Chapter 144 - 143: Thinking Xia Country Has No One?

STEP.

The two had only been facing off for a moment when Beligi, the director of the arena, stepped onto the field. The aura of a Grandmaster washed over them, and his expression was chilling. "What’s your name?"

"Jiang Qiu, from Xia Country’s Northwest Martial University."

Beligi’s eyebrow twitched. He gave the spear-wielding young man a long look, then waved for the staff to carry Wu Shan away. "Even if you are from Northwest Martial University, you must follow the rules. In addition to compensating for the damages to the arena, you have to fight and win at least one life-and-death match in that Martial Artist’s place."

"Fine."

Jiang Qiu nodded, staring silently at the Sang Island prodigy before him. He secretly activated his [Dragon Eye], revealing a great mass of black flame burning fiercely.

’He looks like he entered the Dharma Realm less than a year ago. His Demon Race aura is even stronger than that of the Half-Demon, Ice Lotus. His face is cold and scornful, his pupils are like a snake’s, as if he sees no distinction between humans and demons.’

’He was the spitting image of someone from Sang Island, just like in the news—seemingly human, yet not.’

’He remembered the news reports from back when Gao Yuan City was breached. Sang Island Martial Artists had infiltrated the Northwest Province to steal vital Martial Arts Resources and secretly search for the Military Department’s hidden bases!’

Jiang Qiu had never imagined he would one day see one of these so-called Sang Island "people" with his own eyes!

Hot blood surged through him, and he exhaled a breath of pure killing intent.

Sakai Yoshiei paused in the middle of wiping his blade, his long, narrow eyes glancing over. "It seems all you Xia Country Martial Artists share this same trait of impotent rage. Are you thinking of killing me?

"Grandmaster Beligi, I’ll allow him to take that weakling’s place, but I won’t be suppressing my Realm anymore. I’m going all out for this one."

"Not suppressing your Realm?"

Beligi’s brow twitched as he glanced at the crater Jiang Qiu had just smashed into the floor.

"I’ll pay for any damages, but I hope you won’t interfere before I call a halt." Sakai Yoshiei’s cold, sharp gaze landed on Beligi’s face, his tone unfriendly. "Understood?"

"..."

The corner of Beligi’s mouth twitched. He nodded with a stiff expression. "Fine."

He waved, signaling for the defensive barrier to be raised to maximum power. Clenching his fists, he retreated to the edge of the arena, a dark glint flashing in his green eyes.

BEEP.

He dialed a number on his phone.

"Go inform Grandmaster Zhu Weiyi in the Xia Country Management District. Someone from Northwest Martial University named Jiang Qiu is in a life-and-death match against Sakai Yoshiei."

...

BEEP—

The large screen above the arena instantly switched—

[SHOCKING!!!]

[MYSTERIOUS DHARMA REALM YOUTH STORMS THE ARENA, SAVES THE ONE-EYED DEMON MONARCH, AND BATTLES SANG ISLAND’S #1 SWORD DAO GENIUS, SAKAI YOSHIEI!]

[MYSTERIOUS YOUTH VS. SANG ISLAND’S #1 DHARMA REALM GENIUS]

The crowd’s roar was like thunder, spit flying everywhere. The live feed was broadcast to every pay-per-view device around the globe, and the screen was flooded with comments.

The camera focused on the snow-white patterns carved into the blade of Jiang Qiu’s spear, then slowly panned along the heavy shaft to his well-defined features.

He gave the spear a casual flourish, its cold glint aimed at Sakai Yoshiei’s face. His posture was as solid as a mountain, his chest puffed out like a dragon’s.

’Martial Arts is about advancing through combat. If I don’t even dare to fight the so-called number one genius from Sang Island, how can I possibly face Jiangnan’s number one Sword Dao genius, Tang Guang, in North Border City in a few days?’

’A life-and-death match is nothing. My high school days are over. Every fight is a battle for survival now!’

"Life-and-death match—Begin!"

As Beligi’s resounding shout faded, Sakai Yoshiei twisted his blade. A blinding glint of cold light flashed as his figure shot forward like a snake slithering through tall grass, his voice shrill and full of spite. "I just love you hot-headed Xia Country Martial Artists. I kill every single one I meet!"

STEP.

Jiang Qiu instantly stepped back with his right foot. With a flick of his spear, he deflected the sword strike as a sudden burst of flame swept out in a half-moon arc. WHOOSH! Sakai Yoshiei was forced back.

"Such fast reactions?"

Sakai Yoshiei took three steps back, his lips turning down in a frown.

’This guy’s got a few tricks...’

The thought had barely formed when a chill shot out from the calmly defending figure. BANG! Sparks flew.

Sakai Yoshiei barely blocked the thrust with a two-handed grip on his sword, his pupils trembling. "What’s happening? Where’s the shadow...?"

WHOOSH...

The figure that had just thrust its spear from a horse stance dissipated into sparks. A wave of cold air washed over the back of his neck. In that instant, his heart seized; he felt like a rabbit with its back to a ferocious tiger!

SCREEECH—

He furrowed his brow, clenched his teeth, and spun around at his absolute limit, pressing down on his sword with both hands to block the sweeping spear. The blades met, scraping a trail of orange-yellow sparks before Sakai Yoshiei’s eyes.

BANG!

An overwhelming force followed, sending him flying. He became a black blur that slammed into the inner protective wall.

CRACK—

Sakai Yoshiei’s back shattered the wall, spiderweb-like cracks spreading outward. His pupils were wide and trembling, his heart pounding like a torrent. "What’s happening? What’s happening!"

’I can’t keep up with his speed!’

’I can’t match his strength!’

’My Martial Arts fundamentals are completely inferior to this guy who just barged in!’

’How is this possible?!’

Sakai Yoshiei’s jaw tensed. He shot out from the wall, landing on both feet with a THUD. He brought his left hand up to his right, switching to a two-handed grip. "I am the greatest Sword Dao genius Sang Island has seen in a century! How dare a no-name Martial Artist from Xia Country be so arrogant?!"

’I was born the grandson of the Patriarch of Sang Island’s number one family. I inherited the bloodline of the Eight-headed Snake King through the blood sacrifice of over a thousand infants! I am the first peerless genius in a hundred years to forge Eighth Rank Jade Sinews!’

’When I first entered the Bright Soul Realm, I could single-handedly slaughter a whole squad of Xia Country Martial Artists. Upon reaching the Dharma Realm, I naturally obtained a Golden Token and am poised to take an Enlightenment Fruit!’

’I only came to the arena to test my sword on a few of the resident Xia Country Martial Artists before entering the Great Secret Realm. Don’t tell me I can’t even kill the first one?’

A dark purple light oozed from Sakai Yoshiei’s body like sludge. He held his Samurai Sword vertically between his eyes, resembling a giant python opening its eyes in the dead of night.

At that moment, Beligi, watching from the sidelines, widened his eyes. "The Nether Dark Spirit Charm?!"

’Of the nine known Spirit Charms, the Nether Dark Spirit Charm is the rarest. To forge that type of Jade Sinews, one must first find a vessel capable of containing the Spirit Charm.’

’Legend has it that the only race in the world naturally adapted to the Nether Dark Spirit Charm is on Sang Island, in the direct lineage of a Demon King—it’s an innate Bloodline Talent.’

’That Spirit Charm is bizarre and unpredictable. When combined with his sword skills, anyone who hasn’t mastered a corresponding defensive Secret Technique is guaranteed to die!’

Beligi clenched his fists, secretly mobilizing his Soul Ice Spirit Charm.

’Three months ago, all the students in the Northwest Martial University freshman competition were ambushed and slaughtered by the Ancestral Great Demon Feng Li. In response, that old coot Zhu Weiyi left the city and butchered more than two hundred members of the Kunlun Demon Clan who hadn’t escaped in time. His killing intent was monstrous.’

’This kid who suddenly appeared must be a rare prodigy from Northwest Martial University, and surely held in extremely high regard by Zhu Weiyi.’

’If he dies in this arena, the upheaval planned for North Border City will be set in motion ahead of schedule!’

GLARE.

Suddenly, an icy gaze shot down from the VIP seats in the front row. Beligi looked up, met the eyes of an old man with a handlebar mustache for a moment, and quietly let his Soul Ice Spirit Charm dissipate.

’If that’s how it is, then let the killing happen. The Northern Wilderness Great Secret Realm is about to open, with ten Tokens for ten factions. North Border City is due for a shake-up sooner or later anyway.’

’Sang Island is just a tiny island, not even a tenth the size of the Northern Wilderness. They’ve only managed to survive this long by groveling before a Demon King. Do they really think Xia Country has no one capable of stopping them?’

’A lion may grow weary fighting a pack of wolves, but it won’t be troubled by a single rat.’