34: Chapter 34 Fierce Battle with Wang Teng, Victory

Zhao Feng's sudden concession plunged the entire Trial Valley into an eerie silence, which was immediately followed by an even greater uproar.

Countless gazes swept back and forth between the figure drifting away and Ye Chen, whose Aura was unstable on the ring, filled with shock, confusion, and speculation.

Ye Chen frowned, staring in the direction Zhao Feng had disappeared, his heart filled with doubts.

In that last clash, although he was at a slight disadvantage, he was far from being defeated.

Zhao Feng's Aura was as deep as the sea; he definitely still had energy left. Why did he concede?

Did he feel that winning would be dishonorable? Or did he have other motives?

Did he really give up the spot for the Tianyun Sword Sect so easily?

However, before he could think it through, Wang Teng's murderous, sinister grin pulled him back to reality.

"Ye Chen! I didn't expect you to actually make it this far! Perfect! Let me personally cripple you and wash away my shame! This spot for the Tianyun Sword Sect is mine!"

Wang Teng leaped onto the ring, his crimson longsword, "Blaze," pointing at Ye Chen. The sword blade was burning with raging flames, and a scorching wave of heat rushed toward him.

His Aura surged, and the pressure of the Meridian Opening Sixth Level was released without reservation, like a burning furnace.

It formed a stark contrast with the biting cold qi radiating from Ye Chen's body. Ice and fire stood at opposite poles, and the atmosphere instantly became tense!

Off the ring, Wang Mang's face revealed a sinister grin, confident of victory.

Grand Elder Ye Rushan's eyes were gloomy, and it was unknown what he was thinking.

Lin Qingxue's hand, which was resting on her knee, tightened again, and a trace of worry flashed in her beautiful eyes.

Ye Chen had fought several bitter battles, especially the clash with Zhao Feng just now; he was clearly exhausted and injured.

Meanwhile, Wang Teng had been waiting at ease and was in perfect condition. With one growing weaker and the other stronger, the situation was extremely unfavorable for Ye Chen.

Xiao Yu nervously grabbed the corner of the Scar-faced Guard's clothes beside her, her little face pale.

"The final, begin!"

The referee's voice carried a hint of nervousness as he announced loudly.

"Go to hell!"

Wang Teng let out an explosive shout, seizing the initiative!

His figure was like lightning as the Blaze sword transformed into a crimson streak, carrying a scorching Sword Intent that seemed capable of burning the entire wilderness, aiming straight at Ye Chen's heart!

It was the strongest killing move of the "Blazing Sun Sword Technique" — Crimson Flame Piercing the Sun!

Its speed, power, and Aura had all reached the Peak of the Meridian Opening Realm!

This sword strike was fast, ruthless, and accurate!

He was clearly trying to take advantage of Ye Chen's unstable Aura to secure victory in one blow!

Ye Chen's pupils constricted; he dared not hold anything back! He pushed his Mist Transformation Steps to the limit, his figure retreating rapidly like smoke while he held the ice scar sword horizontally in front of him!

"Clang——!!!"

Ice and fire clashed again, erupting with a deafening roar! Crimson and deep blue light flashed wildly, and waves of energy rolled out!

Ye Chen felt a scorching, overwhelming force surge toward him; his throat felt sweet, and he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.

He staggered back more than ten steps before barely stabilizing his figure. His arm holding the sword trembled slightly, the webbing between his thumb and index finger split open, and blood stained the sword hilt.

Such strong power! The Meridian Opening Sixth Level is truly not to be underestimated!

"Haha! Is that all you've got? Trash!"

Wang Teng pressed his advantage relentlessly, laughing wildly as he lunged again. The Blaze sword danced, transforming into a sky full of fire rain, completely shrouding Ye Chen!

The sword momentum was continuous, scorching, and overbearing, forcing Ye Chen to rely solely on his exquisite footwork and the cold qi of the ice scar sword to struggle and hold on, caught in precarious situations repeatedly!

"Rrrrip!"

Ye Chen dodged a bit too slowly; his left shoulder was grazed by a Sword Qi, his clothes instantly turning charred black, his skin torn open, and a searing, stinging pain shot through him!

"Brother!" Xiao Yu cried out involuntarily from off the ring.

Lin Qingxue's heart also jumped into her throat.

"Hmph! Let's see how long you can hide!"

Wang Teng's offensive became more urgent, his sword technique increasingly ruthless, with every move aiming for Ye Chen's vitals.

He wanted to use absolute power to crush Ye Chen and trample him underfoot!

Ye Chen gritted his teeth, his eyes cold as frost. He knew he couldn't just defend for long; he had to counterattack!

After hard-blocking another heavy strike, he used the force to glide backward while his Profound Ice True Essence circulated crazily within him, connecting the twenty acupoints in his limbs and drawing upon the thin water-cold Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth.

The ice scar sword emitted a pleasant hum, and the blue light on the sword blade flared brilliantly!

"Profound Ice Vortex!"

He swung his sword, not in a direct thrust, but carving out a harmonious arc!

cold qi gushed from the sword tip, instantly condensing into a rapidly rotating blue vortex in front of him!

The center of the vortex emitted a powerful suction force, twisting, devouring, and annihilating the scorching Sword Qi Wang Teng had slashed over!

"What?!"

Wang Teng's expression changed slightly; he felt as if his sword momentum had fallen into a quagmire, its power greatly reduced.

The extreme cold within the vortex made even his blood and Qi circulation sluggish!

"Break!"

Ye Chen shouted sharply, thrusting the ice scar sword forward! The Profound Ice Vortex suddenly exploded, transforming into countless incomparably sharp icicles that shot toward Wang Teng like a torrential rain of pear blossoms, covering the sky and earth!

Wang Teng was greatly alarmed, dancing the Blaze sword so tightly that it formed a wall of fire!

"Clang, clang, clang!" The sounds of ice and fire colliding were incessant, and most of the icicles were shattered.

But some still penetrated his defense, carving several bloody wounds on his body. The cold qi invaded, causing his movements to stiffen!

"Good chance!"

Cold light exploded in Ye Chen's eyes; his figure closed in like a ghost, and the ice scar sword thrust straight at Wang Teng's throat! The speed was like a thunderclap!

"Don't even think about it!" Wang Teng roared, hastily holding his sword horizontally to block!

"Clang!" The two swords clashed again!

But this time, the Nirvana cold intent contained at the tip of Ye Chen's sword suddenly erupted, passing through the sword blade and slamming fiercely into Wang Teng's body!

"Pfft!"

Wang Teng seemed to be struck by a heavy blow, spitting out a mouthful of blood and retreating violently, his face showing a look of shock for the first time!

That cold qi was not only bone-chillingly cold, but also carried a Concept of destroying everything, crazily eroding his Meridians!

"Teng'er!" Wang Mang stood up abruptly.

"Bastard! I want you dead!"

Wang Teng was completely insane, his eyes crimson. He suddenly took out a blood-red Medicinal Pill the size of a Dragon's eye and shoved it into his mouth!

As the Medicinal Pill entered his stomach, the Aura around him soared abruptly. His skin turned bright red, veins bulged, and it seemed as if he were about to burn up!

His Aura instantly broke through the Early Stage of the sixth level and reached the Peak of the sixth level, even faintly touching the threshold of the seventh level!

"Explosive Yuan Pill!"

Someone who recognized the item in the audience exclaimed!

This was a forbidden drug that burned potential to briefly boost strength! The side effects were immense!

Wang Teng was going all out!

"Go to hell! Blazing Sun Burns the Heavens!"

Wang Teng looked like a mad demon, holding the Blaze sword high. He poured all his True Essence into it, and the sword blade erupted with a blinding, crimson light.

It transformed into a pillar of fire several zhang in diameter, carrying an Aura that destroyed everything, and blasted toward Ye Chen!

This strike had far exceeded the scope of the Meridian Opening Realm!

"Not good!"

Lin Qingxue's face turned pale, and she stood up abruptly!

Facing this world-destroying strike, Ye Chen had nowhere to hide!

A trace of determination flashed in his eyes. He poured all the True Essence in his body, along with that trace of Profound Ice Origin and Nirvana, into the ice scar sword without reservation!

The sword blade emitted a hum as if it couldn't bear the load, and the blue light shone to the extreme! He no longer defended; man and sword became one.

He transformed into a blue lightning bolt tearing through the sky, moving against the pillar of fire, and thrust straight at Wang Teng's heart!

Attack against attack! When two sides meet on a narrow path!

"Rumble——!!!"

An unprecedented loud noise shook the entire valley!

Red and blue lights crazily intertwined, devoured, and exploded!

Terrifying waves of energy swept in all directions like a tsunami, and the protective light barrier around the ring flickered violently, nearly shattering!

The audience close by was knocked over by the waves of energy!

The light lasted for several breaths before gradually dissipating. A huge charred pit appeared in the center of the ring, with thick frost covering its edges.

Two figures stood stiffly on either side of the pit.

Ye Chen knelt on one knee, the ice scar sword stuck in the ground supporting his body. His clothes were tattered, charred black and covered in frost, blood continuously spilling from the corners of his mouth, and his Aura was withered to the extreme.

That strike just now had almost drained all his strength.

And the Wang Teng opposite him was even worse off!

The Blaze sword in his hand was broken in two, and there was a transparent hole in his chest, its edges covered with ice shards; the blood was frozen before it could even flow out.

He widened his eyes, his face full of unbelievable terror and despair. He opened his mouth, but couldn't make any sound.

He fell straight backward, and with a "thump," he breathed his last!

Silence!

Dead silence!

Everyone was petrified, staring blankly at the blood-bathed figure on the ring.

Wang Teng... dead?

Wang Teng, who had taken the Explosive Yuan Pill and whose strength had soared, was counter-killed by Ye Chen with one sword strike?!

How is this possible?!

"Teng'er!"

Wang Mang let out a heart-wrenching scream, his eyes splitting, and he rushed toward the ring!

"Little beast! I'll kill you!"

"Presumptuous!"

On the high platform, City Lord Zhao snorted coldly, and a majestic pressure descended, instantly pinning the mad-demon-like Wang Mang so he couldn't move!

"The rules of the Grand Competition dictate that life and death are fated! Wang Teng took a forbidden drug, so he deserves to die!"

Wang Mang was suppressed by the pressure, his eyes blood-red, staring fixedly at Ye Chen, wishing he could swallow him alive.

Ye Chen lifted his head with difficulty, wiped the blood from the corners of his mouth, and his cold gaze swept over Wang Mang and the pale-faced Grand Elder Ye Rushan.

Finally, it landed on the moon-white figure off the ring.

Lin Qingxue was also looking at him, their eyes meeting.

The worry in her eyes turned into relief, followed by an undisguisable shock and a trace of complex, indescribable emotion.

She walked quickly onto the ring, ignoring everyone's gazes, supported the teetering Ye Chen, shoved a fragrant Medicinal Pill into his mouth, and whispered.

"Don't talk; circulate your Qi to heal your injuries."

The Medicinal Pill entered his stomach and turned into a warm current, nourishing his parched Meridians.

Ye Chen nodded, and with Lin Qingxue's support, sat cross-legged and began to regulate his breathing.

The referee took several deep breaths to suppress the shock in his heart, and announced loudly in a trembling voice.

"The winner of the final is Ye Chen! The champion of this year's Three Clans Grand Competition... is Ye Chen!"

"Whoa——!"

The silence was broken, and a mountain-shaking, tsunami-like roar of cheers soared into the sky! Everyone was shouting the same name!

"Ye Chen! Ye Chen! Ye Chen!"

Who could have imagined that the one finally standing at the Peak of this Trial Valley would be this abandoned son of the Ye family, who had once been despised by everyone!

With the cultivation of the Meridian Opening Stage Five Middle Phase, he won battle after battle, finally killing the sixth-level Wang Teng who had taken the pill! What a miracle! What strength!

Ye Hu's face was ashen, and he slumped in his chair.

Grand Elder Ye Rushan's expression was so gloomy it was as if water could drip from it.

The Lin family area was jubilant, and the gazes of Lin Dong and the others toward Ye Chen were full of admiration.

City Lord Zhao stood up, looked at Ye Chen with deep eyes, and announced loudly: "The Grand Competition is over! Champion Ye Chen, come forward to receive your reward!"

Ye Chen, supported by Lin Qingxue, slowly stood up and walked to the front of the high platform.

Although he was weak, his back was straight, and his eyes were as sharp as knives.

City Lord Zhao handed him a storage ring, a piece of spirit armor glowing with an earthy yellow halo (black tortoise armor), and a token engraved with cloud patterns:

"This is your reward. The recommendation token for the Tianyun Sword Sect; I hope you cherish it well. Three months from now, take this token to Tianfeng City to participate in the selection."

"Many thanks, City Lord."

Ye Chen took the reward, his voice hoarse but firm.

At this moment, all eyes were on him!

The youth who had once fallen into the dust, relying on his own efforts and Opportunity, finally stepped on the bones of his enemies and stood at the Peak of Qingyun City!

The era belonging to Ye Chen had just begun!