A fierce battle with Ghost Shark

"Right here!"

Zhao Yi rose and answered. The cultivators around him immediately looked his way. He smiled, nodded, and walked over.

They stopped about ten paces apart. Facing Ghost Shark Daoist, Zhao Yi smiled and said,

"You old sea ghoul, you hid for ten years before finally showing yourself!"

"Who are you?"

Zhao Yi did not answer. Liu Yu saluted those around them and said, "Back then, Ghost Shark Daoist fed mortals to his ghost sharks. When my master discovered this, he was furious at his wanton disregard for human life and killed two of his ghost sharks. He intended to kill this fiend as well, but he escaped."

"In his fury, my master stormed Sea Shark Island and killed two of his disciples. Those disciples helped the tyrant commit his atrocities, imprisoning the islanders and keeping them like livestock to feed the ghost sharks."

"Today, with our fellow cultivators of the Yunsha Sea Region here as witnesses, we of Linghua Island will settle this with him and demand justice for the mortals he slaughtered!"

"Old bastard, are you coming first, or are your disciples?"

Zhao Yi strode forward imperiously.

"Fine, fine, fine! Since Chen Yihua isn't here today, I'll slaughter you two little beasts first and avenge my disciples' tragic deaths!"

With that, Ghost Shark Daoist snarled over his shoulder, "Where are my disciples?"

Two men, one tall and one short, stepped forward together. "Here, Master!"

"Avenge your senior brothers!"

"Yes!"

The two stepped forward and took their positions. Liu Yu also started forward, but Zhao Yi waved him back, and he withdrew his foot.

"I'll fight both of you!"

"Arrogant!"

"You're courting death!"

"We'll send you on your way today!"

Ghost Shark Daoist's two disciples drew their weapons. The tall one wielded a spiked mace, and the short one a serrated saber.

Seeing that a fight was about to begin, the surrounding rogue cultivators scattered, forming a circle ten zhang across.

Zhao Yi smiled, then lunged toward the two, launching the first attack.

With a light sweep of Long Ji, he slashed at them.

The tall cultivator swiftly swung his spiked mace to block Long Ji. Sparks flew, and the tremendous force left both his and Zhao Yi's hands tingling.

Zhao Yi gave the tall cultivator a surprised look. He had not expected anyone to withstand his prodigious strength!

Before he could think further, the short man's saber was already slashing toward Zhao Yi's lower body.

They truly were brothers born of the same mother-their coordination was superb!

Zhao Yi twisted aside and chopped diagonally at the short man with Long Ji.

Clang!

The saber blocked Long Ji, but the tremendous force drove the short man straight to his knees.

Zhao Yi swung his halberd back to block the spiked mace. The short man seized the chance to rise and hide behind the tall cultivator.

The three exchanged blows, constantly shifting positions. The surrounding rogue cultivators applauded and cheered.

Seeing Zhao Yi locked in a bitter struggle, Liu Yu shifted his feet, preparing to help.

"Hmph!"

Ghost Shark Daoist was watching Liu Yu with a sinister smile. If Liu Yu moved, Ghost Shark Daoist would likely pounce.

With no other choice, Liu Yu could only watch the fight anxiously.

By now, Zhao Yi had also realized that the tall and short men possessed an exquisite joint combat technique.

Working together, they were harder to handle than a cultivator at the perfection of Meridian Opening. No wonder Ghost Shark Daoist had taken them as disciples!

This could not continue. He had to break through their combined assault with overwhelming force.

At that thought, Zhao Yi's aura surged. His figure seemed to grow larger as he cast off all restraint.

"Kill!"

With a furious roar, Long Ji surged forward like a rainbow, enveloping both men in his assault. His attacks swept over them like wave after wave of a rising tide.

Caught off guard by Zhao Yi, the two retreated again and again, forced into a desperate defense.

A prolonged defense was bound to fail. The two men beneath Long Ji understood that, but what else could they do? The slightest carelessness could get them struck. Gradually, they fell at a disadvantage.

Watching from outside the circle, Ghost Shark Daoist was furious.

I couldn't beat Chen Yihua back then, and now my disciples can't beat his even two against one! This is infuriating!

Gripping his sword, Ghost Shark Daoist drew it partway from its sheath, ready to enter the fray.

Just then, a gaze fell upon Ghost Shark Daoist like a thorn pricking his back. It belonged to Zhao Xingyu, the Zhao Family's seventh elder, who was responsible for maintaining order at the docks.

Sensing the warning in that gaze, Ghost Shark Daoist suppressed his anger, sheathed his sword, and quietly awaited the outcome.

"Kill!"

Ghost Shark Daoist's voice rang out from outside the circle. Knowing their master's temper, the two men beneath Long Ji immediately seethed with hatred for Zhao Yi. It was time to stake their lives.

Cold-faced, the tall cultivator took a talisman from his robes, slapped it onto himself, and charged straight at Zhao Yi.

He did not dodge at all. When Long Ji struck beside him, golden light flashed. He had used a Golden Light Talisman!

Without hesitation, Zhao Yi circled the arena as though walking dogs, dodging their attacks while stalling for time.

Seeing this, the short man also took a talisman from his robes with a pained expression and hurled it at Zhao Yi.

The talisman hit the ground and instantly turned it into a mire, trapping Zhao Yi.

Slapping a Golden Light Talisman onto himself, Zhao Yi raised his weapon to knock aside the short man's saber, then swung his halberd back into the tall cultivator's spiked mace.

The tall cultivator had thought he could block it, but he had not expected such ferocious force this time. It felt as though a mountain were bearing down on him, driving him several paces straight back.

Zhao Yi grinned at the short man, whose face instantly filled with panic. He turned and fled toward the edge of the circle.

Tall and long-legged, Zhao Yi caught him in two quick strides. With a light chop, he split both man and saber in two.

Boom!

A tremendous crash rang out. Zhao Yi turned to see the tall cultivator wildly swinging his spiked mace at him, his face crazed.

Born of the same mother, they were brothers. Seeing his brother slain had driven the tall cultivator mad. His savage blows made the golden barrier flicker.

Safe travels!

Zhao Yi silently bade him farewell. His opponent's Golden Light Talisman had faded, and before he could react, Zhao Yi closed in.

Long Ji swept diagonally upward. There was some resistance, but not much. The tall cultivator split in two.

"Whew!"

Letting out a long breath, Zhao Yi stood proudly in the circle in his sky-blue martial outfit, without so much as a bead of sweat on his forehead.

"Bravo!"

Cheers rose all around.

Clang!

A light metallic sound rang out behind him.

"Little beast! I'll kill you! Kill you!"

Seeing both his disciples die, Ghost Shark Daoist was consumed by rage. He drew his sword and lunged at Zhao Yi.

Liu Yu had been watching Ghost Shark Daoist all along. Seeing him attack Zhao Yi from behind, he hurriedly leaped into the circle and drew his sword to block.

He intercepted Ghost Shark Daoist's sword just in time. The blades met and immediately parted. Looking at the notch in his blade, Liu Yu turned a grave gaze upon Ghost Shark Daoist.

"That sword of yours truly is extraordinary, Senior Ghost Shark!"

"Hmph!"

"Mine was forged from black iron. How could the scrap metal in your hands compare?"

"If you know what's good for you, admit defeat and surrender. Then I can give you a chance to change your tune. Otherwise, my sword leaves no survivors!"

Ghost Shark Daoist snorted and spoke viciously.

Zhao Yi turned just in time to see this. He smiled faintly. "Old bastard, after all those years of cultivation, you really do have a few fine things!"

"I'll take that sword. When I send you on your way in a moment, I'll make it clean and quick!"

"Little beast, you're courting death!"

Ghost Shark Daoist opened with a streak of sword light aimed at Zhao Yi. Zhao Yi traced a semicircle with Long Ji and met it head-on.

Before Zhao Yi could change moves, Ghost Shark Daoist's sword attacked again, forcing him to keep blocking.

Liu Yu came forward from the side, swinging his sword as he unleashed the Thirty-Six Forms of Chasing Wind and Slaying Spirits against Ghost Shark Daoist.

Under pressure from Liu Yu's blade, Ghost Shark Daoist had to turn to block. Zhao Yi seized the opening to change moves and renew his fierce assault.

The two fellow disciples coordinated seamlessly, one attacking while the other defended, matching Ghost Shark Daoist evenly.

In an instant, Ghost Shark Daoist found himself in the same predicament Zhao Yi had faced earlier!

Time slowly passed. The three remained locked in combat, but Liu Yu was beginning to pant.

Liu Yu's cultivation was the lowest to begin with. Fighting so fiercely had nearly exhausted his true qi.

With decades of combat experience, Ghost Shark Daoist naturally noticed Liu Yu's attacks weakening, and inwardly rejoiced.

Zhao Yi also noticed the change in Liu Yu. Forced to devote his attention to Liu Yu's share of the fight, his own offensive slowed.

"Seventh Uncle, are those two from Linghua Island losing ground?"

A young cultivator beside Zhao Xingyu asked quietly.

Had Zhao Yi seen this young cultivator, he would certainly have recognized Zhao Changyu, who had guided their party the previous year.

"Yes. Unless something unexpected happens, Ghost Shark Daoist will win!"

Zhao Xingyu nodded.

"Seventh Uncle, if Ghost Shark Daoist survives, Three Heroes Island's strength won't have been weakened!"

"Just wait quietly for the result!" Zhao Xingyu glanced at Zhao Changyu and thought, Still too young. Winning or losing this fight has no bearing on the overall situation!

Before long, Liu Yu stumbled and fell. Ignoring Zhao Yi's attack, Ghost Shark thrust his sword at Liu Yu.

Clang!

Golden light appeared around Liu Yu. Another Golden Light Talisman!

Ghost Shark seethed, but he could not continue attacking. Zhao Yi's Long Ji was already above his head.

Clang, clang, clang...

Within a single breath, sword and halberd collided more than a dozen times at the same spot.

Crack!

Zhao Yi's halberd blade fell off, severed by Ghost Shark Daoist's sword!

Gasps rose all around. Outside the circle, Yuan Zifeng's heart clenched. It's over. His Dharma Weapon is broken. He's doomed!

Zhao Yi froze briefly as the blade fell, then quickly recovered and blocked Ghost Shark Daoist's sword with the shaft.

Clang, clang, clang...

After another flurry of collisions, another piece was missing from the shaft.

Seeing this, Zhao Yi crushed the Middle-Grade Golden Light Talisman on his body. As Ghost Shark Daoist's blade approached, he discarded the shaft, twisted aside to let Ghost Shark Daoist pass, and punched the flat of the sword.

A surge of force nearly knocked the hilt from Ghost Shark Daoist's grip. Seeing his right hand shaking, Zhao Yi knew he was suffering and pressed close again to fight him at close quarters.

Golden light emerged!

Zhao Yi smiled helplessly.

Amid flashing sword light, Zhao Yi and Ghost Shark exchanged dozens of moves. The golden light around both men flickered, then dissolved into golden motes.

After another flurry of sword light, Zhao Yi and Ghost Shark separated. Zhao Yi's martial outfit hung in tatters like strips of cloth, and bloody wounds across his body ran deep enough to expose bone.

Slap!

Zhao Yi casually tossed something to the ground.

The cultivators outside the circle looked closely. It was an arm.

Blood seeped from Ghost Shark Daoist's mouth. His brows were tightly furrowed, his body trembling. Zhao Yi had torn off his left arm.

"Old bastard, you really are tough-mouthed-not even a sound! I'm almost starting to admire you."

"Hah, hah, hah!"

Ghost Shark Daoist wheezed like a bellows.

"Ptooey!"

A mouthful of blood mixed with teeth struck the ground. Ghost Shark Daoist sneered. "Heh! I've roamed these seas for decades. What storms and towering waves haven't I seen? Boy, today we settle the feud between our two sides once and for all!"

"Good!"

"Kill!"

Liu Yu had already activated the Boiling Blood Art. His face fierce, he was the first to pounce.

Seeing Liu Yu stake his life against his enemy's, Zhao Yi gave a long cry and hurled himself forward.

"Kill!"

Ghost Shark Daoist swung his sword, sending a streak of sword light straight at Liu Yu.

Clang!

The swords met, scattering sparks.

Crack!

Liu Yu's sword snapped on the spot. The tremendous impact sent him flying several zhang, blood spraying skyward and falling in crimson plum blossoms.

Meanwhile, Zhao Yi had reached Ghost Shark Daoist. He chopped his palm at Ghost Shark Daoist's neck. Without dodging, Ghost Shark Daoist thrust his sword straight into Zhao Yi's chest.

Crack!

Ghost Shark Daoist's neck broke. A dark streak whistled through the air and struck his body-the broken sword Liu Yu had hurled with all his remaining strength.

"Cough!"

Spitting out blood, Zhao Yi gripped the hilt and pulled Ghost Shark Daoist's sword from his body. He seized Ghost Shark Daoist by the hair, letting the corpse sag limply, then severed his head with one stroke.

"A fine sword!"

At this sight, the rogue cultivators outside the circle fell utterly silent.

How had it turned out like this? Wasn't this supposed to be the king's return, avenging his humiliation?

How had his entire lineage been wiped out again? This time, it truly had been wiped out to the last man!

For a time, no one cheered.

Suddenly, a streak of dark light flashed straight toward Zhao Yi. The attacker was none other than Mo Wufei, who sought to kill Zhao Yi and Liu Yu while they were injured.

The crowd below cried out in alarm!

Smack!

Another streak of dark light shot over!

It struck Mo Wufei's dark streak dead-on, and both fell to the ground: a concealed arrow and a pebble.

A figure stood in front of Zhao Yi and Liu Yu. It was Zhao Xingyu of the Zhao Family, who had stepped forward to block Mo Wufei.

"Mo Wufei, this is a duel between Linghua Island and Sea Shark Island. Why are you interfering?"

"I merely wished to gather Fellow Daoist Ghost Shark's remains!"

"There's no need for you to do that. Everything left by the three men from Sea Shark Island belongs to Linghua Island as spoils. Step down!"

With that, Zhao Xingyu stared at Mo Wufei, and the atmosphere in the arena instantly grew tense.

This was far more thrilling than the duels before. Three Heroes Island confronting the Zhao Family-the very thought was thrilling. Everyone on the docks immediately fell silent as cicadas in winter.

Seeing this, Mo Wufei concealed the cold glint in his eyes and smiled faintly. "Then sorry for troubling our fellow Daoists from Linghua Island to gather Fellow Daoist Ghost Shark's remains!"

With that, he led his people away.

Whoosh! A figure rushed onto the platform. It was Yuan Zifeng. He bowed to Zhao Xingyu and held out the pills in his hand, indicating that he had come to deliver medicine.

Zhao Xingyu glanced at them, then left the arena.

Yuan Zifeng went to Zhao Yi's side and fed him a Spring Return Pill, then gave Liu Yu a Qi-Replenishing Pill.

Under Yuan Zifeng's care, the two immediately sat cross-legged in meditation to stabilize their injuries.

Seeing this, Zhao Xingyu declared, "I announce that Linghua Island has won this duel against Sea Shark Island. From this moment on, the feud is settled!"

Then, after a brief pause, he continued, "Azure Cloud Island's merchant ship will arrive shortly. Fellow Daoists, line up to board according to your numbered tokens!"

Seeing that the show was over, the Rogue Cultivators immediately dispersed and began lining up to wait.