Though Luanjintuo was undeniably powerful, its effectiveness depended on the strength of both users. Wang Ye's Luanjintuo couldn't affect the Old Heavenly Master, nor could it affect Feng Baobao.
Feng Baobao, though seemingly weak, couldn't even defeat someone like Baron. However, this was because she fought entirely on instinct, without using any specific techniques. Her latent power, on the other hand, was immense. Though her qi could only crush a soda can, if one measured the raw energy stored within her, she was a rare powerhouse among the yi ren. Her mastery of qi had reached the level of divine concealment, but due to her amnesia, she had no way of utilizing it, nor did she actively cultivate any techniques like the Old Farmer Skill, which was likely a form of Qi Body Source Stream.
"I concede," Wang Ye muttered through gritted teeth. Despite his reluctance, he surrendered. Two Taoist priests from Longhu Mountain immediately appeared to support him as he left the battlefield.
This time, Wang Ye's injuries were severe, almost as bad as when he had used Fenghou Qimen to predict the outcome of the Luo Tian Dajiao. Given Daniel's possession of the Time Stone, Wang Ye was fortunate he hadn't died from the backlash of his technique.
"It seems like there's no chance for me," Zhang Chulan remarked after Daniel's victory was announced. His expression revealed his frustration.
"Don't worry. I'll bury him," Feng Baobao said flatly, without any emotion.
"Can you really pull it off, Baobao Jie?" Zhang Chulan's mood lifted immediately. For the shameless Zhang, victory was all that mattered, and cheating was just a means to an end.
"Trust me," Feng Baobao nodded confidently.
"No, Baobao, not this time. You're no match for him," Xu San interjected, shaking his head.
"What's the harm? Let Baobao give it a try," Xu Si said, unconcerned. Given that he had trained Feng Baobao to become a "professional burier," it was no surprise Xu Si would suggest such a thing.
With Xu Si backing her, Xu San dropped his objections.
"Are they planning to bury me?" Daniel muttered to himself, noticing Feng Baobao's gaze fixed on him. He turned his head with a slight smile, knowing what they were planning.
"I could strike a deal with Zhang Chulan for the Tong Tian Lu, but there's no need," Daniel thought. Even if Zhang Chulan obtained Tong Tian Lu, he likely wouldn't want it. He already struggled with Qi Body Source Stream—another of the Eight Great Techniques would just invite more trouble. While individuals like Wang Ai and Lü Ci might hesitate due to their fear of Longhu Mountain, the rogue group Quanxing wouldn't show any such restraint. Even in the original story, Zhang Lingyu had been targeted after receiving Tong Tian Lu.
"Shameless Zhang Chulan, I didn't expect you to make it to the semifinals," Daniel said, walking up to Zhang Chulan and his group with a grin.
"Just lucky," Zhang Chulan replied, smiling back without a trace of anger, even though Daniel had just insulted him.
"Luck, huh? Maybe," Daniel said with a laugh. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm determined to win Tong Tian Lu, so there's no way I'm letting you take the semifinals. And you can forget about letting Feng Baobao bury me."
His words left Zhang Chulan and his friends stunned. Trying to bury someone wasn't a big deal, but being called out for it left even shameless Zhang Chulan momentarily speechless.
"You're joking," Zhang Chulan finally managed.
"You know exactly what I mean," Daniel said before turning and walking away.
Later that night, under the bright moonlight, Daniel lay on a fake mountain, resting. Hidden Dragon, covered in bandages, approached and invited him to a gathering.
Since the semifinals and finals would be held the next day, after which everyone would leave Longhu Mountain, Lu Linglong and her group had organized a gathering. They had tried to hold it the previous night, but unforeseen events had cut it short.
Events like the Luo Tian Dajiao were as much about socializing as they were about competition. For many, it was a chance to build connections for the future, as they would all be navigating the yi ren world together.
After considering it, Daniel decided to attend.
"Zhang Chulan, Zhuge Qing, and Zhang Lingyu are here too," Daniel noticed as he arrived. Most of the attendees were from Lu Linglong's circle, along with Zhuge Qing, Zhang Lingyu, Jin Meng, and others. Groups of three or four gathered, chatting, drinking, and snacking.
"This guy's asking for it," Daniel thought, watching a short man who called himself a "Shandong hulk" try to drink with Feng Baobao. However, seeing Feng Baobao down a bottle of white liquor in one gulp quickly scared him off. Still, not wanting to lose face, he challenged her to a drinking contest, leaving Daniel speechless.
Feng Baobao's alcohol tolerance had been honed by Xu Si over the years, and the man had no chance. Two bottles in, he was swaying, proving that even yi ren could get drunk.
Elsewhere, Zhuge Qing found himself in an awkward conversation with Zhi Jinhua, who was probing him about his past mistakes, particularly regarding a certain relationship. Zhang Lingyu, growing annoyed, eventually drove her off.
As for Zhang Chulan, he found himself being flattered by Hidden Dragon, Bai Shixue, and Lu Linglong, who encouraged him to keep drinking. He got drunk even faster than the "Shandong hulk."
After getting completely wasted, Zhang Chulan began a wild escapade at the instigation of Hidden Dragon and others, streaking under the moonlight. To avoid embarrassment, he even activated his Jinguang Zhou, turning himself into a glowing figure as he ran.
Despite the ridiculousness, some, including Zhi Jinhua, focused their attention on studying the Shougongsha, the mysterious technique that protected Zhang Chulan's purity. Even Daniel was intrigued, recording the scene for later analysis.
Sealing techniques like the Shougongsha had largely disappeared from the modern yi ren world. This complete and functional restriction method was extremely rare.
While Zhi Jinhua and her group were interested in research, Hidden Dragon and the others simply wanted to mock Zhang Chulan.
Watching Zhang Chulan's streaking, Xu San and Xu Si sighed but didn't intervene. At most, it was just a harmless joke.
"I guess I won't be getting buried after all," Daniel thought, seeing the chaotic party that lasted late into the night. Even Zhuge Qing and Zhang Lingyu didn't seem interested in returning to their rooms and slept right in the woods. For the yi ren, staying up late, even before a competition, didn't make much difference.
The next morning, as the referee announced the start of the semifinals, Daniel faced off against Zhang Chulan. The moment the match began, Zhang Chulan activated his Jinguang Zhou, covering himself in a powerful golden aura.
This sudden display of power startled many in the audience. Until now, Zhang Chulan had relied on deception, trickery, and Feng Baobao's assistance. Seeing him finally reveal his true strength was a surprise.
"Is he finally taking this seriously?" In the semifinals, Zhang Chulan couldn't afford to slack off. Daniel, well aware of Zhang Chulan's potential, remained unfazed. What surprised him more was that the Old Heavenly Master hadn't interfered in any way.
The Old Heavenly Master had gone to great lengths to ensure Zhang Chulan's victory in the past, even drugging his own disciple, Zhang Lingyu. Yet, this time, he had left things alone—a curious change.
Bang!
Zhang Chulan, enveloped in his golden aura, launched a punch, but Daniel easily deflected it with his green bamboo staff, shattering the protective Jinguang Zhou and sending Zhang Chulan stumbling back several meters.
"You're no match for me. You should surrender," Daniel said, holding back his full power. Unlike Wang Bing, Zhang Chulan wasn't his enemy, so Daniel only aimed to shatter the protective aura without causing physical harm.
"Surrender? No, the real fight starts now," Zhang Chulan shouted. Normally, he would have conceded immediately, avoiding unnecessary battles. But this time was different. For himself and for Feng Baobao, Zhang Chulan had to win.
Suddenly, Zhang Chulan's body began to emit powerful white lightning—Yang Wulei.
The sight shocked many in the crowd. The thunder techniques of Longhu Mountain's Heavenly Master Mansion were famous throughout the yi ren world, and few expected Zhang Chulan to have mastered Yang Wulei as well.
Pa!
Zhang Chulan unleashed a powerful palm thunder at Daniel, a bolt of white lightning streaking toward him.
"If anything, Zhang Chulan should be using Yin Wulei," Daniel mused. Zhang Lingyu and Zhang Chulan seemed better suited to each other's techniques. Yang Wulei relied on righteousness and purity, but Zhang Chulan's personality didn't align with that ideal. Like Daniel, he wasn't a villain, but he wasn't purely righteous either.
With a casual wave of his staff, Daniel dispersed the palm thunder effortlessly. As Zhang Ch
ulan tried to sneak a follow-up attack from behind using a small white bug, Daniel flicked his staff backward, dispersing the hidden attack without even turning around.
"Let's not drag this out. Show me your best move. Otherwise, you won't get another chance," Daniel said.
Realizing his attacks weren't working, Zhang Chulan fell silent, his head lowered in thought. For all his shamelessness, Zhang Chulan still had his pride.
"Small White Long Bug," Zhang Chulan finally shouted, gathering all his lightning into a wriggling electric serpent.
"A small bug, eh? Are you planning to turn it into a dragon next?" Daniel thought, watching the writhing creature. Though it looked like a worm or snake now, with enough time and development, it could become something far more formidable.
But that day was far off. With a gentle wave, Daniel shattered the small white long bug into fragments of lightning.
"I surrender," Zhang Chulan said immediately after his final attack was nullified.
Though Zhang Chulan had great potential, ten years of lost time couldn't be made up so quickly. Even Qi Body Source Stream couldn't close the gap between him and fighters like Zhang Lingyu or Zhuge Qing, especially in terms of qi reserves.
In the original story, if not for the Old Heavenly Master drugging Zhang Lingyu, Zhang Chulan would have never made it to the finals.
"Ge Nie and Zhang Lingyu, please enter the arena," the referee announced as the finals began. Zhang Lingyu, knowing what was at stake, immediately activated his Yin Wulei, unleashing its ultimate move, Beijing Cangtang. Black lightning crackled around his body, spreading across the ground, dark and deadly.
This time, Zhang Lingyu wasn't merely accepting his role as the Yin Wulei user. He was fully committed to defending the honor of Longhu Mountain. For Zhang Lingyu, losing this battle would be a disgrace, not only to him but to the Heavenly Master Mansion.
He charged toward Daniel, refusing to rely solely on his defensive technique, using Yin Wulei as if it were Yang Wulei.
"Absorbing and draining the marrow, clouding the heart—Yin Wulei is actually quite suitable for me," Daniel mused. While Yin Wulei lacked the fame of Yang Wulei, it was by no means inferior. In fact, in some situations, it was even stronger. A battle with a Yin Wulei user was like being under constant debuff, sapping strength and will.
Though Zhang Lingyu was a formidable opponent, Daniel ended the fight swiftly, striking him multiple times with his bamboo staff and forcing him back repeatedly.
"Impressive resilience," Daniel thought, watching Zhang Lingyu stand up after being knocked down for the third time, his body still crackling with dark energy.
Due to the effects of Beijing Cangtang, the arena floor was covered in black lightning. While it didn't seem dangerous from afar, anyone in the thick of it would realize how insidious it was—corrosive, draining both body and spirit.
"Damn him," muttered a plain-looking youth in the stands, a flicker of murderous intent in his eyes as he watched Zhang Lingyu being knocked down over and over again.
_________________________
[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! Only $5 per novel or $15 for all!!] [[email protected]/Mutter]
[+50 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[+5 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]