103: Chapter 101: Oblivious to Danger (Second Update) 103: Chapter 101: Oblivious to Danger (Second Update) “The sixty-ninth ranked on the Heavenly List, Zhou Zhi’an, is now challenging the tenth-ranked Ye Zhen.

Let the match begin!”

As the Martial Battle Arena’s deacon announced loudly, all eyes turned towards the Martial Combat Platform.

In the void, several faint figures looked down upon the platform with scrutiny.

Within the Qiyun Sect, from the Outer Disciples to the Sect Elders and even the Sect Leader, all wanted to know Ye Zhen’s true strength.

In an instant, Zhou Zhi’an, who had just narrowly escaped the Ghost Gate, felt his True Yuan surge to life.

“Hold on!”

Ye Zhen’s sudden interjection caught everyone off guard.

“What’s the matter, scared?

If you’re scared, just admit defeat and roll off the stage!” Zhou Zhi’an coldly laughed, eager to regain some face.

“Scared?

No, no, no.

It’s like this, last time we had a big gamble, and to my fortune, I won 240,000 Silver from you.

Wouldn’t you like to win it back?

How about we have another bet?”

As he spoke, Ye Zhen glanced at Golden Yuanbao, who was rapidly collecting bets and issuing receipts not far away.

Whatever happened, he needed to buy some time to help his brother out, let Golden Yuanbao collect more bets, earn a bit more, right?

Zhou Zhi’an’s face turned crimson red!

There’s an old saying: don’t slap a person in the face.

But at this moment, Ye Zhen was thoroughly exposing his shortcomings and hitting him where it hurt.

“Ye Zhen, you’re courting death!”

Fury erupted as he raised his Low Grade Artifact, the Three Elements Sword, and a two-zhang-long sword light violently cleaved towards Ye Zhen, as fast as lightning.

As the battle began, the disciples below the platform started discussing eagerly.

“What do you think, who will win the fight between Zhou Zhi’an and Ye Zhen?”

“It should be Ye Zhen; after all, he is the tenth on the Heavenly List!”

“I think Zhou Zhi’an has a great chance of winning.

His Cultivation is there for all to see, and besides, Zhou Zhi’an is a direct disciple of Elder Hong.

His Martial Skills and Cultivation Techniques are definitely not something a common disciple like Ye Zhen can compare with.”

“Senior Brother Ren, what do you think?”

Ren Xihua, the one everyone was asking, smiled lazily, “If I could predict the outcome of their fight, I wouldn’t have come!”

“Eh, an Artifact?

Zhou Zhi’an actually has an Artifact?” Changsun Ran, who was watching the fight attentively, suddenly exclaimed.

Ren Xihua’s expression instantly turned serious, “The same grade Artifact, the higher someone’s Cultivation, the greater power it unleashes!

This way, Ye Zhen’s advantage with his Low Grade Sky Crystal Sword is gone.

Thus, I think Zhou Zhi’an has a bigger chance of winning.

Senior Brother Changsun, what do you think?”

“Yeah, Zhou Zhi’an’s Artifact must have been lent to him by someone.

He came prepared.

Even if Ye Zhen is to win, it would be extremely difficult!”

Whoosh!

Suddenly, the onlooking crowd gasped in astonishment, and both Changsun Ran and Ren Xihua’s eyes widened, Ren Xihua even going so far as to rub his eyes.

“This footwork technique?

Why do I feel it’s even stronger than my Lower-grade Earth Level Shadowless Step?”

Changsun Ran was greatly surprised.

On the platform, as Zhou Zhi’an’s sword came slashing down, Ye Zhen stepped out with the Chasing Star Step, moving like a ghostly shadow, instantly making Zhou Zhi’an lose his target.

“Too slow!”

“Zhou Zhi’an, your speed isn’t as loud as your voice!”

The elusive Ye Zhen taunted with a sneer.

Having struck nothing but air, Zhou Zhi’an realized that his target, Ye Zhen, was already behind him, his face flushing with embarrassment to the roots of his neck.

“Ye Zhen!”

With a furious roar, he spun around, unleashing the Human-Level top grade Mountain Crashing Sword Art taught by his master Hong Banjiang, his sword strikes as earth-shattering as a mountain collapsing.

But where Ye Zhen’s figure should have been, there was nothing.

“Still too slow, Zhou Zhi’an.

Didn’t you have your meal?”

An inflamed Zhou Zhi’an, red-faced with rage, swung his sword in a frenzied series of mountain-crushing blows, one after another.

However, Ye Zhen’s taunts followed each strike relentlessly.

“Too slow!”

“It’s as slow as molasses!”

“Way too slow, Zhou Zhi’an.

Use all the strength you had while nursing!”

“Slow, oh so slow, I could take time for tea at this pace!”

Under the continuous barrage of Ye Zhen’s mockery, Zhou Zhi’an was near the brink of madness.

Ye Zhen was truly enraged now.

Zhou Zhi’an was shameless in his challenge against him.

The Qiyun Sect encouraged sparring among its disciples, hence the creation of the Heaven and Earth List, a ranking of immense benefit.

It was common to see lower-ranked disciples challenging those above them—sometimes having dozens of matches in a day.

But high-ranked disciples couldn’t possibly spend all day waiting for challenges, could they?

Sometimes they were away on Sect missions, or in silent cultivation, for as little as a fortnight or as much as half a year or even a year.

During such times, most disciples seeking to improve their ranking would choose another path—venturing through the Fish-Dragon Nine Transformations, increasing their rank with the points acquired there.

Or they would challenge a higher-ranked disciple.

If someone was keen to challenge but couldn’t find their target, at most, all they would do is leave a challenge letter at their residence and then wait.

But for Zhou Zhi’an to shamelessly use a Sound Amplification Talisman to blast Ye Zhen out like this was unprecedented!

It was no wonder Ye Zhen was furious!

Otherwise, Ye Zhen would have simply ensured Zhou Zhi’an’s defeat without the humiliation.

The spectating disciples were stunned.

They could conceive dozens of scenarios, but none accounted for a fight where Zhou Zhi’an couldn’t even touch Ye Zhen’s clothes.

“It seems, Ye Zhen must have used this mystical footwork technique to clear the fifth stage, achieving such high points.” Many disciples suddenly understood.

“No, that’s not right.

Ye Zhen cleared the stages perfectly, and mere footwork isn’t enough for a perfect completion.” A disciple voiced his doubt.

“What kind of brain do you have, forgetting that Ye Zhen has a Low Grade Artifact?

With a Low Grade Artifact, killing those Phantom Demons is easy pickings, right?”

An Inner Sect Disciple at the side sneered disdainfully, “Even if you had ten Low Grade Artifacts, you still couldn’t get past the fifth barrier.”

In the void, several Sect Elders watching from a distance furrowed their brows simultaneously.

The footwork technique Ye Zhen employed was extremely ingenious; there was no such footwork in the Qiyun Sect.

Fifth Elder Hong Banjiang’s expression changed drastically, and he immediately sent a message to his third disciple, Cao Luo, who was at the scene: “Cao Luo, get Zhou Zhi’an off the platform.

He can’t win against Ye Zhen!”

Almost the moment Cao Luo received his master’s order to speak, Zhou Zhi’an bellowed, “Ye Zhen, do you have no shame!”

“Ye Zhen, you coward, stop running if you dare!”

“Ye Zhen, if you have the guts, clash with me straight on in a move!”

“Clash straight on?

Alright then!”

A strange expression flickered across Ye Zhen’s face in an instant, and his body abruptly came to a stop.

“I’ll just stand here.

Come at me!”

“Fine!”

With a furious roar, Zhou Zhi’an burst forth like lightning.

At that instant when the dazzling True Yuan twinkled at the tip of his sword, a mountain-collapsing sound erupted suddenly.

The killing move of the Mountain Crashing Sword Art, Mountain Collapse and Earth Shatter!

Carrying a might that shook heaven and earth, a pale yellow Sword Light of more than two zhang burst out from the ground and thundered towards Ye Zhen.

The Sword Light was incredibly fast; in the blink of an eye, it closed in within ten zhang of Ye Zhen!

But to everyone’s surprise, Ye Zhen made no move in the face of such an astounding Sword Momentum!

Everyone’s heart rose to their throat for Ye Zhen!

Nine zhang!

Eight zhang!

Seven zhang!

Six zhang!

Ye Zhen still showed no sign of movement, and a sinister smile began to form on Zhou Zhi’an’s face!

Just as Zhou Zhi’an’s Sword Light closed to within five zhang of Ye Zhen, Ye Zhen suddenly moved!

With a casual flick, a four-zhang-long True Essence Sword Finger sliced out abruptly.

Bang!

Zhou Zhi’an, like a target delivered to his doorstep, took Ye Zhen’s True Essence Sword Finger to the forehead without any defense.

Whoosh!

Zhou Zhi’an’s body was sent flying backward, his Protective Gang Qi fiercely flickered for a moment before shattering instantly, and with that, Ye Zhen’s True Essence Sword Finger also dissipated.

However, the strong wind brought about by the True Essence Sword Finger left a bloody gash on Zhou Zhi’an’s forehead, and blood flowed down his face immediately.

It couldn’t be helped, after cultivating the Spirit-Control Technique, Ye Zhen’s Divine Sense greatly increased, making his True Essence Sword Finger incredibly long.

Four zhang, a full twelve meters long!

And Zhou Zhi’an’s Sword Gang measured only two zhang and a bit, close to seven meters in length.

In other words, as long as Ye Zhen drew his sword, Zhou Zhi’an’s Sword Gang would never be able to harm Ye Zhen!

“There we go, I’m standing right here, what can you do about it?”

Wiping the blood from his forehead, Zhou Zhi’an was momentarily stunned, then joy flickered in his eyes, “Hmm?

Ye Zhen, you can’t hurt me!”

As the Protective Gang Qi flickered back to life, his Three Elements Sword surged with Sword Qi, and Zhou Zhi’an, somewhat incredulous, charged at Ye Zhen once more!

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!

Like painting a lily as per the gourd’s pattern, every time Zhou Zhi’an came within five zhang, Ye Zhen would flick out a four-zhang-long True Essence Sword Finger, directly sending Zhou Zhi’an flying.

Zhou Zhi’an, who was sent flying, seemed to go into a frenzy, crazily lunging at Ye Zhen over and over again, relying on the fact that Ye Zhen couldn’t harm him, attacking Ye Zhen wildly.

“Foolish and ignorant!”

With a cold snort, Ye Zhen’s Sky Crystal Sword at his waist unsheathed abruptly!

Swoosh!

A four-foot-long icy Sword Gang burst forth from the Sky Crystal Sword, chopping down on the charging Zhou Zhi’an’s head.

The shoddy Sky Crystal Sword caused Zhou Zhi’an’s pupils to dilate suddenly, his eyes filled with fear, but it was too late to avoid it!

Chi!

In what seemed like an instant, Zhou Zhi’an’s Protective Gang was torn to shreds by Ye Zhen’s Sky Crystal Sword.

The force of the Sky Crystal Sword, undiminished, chopped directly towards Zhou Zhi’an’s forehead.

Just as Zhou Zhi’an was about to be cleaved in two by Ye Zhen, his corpse sprawled on the spot.

Whoosh!

A burst of Spirit Light suddenly emanated from Zhou Zhi’an’s chest, and upon contact with this layer of Spirit Light, Ye Zhen’s Sword Light crumbled to pieces as if an egg had hit a rock!

“Hmm?

A Protective Spirit Talisman?”

Ye Zhen’s expression changed, and he took a Chasing Star Step forward, closely pursuing Zhou Zhi’an.

In the moment of Zhou Zhi’an’s utmost horror, a Thunder Leopard Crashing Fist boomed into Zhou Zhi’an’s chest.

Bang!

Zhou Zhi’an’s body was thrust high into the air, his blood tracing a perfect arc in the sky, yet, it could be seen that he was still alive!

Once Cultivation reached the True Essence Realm, True Yuan would continually nourish the five internal organs and six hollow organs, gradually strengthening them.

Plus, as Zhou Zhi’an’s Cultivation was a minor realm higher than Ye Zhen’s, this helped save his life.

But even then, this punch was deliberately held back by Ye Zhen, suppressing the impulse to strike another sword blow; otherwise, Zhou Zhi’an would have long been dead.

The same sect members who had died at his hand were already several, and Ye Zhen didn’t want to carry the infamy of killing a fellow sect member in a duel.

Moreover, it was merely a sparring among sect members.

Hiss!

Sounds of sharp intakes of breath echoed below the platform, as all the Disciples were stunned by this scene.

Even the Sect Elders secretly observing from the sky were shocked!

In that moment, the Qiyun Sect was silent from heaven to earth!

(To be continued.

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