Chapter 46 - Do You Dare to Battle?

Leng Yan watched Hong Luan’s battle attentively from below the arena, observing how Prince Bao gracefully dodged Sky Dog’s teleportation-like attack speed. Leng Yan was filled with astonishment!

Indeed, it is said that a person cannot be judged in the same way after a short period of absence; Prince Bao had become a formidable opponent. Moreover, his cultivation level had reached the true essence realm, and his cultivation technique was likely the blackwater emperor technique. Otherwise, he wouldn’t stand a chance against Hong Luan unless he had acquired a top-level cultivation technique from another sect.

Looking at Xuan Yi, he saw a look of triumphant cunning on his face as the two engaged. It seemed that all their encounters were orchestrated by Xuan Yi himself. However, what frustrated Leng Yan was the question: wasn’t it said that even the main sect Elders found it difficult to learn the blackwater emperor technique? What was happening now?

Leng Yan was perplexed, wondering what Xuan Yi was scheming and whether his presence in the outer attendant pavilion was to select qualified individuals for the Xuanwu Hall. This cave heavens contained too many secrets, and everything seemed to be part of a plan. Now dragged into the situation, Leng Yan realized he must quickly increase his strength to avoid being manipulated.

While Leng Yan was lost in thought, the two on stage had exchanged hundreds of blows.

Sky Dog continued to chase Prince Bao relentlessly, but Prince Bao always managed to evade at seemingly the most dangerous moments.

“Hong Luan, do you have no other moves? If not, I’ll make my move!” Prince Bao waved his folding fan, and a gigantic fan flew into the air. With a sweep, a gust of wind surged, containing thousands of arrows that pierced Sky Dog’s body.

“Aooo-”

Sky Dog, wounded, howled in agony, but its eyes remained fierce, charging once more.

“Water Dragon Technique!” Frustrated by her failed attacks, Hong Luan hastily conjured three water dragons, directing them at Prince Bao.

The three water dragons soared and intertwined with impressive might. Prince Bao, smiling slightly, dodged Sky Dog’s attack again and then unleashed three water dragons of his own.

“Boom! Boom!”

The water dragons collided with a thunderous explosion, causing even the water curtain barrier surrounding the arena to tremble slightly.

“Kui Snake, come forth!” Prince Bao’s smile disappeared, his expression turning serious as he channeled spiritual power into his folding fan. A black Kui Snake swiftly moved across the fan, its black scales emitting a rustling sound. Remarkably, the snake’s head bore a white unicorn horn-the very one Leng Yan had given to Sun Qian and the others.

The Kui Snake emerged from the fan, its body stretching about seventy feet long and as thick as a decade-old tree trunk. Its two fangs resembled daggers, gleaming with a chilling light.

As soon as the Kui Snake appeared, it confronted Sky Dog. It opened its mouth and let out a hiss, creating a foul wind as its head reared up to launch an attack at Sky Dog.

The Kui Snake was also a ferocious beast from ancient times, its venom exceptionally potent, making it a match for Sky Dog.

Sky Dog spread its wings and flew into the air to evade the Kui Snake’s assault. However, the Kui Snake leaped like a towering pillar, rising to bite at Sky Dog in midair.

Due to the constraints of the water curtain barrier, Sky Dog could not fly too high, and the twenty-foot range was within the Kui Snake’s reach. A deadly battle unfolded on the arena between the demonic beast and the ferocious beast.

Meanwhile, Hong Luan and Prince Bao, having expended a significant amount of magical power to summon their weapon spirits, were left to engage in a physical confrontation.

Both were the hopes of the Royal Family, seeing each other as rivals from a young age. On the arena, every step was a lethal move aimed at taking the other’s life.

Their strengths were not vastly different. In terms of cultivation level, Prince Bao was slightly superior at the initial stage of the true essence realm. Both used the Xuanwu Ice Heart Technique and the blackwater emperor technique. Hong Luan possessed a middle-grade treasure tool, while Prince Bao’s was a low-grade treasure tool, making their abilities fairly balanced.

The howling of the greedy wolf and the roaring of the Kui Snake marked an epic battle between two weapon spirits, filled with biting, entangling, and bloody scenes that were abnormally gruesome. Yet this primal form of battle stirred the battle intent and passion in the spectators’ hearts.

Compared to the clash of weapon spirits, the evasive attacks of Hong Luan and Prince Bao with sword shadows and fan flashes were thrilling all the same.

“Is this really the strength of the magical power realm? Senior Sister Hong Luan and Prince Bao are clearly destined to be sect elites in the future; they’re truly incredible!” exclaimed an outer disciple watching the battle on stage, his face full of admiration.

“Indeed impressive! If Elder Xuan Yi chooses me to impart the blackwater emperor technique and the Xuanwu Ice Heart Technique, I will surely surpass them,” another young man said arrogantly.

Leng Yan was also watching the battle from below the arena. He hadn’t expected the weapon spirits to possess such formidable combat power. Leng Yan had always thought that weapon spirits merely connected with the magical treasure and had never used magical power to truly summon them.

“Bang!”

A loud crash brought Leng Yan’s thoughts back to the arena, where he saw green blood flowing from Sky Dog, evidently bitten and thrown by the Kui Snake.

The Kui Snake, being highly venomous itself, had poisoned Sky Dog, bringing it to the brink of death. If Sky Dog’s physical body perished, its spirit would dissipate, and the Greedy Wolf Sword would lose its power.

With Sky Dog injured, Hong Luan’s face showed disbelief. She quickly withdrew, driving the Kui Snake back with a sword strike, and declared with a grim face, “I concede!”

“Hmph! Wise decision,” scoffed Prince Bao, a silver needle grasped in his hand, appearing ready to take the opportunity to kill Hong Luan. However, he hadn’t expected her to surrender so quickly. Since Hong Luan conceded, any further lethal attempts would be intercepted by the elders, preventing harm to her and bringing disgrace upon himself.

Seeing Prince Bao pause, Hong Luan looked towards Elder Xuan Yi, her eyes pleading for help. Elder Xuan Yi smiled softly, and a blue elixir transformed into a rain of medicine, falling upon Sky Dog. In no time, Sky Dog stood again, its wolf eyes glaring defiantly at the Kui Snake, as if unwilling to accept defeat.

“Prince Bao, when did your Kui Snake become so powerful to give me such a loss?” Hong Luan asked, relieved that Sky Dog was unharmed.

“Haha! Indeed, when you were gathering intelligence, my Kui Snake was no match for your Sky Dog. But I searched everywhere for heavenly materials and earthly treasures to enhance the Kui Snake’s strength. Now, your Sky Dog can no longer compete with it!” Prince Bao replied smugly.

“Fine, I have nothing to say about losing to you this time. But there’s always a next time; we’ll see,” Hong Luan said angrily as she called back Sky Dog, sheathed her Greedy Wolf Sword, and stepped down from the arena.

Feeling triumphant after sending Hong Luan off, Prince Bao shifted his gaze to Leng Yan, his lips curling into a cold smile, “Do you dare to battle?”

“Prince Bao’s words are certainly full of swagger. Leng Yan originally didn’t intend to step onto the arena so soon. Facing multiple matches one after another wouldn’t be worth it, even if he won. But now, since Prince Bao has singled him out, refusing to battle would brand him a coward!”

“Battle! As cultivators, what do we fear about a battle?”

With a smile on his face, Leng Yan walked steadily onto the arena, locking eyes with Prince Bao.

“Who is this guy? I’ve never seen him before. He actually dares to accept Prince Bao’s challenge. Is he tired of living?”

“Exactly! Look at Prince Bao’s last battle; it’s obvious he didn’t use his full strength. This guy must not know his place!”

“You’re so superficial! I can’t even gauge his cultivation level. He might be someone formidable.”

“Hmph! Just putting on a mysterious act! Watch and see, he’ll definitely lose miserably!”

Leng Yan rarely appeared within the sect, so few people recognized him. As for those who had witnessed his strength, they were either dead or severely injured.

Hearing the discussions about him, Leng Yan smiled calmly. This battle needed to be inspiring, a battle that would let everyone know who he was.

This confrontation would be a battle of unmatched momentum, one that would leave Prince Bao unable to hold his head high.

“So eager to lose?” Leng Yan said with a smile.

“Even after so long, you’re still as arrogant as ever! Today, I’ll make sure you leave without your legs, to avenge my subordinates!” Prince Bao said with malice.

“Is that so? That makes it all the more interesting! Since you want my legs, I’ll take your eyes!” Leng Yan said, standing with his hands behind his back, exuding an aura of unmatched dominance.

Feeling Leng Yan’s imposing presence, Prince Bao was taken aback but quickly responded with a cold smile, “Fine! Let’s see if you can take my eyes!”

Upon hearing their wager, the audience erupted in discussion. Some admired Leng Yan’s courage, while others thought he was extremely arrogant.

“This guy is so arrogant! He actually wants Prince Bao’s eyes! I wonder if he really has the ability!” an inner disciple scoffed, clearly doubting Leng Yan and considering him arrogant and self-important.