Chapter 731: 731 Won again?
"These Wolf Fur seem not so simple!"
Compared to the spectators under the arena, Yun Xiao, as the person involved, naturally had a clearer sense of the intricacies of the Wolf Fur, and thus a glint of sharp light could not help but flash through his eyes.
In fact, Yun Xiao’s guess was correct. The Two-headed Flame Killing Wolf is a type of exotic Vein Demon, whose body contains fierce Fire Poison. However, the poison lay not in the wolf’s claws or fangs, but within its fur.
Furthermore, the Wolf Fur could not only be shed all at once, but at times it could be controlled to strike at and kill enemies with only a single fur or a few. The deadly toxins inside those Wolf Fur could kill without leaving a trace.
The Wolf Poison of a Seventh Rank Advanced Two-headed Flame Killing Wolf was even more powerful than some Earth Rank Low Level deadly poisons. Even a Cultivator who had just entered the Seeking Origin Realm would have a lot of trouble upon contact.
There was an instance when Ruan Shiming had used the Wolf Poison from this Two-headed Flame Killing Wolf to escape from a Seeking Origin Realm powerhouse, and later, with the support of Douling Commerce’s background, exterminated the entire clan of that person, which was one of his proudest accomplishments.
However, Ruan Shiming never imagined that he would have to resort to the strongest method of the Two-headed Flame Killing Wolf on the stage of the Spirit Fighting Conference when facing a young Meridian Spirit in the Early Stage of Qi Seeking Realm.
Indeed, the Wolf Fur attack that Ruan Shiming was controlling was considered the strongest method from the Two-headed Flame Killing Wolf’s Meridian Spirit. Because in certain instances, just releasing a single fur or a few could turn the tide of a defeat into a victory.
Or perhaps, deep down Ruan Shiming realized that if he did not give his all, he might end up defeated, as his own Meridian Spirit was on the line. As a mighty Peak of Qi Seeking Realm cultivator, representing the Spirit Fighting Commerce of Yuyang City, he would not allow himself to have even the slightest chance of failure.
It was just that Ruan Shiming neglected one point—he was facing a young man, who was not just an ordinary early-stage Qi Seeking Realm Cultivator, and the once invariably poisonous Wolf Fur was no longer the Wolf Fur he remembered.
The Wolf Fur which had detached from the Two-headed Flame Killing Wolf should have been soft but now each strand was emanating a crystalline light and contained traces of cold air.
Including Ruan Shiming, everyone had overlooked this fact. Before the Wolf Fur launched their attack, they were already affected by the Ice Freeze in combination with Yun Xiao’s Ancestor Vein Power and the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad; hence, the Wolf Fur’s attack at this moment wasn’t necessarily under Ruan Shiming’s control.
"Explode!"
Just as Ruan Shiming was complacently satisfied, and most people thought the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad would unavoidably get hit, the young man in plain clothes on the stage let out such a low shout.
Bang! Bang bang! Bang bang bang!
Immediately afterwards, a series of sounds echoed in everyone’s ears, and then, those Wolf Fur that seemed like they would shoot the Three-legged Toad full of holes, exploded one by one, turning into tiny ice crystals scattering onto the floor of the arena.
And it seemed that this explosive momentum triggered a chain reaction, all countless strands of Wolf Fur without exception, exploded thunderously after Yun Xiao uttered that word, creating a sight that was undeniably dazzling.
"What?"
Leaving aside the shock of the spectators around the platform, Ruan Shiming atop the arena had his originally triumphant old face turn gloomy in an instant; this was clearly not what he had envisioned.
Even if Ruan Shiming was unwilling to accept it, he had to face the outcome at this moment. Seeing a look of extreme unwillingness surface on his face, he once again issued a roar.
"Double-headed Flame Killing!"
Since the Wolf Fur attack had been broken through, Ruan Shiming could only resort to the Two-headed Flame Killing Wolf’s own body to launch an attack. However, just as he shouted out these four words, the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad leaped in the air and spurted out a breath of cold air which, coincidentally, landed on the charging Two-headed Flame Killing Wolf.
"I’ll let you kill!"
At the same time, Yun Xiao also let out a deep shout, and everyone then saw the peculiar Two-headed Flame Killing Wolf’s body getting covered in layers upon layers of ice crystals, and in a moment’s time it was frozen into an Ice Wolf.
This crystal-clear Ice Wolf was much more pleasant to look at than the just previously skinned Double-headed Flame Killing Wolf. But at that moment, who among the audience had the mind to appreciate the grandeur of the Two-headed Flame Killing Wolf, as they all knew, this match of the Spirit Fighting Conference has probably reached a perfect conclusion.
Bang!
Crash!
As the Two-headed Flame Killing Wolf that leaped into the air was frozen into an Ice Wolf, it naturally couldn’t stay suspended for long. While the audience felt it strange, it had already fallen from the sky, shattering into scattered ice on the ground.
"Pfft!"
The master and Meridian Spirit share a connection through Meridian Qi. The moment the Two-headed Flame Killing Wolf was shattered, Ruan Shiming spewed out a mouthful of fresh blood. It seems that with the destruction of his Meridian Spirit, he also sustained serious injuries instantaneously.
"Yun Xiao... won again?!"
Everyone stared blankly at the elder on the stage whose breath had weakened due to vomiting blood. In the next moment, they collectively shifted their gaze to another young figure, a sentiment of astonishment rising in their hearts.
After all, Ruan Shiming was a genuine Peak of Qi Seeking Realm cultivator, far beyond the capabilities of Yun Xiao’s previous opponents. Yet, despite such a disparity, the victor remained the boy in simple clothes, an utterly inconceivable outcome.
It could be said that Yun Xiao’s stunning performance in these past few rounds had made him the dark horse of this Spirit Fighting Conference, and although his own Cultivation was still somewhat lacking, the formidable strength of his Meridian Spirit had left a profound impression on everyone.
Of course, aside from the heartfelt emotions and envy of the wholesome individuals, many were filled with a fervent glint of greed in their eyes. In their view, if they could obtain such a powerful Meridian Spirit themselves, their battle capabilities could skyrocket several times over.
"This young man is becoming more and more interesting!"
Especially for the Special Envoy Xia Yong, perched upon the northern high platform of Douling Commerce, who seemed to have forgotten Yun Xiao’s refusal from the previous night. The more dazzling the youth performed, the happier he became.
Because Yun Xiao’s Meridian Qi Cultivation stood there for all to see, merely at the Early Stage of Qi Seeking Realm. His exceptional display at this Spirit Fighting Conference signified an even more formidable Meridian Spirit.
It seems this esteemed envoy has decided upon a murderous plunder; he’s only waiting for the conclusion of this Spirit Fighting Conference to make his move without any scruples and claim the two miraculously powerful Meridian Spirits within the boy for himself.
However, no matter what, with Ruan Shiming’s Two-headed Flame Killing Wolf Meridian Spirit shattered into fragments atop the platform, the ultimate victor of this combat had already become Yun Xiao.
Compared to this battle of spirits, the fights that ensued on other platforms undoubtedly seemed lackluster. How much longer can this most dazzling dark horse continue to shine?
The fourth round of the Spirit Fighting Conference ended swiftly, and in merely two hours’ time, Yun Xiao was once again standing on top of a platform. Only this time, his opponent had become a middle-aged man.
"Xi Shaouqing? Another person from Douling Commerce?"
Upon seeing the face of the middle-aged man, an unusual feeling instinctively arose among the crowd. To them, this man was just as familiar as Ruan Shiming had been.
Connecting Yun Xiao’s entrapment encountered yesterday, Ruan Shiming’s defeat today, and now Xi Shaouqing, some astute individuals couldn’t help but turn their gaze towards the northern high platform. There sat the indifferent Chairman of Yuyang City’s branch of Douling Commerce.
At this moment, Xu Huang’s face didn’t betray any irregularities, as if the whole affair had nothing to do with him. However, the truth was that both of the Peak Qi Seeking Realm cultivators Yun Xiao had consecutively faced today were arranged by this Chairman.
It seems that although Xu Huang had great confidence in Ruan Shiming, he knew that there’s always a possibility for unforeseen events. This kid named Yun Xiao was truly peculiar, and he had to be cautious.
Therefore, Xu Huang didn’t just arrange Ruan Shiming today but also Xi Shaouqing, who had also reached the Peak of the Qi Seeking Realm. He believed that Xi Shaouqing’s special Meridian Spirit would certainly not disappoint him like Ruan Shiming had.
"Are you also from Douling Commerce?"
Yun Xiao did not hear the murmurs beneath the platform too clearly, but as soon as he sensed his opponent’s formidable presence, he subconsciously asked his question.
"Yun Xiao, to encounter me, Xi Shaouqing, I must say your luck is indeed quite good!"
Xi Shaouqing’s face showed neither joy nor sorrow, but his words conveyed a sense of superiority and deliberate sarcasm, mocking the fact that Yun Xiao had come this far on luck alone.
In Xi Shaouqing’s eyes, while both of Yun Xiao’s Meridian Spirits, the Golden Snake Worm and the Three-legged Toad, did have their notable qualities, the boy’s Meridian Qi Cultivation was simply too low. Even with powerful Meridian Spirits, he could not unleash their true power.
Thus, Xi Shaouqing naturally assumed that Yun Xiao had come this far because his Meridian Spirits had caught opponents off guard. Yet now, with both of the boy’s Meridian Spirits fully revealed, especially the toad spirit which had used its potent and special Ice Freeze abilities more than once.
Xi Shaouqing believed that the element of surprise in Yun Xiao’s Meridian Spirits was no longer effective, and that his own methods were far superior to those of Ji Fu, Ruan Shiming, and the rest. The task of stopping this dark horse, he presumed, would likely fall upon himself.
Like Ruan Shiming, Xi Shaouqing was also assigned by the Chairman. He also wanted to perform well in front of the envoy from headquarters, so there was not the slightest intention in his heart to show mercy.
"May your good words prove true; my luck will indeed continue!"
Yun Xiao’s face also lacked superfluous expressions, but his words caused many beneath the platform to ponder. Did he mean that this Douling Commerce’s Xi Shaouqing would also be defeated by your "luck"?