Chapter 443 - 235: At This Moment, Jiang Che Is Their God!!

An ancient, desolate, and terrifying aura, as if from the abyss itself, erupted from the tip of his Long Spear!

It was a forbidden killing strike from the Taiyuan Sect’s Ultimate Skill, a technique only the most brilliant prodigies could ever hope to master!

"Taiyuan—Returning Ruins!"

WENG—

The Long Spear swept out!

There was no earth-shattering explosion, nor any dazzling flash of fire.

There was only a pitch-black vortex that seemed to devour all light and life, materializing from thin air as the spear tip traced its path!

The sixteen pouncing Illusion Beasts, all at the Peak of the First Layer of True Master Realm, didn’t even have time to scream. The moment they touched the black vortex, they vanished like clay oxen sinking into the sea, instantly shredded and devoured by the terrifying power of the "Returning Ruins," dissolving into primitive Spiritual Qi!

One spear thrust, ten thousand techniques annihilated.

A situation of certain death was instantly shattered by this single spear thrust, born from a breakthrough in the heat of battle!

Qin Wuya leaned on his Long Spear, half-kneeling. Though his body was taxed to its absolute limit, a wild, uninhibited smile spread across his face as he gazed at the empty ground before him.

He had survived!

...

At the edge of the plaza, the light of the Teleportation Array flashed again.

WENG—

A figure clad in battle armor was teleported out by the Array.

It was none other than Qin Xuange.

He staggered a step before steadying himself. The first thing he did was raise his head to look at the massive ranking Jade Disc in the distance.

[Qin Xuange]

[Rank: Sixty-two]

Seeing this number, Qin Xuange sighed in relief inwardly.

The poise and sharp confidence he’d worn upon first arriving in the Capital City were now gone from his face.

In their place was a deep sense of exhaustion and resignation.

It couldn’t be helped. The prodigies from the other Great States were absurdly powerful.

Especially that godlike, demonic Xiong Tong, and the uncanny, unfathomable Nalan Ruoshui... they hardly seemed human!

Facing Demon Fiends of that caliber, even he had to admit the gap.

With a storm of complex emotions, Qin Xuange returned with heavy steps to the preparation area for Cangzhou Prefecture.

However, as his gaze swept over the seats for the Taiyuan Sect, his steps came to an abrupt stop!

In that instant, his pupils contracted sharply, and an expression of utter disbelief appeared on his face.

It was completely empty.

Qin Wuya...

’He hasn’t come out?!’

’How is that possible?!’

’I know my cousin’s strength perfectly well. Even though he broke through to the True Master Realm, he’s only at the Mid-stage of the First Layer. In terms of foundation and actual combat ability, he should be weaker than me!’

’I’ve already been eliminated due to exhaustion, so how could he possibly still be holding on in there?!’

"Hey!"

Qin Xuange grabbed a nearby Taiyuan Sect disciple who was resting and asked urgently, "Where’s Qin Wuya? Is he out yet?"

The disciple jumped, startled. Seeing it was Qin Xuange, he hastily stammered, "S-Senior Brother Qin... Senior Brother Wuya... he... h-hasn’t come out yet..."

’He really hasn’t come out...’

Qin Xuange released his grip and stood there, stunned.

He looked at the mist-churning Array, his expression becoming incredibly complex.

It was a mix of shock and confusion, but also a faint, almost imperceptible trace... of pride.

「Not long after.」

WENG—

The Teleportation Array lit up again.

This time, the one who walked out was none other than Qin Wuya.

The moment he landed, he immediately looked up at the Jade Disc.

[Qin Wuya]

[Rank: Sixty-one]

"Sixty-one..."

Qin Wuya muttered to himself, and then his gaze fell upon Qin Xuange, who was watching him from not far away.

Their eyes met.

A brilliant smile slowly bloomed on Qin Wuya’s face.

It was the smile of a victor.

Qin Xuange looked at that smile, a myriad of emotions swirling within him, and for a moment he didn’t know what to say.

Qin Wuya took a deep breath and walked over to stand before Qin Xuange.

He straightened his spine, looked directly at this cousin who had always overshadowed him, and said in a heavy tone:

"Brother."

"This time... I finally... won!"

Although it was only the slim margin between sixty-first and sixty-second place.

Although he had only won by a single rank.

But for Qin Wuya, this was the first time since birth that he had truly surpassed him!

Qin Xuange looked at his cousin, who seemed to have been completely transformed, opened his mouth, but in the end only let out a sigh.

"Wuya... you... you seem to have changed."

The old Qin Wuya was proud and arrogant, looking down on everyone. Besides losing to me, he had never faced any real setbacks.

But now, there was a new tenacity in his eyes, a fierceness that would not bow even in the most desperate of situations.

"Is that so..."

Qin Wuya thought for a moment, then said softly:

"Perhaps... it’s because of Jiang Che."

"Jiang Che?"

Qin Xuange was slightly taken aback, then fell silent for a moment before nodding. "You’re right... He truly is a remarkable person. To think that our Cangzhou Prefecture could produce such a figure."

That guy, who shattered common sense time and again and turned the impossible into the possible, truly had a magical ability to change the people around him.

Qin Wuya turned to look in the direction of the Array, his gaze complex.

"Although, the distance between him and I seems to be growing ever wider. From Realm, to Divine Soul, to actual combat... it seems there’s not a single area where I can win against him."

At this point, his tone shifted, and the fighting spirit in his eyes rekindled.

"But I will never admit defeat! Just like... how I used to chase after you!"

"As long as I don’t stop moving forward, one day, I will catch up to him!"

Qin Xuange looked at him, his gaze complex.

He reached out and gave Qin Wuya’s shoulder a light punch, his voice heavy as he said:

"Don’t get too cocky, you."

"You won this time, but next time... I will definitely win it back!"

Qin Wuya laughed, and it was a sound of pure joy.