WHOOSH!
The massive mushroom cloud roiled with a terrifying clash of energies. Dust and smoke billowed, flas filled the sky, and there was even the roar of thunder and lightning.
The air in the surrounding space was scorched incredibly hot, like a volcano...
Boulders, set ablaze, turned fiery red and rained down from the sky like countless teors streaking across the firmant. They struck the ground with a series of deafening crashes, bringing another wave of utter devastation to the Ancient City Ruins. Dust and smoke rolled everywhere, painting a bleak, post-battle scene.
One could only imagine how brutal the preceding battle had been.
THUD!
A figure was sent flying out in a sorry state, like a falling star, crashing heavily into the ruins.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
The mushroom cloud continued to rage, and it would still be so ti before it completely dissipated.
But a golden figure erged from the mushroom cloud right after. His body was wreathed in a suit of ancient-looking Golden Flowing Light Armor, and in his hand, he held a Coiling Dragon Long Spear that glinted with silver light. As he strode forward, the raging energy storms that crashed against him only produced crisp, tallic clangs.
This person was, of course, Hong Yu!
He walked straight up to Hong Gang. The Breaking Army Spear traced a graceful, silvery arc, its sharp tip coming to rest against Hong Gang's neck. "Move again, and I'll slit your throat and send you out of here."
"You..."
Hong Gang's face flushed red. He made to rise, but a cold sensation on his neck told him the skin had been pierced. His throat bobbed, but in the end, he remained still.
His gaze was no longer calm.
Instead, it was filled with venom and hatred. He spat through clenched teeth, "I never would have thought a lowly mber of a side branch like you could make it this far."
"There's a lot you never would have thought," Hong Yu said calmly.
Hong Gang nodded, then a sneer spread across his face. "But there is one thing I'm absolutely sure of!"
"Oh?"
Hong Yu regarded him with interest.
The venom in Hong Gang's eyes slowly transford into a cold, wanton cruelty. His sinister voice was like the grating sound of blades sharpening, enough to set one's teeth on edge. "You've offended our Heaven and Earth Alliance, which ans you're destined to have no future in the Cyan Nether Sword Sect... No, you could even say you'll have no future in the entire Fengyue Kingdom."
After a pause, he continued, "Don't think you can attract the attention of the higher-ups just by performing exceptionally well. I'll tell you the truth: Brother Jie has already broken through to the Celestial Soul Realm."
"He's about to challenge for the position of Chief Disciple. Once he succeeds, no one in the entire sect will be able to protect you unless you beco a Direct Disciple of the Sect Leader. Hong Yu, I admit you're outstanding, but you're also tragic. From the mont you stepped into the Sword Sect, it was destined that no amount of effort would ever change your fate."
Hong Gang suddenly burst out laughing, completely unrestrained. "Brother Jie's power is beyond your imagination! Hahaha! Pathetic. You're truly a pathetic creature! You think you can change everything through hard work, but you have no idea that in the face of absolute power, all effort is futile..."
Hong Yu watched him, his expression calm the entire ti.
"Are you finished?"
"Huh?"
Hong Gang froze.
He had expected Hong Yu to fly into a thunderous rage after hearing all that, but looking at him now, he seed incredibly calm.
Hong Yu let out a long breath, his gaze as sharp and resolute as ever.
"In life, we face many things we can choose and many we cannot. I couldn't choose my parents, and I couldn't choose my talent or birth. But I can choose whether to sink into despair or to rise to the challenge. Maybe you're right. Maybe I'm no match for Hong Renjie, and maybe no amount of effort will change that. But one thing will never change: I am who I am. Once I've set my sights on a goal, I will press forward relentlessly!"
The corners of Hong Yu's mouth slowly curved upward, his confidence as brilliant as a sumr flower. "A person's life is bound to have many ties—family, loved ones, friends. As long as I hold these precious things in my heart, then no one can block my path forward! Not you, and not Hong Renjie!"
The mont he finished speaking, Hong Yu's arm thrust slightly forward.
PSH!
Blood splattered as the Breaking Army Spear pierced through Hong Gang's neck.
Hong Gang's body trembled. A trace of confusion and bewildernt flickered in his eyes, but it was overshadowed by a deep unwillingness to accept his fate as his body gradually faded into nothingness.
...
「Cyan Nether Main Peak.」
"Huh, why have Hong Yu's points stopped moving?"
"His points are locked at 19,000, ranking him tenth. That's an incredible achievent. Even if he were eliminated now, he'd still secure a spot in the top twenty."
"This year's promotion tournant is full of surprises! First, there was Ling Tian's powerful rise, then the Outer Sect's Guo Fei shot into the top five. Now there's this Hong Yu... Brilliant, truly brilliant!"
"Quick, look! Hong Gang's na, ranked sixth, just turned gray! H-He's been eliminated! Holy crap, Hong Gang is the third-ranked True Disciple! How could he have been eliminated so quickly? Did he run into Feng Xue Xin and the others?"
"No, it wasn't Feng Xue Xin. Look! Hong Yu! It was Hong Yu!"
"My heavens! Th-This guy just shot up by five thousand points, reaching twenty-four thousand! He jumped from tenth place to seventh!"
A wave of gasps and shouts rolled through the crowd like a surging tide.
Each one louder than the last.
Moreover, based on the significant changes on the points leaderboard, Hong Gang had just been eliminated, and Hong Yu had gained five thousand points. It was obvious that Hong Yu was the one who had eliminated Hong Gang from the Cyan Cloud Secret Realm.
Compared to the shock of Hong Yu's sudden rise, Hong Gang was an absolute powerhouse who had been famous for years. With just his sword, he had carved out a brilliant reputation for Sword Cultivators in the Cyan Nether Sword Sect. It was widely acknowledged that Hong Gang's strength was second only to Feng Xue Xin and Hong Renjie. Even the fourth-ranked True Disciple was no match for him!
But now, he had actually been eliminated.
And by an Outer Sect Disciple, no less?
The shock from this drastic reversal of expectations was as great as a landslide or a tsunami.
Of course, the ones who found this fact hardest to accept were the Fourth and Fifth Elders of the Hong Family.
The two of them exchanged a look, both seeing the deep disbelief and shock in the other's eyes. "H-How is this possible? Hong Yu eliminated Hong Gang? Is there so kind of mistake?"
"Damn it! What's gotten into that Hong Yu? How did he get so strong?"
The Fifth Elder's expression was utterly foul.
Of the Four Kings, both Hong Gang and Hong Long had now been eliminated, and the most mysterious one, Hong Lingtong, hadn't even participated in the promotion tournant. Only Hong Renjie remained. For the Fourth and Fifth Elders, who had been hoping for all three to shine brightly, the disappointnt was imnse.
In stark contrast, the Third Elder, Hong Tianduan, was beaming. He eyed the other two with a grin and said with a mock sigh of consolation, "Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, don't you worry too much. This is just the first round of trials, isn't it? Relax, there will be more chances later!"
"Don't you get too smug, Third Brother," the Fourth Elder shot back, slapping Hong Tianduan's hand away and glaring at him furiously.
The Fifth Elder's face was also grim. He snorted coldly. "Don't think that just because you have Hong Yu, your faction's situation will change. I'm telling you, as long as Renjie is still in the ga, you'll never be able to turn the tables. Hmph. Just you wait. There's a huge gap between Hong Gang and Renjie. The day Renjie makes his move will be the day your precious hope, Hong Yu, is crushed."
"Hmph!"
Hong Tianduan gave a cold snort and said no more.
This string of failures had caused the Fourth and Fifth Elders to drop even the most basic pretense, tearing away all semblance of cordiality.
Hong Tianduan clenched his fists, his gaze flickering. 'Hong Yu, oh, Hong Yu,' he thought, 'you absolutely cannot let down!'
...
After killing Hong Gang, Hong Yu's expression showed no signs of relaxation.
His sharp brows knitted together, his expression somber and grave as he muttered to himself, 'Hong Renjie actually broke through to the Celestial Soul Realm? With my current strength, I'm definitely not his match. My points have reached twenty-four thousand, which should probably get into the top ten. But at this level, I'll likely only attract the attention of so Elders, and that's clearly not enough...'
Becoming an Elder's disciple was an extrely distinguished status.
Of that, there was no doubt!
It wasn't that Hong Yu looked down on the position, but his current circumstances dictated that becoming an Elder's disciple wouldn't solve the problems he faced.
The status of a True Disciple alone was no less than that of an ordinary Elder. Only an Elder with Real Power, like Elder Zhu, could hold sway over a True Disciple.
But...
Hong Renjie had broken through to the Celestial Soul Realm!
With his talent and strength, he was certain to challenge for the Chief Disciple position after the promotion tournant. If he succeeded, Hong Renjie would hold the title of Chief Disciple.
At that point, forget ordinary Elders; even an Elder with Real Power wouldn't be able to suppress Hong Renjie.
Unless he could beco a disciple of the Sect Leader, or perhaps a disciple of one of the reclusive Supre Elders of the Sword Sect, only then would Hong Renjie have to think twice and not dare to openly move against him.
But to attract the attention of such figures and be accepted as a disciple, he was afraid he would have to reach the top three in this promotion tournant!
At this thought, Hong Yu's gaze beca resolute. 'I shouldn't run into Hong Renjie for now. The fight here is bound to attract the attention of others, so I have to leave imdiately. I'll hunt elsewhere to rack up points. I have to climb to an even higher rank.'
He knew he was only at the Mid-Stage Earth Soul Realm Cultivation. Even with all his trump cards, the most he could do was defeat an expert like Hong Gang, whose combat power was comparable to the Half-Step Earth Soul Realm. As for anyone stronger... like Hong Renjie back when he was at the Half-Step Earth Soul Realm... he would be no match.
A wise man knows not to fight a losing battle, all so he can co back later and settle the score with interest.
Having made his decision, Hong Yu hesitated no longer. He left the Ancient City Ruins and began a frenzied hunt throughout the Cyan Cloud Secret Realm, racking up points.
Not long after Hong Yu left, three separate groups of people arrived at the location one after another.
But after finding no trace of him, they dispersed once more to continue the fight for points.
Amid this frantic scramble, ti flew by. In the blink of an eye, only half an hour remained before the Cyan Cloud Secret Realm trial would end.
After half a month of competition, the points leaderboard was now mostly set in stone.
Only the fight for the champion's spot remained particularly suspenseful...
First Place: Hong Renjie, 53,200 points!
Second Place: Feng Xue Xin, 53,000!
Third Place: Ling Tian, 53,000!
Fourth Place: Guo Fei, 53,000 points!
Fifth Place: Hong Yu, 52,800 points!
All five of these experts had a chance to contend for the championship. However, with only half an hour left until the end of the Cyan Cloud Secret Realm trial and very few experts remaining inside, who would ultimately claim the title?
As the crowd watched with bated breath, ti ticked by, second by second. The half-hour felt agonizingly long.
Then, with only two minutes left, the leaderboard changed once again.
This change would decide who the champion would be.
Just who would erge as the champion?
User Comments
0 comments from readers