The Way to Ensure Victory

"This spell is so cool!"

Qin Jun stared at the white spiritual dragon coiling around Bai Yufeng and exclaimed softly. Beside him, Daji said disdainfully, "It looks impressive but is useless. His spell is inferior to Song Lang's."

A massive green hand utterly disproportionate to Song Lang's build had formed around his right hand. But purely in terms of appearance, Bai Yufeng's white dragon was more handsome and impressive.

Bai Yufeng shouted softly. Spiderweb-like cracks spread across the white jade ground beneath his feet as he shot into the air like an arrow loosed from a bow. The white spiritual dragon coiled around his spear, tearing through the air with booming sonic blasts, its momentum unstoppable.

Facing Bai Yufeng's irresistible attack, Song Lang swung his right hand, and the massive green hand struck directly against the spear. The white spiritual dragon instantly scattered.

Bai Yufeng looked as though he had been struck by lightning and fell straight toward the Vermilion Bird Stage.

His failure in their second clash silenced the citizens and cultivators around the Vermilion Bird Stage. Even ordinary people could see that Bai Yufeng had already been suppressed.

Up in the pavilion, the expressions of the generals were even uglier.

Nan Meng frowned, the veins bulging on his two massive fists. Clearly, he was far from calm.

"He's going to lose."

Guan Yu spoke indifferently, making Qin Jun blink. How long had they been fighting? Was it already about to end?

"Is Song Lang that strong?" Qin Jun asked curiously. With only Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation, he could not make out the details of their exchange. In his view, although Bai Yufeng was being suppressed, he was still full of vigor. Holding on for several hundred more exchanges should not have been a problem.

"Merely Mortal Transformation Second Layer." Guan Yu snorted contemptuously, showing no regard whatsoever for Song Lang. The cultivators beside him looked at him in surprise.

This guy was really putting on airs.

Qin Jun understood. Bai Yufeng had only just entered the Mortal Transformation Realm and had likely forced his breakthrough recently. Naturally, he was no match for Song Lang, who was at the Mortal Transformation Second Layer.

Just then, Song Lang began attacking proactively. He moved like a phantom, leaving behind streaks of afterimages in the air as he charged straight at Bai Yufeng.

Bai Yufeng's pupils shrank. He rapidly spun the spear in his hand, and fierce winds rose up, swirling around him like a tornado. The wind blades were razor-sharp; an ordinary person who approached would be sliced to pieces.

"You're too weak!"

Song Lang's cold voice reached Bai Yufeng's ears, making goosebumps erupt across his body. He instinctively turned around, only to see a massive green hand coming at him like a small mountain.

Boom!

Bai Yufeng spat blood as he flew backward, crashing into the light barrier of the Purple Light Prison Array like a cannonball. The citizens and cultivators in that area recoiled like a tide.

Fortunately, the Purple Light Prison Array's defensive power was astonishing, and Bai Yufeng did not smash through it.

"They're completely on different levels..."

"A deputy general is still a deputy general. He can't be as mighty as Great General Nan Meng!"

"It's not that General Bai is too weak. The opponent is simply too strong..."

"If you have the guts, go up there! You'd probably be killed instantly!"

"Exactly! He's already done his best!"

Deafening clamor erupted around the Vermilion Bird Stage. Most people were complaining, causing the generals in the pavilion to exchange uneasy looks. Fifth Prince Qin Yu's expression was so gloomy it seemed ready to drip water.

The Dry Emperor and Nan Meng both frowned, clearly not expecting Bai Yufeng to lose so quickly.

Qin Jun, meanwhile, was secretly delighted. Lose, lose! The more miserably, the better!

Once everyone was in despair, I'd go up there and earn some prestige.

Ugh, that thought was so shameless!

Even Qin Jun could not help despising himself, though his excitement remained undiminished.

Just then, Bai Yufeng, standing at the edge of the Vermilion Bird Stage, used his spear to support himself as he slowly rose to his feet. The blood beneath his feet stained the platform with crimson flowers, making his silhouette seem even more tragic and heroic.

"I can still fight!"

Bai Yufeng lowered his head and panted, his voice heavy. Everyone was moved, and the citizens and cultivators who had still been mocking him fell silent.

Song Lang looked at Bai Yufeng in surprise. He had used his full strength in that strike. More than half the bones in Bai Yufeng's body should have been shattered, yet he could still stand. Such willpower was extraordinary.

Even Qin Jun looked at Bai Yufeng with admiration, beginning to consider when he should recruit him.

Although Bai Yufeng's combat strength was inferior to Guan Yu and Daji's, he was still a Mortal Transformation Realm cultivator. Combined with such tenacious will, he might one day become a great general like Nan Meng.

"Enough. Begin the next match. We concede this one!"

The Dry Emperor, standing in the pavilion, suddenly spoke. He possessed Golden Core Realm cultivation, and with spiritual energy in his voice, he easily overwhelmed the discussions of the entire crowd.

The citizens and cultivators below immediately erupted in uproar.

Shen Yan, standing at a corner of the Vermilion Bird Stage, hurriedly announced, "The first match goes to the Cang Lan Kingdom!"

He understood the Dry Emperor's intentions. Losing was a minor matter, but if they lost a Mortal Transformation Realm expert like Bai Yufeng as well, they would truly suffer a double loss.

Shen Yan then signaled for the Imperial Guards at the corner of the Vermilion Bird Stage to deactivate the Purple Light Prison Array and had someone help Bai Yufeng down. Song Lang gave Bai Yufeng a deep look before floating back to the pavilion as though he had never fought at all.

"Please send out the contestants for the second match!"

Shen Yan shouted loudly, cutting off all discussion at once.

The first match had been lost so quickly that a shadow settled over everyone's hearts.

Ordinary citizens did not understand cultivation realms, but cultivators knew that realms such as Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, and Mortal Transformation existed. A Mortal Transformation Realm expert was unquestionably among the kingdom's greatest powerhouses. After word spread that Bai Yufeng possessed Mortal Transformation First Layer cultivation, every cultivator had held great expectations for him.

Unfortunately, things had gone against their wishes.

Bai Yufeng had lost far too quickly, and the sight broke their hearts.

"I'll go!"

A domineering roar came from the pavilion, sending the entire crowd into a frenzy, because the speaker was the Gan Yue Kingdom's War God, Nan Meng!

Nan Meng did not immediately fly toward the Vermilion Bird Stage. Instead, he looked toward the Cang Lan Kingdom's seats, his gaze shifting between Xiao Beilong and Zhen Hun.

"Zhen Hun, you go." Zhu Yishi spoke softly. Xiao Beilong was stronger than Zhen Hun, but since they had already won the first match, keeping their strongest contestant for last was the way to ensure victory.

"Alright!"

Zhen Hun stood up directly. He glanced at Nan Meng before flying onto the Vermilion Bird Stage.

"Father, you have to win!"

Nan Yu Xin shouted excitedly. Nan Meng merely waved with a light laugh before flashing onto the Vermilion Bird Stage, where he stood opposite Zhen Hun.

Qin Yu frowned. He knew Xiao Beilong was the strongest member of the Cang Lan Kingdom's side. Their opponents had deliberately avoided Nan Meng, placing the Gan Yue Kingdom at a disadvantage.

Yet Nan Meng had to fight in the second match. Otherwise, if they lost the second match as well, Nan Meng would not even have a chance to take the field.

"Second Master, who do you think will win?" Qin Jun asked Guan Yu curiously.

"They're evenly matched." Guan Yu narrowed his eyes.

Holy shit!

That strong?

Qin Jun was startled. Did that not mean the Cang Lan Kingdom had already pulled far ahead of the Gan Yue Kingdom in terms of top-tier combat strength?

"Fuck! What the hell are you talking about? General Nan is invincible!" a cultivator beside them said indignantly.

A brainless fan.

Qin Jun rolled his eyes and could not be bothered to respond.

Thanks to Qidian reader Huang Haibing for the ten-thousand Qidian Coin donation, and thanks to Xie Dingdong, ?巭孬**?, ?╰☆ぷ少年与梦︶ㄣ, Secretly Obsessed, and the other friends for their donations. Those usernames are so non-mainstream.