Son of Destiny

This was truly a fair and square duel, ending in an open defeat.

Never mind whether Liu Zongshou had any secret techniques left unused, but if your skills are inferior, they are inferior.

Seeing their senior brother defeated in a single move and scattered like stars in the sky, the disciples of Ink Bamboo Mountain hesitated and felt awkward. They paused for a moment, and no one else stepped forward to fight.

The momentum of the disciples, who had been fighting even in the face of death, was suddenly broken by the imposing aura of this ordinary-looking, sun-kissed young man.

Of course, it wasn't that no one dared to accept the challenge. It was just that the disciple who drew the sixth lot was about to step onto the stage when Yao Xuanzhou stopped him.

Clearly, this young man, Shi Kai, who was genuinely here for a duel, was so exceptional that even Master Yao had to offer guidance to his disciples.

"It's not that Liu Zongshou was careless... Being able to sever a person with a blade aura in one move is difficult for even an ordinary Golden Core cultivator to defend against," Yao Xuanzhou paused, then slowly said, "Even those who meticulously cultivate the Body Domination Technique would find it hard to reach the realm of externalizing Divine Essence before the Divine Essence body... This young man, unless he is a reincarnation of the Martial GodLiberation by Violence from a past life, or a natural born martial arts spirit child... Such talent is at least worthy of the upper three grades...

Moreover... I can see that his Dao heart is firm, and he possesses great fortune. You all, however, are on the threshold of tribulation... Encountering such a child of destiny, your abilities would likely be halved... If you want to defeat him... No, if you want to have even a sliver of a chance, you must face him with a resolve to die... Do you understand?"

The sixth disciple bowed, "Thank you, True Master, for your guidance. This disciple has learned."

Master Yao opened his mouth again, wanting to say more, but finally closed it and shook his head, "...You may go."

The disciple bowed again and leaped onto the jade platform, saluting.

"Ink Bamboo Mountain disciple Zhao Laifu requests a match."

Shi Kai also clasped his fists towards him, "Please guide me."

Then, as usual, he tossed the heavy wooden oar behind him, adopting the exact same stance as before, a horizontal sweeping slash.

Zhao Laifu looked at him and said, "Brother Shi, are you going to use that 'Rippling Waves, Splitting Waves Slash' again? We've all seen that move..."

Just as Shi Kai was about to speak, Zhou Sheng burst into laughter, "What, is Ink Bamboo Mountain resorting to tricks now! Young hero Shi, they say a heavy sword has no edge, and great skill is unadorned. You don't need to listen to these Devilish Dao heretics trying to confuse the masses and change your methods.

It's clear your ultimate skill has been tempered a thousand times. If it can break through, it can break through; if it can't, it can't. You can just slash forward directly. So what if they've seen it? Let's see how he deals with it."

Shi Kai, hearing Zhou Sheng's advice, felt a little embarrassed, "This... that's not what I meant. Brother Zhao, actually, I'm only at Foundation Establishment, and I just learned this move. I don't know any other techniques."

Silence fell. Zhou Sheng also shut his mouth for a moment.

Zhao Laifu hesitated, then asked with a hint of unwillingness, "Brother Shi, how long have you been at Foundation Establishment?"

"Oh, nearly half a year. But I practice the Rippling Waves, Splitting Waves Slash every day. Brother Zhao, be careful." Before E Shenyu's twin brothers could stop him, Shi Kai said it openly.

"Half a year to develop blade aura!" Zhou Sheng gasped.

"A true man!" Nangong Wushuang's eyes flashed with brilliance as she appraised Shi Kai's broad shoulders and upright waist.

She hadn't expected this kid to be so straightforward. The twins could only exchange glances and sigh, "Little Kai, focus on the duel. Don't underestimate the heroes of the world."

Shi Kai nodded earnestly, "Okay, Uncle!"

Zhao Laifu was silent for a moment, then cupped his fists, "Alright, Brother Shi, let me show you the Dao techniques I've cultivated for forty years today."

Zhao Laifu gritted his teeth, chewed and swallowed the pill hidden in his mouth. Instantly, his true essence surged, Dao Qi roiled, and at the same time, he danced and gesticulated, his hair disheveled, stomping his feet, his expression frenzied, as if driven mad.

"Spirit Possession!" It was Faji Abbot again who recognized it, shouting, "This is inviting an external god or spirit to possess him, boosting his power! Bamboo Mountain's Devilish Dao! How many secret techniques have you stolen from other sects!"

Shi Kai had never seen such a move before and was momentarily stunned.

Zhou Sheng immediately shouted a warning, "Young hero Shi! You don't need to adhere to righteous principles with such heretical ways! Attack him while he's still in the process of summoning the spirit! Otherwise, your life will be in danger!"

Hearing this, Shi Kai nodded towards Zhou Sheng, "Thank you for the reminder. But I've heard my uncle say that dueling is about showcasing what you've learned, and fighting without regret even in defeat. I want to witness the ultimate skills of the heroes of the world!

Brother Zhao, tell me when you're ready, and I'll also go all out! Let's have a fair fight!"

Zhou Sheng frowned and glanced at the twins, his meaning clear: such raw jade, how did you two train him to be so foolish?

The twins averted their gaze, pretending not to understand.

"Hehehe, good! Brother Shi! You are an interesting person! If there's a chance, Zhao Laifu will treat you to a drink! Haaaa!!!"

After speaking, Zhao Laifu let out a fierce roar and tore off his Daoist robe. His entire skin, whether from the potent dan poison or internal bleeding, had turned a bluish-green. He himself was literally blue-faced and fanged, his features ferocious, almost unrecognizable as human. It was unclear what evil god he had invited to possess him.

"Hiss--Ha--" Shi Kai closed his eyes, breathed, and exhaled hot steam from his nose and mouth. This was also because his stance for the Rippling Waves, Splitting Waves Slash had activated his entire body's muscles, storing energy. His agile body was like a fully drawn bow, concentrating all his lifelong cultivation into that large oar.

"Unfettered, Shadowless Divine Fist!"

Zhao Laifu shrieked and lunged.

"Rippling Waves, Splitting Waves Slash!!"

Shi Kai leaped and swept.

Still only one move, Still the same result.

Sometimes, the gap between people is as vast as heaven and earth, leaving one powerless. Your forty years of refined secret techniques are still useless against a move that a child of destiny learned in half a month.

But so what?

Not everyone fights for the sake of witnessing the glory of the top.

Some people willingly face death just so that those behind them can live.

"What." Shi Kai stared blankly at his hands.

His oar had been broken by a punch.

Zhao Laifu didn't dodge. He lunged forward to take a direct hit from Shi Kai's wave-splitting slash. Even with divine power coursing through him, making him nearly invulnerable, the direct blow still drove the wooden oar deep into his flesh. At the cost of nearly severing his body in half, he managed to punch and break Shi Kai's weapon. Then, he fell to the ground and died.

With that punch, Zhao Laifu could have traded his life for Shi Kai's, shattering his skull. But he didn't.

It wasn't because Shi Kai, that fool, wasn't a bad person. At this point, he wouldn't have killed even that scoundrel Lü Daolian. As for Shi Kai, it was simply easier to show mercy.

The real reason was that Zhao Laifu knew the opposing side had only brought five Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators.

If he killed Shi Kai, his junior brother would have no chance to win "three consecutive matches."

This was the sliver of hope Yao Xuanzhou had spoken of.

But it wasn't for Zhao Laifu.

"Ink Bamboo Mountain disciple Liu Ting requests a spar!"

The seventh sword of Ink Bamboo Mountain leaped onto the arena, facing an unarmed Shi Kai.

"Pfft!" Shi Kai also collapsed to his knees, blood gushing from his nose and mouth. Zhao Laifu had lunged too close. Even without intending to kill, such a direct confrontation had injured Shi Kai with the sheer force of the punch.

Moreover, the blood he spat was black. Zhao Laifu had poisoned himself to ensure he could manipulate Shi Kai...

"Bamboo Mountain Devil Sect! Despicable and shameless!" Nangong Wushuang cursed loudly.

E Shenyu's twin brother, his face dark, was about to intervene.

Liu Ting remained expressionless and took out a bottle of medicine. "This is the antidote. The poison isn't difficult to remove, but it requires elder supervision and immediate rest. If you force your qi again, the poison will spread throughout your body, inevitably causing hidden damage to your meridians. Shi Kai, your bright future, do you still wish to learn the ultimate techniques of heroes from around the world?"

The two Nascent Soul cultivators radiating killing intent immediately froze.

Shi Kai turned his head in confusion, looked at Zhao Laifu beside him, wiped the blood from his nose and mouth, and got up. "I have no strength left. I concede."

His two uncles immediately jumped down to protect Shi Kai. One of them reached out and snatched the pill from Liu Ting, glaring at him with undisguised murderous intent.

Liu Ting's expression didn't change. "You trust that the antidote I gave you is real so much?"

The other choked, gritted his teeth, and shook his head. "Let's go, let's go!"

With that, the two began to escort their precious nephew away.

Seeing the two so decisively withdraw, leaving only three opponents, Yao Xuanzhou's fingers twitched. But he glanced at the deadly formation surrounding the treasure ship and knew that three more Nascent Soul divine generals from the Nangong family were still hidden in the clouds. He hesitated and didn't act immediately.

Who knew that this hesitation would allow Zhou Sheng to jump out and directly intercept E Shenyu's group. "I am Zhou Sheng. Witnessing young hero Shi Kai's chivalry in this sword fight, I am deeply impressed. This is the Hundred Flowers God Condensed Jade Dew bestowed by my sect, which can cleanse the body and spirit, and eradicate all poisons."

Faji of Tiantai Mountain chanted a Buddhist name. "Namo Akshobhya Tathagata. Young hero Shi has bravely acted for the sake of Tiantai Mountain's affairs. How can I, Faji, be stingy? Here is a Qingting Protecting Heart Lamp, which can protect the body and ward off demons, greatly benefiting cultivation. Consider it my thanks."

This time, Nangong Wushuang reacted quickly. Her phoenix eyes fixed on the young man who had shown his prowess. She also stepped forward and said, "Fellow Daoists, do not worry. I have the unique secret treasure of my Nangong family, Phoenix Tears, which can cure all illnesses and bring about rebirth. And this Meteorite Divine Fire Saber I've treasured, which no one has been able to wield until now, has finally found its master."

Shi Kai was actually fine, but seeing the pile of treasures suddenly thrust before him, he scratched his head. "Uh, thank you all."

Although he lacked experience in the martial world and couldn't understand the implications, his two uncles were perfectly clear about the intentions of these people.

They had seen E Shenyu's strength and knew that these opponents from Bamboo Mountain Devil Sect were particularly formidable. Thus, they were clearly trying to keep the two of them here as hired muscle to fight for Shi Kai.

The two uncles exchanged glances, then looked at their nephew who was happily playing with the long saber, and sighed.

If E Shenyu had such a spiritual treasure to protect their nephew, why would they have allowed such a promising talent to be nearly harmed by the Devilish Dao below? Unfortunately, as rogue cultivators, even though they knew others had ill intentions, they lacked the backing of the immortal palaces to refuse.

With their weakness exposed, the two uncles, though silent, reached a consensus. They no longer thought of escaping and instead stayed to heal Shi Kai, casting hostile glances at the Bamboo Mountain sect members below, who seemed ungrateful.

Seeing that the two strong fighters were secured, Zhou Sheng and Faji nodded, knowing it was time to move on.

Faji then said to the young monk beside him, "Puxiang, you go and kill the three, and finish the disciple duels."

The young monk clasped his hands and bowed. "Yes, Abbot."

Seeing the young monk step onto the stage, Yao Xuanzhou suddenly realized something was wrong. He frowned and shouted, "Zhou Sheng! Why isn't your disciple coming down?"

Zhou Sheng laughed heartily. "Brother Yao, you are still so presumptive! I, Zhou Sheng, am a frail scholar. It's normal for me to have a page to serve me with ink and brush, isn't it? Who says he's my disciple? Who says he has to participate in the sword fight? Hahahaha!"

At this, Yao Xuanzhou's face turned ashen. He knew he had been tricked again.

He had originally thought that if Liu Ting defeated Shi Kai, and then defeated the page and the young monk, he would at least have a chance to survive.

But Zhou Sheng didn't send his page down.

This meant that the disciple duels were essentially over.

The young monk Puxiang was the last Foundation Establishment Realm disciple from Tiantai Mountain. Whether he won three matches or lost one, the disciple duels would be concluded.

At that point, the Nascent Soul cultivators and heavenly generals who had been watching for a long time could swarm forward and annihilate the entire Ink Bamboo Mountain contingent.

It didn't matter how many Yao Xuanzhou could kill or if he could break out; none of the disciples on this ship would survive.