Chapter 616 - 396: I'm Not Targeting Anyone_2
Chapter 616: Chapter 396: I’m Not Targeting Anyone_2
Unexpectedly, Zhou Wangshen exhibited modesty, humbly admitting he fell short of Hong He. Those who knew his character well couldn’t help but show surprise.
“By the way, it seems Brother E Yun is somewhat lagging. He’s the only one among the three notorious figures who hasn’t broken through yet.”
Finally, another arranged person spoke up.
Once those words were spoken, Yuan Chiye, who was standing next to E Yun, changed his expression, giving the speaker a chilling stare.
However, the person who spoke was Wu Zeyang, one of the newly promoted Foundation Establishment cultivators who entered the Divine Tree Secret Realm alongside Chen Mobai. Facing Yuan Chiye’s cold gaze, Wu Zeyang smiled lightly then lowered his head.
It was well known that Wu Zeyang was a follower of Zhou Wangshen. Under the watchful eyes of the public, Yuan Chiye couldn’t argue with him, especially since what he said was indeed factual.
[Are they planning to kick E Yun out of the competition first?]
Everyone in the hall recognized their intention at this point, as it appeared that the forces of Hong He and Zhou Wangshen had unintentionally established a silent agreement on this regard.
“In terms of cultivation, indeed, I’m inferior to both senior brothers,” E Yun admitted, knowing there was nothing he could do. Arguing at this point would make him seem petty. On the contrary, it was better to admit openly his inferiority.
However, this would likely mean that the position of the sect leader would be out of his grasp unless Meng Hong successfully achieves Core Formation and decides to support him.
At this point, most of the neutral disciples had already started to underestimate E Yun, as it became evident in their minds that there was a significant disparity among the once equally notorious trio.
“But I must say, when it comes to leading the sect, one’s cultivation is not as important as their potential to usher the sect into a more promising future.”
At this point, someone within the hall defied the forces at play and voiced an opinion.
Wu Zeyang frowned, wondering who was being so obstinate.
Then.
He saw Chen Mobai.
Oh, it’s him!
Wu Zeyang pretended not to hear, glanced at Zhou Wangshen beside him, and lowered his head.
“Junior Brother Chen makes a valid point. However, if we want to develop in the Eastern Wilderness, the most critical factor is strength. Otherwise, even survival is impossible, let alone talking about development and the future.”
Wu Zeyang not speaking up, Zhou Wangshen had to step forth, expressing the most fundamental survival value in the Eastern Wilderness.
Most people in the room nodded in agreement to this statement.
Even Hong He conceded that this was true.
“Senior Brother Zhou, I understand your point, but as long as there’s a higher power present, the cultivation level of the Sect Leader isn’t crucial,” Chen Mobai argued.
“For instance, even if Sect Leader Chu is only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, he’d still receive the highest hospitality when visiting other major factions in the Eastern Wilderness, all because our Divine Wood Sect has two Golden Core Cultivators.”
“Most of the respect our sect receives from those in the Eastern Wilderness is because of them.”
“Am I making sense?”
At Chen Mobai’s words, many showed realization, as they found it to be actually true.
Although Chu Zuoshu’s Foundation Establishment ground completion level was indeed powerful, the reason he was highly respected was because he was backed by Zhou Shengqing and Fu Zongjue.
Upon consideration, the cultivation level of a Sect Leader didn’t seem that important after all.
“But if the Sect Leader is also at the highest Realm, our sect’s reputation will be even more profound,” Zhou Wangshen retorted, maintaining his belief that cultivation level is paramount.
“What do you think, Senior Brother Hong?” Chen Mobai posed the question to Hong He, who shook his head, uttering a straightforward reply.
“The Sect Leader is a reflection of our sect’s prestige. If their cultivation level is low, I’m afraid it will be ridiculed by other major factions in the Eastern Wilderness.”
This implied support for Zhou Wangshen.
Unbelievable! Today’s celebration for Yin Qingmei became a public shaming of E Yun. Chen Mobai couldn’t help but shake his head regretfully.
It seems he has no choice but to step in!
“If you want to choose a Sect Leader based on cultivation level, no offense to everyone here, but I doubt anyone among you can match me!” Chen Mobai declared, letting go of concealing his aura. Using the Pure Yang Scroll to simulate a mid-level Foundation Establishment Red Flame Sword Jue, he demonstrated he was qualified to say such words.
Upon hearing his words, everyone’s gazes fell on Zhou Wangshen and Hong He.
No one else in the room could possibly match Chen Mobai.
His reputation was simply too astonishing.
“Junior brother Chen is renowned as the number one sword cultivator in the Divine Wood Sect, and his record in the Thunder Nation Battlefield is quite outstanding. I’ve heard about it,”
Zhou Wangshen’s tone hinted at his eagerness to take on Chen Mobai, seeming extremely confident in his own Taoist Body of longevity.
“You’re not his match. Let me do it.”
However, at this moment, Hong He suddenly intervened.
“I still want to try.”
Zhou Wangshen stood up confidently and strode towards the center of the hall. A stage originally intended for magic duels during the celebration was right there, used by the host to demonstrate magic.
And guests engaging each other in sparring was not an unusual occurrence.
Even though Chen Mobai had a great reputation, Zhou Wangshen believed that with his adept Taoist Body of Longevity, he could stand on the same stage as Chen Mobai, against the same opponent from Mountain Shaker Peak.
“If that’s the case, then pardon my inadequacy.”
Despite being able to defeat his enemy in one move, Chen Mobai gave due respect to Zhou Wangshen’s ancestor and gracefully stepped onto the stage. His right hand opened, a gleaming lightning column condensed slowly into a head-sized thunderball in the palm of his hand, which he slammed forcefully into the fully armed chest of Zhou Wangshen.
With the cracking sound, Zhou Wangshen’s Taoist Body armor shattered and he was pushed back more than ten steps, narrowly avoiding being propelled off the stage by the thunderball.
“Rank-3 thunder method!”
Zhou Wangshen, with a hoarse voice, looked behind him. Only had he taken one more step, he would have fallen off the stage.
But as one of the duelers, he was well aware that it wasn’t him who blocked the attack, but Chen Mobai had intentionally pulled back.
“Senior brother Hong, please.”
After defeating Zhou Wangshen in a single move, Chen Mobai then invited Hong He onto the stage.
“Your Longevity Taoist body is still in its early stages of mastery.”
When Hong He stepped onto the stage, he looked disappointedly at Zhou Wangshen who was in trance walking off the stage. The opponent he expected to pressurize him over the next century is surprisingly weak which made him feel a bit unhappy.
But it didn’t matter anymore.
After all, he had another target to drive himself.
Hong He liked putting pressures on himself. He found that as long as someone was chasing him, his cultivation speed to the Broken Mirror stage would considerably increase. That’s why he loved the Divine Wood Sect.
Because there he had E Yun and Zhou Wangshen.
And in the future, he would have Heavenly Spiritual Root Yin Qingmei and the unprecedented sword cultivation genius Chen Mobai.
The fact that Chen Mobai had progressed too quickly had somewhat taken Hong He by surprise.
Now, it was time to rectify it!
Even though Hong He enjoyed pressure, that pressure was of being chased by others and not of chasing others.
He couldn’t allow the roles to reverse.
Thinking so, Hong He opened his narrowed eyes. Chen Mobai was shocked by his pair of dark green pupils.
Hong He had cultivated the Azure Waves Cultivation, a common technique of the Divine Wood Sect dealing with water attribute. This cultivation technique was not even as strong as the Blackwater Cultivation.
However, it was this technique that helped Hong He to dominate in the Divine Wood Sect for ages.
As both of them were fellow sect members practicing against each other, they didn’t use any magic artifacts or charms. They purely competed using their cultivation techniques.
Hong He flicked his five fingers towards Chen Mobai and forcefully outstretched his palm.
An enormous transparent hand, enveloping half the hall, emerged out of thin air, and the surging tidal waves came with a potential to sweep away everything in its path, fiercely landed.
Chen Mobai, despite his self-confidence, never underestimated any opponent. When Hong He performed Azure Waves Cultivation, he also decided to give it his all.
He spat out an azure sword pill from his mouth.
With a whiz!
A fleeting light appeared and it looked like a beautiful scene opening up the monotony, pressing pause on the stormy sea, and it immediately turned into a tranquil sunset.
The sunset glow on the calm sea was curling and uncurling itself, depicting a beautiful yet calm scene.
Hong He only felt a burning and piercing pain in his hand. He stared blankly at the tiny puncture in the center of his palm.
Through the hollow in his palm, he saw Chen Mobai across, swallowing the azure sword pill.
“Green Flames Sword Slaughter?!”
It was an unbelievable question from Hong He.
“Oh, didn’t you guys know that I’ve mastered the Sword Sha? I’ve been wondering why you guys dared to challenge me!”