Chapter 27: Showing Off? Go On!

All the surrounding arenas had already begun their matches, with disciples below urging the proceedings. The elders of Azure Cloud Sect wasted no further time, announcing solemnly, “You all know the rules—no killing blows are permitted. Anyone who violates this will face the sect’s discipline. Let the contest begin!”

As soon as the words fell, neither contestant bothered with courtesy, nor did they seem to care. Qian Mo stood with hands clasped behind his back, his expression calm, no magical treasure in sight, treating Sun Hongyang as if he were invisible. Would he truly need to exert himself against a mere ant? The thought was laughable.

Seeing Qian Mo’s demeanor, Sun Hongyang took a deep breath, suppressing the murderous intent in his eyes. Though he wished to kill his opponent, it was not worth risking violation of Azure Cloud Sect’s rules for such an arrogant, hopeless waste. He sneered coldly; aside from killing, he had many ways to ruin Qian Mo and make him suffer. “Junior Brother Qian, the blade has no eyes. You’d best be careful.”

With a shout, Sun Hongyang summoned a blue immortal sword, its blade glowing with a green radiance, emitting a fierce aura. At the same time, the power of Jade Purity Stage Level Three’s peak erupted, causing ripples in the air.

The elder standing to the left was taken aback by Sun Hongyang’s display. So young, yet already at the peak of Jade Purity Stage Level Three—a rare talent worthy of cultivation, though his temperament left much to be desired, making him unfit for heavy responsibility.

The disciples below gasped in admiration. Such cultivation among the younger generation was already upper-tier, quite remarkable, and expectations began to stir in their hearts.

On the right side of the stage, Qian Mo remained expressionless, unmoved by the display. Standing calmly with hands behind his back, he gazed at the formidable Sun Hongyang, his star-like eyes glittering with disdain. Showing off? You dare show off before me? If you outshine me, I am not Qian Mo!

Through the swirling clouds, Sun Hongyang glimpsed undisguised contempt in Qian Mo’s eyes and was enraged. How dare a mere disciple from Tongtian Peak act so arrogantly!

With an angry roar, Sun Hongyang’s aura surged to its peak, the sword humming softly. With a whistle and a fierce momentum, he charged furiously at Qian Mo.

The green sword light flashed, amplifying the sword’s power. Sun Hongyang had learned yesterday from his brother that Qian Mo possessed extraordinary cultivation and might even match him.

His brother was at Jade Purity Stage Level Two—a significant gap, yet Sun Hongyang dared not be careless. He unleashed his full strength from the outset, not to kill, but to cripple his opponent’s cultivation.

The immortal sword, wreathed in green sword energy, reached Qian Mo in the blink of an eye. At such close range, Sun Hongyang’s lips curled into a sinister smile; just as his brother described, the arrogant fool didn’t even attempt to dodge.

A metallic clang rang out.

Just as Sun Hongyang thought he had succeeded, Qian Mo did not even lift a finger. The dense spiritual energy around him formed an invisible barrier, effortlessly blocking the sword.

“What speed in condensing energy! What mastery of control!” The Azure Cloud Sect elder on the left abruptly changed expression, secretly marveling. He had underestimated this seemingly ordinary youth—his cultivation was deep indeed. This year’s trial truly hid dragons among men! No wonder he was the disciple of the sect master!

The disciples below were dumbstruck, their hearts pounding. They had believed Qian Mo would be either dead or seriously injured under such a powerful attack, but the outcome defied all expectations, leaving them doubting their own eyes.

“Damn, Senior Brother Sun from Dragon’s Head Peak is at Jade Purity Stage Level Three’s peak. I couldn’t have blocked that sword. Senior Brother Qian is formidable!”

“That was intense. My heart nearly stopped. Senior Brother Qian condenses energy so fast! His understanding of the Supreme Celestial Dao must far exceed mine!”

“He really hides his strength well. They say Tongtian Peak’s chief Dao Xuan lets his disciples cultivate freely and rarely teaches them. But seeing Senior Brother Qian’s cultivation, perhaps it isn’t so.”

Hearing the disciples’ exclamations, Sun Hongyang’s face flushed with humiliation and anger. Staring at the unemotional Qian Mo, his fury only deepened. He gripped the sword hilt tightly, channeling all his spiritual energy into sword qi, and lunged at Qian Mo with full force.

Watching Sun Hongyang’s desperate struggle, Qian Mo’s lips curled into a slight sneer.

Not bothering to test his opponent’s strength, Sun Hongyang had gone all out from the start. Killing was out of the question, but the previous blow was enough to cripple any disciple of lesser cultivation.

Given this, Qian Mo saw his chance. The smile faded from his face, expressionless, as the surrounding cloud qi trembled slightly, like water surface struck by an explosion, rapidly dispersing outwards.

In an instant, an irresistible force burst forth within half a meter around Qian Mo!

A muffled boom resounded.

Sun Hongyang’s immortal sword dropped to the arena floor, and his body, like a severed kite, was sent flying uncontrollably backward. He coughed up several mouthfuls of blood midair, his face drained and listless.

With a crashing sound, Sun Hongyang’s body was hurled at lightning speed, landing heavily onto the jade stone tiles, which shattered under the terrifying force.

Lying on the broken tiles, Sun Hongyang was weak and dazed. Silence reigned except for the gentle brush of wind. His body was wracked with unbearable pain; he lacked even the strength to move a finger.

Still, disbelief filled Sun Hongyang’s eyes. He had lost—lost to an ordinary disciple from Tongtian Peak. Blood spilled from his mouth again, his consciousness fading as cries from Dragon’s Head Peak disciples reached his ears...

The Azure Cloud Sect elder returned to himself, instantly appearing at Sun Hongyang’s side. He grasped his wrist, pupils contracting. There was no mortal danger, but the internal meridians were tangled like spider silk—a complete mess.

Clearly, they had been thrown into chaos by an overwhelming force. Such terrifying control! The elder couldn’t help but glance at the unruffled Qian Mo on stage, awe flickering in his eyes. Outwardly harmless, yet merciless when taking action—a ruthless one indeed!

After a long moment, he returned to the stage and announced, “He is merely gravely injured and unconscious, but in no mortal danger. This match is won by Qian Mo of Tongtian Peak!”

Above, Dao Xuan smiled faintly. You dared to strike my disciple so fiercely? You should be grateful you aren’t dead.

Though he said so, Dao Xuan knew well how severe Sun Hongyang’s injuries were. Upon closer examination, the internal meridians were a chaotic mess; in the future, not only would cultivation be impossible, even absorbing spiritual energy would be hundreds of times more difficult than for ordinary disciples.

There were miraculous medicines in the world that could restore such wounds, but these were the rarest treasures under heaven. Azure Cloud Sect possessed none, and even if they did, how could the sect master waste such precious medicine on Sun Hongyang?

The elder sighed inwardly, hoping Sun Hongyang would be resilient enough to withstand this blow when he awoke. He privately praised Qian Mo—despite the innocent smile on his face, he was fiercer than anyone when taking action. He recalled the scene once more.