Chapter 517 - 38: Edge of Death (Part 2)

"Imprison!"

Song Changsheng let out a thunderous shout. The Grand Array instantly transformed as rays of starlight refracted downward, morphing into a thousand chains that bound Jin Yue’s hands, feet, neck, and torso.

With a flick of his palm upward, Song Changsheng hoisted Jin Yue into the air, leaving him spreadeagled.

"I invoke the Gourd Spirit Slayer!" Song Changsheng’s voice boomed like thunder. The Spirit-Slaying Gourd spun rapidly as an Invisible Blade shot straight toward Jin Yue’s mind.

"AHHH—"

Jin Yue’s eyes turned bloodshot as he let out a pained roar.

Striking while the iron was hot, Song Changsheng’s hands rapidly formed a series of seals. A brilliant golden dagger materialized and slashed down toward Jin Yue’s head.

"Little Divine Technique—Soul-Slaying Golden Saber!"

"VMMMM—"

Countless mystical runes surfaced on Jin Yue’s body, stopping the Soul-Slaying Golden Saber less than half an inch from his forehead.

"THUD."

The starlight chains failed, and Jin Yue’s body crashed heavily to the ground.

In the viewing stands, Master Wuxin’s expression was exceptionally foul. She had personally inscribed the runes on Jin Yue’s body before the match, intending for him to use them to catch Yinn Shang by surprise and land a devastating blow.

’Who knew Jin Yue would be so pathetic? He was pushed this far by some junior from a minor clan. If it weren’t for those runes, he would have certainly died to the Soul-Slaying Golden Saber.’

’Useless trash,’ Master Wuxin cursed inwardly. ’I had assumed that even if the Celestial Vein Sect couldn’t win it, Luoxia City should’ve been out of the question. And yet, Jin Yue didn’t even make it to Yinn Shang.’

In stark contrast to Master Wuxin’s fury, Bai Zimo was feeling utterly delighted.

The Golden Crow Sect and the Celestial Vein Sect had been rivals for many years, always evenly matched. He had assumed the final would be between the Golden Crow Sect and his own, their old adversary. He never would have imagined that the Golden Crow Sect would stumble against Luoxia City.

If not for the inappropriateness of the occasion, he would have burst out laughing.

’Perhaps... I can end this farce ahead of schedule?’ A sharp glint flashed in Bai Zimo’s eyes as his mind began to race. ’The Celestial Vein Sect has made more than enough preparations for this tournament.’

His lips twitched slightly. On another arena stage, Qii Shuheng, who had been looking utterly bored, suddenly stiffened. A cold smirk then touched his lips.

Having just escaped the jaws of death, Jin Yue was completely oblivious to the undercurrents swirling in the viewing stands. His heart was filled with lingering dread. Just moments before, he had truly felt the aura of death, and the sensation left him terrified.

But after that brief terror, an indescribable rage surged through Jin Yue.

From the very beginning, he had considered Yinn Shang his only worthy opponent. He never imagined that a mere nobody like Song Changsheng would force him to expend a life-saving trump card.

A raging fire ignited in his chest. Jin Yue glared at Song Changsheng and ground out, word by word, "I! WANT! YOU! DEAD!"

Song Changsheng’s brow furrowed. ’He didn’t expect Jin Yue to be so unwilling to give up, even at this point.’ He secretly raised his guard.

"BOOM—"

Concentrating all his power in his legs, Jin Yue leaped into the air. His Fangtian Halberd chopped down with unstoppable momentum, his ten-foot-tall frame radiating an oppressive aura.

Song Changsheng took a slight step back with his left foot, channeling his full power into his right arm. The Earth Core Cold Flame gathered there, forming a blazing gauntlet over his fist.

"SWISH."

Just then, a sinister smile spread across Jin Yue’s face.

A nerve in Song Changsheng’s mind snapped taut, and a dire premonition flooded his heart.

The next moment, the twin Moon Blades on Jin Yue’s Fangtian Halberd suddenly detached, transforming into two streaks of light that shot toward Song Changsheng from the left and right.

Alarm bells screamed in Song Changsheng’s mind as he sensed an extremely dangerous aura.

With no time to think, Song Changsheng instantly summoned the Tai Chi Diagram to defend himself.

He hadn’t intended to use it, as its grade was uncertain, but now that his life was on the line, he couldn’t worry about that anymore.

"BOOM—"

The two Moon Blades exploded, unleashing a brilliant light that engulfed both figures. A powerful shockwave instantly swept across the entire arena, and the tremor could be felt throughout half of Dingyuan City.

The viewing stands erupted in gasps of alarm.

Zhuang Yuechan shot to her feet, her heart clenching with anxiety.

When the brilliant light faded, Song Changsheng was revealed. His hair was a mess, a trickle of crimson blood stained the corner of his mouth, and his aura was faint to the extreme.

But to everyone’s astonishment, Jin Yue was lying stiffly on the ground. A gruesome wound stretched from his left shoulder to his right hip, cut so deep the bone was visible. One could even glimpse his pulsing organs. He was taking in far more air than he was letting out—clearly on the verge of death.

Seeing this, the minds of most people present were filled with questions. ’What in the world happened in those few short moments?’

Wang Siqian and the others, in particular, wore expressions of utter disbelief.

"The victor of this match is Luoxia City." Luu Yuming’s expression was grim. In this last bout, Jin Yue had first broken the rules by using a disposable Protective Rune, then used another consumable item similar to a Talisman. His complete disregard for the rules was a slap in the face to the judge.

But with Jin Yue now half-dead, he could only suppress his anger. He gave Song Changsheng a nod and returned to the judges’ platform. Looking to Master Wuxin, he said in a low voice, "Fellow Daoist Bai, I believe you owe me an explanation."

"You will have it," Bai Yan said, taking a deep breath. The Golden Crow Sect was clearly in the wrong today. If she didn’t handle this properly, they would make an enemy of the Hundred Herbs Hall.

Wang Siqian and the others rushed up to check on Jin Yue’s injuries, while Shen Shishi quickly moved to support the teetering Song Changsheng.

"Thank you, Senior Sister," Song Changsheng said. Not a drop of Spiritual Power remained in his body; he couldn’t even stand on his own.

Shen Shishi gave him a radiant smile and carefully helped him down from the arena stage.

"There are still four hours until midnight. Sixth Junior Sister, take good care of Changsheng. I’ll go hold the stage." Yinn Shang patted Song Changsheng’s shoulder, his eyes filled with guilt. This was supposed to have been his fight.

Song Changsheng managed a weak smile. "Don’t worry, Eldest Senior Brother. I’m just a little drained."

"Rest well." Yinn Shang nodded and walked onto the arena stage.

"How did you manage to defeat Jin Yue?" Shen Shishi asked curiously as she helped Song Changsheng sit down at the side.

"I used a few of my trump cards," Song Changsheng said with a slight grimace, not elaborating further.

Shen Shishi saw this and tactfully decided not to press the issue. After all, everyone had their secrets.

Song Changsheng had made it sound simple, but the situation moments ago had been perilous to the extreme.

When the two Moon Blades had come at him, Song Changsheng had relied on his lightning-fast reflexes to summon the Tai Chi Diagram to block the explosion, but the shockwave had still damaged his internal organs.

At that same moment, Jin Yue had closed the distance, his eyes filled with overwhelming killing intent. He was clearly aiming to take Song Changsheng’s life.

Song Changsheng was not naive enough to believe Jin Yue would abide by the so-called rules of the tournament. Jin Yue was from a Golden Core Major Lineage, while he was merely the Clan Leader of a minor clan.

Even though he was fighting for Luoxia City, if he were to die at Jin Yue’s hands, there was no way Luoxia City would go to war with the Golden Crow Sect over him, much less demand Jin Yue pay with his life.

Under these circumstances, for Song Changsheng to continue holding back would have been courting death.

Therefore, Song Changsheng had decisively activated the Inconstant Killing Array within his body, grievously wounding Jin Yue.

The Inconstant Killing Array, having reached Tier Three Low-Grade, was astonishingly powerful. If he hadn’t held back at the critical moment, Jin Yue would have been sliced in two.

Using the Inconstant Killing Array in a place like this was an extremely risky move, but he’d had no other choice. He could only pray no one had discovered his secret.

The ’Array Carved on Body’ was a completely new path. If others discovered it, the Song Clan would never know a day of peace and might even face annihilation!

Fortunately, he had been inside his own Array, and with the bright light providing cover, no one should have been able to notice anything amiss.

Just then, a handsome and distinguished-looking young Cultivator stepped out from the Golden Crow Sect’s ranks. To everyone’s astonishment, he leaped onto the arena stage where Yinn Shang now stood.

He bowed, cupping his fist toward Yinn Shang, and announced in a clear voice, "Zhang Yuheng of the Golden Crow Sect! I ask for your guidance, Fellow Daoist!"

...

PS: Another Chapter will be out later. I haven’t been feeling my best the past couple of days, so please point out any mistakes you find, fellow Daoists.