Chapter 614 - 610: Fang Han VS Qin Yuan
Chapter 614: Chapter 610: Fang Han VS Qin Yuan
The red-robed elder’s voice rang out in the venue:
"Qingyang County’s Fang Han is victorious."
The moment his voice fell, a heaven-shaking uproar erupted from the stands!
"Fang Han... Fang Han won!"
"What a rollercoaster! First, Zhen Feixuan displayed power comparable to a Third Breakthrough Martial Artist, then Fang Han also exploded with power on that level and ultimately won!"
"His combat power spans a full six Minor Realms, comparable to a Third Breakthrough Martial Artist... This is simply unheard of!"
"Looking back at all the past Martial Arts Assemblies, there has never been someone so breathtakingly talented!"
The Third Prince, Chu Yuanchen, gazed at Fang Han’s figure, a deep sense of amazement appearing in his gentle eyes.
He spoke slowly, his voice low and solemn:
"This young man’s attainments in Swordsmanship are truly a sight to behold."
The Fifth Prince, Chu Yuanhao, leaned back in his chair. He stopped drumming his fingers on the armrest, and a rare seriousness entered his voice:
"Three years, from the Ninth Grade to the Late Stage of Second Grade, with combat power spanning six Minor Realms... If a person like this were nurtured in an Overlord-level Influence, what heights would he have reached by now?"
The Seventh Princess, Chu Qingyi, did not speak immediately.
Her clear eyes watched Fang Han’s back as he walked off the stage. After a long moment, she spoke softly, her voice so quiet it was as if she were talking to herself:
"A truly remarkable person has appeared."
Fang Han’s fight against Zhen Feixuan had been the last one of the day. He left the Battle Platform area, walked through the tunnel, and arrived at the side of the stands.
Luo Yuntian and the other younger-generation members from Qingyang County he was on good terms with were already waiting there.
Luo Yuntian watched Fang Han approach and opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found his throat too dry to make a sound.
After a while, he managed to squeeze out a single sentence, his voice hoarse:
"Senior Brother Fang, you were still hiding your strength..."
Liu Bai stood to the side, his elegant and otherworldly face filled with an indescribable sense of wonder:
"Late Stage of Second Grade, spanning six Minor Realms... Brother Fang, with this battle today, your name will surely shake the Imperial Capital!"
Mad Saber, shouldering his giant saber, didn’t speak. He just gave Fang Han a thumbs-up.
A faint smile touched Fang Han’s lips, but it vanished just as quickly.
He turned and walked out of the venue with the others.
Fang Han walked at the very front, his gaze fixed ahead, but his heart was anything but calm.
Although he had beaten Zhen Feixuan today, he knew he had likely reached his limit.
Judging from the fights of Qin Yuan, Lin Qingyin, and Chu Jinghong today, all three were far stronger than Zhen Feixuan.
Defeating Zhen Feixuan was already his current limit. No matter which of the three he faced tomorrow, his chances of victory were slim.
...
「The ninth day.」
As the first light of dawn broke, the entire venue was already filled with a surging sea of people.
All one hundred thousand seats in the stands were taken, and even the aisles were packed with people.
The clamor of voices was like a tangible tsunami, crashing over the venue in wave after wave.
All eyes were fixed on the hundred-zhang-square Battle Platform in the center of the venue, and the air was thick with an irrepressible excitement and anticipation.
Today was the ninth round of battles.
Yesterday, Fang Han, with his Second Grade Cultivation, had once again defied the odds to defeat Zhen Feixuan, who was at the Middle Stage of First Grade, becoming the biggest dark horse of this Martial Arts Assembly.
Today, Fang Han would face the three publicly acknowledged strongest contestants of this Martial Arts Assembly.
Many people were curious to see if Fang Han could create another miracle.
"First match: Fang Han versus Qin Yuan,"
the red-robed elder announced.
Fang Han stepped onto the Battle Platform. With a flash, Qin Yuan appeared on it as well.
His dark gold martial attire shimmered with a subtle luster in the morning light. A long saber hung at his waist, his arms were crossed over his chest, and his expression was as calm as still water.
His deep eyes watched the slowly approaching Fang Han, holding no disdain, no arrogance, only a bottomless serenity.
Fang Han came to a stop on the platform, facing Qin Yuan from ten zhang away.
His hand rested on the hilt of the Cloud Splitting Sword at his waist. His gaze was as calm as water as the Inner Qi of the Cyan Profound Technique began to circulate silently within him.
The elder in the long red robe swept his gaze over the two figures on the platform. His voice wasn’t loud, yet it cut through the din of a hundred thousand people, reaching every single person’s ears clearly:
"Begin."
The moment his voice fell—
Fang Han moved first.
He knew there was a huge gap between him and Qin Yuan. He couldn’t afford to wait for Qin Yuan to strike first, or he wouldn’t have the slightest chance of winning.
The Inner Qi in his body erupted without reservation. The dense Inner Qi of his Late-Stage Second Grade cultivation and the three hundred thousand jin of his physical strength poured into the Cloud Splitting Sword simultaneously.
He pushed his Wind Sword Intent to its absolute limit, unleashing the Perfection Realm Sky-Splitting Sword Technique with all his might.
The dark cyan blade of the Cloud Splitting Sword shone with a profound brilliance. The sword light was like a rainbow, carrying a sharp intent that could tear through anything.
It transformed into a streak of cyan-gold light, like a bolt of lightning that could pierce the void, and shot straight toward Qin Yuan!
Wherever the sword’s edge passed, the air silently split open, creating a pitch-black fissure several zhang long. The fissure lingered, not dissipating, as if space itself was trembling slightly from the strike.
The fine dust on the platform’s surface was swept up by the Sword Qi, ground into powder in mid-air, and vanished without a trace.
Before the sword wind even arrived, a fierce sword pressure surged forward.
He couldn’t conveniently use the Wind Shocking Sword, which could triple his combat power, so this was already his strongest possible attack under the circumstances.
In the stands, everyone held their breath.
However—
Qin Yuan merely drew his saber with extreme casualness, blocking the sword with a seemingly effortless motion.
DING—
A crisp sound, like the striking of a Jade Chime, echoed throughout the venue.
The sound wasn’t loud, yet it pierced through the whistle of the sword-rainbow tearing through the air, reaching every person’s ears with perfect clarity.
Fang Han felt an immense, unstoppable force travel up from the blade. The power was so condensed it felt tangible, carrying a devastating dominance as it surged through his arm and into his body.
He grunted, his body sliding backward several dozen zhang uncontrollably.
His feet plowed two deep furrows into the white jade surface of the platform.
He stabilized himself, his right hand gripping the sword trembling slightly. A sore numbness spread from the web of his thumb.
Looking down, he saw that the web of his thumb had split open, and blood was slowly dripping down the hilt of his sword.
As for Qin Yuan, he hadn’t moved a single inch.
He raised his head, his deep eyes as placid as water, showing no emotional fluctuation.
He spoke, his voice not loud, carrying a tone of approval.
"To unleash power comparable to a Third Breakthrough Martial Artist with only a Late-Stage Second Grade Cultivation... your attainments in Swordsmanship are among the absolute top-level of any Martial Arts Assembly in history."
He paused, and a trace of seriousness finally entered his voice.
"But your cultivation limits you."
Before his words had even faded, he moved.
He took a single step.
Just one step.
But the moment that step landed, the entire Battle Platform trembled violently.
A dark gold Sword Gang shot across the sky, carrying a terrifying, earth-shattering might as it slashed straight toward Fang Han.
The power of this strike had already surpassed the limits of a Third Breakthrough Martial Artist, fast approaching the Grandmaster Realm!
The Sword Gang was as condensed as a physical object. As the blade passed, the air let out a series of ear-piercing sonic booms, and it was as if all the light above the Battle Platform was devoured by this single strike.
Fang Han’s pupils contracted. He desperately brought the Cloud Splitting Sword up in front of him, pouring every last bit of his Inner Qi and physical strength into it in an attempt to block the blow.
However—
It was useless.
The moment the Sword Gang collided with the Cloud Splitting Sword, an indescribably terrifying force erupted.
Fang Han felt the Cloud Splitting Sword in his hand let out a mournful cry as if under unbearable strain. His entire arm went numb in an instant, the web of his thumb burst completely, and blood splattered.
He was sent flying backward like a kite with a snapped string, smashing heavily onto the platform dozens of zhang away. He tumbled several more times before managing to stop.
PTHOO—
A mouthful of blood sprayed from his mouth, staining the front of his white robes red.
From the impact, the Cloud Splitting Sword was knocked from his grasp. It landed on the platform several zhang away, its blade still humming and trembling.
"I’ve lost!"
Fang Han wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and climbed to his feet, looking up at Qin Yuan.
Although he knew his chances of winning were slim, he still felt quite unwilling to accept the actual defeat.
This was his first such crushing defeat since obtaining the Talent Amplification panel.
But it wasn’t enough to make him despair. His opponent was not only a supreme prodigy but also several years older than him. It was normal for him to be stronger.
He was confident that with his cultivation speed, he would soon be able to catch up to and even surpass him.
"Qin Yuan is victorious."
The red-robed elder’s voice announced calmly.
In the stands, there was a moment of dead silence.
Then—an explosion of discussion erupted!
"Fang Han... lost!"
"He finally lost! If he had kept on winning, my heart wouldn’t have been able to take it!"
"Yeah, he was a dark horse all the way from the first round to the top four. Even Zhen Feixuan, at the Middle Stage of First Grade, lost to him..."
"The power Qin Yuan unleashed has already surpassed the Third Breakthrough, approaching that of a Grandmaster... Fang Han’s loss was not unjust!"
"In terms of Martial Technique mastery, Fang Han is definitely not inferior to Qin Yuan, and might even be stronger. It’s a pity his cultivation is a bit lacking!"
From the viewing platform, the Third Prince, Chu Yuanchen, watched Fang Han slowly push himself to his feet and said.
"Fang Han was defeated, but it was a glorious defeat."
The Fifth Prince, Chu Yuanhao, leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest, his voice filled with a measure of admiration:
"With a Late-Stage Second Grade Cultivation, spanning six Minor Realms to unleash power comparable to a Third Breakthrough Martial Artist... this battle record is enough to be written into the annals of the Martial Arts Assembly."
The Seventh Princess, Chu Qingyi, said nothing, merely watching Fang Han’s back as he left the stage, curiosity in her clear eyes.
Fang Han walked off the Battle Platform but didn’t leave immediately. After all, an extremely exciting battle was about to take place.
The red-robed elder’s voice rang out in the venue:
"Second match: Lin Qingyin of Celestial Wave County versus Chu Jinghong of Cangwu County."
The moment his voice fell, a heaven-shaking torrent of cheers and discussions erupted from the stands.
The battle about to begin was between the two publicly acknowledged strongest contestants of this Martial Arts Assembly—Lin Qingyin and Chu Jinghong.
Who between them was stronger?
Their anticipation and curiosity were even greater than for the previous match.
Lin Qingyin was the first to ascend the stage. Her cyan martial attire outlined her graceful and upright figure in the morning light. Her jet-black hair was casually tied up with a Jade Hairpin, with a few loose strands falling beside her ears.
She walked with a calm and unhurried gait, her expression serene, her gaze fixed on Chu Jinghong, who was now walking slowly toward her from the opposite side.
Chu Jinghong also mounted the stage, his moon-white robes fluttering gently in the wind.
A simple, ancient longsword hung at his waist. His face was cold and detached, and in his tranquil eyes, it seemed there was nothing but the heavens, the earth, and the sword in his hand.
The two came to a stop on the platform, facing each other from several dozen zhang apart.
"Please."
Lin Qingyin nodded slightly, her voice elegant and serene.
"Please."
Chu Jinghong also nodded, his voice equally cold and detached.
The red-robed elder swept his gaze over the two on the stage, retreated to the edge of the high platform, and said in a level voice:
"Begin."