Novel11 Chapter 346 : The Victor and the Vanquished Have Been Decided
Chapter 346 : The Victor and the Vanquished Have Been Decided
As the dust settled, the outcome had already been determined.The Yuqing Immortal Sect could now only contend with the Jiuxiao Immortal Sect for third place in the Dao Discussion Battle, having no chance to enter the finals. This was almost the unanimous conclusion in the hearts of all the prodigies from the Thirteen Immortal Sects present.
However, at the very instant Yu Zhaohua barely propped herself up, the figure that had been sitting quietly below the stage suddenly moved.
Chen Beiwu rose calmly, then stepped forward.
“Step!”
This single step seemed to tread directly upon Yu Zhaohua’s heart.
On the Dueling Platform, Yu Zhaohua widened her eyes as she looked at Chen Beiwu, who had suddenly appeared before her. The complex emotions in her heart abruptly vanished, replaced instead by reassurance.
At the same time, as the blue-robed figure abruptly appeared upon the Dueling Platform, the once-noisy audience fell silent.
Countless astonished and bewildered gazes locked onto Chen Beiwu, watching as he ascended the Dueling Platform with unhurried composure and walked straight toward Yu Zhaohua.
“What’s going on?”
“The Dao Discussion Battle is already over. What is Chen Beiwu doing on stage now?”
“Could it be that he’s unwilling to accept the result and wants to go up and say something harsh?”
The whispers in the audience had only just begun when they noticed that the Taiqing Chief Disciple Wang Chan’s brows had slightly furrowed, his expression faintly tinged with excitement.
“As expected.”
Seeing this scene, Feng Binhang did not stop him. Instead, he looked toward Chen Beiwu and spoke in a solemn tone:
“Chen Beiwu, as the Final Pillar of the Yuqing Immortal Sect, according to the rules of the Dao Discussion Battle, you may only take the stage after the first four matches conclude. Now that the score has already been decided, your ascent at this moment…”
At this point, Feng Binhang’s gaze gradually sharpened as he asked word by word, “Are you intending to initiate the Supreme Above All battle?”
Boom!
The moment Feng Binhang’s words fell, every cultivator present felt their scalps tingle, a strange tremor rushing from the base of their spines straight to their Spirit Platforms.
Arrogant—too arrogant!
The assembled cultivators held their breath, their gazes instinctively turning toward Chen Beiwu.
Since the Immortal Sect Exchange Conference had been established, the number of times a Supreme Above All battle had appeared could be counted on one’s fingers. So much so that the cultivators below the stage had not even recalled this hidden rule at first.
The reason was simple—the conditions for completing a Supreme Above All battle were exceedingly harsh.
It required one Immortal Sect to be pushed into a desperate situation, facing crushing defeat, and also required an unparalleled prodigy to wager everything, using absolute strength to defeat five prodigies alone.
Under normal circumstances, such unparalleled prodigies would only appear within powerful sects and would never need to invoke this rule.
As for prodigies of weaker sects, lacking sufficient strength, forcibly launching a Supreme Above All battle would only bring humiliation and ridicule.
At this thought, excitement began to surface in the eyes of those present.
As the top of the Yuxu Rankings, Chen Beiwu would not possibly initiate a Supreme Above All battle without some degree of confidence.
There was no doubt—the upcoming duel would absolutely be the clash of titans they had long awaited!
“When was the last time a Supreme Above All battle appeared? Fifteen hundred years ago? Or eighteen hundred?” Mu Nanyan murmured.
“It should be eighteen hundred years ago. The one who successfully completed that Supreme Above All battle is now a Divine Transformation True Venerable,” the female cultivator beside her replied.
To avoid drawing the attention of such an existence, she did not even dare to speak the Divine Transformation True Venerable’s true name aloud.
‘Interesting. Do you think Chen Beiwu can win?’
Zhao Yue stood with her arms crossed, the contempt in her gaze toward Chen Beiwu lessened, replaced by a subtle admiration.
Regardless of whether he would win or lose, she admired his courage in initiating the Supreme Above All battle.
As the Chief Disciple of the Shangqing Immortal Sect, Zhao Yue had seen countless prodigies over the years, including many who relied on exceptional talent or abundant resources.
In her eyes, so-called roots, aptitude, talent, and Companion Beasts were merely splendid outer adornments.
A cultivator’s true strength was never in superficial aptitude or Companion Beasts, but in the resolve to draw the sword in desperate circumstances, and the unwavering will to face everything head-on.
‘Sister, unless a miracle occurs, Chen Beiwu’s chances of victory are nearly zero!’ Zhao Qing transmitted firmly through divine sense.
She was not belittling Chen Beiwu’s strength, nor diminishing the worth of the Yuanshi Golden Core.
She simply understood Wang Chan’s power all too clearly.
In this Immortal Sect Exchange Conference, the only one capable of defeating Wang Chan was her sister Zhao Yue!
Zhao Yu said nothing, though her gaze toward Chen Beiwu carried faint curiosity.
“Correct.”
Facing Feng Binhang’s inquiry, Chen Beiwu gave a slight nod, his voice resolute as iron.
“Na.”
The Five Qi Vine clasped its tiny hands together, activating the profound ability Five Qi Transformation.
Two streaks of five-colored radiance immediately descended upon Yu Zhaohua and the Flintrock Coiled Dragon.
“Thank you.”
Yu Zhaohua exhaled a turbid breath and retrieved a medicinal pill from her storage ring to consume.
As for the Flintrock Coiled Dragon, there was no need for her to worry—within a few breaths, it would recover completely. Such was the terrifying vitality of a Heavenly-Gang Mystic Beast.
To put it plainly, Yu Zhaohua had not lost because the Flintrock Coiled Dragon had been incapacitated, but because Wang Chan had seized the opportunity to defeat her in a single decisive strike.
“The Taiqing Immortal Sect has fought three consecutive battles. Though victorious in all, their divine sense and true qi have been depleted and require time to recover.”
At this point, Feng Binhang looked toward the Shangqing Immortal Sect and announced, “The next match shall be Shangqing Immortal Sect versus Jiuxiao Immortal Sect.”
“After that battle concludes, we shall initiate the Supreme Above All battle.”
Hearing this, Chen Beiwu showed no surprise. He turned and led Yu Zhaohua down from the stage.
Wang Chan, meanwhile, stopped the disciple beside him who had intended to speak, and led his junior brothers and sisters back to the resting area below the stage.
“Senior Brother, there is no need for you to act. I alone can suppress Chen Beiwu,” Zhuang Fu said coldly.
Chen Beiwu was merely at the Late-Stage Golden Core. No matter how capable he was, it was absolutely impossible for him to succeed in defeating five opponents alone.
Thus, in Zhuang Fu’s eyes, Chen Beiwu’s arrogant move was not only a provocation, but also a slight against the prodigies of the Taiqing Immortal Sect.
“There’s no need, Senior Brother Zhuang. To be safe, the four of us will attack together. Senior Brother can simply oversee the formation,” Sun Mo snorted coldly.
“Your cultivation is still insufficient. The Dao heart should be like water—why be stirred by external things?”
Wang Chan shook his head, his calm gaze sweeping over the four of them.
“The foundation of Taiqing lies in following nature and upholding order.”
“In this battle, I will make Chen Beiwu understand what the Dao of Taiqing truly is.”
Hearing these words, the prodigies of the Taiqing Immortal Sect were momentarily stunned, and the dissatisfaction and agitation in their hearts immediately vanished.
It was settled.
If Senior Brother truly became serious, let alone Chen Beiwu alone—even if all the prodigies of the Yuqing Immortal Sect attacked together, defeat would be inevitable.
…
The confrontation between the Shangqing Immortal Sect and the Jiuxiao Immortal Sect ended swiftly.
An unquestionable three-to-zero victory!
Though the Chief Disciple of the Jiuxiao Immortal Sect was formidable—capable of erupting with power nearly approaching that of a Nascent Soul True Monarch through his Landscape Diagram and Companion Dharma Body—he still fell to Zhao Qing, the Clear Firmament Fairy.
As for Zhao Yue, the Moon Firmament Fairy and Chief Disciple of the Shangqing Immortal Sect, she did not even need to act.
‘Still not enough.’
Mu Nanyan shook her head slightly to herself.
The reason the Taiqing, Yuqing, and Shangqing Immortal Sects were known as the Upper Three Immortal Sects, standing above the other ten Immortal Sects, lay in their profound Dao inheritances and deep foundations, enabling them to cultivate peerless prodigies generation after generation.
Lei Hao was indeed exceptionally gifted, yet compared with the Three Firmament Fairies of the Shangqing Immortal Sect, he was still more than a notch inferior.
‘I wonder if Chen Beiwu can create a miracle?’
Mu Nanyan’s gaze turned toward the Dueling Platform, though she did not believe she would witness history being made.
At this moment, including the prodigies of the Yuqing Immortal Sect, not a few Immortal Sect cultivators shared Mu Nanyan’s pessimistic outlook.
Chen Beiwu was strong—perhaps he could defeat three, even four opponents in succession. But the Taiqing Chief Disciple Wang Chan was ultimately different.
Two fists could hardly defeat four hands, let alone in a contest between peerless prodigies!
Under the gaze of tens of thousands, the figure of True Monarch Zhao once again appeared at the center of the Dueling Platform.
This time, he did not waste words. His voice echoed in all directions:
“Yuqing and Taiqing sect prodigies, step onto the stage.”
In an instant, five streaks of light shot forth from the direction of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, landing upon the Dueling Platform. At their head stood Wang Chan, expression indifferent.
“Step!”
“Step!”
“Step!”
Under the watchful eyes of countless cultivators, Chen Beiwu took three steps, his figure appearing instantly at the left side of the Dueling Platform.
On the right side stood the five great prodigies led by Wang Chan, facing him across the stage.
Though none of them actively unleashed Golden Core pressure, the powerful auras circulating around them were like five towering sacred mountains, nearly overturning the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
Facing such momentum, Chen Beiwu remained as calm as drifting clouds and gentle breeze, his gaze tranquil—neither fearful nor arrogant.
Alone, his presence was not inferior in the slightest to the combined force of the five Taiqing prodigies.
“Hiss.”
Someone in the audience drew in a sharp breath. The battle upon the Dueling Platform had officially begun.
“I have a sword—its name is Sever Delusion!”
Sun Mo stepped forward, unleashing his Golden Core true qi without hesitation and activating a Taiqing secret art.
The sword case behind him trembled slightly. A clear, flowing streak of sword light shot skyward, its ringing echoing through the heavens, stirring the vast spiritual mechanisms of heaven and earth.
At the same time, a faint glow flashed from the Mystic Beast ring on Sun Mo’s finger. A colossal beast resembling a qilin appeared with a thunderous presence, its entire body forged from crystalline ice scales.
It bore a single horn upon its head, its bearing auspicious and dignified, eyes like jade. Its four hooves hovered three inches above the ground, with piercing frost swirling around it. It was ranked upon the Heavenly-Gang Mystic Beast list, a blessed creature born from ten-thousand-year Profound Ice Jade Marrow.
[Name]: Frostjade Crystal Qilin
[Attributes]: Water, Ice
[Bloodline]: Fourth-Tier High-Grade
[Mystic Abilities]: Myriad Splendor Frostlight, Jade Marrow Purification, Freezing Illusion…
“With a heart like ice, Companion Beast Transformation · Supreme Jade Soul Sword!”
Sun Mo shouted as his hand seals shifted. The Frostjade Crystal Qilin roared toward the sky, its massive body collapsing inward and condensing into a blinding aurora.
In the next instant, the aurora converged. The Frostjade Crystal Qilin vanished, replaced by a crystalline longsword, four feet in length, suspended midair.
Its form appeared unremarkable, yet it radiated an extreme cold aura that would cause even Golden Core True Persons to tremble.
‘Twin swords united—Sever Delusion Returns to the Extreme!’
Facing the renowned top of the Yuxu Rankings, Sun Mo did not dare hold back. From the very beginning, he unleashed his strongest killing move to test him.
“Sever!”
With fingers forming a sword seal, Sun Mo slashed downward. The soaring sword light fused with the Supreme Jade Soul Sword, transforming into endless icy winds that tore through space, froze time, and crashed down violently.
Chen Beiwu did not retreat.
One step back would lead to countless steps back.
Against such an ultimate killing move, blind retreat would only surrender the tempo of battle.
Moreover, this was not a one-on-one duel—he was facing five Taiqing prodigies alone.
“Five Calamities Cycle, Yuanshi Becomes One.”
Chen Beiwu stepped forward, spreading his five fingers.
“Na!”
The Five Qi Vine’s thoughts stirred, five-colored divine radiance surging forth and merging continuously into Chen Beiwu’s palms.
‘With such momentum—impossible!’
Zhuang Fu’s pupils contracted. Without hesitation, he summoned his Bestowed Middle-Scene Landscape Diagram, the Supreme Void Azure Luan Touring Heaven and Governing the Winds, merging with his Companion Dharma Body.
Four against one—he would not stand by and watch Chen Beiwu defeat Junior Brother Sun.
In an instant, azure light illuminated the world, wind howled across the nine heavens.
A majestic Supreme Void Azure Luan Dharma Body, dozens of meters tall, manifested. It spread a pair of enormous radiant wings spanning nearly a hundred meters.
Upon those wings circulated the Threefold Xun Gang Wind, and faintly visible were the rise and fall of Supreme Void stars, embodying the grand artistic conception of the Azure Luan touring the heavens and governing the laws of heaven and earth.
The moment the Dharma Body descended, Zhuang Fu’s aura surged at an astonishing rate.
In the blink of an eye, it surpassed the bounds of Golden Core Great Perfection, touching the barrier of the Nascent Soul realm—then stepping into it.
Simply put, Zhuang Fu’s cultivation had already surpassed that of a Golden Core True Person. His combat strength was such that even against an early-stage Nascent Soul True Monarch, he could exchange dozens of moves.
“Xun Descent!”
Zhuang Fu raised his right hand and gently pointed at Chen Beiwu.
This strike invoked the power of the Supreme Void Azure Luan Dharma Body, containing the ‘intent of penetration’ and ‘intent of stripping’ of the Xun wind. It ignored spatial distance and true qi defenses, directly annihilating its target—far beyond what a Golden Core cultivator could withstand.
Even a Nascent Soul True Monarch, if careless, would suffer grievous injury.
“Puchi!”
With a faint sound, Chen Beiwu’s body stiffened.
At the position of his left chest, where his heart lay, a horrifying hole appeared, pierced clean through from front to back.
No blood spurted forth. The Xun Descent strike, infused with the true intent of the Azure Luan Dharma Body, was furiously eroding his flesh and vitality, seeking to completely erase his body.
At that same instant, Sun Mo’s long-accumulated Sever Delusion sword descended fully.
The sword light was extraordinarily agile. At the critical moment, it bypassed the circling Three-Phase Mystic Flood Dragon guarding Chen Beiwu and struck his body.
“Clang!” Blood surged skyward.
Chen Beiwu’s protective true qi lasted only a brief instant before being cleaved apart. One of his arms was severed cleanly at the shoulder and caught in the claws of the Three-Phase Mystic Flood Dragon.
“Roar!”
The Three-Phase Mystic Flood Dragon let out a furious dragon’s roar.
Chen Beiwu staggered, his face pale as paper, his aura plummeting visibly to its lowest ebb.
His heart pierced. His right arm severed.
Seeing Chen Beiwu cornered in a desperate situation, pride flashed in Zhuang Fu’s eyes.
Unable to withstand even the combined killing strikes of himself and Junior Brother Sun—the Yuqing Immortal Sect truly was weak this year.
Understandable, perhaps. What of the Yuanshi Golden Core? Chen Beiwu had cultivated for barely thirty years. How could he compare to Zhuang Fu’s century of arduous practice?
“Your body is nearly destroyed. Further battle is meaningless. Concede,” Zhuang Fu said coldly.
“Indeed. The victor and the vanquished have already been decided,” Sun Mo nodded slightly.
The Dao Discussion Battle was meant for exchange and discussion—death was forbidden, and violators would be severely punished.
Thus, his earlier strike had only severed Chen Beiwu’s arm rather than cleaving him in two.
“Indeed, the victor and the vanquished have been decided.”
Under Zhuang Fu and Sun Mo’s uncertain gazes, Chen Beiwu smiled calmly.
At these words, their pupils shrank. They keenly sensed something amiss.
“The timing is just about right.”
As Chen Beiwu’s voice fell, Zhuang Fu and Sun Mo abruptly lowered their heads, disbelief flooding their faces.
‘When did this happen?’
Looking at the hole in his own left chest, Sun Mo could no longer withstand his injuries. He staggered and dropped to one knee.
‘How is this possible?!’
Zhuang Fu’s face turned pale as he discovered that his own right arm had been severed cleanly at the shoulder. Behind him, the Supreme Void Azure Luan Dharma Body had vanished without a trace.
Only Chen Beiwu remained standing where he was—calm, composed, his right hand intact, not a speck of dust upon him.