Free Web NovelChapter 163: Chapter 163: Formidable Enemy
It had to be said, Zuo Qiuyan was genuinely skilled.
Right now, against Zuo Qiuyan’s Sound Attack, neither Lu Sangjiu’s shields nor her movement technique had any effect. She could only face him head-on.
If her abilities were limited to what she had shown before, she really would have been defeated.
’However... who said he was the only one who could use a Sound Attack?’
Lu Sangjiu retreated quickly, and at the same time, she raised a hand and plucked a leaf from a nearby tree.
Then, to everyone’s astonishment, they saw Lu Sangjiu place the leaf to her lips and begin to play it.
Zuo Qiuyan’s eyes trembled. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing!
’Why does Lu Sangjiu know Sound Attacks too? And I can feel it... Her Sound Attack is also filled with killing intent, and it’s even more domineering than mine!’
’I’ve painstakingly cultivated my Sound Attack for over a decade, and my Jade Flute is a Mid-grade Treasure. Yet Lu Sangjiu can defeat me with just an ordinary leaf... How is this possible?’
His mind was thrown into complete turmoil by Lu Sangjiu, and he even played two wrong notes in his melody.
In the invisible clash of their killing intent, Zuo Qiuyan was losing ground steadily. He felt the formless aura of death was about to strike him down at any moment... ’I’m going to lose!’
Veins bulged on his forehead. "Damn it... I won’t accept this!"
With a roar, he swung his Jade Flute, using the power of the Mid-grade Treasure to halt Lu Sangjiu’s attack for an instant.
Seizing the opportunity, he took out a stack of talismans and hurled them recklessly at Lu Sangjiu. "Just die already!"
However, Lu Sangjiu’s attack was already upon him, and he didn’t have time to activate all the talismans in his hand.
The crowd watched as some of the talismans thrown into the air suddenly disintegrated without warning, crumbling to dust as they fell to the ground.
Only then did those in the audience, unable to perceive the true danger, understand just how terrifying the melody Lu Sangjiu played with a single leaf was!
Before everyone could process their shock, they saw the activated talismans detonate, instantly engulfing Lu Sangjiu in a fiery explosion.
"Little Junior Sister!"
Luo Linlang had still been marveling at how many strange techniques Lu Sangjiu had, but seeing this scene, she instantly panicked.
The hearts of the others in the crowd were in their throats, terrified that Lu Sangjiu would be defeated by mere talismans. That would be such an unjust loss.
However, when the flames subsided and everyone saw Lu Sangjiu still standing there perfectly unharmed, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
Lu Sangjiu flipped her palm, tossing a pile of used talismans to the ground. "Tsk. You think you’re the only one with talismans?"
’I bought a whole pile of Protective Talismans. When it comes to a talisman fight, I’m not backing down!’
Because she was forced to stop playing the leaf to use her talismans, Zuo Qiuyan narrowly escaped, uninjured by Lu Sangjiu’s Sound Attack.
He thought he had secured a narrow victory, but seeing Lu Sangjiu completely unharmed, his eyes turned red with rage. "Damn it! I..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Lu Sangjiu had already used her Flying Cloud Step, appearing before him in an instant.
Zuo Qiuyan’s vision blurred, and suddenly Lu Sangjiu’s face was right in front of him. The corners of her lips curled into a vicious smile. "This time... it’s my turn."
Lu Sangjiu would show no mercy to someone who harbored such malicious intent toward her.
Unlike the casual palm strike she had used against the male cultivator with the Flying Sword, this time she got right in his face and struck his chest with a Furious Wave Palm.
Furious Wave Palm was a technique she had learned in the Seven Emotions Sect’s Book Collection Pavilion. Although it was ordinary, the palm landed solidly and still inflicted considerable damage on Zuo Qiuyan.
He was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, not stopping until he slammed into the arena’s Barrier and fell heavily back to the ground.
Unable to utter a single word, Zuo Qiuyan was knocked unconscious.
Zuo Qiuyan’s fellow sect members were in the audience. As the referee announced the result and removed the Barrier, a crowd of them rushed up and surrounded him to check his injuries.
Of course, the Sword Seizing Conference forbade killing. To avoid trouble, Lu Sangjiu hadn’t killed him, but inflicting severe injuries was unavoidable.
Upon discovering Zuo Qiuyan’s grave injuries, the faces of several of his peers turned ugly. One of them couldn’t help but shout angrily at Lu Sangjiu, "You vicious woman! How could you strike so ruthlessly!"
Lu Sangjiu shot the speaker a cold glance. "You have a problem with it? Then you’re welcome to come up here and challenge me."
The man was choked speechless. ’Even Zuo Qiuyan lost. Wouldn’t going up on stage be courting death?’
Gritting his teeth, the man said hatefully, "You just wait!"
After saying that, they dejectedly carried Zuo Qiuyan away and fled.
Lu Sangjiu couldn’t be bothered with them. She glanced at the crowd below again. "Anyone else want to challenge me? If not, I’ll be advancing to the next round."
’She knew full well that given the strength and unpredictable techniques she had displayed, no one truly powerful would choose to challenge her now.’
’And those without strength wouldn’t want to come up just to be a punching bag. Her stage defense was probably over.’
However, to her surprise, a strikingly beautiful woman then walked slowly onto the stage. "Let me give it a try."
Lu Sangjiu was slightly surprised but didn’t dwell on it. ’After all, not everyone plays by the rules.’
’Anyway, I still have strength to spare. What’s one more fight?’
This woman was a Loose Cultivator named Miao Rui.
Lu Sangjiu had never heard of her, and no one in the audience seemed to recognize her either. It was as if she had appeared out of nowhere.
But the moment she attacked, Lu Sangjiu immediately realized this was a tough opponent.
Miao Rui used a blade, and its edge was incredibly domineering. Even using her Flying Cloud Step, Lu Sangjiu struggled to dodge.
Frowning slightly, Lu Sangjiu immediately summoned Duoduo. "Ice Condensation Technique!"
Duoduo landed on Lu Sangjiu’s shoulder, the single horn on its head flashing with Light as the Ice Condensation Technique shot instantly toward Miao Rui.
However, Miao Rui’s blade flashed. In just a few swings, she completely shattered Duoduo’s Ice Condensation Technique!
Realizing its Ice Condensation Technique couldn’t reach its opponent, Duoduo immediately resorted to its old trick and unleashed a barrage on the ground.
The stage once again became an ocean of ice, but Miao Rui just smirked. "This is useless against me."
She leaped into the air and slashed down with her blade. Even Duoduo’s mutated ice couldn’t withstand the blow, and a large gap was instantly carved out.
Then, she plunged her blade into the crack and pried upward, sending a large sheet of ice flying.
What would have been a predicament for others caused Miao Rui almost no trouble at all; she dealt with it effortlessly.
But Lu Sangjiu hadn’t been idle. She had already plucked another leaf and begun to play.
’This was a Sound Attack I practiced casually when I was bored. Although it’s full of killing intent, I always felt it wasn’t as satisfying as a straightforward, brutal fight.’
’That’s why almost nobody knew I had this skill, so I can use it now without any reservations.’
’Using the formless to strike the tangible was an excellent choice.’
But Lu Sangjiu never expected Miao Rui’s Sword Skill to be so powerful that she could even use it to neutralize an intangible Sound Attack!
Miao Rui had just dealt with the ice on the ground when Lu Sangjiu’s Sound Attack descended upon her.
Yet, she showed no fear. With a horizontal slash through the air, her blade caused Lu Sangjiu’s Sound Attack to dissipate completely!
The force even knocked Lu Sangjiu herself back three steps.
Lu Sangjiu was utterly shocked. ’Just who in the world is this Miao Rui?’
’With this level of strength, how could she possibly have lost her previous match? Unless... she’s here specifically for me?’
