Chapter 269: The Semifinals!
Chapter 269: The Semifinals!
Chapter 269: The Semifinals!
After drawing lots, Chu Liang asked Liu Xiaoyu'er to return to Silver Sword Peak alone first while he waited outside for Jiang Yuebai for a while.
When Jiang Yuebai saw him, she wasn't surprised. The two of them naturally turned and continued walking together for a while, as if they were taking a leisurely stroll.
After walking for some time, Jiang Yuebai finally asked, "Did you come to ask me that question you've been meaning to ask?"
"Yes," Chu Liang smiled, "Is now a convenient time?"
"Of course," Jiang Yuebai said as she nodded.
"To be honest, I've wanted to ask this question for a long time, but I've never dared to bring it up. Today, I want to seize the opportunity and gather the courage to tell you about it," Chu Liang spoke in a light tone.
Jiang Yuebai blinked, looking at him with a hint of curiosity, mixed with a barely perceptible nervousness.
"I want to ask, Senior Sister Jiang, can you..." Chu Liang asked, "tell me your actual cultivation level?"
"Huh?" Jiang Yuebai was taken aback for a moment.
"Even though I sense that your aura is very powerful, I know you're hiding something more," Chu Liang said, scratching his head. "I really want to know how far you've progressed in your cultivation."
In terms of aura, others could determine your cultivation based on a portion of the qi you unleash. Although the use of divine techniques inevitably releases qi, one could still retain a portion of the foundational qi and conceal their cultivation level.
"I don't mind telling you, it doesn't matter anyway. I'll probably reveal it all tomorrow," Jiang Yuebai said, shaking her head and chuckling lightly.
With that, she slowly unleashed her qi.
Boom!
A powerful and freezing cold qi surged forth.
She was at the Fifth Realm!
"Just as I expected," Chu Liang said to himself, appearing as though his speculations had been confirmed. He continued, "For someone as gifted as Senior Sister Jiang, it's impossible to remain at the Golden Core Realm for too long."
Just as he had concealed much of his own strength, everyone had held back during the previous matches.
They were all reserving their trump cards for the intense battles ahead, aiming to surprise their opponents during the explosive clashes.
Xu Ziyang was no exception.
Chu Liang only dared to ask because Jiang Yuebai wasn't his opponent. If they were to fight tomorrow, even with a truth bet on the line, he wouldn't take advantage of her this way.
It was just as Jiang Yuebai had said. Everything would be revealed tomorrow, which was why Chu Liang had casually asked.
Jiang Yuebai's current cultivation level was within his expectations. The Transcendent Spirit was a body constitution favored by the heavens and earth, destined to make progress at incredible speed.
When they first met, she was already at the pinnacle of the Golden Core Realm.
And now, Chu Liang had grown so much that his current cultivation level was incomparable to what it was back then, which meant that it was even more impossible that Jiang Yuebai had remained stagnant in her cultivation.
"You must be hiding something as well, right? With the speed of your cultivation progress, it's impossible that you're still at the beginning stage of the Golden Core Realm," Jiang Yuebai said with a smile as she suppressed the flow of her qi.
"Yeah, I won't be able to hide it tomorrow either," Chu Liang chuckled. "Even if I tried to conceal my cultivation level, the meager cultivation energy I possess would only serve to make my defeat less embarrassing."
"You don't need to be modest. I've watched you grow into who you are today, and I know how capable you are," Jiang Yuebai said, looking at Chu Liang with eyes sparkling like the stars in the night sky. "I believe you have the strength to face anyone, and...
"I would rather see you win than Xu Ziyang."
Her voice was gentle as she stood in the breeze, her dress fluttering softly. The moonlight cast a gentle glow on her skin.
Chu Liang looked earnestly into her eyes as their gazes met. He asked, "Is it because you want to fight a weaker opponent in the finals?"
"..." Jiang Yuebai felt so speechless.
"I was just kidding," Chu Liang turned and said with a smile. "Senior Sister Jiang, thank you for having faith in me. I believe that you will win tomorrow. See you at the peak."
"Mhm," Jiang Yuebai nodded gently. "See you at the peak."
...
The wind atop the Heaven-Reaching Peak was particularly strong today, but the gust of wind was constantly blocked by the large crowd. Their clothes were billowing in the air and their dresses fluttering.
Today marked the semifinals of the Mount Shu Summit, and at this stage, the competition had intensified, with every match promising to be a thrilling battle.
"At last, the semifinals have arrived. Elder Huang, what are your thoughts on today's situation?" Scholar Sun inquired from the spectator stand.
"Haaa," Elder Huang sighed and shook his head. "In the first match, although I strongly support Jiangjiang, that disciple in the Spiritual Awareness Realm seems to have some hidden secrets. If they're true... the outcome is truly unpredictable, and it's concerning."
"As for the second match, there's little to say. Xu Ziyang will undoubtedly defeat his opponent in a dominating victory," Elder Huang remarked.
"Oh?" Scholar Sun said. He had always been aware that Elder Huang was unreliable, but he also knew that Elder Huang had good judgment. So, he asked, "What secrets does Ling Ao have?"
"If I am not mistaken, I am seeing traces of his body having been refined by dragon blood," Elder Huang remarked.
"Are you talking about the legendary ancient secret technique?" Scholar Sun asked.
"Yes. In ancient times, True Dragons would reward their servants by refining their bodies with dragon blood, greatly strengthening them. Although he is only at the third realm of cultivation, through the power of the Dragon-Blood Body Refinement, the overall toughness and strength of his body would reach a terrifying level," Elder Huang said. "If the Dragon-Blood Body Refinement occurred while his cultivation level isn't high, the enhancement of his body would be even greater. For example, martial arts cultivators would be much stronger at lower cultivation levels."
"Indeed. There is a True Dragon suppressing fate on Solitude Peak of Mount Shu," Scholar Sun said. "It seems like he had an extraordinary encounter. Old Man Sikong's disciple ended up receiving the blessing from the hundred years of fishing for a dragon."
"It is already strange that a True Dragon was attracted to settle down on Mount Shu," Elder Huang frowned as he said. "All the sects in the Divine Nine and Terrestrial Ten were fishing for dragons. The Celestial Pivot Pavilion is doing the same. Even the Penglai Supreme Sect wanted to acquire another one. However, the True Dragon is not choosing those immortal sects in the Divine Nine that are protected with legendary artifacts. For some unknown reason, it chose the Mount Shu Sect, a sect that had lost its legendary artifact and was in a declining state."
"It is true that the Mount Shu Sect had been in a declining state. But looking at the Mount Shu Sect now, it seems like they are on the rise." Scholar Sun looked over to the other spectator stand and said, "Venerable Wen Yuan is quite skilled."
"Among all the human cultivators at the eighth realm, Venerable Wen Yuan is relatively young, yet his strength and capabilities should rank among the top," Elder Huang said, nodding. "Unfortunately, being from the Mount Shu Sect has limited his growth. He has had to keep a low profile and wait for the right moment. If he were to possess a legendary artifact, his power would appear much greater than it is now."
"Even in Mount Shu's current state, a figure like him could emerge. This further demonstrates his remarkable abilities," Scholar Sun remarked.
Soon, both parties of the match stepped onto the stage.
Jiang Yuebai was still dressed in white, her clothes fluttering around her like that of a goddess.
When she showed up, Elder Huang couldn't bother to chat anymore. He immediately waved his fists and shouted, "Jiangjiang will surely win! Jiangjiang will surely win!"
He was not the only one doing this. More than half of the audience started shouting and cheering for Jiang Yuebai.
Soon, Ling Ao stepped onto the stage. He was still dressed in black, with his hair covering one of his eyes. His expression remained cold and aloof.
As he listened to the people at the spectator stand cheering for Jiang Yuebai, he glanced around and suddenly sneered coldly. Lifting his head, he placed his index finger on his lips.
"So arrogant," remarked Scholar Sun with a chuckle.
Ling Ao's actions were clearly meant to mock everyone at the spectator stand, sending a signal to all of Jiang Yuebai's supporters.
Silence!