Chapter 49: Desiring a Battle!

The Southern Region advances.

Next up is the contest between the Northern Region and the Western Region.

In the previous session, the Western Region Academy ranked second, while the Northern Region Academy held the top spot. Although they were only one rank apart, the gap in strength was quite significant.

High upon the platform, Huang Tianming said with a smile, "With Jian Chaomian in our Northern Region this year, I fear we shall seize the championship once again, wouldn't you say?"

No one found it strange that Huang Tianming was biased toward the Northern Region. After all, the Sunset Dynasty was located within the Northern Region.

Wu Deshi smiled and said, "Chaomian has already touched the threshold of Sword Intent, but the others are not weak either. For instance, Dean Qin's disciple has touched the threshold of the Wood Intent, and Zhang He's Buddhist Vajra Body has also been cultivated to a very high level. Therefore, there are still variables."

He sounded humble, but in reality, he still believed Jian Chaomian held the upper hand.

Hearing this, Huang Tianming looked down and smiled. "In that case, I am quite looking forward to the performance of the Southern Region's sword cultivators."

The Southern Region's sword cultivators? Wasn't that Ye Qiubai?

Qin Tiannan looked over, frowning slightly. As the Dean of the Hidden Dao Academy in the Southern Region, he naturally understood certain things about Ye Qiubai. Hearing Huang Tianming say this, he suspected that the man's purpose for coming here was likely for Ye Qiubai!

This gave Qin Tiannan an ill omen.

"To be able to suppress someone of a higher realm with the strength of the late Purple Mansion Realm, his talent must be exceptional. I wonder how the result will be when he fights Jian Chaomian."

"Let us first watch the battle against the Western Region."

On the other side, on the martial stage, the battle between the Northern and Western Regions had already begun. Both sides had four participants. The strength of three of them was not significantly different.

After Zhang He entered the stage and eliminated one opponent, only one person remained for both the Western and Northern Regions. They were the leaders of their respective sides.

The battle between Jian Chaomian and Zhang He!

Both men were at the same realm: the early Qi Sea Realm.

Zhang He had cultivated the Buddhist Vajra Body, making his physical body invincible! Meanwhile, Jian Chaomian had already touched the threshold of Sword Intent, making him unstoppable!

This battle was highly anticipated! However, Jian Chaomian was more favored by the crowd. Not only in the Northern Region, but his name was also extremely famous in the other three regions! He was the number one sword cultivator of the younger generation, with the prospect of becoming a Sword Saint! Such various halos made Jian Chaomian's reputation incredibly illustrious.

Ye Qiubai also looked up curiously. He also wanted to know how the sword dao strength of this man, called the "number one" among his peers, actually was.

The Elder stepped back, and the duel began.

Zhang He clenched both fists, his entire body seemingly surrounded by Buddhist light. With a stomp of his feet, he charged violently toward Jian Chaomian!

Jian Chaomian held his sword in one hand and placed his other hand behind his back. Watching Zhang He close in, he made no move. Only when Zhang He was close did he thrust his sword out!

This thrust was extremely ordinary, devoid of any flashy sword glows. There was only the "Intent" covering the blade—that ethereal, thread-like Sword Intent!

Yet, it was this very Sword Intent that caused the brows of everyone present to tighten in solemnity. It was incredibly sharp!

Even Zhang He's expression changed drastically. He let out a loud shout as the Buddhist light around him surged! A golden radiance covered his body like golden armor!

The Buddhist Vajra Body! The body-refining technique of the Western Region's Buddhist sect! When cultivated to the perfection stage, it is indestructible!

However, where in this world is there truly an indestructible method?

Facing Jian Chaomian's Sword Intent, Zhang He's fists were actually pierced through, leaving bloody holes! That Buddhist Vajra Body was actually so vulnerable before Jian Chaomian's sword!

This caused everyone to gasp in shock!

Zhang He's face paled as he retreated, clutching his fists. Jian Chaomian's expression remained unchanged.

"Their realms are comparable, yet he cannot make Jian Chaomian move even an inch?"

"With just one strike, he broke Zhang He's Buddhist Vajra Body."

"He has only just touched the threshold. If Jian Chaomian truly comprehends Sword Intent, what level of strength will he reach?"

Watching this scene, Huang Yuan also wore a solemn expression. To be honest, although he had touched the threshold of the Wood Intent, the level of the Wood Intent was far lower than that of the Sword Intent. If he were the one fighting, he likely wouldn't fare much better than Zhang He! Furthermore, Zhang He's cultivation technique was extremely counter to his own.

Calculating it this way, the Southern Region might only secure third place. And third place was still not enough to change the fact that Qin Tiannan was about to be replaced! This made Huang Yuan's expression extremely grim.

Xin Hongyi walked to Ye Qiubai's side. Her face was still pale as she asked, "Ye Qiubai, if you fought this Jian Chaomian, who would win?"

Ye Qiubai said indifferently, "I would win."

Sword cultivators are straightforward, and so is their speech. They do not lie, nor do they beat around the bush. What is, is what is! It was as if Ye Qiubai simply felt that Jian Chaomian was not his match.

At that moment, the battle on the stage reached its conclusion. Several bloody holes had appeared on Zhang He's body, which was covered in golden armor like a shell! His aura was extremely withered!

Meanwhile, Jian Chaomian still stood in his original spot, his expression unchanged. The winner and loser were clear at a glance.

The Elder stepped onto the stage, looking at Jian Chaomian with an appreciative gaze, and declared, "In this battle, Jian Chaomian wins!"

"At the same time, the Northern Region has one person remaining. The Northern Region advances."

The Northern Region's advancement was not as unexpected as the Southern Region's. It felt as though it were expected, as if it were the natural order of things. This was only logical, as the Northern Region had maintained its position as the host for several sessions. It would be stranger if they didn't take first place.

Zhang He stepped down. However, Jian Chaomian did not descend; he remained standing there.

Everyone was puzzled. Even Wu Deshi looked over.

Just as everyone was wondering, Jian Chaomian looked toward the direction of the Southern Region Academy's representative team. His gaze landed on Ye Qiubai.

He spoke words that shocked everyone!

"There is no point in continuing with the others. Let the two of us decide the final outcome."

Everyone was stunned!

"Who?"

"Directly deciding the outcome against someone from the Southern Region Academy?"

"Could it be Huang Yuan? But Huang Yuan's strength is similar to Zhang He's; how could he possibly stir such battle intent in Senior Brother Jian?"

However, Huang Yuan did not think so, because Jian Chaomian's gaze was clearly not on him, but on Ye Qiubai behind him!

In Jian Chaomian's eyes, Huang Yuan saw nothing!

This startled Huang Yuan. Why would Jian Chaomian want to proactively challenge Ye Qiubai, whose realm was so much lower?

On the high platform, the four Great Deans watched this scene with interest, making no move to stop it.

Ye Qiubai met Jian Chaomian's gaze and smiled faintly. "Is this according to the rules?"

Jian Chaomian remained expressionless. "Why wouldn't it be? No one else is my match. Only you are someone I cannot see through."

Arrogant! Utterly arrogant!

Yet, no one refuted him! Judging from how effortlessly Jian Chaomian had defeated Zhang He just now, he was speaking the truth.

However, everyone wondered why Jian Chaomian would say he couldn't see through Ye Qiubai. The opponent was clearly only in the late Purple Mansion Realm, a full major realm lower than Jian Chaomian!

Ye Qiubai—how could he be worthy?