Chapter 239
“Fairy Yu Xuan, you must be joking! You are the top-ranked fairy on the Celestial List. How could you consider such a hasty marriage? Besides, my participation in the Holy Son competition isn’t by choice. It’s a direct order from Martial Aunt. As someone under another’s roof, I have no say in the matter!” Yang Chen wore an expression of helplessness.
At this moment, Yu Xuan walked up to him. A faint, pleasant fragrance wafted into his nose. Her tall and graceful figure was almost as tall as Yang Chen. Below her slender neck, a pronounced curve spoke of the weight her slim waist had to bear.
In this regard, she was quite similar to her aunt, Yu Yourong.
As they say, yu you rong, nai da (“Where there is elegance, there is abundance”).
“The matter of participating in the Holy Son competition is entirely up to Junior Brother Yang. I was merely making a casual suggestion, so there’s no need for you to feel troubled!”
Yu Xuan did not linger on the subject, maintaining an air of casual indifference.
She then began introducing Dugu Wutian, who was currently fighting Yu Zun in the arena.
“Junior Brother Yang, since you’ve only been in the Holy Land for a short time, you might not be familiar with some individuals! Dugu Wutian is the personal disciple of the Second Elder. He hails from Central Continent’s Sword Pavilion, and both he and his elder brother, Dugu Wudi, are extremely gifted in the way of the sword! However, unwilling to compete with his brother for the title of Sword Disciple, he left the Sword Pavilion and joined the Heavenly Dao Holy Land, becoming the Second Elder’s personal disciple!”
As Yu Xuan spoke, in the arena, Dugu Wutian and Yu Zun had already exchanged more than ten moves.
Suddenly, a fierce and murderous sword intent shot straight into the sky. Around the arena, countless spirit swords trembled and hummed. A massive blood-red phantom sword, condensed entirely from sword intent, faintly appeared.
“This level of sword intent must be at the perfection stage of the seventh level of sword mastery! Who would’ve thought that Dugu Wutian, at the fourth stage of the Void Refinement Realm, could comprehend such powerful sword intent!”
“It’s no wonder he’s called a prodigy in the way of the sword!”
“Yu Zun’s cousin might actually need to use his full power this time!”
Yu Xuan marveled, but she wasn’t worried for Yu Zun. As she said, Yu Zun had not yet unleashed his full strength.
“Perfection of the seventh level of the sword?” Yang Chen’s lips curled slightly. During this time, he had gained some understanding of sword mastery. Sword mastery, based on the strength of sword intent, was divided into nine levels: From the First Heaven of Sword Mastery to the Ninth Heaven, commonly referred to as Sword One to Sword Nine.
Each level had four stages: Beginner, Minor Accomplishment, Major Accomplishment, and Perfection.
Generally, a sword cultivator in the mid-stage of the Void Refinement Realm achieving Minor Accomplishment of the seventh level was considered quite impressive.
When Yang Chen was in the Fallen Star Mountain Range, his sword mastery was at the Major Accomplishment of the seventh stage. This was the primary reason he had been able to effortlessly destroy three tenth-stage Soul Transformation shadow puppets.
However, now his sword intent had reached the eighth level.
On the stone platforms around the arena, many seasoned cultivators were visibly shocked by Dugu Wutian’s perfected seventh-level sword intent.
But that shock quickly turned into astonishment and disbelief.
Because, Yu Zun suddenly emitted a brilliant jade-white radiance. The dazzling holy light coalesced into a suit of radiant armor and a long spear.
The armor draped over Yu Zun’s body, and the spear rested firmly in his hand. In that moment, Yu Zun transformed into a god of light and war.
“Break for me!”
With a low shout, the long spear thrust forward. A blinding burst of radiant holy light exploded in an instant.
The massive blood-red phantom sword shattered on the spot.
Chuck!
Dugu Wutian was directly pierced through the chest by the spear. The spear, its momentum unabated, pinned Dugu Wutian to a stone pillar at the edge of the arena.
Fresh blood instantly stained the radiant spear red.
“This …!?”
This scene left the dozen or so powerful cultivators present utterly stunned.
A prodigy of the sword, at the fourth stage of the Void Refinement Realm and having achieved perfection in the seventh level of sword mastery, was so easily and thoroughly defeated?
On the stone platforms, the visiting powerful cultivators from other sects all had grim expressions. In their hearts, they secretly wondered if the Holy Sons or Holy Maidens of their own sects could withstand Yu Zun’s spear.
Meanwhile, the elders of the Heavenly Dao Holy Land exchanged glances, their expressions revealing their shock. It was clear that Yu Zun’s strength exceeded their expectations.
“Xiao Chen, Yu Zun has already revealed his invincible stance. The situation has changed; you should refrain from participating! Losing is a minor matter, but if your Dao Heart is damaged, it will be troublesome!”
At that moment, Yang Chen received a voice transmission from Zhan Qiuyun. He glanced toward the stone platform on the right. Zhan Qiuyun was seated beside a veiled, beautiful woman, chatting with her.
From Yu Xuan’s earlier introduction, that veiled woman was a senior elder of the Ethereal Immortal Palace. She had deep connections with the Zhan family, so Zhan Qiuyun had been assigned to entertain her.
“Junior Brother Yang, the divine ability that Yu Zun just displayed was created by an ancestor of the Yu Clan. It’s called …” Yu Xuan began explaining softly beside him.
Though she was known for her cold demeanor and rarely interacted with men—barely exchanging a few words even with her cousin Yu Zun—she now spoke at length with Yang Chen.
Her unusual behavior had two reasons: First, she wanted to win him over through marriage to strengthen the Yu Clan’s bloodline and alleviate the pressure on her aunt. Second, she sensed a pure and radiant aura from Yang Chen, akin to facing the very essence of light itself.
However, in the arena, Yu Zun noticed the two of them conversing. A surge of anger flared in his heart. He had heard some rumors recently. It was said that his aunt intended to arrange a marriage between his cousin Yu Xuan and Yang Chen. Now, his cousin was smiling warmly at Yang Chen, conversing with him with a rare enthusiasm.
Such a display of passion had never even been directed toward him, her cousin.
“That bastard!” Yu Zun clenched his fists tightly, his face darkening.
He and his cousin had grown up together, trained together, and were as close as childhood sweethearts. In his heart, Yu Xuan was already his destined Dao companion. How could she be promised to someone else?
If this bastard dared to lay a hand on his cousin, he must die! Not even his aunt could save him!
Perhaps his aunt wanted to marry Yu Xuan to Yang Chen to draw him into the Yu Clan and consolidate their position. But Yu Zun was confident that he would one day become invincible in this world, capable of suppressing all the geniuses under heaven! Why would the Yu Clan need to rely on such alliances?
With him alone, the Yu Clan would thrive!
Yu Zun reached out and grasped the Radiant Spear, which had pinned Dugu Wutian to the stone pillar. The spear, stained with Dugu Wutian’s blood, emanated a cold, domineering aura as it pointed directly at Yang Chen.
“Yang Chen! I heard you’ve gained the support of several elders and are eyeing the position of Holy Son as well! Heh, such a grand scheme, yet why are you hiding like a coward now? If you truly wish to become the Holy Son, then come and face me in battle! I, Yu Zun, will be here, defeating every genius in the Holy Land and crushing all who refuse to submit! Come and fight!”