Human-Dragon 'Peak' Showdown!

Human-Dragon 'Peak' Showdown!

This finger...

Li Changshou's forehead was lined with black streaks, his eyes swallowed by shadow. For a moment, he sat there like a clay figurine.

Why was this world so full of malice toward him?

There were at least seven or eight thousand Qi Refiners present. Among the younger disciples, his cultivation was neither high nor low—many disciples from smaller immortal sects had not even reached the Void Returning Realm.

How had this Second Prince of the Dragon Palace picked him out from the vast sea of people?

Li Changshou could not understand it, truly could not understand it. But he knew this was not the time to sit stunned. He had to do something and escape his current predicament.

Countless gazes converged on him, waves of immortal sense and spiritual sense probing his way...

Fortunately, so long as no one grabbed his hand and inspected inside his body, his cultivation trump cards should not be exposed.

But he could not be certain whether those big shots on the high platform had already seen through his depths...

At this moment, Li Changshou truly wanted to rush up, pin this little dragon named Ao Yi to the ground, pry open his mouth, and stuff a few Melting Immortal Pills and Demon-Subduing Bone-Eroding Pills down his throat!

"Martial Nephew Changshou? Martial Nephew Changshou?"

A female immortal from the Du Xian Sect sent him an urgent sound transmission. Li Changshou immediately composed himself and looked up.

"Cough!"

A male True Immortal of the Du Xian Sect cleared his throat, rose to his feet, and cupped his hands toward Ao Yi, who stood proudly in the vast arena. Smiling, he said, "Your Highness Ao Yi, do you wish to spar with our Martial Nephew Changshou?"

"That's right," Ao Yi replied somewhat impatiently. "Have him come out."

The instant his words fell, several sound transmissions entered his ear.

"Your Highness, you picked the wrong one. That person has only just reached the second stage of the Void Returning Realm."

"Your Highness! Choose that woman in the fiery red dress! She is at the eighth stage of the Void Returning Realm!"

The corners of Ao Yi's mouth twitched twice, yet he remained utterly unmoved.

Li Changshou rose to his feet as well. He cupped his hands toward his sect's True Immortal and said, "Martial Uncle, this disciple's cultivation is shallow. I cannot even rank among the top hundred within the sect, and I fear I am no match for His Highness. If I rashly enter the arena, I may disgrace the dignity of our Du Xian Sect.

"Why not have His Highness choose another fellow disciple from among the Du Xian Sect disciples present, one ranked among the current generation's top ten, to spar with...

"This disciple need not go up and make a fool of himself."

The other ten Du Xian Sect disciples rose one after another. Youqin Xuanya even took several steps to the side, placing herself in front of Li Changshou.

Ao Yi frowned. Not only was this fellow weak in cultivation, he was also so long-winded.

The Second Prince of the Dragon Palace declared loudly, "I have chosen you!

"What, does the Du Xian Sect hold my Eastern Sea Dragon Palace in such little regard?"

Li Changshou's brow immediately furrowed. This little fellow was still dead set on sparring with him?

Just where had things gone wrong?

At the same time, two or three hundred human Celestial Immortals on the high platform lowered their heads to watch the situation below, while over a hundred Dragon Clan experts observed this place with furrowed brows.

Only the Old Dragon King, with a dragon's head and a human body, wore a smile as though asleep. He paid no heed to what was happening below, as if he had long known what would occur...

As Li Changshou hesitated, his Martial Uncle turned around and gave him a helpless smile.

"Martial Nephew Changshou, why not go exchange a few moves with His Highness?"

Fearing that Li Changshou would be embarrassed, the male True Immortal said directly, "We originally brought you here this time to broaden your horizons. We did not expect His Highness to choose you for a spar.

"Martial Nephew, simply display what you have learned in daily practice. There is no need to fight desperately for victory. Just do not spoil His Highness's enjoyment."

Immediately afterward, Li Changshou heard another Martial Uncle's sound transmission:

Martial Nephew Changshou, do not worry. Go up and exchange a few moves with him; we will keep a close watch from behind.

This little dragon is the Dragon Palace Crown Prince and highly skilled. If anything seems amiss, immediately admit defeat. Your safety comes before all else.

Your cultivation is insufficient, so it does not matter if you lose. The Du Xian Sect's honor does not need disciples to shed blood to win it!

Li Changshou sighed inwardly, then smiled faintly. He cupped his hands toward the elders and fellow disciples from his sect who were looking at him with concern, stepped down the stairs, and headed into the arena.

He would simply do what a second-stage Void Returning Realm disciple could do.

Ao Yi was today's protagonist. He had likely chosen Li Changshou because he wanted to ensure a steady victory in this match.

Then Li Changshou would grant him his wish. He would exchange a few moves, then concede defeat once he could no longer hold on—as long as he did not lose too badly...

"Changshou! Martial Nephew!"

Jiu Jiu suddenly called out from the side. She untied the Large Gourd from her back, winked at Li Changshou, and shouted, "You forgot your Evil-Slaying Ruyi Sword!

"This Martial Aunt has almost finished comprehending it, so I'll return it to you now."

Li Changshou did not know whether to laugh or cry, but he could truly feel his little Martial Aunt's concern for him.

The Evil-Slaying Ruyi Sword was a top-grade magic treasure forged by Venerable Wangqing. It was said to possess the potential to transform into a spirit treasure, and its power was immense.

This was his little Martial Aunt's Natal Magic Treasure, yet she was using this excuse to lend it to him...

"This disciple is only going to spar with His Highness the Second Prince," Li Changshou said gently. "A spar is not a life-and-death struggle. There is no need to use such a killing magic treasure."

With that, Li Changshou entered the arena without taking his little Martial Aunt's Large Gourd. For the second time, his gaze met that of the Dragon Palace Crown Prince.

A faint smile appeared at the corners of Ao Yi's mouth, his eyes filled with urgency.

Very good. Come on.

Defeat me head-on, me, the Second Prince of the Dragon Palace! Strike me with all your strength, with a spell or your fists and feet! I will definitely cough up three pints of blood from your attack!

But Li Changshou's heart twitched. That look in the other party's eyes...

What does he want? Why is he pressing so aggressively!

Could this Dragon Palace Crown Prince truly want to kill me, a Du Xian Sect disciple, on the spot?

Could it be because I am not an immortal seedling? If he kills me outright, the Du Xian Sect's reaction would not be too great, while the Dragon Palace could vent its anger?

Tsk. That must be the calculation he is making.

I must deal with this contest carefully.

Thus, Li Changshou became three parts more cautious.

The Immortal Armor around Ao Yi burst forth with dazzling light. He took a step forward, and his aura rose straight from the ground!

Li Changshou stood over thirty zhang away, but he could sense Ao Yi's Qi Flow locking completely onto him.

At once, he circulated his dharma power and concealed his aura, focusing on operating the Turtle Breath Qi Harmonizing Art he had created himself. The fluctuations of his dharma power perfectly matched what a second-stage Void Returning Realm cultivator would display when giving his all.

Then Li Changshou took half a step forward. The Qi Flows of man and dragon fully connected!

Come on!

A sharp gleam flashed through Ao Yi's blue eyes. He abandoned the idea of bombarding from afar with magic treasures and immediately prepared to rush forward close to the ground, delivering his handsome face beneath the fist of the weakest Du Xian Sect disciple on this journey!

"Hold it!"

Li Changshou shouted. Ao Yi made a feint beneath his feet and nearly pitched face-first onto the clean "ground" of the Water Lotus Terrace.

What was it now?

Ao Yi frowned as he looked over. The people in the arena were also slightly puzzled.

They were about to begin fighting—why was he calling for them to hold it again?

Li Changshou said, "Since this is a spar, we should first establish some rules.

"At the very least, we should have a respected referee to determine victory and defeat, and we should mark out the boundaries of the sparring ground so neither side crosses them.

"To begin sparring directly without any rules would likely not suit the Dragon Palace's traditionally rigorous conduct, nor its fair and just sect's reputation!"

Why was this fellow so troublesome...

Several black streaks appeared across Ao Yi's forehead, but Turtle Prime Minister found Li Changshou's words sound and well-founded, impossible to refute.

The Dragon Palace had indeed failed to prepare adequately for this part.

Turtle Prime Minister immediately stepped forward to personally serve as the "referee" for this spar, drawing a great circle two hundred zhang in diameter with immortal power.

"His Highness and this worthy talent of the Du Xian Sect shall spar with restraint. Both sides may not use killing magic treasures..."

The arena was marked out, the Three Chapters of Agreement were established, and the spar suddenly became far more formal.

Li Changshou and Ao Yi faced one another again, separated by more than thirty zhang. Their Qi Flows connected once more.

Ao Yi paused slightly. Several diamond-shaped blocks of mystical ice immediately appeared around him, each containing clusters of dancing flame.

Make the momentum grand, make the loss miserable!

He drew in his breath and condensed his focus. Ao Yi assumed a full stance for the second time and was just about to charge forward!

"Hold it!"

Li Changshou shouted again. Ao Yi's foot slipped, and he staggered two steps forward.

This fellow—why did he shout "hold it" every time Ao Yi reached a crucial point in circulating his dharma power!

Li Changshou said, "Your Highness the Second Prince, why don't we switch to a contest of refinement..."

"Enough nonsense! Take this!"

Ao Yi roared low and stamped his foot, charging forward close to the ground!

His body shot forth like an arrow leaving the bow. The mystical ice around him blazed with light, even leaving an afterimage where he had stood—yet he exposed an incredibly obvious opening directly ahead!

Li Changshou held a stack of talismans in his hand. The instant Ao Yi rushed close, his feet feinted and he dodged awkwardly to the side, though a trace of effortless grace still showed amid that awkwardness.

Dragon Roaming Cloud Probing Steps—an upper-grade Du Xian Sect movement technique he had long since openly displayed. But it was only a movement technique, not some formidable divine ability.

Ao Yi frowned. As he brushed past Li Changshou, he stared at Li Changshou's somewhat panicked face.

Ao Yi thought to himself:

What is going on? Is it so difficult to counterattack head-on?

Right. I am too fierce; I must have frightened him.

Do not be afraid. Strike me head-on. This Crown Prince will let you win brilliantly!

After charging twenty zhang forward, Ao Yi stopped himself with a handsome midair flip, stamped his foot, and rushed toward Li Changshou again.

Li Changshou casually flung out six talismans and formed hand seals with both hands. The talisman patterns instantly lit up, spewing out interwoven Fire Snakes ahead!

Ao Yi did not even dodge. He charged straight ahead, his body swallowed by firelight—only to break through these ordinary spell flames in an instant!

Fierce beyond compare!

Li Changshou's mysterious footwork appeared again. Though he was far calmer than before, he still looked somewhat disheveled. He narrowly avoided Ao Yi's charge once more, then casually fired two talismans at Ao Yi.

Ao Yi sneered, immediately changing tactics. He pursued Li Changshou at close range, yet deliberately accepted every flame cast by the talismans!

Using the dharma power of the second stage of the Void Returning Realm to perform the Dragon Roaming Cloud Probing Steps, Li Changshou retreated while fighting and swiftly fell into a disadvantage—smoothly circling toward the position he had selected beforehand...

In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged dozens of moves!

Ao Yi's brows furrowed deeper and deeper. Relying on strength that "far surpassed" this Du Xian Sect disciple's, he continually offered up his openings and his face to the other party.

Yet whether the other party was deliberately avoiding his vital points, did not dare attack the Dragon Palace Crown Prince, or was truly too weak to seize these absurdly obvious opportunities...

He simply would not take the openings!

Fortunately, though this fellow's talisman techniques lacked power, Ao Yi had already endured many blasts of spell fire...

Later, he could directly perform the grand spectacle of a "great explosion" of a living dragon!

At last, Li Changshou and Ao Yi made physical contact for the first time...

Three zhang behind Li Changshou lay the boundary. He had already been "forced" into a corner, and at last a trace of resolve appeared in his eyes. He flung out more than ten talismans, while streams of dharma power gathered in his palms and transformed into lightning within his hands!

Heavenly Bright Five Thunders Marvelous Method!

This counted as a somewhat advanced spell of the Du Xian Sect. Half of the disciples who entered the Void Returning Realm had already mastered it.

Lightning flashed, firelight surged!

Ao Yi charged into it, and at last punched Li Changshou's palm!

Hm?

Ao Yi frowned slightly. It was only because, with fist and palm meeting, his naturally keen battle instincts had made him sense a faint trace of danger.

Eh?

At the same time, Li Changshou was rather confused.

This fellow's fist had no strength at all?

Even so, Li Changshou continued according to his script. His body leaned back as he staggered several steps backward. Taking advantage of the momentum with a clever force, he guided Ao Yi's fist to the side and continued retreating.

Ao Yi also seized this excellent opportunity, deliberately slipping beneath his feet and staggering several steps to the left. He thought inwardly, This should be about enough!

Just then, Ao Yi heard coughing from beside him. His sapphire-like eyes shifted, and he glanced over from the corner of his vision...

Li Changshou lowered his head and coughed several times. A trace of blood stained his fingertips. He lifted his head with a long sigh, his expression deeply stifled, and said in a low voice:

"Enough. I still lost. My skill is inferior to another's; I should return to the mountain and cultivate."

He then stepped back half a pace, just crossing the boundary that had been drawn earlier.

Immortals, Qi Refiners, Dragon Clan members, and Sea Clan members across the Water Lotus Terrace all revealed faint looks of regret.

The movement techniques, talisman techniques, and Lightning Method Li Changshou had displayed were already handled quite well for a second-stage Void Returning Realm disciple.

He... he admitted defeat?

Ao Yi froze. He looked down at the glowing boundary before Li Changshou, unable to recover for a moment.

What the hell was this, admitting defeat first?

What kind of thing was it to concede faster than Ao Yi? Did he not want to win, human Qi Refiner?

Turtle Prime Minister called from the side, "This match shall be awarded to our Second Prince..."

Ao Yi's eyes widened, his handsome face twisting slightly!

This—this would not do!

His perfect plan! The most crucial step in the grand plan to awaken the Dragon Clan!

How could this fellow admit defeat himself! This Crown Prince had already stuck his face out for him to hit!

Truly, truly!

A trace of red light suddenly surged over the Second Prince's handsome face.

Turtle Prime Minister's cry continued, "The victor—"

"Ah!"

Ao Yi suddenly threw back his head and roared. Streams of pale golden Dragon Blood burst from around him, and even cracks appeared in his Immortal Armor.

Turtle Prime Minister, a Celestial Immortal, was instantly stunned.

Ao Yi glared unwillingly at Li Changshou and said in a trembling voice, "Such formidable... talismans... such... technique..."

As he spoke, the Second Prince's body slowly toppled backward, landing in a "pool of blood." A group of Dragon Clan experts swarmed forward, and the scene instantly descended into utter chaos!

Li Changshou: ...

This little Dragon Clan brother's acting was clearly not up to standard. At best, he was on the level of a pretty-faced rookie actor.

Several True Immortals from the sect rushed over from the side and shielded Li Changshou behind them.

PS: The two chapters together have a full eight thousand characters. I really wanted to split them up, but I was afraid the esteemed readers would scold me... I posted so many words in free chapters. This is too hard for me!

This is too hard for me: When Author Fungus activates this skill, readers will involuntarily click to vote and add this book to their own created reading lists.