Chapter 103: The Price of Victory

CRACK!

Luo Yan’s expression changed as another crack appeared on his terrifying skill, then another one. It didn’t long before his entire mountain phantom shattered completely.

BOOM!

Its aftereffects beared upon Luo Yan as he let out a mouthful of blood.

He desperately circulated his remaining spiritual energy for defence. The wave slammed into his body, throwing him backward.

His body crashed heavily against the arena ground, more blood sprayed from his mouth.

The surrounding crowd erupted.

"Li Qiang won!"

"An Earth-rank technique actually defeated another Earth-rank technique!"

"His Azure Sea Overturning is powerful!"

The Azura disciples immediately cheered.

Li Qiang, however, wasn’t celebrating. His chest was rising and falling heavily. His face was pale. His spiritual energy had been consumed to an alarming degree.

The previous exchanges combined with the final collision had already pushed him close to his limit.

On the other side, Luo Yan struggled to stand. His arms trembled. His robes were torn in several places.

He tried to circulate his spiritual energy one more time, but his body staggered.

The referee immediately appeared beside him.

"Luo Yan, can you continue?"

Luo Yan clenched his teeth.

He tried to take another step, but his knees finally gave way.

Seeing his condition, the referee shook his head. He didn’t want to make this match into a deathmatch.

"The first battle is over."

"Li Qiang of the Azura Heaven Sect is the winner!"

As he said this, cheers erupted from the eastern side. The first victory greatly boosted their morale, and all the disciples were shouting in excitement.

"Hah..." Li Qiang raised his fist weakly. He took a deep breath.

"That was close."

On the another side, the Vermilion disciples were silent. Their expressions were no longer as relaxed as before.

They had underestimated Li Qiang. The first disciple they had sent had actually defeated head-on.

The Vermilion elder’s expression remained calm, but his eyes became slightly sharper.

"Next."

A second disciple stepped forward. He was a young man with long brown hair and a thin sword hanging from his waist.

The moment he stepped onto the arena, his aura spread outward. Peak of Golden Core Realm!

But unlike Luo Yan’s heavy and explosive aura, his spiritual energy was sharp, like a drawn sword.

Li Qiang looked at him. His expression became somewhat bitter.

’Already the second one?’

He could clearly feel the condition of his body.

His spiritual energy was less than thirty percent of its original amount. His breathing had not yet recovered, but he couldn’t step down.

"You fought well." The second disciple looked at him. Although his words seems praising him, they were actually mocking his current condition.

Li Qiang also understood his hidden meaning and laughed.

"But I won’t give you time to recover." The man calmly drew his sword.

SHING!

The sword left its sheath. A sharp sword intent immediately spread across the arena.

Li Qiang’s eyes narrowed as he ready himself for another great battle.

"Begin!" The referee raised his hand.

Just in another moment, the Vermilion Sect’s disciple disappeared from his place. He didn’t even give him any time to think, and attacking a fatal point.

Li Qiang’s pupils contracted as a sword appeared before him.

CLANG!

Li Qiang barely raised his arm to block.

The sword slid across his defensive spiritual energy and cut through his sleeve. Blood appeared on his arm.

Gritting his teeth, he immediately counterattacked with his another hand.

"Azure Wave Palm!"

BOOM!

The Vermilion disciple tilted his body and avoided the attack. His sword flashed again.

His continuous attack caused Li Qiang retreat. While his mind was running to the extreme, just waiting for a moment to attack.

However, one sword, two swords, three swords. The attacks came faster and faster.

As if his opponent had seen through his motive and didn’t want to give him any chance to counter him.

Having no other option, Li Qiang could only defend. His breathing became heavier.

He had already left his thoughts to defeat his opponent as he couldn’t do that. But his eyes became colder.

If he couldn’t win... then he would at least make the next disciple pay as much as possible.

At the next moment, Li Qiang suddenly stopped retreating. His footsteps came to a halt, and his body slightly lowered.

The Vermilion Flame Sect’s disciple noticed the change and immediately took advantage of it.

His eyes flashed. Without giving Li Qiang any chance to recover, he pushed his remaining spiritual energy into his sword and thrust it forward.

SHING!

The sword tore through the air with a sharp sound. Its blade was aimed directly at Li Qiang’s chest.

Li Qiang’s pupils contracted. At such a close distance, there was no time to retreat. Instead, he moved sideways.

The sword passed dangerously close to his ribs, cutting through a portion of his robe and leaving behind a shallow wound.

At the same moment, Li Qiang’s right hand shot forward. His fingers wrapped tightly around the opponent’s wrist.

The Vermilion Flame Sect’s disciple’s expression changed instantly.

’He was waiting for this?’

He immediately tried to pull his arm away, but Li Qiang’s grip was surprisingly powerful.

Even though Li Qiang’s spiritual energy was almost exhausted, the strength remaining in his physical body was still formidable.

The Vermilion disciple tried to twist his wrist and escape, but he couldn’t.

"Got you."

A grin appeared on Li Qiang’s bloodied face.

Before the disciple could react, he smashed his forehead into the opponent’s face.

BANG!

The disciple’s head snapped backward. His vision blurred for an instant. Blood immediately flowed from his nose.

"Ughhhh!"

He staggered backward, but Li Qiang didn’t give him any chance to recover. His fist had already been pulled back.

Then the punch slammed into the Vermilion disciple’s abdomen.

The man’s body bent slightly from the impact before being launched backward. He flew several meters before stable himself.

The spectators erupted once again.

They had initially been worried when Li Qiang’s spiritual energy began to decline. But seeing him suddenly turn the situation around, their expressions changed.

"Brother Li is deliberately dragging this out."

"He’s trying to consume the second opponent’s strength!"

"That’s right. He knows he probably can’t win the second battle, so he’s trying to make sure the next person pays the price for defeating him."

On the opposite side, several Vermilion disciples also understood what Li Qiang was doing.

Their expressions gradually became serious.

"That bastard..."

"He’s not trying to win anymore."

"He’s trying to weaken Brother Luo’s successor!"

On the arena, Li Qiang had already rushed forward.

He knew very clearly that his current condition could not support a prolonged battle.

His spiritual energy was almost completely depleted. His body was covered in wounds from the previous battle. His muscles were screaming from exhaustion.

Every movement caused pain to spread through his body, but he didn’t care.

’If I can’t defeat him...’

Li Qiang’s eyes became sharp. ’Then I’ll make sure he can’t fight the next battle in perfect condition.’

His fist shot toward the Vermilion Flame Sect’s disciple’s chest who quickly raised his arm to block.

It wasn’t that he was weaker than Lu Qiang; in fact, he was the exact opposite of his opponent’s poor condition. However, that didn’t mean he could survive his suicide attacks.

BOOM!

The punch landed heavily against his forearm.

A painful sound echoed across the arena. The Vermilion Flame Sect’s disciple’s expression changed.

The impact forced his arm backward, and his body was pushed several steps away.

’His physical strength is still this strong?’

He couldn’t hide his shock.

Li Qiang was clearly exhausted. His spiritual energy was almost gone, yet his punches still carried terrifying force.

The Vermilion disciple wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth. His gaze became colder.

"You really are troublesome."

"Thanks." Li Qiang grinned, causing the disciple’s expression darkened.

He also understood what Li Qiang was trying to accomplish.

But won’t give him the chance. He immediately poured his remaining spiritual energy into his sword.

At the same time, his sword intent suddenly erupted.

BOOM!

A fierce wave of sword intent spread across the arena.

The surrounding air seemed to become sharper. Even the spectators sitting farther away could feel the oppressive sword aura.

Li Qiang’s expression finally became solemn. The opponent had stopped holding back.

"Flame Shadow Sword!"

SHING!

The Vermilion disciple swung his sword. Dozens of raging sword shadows suddenly appeared around him. Each sword shadow carried blazing crimson spiritual energy.

They floated in the air for an instant before pointing toward Li Qiang.

The surrounding disciples immediately recognized the technique.

"That’s Flame Shadow Sword, a quasi Earth Rank technique!"

"Those sword shadows are almost as powerful as Profound-rank weapons!"

"He’s going all out!"

The Vermilion disciple didn’t hesitate. His sword pointed toward Li Qiang.

"Fall!"

WHOOSH!

The dozens of sword shadows descended simultaneously.

Li Qiang’s pupils narrowed. There was nowhere to run. Even if he retreated, the sword shadows would follow him.

He took a deep breath and circulated every remaining trace of spiritual energy inside his body.

The blue spiritual energy around him became slightly brighter.

"Azure Mountain Body!"

BOOM!

A thick layer of blue spiritual energy immediately covered his body. It wrapped around his arms, chest, shoulders, and legs like a protective armor.

It was not as powerful as when he had first used it, but it was enough.

At least for now, this was all he could do.

The next instant, countless sword lights descended upon him.

DING! DING! DING! DING!

The entire area around him was filled with crimson sword light. Blood immediately appeared across Li Qiang’s robes.

His body shook repeatedly under the barrage. The defensive layer around him became thinner and thinner. Each impact forced his body backward slightly.