Youth must be seized early; one cannot remain forever young. Chapter 111: Twists and Turns
A blurred golden greatsword clashed fiercely against a scorching, fiery flame, both striking the golden shield with tremendous force.
“Sizzle!”
“Boom!”
The impact caused Zhou Cai’s shield to tremble violently, its color rapidly fading.
“It’s working!” Bai Qingzhou’s heart leapt with joy. These two mid-level talismans could reduce the defensive power of the Golden Armor Talisman by fifty percent!
The shock even left Zhou Cai in a dazed state.
Seizing the opportunity, Bai Qingzhou planted his feet firmly and, gripping his longsword, slashed swiftly from left to right.
Spiritual energy surged rapidly from his dantian to his wrists, then flowed along the blade of the Azure Rainbow Sword.
The spiritual energy activated the weapon’s offensive function, and combined with his own power, this strike exuded a terrifying aura.
“Horizontal Slash!”
A sword aura burst forth, fiercely cutting toward the shield.
But Zhou Cai had regained some clarity. Seeing the longsword approaching, he showed no fear.
“Hmph!”
He sneered coldly and shook his sword. Instantly, a burst of spiritual energy erupted.
Yet this time, the aura’s intensity soared beyond normal bounds.
The entire suppression force surged, releasing an aura completely absent from a seventh-level Qi Refining cultivator!
Bai Qingzhou’s expression changed sharply.
He could clearly feel the energy emanating from Zhou Cai’s longsword—it was far stronger than his own.
In an instant—
“Boom!”
The two sword auras collided, sending sand and dust flying chaotically, scattering outward from their center in a circular pattern.
A faint, clean circular space formed around them.
“Wah!”
Bai Qingzhou suddenly spat a mouthful of blood and was violently thrown backward, unable to control his body.
This scene immediately drew gasps from the watching cultivators.
Just moments ago, Bai Qingzhou had the upper hand; now, suddenly coughing up blood and being flung away surprised many.
“What... is happening?”
“Yeah, what’s going on?”
“No, look at Zhou Cai!”
...
The crowd burst into animated discussion.
Inside, Bai Qingzhou was even more shocked.
He pressed his palm swiftly against the ground and rolled to stop his retreat.
Jumping to his feet, he fixed his cautious gaze upon Zhou Cai.
He never expected Zhou Cai had already reached the eighth level of Qi Refining!
The moment they made contact, Bai Qingzhou had sensed that rich spiritual energy—impossible for a seventh-level cultivator to possess.
At some unknown time, Zhou Cai had advanced to the eighth level!
“Heh heh!” Zhou Cai laughed heartily, casually slashing his sword while standing still. “Kid, return what belongs to us.”
“Pfft!” Bai Qingzhou spat the blood from his mouth and yelled angrily, “Forget it! The shop will never be yours!”
“Hmph! That’s not up to you! Can you still defeat me with your current strength?” Zhou Cai said confidently.
Bai Qingzhou’s eyes grew cold. “That remains to be seen.”
“If I were still seventh level, maybe you’d have a chance. But unlucky for you, I’ve advanced to eighth level...” Zhou Cai pointed his sword at Bai Qingzhou with disdain. “You don’t stand a chance now!”
Bai Qingzhou’s icy gaze pierced through, but he said nothing.
Now he understood why Zhou Cai had proposed waiting a month before their duel—it was to break through to eighth level!
No wonder he dared to face him head-on...
“Die!” Zhou Cai roared fiercely.
Like a hunting leopard, he charged at Bai Qingzhou, his longsword raining down blows like pelting raindrops.
Bai Qingzhou dared not underestimate him. With a flick of his hand, a talisman appeared.
It was a high-grade yellow talisman—the Gravity Talisman.
This was the very talisman that had earned him great merit in the arena before!
Calculating the distance, he slammed the talisman onto the ground.
“Boom!”
A powerful spiritual pressure erupted suddenly, covering the area in a circular zone that immediately imposed heavy weight.
Zhou Cai’s movements slowed, his speed visibly reduced.
But the effect was limited.
The Gravity Talisman was far less effective against a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator than it was against a mid-stage one.
Bai Qingzhou no longer held back. He threw two more offensive talismans and charged at Zhou Cai with his sword.
Eighth level Qi Refining or not!
“Boom!”
The talismans struck the Golden Armor Talisman shield with a deafening clang.
Yet the shield remained unbroken.
In the blink of an eye—
“Clang! Clang!”
The two blades met again, their clash ringing through the arena as they continued their fierce battle, sword lights entwined as they exchanged techniques.
With the aid of various talismans and his own combat experience, Bai Qingzhou surprisingly held his ground evenly against Zhou Cai.
“Wow, Bai Qingzhou is really fierce!”
“Yeah! A seventh-level Qi Refining cultivator can actually fight toe-to-toe with an eighth-level one!”
“That kid has a history of fighting above his grade. Maybe he can actually win!”
As the crowd discussed, a late-stage Qi Refining wandering cultivator sneered disdainfully.
“You’re all amateurs, only seeing the surface. Look closely—Bai Qingzhou’s spiritual energy is consuming much faster than Zhou Cai’s. I predict Bai Qingzhou won’t last more than the time of a single incense stick...”
“What? Is that so!?” The crowd was shocked.
On the arena, the two figures continued their relentless combat.
After dozens of rounds, it seemed the wandering cultivator’s words were true.
Bai Qingzhou’s reactions slowed, and Zhou Cai’s longsword steadily wore down his fragile Earth Shield talisman.
The initiative returned to Zhou Cai.
Bai Qingzhou gradually fell into a defensive posture, blocking and retreating with his sword.
Seeing his shield’s color fading, Bai Qingzhou seized a moment and quickly reinforced it.
“This won’t do! I can’t lose the shop like this!” Bai Qingzhou panicked inwardly.
His eyes involuntarily glanced at his wrist, where he wore a walnut prayer bead bracelet.
It was the Star-Moon Bodhi, a high-grade yellow magical artifact he had purchased not long ago from the Benevolent Fate Pavilion, costing over a hundred spirit stones!
While Bai Qingzhou pondered, Zhou Cai grew steadier, maintaining a steady flow of spiritual energy.
His longsword unleashed fierce attacks toward Bai Qingzhou.
Watching Bai Qingzhou barely hold the line, Zhou Cai sneered contemptuously, mocking, “You little trash!”
Just as he thought victory was assured...
“Ha!”
An angry shout erupted from Bai Qingzhou.
The prayer bead bracelet on his wrist suddenly blazed with light, shooting a beam straight at Zhou Cai!
The beam moved at lightning speed, reaching Zhou Cai’s shield in an instant.
“Crack!”
The shield, already battered, shattered immediately.
The beam faltered for a moment, then exploded outward again, striking Zhou Cai’s abdomen directly!
“Bang!”
Zhou Cai doubled over from the heavy blow, staggering backward with unsteady steps.
“Wah!”
He spat a mouthful of blood, clutching his belly in agony.
(End of chapter)