The Grand Finale

The instant the words fell, powerful waves of Origin Energy erupted from both girls at the same time. Their fierce Origin Energy swept out like a gale, battering the surroundings. The expressions of the people nearby changed, their faces filling with admiration. As expected of the proud talents of Flame City—even with only late Heavenly Origin Realm cultivation, their Origin Energy was already this abundant.

With a sharp rip, the whip in Yue Ling's hand lashed out like a fiery python, carrying a piercing rush of air as it snapped toward Xia Zhilan with lightning speed and no mercy. Facing Yue Ling's lightning-fast attack, Xia Zhilan remained calm and unhurried. She gave a cold snort, drew the fiery-red longsword at her waist, and retreated swiftly, stabbing forward with the blade. Sword and whip met, and the whip coiled around the blade like a nimble snake. Yue Ling exerted force, trying to wrench the longsword away, but the sword seemed glued to Xia Zhilan's palm and did not loosen in the slightest.

Both girls were at the late Heavenly Origin Realm and stood among the top experts of Flame City's younger generation, so their exchange was quite spectacular, drawing repeated applause and cheers from the crowd.

Jia Lie Jun watched from the side with great interest. Watching two lively young girls fight was also rather pleasing to the eye. After they had tangled for about half an hour, Yue Ling's attacks clearly began to falter, showing signs of running out of strength, while Xia Zhilan only grew fiercer the longer she fought. Seeing this, the latter immediately shifted from defense to offense. Her longsword moved rapidly, and Yue Ling, unable to defend, had the long whip in her hand sent flying by a single stroke from Xia Zhilan's sword. The sharp blade came to rest across Yue Ling's neck.

"First round, victory to the Wan Jin Merchant Association." Seeing this, the referee immediately stepped forward and shouted loudly. Hearing this, Xia Zhilan lowered her longsword, gave the grim-faced Yue Ling a light glance, smiled faintly, and then returned to the Wan Jin Merchant Association's side.

"Yue Ling, come back." Seeing that the match had been lost, the Blood Wolf Gang's leader showed not the slightest anger on his face.

"Feng'er, you'll take the next round," Yue Shan said to the white-robed young man beside him.

"Yes." Yue Feng nodded, then walked into the field. His gaze turned to Liu Yi as he called out softly, "Liu Yi, come out."

Liu Yi took a deep breath. A cold gleam flashed, and a refined-iron long spear appeared in his hand. He then walked into the field with a solemn expression. Against Yue Feng, he had no choice but to be cautious. The latter was one of Flame City's most outstanding younger-generation figures; there were likely few among Flame City's youth who could contend with him, and even Liu Yi himself did not have complete confidence. Seeing Liu Yi take out a long spear, Yue Feng smiled faintly and also took a dark-red long spear from his Universe Bag.

"Second round, begin."

The referee's words had barely fallen when Yue Feng stamped both feet, his body shooting forward as he rushed swiftly toward Liu Yi. The long spear in his hand pierced through the air, carrying a fierce wind as it stabbed toward Liu Yi's throat. Seeing this, Liu Yi also thrust his spear forward.

Clang, clang.

The spear tips collided, and sparks flashed. Both men retreated several steps at the same time. Yue Feng steadied himself and pressed in again, countless spear shadows attacking Liu Yi's vital points one after another. To be valued by Manager Su and Xia Zhilan, Liu Yi truly did have some skill. Facing Yue Feng's fierce attacks, he responded move for move and actually blocked all of Yue Feng's strikes. However, whenever the two spears met, the tremendous force transmitted through them made him suffer inwardly.

Yue Feng and Liu Yi's battle was clearly far more intense than the previous match, and much more thrilling and dangerous as well. It was Jia Lie Jun's first time seeing such a fierce fight, and the sight made his blood boil.

Within the field, spear shadows flashed everywhere, the sound of steel clashing rang out without pause, and sparks flew in all directions. The people around them watched without daring to breathe too loudly, their eyes fixed wide open, afraid of missing this brilliant match. Even Xia Wanjin, the president of the Wan Jin Merchant Association, had his hands clenched tightly behind his back, his face filled with gravity. If Liu Yi could win this match, then the struggle over the Danxian Pool would end in a great victory for the Wan Jin Merchant Association.

After about half an hour of fighting, Yue Shan's figure retreated, and the Origin Energy around his entire body surged. The long spear in his hand moved faster and faster, until only flickering spear shadows could be seen. Those flashing spear shadows rapidly gathered together and actually formed a vortex of spear shadows, with faint flashes of lightning within them. Wherever the vortex of spear shadows passed, drifting leaves were instantly sucked in and ground into powder.

"Fourth-grade martial art, Heavy Shadow Spear..."

As they watched Yue Feng's fierce attack, the faces of Xuan Su and Xia Wanjin of the Wan Jin Merchant Association were full of worry. Even Xia Zhilan, who was usually especially proud and arrogant, was the same.

"The Heavy Shadow Spear has four layers, each stronger than the last. It's said that Yue Shan can use three layers, and with that power, few at the same level can rival him. Liu Yi is in danger," Xia Wanjin said in a deep voice.

The moment his words fell, that vortex of spear shadows, carrying overwhelming momentum, shot rapidly toward Liu Yi like a powerful shock wave. Seeing this, Liu Yi frantically mobilized the Origin Energy in his body and poured it into his long spear as if his life depended on it. The spear shadows slammed viciously into the spear shaft filled with Origin Energy. Liu Yi's body was sent flying backward uncontrollably, and just as he steadied himself and wanted to catch his breath, Yue Feng attacked again. He had no choice but to defend in haste and was beaten back again and again by Yue Feng.

The sound of clang, clang rang out continuously, startling the people of the Wan Jin Merchant Association so much that their hearts rose into their throats. Because after Liu Yi had received the Heavy Shadow Spear, they saw blood flowing from the webbing between his thumb and forefinger.

"Looks like Liu Yi can still handle the third layer of the Heavy Shadow Spear." Just as Xia Wanjin and the others were about to breathe a sigh of relief, they saw Yue Feng smile contemptuously. The long spear in his hand moved once more and, with lightning speed, smashed heavily into Liu Yi's body. Blood sprayed from Liu Yi's mouth, and his body scraped along the ground for dozens of meters before finally stopping.

Looking at the unconscious Liu Yi lying on the ground, Xuan Su and Xia Wanjin's hearts sank. They had not expected Yue Feng to have actually mastered the fourth layer of the Heavy Shadow Spear. In this way, both sides now had one win and one loss. The ownership of the Danxian Pool would come down to this final match. Immediately, everyone from the Wan Jin Merchant Association turned to look at Jia Lie Jun.

"Why are you all looking at me?" Faced with so many gazes, Jia Lie Jun found it a little hard to bear and could not help speaking up.

"Little brother, we're counting on you. Victory or defeat all depends on your battle," Xia Wanjin said, cupping his hands.

Xia Zhilan also looked at Jia Lie Jun with a face full of hope. If Jia Lie Jun lost, then their Wan Jin Merchant Association would have no connection with the Danxian Pool. Although cultivating by the book could still allow one to advance to the Origin Core Realm, with the help of the Danxian Pool, that time would be greatly shortened. Moreover, by cultivating in the Danxian Pool, the grade of the Origin Core condensed would also be somewhat higher.

"I will definitely give it everything I have," Jia Lie Jun said solemnly with a nod.

"That guy's strength is only at the mid Heavenly Origin Realm, about the same as Song Qing's. Beating him shouldn't be too difficult for you," Xia Zhilan said in a low voice.

Jia Lie Jun neither agreed nor denied it. He shook his head, then walked into the field.