Free Web NovelChapter 170: Chapter 170: Jue Pearl
Ye Zhiyao’s expression was brimming with confidence. Standing on the stage, she offered Luo Linlang a courteous fist-and-palm salute.
"Senior Sister Luo, we agreed to give this match our all. You’d better not hold back. I’ll certainly do my best to defeat you with my own skill."
Luo Linlang, now aware of her malicious intent, was even more repulsed by this hypocritical display. With a cold sneer, she retorted, "The outcome is far from decided. You shouldn’t be so overconfident!"
"Water Binding Technique! Go!"
Luo Linlang was known to have a gentle Water Spirit Root, but almost no one knew there was more to her than that.
She was born in a small fishing village by the sea and had saved a Merfolk in her youth. Later, when she faced a near-death situation, that same Merfolk gave her its Jue Pearl to save her life.
It was a known fact that while a Jue Pearl from a Merfolk could have miraculous effects on humans, it would only have adverse effects if not given willingly.
The Merfolk had always detested the Human Clan, making the willing gift of a Jue Pearl an almost unheard-of event. Thus, Luo Linlang, a human possessing a Jue Pearl, was an absolute rarity—if not the only one of her kind in the entire Spirit Void Realm, then certainly one in ten thousand.
Because of the Jue Pearl, Luo Linlang had a unique advantage in Water Manipulation. She could control any source of water around her through the Jue Pearl alone, even without channeling her Spiritual Power.
This was why in her first match, her Water Dragon could continue its nimble assault even after being severed.
Luo Linlang now cast the Water Binding Technique, sending it straight for Ye Zhiyao.
Ye Zhiyao’s expression remained unchanged. She raised her hand, summoned a top-grade magic treasure—a Flying Sword—and with a single slash, intercepted the charging Water Dragon.
’Her last sword was destroyed by Lu Sangjiu in the Secret Realm. To think she’s already gotten her hands on another top-grade Flying Sword this quickly... Bai Heng really spoils her.’
’But no matter how powerful a top-grade magic treasure is, its full potential can’t be unleashed if the user’s skill is lacking.’
’At Ye Zhiyao’s current level, it’s highly unlikely she could break Luo Linlang’s Water Binding Technique with just her sword.’
Sure enough, Ye Zhiyao’s sword only managed to halt the Water Dragon for an instant before it lunged forward again, baring its fangs.
Ye Zhiyao retreated rapidly, several Water Dragons chasing her relentlessly.
Suddenly, she raised a hand and wiped something across her Flying Sword. The next time she swung it, the blade was wreathed in a layer of red flames!
And these were clearly no ordinary flames. The moment they touched Luo Linlang’s Water Dragon, the water was instantly vaporized.
The corners of Ye Zhiyao’s lips curled into a smirk. "Senior Sister Luo, if Water Magic is all you have, then you’re about to lose to me, you know."
Luo Linlang’s expression faltered. She quickly realized what it was. "...An Exotic Fire Seed?"
"Senior Sister Luo is as knowledgeable as they say... And this Exotic Fire Seed I have is more than enough to last me through this entire match."
The moment she finished speaking, Ye Zhiyao slashed at Luo Linlang again!
Luo Linlang immediately raised a Water Shield to block, but upon contact with the Abnormal Fire, it couldn’t hold and dissipated in an instant.
’She hadn’t counted on the Water Shield holding, though. It was merely a ploy to buy a split second, just enough time to use her Defense Treasure.’
’The flame from Ye Zhiyao’s Exotic Fire Seed was stronger than ordinary fire, but among Abnormal Fires, it was quite mediocre—nowhere near as powerful as Shen Yuzhao’s Unwarranted Green Flame.’
Thus, when Luo Linlang deployed her Defense Treasure, she managed to block the strike, shaken but unharmed.
She then produced the Sadness Fan and waved it toward Ye Zhiyao.
Ye Zhiyao immediately flew backward to evade. The arena stage was large, giving her plenty of room to maneuver, so the Sadness Fan failed to produce any miraculous results this time.
While evading, Ye Zhiyao quickly found another opening and slashed out with her sword.
By now, Luo Linlang’s temper was flaring. Staring at the flaming sword, her eyes blazed with fury. "There’s no end to this, is there!"
As she spoke, the rims of her eyes seemed to redden with anger, and shimmering tears welled up, threatening to fall.
As if unwilling to cry at such a moment, Luo Linlang wiped the tears away before they could fall. Then, she once again sent several Water Dragons flying straight toward Ye Zhiyao’s Flying Sword!
A flash of contempt crossed Ye Zhiyao’s eyes. "Senior Sister Luo, I already told you your Water Dragons are useless against me. You’re just repeating the same old... AHH!"
She hadn’t even finished her sentence before the Water Dragon struck her, sending her flying backward with a cry of alarm.
The audience below was utterly stunned. ’This... How did that happen?’
’Just a moment ago, Luo Linlang was helpless against the Abnormal Fire. Now she used her Water Binding Technique again, and the fire was extinguished?’
It was because of her overconfidence that Ye Zhiyao hadn’t dodged the Water Dragon, choosing instead to block it directly with her sword.
Now that the Water Dragon had extinguished the Abnormal Fire, it slammed right into Ye Zhiyao.
The audience, including the High-level cultivators watching the match, were all astonished and confused. Only Lu Sangjiu knew the reason for this turn of events.
’A Merfolk’s tears can transform into pearls known as Mermaid Tears, which are considered extremely precious Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.’
’And while the tears of a human who possesses a Jue Pearl cannot turn into Mermaid Tears, they do possess a miraculous effect.’
’Luo Linlang wiped her tears just before casting the Water Binding Technique. Because of the special properties of her tears, the Water Dragon she summoned was no longer ordinary water.’
’Ye Zhiyao’s Abnormal Fire wasn’t that powerful to begin with. On top of that, she was only temporarily summoning it with an Exotic Fire Seed, so the effect was diminished. That’s why it was so easily extinguished.’
’Luo Linlang had done all this so subtly, and since no one would ever think to connect these events, they were all left completely baffled.’
’In fact, even I shouldn’t know this secret of Luo Linlang’s.’
’A Jue Pearl is useless if forcibly taken from a Merfolk. However, if a Merfolk willingly gives it to a human, it *can* be used if it is then forcibly taken from that human.’
’That’s why, aside from Duan Xingyun, Luo Linlang had never told another soul.’
’The only reason I know is because in the novel, Luo Linlang tried to assassinate Ye Zhiyao to avenge Li Qiancheng and her master, only to be captured by Bai Heng.’
’Bai Heng had long suspected there was something special about Luo Linlang’s water. After capturing her, he investigated and discovered the Jue Pearl in her body.’
’The Jue Pearl is only effective if removed while its host is alive, so Luo Linlang died by having the Jue Pearl carved out of her, living and breathing.’
’And of course, in the end, the Jue Pearl became another one of Ye Zhiyao’s possessions.’
’Thinking of this, I suddenly grasped a crucial point... The novel was written to revolve around Ye Zhiyao, so I never thought too deeply about it before.’
’But now that I’m actually living in this world, I’m struck by the realization that both Luo Linlang and Shen Yuzhao are one-in-ten-thousand geniuses.’
’And yet, the very talents they relied upon were all plundered by Ye Zhiyao.’
’And looking at this Sword Seizing Conference, I’ve seen countless geniuses—a truly dazzling constellation of talent.’
’Yet, I recognize many of their names from the book. And in the end, all of them, in one way or another, met their downfall because of Ye Zhiyao.’
At this thought, an icy chill ran down Lu Sangjiu’s spine!
’So, my previous suspicion was true. The reason Ye Zhiyao is supposedly the only one who can achieve Ascension is because she has been plundering the talents and fortunes of others all along!’
’And in all of this, what role does the Heavenly Dao, which so clearly favors Ye Zhiyao, play?’
