him.
“???” Fan Ran’s pupils contracted.
He had merely blinked—how had victory and defeat suddenly already been decided?
“Crunch, crunch.”
The snoring from his Companion Beast at his side triggered a fragment of memory in Fan Ran’s mind.
Only then did he suddenly realize that he had lost so quickly that even his memory had become blurred.
…
On the other side, under countless gazes, Chen Beiwu stepped down from the Dueling Platform in three strides. A graceful figure carrying a fragrant breeze approached.
“Senior Brother Chen is invincible!”
Ye Xinya’s pretty face was flushed red, her bright eyes shining intensely.
Chen Beiwu paused slightly, looked at the excited beauty before him, and shook his head.
He did not like such exaggerated flattery, nor did he think instantly defeating a peak Golden Core cultivator was anything worth boasting about.
“Junior Sister Ye, mind your words. ‘Invincible’ is going too far,” Chen Beiwu corrected.
There were always greater heights beyond the sky. Above the Thirteen Immortal Sects stood the Five Great Cave Heavens.
Only after defeating the Chief Disciples of this generation from the Five Great Cave Heavens could he be considered truly invincible among his peers.
“But in my heart, Senior Brother is invincible.”
Ye Xinya leaned closer to Chen Beiwu, lowering her voice.
Chen Beiwu glanced at her and said no more.
The longer he interacted with her, the more he felt that Ye Xinya—once thought to be an aloof flower on a high peak—was developing into something of a fangirl.
Though she was actually three or four cycles older than him, she always tried to act youthful.
At that moment, Chen Beiwu spotted a familiar figure in the audience—it was Xu Lingling, waving her arms.
“I have something to attend to. I’ll leave first.”
With that, Chen Beiwu walked directly toward the audience seats, leaving Yu Zhaohua and the others exchanging glances, though none followed.
The reason was simple—the preliminary round of Group B in the Dao Discussion Battle was about to begin.
By staying to observe, they could gather at least some intelligence on the Supreme Purity Immortal Sect.
Perhaps because Chen Beiwu had won too decisively, or perhaps because the title of Jade Void Ranking’s top was too resounding, wherever he passed, the crowd near the audience seats automatically parted to form a path.
“Why did you come over?” Xu Lingling asked in surprise.
“The preliminary Dao Discussion Battle is rather dull. Want to go out for a stroll?” Chen Beiwu chuckled lightly.
“You two know each other?”
The female cultivators chatting beside Xu Lingling stiffened slightly, their gazes shifting back and forth between Chen Beiwu and Xu Lingling.
“Of course. Beiwu and I are old classmates.”
Sensing curiosity and jealousy in her sisters’ eyes, Xu Lingling patted her chest, her smile growing even sweeter.
“Hello.”
For Xu Lingling’s sake, Chen Beiwu offered a greeting, prompting the three female cultivators of the Tianyan Immortal Sect to bow in unison.
“Hisss!”
As Chen Beiwu drew closer, the Red-Patterned Blazing Fire Snake coiled on Xu Lingling’s shoulder suddenly tensed, raising its triangular head and staring fixedly at the golden egg.
“Not bad. You’ve already cultivated your Companion Beast into a Second-Realm Lesser Demon.”
Chen Beiwu reached out and easily pressed down the snake’s head, his gaze subtly sweeping over Xu Lingling.
Two days ago, her fate aura had been light orange—yet today it had suddenly turned golden.
If he was not mistaken, the change in Xu Lingling’s fate was likely related to the recent origin completion of the Earthly Fiend Treasure Beast [Red-Patterned Blazing Fire Snake].
This was the terrifying aspect of the Immortal Alliance’s Beast-Borrowing Cultivation Path—it could easily alter a cultivator’s upper limit of potential!
…
Tianyan Immortal Sect, Red Rock Path.
Chen Beiwu and Xu Lingling walked side by side, a faint medicinal fragrance drifting through the air.
“How are your alchemy skills now? Can you refine the Foundation Establishment Five Spirits?”
Chen Beiwu looked toward the distant alchemy chamber and asked casually.
“The Foundation Establishment Five Spirits?”
Xu Lingling turned her head, feigning annoyance. “You’re underestimating me. I’m now a Third-Order Low-Grade Alchemist. My success rate in refining the Foundation Establishment Five Spirits is as high as seventy percent.”
At this point, she tilted her head curiously. “Why are you asking about this all of a sudden?”
At Chen Beiwu’s current realm, let alone the Foundation Establishment Five Spirits—even a Third-Order High-Grade treasure pill like the Golden Core of Breaking Calamity would be useless.
The only thing worth attention would likely be the Fourth-Order Nascent Soul Mysterious Pill, strictly controlled by the Immortal Alliance and never circulated outside.
“Just asking casually.”
Chen Beiwu added, “Iron Egg has also been learning alchemy recently, but his success rate in refining the Foundation Establishment Five Spirits is only forty percent.”
Hearing this, Xu Lingling halted abruptly, her eyes widening.
“Wait—who did you just say is refining the Foundation Establishment Five Spirits?” she asked cautiously.
“Iron Egg. You’ve met him before, haven’t you?” Chen Beiwu glanced at her.
“I have, but isn’t Iron Egg a dog? Since when did he become a Second-Order High-Grade Alchemist?” Xu Lingling was completely bewildered.
Within the Immortal Alliance, the Beast-Borrowing Cultivation Path was the mainstream Dao. Many alchemists’ Companion Beasts had some understanding of medicinal principles and could help sort herbs, monitor fire control, and assist in igniting flames—like the Tianyan Tiger she had contracted.
But the Dao of alchemy was a profound and unfathomable discipline.
Companion Beasts truly capable of independently completing fire control, ingredient insertion, liquid extraction, and pill condensation—worthy of being called alchemists—were exceedingly rare.
According to the Immortal Alliance Alchemists Association’s standards, her Tianyan Tiger did not even qualify as a First-Order Low-Grade Alchemist.
“Woof.”
Iron Egg barked twice, displeased.
What was wrong with being a dog? Couldn’t a dog refine pills?
“Sorry, that’s not what I meant.” Xu Lingling waved her hands, her pretty face reddening.
“Woof!”
“What does that mean?” Xu Lingling looked at Chen Beiwu.
Chen Beiwu’s expression turned strange. “Iron Egg refuses to accept it. He wants to compete with you in alchemy.”
“Ah?”
Xu Lingling covered her mouth with one hand, unable to conceal her shock.
Competing in alchemy with a dog—if she won, it would be expected. If she lost, wouldn’t that mean she was inferior to a dog?
Who would agree to such foolishness!
…
The next morning.
At the summit of Luoxia Peak, Dueling Plaza.
Xu Lingling sat in the audience with her head slightly lowered, looking dispirited.
“Lingling, what’s wrong?” a senior sister asked with concern.
Xu Lingling raised her head and forced a smile uglier than crying. “I’m fine, Senior Sister. I just didn’t rest well.”
This was absurd.
Could she really tell her senior sister that after years of painstaking cultivation, the alchemy she took pride in had ultimately proven inferior to a dog’s?
At first, Iron Egg’s success rate in refining the Foundation Establishment Five Spirits had been only forty percent. But what followed had become increasingly bizarre.
After merely watching her refine pills once, Iron Egg’s success rate jumped from forty to sixty percent—then surged again to eighty percent.
Xu Lingling was not exaggerating. After witnessing Iron Egg’s alchemy talent firsthand, she felt that he resembled a Third-Order Alchemist more than she did.
“You’re really fine?”
The senior sister scrutinized her suspiciously. She felt something was off—could it be heartbreak?
“I’m really fine. The Dao Discussion Battle is starting.”
Xu Lingling changed the subject.
After yesterday’s preliminary and Revival Match, the Quarterfinals lineup of the Dao Discussion Battle had officially been decided:
Jade Purity Immortal Sect, Supreme Purity Immortal Sect, Shangqing Immortal Sect, Jiuxiao Immortal Sect, Yuxu Immortal Sect, Bixiao Immortal Sect, Tianyan Immortal Sect, and Dongxuan Immortal Sect.
The Great Luo Immortal Sect had fared the worst. After finally advancing from Group A to secure a Quarterfinals spot, they had been crushed by the Dongxuan Immortal Sect.
Feng Binhang stood upon the Dueling Platform and waved his sleeve. A distinctly colored jade pearl floated into the air.
Instantly, the entire venue fell silent. Every cultivator’s gaze fixed upon the jade pearl.
After entering the Quarterfinals, the draw became even more crucial.
If unlucky enough to draw one of the top three Immortal Sects, they would lose the margin for error granted by the Revival Match.
“The Quarterfinals draw of the Dao Discussion Battle begins.”
As his words fell, Feng Binhang tapped with his finger. The jade pearl radiated brilliant light, and within it, eight glowing points representing the various Immortal Sects began darting wildly.
Three breaths later, the light gradually subsided. Two glowing points converged within the pearl, manifesting their respective sect emblems.
Feng Binhang’s gaze shifted slightly as he announced in a clear voice:
“Quarterfinals, first match.”
“Jade Purity Immortal Sect versus Bixiao Immortal Sect!”
At these words, the audience’s gazes immediately turned toward the Bixiao Immortal Sect’s camp.
‘Damn it.’
The green-robed cultivator’s expression remained calm, but beneath his sleeves his hands clenched into fists, veins bulging.
It was all Zhao Wuchen’s fault for leaving behind such a mess.
Chen Beiwu should have been a prodigy of the Bixiao Immortal Sect. Now he had to clean up the aftermath.
On the Jade Purity Immortal Sect’s side, Chen Beiwu frowned slightly.
Compared to Bixiao Immortal Sect, he would have preferred to face Supreme Purity Immortal Sect or Shangqing Immortal Sect.
“Disciples of Jade Purity Immortal Sect and Bixiao Immortal Sect, please take the stage,” Feng Binhang declared solemnly.
As the Vanguard of the Jade Purity Immortal Sect, Ye Xinya stepped onto the stage first. Facing a peak Golden Core cultivator who had also contracted a Heavenly罡 Mysterious Beast, she narrowly lost.
Yu Zhaohua stepped up second. Facing a late Golden Core cultivator, she secured victory in a single move—a decisive win.
Xue Tianyi entered third. Against a Golden Core Great Perfection cultivator from Bixiao Immortal Sect, he narrowly lost, his expression somewhat unsightly.
Because Jade Purity Immortal Sect’s battle order had never changed, it was effectively an open hand. Bixiao Immortal Sect had sent out a cultivator whose attributes strongly countered Xue Tianyi’s; otherwise, he had been confident of victory.
Mo Qingshuang entered fourth. Facing a late Golden Core cultivator, she defeated her opponent with a single sword strike—a decisive win.
“Phew.”
Seeing the score tied at two to two, the Chief Disciple of Bixiao Immortal Sect exhaled, his figure flashing as he stepped onto the Dueling Platform.
“Thousandfold Azure Waves!”
The moment the battle began, the Chief Disciple of Bixiao Immortal Sect held nothing back. Coordinating with his Companion Beast [Azure Firmament Heavenly Pine], he directly unleashed a Heavenly罡 profound divine ability killing move.
He could accept defeat—but he absolutely could not allow himself to become the second Fan Ran.
‘Can we win?’
Seeing this, hope ignited in the eyes of the Bixiao Immortal Sect disciples below the stage.
Their Chief Disciple was at Golden Core Great Perfection. With Thousandfold Azure Waves, he had defeated the Great Luo Immortal Sect’s Chief Disciple—also at Golden Core Great Perfection—within three moves. It was not impossible that he could defeat Chen Beiwu, who was only at late Golden Core!
Facing the overwhelming and domineering Thousandfold Azure Waves phantom capable of suppressing Golden Core Great Perfection cultivators, Chen Beiwu stood in place, his expression unchanged.
“Hm.”
The Five Qi Vine clapped its hands together. Five-colored divine light circulated around its body and merged into Chen Beiwu.
Only then did Chen Beiwu slowly raise his right hand and point toward the vast azure wave projection.
This finger appeared slow, yet in truth it sealed space and suppressed the spiritual mechanisms of heaven and earth, causing the Bixiao Immortal Sect’s Chief Disciple’s body to stiffen as the spiritual power within his dantian sea fell into stagnation.
“Whoosh!”
As the finger descended, the seemingly indestructible Thousandfold Azure Waves abruptly froze.
First layer—broken!
Tenth layer—broken!
Hundredth layer—broken!
Empowered by the Five Qi Vine, Chen Beiwu’s Cave-Truth Calamity-Splitting Finger surged unstoppably, piercing through the Thousandfold Azure Waves, shattering the Azure Firmament Heavenly Pine, and lightly tapping upon the chest of the Bixiao Immortal Sect’s Chief Disciple.
The latter suffered a heavy blow, unable to suppress his injuries as he spat out a mouthful of blood, bewilderment filling his eyes.
Seeing this, Wang Chan, Chief Disciple of the Supreme Purity Immortal Sect, slightly changed expression, revealing a trace of apprehension.
For the first time, Zhao Yue, Chief Disciple of the Shangqing Immortal Sect, showed visible emotion. Her usual coldness faded as a hint of solemn gravity flashed in her eyes.