139. The First of Danxia is a Sword Master; Wuji is Trapped in the Dragon-Prison Carriage

After dozens of exchanges, Dongmen Jianhao and Baili Qingyan were both panting heavily, having exhausted a tremendous amount of strength.

Dongmen Jianhao tore away the vines wrapped around his body and glanced at Baili Qingyan opposite him. “It has been a long time since I’ve had such a satisfying fight!”

Baili Qingyan also pulled away her veil. Her peerless beauty instantly stirred every male disciple present, and the young men began to howl with excitement.

“I had intended to save these abilities for the finals or semifinals, but it seems I’ll have to use them early,” Baili Qingyan said.

“What?” Dongmen Jianhao eyed her warily.

At that very moment, Baili Qingyan withdrew the vines and venomous snakes in her hands. Her eyes suddenly turned dark gold.

“The Sumeru Yin Art.”

As she spoke, Baili Qingyan’s hair began to rise, and her body slowly floated into the air. The sleeves around her arms were instantly torn apart by powerful waves of air.

A halo appeared behind her—a blood-red moon.

Baili Qingyan stood barefoot as the clothes on her body began to change. After a burst of radiance, her appearance had completely transformed.

In the blink of an eye, she had changed into another outfit, as though performing a magic trick. Perhaps the clothing itself was part of the Sumeru Yin Art.

The close-fitting black-and-gold garment, trimmed with golden threads, revealed her exquisite, curvaceous figure to perfection. As the wind swept past, her simple black skirt fluttered in the air. Her petite yet elegant high-heeled boots made her movements seem light and ethereal, as though she might drift into the heavens at any moment.

Her smooth, jet-black hair was gathered into a noble high bun, adorned with a skull-shaped hairpin. It set off her fair, delicate neck, making it appear exceptionally long. Her entire person seemed enveloped in an aura of mystery and temptation, blending perfectly with the dazzling arena.

Her complexion, however, was somewhat pale. Her long hair remained dark and silky, while her brows drew together slightly. Rings of light appeared around both her wrists and ankles.

“So this is the Sumeru Yin Art of the Danxia Sect?” Dongmen Jianhao said slowly. “I heard that even my father failed to master it. In the entire Danxia Sect, only your master, Ding Desheng, knows the incantations and secret techniques. After all, your master was the son of the previous sect leader.”

“Once I assume this form, you are destined to fall beneath my hand.” Baili Qingyan descended to the ground. She raised her cold and noble face slightly and looked at Dongmen Jianhao with disdain.

Dongmen Jianhao, however, remained utterly composed. Ten flying swords began to circle his body, supporting him like a miniature sun.

He lifted one hand slightly. In an instant, the ten flying swords merged together, forming a gigantic sword with a steam-punk design beneath his feet.

“Let us decide the victor,” Dongmen Jianhao said.

“Perhaps you will die. Perhaps I will die. But this battle today will be something I never forget for the rest of my life,” Baili Qingyan replied.

“Is that so...?” Dongmen Jianhao laughed aloud. Suddenly, his eyes flashed fiercely, and he shot toward Baili Qingyan.

Baili Qingyan was no less formidable. She launched herself directly at him.

The two of them became twin beams of light. Every person in the arena rose to their feet, for the intensity of the battle had already surpassed everyone’s imagination. Even if the elders of the various sects had taken the field themselves, they might not have produced such a breathtaking spectacle.

The battle here was still raging, but Xie Wuji felt as though the heavens themselves were about to overturn.

“By the time today’s matches are over, it will already be deep into the night. A moonless, windswept night—the perfect time for murder. Has Ding Desheng finally lost patience?” Xie Wuji murmured.

“Yes. Ding Desheng has been waiting for this opportunity all along,” Bai Liuli said. “If he acted within the Danxia Sect, then even if he succeeded, he would become the target of everyone’s condemnation. He would never be able to become sect leader, because the fact that he had murdered his way to power would be enough to make the entire world reject him.”

“But if he acts here, no one will be able to determine who the murderer is. More importantly, there have probably been spies belonging to Ding Desheng beside Dongmen Yong all along.”

Xie Wuji thought that the Grand Elder had played this move perfectly. If he killed someone here, with the ten great sects gathered together, the Danxia Sect would have no way to investigate the murderer. Ding Desheng could then become sect leader by perfectly legitimate means.

Xie Wuji’s chest heaved. Just then, a formation suddenly appeared outside the carriage. Bai Liuli stepped backward, and only then did Xie Wuji realize that the carriage was surrounded by a restrictive barrier.

A masked sorceress had appeared beside Bai Liuli.

“Big Sister, what are you doing?” Xie Wuji cried out.

“I cannot allow my own brother to wade into this turmoil. The entire Cloudrise Kingdom is controlled by four powerful ministers, and Ding Desheng’s influence reaches every commandery and county in the realm. If I let you go, you will certainly rush to save them—but attempting such a rescue is nothing more than walking into a dead end.” Bai Liuli gritted her teeth. Her expression was cold, and she spoke while suppressing her grief.

Xie Wuji tried to force his way out, but the female sorceress behind Bai Liuli said, “Your Highness Wuji, you are wasting your strength. This cage is forged from the finest multilayered steel. You cannot bend these bars...”

“Big Sister, you told me about Ding Desheng’s wicked plan, and now you’ve locked me up here. Are you deliberately trying to drive me to death with worry? Big Sister, let me out!”

“You are the only male heir of the imperial Bai family. Although I am the empress, I lack the power to reclaim the imperial authority. But you are different... You are a man. The duty you bear is beyond your imagination.” Bai Liuli lowered her head, unable to bear watching him suffer.

Xie Wuji nearly spat blood. “Your Majesty, I’m really not your younger brother! I’m just an ordinary citizen. I found this sword—no, that’s not right... I borrowed it from a friend. He left it at my place. Please, let me out!”

Xie Wuji was frantic with desperation, but how could Bai Liuli believe him now? She knew he had been driven mad with anxiety, and thus assumed that everything he said was merely a lie—a desperate attempt to buy time.

Xie Wuji slammed himself against the bars with all his strength, but how could he possibly succeed? Blow after blow only left him covered in wounds.

Bai Liuli watched him, her heart aching terribly. “Little Brother, I’m sorry. When the sun rises tomorrow, I will naturally come and release you...”

“By then, all I’ll be able to do is collect my master’s corpse! Big Sister, please let me out—I’m begging you!”

Xie Wuji was filled with unwillingness. At the arena were not only Dongmen Yong, but also his fellow disciples—and Dongmen Xianyun as well.

Bai Liuli let out a soft sigh. She drove the carriage to the outskirts, then left after abandoning Xie Wuji inside. Trapped in the carriage, he found himself utterly helpless, calling to heaven and earth without receiving the slightest response.

Although Bai Liuli was doing this for his own good, how could he become an ungrateful wretch?

Meanwhile, in the arena, the smoke and dust gradually dispersed. Baili Qingyan and Dongmen Jianhao lay motionless on the ground at the same time.

The surroundings were utterly silent. Their final collision had been like two thunderbolts striking one another, unleashing astonishing force. Yet both of them had fallen simultaneously.

On the Danxia Sect’s side, Dongmen Yong silently watched the scene in the arena. Dongmen Xianyun’s face was already streaked with tears.

“How could this happen? How could this happen? Big Brother, Big Brother, get up!”

“They both fought with everything they had. Tsk, tsk... The destructive power was truly tremendous. Judging from the force behind that final attack, it was enough to leave everyone speechless with astonishment. As expected of the two strongest fighters in the Danxia Sect.” The spectators around them exclaimed in wonder.

Just then, Baili Qingyan’s body twitched. Vines supported her as she slowly rose, and she opened her eyes to look toward Dongmen Jianhao in the distance.

But she had no strength left. She had barely risen halfway before collapsing once more.

Dongmen Jianhao, by contrast, was kneeling on the ground, both hands braced against the floor as he gasped for breath. He shook his head, gritted his teeth, and suddenly raised it.

At once, thunderous applause erupted throughout the arena.

Clap after clap—

“Dongmen Jianhao is the victor!”

The Grand Eunuch raised his fist as well. Even he had been shaken by the battle.