Chapter 1317: Azure Dragon
Chapter 1316: Azure Dragon
Little Senior Brother has already grown up—the once beef-jerky–loving fool who clamored to recognize someone else’s mother as his godmother—now he is a white-robed, dragonlike youth, a peerless heavenly prodigy…
Only, his white robes are stained with blood…
And his Fate Pattern has already become a trapped-dragon deathlock…
The Huá Clan has already… completely sealed him in…
Layers upon layers of illusion formations, trapping formations, and karmic deadlocks have firmly imprisoned Bai Zisheng within this solitary peak of a Second-Rank Lesser Black Tortoise Mountain Realm
…
Even the mountain itself—in secret resonance with the Black Tortoise—is terrain that is easy to defend and hard to breach…
Everything seems to have been calculated in advance…
And this time, the layout of illusions and Causal bindings is more precise, more airtight than ever before…
Clearly, before this, the Huá Clan had been “holding back”…
Pressuring Bai Zisheng bit by bit…
Now that the map has been fully revealed, they’ve finally gotten serious…
Against a Foundation Establishment cultivator—no matter how strong he is—this is already a certain death trap…
Not to mention that within this encirclement there are two Feathered Ascension cultivators presiding, dozens of Golden Core cultivators standing guard, over a hundred heavenly prodigies from great aristocratic clans launching a joint purge, and countless Dao soldiers suppressing the field…
And Bai Zisheng, trapped within layer upon layer of encirclement, is already nearing his limit…
Like a weary, cornered beast…
Only his defiant gaze still carries the youthful spirit—bright beyond measure— and faintly, there are still traces of that hot-blooded youth from years past…
“Little Senior Brother…”
Mo Hua’s heart clenched, his palm unconsciously tightening…
Yet on the surface, he still had to feign indifference, wearing the look of a bystander watching from across the river…
At present, he was in a temporarily erected open-air encampment…
True Person Huá and True-Person Zhuge sat in elevated seats, with a crowd of heavenly prodigies seated below…
And now—after truly trapping Bai Zisheng—True Person Huá did not rush to close the net…
Instead, he looked toward the gathered aristocratic youths and asked:
“May I ask whether any young prodigy is willing to take down this lust-blinded sinner who has slaughtered his fellow Dao Court comrades?”
The field fell silent for a moment…
A thought flashed through Mo Hua’s mind, and he immediately understood: The Huá Clan wants to “kill with a borrowed blade.”
This trap was set by the Huá Clan; if they personally dealt the killing blow, it would be far too obvious, anyone with eyes would grow suspicious…
Therefore, they want to use the hands of other aristocratic prodigies to kill Little Senior Brother…
First, it accords with Dao Court law, everyone would be acting under Dao Court orders, leaving the Bai Clan little ground to pursue responsibility…
Second, if enough aristocratic youths take part, the law does not punish the masses, no matter how powerful the Bai Clan is, they likely wouldn’t dare offend so many great clans over Bai Zisheng alone, lest they incur public outrage…
They want to kill Little Senior Brother, yet aren’t even willing to dirty their own hands…
“This True Person Huá, he looks refined, but his heart is truly vicious…”
Mo Hua frowned.
Once True Person Huá finished speaking, the hall of prodigies began to stir with restless intent…
Bai Zisheng was under a Dao Court kill order. Whether killing or capturing him, there would be massive merit to claim…
But merit was secondary…
What truly mattered was reputation.
Aristocratic youths more often than not lack neither wealth nor resources; the one thing they lack is a name…
To stand out among a crowd of geniuses, to defeat the “monster” of the Ancestral Dragon Bai Clan, the direct-line core prodigy Bai Zisheng, and to do so openly, righteously executing a traitor, this would bring immense prestige…
With such renown, one would leave their mark within the Dao Court…
Among peers, they would possess an extraordinary reputation…
Within their clan, even the ancestors would look upon them with new favor…
Add to that the fact that they were all young geniuses, hot-blooded and proud, none willing to bow to another—now with such a golden opportunity for fame and gain placed before them, how could they possibly let it pass?
Even knowing there was something fishy behind it all, they didn’t care…
To aristocratic youths, fame is profit.
Competition within great clans is brutally fierce—if you don’t make a name, if you don’t rise in rank, you get trampled by others…
Especially for geniuses—if you don’t accomplish something eye-catching, if you don’t bring glory to the clan, then the pile of clan members beneath your feet would love nothing more than to drag you down…
This was an open scheme.
But as long as there was benefit to be gained, no one minded…
Only, there was still one problem…
A prodigy of the Yuwen family of Dao Province, Yuwen Hua, dressed in blue-and-white Dao robes, spoke up:
“Shall we all go together and kill this Bai Zisheng?”
The crowd frowned…
Someone else said, “All of us together, wouldn’t that be a bit dishonorable?”
“And after killing him, whose head does it count as?”
They didn’t really care about honor; they were worried about splitting the spoils.
Previously, Bai Zisheng’s crimes weren’t that serious; the order above was merely to “apprehend,” so it didn’t matter if everyone acted together—as long as he was captured, it was fine.
Now, however, Bai Zisheng’s actions were extremely egregious, his charges far graver, defeating or killing him would surely bring great renown…
This honor… they each wanted to monopolize…
If they acted together, there would be endless disputes, and it wouldn’t sound glorious afterward either…
“Then… a Gauntlet Rotation Battle? Whoever kills Bai Zisheng, it counts as theirs?”
“That’s not very fair either, those who go first suffer the most…”
“There’s no better solution, a group fighting one person is awkward no matter how you put it…”
“Gauntlet Rotation Battle then, it tests strength and luck alike. Cultivation itself relies on fortune as well; in the end, whoever defeats Bai Zisheng claims the primary merit.”
“That works…”
“No objections. Cultivation is about advancing upward, about wrestling fate from the heavens. Where does fairness come into it?”
“Good!”
Someone else added, “We’re killing Bai Zisheng to uphold the dignity of the Dao Court and seek justice for Brother Huangfu who died. Since that’s the case, as long as Bai Zisheng is executed, that’s enough. Who wins and kills him in the end is a minor matter, no need to fuss over it…”
The prodigies’ eyes gleamed, ambition flickering within, yet they all nodded.
“That makes sense…”
“United in purpose, unconcerned with fame…”
“Then… who goes first?”
They looked at one another, no one moving…
At a time like this, whoever went first was at the greatest disadvantage…
After a moment, one person stepped forward from the crowd, long sword in hand:
“I am Lu Sheng of the Lu family of Kun Province, I am willing to test myself against Bai Zisheng.”
The crowd’s expressions turned solemn; they cupped their hands in return.
“Much obliged…”
Lu Sheng activated his movement technique, charged up the mountain peak, reached Bai Zisheng’s front, announced his name, thrust out a single sword, and was immediately flipped away by Bai Zisheng’s spear.
Lu Sheng was defeated, arm bleeding, and returned to the crowd, sighing:
“This fiend is too strong. Lu is no match for him, it is my shame…”
The crowd’s expressions were complicated, but no one said much…
Everyone could tell, Lu Sheng’s strength was average; he was never going to be Bai Zisheng’s opponent…
Lu Sheng himself knew this perfectly well…
He had simply gambled, clinging to a sliver of luck, hoping to seize an opening in a fight with Bai Zisheng…
Now that the gamble had failed, he felt disappointed, but not dejected…
In this world, someone must serve as a “stepping stone.”
Among so many prodigies, with powerful cultivation and illustrious backgrounds beyond count, it was never going to be his turn
to claim Bai Zisheng’s head…
He knew it—his fate was that of a “stepping stone.”
But even as a stepping stone, one must be the first—a stepping stone with a name, one people remember…
For aristocratic youths, fame is painfully hard to obtain…
So when a chance appears, you must seize it and make the effort…
Mo Hua glanced at Lu Sheng a second time…
Lu Sheng retreated into the crowd.
Soon, other disciples realized the same, they couldn’t compete with the true prodigies; they too were destined to be “stepping stones”…
And so, one after another, aristocratic youths announced their names and went up the mountain to kill Bai Zisheng…
But none of them were his match…
(TN: Lu Sheng indeed proved his point. So many “stepping stone” came after him, yet the author didn’t even name them.)
Before Bai Zisheng, a “hexagon monster” of integrated offense and defense, with terrifying vitality, these ordinary prodigies were fated to be defeated in just a few spear strikes…
Though Mo Hua had already known of Little Senior Brother’s past exploits, seeing with his own eyes the combat power Little Senior Brother now displayed still left him deeply shaken…
No wonder the Huá Clan wanted to carve Little Senior Brother into pieces…
With such cultivation—it was indeed too solid, too strong…
“Ordinary” prodigies couldn’t even injure Bai Zisheng…
All they could do was exhaust a bit of his stamina and spiritual power, making wedding clothes for someone else…
And Bai Zisheng was indeed being worn down…
Already exhausted from continuous flight and bitter battles, Bai Zisheng—who was utterly spent to begin with—the weariness in his eyes deepened further…
Yet he still thrust his spear again and again, fighting these prodigies head-on, one after another, out of the arena…
No one knew how long it went on, nor how many “stepping stones” were defeated.
The “stepping stones” were used up.
At this moment, those remaining in the arena were all Heaven’s Chosen with real status and reputation.
From the Qianxue Prefecture Realm, Dao Province, and even a few from the other Nine Provinces—all were present.
The lives of these people were no longer the lives of mere “stepping stones.”
No one was willing to make wedding clothes for others.
Everyone wanted to fight for a name of their own.
Yuwen Hua said with a faint smile, “What’s this?? Your Qianxue Prefecture Realm claims to be a flourishing land of cultivation,
with Heaven’s Chosen as numerous as clouds—yet not a single one dares to go up and take down this Bai Zisheng??”
Feng Zichen glanced at him and sneered, “And you Heaven’s Chosen from Dao Province—don’t you also claim to be peerless under heaven? Yet you don’t dare to fight Bai Zisheng either??”
Yuwen Hua gave a cold, arrogant smile. “A mere Bai Zisheng, nothing more.”
Feng Zichen said, “Then why don’t you go up and fight him??”
Yuwen Hua replied, “Why don’t you—”
Before he could finish speaking, a Heaven’s Chosen whose entire body looked as if cast from vajra steel stepped forward.
It was Shi Tiangang of the Vajra Gate.
“I’ll go.”
Feng Zichen frowned. “Brother Shi…”
Shi Tiangang shook his head. “I’ve long wanted to fight Bai Zisheng one-on-one, to decide victory and defeat.”
Feng Zichen sighed softly in his heart, his face full of guilt.
Shi Tiangang said nothing more. He strode straight onto the battlefield and activated the Vajra Indestructible Art.
His whole body was like an undying Vajra, as he clashed head-on with Bai Zisheng, whose spear moved like a white dragon.
Shi Tiangang’s body-refinement cultivation was already extremely strong, and he practiced a top-tier body-refinement technique.
Even Bai Zisheng could not take him down in a short time.
For a while, the two fought until heaven and earth seemed to darken. Seeing this, those outside the arena all wore grave expressions.
After a fierce battle, Shi Tiangang was ultimately defeated.
His defense was indeed formidable, but Bai Zisheng was hardly inferior.
And Bai Zisheng’s spiritual roots were better, his blood vitality even thicker than Shi Tiangang’s.
In terms of killing power, the defense-focused Vajra Indestructible Art was far inferior to Bai Zisheng’s white-dragon-like spear.
Shi Tiangang could not kill Bai Zisheng, but Bai Zisheng could kill him.
Shi Tiangang’s Vajra Indestructible Art was forcibly shattered by Bai Zisheng’s peerless spear momentum.
If the fight continued, he would surely be killed by Bai Zisheng.
Shi Tiangang did not force it.
He withdrew from the battlefield on his own and returned to the military camp.
“I am ashamed… I am no match for him.”
He said only this one sentence, then sat back down.
The others looked at one another.
Finally, on the Dao Province side, another body-refinement Heaven’s Chosen stepped forward and said, “I’ll also go and meet this Bai Zisheng.”
After going up, he fought Bai Zisheng for over three hundred exchanges before being defeated and retreating.
After that, someone from the Qianxue side went up.
Then again, a Heaven’s Chosen from Dao Province.
The two sides seemed to have formed a tacit understanding, taking turns sending people onto the field.
Yet everyone’s mood had grown increasingly complicated.
These Heaven’s Chosen had graduated from their sects only about ten years ago.
In their hearts, they still retained the youthful spirit of rivalry and contention, yet at the same time, they had begun to acquire the worldly calculation of great clans seeking profit.
These two emotions coexisted in their hearts, intertwining with one another.
Many of them, wanted both, to face Bai Zisheng head-on and compete for supremacy, yet also felt that striking first was truly foolish. Let the snipe and clam fight while the fisherman reaps the benefit—maximizing one’s own interests was the wisest choice.
Hot-blooded youth but foolish; refined selfishness but despicable…
These two dispositions began to split within the hearts of these recently graduated disciples, profoundly affecting their Dao-hearts, and subtly altering the paths of their lives.
Mo Hua silently watched all of this, saying nothing.
Suddenly, a crisp, bell-like voice rang by his ear: “Who do you think will win?”
Mo Hua turned his head and saw Huá Pīng, dressed in a splendid gold-and-jade gown, sitting beside him.
As she spoke, her earrings swayed, and her body leaned a little closer to his.
These words, in the originally quiet military camp, seemed somewhat abrupt.
Quite a few people turned their gazes toward Mo Hua and toward Huá Pīng beside him, and also noticed the two’s seemingly “intimate” posture.
Jealousy flashed through many hearts.
Before Mo Hua could speak, at that very moment—Among the Heaven’s Chosen, a noble-born disciple said slowly with a hint of arrogance:
“This young master… could you be Mo Hua?”
Mo Hua turned to look and saw a man wearing a golden embroidered Daoist robe, a treasured sword at his waist, with dignified brows and eyes: Xuanyuan Jing.
A direct descendant of the Xuanyuan Clan of Dao Province, top-grade spiritual roots, an absolute Heaven’s Chosen.
Previously, Xuanyuan Jing had been staring intently at Bai Zisheng, studying his moves, never distracted in the slightest.
Only when Huá Pīng leaned close to Mo Hua to speak did a trace of displeasure flash through his eyes.
Women really are a huge nuisance…
Mo Hua thought to himself, then casually nodded.
“I am Mo Hua.”
Xuanyuan Jing carefully sized Mo Hua up, then frowned and said, “You… are you the one from the rumors… the Qianxue Formation Dao Champion, the number one in the Sword-Debate Tournament??”
Mo Hua was slightly surprised. “You know my great name too??”
Xuanyuan Jing fell silent.
Yuwen Hua, however, could not stand Mo Hua’s brazen manner and sneered, “If you’re really the Formation Dao Champion and number one of the Sword-Debate Tournament, why don’t you go up there and trade a few moves with Bai Zisheng? Let us see just how impressive you really are?”
Mo Hua glanced at True-Person Zhuge.
True-Person Zhuge also returned a calm look, clearly meaning: don’t cause trouble.
Mo Hua sighed and said, “It’s not that I don’t want to… it’s that it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to make a move…”
Mo Hua raised his head, looked at the hall full of Heaven’s Chosen, and said calmly:
“The moment I make a move, this mere Bai Zisheng will be taken down immediately. Then none of you will have any chance at all.”
The camp fell deathly silent for an instant, then erupted in an uproar.
“What an arrogant brat!!”
“What a Mo Hua—utterly shameless!!”
“Who does he think he is??”
Shameless!!
…
The Heaven’s Chosen of the Qianxue Prefecture Realm were also angry, but in truth, they were used to it.
They knew Mo Hua had always been like this, so their reactions weren’t that intense.
But the Heaven’s Chosen of Dao Province, speaking with Mo Hua for the first time, were utterly incensed.
True-Person Zhuge couldn’t help but rub his forehead.
This kid… that cursed mouth of his… it’s really like it’s been poisoned and stuffed with explosives…
Later on, should he think of a way to sew this little ancestor’s mouth shut too?
Yuwen Hua sneered coldly,
“Such big words—why don’t you go up and fight Bai Zisheng yourself and see what happens? If he doesn’t stab you to death with one spear, I’ll write my name backwards.”
Mo Hua shook his head.
“Your name was given by your parents, don’t joke around with it.”
“Besides, I already said it. Once I make a move, you won’t have any chance. I’m giving you an opportunity, don’t be ungrateful…”
These words were like pouring oil onto fire, instantly blowing up all the Dao Province Heaven’s Chosen.
“Outrageous!!”
“How absurd…!”
“Take a look at yourself first, what kind of thing do you think you are??”
“You really think we’re blind? Intermediate-Lower Grade spiritual roots, feeble blood qi, paltry spiritual power—and with that, you dare call yourself the Number One of the Sword Debate Tournament??”
“If the Qianxue Prefecture Realm lets someone like this be champion, then it really has no hope left…”
“When there’s no tiger in the mountains, even a clown calls himself king…”
Xuanyuan Jing couldn’t help but look toward Xiao Ruohan, Ao Zheng, and the others from the four great sects, his face filled with disbelief.
“Don’t tell me, this is your Qianxue champion? You were all defeated by this guy?”
Xiao Ruohan, Ao Zheng, and the others stiffened, unable to say a word.
Mo Hua said calmly, “Those are matters of past, no need to bring them up again.”
He wore the expression of a hero who doesn’t boast of past glory; old achievements weren’t worth hanging on his lips.
Xiao Ruohan, Ao Zheng, and the others ground their teeth in hatred.
Clearly it was this brat who brought it up every single day…
Xuanyuan Jing looked at Mo Hua, shook his head, and in his disappointment there was a trace of absurdity.
So much for living up to one’s reputation…
The famous Qianxue Prefecture Sword Debate Tournament, it seemed it was nothing more than child’s play.
If someone like this could be champion, then the “gold content’ was truly far too low…
Xuanyuan Jing said nothing more.
But the other prodigies, stirred up by Mo Hua’s few casual remarks, continued their heated discussions.
True-Person Zhuge sighed, already calculating in his heart how many steps it would take to sew Mo Hua’s mouth shut.
True-Person Huá watched everything unfold, yet didn’t take it to heart at all.
His attention remained fixed on the mountain peak, On Bai Zisheng, who stood alone against the heroes, bearing a dragon’s bearing and phoenix grace.
Just then, the battle atop the mountain ended once more.
Bai Zisheng swept his spear horizontally, smashing a Dao Province prodigy to the ground.
That person spat out a mouthful of blood, face full of resentment, and retreated.
The camp fell silent for a moment.
Xiao Ruohan of the Heavenly Sword Sect stepped forward through the crowd and said:
“Let me do it.”
He hadn’t intended to act so soon.
But provoked by Mo Hua, he suddenly felt ashamed.
Back then, he had lost to Mo Hua. Ten years had passed. For a bit of fame and profit, had he really lost even the courage to face a true expert head-on?
What’s more, this was right in front of Mo Hua…
He could lose the battle, but he could not lose face.
Xiao Ruohan no longer hesitated. Sword qi surged through his body as he strode proudly onto the battlefield.
He activated the Heavenly Sword Sect’s Nine Heavenly Sword Forms and began a head-on clash with Bai Zisheng.
Dragon-Returning Spear Art
Against the Nine Heavenly Sword Forms.
This was a true clash of top-tier prodigies.
Xiao Ruohan’s swordsmanship—even among the former top four great sects, within the Heavenly Sword Sect famed above all for sword arts—could be said to rank among the very best, surpassed only slightly by his fellow disciple Xiao Wuchen.
But Xiao Wuchen was a bloodline prodigy, bearer of the Heavenly Sword Bloodline.
Xiao Ruohan was not.
He possessed no bloodline power, and thus had no place among the ‘Four Peerless Prodigies of Qianxue.’
If not for that, then purely in terms of sword mastery, he and Xiao Wuchen were actually evenly matched.
Within the Nine Heavenly Sword Forms, the most ethereal and traceless move:
“Heaven-Descending Sword Strike”
In this generation of Heavenly Sword Sect disciples, only Xiao Ruohan had comprehended it.
Thus, when Xiao Ruohan relied on Heaven-Descending Sword Strike to decide victory with Bai Zisheng atop Lesser Black Tortoise Mountain realm, mountains and rivers shattered, and the momentum was terrifying.
Sword qi pierced the heavens, spear shadows danced wildly.
This was true slaughter between real experts.
Not only did the prodigies in the hall change color at the sight, even some Golden Core cultivators maintaining the formations, watching these peak Foundation Establishment prodigies fight to the death, felt a faint sense of inferiority stir in their hearts.
After a brutal exchange, Xiao Ruohan was ultimately defeated.
His Nine Heavenly Sword Forms could not overcome Bai Zisheng’s Dragon-Returning Spear Art.
Xiao Ruohan’s face was pale, blood at the corner of his lips, as he retreated in defeat.
On the other side, Bai Zisheng who was already nearing the end of his strength, had his aura grew even weaker after battling Xiao Ruohan.
Just as some people looked dejected, others delighted, and restlessly prepared to act.
In the next instant, Bai Zisheng drew in a deep breath. Within his defiant eyes, light suddenly flared.
At the same time, within his meridians, a faint dragon’s roar—enough to make one’s heart tremble—resounded.
A powerful bloodline force was forcibly drawn out from his very origin.
His figure grew several inches taller, his frame long and vigorous; his hair turned half-white.
Upon his hands and feet, faint scales appeared.
Within his pitch-black eyes lingered an unfathomable dragon might.
Holding his long spear, Bai Zisheng seemed, for a moment, like the incarnation of an Azure Dragon.
A terrifying majesty swept over the entire mountaintop like a raging gale.
Azure Dragon Body!!
Xiao Ruohan, through his crushing defeat, had forced out the monster Bai Zisheng’s 【Second Phase】.
Everyone present felt a chill in their hearts.
Even the ever-composed True-Person Huá, upon seeing Bai Zisheng’s powerful and exquisitely beautiful Azure Dragon form, had his eyes flare with brilliant light, revealing an unmistakable hunger.