390: Chapter 34 Winning the Championship

After some thought, Meng Li agreed to Zhang Chulan's suggestion. He then landed on his Flying Sword and stood opposite him.

The next second, Zhang Chulan unleashed his lightning technique, amplifying it immediately: "Little White Worm!"

A bright white snake of lightning shot out from his palm, pouncing toward Meng Li with lightning speed.

Almost simultaneously, the Shaoshang Sword pierced through the air toward Zhang Chulan.

In a flash of lightning and flint, the Little White Worm, halfway through its attack, suddenly exploded, erupting in a blinding, dazzling light.

Not only in the arena, but many people in the audience instinctively covered their eyes or closed them completely.

When the light dissipated, they looked towards the arena and discovered the result had been decided.

Zhang Chulan had a gash on his arm, from which blood was currently flowing, and his face was filled with shock.

Meng Li, however, was covered in a layer of white light, completely unharmed.

"You lost," Meng Li stated the outcome.

Zhang Chulan snapped back to reality, nodded, and said bitterly, "I lost."

Immediately after, he looked up at the referee above: "I concede."

The referee nodded and announced loudly, "The Luotian Grand Ritual Finals, Zhang Chulan versus the White Sword Immortal. The victor is—the White Sword Immortal!"

Hearing this result, Feng Baobao in the audience instantly wilted like a frost-bitten eggplant: "It's over, Zhang Chulan lost!"

Xu San and Xu Si beside her also looked quite grim.

Xu Si frowned: "What happened to Zhang Chulan? Did such a risky move only result in this?"

Xu San adjusted his glasses: "Let's ask him what happened when he gets back."

Not long after, Zhang Chulan met up with the three outside the arena.

As soon as he saw them, he apologized to Feng Baobao: "I'm sorry, Sister Baoer, I lost the bet."

Feng Baobao replied, "It's fine. I'll wait for you, and then I'll go bury that White Sword Immortal. If he's not around, you’re number one. If that doesn't work, I'll find another chance to bury your master-advisor and make him tell the truth, otherwise, I'll just keep him buried."

Bury... my master-advisor?!

Zhang Chulan was stunned by Feng Baobao's words and stood there dumbfounded.

Xu San and Xu Si were equally dumbstruck.

Bury the Old Celestial Master?

That kid really dared to think that!

In an instant, Xu San quickly tried to dissuade her: "Baoer, stop fooling around. The Old Celestial Master is a supreme figure; he can't be buried. Burying him would cause huge chaos."

Xu Si changed the subject, turning to ask Zhang Chulan: "What was going on with that decisive blow just now?"

Zhang Chulan sighed and replied, "You all know the White Sword Immortal's methods. Setting aside everything else, just his ability to fly on a sword makes him very difficult to deal with. Not to mention he can control more than one Flying Sword, use Sword Qi, and has Magical Artifacts protecting him."

"He's completely a big spender."

"In a normal duel, I wasn't confident I could win, so I had to take a huge risk, gambling that he couldn't multitask while controlling his Flying Swords and driving his Sword Box."

"That's why I proposed a one-strike-decides-the-winner match, and then used the flashing trick I learned from Brother Meng to deceive him."

"My Little White Worm attack just now actually had a hidden mechanism; it still had residual power to attack after exploding. But I didn't expect the White Sword Immortal's Flying Sword and Sword Box protection also had their own hidden mechanisms. Even if the white light affected him, it was useless."

"What's the hidden mechanism in his Flying Sword and Sword Box?" Xu Si asked.

Zhang Chulan stroked his chin: "I'm not 100% certain yet, but I suspect his Flying Sword and Sword Box have an automatic mode."

"Automatic mode?" Xu San looked surprised.

Zhang Chulan nodded, then explained: "Simply put, his Sword Box can automatically protect its owner, and the Flying Sword can lock onto the enemy and fight independently."

Xu Si's mouth twitched: "That's a bit much. He's playing with Flying Swords, not Black Technology."

Xu San, however, said: "Perhaps the White Sword Immortal is not only a Great Sword Immortal but also an Artifact Refiner, and a remarkably skilled one at that."

"An Artifact Refiner?" Xu Si murmured, saying no more.

Zhang Chulan asked curiously: "An Artifact Refiner? Someone like in cultivation novels who can forge Magic Treasures?"

Xu San nodded: "That's right."

He then explained: "Most Sword Immortals, who are Extraordinary People specializing in Object Manipulation, can only use Qi to feed items and transform them for their use. But Artifact Refiners can go a step further, using their own Qi to refine independent special abilities into items. This is very rare in The Realm of Extraordinary People."

"Because Artifact Refining heavily relies on talent, and you also need the corresponding refining methods."

"When the White Sword Immortal first controlled the Flying Sword and the Treasure-Swallowing Gourd, I already suspected he was an Artifact Refiner."

"But he was too young to have likely refined so many powerful Magical Artifacts, so I assumed his Magical Artifacts came from another source."

"Now, combining his performance during the duel with Immortal Master Lingyu and what Chu Lan just said, I've reconsidered this possibility."

Xu Si wondered: "We've never heard of such a talented Artifact Refiner being so young. Where did he come from?"

Xu San adjusted his glasses: "I've asked the company to investigate, but there's no result yet. However, based on his situation and performance, he's highly unlikely to be from the Quanzhen Sect. The most important issue right now is what he will choose tomorrow. If he chooses the Heavenly Scroll, that's fine, but if he chooses the position of Celestial Master..."

He didn't finish the sentence, but the meaning was obvious.

Hearing this, Zhang Chulan glanced at Feng Baobao, his eyes flickering slightly, and he said nothing.

The next morning.

Meng Li arrived at the arena and saw Zhang Zhiwei, Lu Jin, Wang Ai, Lü Ci, Feng Zheng Hao, as well as Zhang Chulan, Feng Baobao, and their group.

Standing next to Lu Jin was a Daoist holding a tray containing two books.

As he approached, Lu Jin took the initiative to speak to Meng Li: "Youngster Bai, according to our original agreement, the winner of this Luotian Grand Ritual can choose between the position of Celestial Master or my Heavenly Scroll."

"Which one do you choose?"

"The Heavenly Scroll," Meng Li replied without hesitation.

Zhang Zhiwei and Zhang Chulan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Feng Baobao, Xu San, and Xu Si showed joyful expressions.

Wang Ai, Lü Ci, and Feng Zheng Hao, however, had their eyes flicker slightly, each lost in thought.

Lu Jin smiled: "Good. Then this Heavenly Scroll belongs to you. The other book is the Compendium of Talismans I mentioned to you before, which contains many Talismans I've collected over the years. It will save you a lot of effort later."

Meng Li nodded slightly, took the Heavenly Scroll Secret Manual and the Compendium of Talismans, and placed them in his robes.

At this moment, Zhang Zhiwei spoke: "Youngster Bai, I heard from Old Lu that you have no sect or school, only obtaining a Legacy by chance from an ancestor. To reach such a height under these circumstances shows your talent is extraordinarily outstanding."

"I, the Old Celestial Master, have a flaw: I get greedy whenever I see good seedlings."

"So, I'll be presumptuous today and ask, are you willing to join the Celestial Masters Residence?"

Hearing this, Meng Li was very surprised.

Everyone else was equally astonished.

Meng Li quickly realized that while Zhang Zhiwei said this because he coveted a good talent, the more likely reason was to offer him a layer of protection. After all, the Heavenly Scroll, being one of the Eight Peculiar Skills, had many covetous individuals.

For someone like Meng Li, who had no sect or school, it would be hard to keep it safe.

But if he joined the Celestial Masters Residence, others would have to think twice before plotting against him.

Many people present grasped this implication; Wang Ai's and Lü Ci's eyes flickered imperceptibly.

Meng Li shook his head: "I appreciate the Celestial Master's kindness, but I have always been a lone traveler. Joining the Celestial Masters Residence would inevitably tie my hands, and I wouldn't be used to it."

Then, he spoke pointedly: "Walking in shoes might be smooth, but it's restrictive. Walking barefoot is much freer. At least you don't have to worry about dirtying or ruining your shoes."

Lu Jin immediately laughed: "Well said, 'Barefoot isn't afraid of shoes.' Old Celestial Master, it seems this kid has his own confidence. I think you shouldn't worry about him anymore."

Zhang Zhiwei nodded: "Since that is the case, then forget it."

Just then, Meng Li suddenly said: "However, speaking of which, I have an impolite request, which I hope the Old Celestial Master can grant."

"Oh? Tell me about it."