Chapter 196: High Stakes Gamble
Lightning Law is profound and mysterious, with unmatched might.
It is said to transcend the Martial Way, a kind of immortal technique.
This vast territory was once called “Lingxiao Life Realm.” In that era, those with Lightning Law aptitude held status far above other Martial Cultivators, even able to trample Pure Immortal Body underfoot.
It was Zen Sea Observing Mist’s powerful rise that pulled Lei Xiao Sect from the ruler’s throne.
The two words Ling Xiao refer to what they towered over: the former Lei Xiao Sect.
It could be said that although Lei Xiao Sect is the only Ten Million Sect in Lingxiao Life Realm, dominating the Eastern Territory with disciples spread across Various Prefectures and overwhelming power. But compared to its historical prosperity and peak, it is now in its weakest and most decadent state.
This is why Lei Xiao Sect is so ambitious, seeking to claim dominion under heaven.
In their view, they are not rebelling, but rising again, seeking revenge, striving forward, breaking out of the Eastern Territory to restore the ancestral master’s glory.
Lei Xiao Sect Disciples proficient in Lightning Law naturally have Top Tier combat power in the same realm.
“Boom!”
In this street block, thunderous sounds rang in the ears.
Bright electric arcs shuttled and flowed, releasing extremely powerful destructive energy.
The young Martial Cultivators from Various Prefectures watching below the arena were all amazed, gathering in groups of three or five, whispering discussions. Many of them were seeing a proper Lei Xiao Sect Disciple for the first time, truly feeling the power of Lightning Law, admitting they could not match Luo Zhan in the same realm.
“In the same realm, Martial Cultivators’ Protective Magic Energy is hard to block Lightning Law; they must wear a Magic Tool Battle Robe of sufficiently high grade.”
“Metal battle robes won’t do; it must be specially made to isolate and block lightning.”
“Using bow and arrow, Hidden Weapon, or Mind Power for long-range attacks should work against it. But attack speed definitely can’t match lightning’s randomness, so they’d be at a disadvantage.”
…
Li Weiyi’s movement technique speed was light, swift, shadowy and illusory, unpredictable, shuttling through the lightning, constantly evading danger.
“Bang!”
Taking advantage of the gap while Luo Zhan cast Lightning Law, one finger broke through his protective electric gang.
Immediately after, the next palm came like a mountain-toppling tsunami, palm wind whistling like a wall of wind, striking him down off the arena.
“Luo Zhan of Lei Xiao Sect, defeated in seven moves.”
Luo Zhan was uninjured and quickly stood steady below the arena, his face cloudy and uncertain.
He knew Li Weiyi was very strong, keeping his mentality very even, not seeking to win. But as a Lei Xiao Sect Disciple, failing to even withstand ten moves was too humiliating!
Li Weiyi’s profound master-like demeanor naturally called for some guidance: “Lei Xiao Sect lives up to being the number one sect under heaven. The profundity of its Lightning Law and its domineering power have no second in the world. Luo Zhan, do you know where you lost?”
Luo Zhan was also reviewing in his mind: “The arena you built is too small! Lightning Law can’t be fully unleashed. If the field were big enough, let alone ten moves, you might not defeat me in a hundred.”
Luo Zhan considered himself calm and rational, but many on site heard his unwillingness.
Li Weiyi shook his head with a long sigh: “The strong self-reflect; the weak blame others. You haven’t even seen the problem on yourself clearly. You rely too much on Lightning Law, so once someone gets close, you lose all power to resist.”
“Moreover, your Lightning Law has a fatal flaw. After the sixth attack, there’s an obvious time when Magic Energy can’t keep up. If you don’t fix this flaw and let enemies seize the opportunity, they will take your life.”
“Today, it wasn’t Lei Xiao Sect that lost, just you, Luo Zhan.”
In the Martial Way, Li Weiyi often heard Jar Master and Jar Master teach, so his words were precise and well-reasoned. He could speak from Magic Energy circulation’s influence on moves to strength differences under different states of mind.
He could also point out these Martial Cultivators from angles like flaws and advantages, mind and spirit, and more.
In short, he had to find sufficiently convincing reasons for his Mortal Body possessing absolute combat power.
For example:
Peak martial arts cognition.
Luo Zhan’s eyes stared blankly, face changing abruptly, feeling every word from Li Weiyi was like truth, as if completely seen through.
“Thank you Young Master Li for the guidance. Luo Zhan is convinced in defeat. But I will come challenge again…”
Luo Zhan gave a salute, secretly pondering how to fix the flaw.
Li Weiyi’s voice was resounding, every word like a nail: “Who is the strongest in Lei Xiao Sect’s Five Seas Realm Fourth Stage? Bring him!”
“Young Master Li, Lu Wensheng is here.”
With a melodious voice sounding.
Lu Wensheng’s body was wrapped in lightning, like a serpentine beam of light, crossing over ten zhang distance, shooting onto the arena.
“Sizzle!”
The ground of the entire arena immediately crawled with countless lightning earthworms.
“Heavens, even Lu Wensheng has been alerted!”
“This is that successor’s own brother, Nine Springs Pure Immortal Body!”
“Nine Springs Pure Immortal Body is just the foundation, but Lu Wensheng’s strongest is his Lightning Law. It’s said he’s cultivated the Eighteen Thunder Strike Formation, able to Defying the Strong, defeating Five Seas Realm Fifth Stage strong practitioners multiple times.”
“In the same realm, even the successor might not beat him.”
…
Lei Xiao Sect’s young disciples all stepped forward together, heroic and spirited, each with an air of superiority.
Li Weiyi focused fully, sizing up Lu Wensheng standing three zhang opposite: “My opponent has finally appeared!”
Lu Wensheng was very gracious: “You’ve fought many matches in a row; rest a bit. I’ll wait for you to recover to your strongest state.”
“No need, I’m already at my strongest.”
Li Weiyi’s Jade Void Breathing Technique was unmatched; even if Magic Energy in his Sea of Qi was consumed, he could recover at extreme speed. And up to now, he hadn’t used any Magic Energy from the Third Sea of Qi, not wanting to affect accumulation progress.
Lu Wensheng sensed the wild vigor on his opponent, looking toward the cloth banners on both sides of the arena: “How about adding a little wager? If you lose to me, hang these two cloth banners on the stone pillar at Taoli Mountain’s sect gate for three days.”
Taoli Mountain was the central ancestral mountain in Qiu Prefecture City, where Zuo Qiu Gatehouse was located.
Li Weiyi said: “I can’t decide that… Brother Lu seems to come with ill intent.”
“If Zuo Qiu Ting dares write such arrogant words, he should pay the price. If you really can’t do it, then switch it: after losing, eat these two cloth banners in front of Taoli Mountain’s sect gate.” Lu Wensheng said.
Lei Xiao Sect and Dragon Gate, these rising Righteous Armies attending the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, naturally weren’t here to boost Zuo Qiu Gatehouse. Instead, they intended to use this chance to suppress Zuo Qiu Gatehouse, making Du’e Temple switch support to them.
It could be said that even knowing Li Weiyi’s strength matched his own, Lu Wensheng still saw him as a lackey, his mind fully on how to borrow the chance to crush Zuo Qiu Gatehouse’s prestige.
Li Weiyi said: “Brother Lu, what if you lose?”
“Then I’ll eat these two cloth banners in front of all Martial Cultivators under heaven. Fair?”
Lu Wensheng naturally had his own calculations.
On the surface, he had to win against Li Weiyi to win.
But in reality, as long as he withstood ten moves from Li Weiyi, he’d break the “Ten Moves Defeat All Enemies Under Heaven” on the cloth banner. Would Li Weiyi have the face to make him eat those arrogant words then?
As long as he made the gambling game around the cloth banners, he stood invincible.
“That won’t do. If you eat them, won’t I still have to get Zuo Qiu Ting to write a new one?”
Li Weiyi seemed to have some emotion too, adding: “If I lose, I lose not just dignity, but all the Spring Coins and Blood Crystals there. I don’t want Brother Lu’s dignity; I want equivalent money.”
“Young Master Li…”
Qi Wangshu felt Li Weiyi was carried away, letting emotion override reason; he shouldn’t agree to this unreasonable gamble.
Lu Wensheng was Sword Finger at the First Successor and Zuo Qiu Gatehouse.
“Don’t mind me! He was the one who first wanted to trample my dignity; this battle must happen.” Li Weiyi said.
Qi Xiao, sitting in the chair, frowned, reminding: “Li Weiyi, Lu Wensheng is a powerhouse even crossing realms; best not act on impulse. If you lose, Zuo Qiu Gatehouse will lose face too.”
Lu Wensheng glanced at the three large chests and one small box, over two hundred thousand Spring Coins—an enormous sum. He didn’t have that much wealth and didn’t want to fight without certainty, hesitating…
“Ten moves, take down Lu Wensheng in ten moves, absolutely won’t disgrace Young Master Zuo Qiu.” Li Weiyi gritted his teeth, eyes firm beyond measure.
“Good! Good qi soul, the gambling game is set!”
Lu Wensheng immediately agreed, fearing Qi Xiao would interfere and ruin it.
Qi Xiao’s face was coldly grim, standing angrily, not wanting to associate with the foolhardy.
Qi Wangshu gripped him tightly, pleading bitterly to keep him there.
The two on the arena had already assumed stances.
One had surging Magic Energy erupting around, fighting spirit high. The other released lightning outward, a tall Battle Intent figure coalescing.
Lu Wensheng knew Li Weiyi’s movement speed was formidable, striking first. Five fingers moved, instantly five several-zhang-long lightning flood dragons coalesced, flying toward Li Weiyi.
Li Weiyi of course knew the opponent was strong, more serious than ever before.
Hiding strength in front of such a strong practitioner while pretending full effort to defeat him was no easy task.
Qing Xu Cicada Escape Step was unleashed, exposing exquisite movement technique, shuttling between the five lightning flood dragons, closing in on Lu Wensheng.
“That’s your true movement attainment!”
Lu Wensheng believed he’d forced out the opponent’s real strength, but unperturbed, one palm carrying lightning slapped out, hard-clashing the approaching Li Weiyi.
“Boom!”
The two suddenly closed then parted, each retreating three steps.
While secretly shocked at Li Weiyi’s terrifying power, Lu Wensheng calmly said: “I’m not Luo Zhan! My Magic Energy and Physical Body are both cultivated, no shortcomings. You’re really strong; few in Five Seas Realm Fourth Stage can match my power evenly.”
“But if that’s all your moves, within ten, you’ll definitely lose.”
“Thunder Strike Formation!”
Lu Wensheng pointed to the sky with a finger.
“Ci Hang Kai Guang!”
Li Weiyi struck out one finger, the light beam vigorous.
Lu Wensheng was forced to halt casting Thunder Strike Formation, waving a hand to strike out a bolt of lightning, mutually annihilating with the incoming light beam.
“Bang! Bang…”
Finger Technique and lightning clashed fiercely, neither yielding.
But the finger technique light beam was only one, while lightning had many; Lu Wensheng always held the advantage.
Qi Xiao’s eyes fixed dead on the arena: “If he can keep fast against fast, not letting Lu Wensheng release the Eighteen Thunder Strike Formation, there’s still a chance to win. But that would take after a hundred moves!”
Qi Wangshu and Zuo Qiu Bai Yuan were more nervous than anyone, constantly counting the exchanges.
“Seven moves, eight moves… nine moves…”
“Nine moves!”
Someone shouted.
At the same time, Li Weiyi, charred black all over from lightning on the arena, roared wildly, hands pressing his temples, then quickly forming seals, chanting an unintelligible incantation: “Ci Hang Kai Guang, free in Heaven and Earth, karma reversed, Dao Birth chaos…”
“Whoa!”
Still Ci Hang Kai Guang this move, but finger force power greatly increased.
