Chapter 427: Chapter 296 Shattered Mirage Pearl! Breaking Shackles! Wang Zhengyi’s Enlightenment: Fierce Beast Breaking Out! [Vote for Monthly Tickets!]
In the clouds above.
Emperor Yan looked down at the twelve arenas below, where battles were taking place one after another, showcasing remarkable spectacles.
This year, the Sword Discussion has unveiled many outstanding contenders, clearly demonstrating the significant achievements of the "Great Yan’s Buwu" over the past eleven years. The "Buwu Plan" has been fully implemented, martial arts training has become widespread, balanced development has progressed thoroughly, inner development has achieved significant progress, and some key issues faced during the Buwu period have been gradually resolved, with the continuous reform and development of the Academy yielding notable results.
Now, with the "Cang Mountain Sword Discussion" taking place, Great Yan’s "Buwu Plan" is standing at a historical new starting point, entering a new stage of development.
Emperor Yan pointed at the mountain peak below and asked the gathered grandmasters with a smile: "On the fifth day of the Sword Discussion, all the intended contestants have made their appearances. In your opinion, which twelve teams are most likely to stand until the end?"
Emperor Yan asked.
Yang Wang, one of the Four Great Dharma Kings of the Black Hawk Sect, the "White Eyebrow Eagle King," confidently declared in a loud voice: "Our Holy Daughter’s talent is unparalleled, her martial arts exceedingly superb. She has held the ’Zi Character’ arena for five days without faltering. From my perspective, lasting until the final day poses no problem. Emperor, prepare the King City!"
"Haha!"
Emperor Yan laughed heartily: "If Lingshan can hold the arena for forty-nine days, I will personally grant her a prosperous King City!"
"Then I thank Your Majesty in advance on behalf of the Holy Daughter and the Sect Hierarch!" Yang Wang also laughed.
This person is indeed interesting. When there’s no benefit, he says ’Emperor,’ but when there is, it becomes ’Your Majesty.’ Though it can be annoying at times, his straightforwardness is both infuriating and amusing.
Off to the side, Deng Kunlun, the Director of the Military Suppression Office, said gleefully: "In my humble opinion, Ding Xiang’s movement technique is absolute, and with the ’Eight Diagrams Dragon Whisker Handkerchief’ at her side, she can secure a spot. Ban Xianfu’s blade technique is super divine, unstoppable, and can secure a spot. The Third Prince’s leg technique is unmatched, strong and unparalleled, deserving of a spot. The Fifth Princess’s ’Cold Plum Ten Swords’ are fierce and severe, few can rival, deserving a spot. Tan Dou’s family roots are profound, each of his teammates listed on the ’two lists,’ making their overall strength extremely formidable, securing a spot. Luo Qi’s comprehensive strength is decent, with his pair of feet rumored to possess divine power yet to be revealed, and now, with the ancient treasure ’Ancient Sound of the Primordial World,’ he stands a chance to hold a spot. As for the remaining five - Cai Ru’an, Gongyang Yu, Ma Hongniang, Chen Pu, and Liu Xin each have exotic treasures. Peng Fannian and Jing Bao each have absolute skills, yet their teammates’ strength is somewhat inferior, unable to support them fully; who among them can finally stand until the end is hard to say."
Well done, Deng Kunlun, mentioning almost all the outstanding figures emerging from the Sword Discussion by the fifth day.
In fact, coupled with Wei Lingshan mentioned by Yang Wang, these people and teams indeed are the most promising contenders for the final twelve arena masters.
As for Lu Yuru, Chai Hongshun, Zhang Qin, Hu Fenglan, and Gao Changyi, though they also shine brightly, comparatively, they can only be placed in the second tier.
Even Ying He and Ying Jifeng, who didn’t use the "Three Yin Divine Lead Extinguishing Yang Bomb," should be categorized in the second tier too. But, being prince and princess, since Deng Kunlun named so many, he can’t leave them out.
Or perhaps, Deng Kunlun named so many people to include Ying Jifeng and Ying He’s names without making it conspicuous, to curry favor with Emperor Yan.
Who knows!
Deng Kunlun almost covered all the hot candidates alone, leaving little for others to add.
But Qian Lingyi favored Yan Chuan: "Lord Deng underestimates Yan Chuan! When Ma Hongniang unleashed the ’White Bone Banner,’ even Peng Fannian was scared away, and Shi Qingke fell during his attempt to achieve Innate Dao, but Yan Chuan managed to handle it, effortlessly. In my view, with his rapid growth, he may very well secure a spot."
Indeed!
On the surface, Ma Hongniang, relying on the "White Bone Banner," has defeated several top teams, notably Peng Fannian and Shi Qingke.
Peng Fannian, with extraordinary martial prowess, couldn’t break the "White Bone Forest!"
Shi Qingke, in his quest for Innate Dao, failed to break the "White Bone Forest!"
Yet Yan Chuan, relying on "Wave Riding Micro Steps," appeared capable, managing it with ease.
In comparison, Yan Chuan seems robust, possibly stronger than Peng Fannian and Shi Qingke, thus likely to seize a spot in the arena.
But—
"Peng Fannian’s inability to counter the ’White Bone Banner’ was due to significant exhaustion from successive battles beforehand. He held back only to preserve himself, avoiding its sharpness, but in his prime, he might not be afraid."
"As for Shi Qingke, he’s different from Yan Chuan; he didn’t avoid the fight. His aim was to leverage the pressure from over a hundred of the White Bone Forest to aid his pursuit of Innate, opting for a face-to-face confrontation, battling hundreds alone!"
"And Yan Chuan?"
"He primarily used ’Wave Riding Micro Steps’ to evade, seldom engaging directly. He used Yin Yang Palm Power to wear down the white bones, forcing Ma Hongniang to refrain from continuing the encirclement using the White Bone Forest, fearing damage to it."
"Martial arts have their counterbalances."
"Yan Chuan’s ’Wave Riding Micro Steps’ and ’Yin Yang Mill’ happen to counter Ma Hongniang’s ’White Bone Banner,’ and nothing more, which doesn’t mean much."
"Had Wang Zhengyi’s ’Mirage Pearl’ still been there, they might stand a chance."
"But now—"
"No hope."
Deng Kunlun’s reasoning was justified.
What about Yan Chuan’s team?
Without the Mirage Pearl, they are nothing!
Yan Chuan’s "Wave Riding Micro Steps," "Shadowy Charm," "Lion Roar," "One Yang Finger," and even the recently showcased "Yin Yang Mill" and exceptional swordsmanship are all stunning, as acknowledged by Deng Kunlun.
But so what?
"Ultimately, his cultivation is too weak."
"His teammates are also disappointing."
"Relying solely on ’Wave Riding Micro Steps,’ Yan Chuan can handle Heavenly Prides ranked around thirty on the ’two lists’ next, but what about stronger ones? He might avoid battles with formidable figures like the Third Prince, dodging once or even twice, but what about three or five matches or over three or five days?"