The competition was about to begin. First to enter the stage was the Dao Sect’s participant, Bai Hongtu. As a Tribulation Transcendence Stage cultivator, what kind of spectacular display would he bring to us today?
Let us wait and see. Ah, we now see Bai Hongtu—an expert of the Tribulation Transcendence Stage—shamelessly choosing the Confucian Sect Master, Dong Zhongren, who is only at the Union Stage, as his opponent! Dong Zhongren ignored Bai Hongtu’s invitation.
What should Bai Hongtu do now…
Oh!
Bai Hongtu is provoking him! Bai Hongtu is actually provoking Dong Zhongren! Those words are truly unpleasant—such shameless rudeness!
If I were up there as the host, I would not be able to hold back; I’d challenge him myself! Let’s see how the Confucian Sect Master, who excels in nourishing the qi and mind, will respond. Indeed, we can see Dong Zhongren beginning to tremble with anger…
He accepted it! Dong Zhongren has accepted the challenge! Bai Hongtu’s methods are vile, but it seems they work!
Let us applaud Dong Zhongren’s courage! Jiang Li suddenly clapped, startling the Holy Maiden Jing Xin sitting beside him. Jiang Li continued his inner commentary.
Looks like we are lucky enough to witness the Great Scholar’s “Character Talisman” of the Confucian Sect today. Dong Zhongren has taken out the Great Scholar Scripture Slip! It’s genuine, truly the Great Scholar Scripture Slip!
A genuine Immortal Artifact! Both contestants ascended into the air. Dong Zhongren seemed to be trying to reason with Bai Hongtu, urging him to give up the fight.
Let us listen to their exchange.
“This is the Immortal Artifact Appraisal Assembly—we are to compete using Immortal Artifacts. The Dao Sect’s only Immortal Artifact is being displayed on the exhibition stage. What will you use to fight?”
“You can’t say it like that. This is a competition hosted by our Dao Sect. If the Dao Sect doesn’t compete, wouldn’t that make us look irrelevant? Come, I won’t bully you—I’ll fight bare-handed against your Immortal Artifact.”
We can see Dong Zhongren still trying to persuade Bai Hongtu with righteousness. But Bai Hongtu! He actually attacked by surprise!
The match hasn’t officially started! A Tribulation Transcendence Stage cultivator ambushing one from the Union Stage! Let this host say one thing— Bai Hongtu, you ********!
Dong Zhongren is writing on the Great Scholar Scripture Slip! He wrote the character “Begone”! He’s going to paste the “Begone” Talisman on Bai Hongtu!
He succeeded!
What will Bai Hongtu do in response… He’s taking off his robe! He actually took off his Daoist robe!
His robe rolled far away! Yet Bai Hongtu remains standing where he is—unharmed! Not a scratch on him!
Marvelous!
Truly an exciting battle! Please, all cultivators in the audience, do not fight over Bai Hongtu’s Daoist robe. Dao Sect disciples, maintain order.
Though embarrassing, that robe is a Dao Artifact—please pick it up and return it. Let us return to the battle—Dong Zhongren has written another character and once again attached it to Bai Hongtu! Bai Hongtu removed yet another robe!
How many robes is he wearing! Seems like he came thoroughly prepared today! Did Dong Zhongren fail this time?
No—something’s wrong!
Bai Hongtu’s Daoist robe suddenly took on a fighting stance—it’s battling Bai Hongtu himself! So Dong Zhongren wrote the character “Battle”! The “Battle” Talisman allows any object to aid its master in combat!
Dong Zhongren pressed his advantage—writing three “War” characters in succession! We can see three “War” Talismans turning into three Golden Armored Guardians, each one at the Peak Union Stage! Let the host, Little Jiang, explain to everyone: these three Golden Armored Guardians are the Confucian Protectors.
Each Confucian disciple who breaks through the Union Stage leaves a shadow on the Great Scholar Scripture Slip. Whenever the “War” Talisman is written, those shadows transform into Protectors to safeguard the Confucian Sect. Now we see the fight growing fierce.
Bai Hongtu is in a disadvantaged position—surrounded by his own rebellious robe and three sword-wielding Golden Armored Guardians. He must also watch out for Dong Zhongren’s direct attacks! Bai Hongtu is coughing up blood!
He’s taking heavy hits! But do not worry! Those in the Tribulation Transcendence Stage can be reborn from a drop of blood—these are but superficial wounds.
Bai Hongtu strikes back! He kicks the Golden Armored Guardians away and wounds Dong Zhongren! The fight is brutal—viewers are warned, young cultivators should watch only under adult supervision.
What will Dong Zhongren do now? He writes the “Reversion” Talisman! He’s restored himself to his initial condition!
Bai Hongtu performs a Dao Art now—a massive river appears tumbling through the sky! It’s the Dao Sect’s Heaven-Tilting River Dao Art! The great river surges toward Dong Zhongren—its power terrifying!
But Dong Zhongren uses the “Containment” Talisman to absorb it completely! The battle is fiery—Bai Hongtu keeps using Dao Arts, and Dong Zhongren counters with character talismans. Their fight goes back and forth!
Forgive the host’s limited vocabulary—it’s truly beyond words. Dong Zhongren now writes the “Death” Talisman and slaps it onto Bai Hongtu’s forehead! Bai Hongtu’s Yang Spirit exits his body—he’s preparing a Soul Attack!
Can Dong Zhongren withstand it? Ah—it seems both contestants realize that this is merely an exchange duel, and their previous moves may have gone too far. They approach and shake hands—though that handshake lasts rather long…
Wait—Bai Hongtu’s veins are bulging! Dong Zhongren is holding the “Strength” Talisman in his hand! Finally, the two release their hands.
The first round ends perfectly!
“Why do I feel like your mind was quite active just now?”
Holy Maiden Jing Xin asked Jiang Li in puzzlement. It was just a vague intuition, yet she trusted it.
“Not at all,” Jiang Li replied expressionlessly.
“If they had continued fighting just now, who would’ve won?”
Holy Maiden Jing Xin changed the subject.
“Dong Zhongren fought with his full power, but Bai Hongtu was completely composed. He didn’t even use rune formations. Their difference in battle experience is too great—Dong Zhongren can’t match Bai Hongtu.”
“I remember Immortal Artifacts can bridge the gap between the Union and Tribulation stages, right?”
“You’re thinking of those that focus purely on offense, like the Othermount Stone of Penglai Immortal Island. If the Master of Penglai Island wielded the Othermount Stone, Bai Hongtu could only take hits obediently.”
“The Human Emperor thinks so highly of me?” came a gentle laugh from the side—no attempt to conceal her amused tone.
The Master of Penglai Island, Mo Ruoyu, was a beautiful woman with a stunning figure, a beauty mark by her eye, and cultivation at the Peak Union Stage. Back when Jiang Li was still in the Qi Refinement Stage, she was already the master of Penglai Island.
“Not flattery, just the truth,” Jiang Li said.
“May I ask, Island Lord Mo—do you wish to challenge the Buddhist Sect’s Brahma Tower, the Heavenly Origin Dynasty’s Ruyi Gourd, or the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty’s Sword of Past and Present?”
“The Old Buddha isn’t here, and I’ve sparred with the Ruyi Gourd plenty of times. As for the Great Zhou’s Sword of Past and Present—I’ve heard it can distort time and space, yet I’ve never faced it.”
“Ji Zhi, allow me to experience your Great Zhou’s Sword of Past and Present!”
Mo Ruoyu stood and spoke toward Ji Zhi. Ji Zhi naturally agreed. Located within the Dao Sect and blessed by national fate, he could reach only the Peak Union Stage—just perfect for a bout with Mo Ruoyu.
(End of Chapter)