The shout of "Yamete" suddenly echoed through the entire venue.
The voice was deep, resonant, and powerful.
Many turned their heads towards the Japanese audience stands.
In the Japanese spectator area, a man with a pompadour hairstyle, lean and dark, an Onmyoji, leaped forward.
Like the previous Onmyoji Aoi, with a somersault, he landed on the stage.
As soon as he stepped onto the stage, he glanced at me.
He addressed Daoist Master Liuyun on the stage:
"I want to challenge him!"
His voice was firm, with a distinct island accent.
Seeing an Eastern Onmyoji, many people frowned.
"These Japanese dogs really know how to pick their timing, jumping onto the stage at the last second."
"Heh, clearly trying to snatch a victory."
"Let's see! I wonder if Qin Ze can still defeat this pompadour."
"..."
The murmurs started again.
Daoist Master Liuyun said nothing.
He immediately stated:
"Challenger, state your name!"
The pompadour ignored the referee and, staring at me on the stage, slowly drew the Japanese sword from his waist:
"Kikukui Sect, Hikawa Kojiro."
Seeing the opponent declare his name, Daoist Master Liuyun stepped back:
"The match begins!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Daoist Master Liuyun had already jumped off the stage.
I looked at this Eastern Onmyoji named "Hikawa Kojiro," my eyes narrowing slightly.
Although the opponent had not made a move, he gave me a very dangerous feeling.
This was a sixth sense that arose after many life-and-death struggles.
It was an intuition.
More intense than the feelings I had when facing Wu Kehang and Li Chunlong earlier.
This person was probably very strong.
I remained silent, drawing my sheathed peach wood sword out again.
Hikawa Kojiro looked at me coldly:
"In my eyes, the Central Plains Taoist lineage has declined.
The Kikukui Sect will illuminate your Central Plains.
Let me defeat you, the strongest of the Central Plains, with my petal blade!"
His voice was not loud, but his words provoked many in the audience, who began to curse him for his arrogance.
"Arrogant! Brother Qin, knock him down!"
"Don't hold back, beat him to death!"
"Although I don't want Qin Ze to win, I certainly don't want this little islander to win."
"..."
Listening to these words, I replied calmly:
"Make your move!"
My spiritual energy was not abundant. To fight this challenger, I could only aim for a swift victory.
I thought to myself, ignoring the voices below the stage.
Seeing my response, Hikawa Kojiro simply let out a cold smile.
He suddenly trembled, and a powerful, abnormal surge of Taoist energy spread out.
I felt a strong gust of Taoist energy and protective aura, with immense pressure.
Sensing this aura, my expression changed slightly, and my eyes showed astonishment.
This was the cultivation of the peak Xuan Dan realm.
I thought my own cultivation was high enough.
But now, I had encountered an Onmyoji from the Kikukui Sect with even higher cultivation.
Indeed, there's always someone better.
In the Xuan Dan realm, each stage is a chasm.
Now, the opponent was directly one stage higher than me.
In a head-on confrontation, the opponent would undoubtedly suppress me comprehensively.
Moreover, my spiritual energy was already depleted, making this fight almost impossible...
For the first time on this stage, my face showed a solemn expression.
Below the stage, many also felt Hikawa Kojiro's Taoist energy fluctuations.
Their faces all changed in shock, and even many older generation cultivators stared at Hikawa Kojiro with astonishment.
"My heavens! Peak Xuan Dan!"
"No way! Within thirty years of age, someone could reach this realm?"
"What kind of prodigy is this?"
"Did he take drugs?"
"..."
Below the stage, almost everyone stared at Hikawa Kojiro in surprise.
From shouting for me to defeat Kojiro just moments ago,
They had now fallen completely silent.
If it were below the Xuan Dan realm, a lower-level cultivator defeating a higher-level one would not be surprising.
But above the Xuan Dan realm, for a lower-level cultivator to defeat a higher-level one.
It would only happen if the opponent was weakened, lacking spiritual energy, injured, or for other reasons.
Now, looking at me, I was low on spiritual energy, injured, and my trump cards were essentially exposed.
The opponent, having waited at leisure, was in peak condition, and we didn't know what secret techniques or spells he possessed.
How could this be fought?
Basically, there was no chance of winning.
"It's over, Qin Ze is really going to lose this time."
"There's no helping it, this Onmyoji from the Kikukui Sect has too high a cultivation!"
"Truly a prodigy! Japan has produced such an unparalleled genius!"
"..."
Many did not have high hopes for me.
Even Old Mo and Xia Qiuxi, who knew me well, no longer had absolute confidence in me.
The main reason was that my current condition was indeed too poor.
I looked at Hikawa Kojiro, quickly stabilizing my mind from the shock.
In my mind, I recalled what my master had told me when he was alive.
Facing a strong enemy, fear would only lead you to despair and death.
Only by fearlessly moving forward could there be a glimmer of hope.
Now, facing such a powerful opponent.
I had no retreat.
I want to win, I must win.
For Qing Dai, no matter the cost.
With these thoughts, my will became firm.
In my eyes, there was not a trace of ripple:
"Come on! Let me see how strong you are!"
Many of the older generation, seeing me recover my composure so quickly and enter a fighting state, all nodded.
"This young man has an excellent disposition and a stable Taoist heart; he is naturally a seed for cultivating the Tao."
"Indeed! With such a state of mind, even if he loses, it's inconsequential!"
"I'm not so sure. There's something strange about this kid. The outcome might be uncertain!"