Chapter 67: A Bet of Ten Moves

Caiyun said, “What? The mighty Divine Dragon of the Ji Family plans to bully a woman?”

Ji Yaozu replied coldly, “Don’t worry. I won’t use my higher cultivation level against you. I’ll face you at the same realm.”

Caiyun laughed. “Such arrogance! Truly the Ji Family’s Divine Dragon. They say you’re a young genius, unmatched among your peers. Let’s make a bet: if you can withstand ten moves from my junior apprentice at the same realm, our feud ends here.”

Ji Yaozu sneered, “Ten moves? You think I’d fail?”

Caiyun continued, “My junior apprentice recently reached the True Martial Fifth Level – Gathering Lake Stage, having formed one True Essence Lake. Fight him at this realm without magical artifacts. If you last ten moves, I’ll honor my word. If you lose, leave ten Spiritual Essence Pills. Do you dare?”

Ji Yaozu mocked, “Spiritual Essence Pills are earth-grade treasures. Is he worth ten?”

Caiyun shot back, “That’s your value. If I demanded ten Tianyang Pills, you’d be mocked across Tianhua City before sunset.”

Ji Yaozu’s face darkened. “Fine! I accept.”

The crowd buzzed. Ji Yaozu, Tianhua City’s famed prodigy, rivaled even Ouyang Lie in reputation.

“Seal your cultivation to the Gathering Lake Stage first,” Caiyun instructed.

Ji Yaozu smirked. A radiant brilliance enveloped him as spiritual patterns wove across his skin, forming a seal. His aura dwindled until it stabilized at the True Martial Fifth Level – Gathering Lake Stage, with five lakes manifesting—the peak of this realm.

“Care to inspect it, Miss Caiyun?” he taunted.

She ignored his tone, methodically checking the seal to ensure no hidden strength remained.

“To the backyard,” she declared, leading Cheng Lingyu by the hand.

“No artifacts allowed,” Caiyun announced. “Pure skill over ten moves decides this.”

The spectators nodded—fair terms.

“Who’ll win?”

“Young Master Ji! He’s the Ji Family’s genius!”

“But Cheng Lingyu killed Lian Yunxiang…”

“Lian was nothing compared to Ji!”

Qu Wei studied Cheng Lingyu, noting his changes since their last meeting. Her own cultivation had soared to the Soul Martial Realm, sharpening her judgment.

Cheng Zhaolong, Ye Xiaoyun, Lu Yu, Jiang Mufeng, Yun Xi, and Ji Xiaoyue watched intently.

Caiyun glanced at Ji Yaozu. “Warm up first. Wouldn’t want excuses after losing.”

Ji Yaozu gritted his teeth. Beneath Caiyun’s beauty lay a tongue sharper than any blade.

Cheng Lingyu appeared calm. His Senior Sister’s sharp words pressed forward like her chess skills, relentless and hard to withstand.

Letting go of her hand, he stepped forward. His handsome face showed no tension or worry, radiating a serene peace akin to a spring breeze.

“He has changed.”

Jin Miaoyi’s brows furrowed slightly, sensing Cheng Lingyu’s newfound maturity.

Qu Wei softly said, “His path diverges from ours. This change… it’s unfathomable.”

Ji Yaozu stared at Cheng Lingyu, seriousness etching his handsome features for the first time.

Once, Ji Yaozu had scorned him.

Now, Cheng Lingyu’s tranquility gave him pause—an instinctive tremor between geniuses, like opposing forces resonating.

Cheng Lingyu stood motionless, true essence withdrawn, becoming an inscrutable abyss.

Ji Yaozu’s brow twitched. He began stretching while studying Cheng Lingyu’s reaction.

After moments, seemingly adjusted to his current cultivation level, Ji Yaozu strode forward.

“Show me your skills, brat. Ten moves? You overreach.”

Arrogance sharpened Ji Yaozu’s chilly glare.

Cheng Lingyu replied evenly, “This feud concerns Cheng Zhaolong. Withdraw, Young Master Ji, and this match ends. Insist, and I’ll oblige.”

“I brought him. I’ll remove him. Enough talk. Begin.”

“First, answer this—your age?”

“Twenty-seven. Blood Martial Third Level.”

Ji Yaozu’s smirk radiated self-assurance—his talent undeniable at this cultivation.

Cheng Lingyu’s gaze flickered. “Remarkable. I’m eighteen. Began cultivation at seventeen. Now: True Martial Fifth Level.”

His calm words stunned even Ji Yaozu.

Fourteen Realms in one year? Such speed defied reason.

Caiyun interjected, “Enough. Begin.”

Cheng Lingyu smiled. His true essence shifted—from still waters to raging torrents in an instant.

Ji Yaozu levitated, hovering midair with domineering aura.

“Ready?”

Cheng Lingyu blurred into motion—stillness to lightning.

He materialized before Ji Yaozu, fist driving forth without flourish.

“Insolence!”

Ji Yaozu snarled, meeting the strike with his own flaming fist.

Fist-winds howled. Ji Yaozu’s mountain-crushing punch blazed crimson.

Purple-gold light shrouded Cheng Lingyu’s fist, true essence compressed until impact.

BOOM!

The collision birthed energy waves shredding the void. Shockwaves hurled both combatants back.

Cheng Lingyu landed gracefully, gaze steady on his stumbling foe.

Nearby, the spectators were startled. Both sides clashed head-on in their first exchange, yet Ji Yaozu clearly gained no advantage.

“Didn’t expect you to have some tricks,” Ji Yaozu sneered, steadying himself as icy glints flashed in his eyes. Flames erupted around him, coalescing into a blazing Firebird looming behind his figure.

Cheng Lingyu replied flatly, “You overpraise me, Young Master Ji.”

He stepped into the air, flicking his fingers to release a streak of sword light that morphed into a fluttering butterfly.

“Arrogant fool! Soaring Firebird!” Ji Yaozu vanished instantly as a massive crimson-winged Firebird materialized mid-air, diving toward Cheng Lingyu.

While the blazing creature drew all eyes, Ji Yaozu had already shifted positions 352 times through 176 rapid jumps, launching a devastating strike.

Cheng Lingyu’s eyes glowed as the Magic Eyes technique dissected every movement. Sword energy whirled around him while he spun through the air, clashing with Ji Yaozu in a blur of strikes.

Sword lights intertwined with fist shadows, their figures coiling like dragons and pouncing like tigers.

In their second exchange of intricate techniques, Ji Yaozu still failed to dominate.

“Third move—Sky Splitting Slash!” Six phantom clones of Ji Yaozu materialized around Cheng Lingyu, sealing all escape routes as overwhelming slashes tore through space.

Cheng Lingyu’s eyes narrowed. He thrust a finger forward like a blade.

“Mirage Blade Slash!”

Converging sword lights formed a prismatic butterfly whose mesmerizing wings scattered razor-sharp energy in all directions.

Qu Wei and Jin Miaoyi exchanged stunned glances. The Mirage Blade Slash—an ultimate skill of Green Island’s phantom butterflies—had been mastered by this outsider!

When Sky Splitting Slash met Mirage Blade Slash, their colliding energies birthed flaming dragons that devoured the void, ripping the sky asunder in a cataclysmic explosion.

At the peak of Gathering Lake Stage with five True Essence Lakes, Ji Yaozu stood unmatched among his peers. Though Sky Splitting Slash—the Ji family’s signature technique—couldn’t unleash full power in True Martial Realm, his spatial lockdown amplified its force sixfold, beyond what any ordinary cultivator could withstand.

Cheng Lingyu’s Magic Eyes tracked every motion, yet matching speeds left no room for evasion. While Mirage Blade Slash outmaneuvered its opponent, it lacked raw destructive power.

Deafening clashes echoed under blinding light as figures flickered through the chaos.

Cheng Lingyu skidded sideways, robes shredded to reveal unblemished violet-gold skin. Ji Yaozu hovered above, arrogance burning in his gaze.

“Three moves. Is this your limit?”

“Would you believe,” Cheng Lingyu said coolly, “that I’ve used only half my strength till now?”

“Ridiculous!” Ji Yaozu scoffed.

Cheng Lingyu’s lips curled coldly. Violent waves of true essence erupted from him as Ling Tian’s Might engulfed the battlefield, trembling every witness to their core.