C314 Anyone Who Is Prettier than Me must Die!!(1)
Woo Zhengyang never cared about being labeled as arrogant or overbearing by others. The reason he chose to use the true form of "Silky Hair Soft Finger" was purely out of respect for Qian Banruo.
As he moved swiftly to Banruo's side, Zhengyang extended a finger. This time, unlike the previous strike, there was no buildup of power. It seemed unremarkable, yet its speed was unmatched by the earlier move.
Banruo swung his long sword to block, only to find Zhengyang's finger mysteriously and effortlessly gliding along the sword to his wrist. Remembering the earlier encounter, Banruo knew this strike was extraordinary and dared not let it hit him easily. Reluctantly, he withdrew and took a step back, barely evading Zhengyang's finger.
Before he could catch his breath, Banruo noticed a hint of a smile on Zhengyang's face.
"Ding..."
Zhengyang's finger tapped Banruo's sword, producing a crisp, clear ring. The sword began to tremble on its own, releasing the energy stored within in a sudden rush.
"This... using the vital energy of the world for acceleration, guided by one's soul energy, and powered by the force of blood to explode the energy within others and even their weapons! This technique is truly extraordinary!" Banruo exclaimed in admiration.
Woo Zhengyang's latest move, though not as grand as the previous one, was even more dangerous. Qian Banruo had been cautious, yet didn't anticipate the strange force of Woo Zhengyang's strike, which could even affect the energy within his weapon.
Earlier, he had already stepped back, and now the energy within his longsword was completely drained by Woo Zhengyang, losing the advantage. While it wasn't a guaranteed defeat, he was certainly at a disadvantage.
Woo Zhengyang smiled silently. Qian Banruo's guess was correct; the grand display of vital energy earlier was merely to boost speed in the true "Silky Hair Soft Finger" technique. However, there was one thing Qian Banruo couldn't have imagined: the force of Woo Zhengyang's final strike didn't rely on the blood energy of a Body Tempering cultivator but on his unique sword-shaped energy. Only this incredibly sharp energy could deliver such a devastating blow.
This was another unique aspect of Woo Zhengyang's modified "Silky Hair Soft Finger," tailored to his own abilities. Without the sword-shaped energy, one couldn't unleash its full power.
"Want to continue?" Woo Zhengyang asked with a smile.
"No, I can't counter this move. If it hit me, the violent force would disrupt my energy, damaging my meridians. This is your true strongest technique, isn't it? I concede defeat!" Qian Banruo shook his head with a wry smile.
After facing setback after setback, even though Qian Banruo tried to stay positive, it was hard not to feel a bit down. However, being a person of principles, she decided to hand over her jade plate to Woo Zhengyang, despite her disappointment at losing to him.
"No need! Consider it a thank you for blocking those two for me earlier," Woo Zhengyang said with a smile, stopping her.
"Are you sure? My jade plate has already absorbed four others!"
"If I'm not mistaken, Moh Lunhui has the most plates. My goal is to be first, to surpass Moh Lunhui. If you end up second, that's not bad either!"
With a light chuckle, Woo Zhengyang turned and headed toward where Simon and Lau were standing. As he walked, he said, "Compared to yours, their plates are more appealing to me."
Even though Qian Banruo had intercepted them earlier, Woo Zhengyang hadn't forgotten that Simon and Lau initially intended to attack him. They lingered, hoping to benefit from the conflict. Woo Zhengyang had no reason to be polite to them.
"Woo Zhengyang is coming... He's even stronger than Qian Banruo," Simon said cautiously.
"Let's go!" Lau, despite her reluctance, recognized Woo Zhengyang's strength, which surpassed even Qian Banruo's. Watching their fight, it was clear he was on a whole different level, and she wasn't willing to take any risks.
The two of them took off without a second thought, sprinting away at full speed. Having mastered the art of soul defense, Woo Zhengyang wasn’t about to let them escape so easily. He alternated between the Floating Light Step and Dragon Countering Nine Steps, quickly closing in on them.
Just a few strides into the chase, Woo Zhengyang halted. A figure emerged from the dense forest behind the fleeing pair, confronting them without hesitation. Seeing this, Woo Zhengyang knew he didn’t need to intervene.
“Mo...” Simon barely uttered a word before collapsing to the ground, lifeless. Seeing the dire situation, Lau Piaopiao tried to use a silk ribbon to swing away from a tree, but she was a moment too late. The newcomer struck her down with a fatal blow, ending her life.
In the past, the deaths of these two prodigies would have caused an uproar. However, at this moment, aside from the heartbreak of many admirers over Lau Piaopiao’s demise, Simon’s death seemed almost forgotten. This was partly because so many geniuses had fallen that day; they were not the first.
