Gao Long's Death

Dongfang Yueming looked at the attribute panel: [Points: 1667].

"I have a little over 1,600 points left," he thought to himself. "That's enough for now. Right now, I should find a place to inquire about the specifics of the Battle of the Flood Dragon Gate."

Just as he was preparing to return to the city.

In the distance, Gao Long, who was following the faint aura left by Xi Zhenyue, suddenly changed his expression! He clearly sensed that not far ahead, an extremely pure and domineering fire-attribute Martial Dao True Intent One Flash by!

"Such powerful true intent!" Gao Long was shocked. "The strength of this intent far surpasses that of ordinary Qi Refining Realm! But judging from its attributes, it doesn't seem to be a mainstream cultivation method of the Cloud Water Dynasty..."

He frowned slightly. "Could it be... related to that old fellow Xi Zhenyue? Is that old man hiding his strength, or has he encountered some kind of fortuitous opportunity?"

A hint of hesitation arose in Gao Long's heart. The situation ahead was unclear, and whether going rashly would bring fortune or disaster was still unknown. He even had the idea of retreating temporarily and making further plans.

However, just as he hesitated, a figure walked unhurriedly from the direction from which he sensed the true meaning. It was none other than Dongfang Yueming, who had just dealt with Xi Zhenyue!

The two met face to face, their eyes meeting in mid-air.

Gao Long felt a chill run down his spine, but he remained outwardly calm, pretending to be nonchalant.

Looking at the young man with a restrained aura before him, and recalling the name Dongfang Yueming had mentioned earlier, Xi Zhenyue's heart stirred, and he tentatively asked, "Are you Gao Long?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Gao Long, but he did not admit it. Instead, he asked, "And who are you, sir?"

"My name is Dongfang Ri," Dongfang Yueming said calmly. "I just settled a personal grudge with General Xi Zhenyue."

"Oh? Is that so?" Upon hearing this, Gao Long revealed a playful smile, but in his heart he was already certain that Xi Zhenyue was probably in grave danger! He no longer hesitated, his eyes revealing murderous intent!

Without warning! Gao Long suddenly attacked! A chilling and powerful true energy erupted from his body, transforming into a huge black handprint that, with a piercing shriek that tore through the air, fiercely grabbed at Dongfang Yueming! Its power far surpassed that of Xi Zhenyue before!

Dongfang Yueming seemed to have anticipated this, and almost the instant Gao Long made his move, his crimson true energy also erupted! He threw a punch as well! With the support of the Crimson Flame Fist Intent, the fist energy roared like a fire dragon!

BOOM!!!

The crimson fist energy and the black handprint collided fiercely in mid-air! A deafening roar erupted! A violent shockwave swept outwards!

Gao Long felt a scorching, domineering force rebound along his arm, forcing him to take a half-step back! His eyes were filled with shock! He Qi Refining Minor Achievement, and with the help of the secret martial arts of the Heaven-Surging Alliance, he had actually... actually been blocked by the opponent?!

"Boy! Do you know who I am?!" Gao Long shouted, both shocked and furious, his voice trembling with fear, "I am a member of the Heaven-Surging Alliance! If you know what's good for you..."

"The Heaven-Surging Alliance?" Dongfang Yueming's eyes turned cold. "That name again."

He gave Gao Long no further chance to threaten him, and with a swift movement, he pounced on him like a ghost!

Gao Long was shocked and immediately tried his best to defend himself!

However, Dongfang Yueming had already reached the Qi Refining Perfection and had even condensed a superior-grade Qi Swirl Phenomenon, making his strength far superior to Gao Long's mere Qi Refining Minor Achievement achievement! In addition, with the Crimson Flame Fist Technique now Major Accomplishment, its power was even more astonishing!

Pfft!

Dongfang Yueming's punch pierced through Gao Long's protective aura and landed heavily on his chest!

Gao Long were filled with resentment and disbelief, and his Vitality quickly dissipated.

"Keeping this guy around will only cause trouble in the end," Dongfang Yueming thought to himself.

He went up and looted the corpse, quickly finishing the search.

"Hmm? Thirty white coins? This guy is considerably richer than Xi Zhenyue."

Besides that, there was another manual. Dongfang Yueming opened it and saw that it was the Qi Refining technique that Gao Long had been practicing!

[Character: Dongfang Yueming]

[Realm: Qi Refining Realm (Perfection - High-Grade Phenomenon) (Gain 200 points daily)]

[Cultivation Techniques: Extreme Body Tempering Method (Perfection), Crimson Swirl Qi Refining Method (Perfection), Nine-Turn Qi Refining Method (0/300, Not Yet Entry), Heaven-Surging Qi Refining Method (0/200, Not Yet Entry)]

[Martial Arts: Gale Swift Saber (Perfection), Swift Swimming Movement Technique (Perfection), Venomous Snake Dagger Technique (0/1, Not Yet Entry), Fierce Tiger Fist Technique (Perfection), Blood Burning Secret Method (Perfection), Crimson Flame Fist Technique (0/2000, Major Accomplishment), Surging Waves Fist Technique (0/9, Not Yet Entry)]

[Points:1667]

"The Heaven-Surging Qi Refining Method? Its attributes lean towards Yin and cold, completely different from my Crimson Swirl Qi Refining Method. I wonder what kind of changes will occur after these two techniques are combined?" Dongfang Yueming pondered. "However, the Entry points for this Heaven-Surging Qi Refining Method are the same as those for the Crimson Swirl Qi Refining Method, 200 points each. It seems that Gao Long's status in the Heaven-Surging Alliance is probably not low. This Heaven-Surging Alliance... it seems I will have to be more careful and vigilant in the future."

Dongfang Yueming destroyed the bodies and erased all traces left by Gao Long and Xi Zhenyue before quietly returning to the city.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

In a bustling teahouse in the city, Dongfang Yueming sat by the window, sipping fragrant tea while listening attentively to the conversations of the martial artists around him, gathering information about the battle between the Central Continent and Battle of the Flood Dragon Gate.

At the next table, a well-informed, eloquent man with a thick beard was boasting to his companions, spitting as he spoke:

"... Speaking of the Battle of the Flood Dragon Gate, it's not something anyone can just participate in! The spots are all controlled by the top powers! In our Cloud Water Dynasty, the three biggest holders of spots are the Cloudwater Sect, the Cloud-Overturning Gate, and that not-so-good-sounding Heaven-Surging Alliance! Other dynasties are similar; their respective top powers control the spots!"

"Then does that mean we, the unaffiliated cultivators, have no chance?" someone asked unwillingly.

"Hehe, not quite!" The burly man with the thick beard chuckled smugly. "Besides the geniuses who directly qualify, others... can also participate in the trials of the Battle of the Flood Dragon Gate! As long as they pass the trials, they will also have a chance to qualify for the Battle of the Flood Dragon Gate!"

"I see!" Upon hearing this, Dongfang Yueming suddenly understood.

"Where will the trial be held? When will it start?" someone nearby immediately asked impatiently.

The burly man with the bushy beard shook his head and sneered, "What's the rush? Do you think that trial is so easy to pass? I've heard that the trial has three stages, and they're extremely rigorous! The first stage alone requires you to defeat ten guardian martial artists of the same cultivation level within a set time! Ordinary people would just be cannon fodder!"

"Ten of the same rank?! That's that difficult?!" someone exclaimed in astonishment.

"What's there to be afraid of! Fortune favors the bold! As long as you pass the trial, you'll have a chance to participate in the Battle of the Flood Dragon Gate and rise to the top! Tell me! Where exactly is it?!"

Many others, however, were aroused by their competitive spirit and eagerly inquired about the location.

Having whetted everyone's appetite, the burly man with the bushy beard slowly said, "The location... isn't in our Cloud Water Dynasty, but in the neighboring high-ranking dynasty— the Heavenly Splendor Dynasty! It's said that before each Battle of the Flood Dragon Gate, the Heavenly Splendor Dynasty holds selection trials in its ' Trial Valley '!"