Saving Grace [First Update]

The next moment, Zhang Lingyu's Golden Light Spell vanished completely.

[Life Restraint: A type of energy within a linked target's body will be automatically sealed.]

What Zhang Lingyu had sealed was naturally his Innate One Qi. Once he lost his Innate One Qi, the Golden Light Spell dissipated as well.

The Zhang Lingyu standing there now was nothing more than a warrior without Qi.

From the start of the battle to the light chain entering his body, it had all happened in the blink of an eye.

The sudden reversal of the battle drew a wave of startled cries from the stands. The Dragon Tiger Mountain's Perfected Lingyu had actually been suppressed!

"What sect's technique is that?"

"Never seen it before. It shouldn't be a technique from our country!"

"That iron tortoise from the Tianxia Association isn't just tough to defend against—his techniques are powerful too!"

"Mm, very powerful. But there doesn't seem to be any fluctuations of Qi!"

Feng Shayan paid no attention to the spectators' comments. Instead, she watched the green light in Wang Changle's hand. This had to be the killing move he'd kept hidden all this time!

Lu Linglong and the others exchanged bewildered looks as they watched the scene. Was this guy really that powerful?

One move, and he'd instantly sealed Zhang Lingyu!

"That should be a type of Sealing Jutsu! I saw something similar while traveling abroad."

Liu Ergou spoke with a hint of reminiscence, though his eyes held a grave look. He'd seen plenty of Sealing Jutsu, but most required a ritual setup, and some even needed several people to assist.

This was the first time he'd encountered a technique like this: no ritual, no assistance, activated on the spot and taking effect instantly. Judging by Perfected Lingyu's expression, this was a real problem!

"Daoist Zhang, I'm sorry, but I have to win this match!"

He looked at Zhang Lingyu, who had leapt down from the air, and stepped forward, keeping the light chain in his hand active.

"What did you do to me?"

Zhang Lingyu frowned deeply. Ever since the green light entered his body, all the Qi in him had been sealed—not merely sealed, either.

His Innate Qi was draining away, his physical abilities were weakening, and even his thoughts were growing sluggish.

He said no more. Instead, he leapt forward, turning both fists into claws and reaching for Zhang Lingyu's shoulder.

Zhang Lingyu stepped through the Seven Stars, dodging to the side. He lowered his shoulder and struck Wang Changle with a Mountain-Splitting Shoulder, knocking him back several steps.

As long as the light chain remained, the restraint would remain in effect.

He quickly steadied himself. The seemingly powerful shoulder strike hadn't hurt him much. He could fight at close range!

He wasn't some villain responsible for narrating the fight!

With that thought, he turned and charged again, changing his fist into a palm as he launched a fierce attack at Zhang Lingyu.

Though Zhang Lingyu had lost his Innate Qi, his punches were still sharp and his footwork swift. But without the Golden Light Spell to bolster him, he was no longer much stronger than Wang Changle.

His punches and kicks couldn't break through Wang Changle's defenses. He only had to hold out for four minutes, and victory would be his!

That was why he'd kept his abilities hidden all along. He had to make sure this move landed. Its cooldown was far too long; if he missed, he'd lose one of his trump cards.

So he had to convince everyone that he had no long-range abilities, that he was just a cowardly weakling with strong defenses. A proud disciple of the Celestial Master like Zhang Lingyu wouldn't use the Lightning Method right from the start.

Techniques had their own pride. His job was to take advantage of that pride.

A snake had to hide its fangs to ensure it got the chance to strike!

Seeing that his opponent wouldn't back off, no matter what—even sticking close after taking a hit to the face—Zhang Lingyu's gaze shifted. He understood at once: the light chain had a limited range!

Once he realized that, Zhang Lingyu immediately dodged to the side, planted a foot on Wang Changle, and used the force to spring in the opposite direction, putting a considerable distance between them in an instant.

"Zhang Lingyu, Perfected Zhang! What nimble moves! Is this how you took Quanxing's Xia He's virginity? You're truly a role model for us all."

His voice wasn't loud. It rang out just as Zhang Lingyu used the force to turn around, carrying a heavy note of mockery that went straight into Zhang Lingyu's ears.

"So that's why you can only use Yin Five Thunders and not Yang Five Thunders! Oh, and now you can't even use Yin Thunder Water Filth. That's why you're always jealous of Zhang Chulan—you know you don't deserve it!"

Every word stabbed Zhang Lingyu in the heart like a steel needle. His body faltered.

"Shut up! Who are you?"

Zhang Lingyu's expression turned cold. He spun around and struck with his palm, fury surging in his eyes.

With a clang, Wang Changle's helmet was knocked off, and blood streamed down his head.

"You fell for it, Perfected Zhang!"

He rushed forward again, pressed down with both hands, and locked Zhang Lingyu's arms behind him.

"Let go! Who are you?"

Zhang Lingyu was in a sorry state. Every word from this man was one of his "shames," yet he could do nothing to him now. The frustration was unbearable.

"No, I have to win! If I beat you, I'll secure a top-three spot in this competition!"

Blood ran down his forehead and blurred his vision, but his lips curled into a smile.

If he beat Zhang Lingyu, his ranking would improve, and so would his quest reward. He could also win the Heavenly Silkworm Silk. He had no reason to let go.

The two remained locked together like that. Zhang Lingyu's attributes continued to fall until he finally slumped to the ground, unable to fight.

"The winner is Mafario Ode!"

Master Extreme Night swooped down and caught his junior grand-uncle.

[You defeated the important storyline character Zhang Lingyu in the Luotian Grand Ceremony. You slightly altered the storyline world and obtained 3% World Origin. Current World Origin: 13.1%]

[Your Main Quest (2), Luotian Grand Ceremony—Stage 2: Enter the top 8. Your ranking has improved, and your reward has been upgraded.]

[You have attracted Feng Zhenghao's attention. Feng Zhenghao's Favorability toward you +10. Current: 10/100, Friendly.]

[You have unlocked Feng Shayan's Favorability. Current: 50/100, Friendly.]

[You have attracted Feng Baobao's attention. Current: 0/100, Indifferent. Feng Baobao may hunt you down.]

The golden Life Essence in his hand had to be at least a blue-grade restorative, even without inspecting it.

He'd extracted 70% of the other man's life force. Perhaps it even had some other wondrous properties.

"Help Perfected Lingyu absorb this immediately, then have him absorb this one too! Hurry—if you're too slow, Zhang Lingyu's foundation may be damaged."

He tossed it to Master Xingye, who had hurried over, then threw in another white Life Essence. Xingye could see Wang Changle was sincere, and immediately circulated his energy to help Zhang Lingyu recover.

After absorbing both Life Essences, Zhang Lingyu's body glowed with golden light, though the Golden Light Spell was much dimmer than before.

Zhang Lingyu gave him a complicated look and nodded, then left with a cold expression.

The man was cunning and sharp-tongued, but it was clear he meant him no harm. Still, it didn't feel good to have been outmaneuvered.

He let out a long breath. Zhang Lingyu seemed to have sustained some injuries, but they shouldn't be serious.

Injuries during a match were allowed, but if he'd damaged Zhang Lingyu's foundation, that would have made them enemies.

He didn't want to make an enemy of Dragon Tiger Mountain. For one thing, he was still on their turf. For another, there were plenty of powerful people on the mountain. He couldn't afford to provoke them!

After watching Zhang Lingyu leave, he made a phone gesture toward Feng Shayan, then hurried in Zhang Chulan's direction.

He still remembered the cold glint in Feng Baobao's eyes after the fight. She'd looked as if she were figuring out where to bury him!

If a clever girl like that set her sights on him, he'd probably have to spend all his time hiding at the lodging and nothing else.

"Zhang Chulan! Mr. Xu San! Wait, hold on a moment!"

He called out loudly as he hurried over to the four of them, signaling that he had something to say.

"Brother Wang, what's up? Oh, and congratulations on beating that icy Zhang Lingyu! Hahaha."

Zhang Chulan grinned, but then noticed that Wang Changle seemed to have something serious to say and stopped talking.

"Yeah, I do. I'm not interested in the Celestial Master position. If I run into you later, Zhang Chulan, I can forfeit immediately."

He spoke to Zhang Chulan with complete sincerity, but his eyes were on Feng Baobao.

"Uh, Brother Wang, why are you suddenly saying this? Why are you looking at Sister Bao'er like that?"

Zhang Chulan looked a little strange at his words. Could this guy and Sister Bao'er be...

"Because I don't want to become the next Dan Shitong. Besides, when Quanxing captured you, Zhang Chulan, I was the one who rescued you. I even took a palm strike from Xia He!"

When he'd finished, he nodded to Xu San, glanced at Feng Baobao, then turned to leave.

"Sister Bao'er, were you really thinking about where to bury someone just now?"

"Yep. That guy and the Tai Chi guy are both pretty fierce. I don't think you can beat either of them. I could go easy on this one."

"Sister Bao'er, can you stop thinking about burying people all day?"

"Baobao, we can't touch this guy. On the surface, he's with the Tianxia Association, but he's also a Western Otherworldly Person. If we handle this badly, it could cause an international incident. And we do owe him a favor."

"He really did save me?"

"Yeah. I'm with Xu San on this one. He's been hiding his abilities step by step, and now he's made a name for himself in one fight. Shouting over here like that has already attracted plenty of attention. Besides, he did come over to say something."

"Then that's fine. I'll find a chance to bury the Tai Chi guy first~"

[Prompt: Feng Baobao's hostility toward you has disappeared.]

Hearing Cycle Paradise's prompt, he couldn't help quickening his pace. He carefully skirted the tripwire ahead, then turned toward the back mountain.

Night fell, and the full moon hung high in the sky.

Black Cat's eyes darted about as it carefully slipped between the shadows of the trees. It studied the Taoist halls one by one, a humanlike cunning in its animal eyes.

Two young Daoists walked past the entrance, carrying a wooden basin and chatting cheerfully. A black shadow suddenly sprang out of the darkness, and a sharp blade shot forward.

"On Dragon Tiger Mountain, let's see who dares to act recklessly!"