Chapter 193: Chapter 51: Did I Guess Wrong?
“Hall Master, are you sure Elder Ling will duel with King Ping Yuan here?”
In a corner of the black market’s duel arena, two figures concealed their appearances and whispered quietly.
It was indeed Han Xiao and Vice-Dean Chai Yunsheng.
In such duels that involved betting, many people covered their faces, so their attire didn’t look out of place.
Han Xiao’s expression was solemn, “The news has been announced, it must be true… When they duel, we should take the opportunity to see just how far Ling Buyang’s strength extends, for him to be able to consecutively kill Feng Zhaoting and Li Yue’an, two experts.”
Chai Yunsheng nodded.
Although they had ascertained from Yue Longxiao that Ling Buyang had killed Feng Zhaoting, there was still some skepticism in their hearts.
It was a perfect chance to observe, so upon hearing the news, they immediately rushed over, thankful that the duel had not yet begun.
Just then, a portly man approached, lowering his voice in a sleazy manner, “Would you two like to buy some information? About Elder Feng and King Ping Yuan… I have exclusive news here, it’ll definitely be useful to you!”
“How much?” asked Chai Yunsheng.
The portly man chuckled with a knowing expression, “200,000 Origin Currency!”
“Are you robbing us…” Chai Yunsheng nearly cursed in anger.
Han Xiao interrupted his anger, looking at the portly man, “First, tell us what your information is. If it’s truly useful, 200,000 is not a problem to spend!”
“Alright!”
The portly man nodded and said, “Logically, Elder Ling’s odds of victory should be higher than King Ping Yuan’s, a sudden increase, supposedly related to… Elder Feng and Li Yue’an!”
Han Xiao’s expression turned grave.
He could guess that it was Ling Buyang who had killed Feng Zhaoting and Li Yue’an, since his relationship with Yue Longxiao was excellent, and the latter could likewise have disclosed it, proving the source was accurate.
Han Xiao took out 200,000 Origin Currency and handed it over.
“Speak! What’s the news?” Han Xiao asked.
The portly man looked around mysteriously, finally lowering his voice so only the two of them could hear, “It’s said that His Majesty brought a slightly blue-tinted armor for his prince, and has placed a bet on his victory!”
“Blue-tinted armor? Han Ming Armor?” Han Xiao’s pupils contracted, his face turning solemn.
This armor, even challenging for him to break through its defense, and King Ping Yuan already being very strong. If he wore this, even he might not be able to win.
In that case, Ling Buyang was doomed to lose.
The portly man added a few more details and then left.
“In that case, King Ping Yuan is certain to win…” Chai Yunsheng said.
After hesitating for a moment, Han Xiao waved his hand and said, “His chances of winning are indeed high, but it’s hard to say for certain. To be able to consecutively kill two such experts as Feng Zhaoting and Li Yue’an without injury and still come here to duel, Ling Buyang might have something more to rely on. Go place a bet of 5 million on Ling Buyang winning!”
“Yes!” Chai Yunsheng nodded.
With two top-notch experts competing, virtually all prominent powerhouses from Han Yuan City had arrived, making various high stakes bets.
Inside the number one private room.
Fu Yingying’s subordinate, an elderly man, approached and bowed, “Miss, the betting will soon stop, and currently, more bets favor His Highness, with only one-third on Elder Ling!”
Fu Yingying nodded, “His Highness has a notorious reputation, and with higher odds, it’s natural that more people would bet on him… By the way, did you check the background of that man selling information, the portly one?”
The elder replied, “Not much is clear about his background, he seems to have appeared suddenly in Han Yuan City, quite powerful though— at the pinnacle of the Spiritual Perception realm! Whether he has any backing is unknown.”
Fu Yingying said, “Without any backing, it’s impossible to know such confidential matters as Elder Ling killing Li Yue’an… By the way, did he place any bets?”
The elder shook his head, “No, he didn’t. Since arriving here, it seems his sole purpose was to sell information!”
Fu Yingying breathed a sigh of relief, “No matter how expensive the information is, the number of buyers is limited. Earning a few million in one night is insignificant. Did Elder Ling place any bets?”
“Elder Ling has not placed any bets. Since obtaining 20 Destiny Plates from the purchase, he has been sitting in his room with eyes closed, resting his mind, ignoring everything else, and hasn’t passed on any messages!”
“That’s good…”
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Just then, a subordinate hurried in, looking panicked.
“What’s wrong?” the elder frowned.
The subordinate quickly bowed, “Miss, Butler Chen, in the last ten breaths before betting stopped, that portly man rushed over and directly placed 30 million Origin Currency on a draw between the two!”
Fu Yingying was startled, “Duels are usually determined by the death of one party; a draw is very uncommon!”
The subordinate nodded, “It is uncommon, but there have been precedents, so the multiple is very high, a full ten times! Meaning… if a draw does occur, he stands to make a total of 300 million Origin Currency!”
Fu Yingying shook her head, “Don’t worry, it won’t happen. Even if Elder Ling wanted a draw, King Ping Yuan wouldn’t, and if King Ping Yuan wanted a draw, Elder Ling wouldn’t agree! That portly man’s money is lost for sure!”
As they spoke, the sound of a copper gong rang out, and Ling Buyang and King Ping Yuan both stepped onto the platform, signaling the official start of the duel!
Zhang Xuan then carefully observed the opponent known as the War Fanatic prince.
Reportedly over forty years old, but looking only in his thirties, the tall figure exuded an iron-blooded aroma unique to the battlefield, filled with the scent of slaughter.
Both at the pinnacle of the Travel Realm, but his strength was far superior to Ling Buyang, even more than Feng Zhaoting, no wonder nobody dared to challenge him; a slight mishap could result in being killed on the spot.
“I understand that Elder Ling has strong cultivation, and I hope he can exert his full strength…”
Han Qianye took a deep breath.
Zhang Xuan nodded, turned, and walked to the edge of the platform, picking up the Mo Dao prepared by Fu Yingying.
With many people watching this contest, and since he had assumed the identity of Ling Buyang, he naturally hoped to avoid being discovered.
Mo Dao Destiny is not just about skills; it involves Destiny Fragments in its moves, capable of severing destiny. Before, even if he could replicate the moves, without the Heavenly Mandate Vitality, it would have been meaningless. But now, possessing the Mo Blade Water Flow in the Library, his execution of the saber art was not inferior to the real Ling Buyang, enough to deceive the eye.
Han Qianye’s eyes lit up, equally fetching a long spear.
With the spear in hand, his aura changed again, facing one man yet giving the impression of confronting an army of thousands. Zheng Yang’s use of the spear conveyed a gallant and indomitable sharpness, while Han Qianye’s was heavy and steady, enveloping the momentum of an army, hard to resist.
“No offense!”
With a low call, a powerful gust of wind burst forth. Han Qianye stepped forward, and in the blink of an eye, he was before Zhang Xuan, his spear’s light shining like stars, pouring down from all directions.
A unique martial art of the Han Yuan Royal Family, Spearing the Nine Provinces.
It was said to be created by an ancestor at the dawn of the Han Yuan Dynasty, who unified the lands and, inspired by the map before him, crafted it with immense momentum and impact. For those with weak spirits, without using strength but merely with its imposing presence, it could shatter the spirit, rendering them unconscious.
“What a great move!”
Zhang Xuan exclaimed in admiration.
This move was slightly inferior to the earlier Xuanlong Palm, yet it was not weak. This prince, being able to casually perform such a powerful technique, was indeed extraordinary.
Even Feng Zhaoting, having broken through, would likely have had to avoid its sharpness.
However, Zhang Xuan was not planning to dodge, but grasping the hilt of his Mo Dao, he let out a loud shout.
Wuu wuu!
The sheath immediately shot out, like a meteor darting forward.
If Han Qianye’s spear light countered the sheath, its strength would disperse, and the momentum he had accumulated would also vanish. However, not countering it could likely result in injury.
It must be said, this countermove, though hurried, was extremely clever; not only was there no awkwardness, but it also carried a strong retaliation.
Hum!
What seemed like a complex situation was not so complicated for Han Qianye. With a flick of his spear, the tip touched the sheath, which, being merely crafted from ordinary wood and not an artifact, couldn’t withstand the impact and exploded into fragments, scattering around.
The spear’s momentum continued forward.
Just as everyone was worried for the man on stage thought to be Ling Buyang, they saw him swing his Mo Dao. In an instant, streams of Heavenly Mandate Vitality emerged, accompanied by the saber light, slashing towards the starry gleam.
“This is indeed Mo Dao Destiny…”
From a private room, Han Qianchou stood up, his brows furrowing.
Destiny wasn’t something one could cultivate by simply being a Fate Master!
For example, to master Mo Dao Destiny, one must first find its creator, Mo Baiye, or his successor, unlock the Fate Lock within the body, and receive the legacy.
Moreover, each progress would receive feedback from Mo Baiye.
Han Qianchou had thought the drastic change in Ling Buyang’s personality might be due to the man known as Zhang Xuan impersonating him, but now it appeared not to be the case.
Appearance and aura could be changed through Painting Skin, but the destiny martial techniques demonstrated by a Fate Master could not be altered.
“It seems I thought too much…”
Han Qianchou shook his head.
Seeing Zhang Xuan perform this technique, Fu Yingying was also stunned.
In the days they had spent together, she had been convinced that this Ling Buyang was definitely someone else in disguise but he had just performed a destiny martial technique…
Could she really have been wrong, and all his past behaviors were just a low-key disguise? Was this his true form?
With doubts in her heart, she continued to watch.
At this moment, the Mo Dao and the long spear had already collided, fierce air currents falling like raindrops, striking the platform and punching small round holes into it.
“Strength around 600 horsepower, and it can continue for more than ten strikes. Not bad…”
Zhang Xuan admired inwardly.
Not yet broken into the Dharma Form Realm, yet possessing such strength and such powerful endurance, this King Ping Yuan, truly deserved to be called a War Fanatic.
However, compared to him, it was still lacking a lot.
“If this is the extent of your strength, you can concede now…”
With a slight smile, Zhang Xuan’s Mo Dao suddenly exerted force.
While Han Qianye was in the midst of his spearmanship, he felt as if his body were being crushed, an overwhelmingly powerful force immediately spreading over him.
“Is this… 999 horsepower, the limit of the Dharma Form Realm?”
Han Qianye’s pupils constricted.