Chapter 189: Yuanshi Tianzun VS Guohe Zu

Chapter 189: Yuanshi Tianzun VS The Crossing Pawn

Jiang Jingwei’s crimson hair stirred without wind, fanning out strand by strand like seaweed, granular fire elements floating amidst the fiery locks.

And enveloping her body was a spherical aura; its outer layer consisted of rapidly moving, colliding pale-red particles, its interior filled with distorted air.

At this moment, Jiang Jingwei seemed an entirely different person—transformed from a carefree, battle-hungry girl into a goddess commanding fire, majestic and violent.

*Crack, crack...*

Her bent forearm snapped back into place; the vengeful spirit on her shoulder let out a miserable shriek, seemingly scorched to a degree, yet it still clung desperately to the girl’s body, continuously seizing her essence.

To stake everything for their master’s command is the most basic quality of a spirit servant.

"The Wrathful One... truly worthy of the purest Fire Master bloodline." A touch of gravity finally appeared on Zhao Chenghuang’s arrogant face.

Obviously, he knew the reason for Jiang Jingwei’s sudden eruption.

"I’ll dispose of this nuisance of a Yin Corpse first, then have a proper fight with you." Jiang Jingwei grinned at Zhao Chenghuang.

Before Zhao Chenghuang could respond, she sank her knees and transformed into a streak of flowing flame, crashing into the Yin Corpse’s embrace.

*Boom!*

Amidst the explosion of flames, she slammed into the Yin Corpse and flew backward with it; throughout the process, explosions rang out incessantly—Jiang Jingwei like a string of firecrackers, *bang bang clang clang*, pushing the Yin Corpse toward the edge of the magma, away from Zhao Chenghuang.

Then, seizing the Yin Corpse’s ankles with both hands, she swung it aloft and slammed it down.

The Yin Corpse crashed heavily into the magma, splashing vast sheets of brilliant slurry; Jiang Jingwei plunged in after it, pressing down on the head of the corpse as it tried to leap out, forcing it back into the "pool."

At this moment, Zhao Chenghuang was at the other end of the magma pool, dozens of meters away, too late to intervene.

Zhao Chenghuang acted decisively, settling his emotions, closing his eyes, and standing motionless.

He intended to personally manipulate the Yin Corpse to wage a bitter struggle against Jiang Jingwei at the bottom of the pool.

The watching Walkers stepped forward one after another, drawing near the volcano’s mouth and looking down.

They saw the magma bubbling with copious bubbles, a constant gurgling sound, strands of "undercurrents" rolling upward, the scent of sulfur growing thicker.

The battle within the magma seemed fierce; a pity no one could see it.

Zhang Yuanqing watched the magma while listening to Guan Ya beside him say:

"I heard the clan elders say that Transcendent Fire Masters are irritable, reckless, impulsive—these are their flaws, but at the Sage stage, they become virtues.

"The Wrathful are like dynamite; they blow at a touch, able to erupt with potential anytime, anywhere—something other classes cannot achieve.

"Jiang Jingwei possesses the purest Fire Master bloodline under heaven. Though she hasn't reached the Sage realm, in a desperate situation, she can easily unleash the power dormant in her bloodline."

"I see!"

Zhang Yuanqing nodded. To burst forth with combat power rivaling a Sage while only at the Transcendent level—Jiang Jingwei’s talent and bloodline inspired envy.

In that case, dealing with the Level 4 Yin Corpse wouldn't be a problem; after all, it was just a Yin Corpse, not a true Fire Master.

Without the Yin Corpse, it was unknown how Zhao Chenghuang would cope.

One must know, the Yin Corpse was a crucial pillar supporting Zhao Chenghuang’s position at the top of the rankings.

Amidst soaring thoughts, magma surged with a hiss; Jiang Jingwei leapt from the scalding "liquid," dragging a yin corpse with twisted limbs.

The crater erupted in clamor, murmurs rising on all sides.

Ranked sixth on the Top Twenty list, Jiang Jingwei had slain Zhao Chenghuang's yin corpse—a result that defied many expectations.

With such strength, she ought to have cracked the top three.

"The Little Princess is amazing!"

"Long live the Little Princess!"

A small knot of voices roared louder than the rest, led by a red-haired youth with arms crossed, face radiant with pride; his lackeys behind him cheered and leapt, shouting acclaim.

These Fire Masters, every one like a husky... Zhang Yuanqing shifted his gaze afar, hoping to gauge the Taiyi Sect's reaction, only to discover, to his astonishment, that the lot of them were uncannily composed.

In the arena, Jiang Jingwei casually tossed the yin corpse onto a stone pillar and threw back her head in a wild, "wahaha" laugh, hands on hips:

"What a thrill! Haven't had a fight this satisfying in ages."

Zhao Chenghuang opened his eyes, sparing no glance for the crippled yin corpse; the loss was within his control—after the battle, a fortnight of nurturing with Great Yin power would restore it.

He frowned at Jiang Jingwei and said:

"You can't sustain this state for long. Why didn't you use an artifact just now, instead choosing the extreme?"

Zhao Chenghuang was baffled by her play; Fire Masters indeed lacked means to counter spirit bodies, but what was Jiang Jingwei's station?

She stood nobler than him, her backing deeper—equipping her with a spirit-suppressing artifact would have been child's play.

"Why use an artifact? How boring." Jiang Jingwei planted her hands on her hips. "I'm here to fight. To beat you, I'll win fair and square."

Zhao Chenghuang's stern face flickered with surprise; after a pause, he spoke slowly:

"Fine. Then I won't use one either!"

With that, he pocketed the clay figurine in his palm. "I'll beat you with nothing but a Night Wanderer's power."

Zhao Chenghuang inhaled sharply; the resentful spirit clinging to Jiang Jingwei's shoulder, having drained her of vast essence, instantly became a wisp of green smoke, curling gracefully into his mouth.

The spirit servant entered; blood vessels burst in Zhao Chenghuang's eyes, pupils trembling violently, blue veins bulging on his forehead, his face twisted in what appeared to be agony.

"Ugh... aaaaah..."

He hunched over, unleashing a pained roar.

His body suddenly swelled; muscles engorged and bulged block by block, skin turning cyan-black with a metallic sheen, nails rapidly lengthening into pitch-black, razor-sharp ghost claws.

In seconds, Zhao Chenghuang became a fiend wreathed in black qi, cyan-black skin, sable claws, and bloodshot eyes.

His aura was frigid and overwhelming; the pillar beneath him coated in white frost, spreading downward, the searing magma rapidly cooling into cracked, blackened soil.

This... High above, the spectating Zhang Yuanqing's pupils contracted, struck by a tremendous shock.

A shock only a Night Wanderer could comprehend.

At this moment, Zhao Chenghuang unleashed an aura surpassing the limits of the Transcendent realm—without artifacts, relying solely on himself, he had transcended the Transcendent stage.

The method was simple: deliberately provoke the Great Yin power within, driving it to run wild and rampant, producing an effect like oil on a blazing fire.

Zhang Yuanqing had encountered a similar situation himself—when the Demon-Eyed Heavenly King had "gazed" upon him, his Yin Power had nearly spiraled out of control, corroding his main body, transmuting his flesh into something Yin.

Just like City God Zhao right now.

What is he playing at? This isn't dancing on a knife's edge anymore; it's taking a shit on Yama's desk... Zhang Yuanqing looked utterly incredulous. Could it be that beneath City God Zhao's cold, arrogant Night Wanderer exterior lurked a crude, brainless Fire Master?

Amidst his shock, a snippet of information flashed through his mind: City God Zhao deliberately stalled at the Transcendent stage, refusing to ascend to Sagehood.

This was the annotation the official scholars had appended to the Top Twenty list.

"Like the Earth God, he deliberately lingers in the Transcendent stage, obsessively honing a single ability. The Earth God perfected an invincible defense; has he pushed his control over Yin Power to the absolute limit?"

As expected, none of the top three are simple; they're all monsters... Realizing this, he sighed silently in his heart.

"Oh? You can unleash latent potential too?"

Jiang Jingwei looked surprised, but also excited.

"You can understand it that way. Anyway, you wouldn't understand the complicated explanation even if I gave it." Zhao Chengghuang's voice had turned hoarse and gloomy.

Both charged at each other simultaneously. A black streak and a red streak collided in the center of the magma, separated, then crashed together again.

Their speed had reached its zenith. Red lines and black lines darted everywhere in a chaotic rampage—now clashing in a corner, now in the center—like two irregularly moving bullets.

Every impact was a muffled thunderclap of an explosion, blasting magma sky-high.

Zhang Yuanqing had no choice but to put on his Insight Spectacles. Only then could he discern their movements. Their clashes were brutal and devoid of technique; they separated the instant they touched, leaving charred burns and bone-deep claw marks on each other.

This crude, violence-venting brawl was the exclusive style of Fire Masters. He could parse Jiang Jingwei's moves, but Zhao Chengghuang shouldn't be fighting like this.

From the looks of it, the price of Yin Power running rampant was the inability to execute Night Wanderer skills with finesse...

Amidst the repeated exchanges, Jiang Jingwei was covered in wounds. Zhao Chengghuang, conversely, was burned by flames again and again, his bones shattered again and again, yet a terrifying regenerative ability swiftly mended the damage. His staying power was frighteningly strong.

As the slaughter raged, the ceaselessly churning surface of the magma suddenly bulged, then burst with a *huala*—a massive lizard, scales crimson all over, broke through the magma.

The beast was colossal. Half its body protruded from the melt, standing seven or eight meters tall.

Its amber vertical pupils flickered with savagery. Its cheeks puffed, and it spewed crimson magma at the dueling Zhao Chengghuang and Jiang Jingwei.

The magma fell like a dense rain, unavoidable. White steam hissed from Zhao Chengghuang's body; vast patches of his cyan-black skin carbonized.

Jiang Jingwei, however, whose aura had been flagging, seemed to have caught a second wind. The magma splashing onto her spontaneously decomposed into dark red particles, merging into the Qi barrier enveloping her.

Her aura surged violently.

*Boom!* Flames erupted from Jiang Jingwei's body, piercing the magma pouring down on her. Wreathed in sky-reaching fire, she drove a fist at Zhao Chengghuang.

Before her "Rage" state ended, she had to stake it all on a single desperate strike!

Zhao Chengghuang neither dodged nor evaded. His face was cold. He joined his palms like a blade and thrust forward.

*Crack!*

A hook punch slammed into Zhao Chengghuang's cheek. His neck snapped instantly, his head twisting a hundred and eighty degrees to stare at his own back.

*Pu!*

Jiang Jingwei had also "crashed" herself into Zhao Chengghuang's knife-hand. Pitch-black nails protruded from her back.

Jiang Jingwei, exhausted to the limit, crashed to the ground with a thunderous impact.

Zhao Chenghuang slowly righted his head, slumping onto the earth, gasping in great, ragged mouthfuls.

That giant lizard protruding from the magma puffed its jowls, preparing to unleash a second wave of molten fire.

The host of this match, that red-haired elder with a youthful visage, proclaimed in a ringing voice:

"Zhao Chenghuang wins!"

The giant lizard, knowing its place, swallowed the magma back down its throat, let out a resonant snort, and silently retracted into the volcano's depths.

The red-haired elder scooped up the heavily injured, unconscious Jiang Jingwei and returned to the crater for treatment.

The Crimson Tassel Elder of the Taiyi Sect exhaled a breath of Yin energy, rolling up the Yin Corpse and Zhao Chenghuang, drawing the pair back to his side and handing them to his disciples for healing.

A deafening roar of sound erupted instantly, the scene exploding into chaos.

"They're really just in the Transcendent stage? Too strong, too spectacular—this is the strongest showdown since the arena battles began."

"Jiang Jingwei's ranking was too low; this girl is simply terrifying. How could she unleash such power, nearly defeating Zhao Chenghuang?"

"This also proves from the side that Zhao Chenghuang is truly formidable. What was that move he just used? I've never seen a Night Patrol God of the Taiyi Sect display it."

The clamorous discussion persisted for a long time; this battle had been too unexpected, dealing a massive shock to the Transcendent-stage walkers.

Over the first five days of the tournament, everyone had marveled at the star contestants' might, their step-by-step calculations, their myriad artifacts—but it had all been within the realm of acceptability.

Strength could be understood.

But the combat prowess Jiang Jingwei and Zhao Chenghuang had just displayed defied comprehension.

Was this the power the Transcendent stage should possess?

In the next two matches, Sun Miaomiao and the Tone-Deaf Man lived up to expectations, defeating their opponents and smoothly squeezing into the top eight.

The Red Fire Gang elder, projecting the image of a red-haired youth, announced in a loud voice:

"The fourth group contestants, enter the arena."

The spectators at the crater perked up; the second highly anticipated battle of the day had arrived.

The tenth-ranked Ferryman, versus Yuanshi Tianzun.

The former was hailed as the "Little Qiyang"; the latter, on the first day of the arena battles, had defeated a highly famed Maoshan Sorcerer.

With the precedent set by Jiang Jingwei and Zhao Chenghuang, the audience's threshold had risen; they wondered what surprises Yuanshi Tianzun and the Ferryman might bring.

"This fight should have no suspense, right? Yuanshi Tianzun will definitely win. The Ferryman is a Scout; no matter how strong a Transcendent-stage Scout is, there's a limit—their shortcomings are too many."

"Not necessarily. The Ferryman must have come prepared, and neither is a Fire Master, so the environmental hazards must be factored in."

"Looking forward to this clash of titans. Jiang Jingwei and Zhao Chenghuang were too exaggerated; strong, yes, but lacking technical finesse. Yuanshi Tianzun and the Ferryman are both the type with extreme micro-management."

Amidst the eager, expectant gazes of the crowd, Zhang Yuanqing entered the arena with his Yin Corpse; on the other side, the Ferryman, clad in rattan armor and camouflage fatigues, leaped down, landing steadily on the stone pillar.

The two faced each other across twenty or thirty meters, each nodding slightly.

"Match, begin!"

The Red-Haired Elder had just announced the start when Zhang Yuanqing and Crossing River Pawn drew their guns simultaneously.

"Bang!"

Crossing River Pawn squeezed the trigger, yet Zhang Yuanqing’s muzzle failed to spit a single bullet.

It wasn't a malfunction of the gun; it was a malfunction of the man. The instant Crossing River Pawn raised his weapon and took aim, a fierce sense of crisis bloomed in Zhang Yuanqing’s heart, a premonition so potent it forced him to abort his shot and dodge.

Yet, in the dark, he harbored a grim certainty: whether he moved left or right, he would undoubtedly be hit. For a moment, he was caught in a deadlock.

In that brief hesitation, Crossing River Pawn’s bullet arrived.

As expected, no one could trade shots with Crossing River Pawn—not even the Primordial Heavenly Venerate... Witnessing this, the spectators above had long since grown numb to the spectacle.

Regardless of the opponent, Crossing River Pawn’s classic opening was always suppression by firepower.

The bullet struck the towering figure of "Corpse No. 1," halted by dense, powerful muscles.

Since he couldn't dodge, he simply wouldn't!

Zhang Yuanqing reached an arm out from behind the Yin Corpse, taking aim at Crossing River Pawn twenty-odd meters away, and squeezed the trigger.

Bang, bang, bang... Dark red trajectories drew parallel lines, weaving a curtain of lead that enveloped the enemy.

Crossing River Pawn had long since discerned Zhang Yuanqing’s firing angle; the moment the gun rose, he dropped his stance and lunged sideways.

Rat-tat-tat... Crossing River Pawn vaulted rapidly between the stone pillars, circling to the flank, raising his gun to fire.

Zhang Yuanqing hurriedly shifted his angle, sidestepping to the Yin Corpse’s flank.

Bullets were once again blocked by the corpse’s flesh. Corpse No. 1 had absorbed the materials of the Earth Monster vocation; its skin was incomparably tough, and it felt no pain—an impeccable shield.

Seizing the opening while the Primordial Heavenly Venerate evaded, Crossing River Pawn holstered his pistol. His leg muscles swelled, and he sprinted through the stone pillars like an agile cheetah.

Using the Yin Corpse as cover, Zhang Yuanqing extended his arm again, firing.

Bang, bang, bang...

This time, Crossing River Pawn did not dodge as before. He charged through the hail of bullets, sparks blossoming in clusters against his Tengu Armor.

Seeing this, Zhang Yuanqing decisively put distance between himself and the Yin Corpse, issuing the command to engage.

A ferocious light erupted in Corpse No. 1’s eyes. It coiled its legs and sprang high, its right knee snapping forward, a whip kick lashing out with a sharp *crack*.

Crossing River Pawn seemed to have anticipated the move long ago. His charge didn't falter; he ducked his head, avoiding the whip kick while his shoulder perfectly collided with the Yin Corpse’s hip.

Borrowing the momentum of the leap, Crossing River Pawn drove upward with both shoulders, hurling the Yin Corpse far away. He himself landed gracefully, planting his feet on the very pillar the Yin Corpse had occupied.

Crossing River Pawn didn't spare a glance for the soaring corpse. He pivoted on his heel, reversing direction, and pounced toward the Primordial Heavenly Venerate, two pillars away.

Zhang Yuanqing remained unruffled, opening fire.

Mid-air, Crossing River Pawn had nowhere to dodge. Explosive rounds detonated against his chest once more.

Can't penetrate his defensive artifact... Zhang Yuanqing made a split-second decision, entering Night Wanderer.

The instant his body was "erased," the magma beneath him "boomed," surging into gorgeous waves, spewing scorching flames.

Under the indiscriminate, blanket coverage, Zhang Yuanqing was blasted back into existence.

And at this moment, the River-Crossing Pawn who had vaulted into the air happened to land on the very same stone pillar as Zhang Yuanqing.

"Yuanshi Tianzun has been closed in on."

"What a coincidence, the flames just happened to erupt; his luck is truly rotten."

"This is no coincidence. The River-Crossing Pawn calculated the timing; everything was within his predictions. Truly worthy of Little Qiyang."

Gasps rose from the spectators above. Since the arena matches began, not a single contestant closed in on by the River-Crossing Pawn had escaped the fate of a crushing defeat.

Guan Ya, Xie Lingxi, the Queen, and those who favored Yuanshi Tianzun—their hearts instantly leapt into their throats.

Even Zhao Chenghuang, who had been resting with eyes closed, focusing on recovery, opened his eyes at this moment, turning his attention to the battle's progression.

Just then, a sudden chill crept over the River-Crossing Pawn's shoulder.

*Spirit Servant...* He drove a kick toward the direction Yuanshi Tianzun was fleeing, striking the entity squarely on the shoulder. Immediately after, the River-Crossing Pawn calmly produced a hunting horn and blew a long, mournful note.

The horn's cry was tragic and desolate, imbued with the murderous aura and savagery of a battlefield.

The chill on his shoulder vanished instantly; the Spirit Servant retreated.

This horn was a Scout-class artifact; its sound could intimidate enemies and simultaneously exorcise evil and dispel malevolence.

Its owner was the River-Crossing Pawn's superior, a Swordsman.

Kicked squarely in the chest, Zhang Yuanqing had just steadied himself when he heard that desolate horn blast. His heart gave a violent lurch, an indescribable fear and cowardice welling up from deep within.

Seizing the opening, the River-Crossing Pawn stowed the horn, took two rapid strides, and drove his right knee toward Yuanshi Tianzun's lower abdomen.

Once again, Zhang Yuanqing felt that inescapable sense of crisis—that no matter how he dodged, it would be useless. This time, unshaken by the mental influence, he hesitated no longer, throwing himself to the left.

*Bang!*

Agony exploded in his lower abdomen, his viscera churning. Sure enough, he hadn't dodged it.

Following the knee strike, the River-Crossing Pawn retracted his leg, spun on his heel, and unleashed a savage elbow strike.

His style consisted of practiced punches and kicks, knee strikes and elbows—basic movements, no complex forms. He pursued only the most practical, most efficient way to defeat his enemy: combination strikes, fierce and sharp.

Coupled with his mastered Insight skill, he anticipated the enemy's moves, suppressing his opponent completely.

Fists, feet, elbows, knees—again and again they landed on Zhang Yuanqing's chest, throat, even his groin. Knowing the Night Wanderer possessed tenacious vitality, he held nothing back.

Several times Zhang Yuanqing tried to use the momentum to throw himself into the magma, only to be yanked back by the River-Crossing Pawn to continue the beating.

Terrifying close-quarters combat ability. A killing expert even Guan Ya had to be wary of.

"Ha!"

The River-Crossing Pawn let out a low roar. His waist sank, leg muscles straining against his trouser legs as he channeled his entire body's power into his right arm. His fist shot out like a venomous snake, slamming heavily into Yuanshi Tianzun's throat.

The Adam's apple shattered on impact. The grievously wounded Yuanshi Tianzun's head snapped back violently, his body toppling backward.

But he was immediately caught by the River-Crossing Pawn, who seized his arm and yanked him back in.

"You underestimated me. Against me, you should have gone all out from the start, used every artifact at your disposal. Because once I close the distance, your defeat is an absolute certainty."

The River-Crossing Pawn gazed at the Yuanshi Tianzun falling into his grasp, summoned a handgun, pressed the muzzle against his abdomen, and decisively squeezed the trigger.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Gunshots rang out, as if echoing right beside the ears of the spectators outside the arena; all around, a deathly silence fell.

Many were terrified by the ferocious close-quarters prowess of the Pawn Who Crossed the River.

From start to finish, the battle lasted no more than a minute, for the flames had erupted twice, and a third time never came.

The monster beneath the magma never appeared.

A stunning upset.

The Pawn Who Crossed the River, ranked below the Maoshan Sorcerer, had actually defeated the Primordial Heavenly Venerable.

And won with such swiftness.

One had to admit, specialists like this, once they seized an opportunity and made thorough preparations, could indeed unleash unimaginable power.

The Pawn Who Crossed the River quickly emptied his magazine, frowning slightly as a doubt flashed through his mind: Why hasn't the referee called a stop?

The moment this doubt surfaced from the depths of his heart, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his back; a gleaming, sharp blade pierced out from between his breasts.

The Pawn Who Crossed the River lowered his head to glance at the blade protruding from his chest, then turned his head slowly, stiffly.

He saw another Primordial Heavenly Venerable standing right behind him.

"You lose!"

The Primordial Heavenly Venerable's voice rang in his ear.

In this round, Zhang Yuanqing had used neither the Straw Man nor the Thug's Gauntlets; props weren't meant to be used all at once. Under the premise of a sound plan, following the plan's progression and using the appropriate props was the true way.

The core of this battle plan was "Mirror Flower, Water Moon"; thus, the opening was a display of weakness, deliberately offering the opponent a subtle flaw, waiting until he thought victory was in hand to deliver a fatal blow.

The Pawn Who Crossed the River was a player specializing in Insight, a type with severe imbalance in skills. Once such a player seized an opportunity, they would unleash their full output, absolutely unwilling to engage in a prolonged fight.

Because they had too many weaknesses; stalling for time meant giving the enemy a chance.

So Zhang Yuanqing was certain that as long as he sold a subtle flaw, the Pawn Who Crossed the River would definitely take the bait.

As expected.

"You..."

"From the very beginning, the one you were dealing with wasn't my true body."

The Pawn Who Crossed the River opened his mouth. Though shock, anger, and confusion flashed in his eyes, he ultimately chose silence.

Winner takes all, loser falls; there was nothing to say. He clutched his chest, blood gushing unstoppably between his fingers, and collapsed onto the ground in agony.

And at this moment, the Pawn Who Crossed the River saw the Primordial Heavenly Venerable before him—the one he had shot repeatedly—distort like the reflection of the moon in water, then dissipate into nothingness.

The Red-Haired Elder announced: "Primordial Heavenly Venerable wins!"