Chapter 1103: Contend in Beauty and Fascination
Just when everyone saw that the arena had turned into a painting with Young Master Qingshu trapping Xiao Chen securely in the painting, Xiao Chen recited a cold and proud poem.
The scene on Xiao Chen’s folding fan expanded out. The small bridge, the flowing water, and the bright moon all appeared. With the Thousand Frost Battle Snow as a supplement, snow filled the air, falling to the ground and stopping the flowing water, making the moon appear even colder.
Everyone was shocked to discover that many more details were suddenly added to the painting of the arena, making the originally elegant painting very diverse as the various scenes contended in beauty and fascination.
However, something even more horrifying happened. Xiao Chen, who was clearly trapped in the painting, leaped out of the painting the instant he finished reciting the poem. Now, he became someone outside the painting. As for Young Master Qingshu, the one using the folding fan as a brush and the world as his ink, he became the person trapped within the painting.
“What is going on? What in the world is going on?!”
The crowd shouting “Inherited Holy Lands, immortal for ten thousand years” stopped. Shock flooded their hearts as their faces filled with incredulity. They could not understand the scene before them.
Why was it that Xiao Chen had been the person in the painting in one instant, and then he became the person outside in the next, making Young Master Qingshu the one trapped instead?
How could the crowd yelling “Holy Son appears, and the Azure Dragon is defeated” endure this development?
The many Confucian experts in the Heavenly Province Academy’s jade pavilion revealed expressions of disbelief when they saw this scene.
Others might not understand, but how could they, as peak experts of a Confucian sect, not?
The Martial Technique that Young Master Qingshu practiced was one of the Heavenly Province Academy’s ten great Profound Martial Techniques, Picturesque Landscape. There were a total of four levels: raising the brush to draw; one with the painting; breaking out of the painting; and the most profound, painting outside of the painting.
Young Master Qingshu was a rare outstanding talent that only appeared once every few hundred years. He had learned this Martial Technique at a young age and already reached the level of raising the brush to draw, using the world as his ink and his folding fan as the brush.
He could even forcibly reach the second level of being one with the painting to increase the might of this Picturesque Landscape.
However, who could have imagined that Xiao Chen would figure out Young Master Qingshu’s trick with one glance? Young Master Qingshu’s original aura was not as noble as that of the green bamboo, resulting in a big opening in this painting.
As for Xiao Chen, he was simply like a god of copying. With just one glance, he comprehended the essence of this move and used a poem that was similar to his own character—Whoever is the one laughing is the one trapped in the painting—instantly displaying his superiority.
“This person must have a Cultivation Technique that can duplicate others’ Martial Techniques. Otherwise, even if he can make out the essence of this move, he would not be able to break out of the painting and use it to trap Qingshu instead,” one of the old men in the jade pavilion calmly analyzed.
Another person added, “That should be right. Otherwise, it would be impossible to explain why he, a bladesman, can use so many different weapons and even do so quite proficiently.”
“How high is his comprehension ability for him to cultivate such a Cultivation Technique?” an old man sighed softly.
Indeed, even if such a Cultivation Technique were placed before these Consummation quasi-Emperors, they would not dare to cultivate it.
The reason was none other than insufficient comprehension ability. Not only would they fail to increase their strength, but they would also end up lost in the Cultivation Technique, unable to proceed further, and even suffer a regression in their strength.
In the palace where the Lunar Palace’s judges were, Yue Bingyun muttered to herself repeatedly, “Who knows my heart like the moon?”
The moon was self-loving; no one could understand it. It remained alone for eons, cold and proud but alone. What kind of person could come up with a poem comparing himself with the bright moon?
What kind of person could use this to turn things around, to trap the confident Young Master Qingshu securely in the painting?
Young Master Qingshu looked lost in the arena; he did not understand what had happened. One moment, he was suppressing Xiao Chen, when suddenly it was like there was a barrier that he could never cross. He could only continuously fly forward, but Xiao Chen just got farther and farther away from him.
Young Master Qingshu clearly already brought out the greatest might of this Picturesque Landscape. However, he could only watch as the distance to Xiao Chen kept widening, unable to do anything.
Xiao Chen did not say anything. He closed the folding fan in his hand and gently tapped the painting before him right on Young Master Qingshu’s chest.
To Young Master Qingshu, it looked like Xiao Chen, who was a world’s distance away, stretched out his hand and closed the gap. This caught him completely off-guard, forcing him to endure this heavy strike.
However, to others, it looked like Xiao Chen was just standing outside the painting and had gently tapped the painting.
“Bang!”
Young Master Qingshu vomited blood. His organs ruptured, and he suffered from the backlash of his Martial Technique. The various mysterious phenomena scattered, and the painting shattered. Then, he tumbled in the air and fell out of the arena. When he hit the ground, a large patch of dirt and dust flew up as the plaza rumbled endlessly.
After getting shocked to his senses, Young Master Qingshu looked at the highest arena, staring at the white-clad Xiao Chen, who still appeared spotlessly clean. Goggling in horror, he pointed at Xiao Chen. “You…you actually trapped me in the painting. How can that be…”
“Pu chi!” Young Master Qingshu vomited another mouthful of blood. Unable to endure this blow, he fainted from frustration.
Young Master Qingshu’s words still lingered in everyone’s mind. Despite all his efforts and schemes, even to the point of shamelessness, he still could not end Xiao Chen’s legend. Instead, his own reputation ended up buried here.
You want me to not draw my saber, so I will not draw my saber. You want to decide victory with one move; I will do as you wish.
Despite all your plans and schemes, I will defeat you in one move!
The strange silence descended on Bright Moon Plaza again. The scene of millions of speechless cultivators appeared in this Four Seas Hero Gathering once more.
The one that everyone thought would be their savior failed to make Xiao Chen draw his saber. Instead, even when using his best weapon, he still fell to Xiao Chen in one move.
Given this, the Holy Scions of the various Immortal Holy Lands and the scions of the hidden Noble Clans all no longer dared to behave rashly. Even if a billion people spurred them on with taunts or encouragement, they would not step forward.
These people needed Xiao Chen to expose some weakness first before they would risk facing him. Otherwise, instead of trampling him, they would end up losing their reputation.
The activities in the silent Bright Moon Plaza came to a brief halt. No one showed any interest in the other outstanding talents in the small arenas any longer.
One person had snatched the limelight and all the attention. No matter how excellent these fights were, it would be pointless if no one paid them any mind.
However, these people did not have the courage to ascend to the most eye-catching arena. Even when a Holy Scion went up, he lost in one move. How could they dare to do so?
In the Yinyang Paradise’s jade pavilion, a female disciple produced a lovable smile. “First Senior Sister, these men all do not dare to take the challenge. How about you go? That way, you will be able to raise the reputation of our Yinyang Paradise.”
“That’s right, that’s right! Elder Sister said so earlier. To prevent those smelly men from injuring the Azure Dragon King, you will personally defeat him in a gentle manner.”
Tong Susu rolled her eyes at these two girls. She scolded them with a smile, “This Elder Sister of yours has never been beaten up by a man before. If I really am defeated in one move, even if he does not become a Martial Emperor in five years and has twenty years left to live, Elder Sister’s heart will never be able to leave this person.”
In the Cyclic Astral Palace’s jade pavilion, Chu Yang and Fu Hongyao remained silent, showing complicated expressions. Chu Yang’s earlier bravado had disappeared long ago. He hated that he was incapable of beating up Xiao Chen ruthlessly.
However, Chu Yang’s rationality told him that this was definitely not the time to step forward. It was simply not worth suffering defeat and the loss of his reputation at the hands of someone who did not have long to live.
The expressions of Lunar Palace’s judges indicated that they had everything under control. However, they were also somewhat at a loss. One single person managed to bring the Four Seas Hero Gathering to a halt. This was a rather big joke.
In the Myriad Fiend Island’s jade pavilion, Yan Shisan stood up, prepared to fight. However, Di Xinhan held out a hand and stopped him, saying, “Brother Shisan, never mind, let me go. After all, this is the Four Seas Hero Gathering of my Heavenly Starry Ocean.”
Yan Shisan replied, “Think about it. You are just asking to be defeated. If I go, I can make him draw his saber. That will give you a better chance at victory. I have already left the Yan Clan long ago and do not care about my reputation. You are different; you have the Myriad Fiend Island, an Immortal Holy Land, behind you.”
Di Xinhan smiled and said, “Victories and losses are part and parcel of a cultivator’s life. It seems like I have not suffered defeat at the hands of someone from the same generation in the Heavenly Starry Ocean ever since I made my debut. So what if I lose once?”
Finally, he added sullenly, “Furthermore, this is the Four Seas Hero Gathering of my Heavenly Starry Ocean, after all. Someone has to take up the challenge. If everyone just remains silent and watches, trying to take advantage only when it is favorable, then our generation is finished.”
After thinking for a while, Yan Shisan stopped insisting and stepped back. He said, “Take care.”
Just as everyone remained silent, the Myriad Fiend Island’s Di Xinhan silently landed on the most eye-catching arena.
“Di Xinhan!”
Di Xinhan’s appearance instantly made everyone’s eyes light up, planting a small seed of hope in their heart.
Di Xinhan was born with the Heavenly Spiritual Body, a special physique. He was the top genius of the Myriad Fiend Island. Since his debut, he had never been defeated.
The reason was none other than his strong Heavenly Spiritual Body. It always served to balance things at the crucial moment even if he could not defeat his opponent.
In regard to physical strength, Di Xinhan was publicly acknowledged as the strongest in the same generation within the Heavenly Starry Ocean; no one could compare to him.
Furthermore, he also had his cultivation and combat techniques. His comprehension ability was also pretty good. No matter where he was, he became the center of attention.
Di Xinhan always belonged to that small batch of people who stood at the top of the pyramid among the younger generation. His place there remained firm and unshaken.
Despite so many Holy Scions waiting and watching, not daring to fight, Di Xinhan dared to step forward. He was indeed a true man.
However, no one present spoke; they only thought the words “good luck” in their hearts.
“Azure Dragon King, I have long heard of your great name. Back in Despair City, I wished to battle with you. Unfortunately, at that time, our cultivations did not match up, and I did not dare to challenge you. Today, I come to seek your advice.”
Di Xinhan performed a cupped-fist salute and spoke politely as he looked at Xiao Chen calmly. There was none of Young Master Qingshu’s schemes or the rage of those outstanding talents of the previous Four Seas Hero Gathering.
Xiao Chen politely returned the cupped-fist salute. In his opinion, if Di Xinhan had challenged him at that time, Di Xinhan would have had a thirty percent chance of victory; however, now, he did not have anywhere close to a thirty percent chance of victory.
On the surface, it looked like the two were of similar cultivations, both Small Perfection quasi-Emperor. However, in reality, the disparity was great. Xiao Chen was a peak Small Perfection quasi-Emperor. Furthermore, his foundation was the ten thousand Heavenly Laws he had when he advanced to quasi-Emperor. Di Xinhan could not compare to Xiao Chen on this point.
The most important thing was that Xiao Chen had been fighting with all sorts of ferocious beasts while he sought dragons and fixed veins. By now, he had already gained a deep comprehension of the Changing Character Formula.