Chapter 35: Disregard
Chapter 35: Disregard
“Earth Thorns!”
“Scattered Shadows Shaking Trees!”
Two secret techniques, like needle tip against wheat awn, wildly swept in to attack!
Two completely opposing forces, one from the left and one from the right, collided like two fierce giant beasts.
On one side, sharp earthen spikes stood thick like thorns, unstoppable as they continuously erupted from the ground!
On the other, billions of vines burst with vibrant life, a ferocious, stirring green transforming into a verdant Green Dragon that pounced forward!
The earthen spikes were fierce, seeming to hold the earth’s wrath, while the green appeared soft, yet was incredibly tenacious, seeping into every crevice.
When the stone python and the Green Dragon collided, the green actually began to continuously erode the stubborn stone. Within the cracks of the rock, countless green sprouts sprouted and bloomed fiercely, growing from small to huge, breaking the stone python’s bones and sucking out its marrow!
In an instant, the green surged forward, and the stone mountain crumbled.
The vines rose angrily, countless branches and tendrils shattered the rock, turning into green, serpent-like snakes that coiled around Yan Zhao, wrapping him layer by layer and lifting him high into the air.
Not reaching the sky, not touching the ground, the indestructible, fierce energy around Yan Zhao’s body seemed to fade significantly.
“The Body of Breathing Soil is called invincible when standing on the ground!” Su Xuan’er said breathlessly, her face pale and her words slurred. “Off the ground, without the endless support of dense earth energy, you have no chance!”
Though her words were tough, in her heart, she was also secretly afraid.
If not for her secret technique being wood-based, which happened to counter earth-based techniques, and the boost from her two Spirit-God Apertures, who would win or lose was truly hard to say.
The Body of Breathing Soil truly lived up to being the Child of the Earth!
Yan Zhao kicked his feet wildly, his face ashen, letting out an angry roar of great unwillingness.
“The winner, Su Xuan’er!”
Before the presiding mage could finish speaking, a thunderous voice interrupted him.
“Yan Zhao, would you be willing to become my Direct Disciple? You should know that what I, Nie Zheng, cultivate is the Path of Star-Slaying! With your Body of Breathing Soil, you are naturally compatible with the Star-Slaying Art that kills and devours stars, absorbing star souls into the body.”
“Direct Disciple?”
Yan Zhao was stunned. Taking advantage of Su Xuan’er withdrawing her attack, he struggled free from the vines, leapt several times, and landed on the ground.
Immediately, a heavy, steady momentum arose from him.
“Yan Zhao, would you be willing to enter my tutelage?” Hua Lianxing’s voice rang out right after. “Under me, there are many young and beautiful female mages proficient in the ‘Yin-Yang Dream Realm.’ If your Body of Breathing Soil practices dual cultivation with the Water Spirit Body secret technique, your cultivation progress could advance a thousand miles in a single day!”
“Yin-Yang Dream Realm? Can you dual cultivate on the magic path?” Li Yi found it interesting and joked, “If there’s such a good thing, why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
Zhangsun Shenji shot him a sidelong glance, his face showing disdain and slight anger. “Haven’t you heard that lust is a knife hanging over your head?”
“So? Which one are you willing to join under?” Hua Lianxing asked with a light smile, her voice carrying a hint of charm.
“Young and beautiful? I remember the youngest female mage under you is over thirty!” Nie Zheng rudely exposed her, sneering. “An old cow eating tender grass, you can even do that…”
“I have long heard of the Star-Slaying Art of Dawn Cliff, defying the heavens to slay stars, overwhelmingly domineering! Therefore, I have yearned for it for a long time,” for some reason, Yan Zhao glanced back, sweeping his gaze over Zhangsun Shenji and Li Yi, his expression strange. “I wish to become a disciple under Elder Nie Zheng!”
“Good, kid, you have vision! You certainly won’t regret it!”
Nie Zheng stood up, laughing heartily. With a sweep of his sleeve, several streaks of starlight wrapped around Yan Zhao and soared into the sky!
“It just occurred to me that I have matters to attend to today, so I won’t linger. Farewell! Then, I wish Elder Hua may also receive a satisfactory disciple! Hmm, I think that Li Yi is quite good…”
Clearly, he was afraid that the resourceful Hua Lianxing might cause more trouble, so he hurriedly took Yan Zhao and made his escape.
However, these last few words were a bit unfair.
“You bald scoundrel, just you wait!” Hua Lianxing gritted her teeth, her face dark with gloom, but there was nothing she could do.
“Su Xuan’er, what about you? Would you be willing to enter my tutelage as a Direct Disciple?”
On the other side, Su Xuan’er had long been internally chosen by You Qiushui, so naturally, no one contested for her.
“I am willing!” Su Xuan’er was mentally prepared. Her body swayed, seeming somewhat exhausted, her bloodless appearance evoking pity.
In a few years, she would probably be a little beauty.
“Then, let’s proceed to the next match!” Gu Yan said without beating around the bush.
“Wait!” You Qiushui’s voice suddenly rang out.
“Elder You, what else do you have?” Gu Yan’s frown appeared and disappeared instantly, concealing his displeasure well.
“Although I have accepted a Direct Disciple, I’m still not quite satisfied. I also wish to accept an Outer-Disciple!” You Qiushui squinted her eyes, making her emotions unreadable.
“Oh? Which disciple is so fortunate?” Gu Yan asked calmly.
You Qiushui pointed her staff, and the fortunate one floated up.
It was Xun Ye!
“Xun Ye, the ‘Lingering Fragrance’ bloodline of your Xun clan was once among the top bloodlines in the divination school,” You Qiushui said kindly. “Would you be willing to become my Outer-Disciple?”
“Willing, I am willing!”
Xun Ye was overjoyed, saying repeatedly.
A few days ago, after that soul clash, his spirit had been deflated. After seeing the strength of several Heaven’s Pride talents and realizing the gap, he had already given up hope. With this sudden turn of events, how could he refuse?
“Good! Since Gao Huanzhang, also an Outer-Disciple, received a gift, naturally, I cannot appear stingy…” You Qiushui said “good” several times. “This ‘Deep Embrace of the Queen Mother of the West,’ I give to you!”
A streak of silver radiance crossed the Void, landing on Xun Ye—a silver pendant.
“Thank you, Elder, for your generous gift!”
“‘Deep Embrace of the Queen Mother of the West’? Elder You, isn’t such behavior too despicable… This is cheating, blatant cheating!”
Before Gu Yan could speak, Gu Yanran couldn’t hold back, saying indignantly.
This pendant was different from ordinary magical instruments. The mana on it came entirely from the divine power of the Queen Mother of the West.
Ordinary magical instruments, like the “Horn of the Flame Demon” or “Necklace of Water Droplets,” required mana to activate. That is, the deeper one’s cultivation, the more one could unleash their effects. However, the “Deep Embrace of the Queen Mother of the West” only required a bit of mana as a trigger to release a divine radiance shield. After that, its divine power came entirely from the instrument itself.
In other words, unless one used terrifying explosive force to instantly shatter the shield, before the divine power of the “Deep Embrace of the Queen Mother of the West” was exhausted, Xun Ye was almost equivalent to being magic-immune.
“Merely accepting an Outer-Disciple, what’s the issue? Yesterday, didn’t Qin Yue also receive a meeting gift? Could it be that I shouldn’t have one?” You Qiushui felt no shame at all, mocking, “If you wish, you can also have Gu Yan accept an Outer-Disciple… But, do you dare accept him? The cultivation and contributions of an Outer-Disciple affect an elder’s points.”
Gu Yanran nearly ground her silver teeth to dust, stamping her foot fiercely.
To be honest, her feelings towards Li Yi were mostly sympathy. The original regard and astonishment she had felt had worn off considerably over these past few days.
…
This “Deep Embrace of the Queen Mother of the West” immediately placed Li Yi in a very awkward position.
Not just for the upcoming Martial Display.
More so, it was a release of information.
Twice in a row, taking Li Yi’s opponent as an Outer-Disciple—the message conveyed was self-evident.
The elders’ lack of optimism, their indifference, even their disregard, was as obvious as lice on a bald head.
No one expected him to win, no one believed he could win, and similarly, no one wanted him to win!
From beginning to end, he was merely a supporting character, a foil.
“The elders have sharp eyes, they definitely cannot be wrong.”
“I said it before, evil techniques are unreliable…”
In the murmurs, the surrounding gazes held schadenfreude, disdain, and also, mixed with some sympathy.
Actually, the most hurtful was the sympathy.
I, Li Yi, what need have I for others’ sympathy?
Li Yi’s expression remained unchanged, instead becoming even more calm, composed, and silent. But beneath this silence, subterranean fires flowed, waiting to erupt!
“Li Yi, are you okay…” Zhangsun Shenji was truly somewhat worried, but unlike Yan Zhao, he wasn’t good at comforting words. At this moment, he couldn’t help but miss that jerk.
“I’m fine. I was just thinking about how to break through that tortoise-shell. Don’t worry, I’ve thought of a way.”
Li Yi forced a smile. After taking several deep breaths, he suppressed all emotions, burying them deep in his heart.
No one noticed that his right hand was forming a strange gesture, holding it unchanged.
“Xun Ye, I hope when we face each other, you can deploy several more layers of the Air Shield Technique…”