C105 Tribulation Crossing Late Period

The equilibrium between the pitch-black blade aura and the Yin Yang Fish was shattered in an instant. The black blade light, unstoppable as a force of nature, obliterated the Yin Yang Fish in the mere blink of an eye. Its formidable power undiminished, the blade light then surged towards Sha Jian, who stood vulnerable behind the Yin Yang Fish.

Sha Jian's complexion turned ashen, his expression one of utter despair. As the relentless black blade light bore down on him, he uttered in a voice laced with bitterness, "I still can't fend it off. The heavens have decreed my end."

"Heaven may forgive its own misdeeds, but one cannot live by their own sins. Now, meet your demise," Qin Buyi declared coldly.

With a hiss, the black blade light struck Sha Jian. In a mere moment, his body disintegrated into dust under the overwhelming might of the blade light, which continued its relentless path towards the arena's boundary.

"Boom!" The blade light collided with the edge of the arena, sending ripples cascading across its surface. This time, having witnessed such an attack before, the audience remained unflustered by the black blade light's assault on the arena's edge.

Suddenly, the black blade light burst outward in an explosion of blinding brilliance. Many students in the stands shielded their eyes, but it was to no avail; tears streamed down their faces regardless.

Wang Chengfeng gazed at the blinding light dominating the arena and remarked, "The move that just killed Sha Jian wasn't even the pinnacle of this blade technique's strength. The blinding light that has erupted is the true essence of this technique. It's a blade art so formidable it's chilling to the bone."

"What kind of being could possibly conceive such a masterful and deadly blade technique?" he mused.

As the reality of Sha Jian's death sank in, Wang Chengfeng's mouth twisted into a pained grimace. The College of Ming Dynasty had lost two of its eight elite mentors in a fleeting moment. Even Sha Jian, one of the top three, had fallen to the enemy's onslaught, cut down by his blade. Wang Chengfeng felt a pang in his heart as if it were bleeding; the investment of time, energy, and resources to cultivate a high-level mentor was immeasurable.

Meanwhile, Ying Ye sat to the side, his eyes glinting with an unreadable intensity, lost in thought...

The arena's edge began to ripple and shake violently.

Bathed in the harsh light, the entire structure quivered.

The shaking grew more intense until, with a resounding "Boom!" a small hole pierced through the arena's edge.

The hole widened rapidly, and within moments, the arena's edge disintegrated into nothingness.

Unhindered by the arena, the blinding light expanded outward at high speed.

Wang Chengfeng realized the danger, thinking, "This is bad!"

He couldn't afford to waste a second; the College of Ming Dynasty's students and teachers were all seated below.

An accident under his watch could mean not only personal accountability but also a tarnished reputation.

Without hesitation, Wang Chengfeng rose from his seat and soared into the sky.

"Chengfeng Technique: Wind Control!"

His robes billowed as if caught in a breeze, and hurricanes sprang up around him.

"Chengfeng Technique: Wind Wall!"

He thrust his hands forward, and the hurricanes rushed toward the arena's perimeter, forming a barrier of wind spires.

The light hitting the wind spires hissed like hot water on snow.

Dozens of breaths later, with only a thin layer of wind spires remaining, the dazzling light finally faded.

Relief washed over the students and teachers below.

As the light had pierced the arena's ripples, they had all sensed a powerful and ominous presence.

"Thank goodness Dean Wang acted swiftly, or we all would've been in grave danger."

"That was horrifying. I felt as though I was teetering on the brink of death."

"Phew—I almost felt like I was suffocating. That was terribly uncomfortable."

"Teacher Sha Jian is actually dead..."

"This challenger, Qin Buyi, is incredibly powerful."

"Sigh, without real talent, who would dare to face three Tribulation Crossing Stage cultivators in such a public setting?"

Descending from the sky, Wang Chengfeng maintained a composed exterior, yet inwardly, he was sweating bullets.

As a cultivator in the Middle Period of the Mahayana Stage, facing an attack from Qin Buyi of the Combination Stage was no small feat.

He'd need a pair of moves just to fend it off. Such a spectacle would surely be the talk of the town, inviting ridicule far and wide.

Wang Chengfeng's gaze fixed on Qin Buyi, who had sheathed his Killing Saber and now stood calmly in the arena. He sent a telepathic message, "Qin Buyi, impressive technique! I hope you manage to stay alive for the third bout."

At this point, Wang Chengfeng made no attempt to hide the murderous intent seething within him. Qin Buyi had dispatched two of his top warriors in succession. Rage and bitterness had reached a boiling point in his heart, and he cursed his inability to step into the ring and end the upstart himself. Oh, how he wished to watch Qin Buyi suffer a painful demise.

Qin Buyi met Wang Chengfeng's stare and responded with a cool detachment, "Dean Wang, you flatter me! Be sure to watch closely as I take down your next challenger in the third match."

Wang Chengfeng hadn't anticipated such a blunt and brazen retort from Qin Buyi, who seemed to regard him with utter disregard.

"Hmph! Let's see if you can keep up that bravado when you're being beaten to a pulp in the third match," Wang Chengfeng retorted with a cold huff through their telepathic link.

Qin Buyi didn't bother with further telepathic banter. Addressing Wang Chengfeng directly, he asked, "Dean Wang, is it time to declare the outcome of the second match?"

Wang Chengfeng descended to the arena, his face betraying his displeasure despite a strained smile. "The victor of the second match is Qin Buyi," he announced.

"The third match will commence in half an hour!"

With those words, Wang Chengfeng wasted no time leaving the arena and swiftly joined Ying Ye at the sidelines.

Before Qin Buyi could even approach Ying Ye to collect on the second wager, Ying Zhi's eager voice filled the arena, "Big brother, Mr. Qin triumphed in the second match. Together, Mr. Qin and I bet a total of one hundred million Low Grade Spirit Stones. How do you intend to settle this?"

Upon hearing Ying Zhi speak up, Qin Buyi held his tongue and descended from the arena to join him. Ying Zhi was practically glowing with excitement, his face flushed with the thrill of victory.

And why shouldn't he be thrilled? After years of being overshadowed and belittled by Ying Ye, Ying Zhi had endured more than his share of indignities.

Having finally seized the opportunity, he was eager to blow off some steam. There was no way he would let Ying Ye off the hook.

Ying Ye sat in his seat, his face dark with displeasure.

For him, a hundred million Low Grade Spirit Stones represented a significant expenditure.

With the loss of these Spirit Stones, aside from necessary expenses, he'd have to tighten his belt.

In full view of everyone, Ying Ye couldn't possibly default on his debt.

Doing so would deal a devastating blow to his prestige as the First Prince.

Ying Zhi slowly pulled out a storage ring and tossed it to Ying Zhi, saying, "Inside are a million Top Grade Spirit Stones. Keep them safe for me, little brother."

"The third match is as good as won."

Ying Zhi accepted the storage ring, his Divine Consciousness probing its contents.

After a brief count, he grinned and addressed Ying Zhi, "You've always been true to your word, big brother. I gratefully accept these one million Top Grade Spirit Stones."