Chapter 499: Melodrama

Meng Jingzhou succumbed to Lu Yang's tyrannical pressure and was forced to agree to the previous terms: this time he would support Lu Yang, and next time Lu Yang would support him.

The two top geniuses of this era engaged in battle; although it was an act, neither had any intention of holding back their strength.

Beneath the arena stood battle-hardened grand cultivators, and if they fought with reserved strength, it would be easy to spot the flaws, which was why both met the clash with full power.

The two fought like the wind, their strength, speed, and reflexes... not only leaving the contemporary geniuses competing on the same stage dumbstruck, but in front of the pair, winning a provincial competition and representing a province amounted to nothing, as a vast chasm still lay between genius and genius.

Even those cultivators who had dispersed their cultivation to rebuild grew secretly alarmed.

They had racked their brains to disperse their cultivation and start anew, yet they were still no match for true geniuses.

The struggle of this grand era was truly terrifying to the extreme!

Lu Yang unleashed exquisite sword techniques that left even Ming Tai feeling inferior, while Meng Jingzhou's fist techniques had received the true inheritance of the Third Elder, bringing the advantages of a body cultivator to absolute fruition; every part of his body was trained to perfection, such that even the Tribulation Transmutation patriarchs could find no fault upon watching.

"The Meng family lineage is truly terrifying..."

An ancestor praised in a low whisper; the Meng family caused trouble and upended peace in the imperial capital, yet they could still sit firmly upon the throne of the number one grand family, relying on incontrovertible, absolute strength.

The strength of the Meng family made even these Tribulation Transmutation ancestors unable to suppress their alarm.

And the strength revealed by the Meng family was not yet all that they had seen.

The fist imprints were grand, containing masculine vitality, suppressing demons and ghosts, shaking heaven and earth, invincible and indestructible, so that even fierce beasts had to submit beneath the brilliant fist marks.

The sword qi was vast, like a river bursting its banks, severing the fist imprints.

The battle between the two was scorching and inseparable, the spectating geniuses clutching sweaty palms, staring unblinkingly at every scene on the stage.

Only by concentrating their minds could they keep up with the movements of the two.

These were true peers of the same age, and the things learned from them would be of great benefit to their future battles.

Through a moment of inattention, a sword qi grazed Meng Jingzhou's shoulder, his vitality leaking as he fell into a disadvantage, and Lu Yang took advantage of the victory to pursue him, giving him not a single moment to breathe.

"Meng Jingzhou, do not give up!"

Someone shouted their inner thoughts aloud; Meng Jingzhou represented the geniuses of the current era and was their hope, and they did not wish for the people of the Heavenly Court Sect to win.

"Defeat this Young Sect Master Lu!"

"Let them know that this is the Great Xia, not the ancient era where they could do as they pleased!"

Shout after shout drifted into Meng Jingzhou's ears, but unfortunately, in the face of absolute acting skills, any shouts were useless.

"Six Forms of Shaking Heaven!" Inspired by the cries, Meng Jingzhou's veins bulged and his pupils filled with blood as he prepared to risk his life.

Lu Yang extended two fingers, wiping them across the sword blade, sacrificing blood to the sword to unleash his ultimate move.

"Void-Piercing Sword Technique!"

The two drained all their spiritual energy to engage in the ultimate showdown, kicking up dust that filled the sky.

Swish—

A figure flew backward, coughing blood continuously, heavily injured.

"It's the person from the Heavenly Court Sect who flew backward!"

Someone rejoiced; this so-called Young Sect Master Lu was seriously injured, something that had never happened before!

Lu Yang knelt on one knee, his sharp sword thrust into the ground, his expression dazed from the immense impact.

But before everyone could celebrate, the dust cleared to reveal Meng Jingzhou lying flat on the ground, blood covering the floor and his breath weak, injured even more severely than Lu Yang!

Meng Jingzhou's finger twitched slightly as he struggled to open his eyes, trying several times to rise, but his limbs seemed out of control and he could not stand no matter what.

He could only give up rising in resentment.

Looking back at Lu Yang, though heavily injured and kneeling on the ground, he still had the strength to smile and the strength to speak.

The victor was decided.

The referee gnashed his teeth; letting an ancient person take the championship was a disgrace to Great Xia, but he was the referee and could not favor either side.

"I announce, Meng Jingzhou... defeated."

The last two words hovered in his mouth, trembling, taking a long time before he spat them out.

The referee stepped forward to examine Meng Jingzhou's injuries and breathed a sigh of relief; fortunately, though the wounds were severe, they were not fatal and would not shake his foundation.

The Five Heavenly Kings leaped onto the arena, supporting the Young Sect Master.

"Young Sect Master, are you alright?"

"Cough cough, can't die, it was truly a delightful battle." Lu Yang was still smiling, the corners of his mouth stained with blood.

The Golden Flame Heavenly King hastily took out a small medicine bottle and uncorked it, a refreshing and fragrant aroma of pills spreading across the entire field. He poured out two golden pills and fed them to Lu Yang, who sat cross-legged on the spot, his injuries and spiritual energy recovering rapidly.

Meng Jingzhou lost.

The genius representing the mid-Golden Core stage of this era had lost.

Many people could not accept this fact.

Just a little bit, clearly just a little bit away from winning!

The Seventh Elder's medicine was very effective, and Lu Yang soon restored to his original state. Surrounded by the Five Heavenly Kings, he stood up with a smile, looking up at the solemn masters of the Five Immortal Sects and the First Prince Jiang Qun.

"It seems the geniuses of this era do possess some skill; it was a decent fight, but unfortunately, it is merely some skill, and nothing more."

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd below the stage immediately grew incensed; these words were too arrogant. What did he mean by nothing more? Everyone could see the gap between the two was minuscule, where a single detail could determine victory or defeat, and if they fought again, it was still uncertain who would win!

"Young Sect Master Lu's words seem to look down upon the geniuses of this era. You must know the principle that there are people beyond people, and heavens beyond heavens; this world is not the world of your Heavenly Court Sect." Sect Master Lu looked meaningfully at Young Sect Master Lu, his threatening intent clear to anyone.

Young Sect Master Lu sneered, as if laughing at the ignorance of Sect Master Lu's words: "People beyond people, heavens beyond heavens? That is nothing more than an excuse mediocre talents find for themselves after losing. In terms of talent, who can surpass me?"

The Netherworld Heavenly King looked disdainfully at the crowd below: "If the ancient immortals had not suppressed the Young Sect Master, the Young Sect Master would have become an immortal in the ancient era; why would he have to wait until today?"

Young Sect Master Lu glanced at the solemn Netherworld Heavenly King and waved his hand impatiently: "Protector Netherworld, that's enough. Today I am rarely pleased, so do not speak of such unhappy matters."

"Yes."

The Netherworld Heavenly King spoke no further, stepping back like a clay statue.

Everyone gasped, the shock in their hearts beyond words; had this Young Sect Master Lu's talent already reached a level that made even immortals jealous?

What kind of earth-shattering talent must this be?

The only clearly recorded immortals were the four ancient immortals, and how their talents manifested had never been recorded.

In other words, Young Sect Master Lu's talent was already one that had never been recorded in any book throughout ancient and modern times.

"Nothing more than self-boasting. Since Young Sect Master Lu is so confident, why not exchange blows with me and try?"

Under everyone's unexpected gaze, Sect Master Lu leaped down from the spectator stands and landed firmly on the arena.

"Speaking of which, Sect Master Lu is also at the mid-Golden Core stage, so you do count as an opponent. It's just this tone of yours that I do not like." Young Sect Master Lu toyed with his fingers, speaking slowly.

Their eyes met as if sparks were colliding, and the five Heavenly Kings tactfully left the stage, lest they disturb the Young Sect Master's pleasure.

"Then let's begin?"

"Begin!"

(End of chapter)