Yuntai Competition, Part Six

"Wait a minute! Isn't the Cloud Platform Competition supposed to prohibit mounts and spirit pets from participating?! What's with that fish?! This is cheating!"

The disciples of Hengshan Mountain lodged a protest.

Then Ji Qingyan emerged from underground, stared at Kun for a moment, and then turned to announce,

"It claims it's not a mount or spirit pet, but a Kun, a disciple of Ink Bamboo Mountain, and even has a sect certificate to prove it. It's the director of their Abnormal Creatures Research Institute, a legitimate position, and Yuntai Peak even allowed it in, so there's no violation. Protest overruled!"

Kun, "Mmm!"

The Hengshan disciples were in an uproar, "This is actually possible?!"

Qin Jiu was speechless for a moment. "It—is it also considered a disciple of Ink Bamboo Mountain?? Wait a minute, speaking of which, I seem to recall a peddler in my village mentioning a strange fish in Lou Guan City. I thought it was a joke..."

Shi Kai understood. "Isn't that your senior brother?"

Qin Jiu turned her head and glared at him.

Ji Qingyan shrugged. "Why not? The world is full of wonders. You're all cultivators, how come you're all so ignorant? You're really making a fuss over nothing!"

The Hengshan disciple was furious again, "That's not right! It's already the Dean of Biology! Why is it participating in the Outer Sect Disciple Competition??"

Ji Qingyan thought it made sense, let's see how Kun responds.

The Kun grunted and stretched out its fins to produce a coil of silk...

Ji Qingyan's eyes lit up; the silk thread was snatched away without the robe even flickering. Then he turned his head and said,

"What nonsense is this! How can someone with an official position not participate in the competition! Look, it hasn't even taken human form, which means it's also at the Golden Core stage! Protest denied!"

Hey! You're all disciples of the Xuanmen Sect! You can't even beat a fish, yet you want to be the peak master of Yuntai Peak? Show some backbone!

The disciples of Hengshan looked at each other, speechless for a moment.

Kun and Ji Qingyan grunted twice more. The old man nodded and said to Qin Jiu,

"It says it's on the same level as your master, Mountain Lord, Qingyue, so it's your senior uncle."

Kun, "Hmph!"

Qin Jiu's face fell. "..."

"Alright, if there's nothing else, let's continue... Is there anything else?"

Ji Qingyan was about to leave, Kun patted him with its fin.

"Hmph hmph hmph!"

Ji Qingyan, "Oh, it said we can't bully the weak, and it dumped it over here before I even had dinner. If any of you have... tofu? You mean that kind of tofu? Yeah, if any of you have tofu or something like that, bring some as an offering, and it will agree not to attack."

"Qin Jiu, it says you're impolite and disrespectful to your elders, so they'll teach you a lesson."

Qin Jiu was shocked, "Uncle-Master!! How could you do this!"

Shi Kai glanced at him sideways.

The Hengshan disciples hesitated for a moment, then discussed it. They felt that the fish-headed monster's true nature—whether it was Golden Core cultivator or Golden Core, and whether it was their senior uncle or not—was uncertain. The key was its ability to absorb magical treasures; it was indeed not to be underestimated. What if it swallowed them and never spat them out? The best course of action was to subdue the enemy without fighting. So, they each took out their own money and pooled their resources together.

"Who carries tofu around? I only have some spirit fruits and spirit rice." "Won't pills work? What about ginseng and lingzhi?" "Oh right, there's still some leftover food from the Peach Banquet."

Kun nodded, "Mmm-hmm!"

Ji Qingyan, "He said it was barely acceptable."

Qin Jiu almost knelt down, "Uncle-Master!!"

However, Qin Jiu's objections were ineffective. The Hengshan disciples each gathered a pile of dried fruits and pastries, probably things they'd taken from the Peach Banquet to bring back for themselves, and offered them as a sacrifice. Kun happily jumped off the arena to eat them. In any case, Hengshan passed this test easily...

Kun, "Hmph, hum!"

Ji Qingyan laughed and said, "I don't need it, you can eat it yourself. Qin boy, remember this lesson. You need to be a decent person in the future, and understand the importance of respecting elders and caring for the young."

Qin Jiu could only reluctantly agree.

Kun, "Hmph!"

So the competition resumed, and a powerful figure came from Hengshan. Just by looking at the level of his protective aura, he was a name to be reckoned with. This time, it was a proper 2v2.

Shi Kai glanced at Chu Nanyi, "... Qin Jiu, how about we change our opponent?"

Qin Jiu glanced at Kun resentfully, then nodded, "Okay, I promise I won't kill your senior sister."

"The Xuan Ancestor Yuanjun Great Heavenly Venerable, Cheng Xingchu of Hengshan."

"The benevolent and compassionate Xuan Girl of the Nine Heavens, who saves the world, bestows blessings, and pardons sins, is the Great Compassionate One, Chu Nanyi of Emei."

Chu Nanyi also sheathed his sword and exchanged greetings with Cheng Xingchu of Hengshan.

Being blocked at the mountain gate and slaughtered right from the start was indeed frustrating. But the appearance of Ji Qingyan, one of the two elders of Songshan, calmed the Hengshan disciples down for a while.

This is the Grand Competition at Yuntai! Regardless of whether it's the Demonic Sect or Demonic Mountain, or whether it's human heads or fish heads, we're already at the stage of seizing the peak! In the sword fight on the arena, the other side has already won one round!

If we could find excuses for not being able to defeat Qin Jiu before, such as being unable to use many skills due to the mountainous terrain, or holding back some mid-level and lower-level swordsmen to fight in order to prepare for Dao Seed formal sword duel between the sects, then now it is a true battle for the fate of the sects, and we must fight for the honor of our sects!

As one of the Nine Great Xuan Sects, Hengshan was already embarrassed by failing to win the position of peak master in the first stage. Moreover, in the peak-seizing stage, even as the main force of the sect, they had to consider their reputation. It would be equally shameful to rely on the number of disciples to take down other sects' peaks through a series of challenges. Therefore, the most they could do was to challenge each sect for the position of peak master until one side won three rounds.

Therefore, the Hengshan disciples' chances were limited. If they still couldn't defeat Qin Jiu after two more battles, they had no choice but to accept defeat and try to take over the other eight peaks in order to avoid the embarrassing situation of not being able to gain anything from any of the Hengshan peaks.

Of course, there's something interesting that Ji Qingyan 'forgot to mention': the peak master who just seized this peak wasn't actually Qin Jiu representing Songshan, but Shi Kai representing Emei! So now it's not Hengshan and Songshan competing for the peak, but rather Hengshan and Emei competing for the peak!

On the other hand, Chu Nanyi has become a traitor who helped Hengshan seize their own Emei Peak. However, she had been chasing after them all the way and was eager to use this opportunity to improve her relationship with Hengshan and then switch allegiance to the Yellow Court Palace. She really didn't realize what was going on.

However, when Han the Divine Lord and Li Wugou saw the infighting within Emei at the Peach Banquet, their expressions turned unpleasant. Although Emei was bound to retire in the future, it wouldn't hurt to give one of its peaks to Hengshan. It was just too ridiculous for their own disciples to help outsiders seize the peak. They only refrained from doing so because Purple Void Dao Lord was present.

In short, the chances of eliminating Qin Xiaozei are limited, and seizing the peak is also an important matter. Cheng Xingchu and Chu Nanyi no longer intend to hold back. Now that they have a different opponent, it is a good opportunity to perform well, and everyone is satisfied.

Chu Nanyi immediately activated the Lingyun Skill, his Dao Breath surging. He threw the Autumn Forest Sword, which transformed into a yellow light that circled around his body, rapidly orbiting the arena. At the same time, he made a hand seal and unleashed a series of rapid strikes with both hands, scattering cloud-like sword energy like snowflakes, covering the entire arena! He then surrounded and attacked Qin Jiu at the core!

"Puyun Gaixue Style!"

Qin Jiu was truly alarmed by this move and hurriedly used the Great Songyang Divine Skill to protect himself, unleashing a barrage of Xuanhuang sword energy from both hands to deal with the endless Emei sword energy.

Although Kun spat in his face and swallowed countless pills, Qin Jiu's qi and strength were still recovering. However, he never expected that both the Hengshan A and B duo and Chu Nanyi from Emei could unleash such a dense and sharp attack with interlocking moves and hidden formations so easily and casually!

Although he had learned from his mistake and was on guard after being tricked by Hengshan, the reality was harsh. Qin Jiu was still overwhelmed by the continuous waves of sword energy after only a couple of moves. One wrong step led to another, and he was soon caught in the sword formation again, running for his life, exhausted and unable to cope.

Indeed, these array formations and sword techniques are not simply area-of-effect attacks, but rather the culmination of years of battles and refinement within the Xuanmen sect. Every sword strike and palm strike is not random; each has its own follow-up and variations. Whatever the opponent's dodge or defense, there is a way to counter it. It's as if the most gifted predecessors of the Inner Sect have already written out the complete routines and tutorials for you. You just need to memorize the routines and master them. No matter how highly intelligent you are, you cannot possibly decipher the wisdom accumulated over generations in a short time!

This is the power of the true teachings of the Xuanmen!

"Chuanxue Piaoyun Palm!"

Chu Nanyi seized the opening, and without a sound, suddenly arrived, unleashing a palm strike!

Qin Jiu was being chased and attacked by the sword energy, and before he could defend himself, his back was suddenly wide open, and he took a solid blow! He was then blasted into the sword energy array, and even his protective true energy of the Great Songyang Body could not withstand it, leaving him covered in blood!

"Chuanxue Piaoyun Palm!"

Chu Nanyi, however, pressed his advantage relentlessly! Utilizing the speed of the Autumn Forest Sword, his Sword Light flashed like a ghost as he relentlessly pursued and attacked, sending Qin Jiu flying like a tattered rag doll, slaughtered by the sword energy array as if he were falling into a meat grinder!

Meanwhile, Shi Kai was also caught in a fierce battle.

After all, for disciples of the Xuanmen sect, the most formidable opponent is one whose strengths and weaknesses are unknown. But once they understand the opponent's tactics, the sect's secret manuals can always provide seven or eight corresponding methods to counter them.

With the guidance of a master, Qin Jiu was invincible in mountainous terrain, but once he entered open areas to fight, allowing Xuanmen disciples to use their sect's ultimate formations with ease, his weakness as a newcomer to the Daoist sect—having only practiced some divine skills and learned some sword techniques—was exposed. He knew nothing about formations or arithmetic, and was directly beaten badly.

Shi Kai was in the same boat. His Wave-Chasing Blade Technique was like a surging ocean, unmatched by any other technique. So Cheng Xingchu simply didn't give him a chance to use his weapon.

"... Seven celestial bodies and eight spirits, the supreme and fierce. A colossal beast with a long skull, wielding the imperial bell. Xiao San, solemnly riding the Kui dragon, the mighty sword god-king, slaying evil and destroying traces. Purple qi rides the heavens, crimson clouds surge forth..."

Holding a black banner in his left hand and chanting silently in his right, the Daoist priest in green robes walked in the steps of Yu Bu, treading the Big Dipper and the Big Dipper, circling around Shi Kai with a limp. The talisman in his hand spontaneously combusted without fire. When it burned out, he flicked his finger and continued chanting, as if stepping on the Seven Stars, gradually approaching Shi Kai at the center of the vortex.

At this moment, Shi Kai still held the Zanma Knife, in a drawing stance, his eyes tightly closed, black blood gushing from his mouth and nose! Yes, the black banner had captured Shi Kai spirit in a single move!

Strictly speaking, the Xuanmen are spellcasters. They practice swordsmanship and martial arts for two reasons: to strengthen their bodies and to look cool. But when they encounter opponents like the generals of the Immortal Palace, there are countless ways to kill with curses. Why must they always defeat their opponents head-on? Along the way, although Cheng Xingchu had no way to deal with Qin Jiu and couldn't calculate anything, he had already figured out Shi Kai's background and birth date, and completed the preparations for the ritual.

When he made his move just now, he was able to immobilize Shi Kai in one fell swoop, which meant he had already won. After all, all that was left was to walk over and cut off Shi Kai's head with one sword. What difficulty was there in that?

The victory is secured!

Kun, standing off the field, looked at Qin Jiu, who was being blasted into the air by Chu Nanyi and was bleeding profusely, unable to land. Then he looked at Shi Kai, who was vomiting and vomiting, almost bringing up Shi Kai. Kun covered his head with his fins and sighed.

No good, these two juniors are really useless, weaklings. We still have to rely on my Kun.

Taking advantage of everyone's inattention, Kun leaped into the pile of snacks offered on Mount Heng, and the next instant, it swam out of Shi Kai's Divine Sense realm.

Sea

On the boundless sea, the boy from Crocodile God Island wielded his sword in the waves. Before him, all sorts of ferocious gods and beasts, dragon kings and giant demons, formed from the waves came one after another, but none could withstand his sword light. One by one, they were all cut down by his wave-splitting slash!

But it's not very useful.

The Kun hid in the sea, glancing at the black banner in the sky. There, a ghost bound by chains waved the banner as if it were a military flag, summoning endless ferocious beasts and demons from the waves, constantly attacking Shi Kai, leaving him no room to concentrate. He killed a few hundred, then a few hundred more appeared. After all, it was a manifestation of his inner demons, and there was no end to it.

Kun stared at him for a moment, then raised its two fins and adjusted the angle of the bump between its eyebrows.

Kun Light! Launch!

Then, with a flick of its fin, it pushed open a slit in the bulge, and a beam of rainbow light shot out from its Crimson Eyes! Like a needle, it pierced the ghostly spirit of the dancing banner. The latter, like water stains melted by the blazing sun, let out a scream and vanished instantly!

"... Three hundred thousand soldiers, guarding my ninefold palace, clearing away corpses for a thousand miles, sweeping away..."

Cheng Xingchu had just walked behind Shi Kai, suddenly froze, spitting out a mouthful of blood. The black banner in his hand burst into flames with a loud bang! He turned his head in shock to look at the burning banner, momentarily incredulous, and subconsciously began to calculate with his hands.

Shi Kai his eyes, the blade flashed, revealing a fierce glint, and with a single slash, he cleaved Cheng Xingchu in two!

"Senior Brother Cheng!" The Hengshan disciples were shocked, completely bewildered as to how the situation had suddenly turned around.

But when they turned around, Kun emerged from the pile of snacks again...

Chu Nanyi was also shocked. Her hands were in a panic. She was about to break through the Great Songyang True Qi and kill Qin Jiu, but she did not expect Cheng Xingchu to die so quickly! She was worried that Shi Kai attack from the side, so she kept a handy to guard against his sneak attack and unconsciously revealed her body!

Qin Jiu seized this opening, let out a long roar, and struck Chu Nanyi with a palm!

A glint flashed in Chu Nanyi's eyes, and she spat out a Sword Light —the South Sea Flying Sword she inherited from Chen Nanggu! A single strike turned the tables, slicing open Qin Jiu's right arm!

However, Qin Jiu's severed right arm burst open again, bleeding profusely! Blood spurted out! Thousands of red threads swirled around Chu Nanyi's body!

However, Chu Nanyi had seen this move before and was prepared. She made a hand seal and controlled her sword! The Autumn Forest Sword turned! Before the red threads could wrap around her and tear her to pieces, it enveloped Chu Nanyi in the Sword Light and she escaped!

In the end, these crimson rainbow threads only managed to cut off one sleeve of Chu Nanyi, shred half of her skirt, and reveal a section of her smooth, lotus-root-like arm and a faintly visible calf.

Of course, the Puyun Gaixue Style was also forced to end. Qin Jiu landed on the ground, picked up the severed arm, and glued it back on.

"Wow... this woman's got some nerve..."

Shi Kai knelt on the ground, leaning on his knife, his whole body trembling. The fatigue from the fierce battle with hundreds of inner demons in his Divine Sense surged up in an instant. He was utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally, and had no strength left to answer.

Qin Jiu glanced at him, "It's alright, leave the rest to me... Uncle-Master! Is there any medicine left?"

Bah!

Shi Kai nodded his thanks, then retreated to the sidelines to rest, his mouth still full of the fishy-smelling pills. Qin Jiu also tore off Cheng Xingchu's corpse and tossed it to the Hengshan disciples to collect, clearing the arena. His gaze was fixed intently on Chu Nanyi.

"This time, I, Qin Jiu from Ink Bamboo Mountain, have come to seek guidance from the masters of Emei!"

Chu Nanyi narrowed his eyes, "What's wrong with you, you demon child! I've clearly struck you several times, so why are your injuries healing even faster! Did you perhaps use some evil technique that shortens your lifespan and damages your body?"

Qin Jiu sneered, "Bah! What kind of Cultivation Method is righteous or evil! I'm just exceptionally talented, growing stronger the more I fight! Come on! Now, my whole body is surging with endless power!"

Kun squinted.

What extraordinary talent? This idiot has no idea how many Donghua Changchun Pill he swallowed while he was unconscious. Of course, Kun can't cure diseases, but Li Fan had plenty, so he forced at least half a gourdful of them down his throat. Surely he should be cured by now...

Shi Kai also filled with envy. Qin Jiu was truly amazing, with extraordinary talent, growing stronger with each battle.

Then he carefully put away the second pill that Kun had spat out. After all, even though Shi Kai was a body-refining cultivator, he couldn't withstand the immense medicinal power of the Donghua Changchun Pill. Holding one under his tongue and swallowing it was enough, since the medicinal power would take effect slowly anyway.

Having received basic education at Emei for so many years, Shi Kai knew the effects and pharmacology of many common elixirs. Taking too many drugs was not only harmful to the body, but also excessively exploited one's potential, tantamount to poisoning. Moreover, this Changchun Pill (a type of elixir) had some side effects; taking too much could make it difficult to control oneself, especially since everyone was young and middle-aged and lacked willpower...

"Huff... huff... blood is rushing to my head all over! Ahhh!"

Qin Jiu was overjoyed! Although he had been brutally beaten and his Great Songyang True Qi was almost depleted, for some reason, the blood essence refined by the Blood Refining Technique was becoming increasingly intense! And looking at Chu Nanyi in front of him, his fighting spirit was even stronger!

"Come at me! This time I'll beat you to a pulp!"

"Hmph! Still so arrogant! Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish! Shi Kai! Today I'll show you the true power of Emei!!"

Chu Nanyi roared angrily, ripped off the sleeves of his waist-length cloud-patterned robe, pulled out his hair in a single bun, and lifted the long silk ribbon hanging from his head!

With disheveled hair and bloodshot eyes, he brandished the Autumn Forest Sword at his face, and as the Sword Light through, his expression suddenly changed!

But the kind-faced immortal suddenly bulged his veins, looking like a Yaksha or a Rakshasa demon mother, and let out a sharp, piercing scream!

"The Xuan Girl of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden, merciful savior who bestows blessings and pardons sins, the Great Compassionate One!"

The Evil-Slaying and Demon-Exterminating Technique!

The Secret Sword of Emei! The Sword Roll Residual Clouds!