Chapter 162: Not the least bit professional
"Wei Suo, you have really landed yourself in huge trouble. I told you not to duel him, what should we do now?!" Tugging against Wei Suo's sleeves, but instead watching as Wei Suo ignored her but agreed enthusiastically, the usual Nangong Yuqing, with her older sister demeanor, was now exasperated; like an ant in a hot pot. "He is an elder of the Golden Eagle Palace, Tian Fengzi. Not only does he possess a true low-grade Spirit class artifact, but he also rears an unknown demonic beast that is at least above level 4!"
"A single low-grade Spirit class artifact? A single Demonic beast no?" but what caused her to turn baffled, was Wei Suo expressionlessly whispering to her ears, "Just relax, I guarantee I will thrash this pighead. Anyway, I couldn't stand his face even from the start."
"Since nobody has any objections, then let us head to Ironblood Temple." The pretty and flirtatious Xin Youlan nodded with satisfaction, before smiling gently towards Dong Qingyi. "But since we've agreed to let them duel, no one will hand them any artifacts from now onwards. Otherwise, this duel will have no meaning."
"That is of course." Dong Qingyi replied. "As long as you refrain from such deeds."
"Let's go." Xin Youlan no longer spoke anymore as she rode her barbaric beast towards the center of Seven Stars City, heading for the south side of East Victory's mountain entrance.
Dong Qingyi glared icily at Wei Suo before heading towards the same mountain entrance himself.
Li Honglin glared hatefully at Wei Suo with eyes that could kill. Then, he immediately took off with an ashen countenance.
"Tian Fengzi. Make sure you eradicate that rascal, otherwise this hatred of mine cannot be appeased!"
"I will not grant him an easy death." The flat faced Tian Fengzi maliciously declared. "After letting him suffer from a thousand untold pains, I will let him die slowly. If not, anyone can simply trample over our Golden Eagle Palace!"
"Nangong Yuqing, what's actually going on with you?" Instead, Wei Suo, Han Weiwei and Nangong Yuqing were purposefully dragging behind; pulling away a definite gap from Li Honglin and Tian Fengzi.
"You shouldn't have forgotten that incident at Cyan Wind Mound, right?" Nangong Yuqing gently moved her pearly lips. "After my investigations, I can confirm that was a ploy designed by the Black Fiend. It seems that the Black Fiend has an extraordinary relationship with Golden Eagle Palace."
"No way?" Wei Suo knitted his brows. "Could it be the mastermind behind that is the Golden Eagle Palace?"
"I'm afraid there is another ulterior motive. The Golden Eagle Palace doesn't have any mutual conflicts with us."
Han Weiwei stared blankly. "So you approaching Li Honglin, was for the sake of digging out evidences connecting Golden Eagle Palace and the Black Fiend? Then why did you just……"
"I don't wish for everything to be for naught." Nangong Yuqing smiled bitterly. "I've already obtained something form Li Honglin's mouth. I know that their visit to Seven Stars City for the auction, is merely a facade. They is a bigger picture involved. Never did I expect that while he doesn't show up at other times, he actually has to show up now. And the words he say….I can't chase him away at all."
"If I'd known he wasn't afraid of Tian Fengzi, I would've just continued with my act."
While speaking about these, Nangong Yuqing gloomily glared at Wei Suo.
Though slightly dejected that her days of planning had gone down the drain, she knew in her heart that Wei Suo wasn't an ordinary cultivator. Without certain confidence, he wouldn't act so brazenly.
"Ah, you can blame me you know." Wei Suo innocently refuted. "I was still thinking there must be an important person or item that had fallen into his hands, which they were threatening you with. That is why I repeatedly caused a ruckus, just so I can notice any hidden hints. How would I know they were in cahoots with the Black Fiend."
"Just with your intellect, you could tell something was wrong?" Han Weiwei rolled her eyes at Wei Suo and couldn't help but ask. "From the start you could tell she kept an ulterior motive?"
"Suspecting my intelligence with your meagre intellect?" Wei Suo spitefully dissed. "You are joking man. Look at Li Honglin, why would Nangong Yuqing fall for him? To find someone stronger than him by tenfolds, she can just find from anywhere. Also, Nangong Yuqing, I need to criticise you as well. That Transmission Jade Talisman was crafted with such awful handiwork, and doesn't even suit the robe you are wearing; neither your facial features, but yet you say it was pretty and thus, hung it by your hand. Also, the manner of which you feigned heartlessness….you need to cut out your constant blinking and shivering lips, that isn't the least bit professional. You should maintain a straight gaze with added disdain. The best form of heartlessness should carry a coolness and elegance to a certain degree."
"I was merely trying to hint you, never did I expect you couldn't tell." Nangong Yuqing battered her eyelids at Wei Suo helplessly, before turning serious with a gentle voice. "That low-grade Spirit class artifact Tian Fengzi possess is called Glacic Scissors, forged with the claws of a level 6 Underworld Darkbird. Not only does its offensive might reaches low-grade Spirit class, its frost aura can even restrain the spirit energy of the opponent's artifact."
"Just an offensive Spirit class artifact no?" Wei Suo expressionlessly observed the distant walking Tian Fengzi. "Apart from that, does he possess any other special artifacts?"
"That, I do not know." Nangong Yuqing answered. "But you be careful of his nurtured demonic beast. The reared demonic beast of an elder class character like him, is definitely not weak."
Wei Suo chortled. "Is that so? Then I guess the Golden Eagle Palace can only consign themselves to a loss."
Several hours later, a maroon temple appeared in their line of vision.
This tremendous temple was located within a mountain valley, behind a bustling market of the southern mountain of Seven Stars City.
Seeing that this Ironblood Temple was located so closely to the most bustling marketplace, Wei Suo subconsciously felt Dong Qingyi's mind was truly functioning well.
The more people there were, the easier for a quarrel to erupt. Just like when Wei Suo brought the green gowned Old Man to tour the night market, they already witnessed two cultivators disputing over their trade; where they almost started fighting. If there was a place that permitted them to fight nearby, with the intense state of argument they were in, it would be too convenient for them to do so. Any mismatch of ideologies, fine then, head over to the Ironblood Temple to end this dispute with fists.
Furthermore, the more duellers fighting, the more individuals who'd flock over to spectate. Naturally, East Victory would rake in multitudes of spiritual stones.
Ironblood Temple was actually manifold larger than the auction hall of Spirit Treasure Lane. Moreover, it was completely built with Profound Iron. Although just ordinary Profound Iron, the cost would definitely be tremendous and the manpower required stupendous.
At the periphery of the Profound Iron, an unknown dull red material was painted over with myriads of talismanic lines; appearing like flowing blood stains.
As for its pillars, lintels and ledges, it was fashioned with various types of demonic faces; yaksha like sculptures of devils and monsters.
As they strolled along a stony pathway towards the large entrance of the temple, Han Weiwei subconsciously stroked her brows.
A wave of barbaric aura was flooding out from inside.
Apart from the countless clamours roaring out from within, there was also a surge of rich bloody intent.
Right ahead, Dong Qingyi and Xin Youlan had halted by the temple's gates. Following that, two cultivators adorned in East Victory inner sect disciple robes hastily rushed out. Another black robed short and skinny old cultivator also hastened out. After Dong Qingyi whispered several wounds to that skinny old man, the green bean-sized rat eyes of that old man beamed with passionate excitement. "It's actually two Heavenly Circuit stage cultivators. No wonder so many are present. Wonderful! This one will arrange immediately."
Dong Qingyi then nodded at the two East Victory disciples. Without saying much, they allowed Li Honglin, Wei Suo and others into Ironblood Temple. Instead, the tailing crowd were all obstructed.
Evidently, to enter Ironblood Temple, one had to first pay a fixed fee of spiritual stones. Or else, some cultivators would merely camp inside for entertainment, while East Victory, who painstakingly built this Ironblood Temple, would receive the short end of the stick.
Due to Han Weiwei shouting out Wei Suo was still a virgin back in the plaza, and in addition to both of them being Heavenly Circuit Stage cultivators, many others had decided to poke their noses in. At least, the amount of people were several folds that of normal times.
Upon entering Ironblood Temple, Han Weiwei pinched her nose as she almost vomited.
The internal stench of blood and barbaric culture had utterly eclipsed her imaginations from outside.
The entire temple hall was shaped in circular fashion. In the middle, was a transparent divine light screen covering the flat stage. This circular flat stage was over three hundred metres long, and the stage ground comprised of thick Profound Iron fencing. Surrounding this circular flat stage, were two floors of audience stand. Iron fences separated every intervals of 5 seats within those audience stand. Looking from above, it would appear just like a cage.
The material of those fences clearly couldn't obstruct cultivators. Some of the fences had distinctly widened holes, seemingly suggesting that cultivators would mutually clash here as well. Probably disagreements amongst supporters or other reasons had fuelled the audience's motives in brawling as well.
This entire ring appeared to have a capacity of 3,000 cultivators. At present, there were at least a thousand plus cultivators sitting. If everyone had to pay up 2-3 spiritual stones, East Victory would minimally earn 3,000 spiritual stones.
Many cultivators were cheering excitedly. As for that transparent divine light screen covering the stage, it was riddled with many deep gashes and vestiges of skill technique explosions. Blood stains filled every corner, while some gashes still hung with chunks of flesh.
One of the battles had just concluded, where a cultivator had just been decapitated into two through his waist by the opponent; where his lower body was still standing upright. At the other side, a black robed cultivator, with a blood stained face filled with malevolence, was currently rummaging through the objects held in the upper body of his opponent's corpse.
Seeing such a scene, Wei Suo's brows hopped slightly, as he maintained his emotionless countenance while surveying his surroundings.
Chapter 163: Uncivilized Duel
"Esteemed guests!"
While Wei Suo was surveying around, that green-bean eyed old head invited Dong Qingyi and Xin Youlan to grace the frontmost empty seats of the arena. Then, he returned to Wei Suo's group.
After a simple greeting, this supervisor green-bean eyed old head looked at Wei Suo and Tian Fengzi as he instructed, "Our two duelists and fellow cultivators, we will commence at once. Since both duelists has gained the goodwill of our young master Dong, you can wait at the esteemed guests' seats beside them. I will proceed to make the arrangements below."
Nangong Yuqing seemed fine. Yet Han Weiwei, who hadn't spectated a blood reeking arena before, could only turn pale upon hearing those words. The most distinguished seats were clearly the ones closest to the duelling stage of this Ironblood Temple
Tian Fengzi issued a smirk and didn't say much, as he strolled towards the seats near Dong Qingyi and Xin Youlan. Instead, Wei Suo expressionlessly asked the old man, "This senior, this one is visiting the Ironblood Temple for the first time. What are the regulations here, could senior please explain a little."
"The rules of our Ironblood Temple is there are no rules," that old man offered a forced smile as he walked alongside Wei Suo forward while continuing. "When you enter the stage, you can employ any means to deal with your opponent. But before a winner is decided, it's best not to touch that divine light screen, because the might of that light screen is equivalent to a skill technique cast by a Thought Division Stage level 4 cultivator. It will unleash a violent backlash, and any attempts to drill out will be met with only casualties."
"Oh?" Wei Suo observed that seemingly transparent divine light screen. "That light screen shouldn't affect skill techniques, Treasure Receiving Pockets, Slave Beasts pouch and others, right?"
"Naturally it wouldn't affect them. This divine light screen is only there to prevent clashing artifacts of duellers from flying out and injuring the crowd, and also to confine both parties within a space of 300 metres so that victory can be quickly decided." The old man explained. "However, skill techniques that covers a scope of over 300 metres, will be slightly affected. Also, refrain from carelessly smashing brittle artifacts against the divine light screen, and it'll be fine."
Wei Suo nodded and muttered irresoluble to himself.
He was concealing a layer of his cultivation, where he was actually a Heavenly Circuit Stage level 3 cultivator. In addition to his refining of Heaven Mending Pellets for those 20 plus days, though his cultivation technique wasn't mid-level Earth rank yet, it was much stronger than mere low-level Earth rank. Furthermore, Tian Fengzi was just a Heavenly Circuit Stage level 2 cultivator, and only practiced a high-level Profound rank cultivation technique. In terms of overall cultivation, Wei Suo surpassed him greatly.
As for his own artifacts, Wei Suo had artifacts like the Divine Six Suns Firefork and others which should assure his victory. Right now, he was pondering over which artifact he should use, so as to not expose his hidden storage of treasures. Furthermore, he definitely couldn't reveal those symbolic treasures like the Divine Six Suns Firefork. Otherwise, even if he could slay Tian Fengzi easily, he would be in for a huge trouble.
At present, the divine light screen flickered and abruptly faded, allowing a wave of thick blood stench to waft out. That sinister looking, black robed cultivator then leapt down the duelling stage without looking back, and sauntered into a channel below before swiftly disappearing.
Soon after, two other cultivators came trudging out from that channel.
They both had a Divine Sea stage level 5 cultivation, and one was wearing a cyan leather artifact robe. His features suggested roughly 27 years old, and a large bat tattoo was imprinted on the back of his robe. His body was well proportioned as he maintained an emotionless look.
The other cultivator wore a black essence metal chained vest, clinking noisily as he walked. At roughly his thirties, his face was shrivelled and his expression immensely fierce. His brows curved like blades towards his temples.
Once they entered the duelling stage, that divine light screen emerged once again. Evidently, an East Victory cultivator was in charge of activating this divine light screen formation.
"Our Ironblood Temple is built for all cultivators entering Seven Stars City. Even if a Divine Sea Stage level 4 cultivator wishes to earn some spiritual stones, we can likewise arrange an opponent. Before duelling, they will each receive 500 low grade spiritual stones. As for the winner, not only can he obtain the artifacts from his opponent, he will earn 1,000 low grade spiritual stones in the end. Just like those two cultivators, they do not recognize each other at all, but are here just to earn spiritual stones." That old man still desired to say something else, as he advised Wei Suo and Tian Fengzi. "When you two enter, you must wait for our temple hall's disciple to announce the commencement of duel before you can make your moves. But there's no harm for each to first release any defensive skill techniques or defensive artifacts first. This is the only regulation of our Ironblood Temple. Because, before the duelling commences, we must give our audiences some time to make their bets."
While the old man was speaking, the two cultivators on stage had started activating their defensive artifacts.
That bat tattooed cyan robe cultivator casted a cyan light screen, and simultaneously released a Half-spirit class Copper Shield.
As for the fierce looking chain vested cultivator, he conjured out two Half-spirit class Iron Profound shields; placing one to his front and back. Then, he activated a red jade talisman, before a wall of fire appeared before him; blazing with fiery inferno. The audience could see everything clearly; yet where that cyan robed cultivator was standing, he probably couldn't see through that firewall to observe that chain vested cultivator's movements.
Above the stage, there were minimally tens of East Victory disciples shuttling around at high speeds, and accepting bets.
That chain vested cultivator's complexion turned increasingly gloomy. Because ever since Wei Suo and Tian Fengzi entered, in addition to Xin Youlan and Dong Qingyi gracing the scene, many nosy cultivators had come flooding in. At least hundreds more cultivators had arrived. Thus, those tens of East Victory disciples were extremely busy, and required probably an incense worth of time before those two cultivators could begin.
But his Fire Wall Talisman could at most sustain itself for roughly an incense worth of time. Looking at the state of conditions now, his Fire Wall Talisman would mostly likely be in vain.
If it was any other cultivator, they probably could not resist the impulse to attack beforehand. Yet because he was here to earn spiritual stones, if he violated the regulation of Ironblood Temple, the Ironblood Temple would most likely penalize a large sum of spiritual stones even if he won.
"Screw this! How did so many people suddenly arrive!?"
"Isn't this Laozi here just wasting his Fire Wall Talisman! Shit, I should've watched the situation first before activating it."
After a long while, some of the spectating crowd also couldn't help but start cursing aloud. While some other sharp eyed cultivators actually noticed Dong Qingyi and company, thus realizing there was an extraordinarily duel round the corner.
"Alright!"
As an East Victory disciple removed his hand from stage, right as that Fiery Wall was about to extinguish, a crisp ringing sound reverberated through the entire Ironblood Temple.
At this moment, Wei Suo finally noticed a cyan colored artifact clocking being suspended at the top of this grand temple hall.
"Go die!" Concurrently with the ringing, that gloomy looking chain vested cultivator's hand blurred and unleashed a streak of light; as he charged straight towards the Copper Shield of that cyan robed cultivator.
"Good!"
The chain vested cultivator was instantly invigorated. Soon after, sparks emerged from the Copper Shield; a concavity could be seen. Evidently, this chain vested cultivator had used an artifact with an offensive might higher than ordinary Half-spirit class artifacts. Moreover, that artifact truly had a unique way of execution. It happened in a blink, and most of the cultivators present failed to notice what it was.
A cold glint flashed in the cyan robed cultivator's eyes, as he unhurriedly activated a white talisman.
Al of a sudden, a regiment of fog pervaded the entire duelling stage. From above, the audience could vaguely see that cyan robed cultivator shuttling around incessantly, as he pressed towards that chain vested cultivator.
"Dang!" Sparks scattered as the cyan robe cultivator arrived by the left side of that chain vested cultivator. A chilling beam pierced straight into the tightly wrapped Iron Profound Shields, before stabbing into the waist of that chain vested cultivator. While sparks scattered, blood also poured out from that chain vested cultivator's waist.
"Boom!"
While outbursts of alarming gasps resounded, a light streak flashed out from that chain vested cultivator's hand abruptly, as it bored towards the Copper Shield in close proximity. Shu! It then penetrated through the light screen surrounding the cyan robed cultivator, and like slicing radish, it directly sliced off the left arm of the cyan robed cultivator who couldn't dodge in time.
However, that cyan robed cultivator's face remained expressionless as his right arm reached out; producing three black arrow darts, which whizzed out from the sleeve of his right arm. Those darts pierced into the injured waist of the chain vested cultivator's, and drilled deep into his body.
That chain vested cultivator then abruptly turned stiff!
Within a split second of sluggishness, amidst the deathly silence of the crowd….boom! That black chain vested cultivator collapsed to the ground.
Following that, that single armed cyan robed cultivator proceeded to scavenge through his opponent's body, before issuing a signal.
The divine light screen then vanished in a flash. That cultivator maintained his expressionless state while picking up his decapitated arm, before disappearing into the channel he came from.
"Oh my granny, yet another ruthless one!"
Seeing this scene, the looks of many supporting the chain vested cultivator sank. A chill welled up in their hearts as they muttered resentfully to themselves.
From what they saw, this cyan robed cultivator had actually purposefully sacrificed his arm to eliminate his opponent.
He first employed an artifact to break through the opponent's chain vest, before sacrificing his arm by shifting his shield away to attract the opponent's immediate reaction. Ultimately, he managed to slay the chain vested cultivator with one strike. Moreover, it wasn't an artifact weapon, but a powerful mechanical arm crossbolt. Such unexpected methods in turn filled the cultivators on scene with apprehensiveness. Furthermore, looking at his calm state, he probably had spirit medicines that could join back his severed limbs. Nevertheless, such sly and vicious methods to take down one's opponent, caused great shock to the crowd.
"Truly marvellous!"
That old head praised as he clicked his tongue. Then, he turned to Wei Suo and Tian Fengzi. "It is time for both seats to take the stage."