Chapter 168: Ten Moves for You
Chapter 168: Ten Moves for You
“You… you…”
Liu Haocun was furious, but Cheng Lingyu remained unfazed. “Does this count as my victory? He hasn’t verbally conceded. Must I defeat him two more times to officially win?”
Liu Haocun trembled with rage, his hand twitching as if to strike, but froze when he noticed Zhang Chengtian, Palace Master of Liyun Palace, materializing silently beside him.
“Any objections, Palace Master Liu? Announce the outcome if not.”
Zhang Chengtian’s voice held icy authority.
Though seething, Liu Haocun knew public retaliation would undermine his position. Through gritted teeth, he declared, “Cheng Lingyu of Fallen God Ridge wins this match.”
Cheng Lingyu offered a mild smile and turned away, leaving Liu Haocun choking on suppressed fury.
Zhang Chengtian reappeared at the battle platform and clapped Cheng Lingyu’s shoulder. “Well fought. Continue this momentum. It’s been years since a Fallen God Ridge disciple commanded such respect.”
Cheng Lingyu’s smile radiated a warmth like a spring breeze, both comforting and enigmatic.
Mu Hua gaped. “You’re utterly incomprehensible. Even your expressions defy understanding.”
Fang Ruohua tilted her head. “Elder Brother Cheng’s smile feels… peculiar.”
Cheng Lingyu schooled his features. “Enough praise, or my head might swell.”
Wan Fang snorted. “As if you’re not preening enough already.”
Cheng Lingyu scratched his neck sheepishly, drawing chuckles from the group.
“With Elder Brother Cheng’s power in the Soul Martial Fourth Realm, victory is assured,” Fang Ruohua said, her grin sharp. “This glory will make Fallen God Ridge shine.”
Mu Hua cracked his knuckles. “Let’s crush Feixing Ridge next round. Disable all four of their disciples—see how haughty they act then.”
Cheng Lingyu warned, “That would invite brutal retaliation against you all in future matches.”
“Fear nothing,” Fang Ruohua countered. “The new rules favor us. At worst, we forfeit if threatened. Today, Feixing Ridge bleeds.”
“Junior Sister Fang speaks truth!” others chorused. “Even if retaliation comes, today we humble them!”
Cheng Lingyu sighed, catching Wan Fang’s eye.
Wan Fang muttered, “Don’t overreach. Trouble follows us beyond Fallen God Ridge.”
Their faction’s small numbers meant Feixing Ridge could easily ambush disciples on tasks—a common occurrence in Lou Ri City.
Cheng Lingyu gave a curt nod, refocusing on the ongoing matches as the third round concluded. Six finalists remained.
“The fourth round pairings will be decided by draw to ensure fairness,” Liu Haocun announced abruptly.
The crowd murmured—this rule shift betrayed Feixing Ridge’s desperation. Three elite disciples crippled by Cheng Lingyu had become three public humiliations. Another defeat in the fourth round would reduce Feixing Ridge to a laughingstock.
The six qualifying disciples stepped on stage to draw lots. Liu Haocun briefly explained the rules before the drawing began.
Cheng Lingyu drew number three, meaning he would fight last. The other disciple who drew three became his opponent.
Those who drew number one would compete first.
The pair who drew number two would fight next, leaving Cheng Lingyu for the final match.
To everyone’s surprise, Cheng Lingyu ended up facing another disciple from Feixing Ridge again – true enemies always cross paths.
“Excellent! Perfect!”
Mu Hua roared with laughter while Fang Ruohua beamed with joy. This was exactly what the crowd wanted.
Liu Haocun looked displeased by this outcome.
Feixing Ridge disciples groaned while others cheered wildly, anticipating Cheng Lingyu’s fourth consecutive victory.
The first match between Xuanmoon Ridge and Xingyun Ridge lasted over two hundred exchanges before Xuanmoon’s disciple prevailed.
The second match saw Lou Ri Ridge clashing with Mingmo Ridge in a fierce battle, with Lou Ri’s disciple winning by a hair’s breadth to claim top three honors.
Though both matches were exciting, the crowd buzzed most for the final showdown.
When Cheng Lingyu ascended the platform, thunderous cheers erupted. Though few in number, the Fallen God Ridge disciples shouted themselves hoarse.
Feixing Ridge members looked thoroughly miserable, their disastrous day complete as Cheng Lingyu stole all attention.
Cheng Lingyu stood calmly on stage, his faint half-smile radiating mesmerizing temptation.
Feixing’s representative was Yan Lingfeng – a tall, robust twenty-one-year-old with striking looks and piercing azure eyes that hinted at danger.
Despite three Feixing disciples being crippled by Cheng Lingyu, Yan Lingfeng remained composed, brimming with arrogance.
Cheng Lingyu studied his opponent, his gaze flickering with interest.
“Innate Immortal Soul. What a waste.”
Yan Lingfeng snorted. “What’s wasteful?”
“That you belong to Feixing Ridge. And that you face me.”
Cheng Lingyu’s icy tone carried genuine regret.
Yan Lingfeng barked laughter. “Same old arrogance! You think I’m like those three weaklings?”
“Is there any difference?”
“I was chosen by Divine Trees’ Portal! Entered Feixing’s Seventh Palace directly! Possess the innate Immortal Soul!”
“Same outcome.”
Cheng Lingyu’s flat declaration stung like a slap.
“Insolent fool! Let’s see how long this act lasts!”
Hands clasped behind his back, Cheng Lingyu declared: “I’ll give you ten free moves. For the Immortal Soul’s sake.”
The crowd exploded. This was pure madness!
Knowing Yan Lingfeng’s special physique of Immortal Soul, Cheng Lingyu still offered ten concessions? Either crazy or terminally arrogant.
Or perhaps… but nobody dared voice that possibility.
Yan Lingfeng, seething with anger, laughed coldly and shouted, “Fine! Let’s see how you back up that boast!”
He soared into mid-air, standing proudly in the void as his eight cave heavens opened one after another, unleashing a terrifying aura that crushed the surrounding time and space.
Flames erupted around him, swiftly turning the Lou Ri Battle Platform into a sea of flames.
“These eight cave heavens far surpass Dong Zhi’s.”
“Who with an innate Immortal Soul could ever be ordinary?”
Disciples watching the match buzzed, their praise for Yan Lingfeng evident.
“Cheng Lingyu won’t win easily.”
“But why would he offer ten moves if he wasn’t confident?”
Some backed Yan Lingfeng; others sided with Cheng Lingyu, arguments flaring.
On the platform, Cheng Lingyu gazed calmly at Yan Lingfeng and said, “Begin. Use your strongest moves. Treasure these ten strikes.”
A faint glow enveloped him as radiant rings swirled into a protective barrier.
Beneath his feet, thirty-two formations interlaced—half attacking, half defending—crafting a unique spacetime domain.
Flames surged toward him, devoured like a vortex swallowing all.
From afar, the sky’s flames funneled into a massive fiery vortex above the Lou Ri Battle Platform.
Yan Lingfeng sneered, “Formation Martial Arts? No wonder you’re so arrogant. I’ll shatter it!”
With a roar, he dove downward, his eight cave heavens blazing like furnaces, radiating divine might as they devoured energy and warped spacetime.
Wherever the cave heavens passed, the void shattered, nullifying all confinement arts.
Yan Lingfeng wielded them as weapons, aiming to rip apart Cheng Lingyu’s defenses.
Cheng Lingyu stood motionless, hands behind his back, his expression unreadable.
As Yan Lingfeng closed in, a Seven-Leaf Butterfly materialized before Cheng Lingyu. With each flap of its wings, thousands of sword lights converged, shredding the void and repelling Yan Lingfeng’s cave heavens.
Yan Lingfeng’s eyes flashed with fury. His cave heavens spun wildly, morphing into a blade-like ring slashing toward Cheng Lingyu.
More Seven-Leaf Butterflies rose, multiplying into countless colorful butterflies that clashed against the cave heaven ring.
A deafening crash echoed. Yan Lingfeng staggered back, while Cheng Lingyu stood firm, unmoved.
The disciples gasped. None had expected Cheng Lingyu’s Formation Martial Arts to dominate so utterly.
“Illusory Void Slash!” Yan Lingfeng bellowed, face twisted in rage.
His eight cave heavens realigned into a vertical ring, erupting with indomitable force above Cheng Lingyu.
Cheng Lingyu remained calm. Light waves surged from the ground, coalescing into a silver lightning bolt that tore through spacetime, colliding with the attack.
Blinding light flared. Thunder roared.
The clash birthed a colossal sphere of light.
Yan Lingfeng dodged the blast mid-air. Cheng Lingyu stood grounded, his formations absorbing the explosion’s force and converting it into defense—a feat beyond comprehension.
“Is this all you’ve got?”
The taunt stoked Yan Lingfeng’s rage.
“Save your mockery!” he snarled.
Blue light ignited in Yan Lingfeng’s eyes as his aura tripled. One cave heaven expanded violently, crashing toward Cheng Lingyu.
Within it, the watching disciples glimpsed a massive blue scorpion, its venomous stinger gleaming with icy menace.