Venerable Supreme of Myriad Dragons

Chapter 180: Chapter 180: ...

Sun Shufeng scanned the crowd with a faint smile, then raised his hands and bowed respectfully.

"Rest assured, everyone. I’ll make sure this kid walks onto the stage on his feet but leaves it lying flat. I will teach him to regret ever entering this competition."

"Alright, alright!" the prodigies from the Martial Arts Ranking on the terrace cheered, eagerly anticipating a good show.

Shen Daoxing remained unmoved by the cheers from below, as if he hadn’t heard a thing. He glanced up at Shen Mo Feng on his Cloud Platform, then turned back to Sun Shufeng, his eyes ice-cold.

"Alright. Quarterfinal match: Shen Daoxing versus Sun Shufeng. The bout begins now!"

Zhao Wufeng gave the command, then leaped from the terrace to a nearby Cloud Platform.

Only then did the corner of Sun Shufeng’s mouth twitch into a smirk. He turned to face Shen Daoxing, tilting his head back slightly and looking down his nose at him. "From the Hengyang Sun Family of Daqian, I am Su—"

But before he could finish, Shen Daoxing had already vanished.

Sun Shufeng’s expression froze, his eyes widening in shock.

PFFT!

Fresh blood shot upwards, forming a Blood Arrow.

A deep gash appeared on Sun Shufeng’s body, stretching from his shoulder to his abdomen.

THUD!

Sun Shufeng fell rigidly to the ground. The corner of his mouth twitched once, and then he moved no more.

Only then did Shen Daoxing’s figure appear behind Sun Shufeng, in the very motion of sheathing his saber. Without a backward glance, he returned to the nearby Cloud Platform.

One move!

Just one move.

"..."

Zhu Yingde.

"..."

Liu Wancheng.

The entire arena fell deathly silent. Those who had been jeering just moments before now stared wide-eyed. A long moment passed before an uproar finally erupted.

"One move! Just one move! Did any of you even see Shen Daoxing attack?"

"Hiss... Is this Shen Daoxing’s true strength?"

"Who said he was some nobody from a backwater kingdom?"

"So Shen Daoxing has been hiding his strength this whole time!"

"???"

"Wait, has Shen Daoxing even had to fight before now? Who was calling him weak?"

"..."

"..."

Even Zhao Wufeng hadn’t expected this outcome. It took him a long moment to announce the result: "Shen Daoxing wins!"

On the main Cloud Platform, Shangguan Yiran nodded, her face showing little surprise.

"This Shen Daoxing is truly a genius. His first two advancements weren’t just luck. I misjudged him."

Dongfang Wan’Er, beside her, nodded in agreement. "But I’m afraid this level of strength is far from enough. To say nothing of the monstrously talented Ancient Sword Marquis, it’s still uncertain if he can even defeat Shen Mo Feng. Still, to be able to reach the top three, he is undeniably a genius."

"Third?"

But Shangguan Yiran shook her head.

"Oh?"

Dongfang Wan’Er gave her a curious look. "Junior Sister, you think Shen Daoxing’s strength is only worthy of a spot below the top three?"

"No!"

Shangguan Yiran shook her head lightly. "Above."

"?!"

Dongfang Wan’Er was stunned.

Meanwhile, on another Cloud Platform, Shen Mo Feng slammed his fist down, shattering the chair beneath him. He had never imagined Shen Daoxing could be so powerful that even Sun Shufeng was no match for him.

But soon, his lips curled into a smirk.

’Fine!’

’Only then is it worth my time to deal with him personally.’

He would personally defeat Shen Daoxing in the arena and make Shangguan Yiran understand what a grave mistake she’d made by choosing Shen Daoxing over him!

After the first bout, the next few matches proceeded without any surprises. Both Shen Mo Feng and the Ancient Sword Marquis won with ease.

The Ancient Sword Marquis defeated his opponent without even drawing his sword.

Soon, all four bouts were over.

The four who advanced were the Ancient Sword Marquis, Shen Mo Feng, Shen Daoxing, and Fang Chuan, the fourth-ranked cultivator on the Martial Arts Ranking.

Afterwards, Zhao Wufeng returned to the center of the terrace.

With a flick of his sleeve, four brocade pouches appeared in his hand. His eyes swept over Shen Daoxing, Shen Mo Feng, and Fang Chuan, and he smiled slightly. "Please come forward and draw a pouch."

Shen Daoxing leaped down from his Cloud Platform and walked up to Zhao Wufeng. He picked up a pouch, opened it, and saw the number two written inside.

CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! Suddenly, the sound of applause rang out.

Shen Daoxing turned to see Shen Mo Feng approaching from behind.

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! That was a magnificent duel. I never expected that even Sun Shufeng would be no match for you. You really know how to hide your strength, Shen Daoxing!"

Shen Mo Feng clapped as he came to stand beside Shen Daoxing. "But this is as far as you go. Your next opponent will be me!"

As he spoke, Shen Mo Feng grabbed a pouch from Zhao Wufeng, tore it open, and slammed it onto the ground. The paper inside also clearly showed the number two.

Seeing this, Shen Mo Feng shot Shen Daoxing a cold, meaningful smile.

He then looked toward Shangguan Yiran on her Cloud Platform and thought viciously, ’Shangguan Yiran, tomorrow I will make you regret your choice. One day, I will have you on your knees beneath me!’

Since Shen Daoxing’s opponent tomorrow would be Shen Mo Feng,

...it meant the remaining unlucky soul, Fang Chuan, would naturally have to face the Ancient Sword Marquis.

Once the drawing was concluded, Zhao Wufeng announced the end of the day’s bouts.

The crowd began leaping down from the Cloud Platforms.

Just as Shen Daoxing arrived back at his quarters, he saw Lv Yunsheng waiting for him at the door, dragging his heavily injured body.

"Yang, how did it go?"

Seeing Shen Daoxing, Lv Yunsheng hurried over and asked anxiously.

"I won."

Shen Daoxing said calmly.

"That’s wonderful!"

Lv Yunsheng leaped into the air with a grin, looking even happier than if he had won himself.

But the jump pulled at his injuries, and he couldn’t help but wince.

"Tomorrow, my opponent is Shen Mo Feng,"

Shen Daoxing stated.

Lv Yunsheng froze, looking at Shen Daoxing. "Yang, you..."

Shen Daoxing smiled faintly. "Don’t worry. I will avenge you."

With that, Shen Daoxing returned to his room.

Shen Daoxing went to his bed. Even with the prospect of facing Shen Mo Feng the next day, his routine was unchanged. He sat down to meditate, his one hundred and eight apertures greedily absorbing the surrounding Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi.

The Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi in the Daqian Empire was more than ten times denser than in the Martial Kingdom, which greatly accelerated his cultivation. Without realizing it, his cultivation base had already reached the peak of the Eighth Layer of the Grotto Heaven Realm, right on the verge of a breakthrough.

Night fell. The bright moon cast its glow upon the earth, and countless stars dotted the sky. Before he knew it, the night had passed.

Shen Daoxing opened his eyes and walked out of his room to find Lv Yunsheng already waiting at the door, despite his grave injuries.

Today was the day of the battle between Shen Daoxing and Shen Mo Feng; he refused to miss it, no matter how severe his injuries.

When the two of them arrived at the terrace, the Cloud Platforms on both sides were already packed. Although many disciples had been eliminated, today’s matches were crucial, and no one wanted to miss them.

On the main Cloud Platform, the disciples representing the Seven Great Sacred Mountains of the Celestial Profound Sacred Land had already taken their seats.

Zhao Wufeng walked slowly to the center of the terrace and announced the start of the day’s bouts.

However, just at that moment...

SCREEE!

A crane’s cry rang out.

An immense Xianhe emerged from the sky.