CHAPTER 506: CHAPTERS 253-254: YOU’VE FINALLY ARRIVED (TWO-IN-ONE CHAPTER, ASKING FOR MONTHLY VOTES)

In the small courtyard, Shen Changqing sat with a pot of naturally brewed Spiritual Tea on the stone stool before him. For someone at his Realm, Spiritual Tea was no longer very effective, not much different from ordinary tea leaves. However, there was one aspect where ordinary tea couldn’t compare: Spiritual Tea could calm the mind, allowing martial artists to achieve a state of tranquil composure and always maintain their optimal condition.

At his side, Xing Yi said in a low voice, "Lord Defender, tomorrow will be the first day of July."

Shen Changqing did not respond, simply humming softly in acknowledgment.

Seeing this, Xing Yi wasn’t sure what to say. Traveling from Mountain-Breaking City to South Sea City was a lengthy journey; even a Grandmaster traveling at full speed couldn’t reach it in a single day. Moreover, expending great effort to rush would put one at a disadvantage in the subsequent fight. So, he was somewhat unclear why Shen Changqing was still lingering in the Demon-Subduing Division with no sign of departing. Could it be...

Xing Yi glanced at the Four-Winged Tiankui lying on the ground. A powerful Fierce Beast at Grandmaster Peak. In terms of speed, it was indeed unmatched by ordinary Grandmasters. But even so, rushing to South Sea City would still take a considerable amount of time. He had many doubts, but he didn’t voice them. Xing Yi believed that Shen Changqing’s inaction must stem from his own plans. If that was the case, there was no need for him to say any more.

Time passed. Even though Xing Yi was quite confident, he too began to grow restless. Eventually, he bid farewell and left. Shen Changqing did not stop him.

He was waiting. Waiting for the right moment.

As the morning sun ascended, the first wisp of violet qi from Heaven and Earth naturally drifted down. As if drawn by some unseen force, it landed in the teacup, merging with the Spiritual Tea and tinting the pale green liquid with hints of purple.

Shen Changqing took a sip, then, after sitting motionless for so long, he finally stood up. He notified no one. With a single, simple step, he vanished from the courtyard.

Shrinking Earth into Inches!

As he departed, the Four-Winged Tiankui lying on the ground blinked, still unable to discern how he had disappeared.

「Saint Buddha Mountain.」

This already famous Shenshan, often visited by worshippers, was today crowded with people from Jianghu. On closer inspection, one could see that although many Jianghu members were present, they were divided into three distinct camps: the Demon-Subduing Division, the Heaven Alliance, and other Jianghu folk who had come to witness the spectacle of the Great Grandmaster contest.

In the Demon-Subduing Division’s camp, Yun Venerable stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His lips barely moved, but a faint voice reached the ears of the person beside him, "Has there been any news of Defender Shen?"

Fei Yun, upon hearing this, shook his head slightly. "No, the Heavenly Inspection Guard has yet to track Defender Shen’s movements."

"This is troublesome," Yun Venerable murmured, his gaze sweeping indifferently over the Heaven Alliance’s camp. The Heaven Alliance had numerous Sect martial artists, but he paid them little mind. A King Rank Defender Envoy could only be contended with by an expert at the Great Grandmaster Realm. Anyone below the Great Grandmaster Realm was no different from an ant before a King Rank Defender Envoy.

However, he was well aware that even if the Demon-Subduing Division wiped out all the Heaven Alliance’s Sects today, it would be pointless. The true determinant of victory between the two factions was never the others, but Shimohe and Shen Changqing themselves. The outcome of their battle was paramount. If one of them were to perish, their side would have no power to resist. Nevertheless, in Yun Venerable’s view, while determining a victor in their fight shouldn’t be a problem, it was unlikely to be a battle to the death. Thus, once the outcome was decided, an even larger conflict would surely erupt. That would be the moment to establish ownership of South Nether Prefecture.

Although Shimohe had not yet arrived, Shen Changqing’s absence still left him uneasy. After all, if Shimohe arrived and Shen Changqing did not, no one here could stop the former. A Shimohe whose strength hadn’t even advanced had been able to slay Yuan Ji, leaving him no chance to escape. Now, with Shimohe’s strength having improved further, Yun Venerable had absolutely no confidence in confronting him. The gap between them was growing ever larger. It was hard to imagine that a Defender Envoy, who held sway over the land, would one day be intimidated by a Jianghu martial artist. But there was no alternative. A martial artist who had broken through their limits was on an entirely different level compared to ordinary martial artists.

Time continued to pass, and more people arrived—some purely to watch the battle, others from the Heaven Alliance, and still more from the Demon-Subduing Division. Yet, the main participants had still not appeared.

The sun climbed high into the sky, and some onlookers grew impatient.

"Why haven’t they arrived yet?"

"Who knows? We just have to wait."

"Sigh..."

Hearing the murmurs behind him, Yun Venerable’s expression remained unchanged; he neither reprimanded them nor paid them any mind.

Yun Yi observed the scene, not with anxiety, but with a somber feeling. He knew that the later the two combatants arrived, the more intense the ensuing battle was likely to be.

After an indeterminate amount of time, a powerful aura pressed down, causing even the Firmament to dim. Everyone instinctively looked up. They saw Shimohe, clad in a white robe and kasaya, descending slowly as if an Immortal God had come to the mortal world, lotuses blossoming with each step he took.

Instantly, the entire area fell silent.

Watching Shimohe’s arrival, Yun Venerable’s pupils revealed a deep sense of wariness.