Chapter 1021: Evoking Heaven Art
Proofreader: Papatonks
“Yan Mo, you were right, Ouyang Changqing really can fight junior brother. Maybe not to the level of Zhuo Fan’s fight with junior brother, but it should come close with how they are.”
Outside the arena, Wu Qingqiu commented on the fight, telling Yan Mo, “You’ve done well!”
Yan Mo dismissed his praise, “It’s nothing. I went first with Ouyang Changqing, to test his strength. I lasted twenty rounds with him, while only holding for eighteen with Ye Lin. The best disciple in northern lands is a show-off, but does live up to his name at least. I just hope the fight could stir Chu Qingcheng’s mind, the least we can do for Zhuo Fan’s spirit.”
“Yeah, this fight is our hope to bring Zhuo Fan’s spirit peace. If even this won’t work, then nothing will.”
Wu Qingqiu sighed, glancing at Chu Qingcheng and seeing her peaceful face leaning on Zhuo Fan’s shoulder. Her tranquility caught him off-guard, especially since there was a huge fight going on and she had no sign of being afraid. He signaled Yan Mo and said, “Hey, Yan Mo, who is that guy? Junior sister Qingcheng has been at peace ever since they met. It’s baffling.”
Yan Mo frowned and shook his head, “I have no idea. He’s wearing a mask so I can’t tell. Though I don’t think it would make a difference even if he hadn’t. From Ouyang Changqing’s introduction, he’s a merchant from northern lands. We’ve hardly ever left western lands so we’d definitely not recognize him.”
“Why do I get a familiar feeling about him then…” Wu Qingqiu’s senses threw him into a state of confusion, but he put it all aside and focused on the fight.
Ouyang Changqing looked around after his first loss and saw Murong Xue’s eager eyes. His delusion made him believe she was rooting for him with that hopeful gaze. So he gnashed his teeth and weaved signs.
With every sign, thunder boomed and rumbled as a sudden heavy air overtook the area. Soon, the people found it hard to even breathe. As the warmth was sapped away, ice began to form and spread.
The oldies cried out at his actions, “Evoking Heaven Art? Does he plan to finish it by showing his cards so soon?”
“Evoking Heaven Art?”
Exalted Hei Ran started as well, “Sea Bright Sect’s main earth ranked martial art, that Evoking Heaven Art? The skill is said to have come from understanding the Heaven Sealing Sword!”
One old man nodded gravely, “Yeah, the Heaven Sealing Sword contains the power of seals. By learning its art one gains knowledge about the sealing way and breaking way. The Evoking Heaven Art came from the Heaven Sealing Sword’s breaking way. Exalted Hei Ran, cultivators need to reach Genesis Stage to draw upon the world’s power and grow their sword’s power to unseen levels. But the Evoking Heaven Art breaks the chains of the world and uses its power before one reaches Genesis Stage while unleashing the same type of might as a Genesis Stage expert. It’s an outrageous art, and the more worldly power is drawn, the bigger the impact.”
“In other words, Ouyang Changqing has become, for a brief moment, a Genesis Stage expert?”
Exalted Hei Ran gasped as he looked intently at the fight, “Since they’re even, won’t that mean Ouyang Changqing has gained the upper hand with this boost in cultivation stage? Soul Harmony cultivators are seen as weak to any Genesis Stage expert. Ye Lin is no normal Soul Harmony expert, but neither is Ouyang Changqing in his now temporary Genesis Stage. He is an inheritor of the Heaven Sealing Sword Art. Ye Lin’s hopes are slim at best!”
The elder shook his head with a sigh, “Exalted Hei Ran has to look closer. The Evoking Heaven Art is no secret art, but it has its fair share of dangers. One needs to exercise restraint when it comes to worldly power. Not even a fresh Genesis Stage cultivator has much control over the worldly power, let alone in the Soul Harmony Stage? If he goes beyond his limits, the power will go berserk and it will take it out on him. At worst, he’ll be ripped to shreds, at heaven’s mercy.”
“Ouyang Changqing is the best disciple in northern lands, he has at least that self-control, right?”
“I fear his reckless youth will get the best of him. You can tell by how the fight developed. I fear he will not only hurt his opponent but himself as well, just for the sake of winning.”
The old man sighed, “I can only hope that his opponent will fall quickly so he can rein in the worldly power before it causes harm.”
Exalted Hei Ran smirked, “That’s going to be hard. Ye Lin is quite unyielding. When he fought the best disciple in western lands, he almost bet his life. He’s only standing there because I stepped in.”
Ugh!
They shared bitter smiles and shook their heads.
[Why did it have to be these two pigheaded fools that have to fight…]
The fight was worrying the elders, but the audience was oblivious to the danger, exploding the minute Ouyang Changqing unleashed his great move.
Ouyang Changqing saw the cheers aimed at him and the girl of his dreams watching him, and smiled. His signs formed faster.
The more signs he formed, the harder the pressure of the world bore down, with a bone-chilling coldness spreading. Icy sword waves formed in the sky as they flew around, spreading shock and fear. Ye Lin no longer had a smug look, but became serious, his fists clenching.
Rumble!
With Ouyang Changqing’s final sign, lightning split the skies, unleashing a deafening thunder. One black cloud exploded into myriads of icy swords, gathering around Ouyang Changqing and numbering in the tens of thousands.
Bang~
Some scraped the barrier of the stage and punched holes in it like it wasn’t even there.
The safeguard was now gone. The audience was too incensed to care, shouting harder than ever and chanting his name.
With the fall of the barrier, everyone, even the crowd, was now part of the fight.
And being part of such a fight only meant one thing for them, death.
While they were blissfully oblivious to the incoming doom, the oldies picked up on the crisis, “Blast it! Now if anything happens, it will only become worse. Humph, that kid just had to pick Beneath Heaven Island’s stage for his fight. Doesn’t he know this stage is meant for average disciple’ spars? Its barrier isn’t strong either.”
“It’s because most people are on Beneath Heaven Island. Ouyang Lingtian’s son is like the rumors paint him, vain.” Exalted Hei Ran smiled, “Well, aren’t you going to stop him?”
“Uhm…”
The oldies paused, “Exalted Hei Ran, why don’t you try?”
“Tch, hell no!”
Exalted Hei Ran rolled his eyes, “It’s your home, so how could I step in? Until my disciples are in peril, I won’t budge an inch. Any sooner and it will be taken as western lands’ defeat. While a mere children’s quarrel, we all have our dignity, alright?”
The oldies shook their heads, “We can’t step in either. Changqing is pigheaded but has great talent. He’s going to take his father’s place and wield Heaven Sealing Sword, that is certain. And you want us to barge in into his most prideful moment and his fun?”
“Tch, a bunch of bootlickers. It goes to show how it got to his head and beyond. You always indulged him!” Exalted Hei Ran clicked his tongue and he watched.
The oldies had no comeback, silently accepting his jab. None would step in until it was too late. Like whether the kid was suicidal or not had nothing to do with them.
Below, sword energies roamed around with the world’s energy filling the air at Ouyang Changqing’s whim. He grew excited because none had brought him this far, making him feel the amazing power for the first time. Having the world in the palm of his hand was intoxicating.
Ouyang Changqing shouted and pointed at the skies. The thousands of sword energies combined and formed into a sword image with a cold edge three-hundred-meters tall. Its unstoppable aura shimmering the air around it.
Wu Qingqiu cried out, “This is the power of the world Ouyang Changqing is able to use, but why… Curses, how is that little junior brother able to take such a boosted move?”
“This is not as simple as a mere boost, but a gap in stages. Hardly anything can bridge the gap between Soul Harmony Stage and Genesis Stage!”
Yan Mo gnashed his teeth, “The two were equal but now, with this incredible secret skill Ye Lin will have a hard time overcoming it, even with all he has…”
Wu Qingqiu sighed, glancing at Chu Qingcheng, “I hoped to give her an even fight, but Ouyang Changqing went all out too quickly, becoming overwhelming in power. It took all the thrill out of it.”
The others sighed a nod. Only Ye Lin looked at Zhuo Fan below, his eyes thirsting for battle. After turning to his opponent, golden flames burst from his eyes, as if to prove his resolve.
[Elder brother, watch closely. I have lost to you before, but after these years, I’m just as good as you…]