Chapter 357: Concession

Translator: yikaii Editor: yikaii

“What kind of nonsense Golden Core is this? After all that, the conclusion didn’t change at all!” Lu Yang shouted angrily.

“How can you call it nonsense? This is an analysis of the situation.” Everlasting Fairy defended her Golden Core.

As the creator of the Invincible Core, she couldn’t tolerate Lu Yang belittling it.

While Lu Yang and Everlasting Fairy were fiercely debating the usefulness of the Invincible Core, Zhou Fangge seized the opportunity to strike.

“Kill!”

Zhou Fangge pulled out four small flags from his robe and tossed them into the air. The flags positioned themselves at the four cardinal points—north, east, south and west—encircling Lu Yang!

Lu Yang felt a shadow cast over his head. He looked up to see a small mountain descending rapidly towards him.

“Mountain Shifting Divine Power!” Lan Ting recognized the spell Zhou Fangge was using. Even for a Golden Core Stage cultivator, this divine power was difficult to execute. Zhou Fangge used the four flags to unleash a technique beyond his cultivation level.

Zhou Fangge didn’t hold back at all; he immediately used one of his three trump cards, a move that could immobilize even a Golden Core Stage cultivator.

Facing the approaching mountain, Lu Yang responded with an ancient divine power.

“Swallowing Heaven Devouring Earth!”

Lu Yang opened his mouth and swallowed the mountain whole, even letting out a satisfied burp.

“It’s the Swallowing Heaven Devouring Earth of the Taotie Clan!” Bai Ming was in disbelief. This was the foundational divine power of the Taotie Clan, and he never expected Lu Yang to have mastered it.

Compared to the Mountain Shifting Divine Power, Swallowing Heaven Devouring Earth was on a whole different level of difficulty.

Bai Ming had heard that even a pureblood Taotie wouldn’t be able to grasp this bloodline divine power at the Golden Core Stage.

“I knew Lu Yang wouldn’t be limited to just one ancient divine power!”

Yan Tianzhi squinted his eyes slightly. As expected of a cultivator capable of challenging across levels, Lu Yang had even mastered Swallowing Heaven Devouring Earth.

He also knew Swallowing Heaven Devouring Earth, but his was a shortcut version, not learned through his own skills like Lu Yang.

Zhou Fangge hadn’t anticipated his carefully prepared trump card would be so easily neutralized.

“As expected of a disciple of an immortal sect, but I’m not done yet!”

Zhou Fangge clapped his hands together, and a blinding white light erupted between his palms, producing an ear-piercing noise that forced the audience to cover their ears.

A mass of searing lightning condensed in Zhou Fangge’s palms, casting electric light on his face, creating shadows that made him look sinister.

“This is Palm Thunder,” Everlasting Fairy recognized the spell.

“This is a technique developed by Ying Tian Immortal. When I challenged him across levels, he used it, except he formed it under his foot when he kicked me for surprise. Somehow, this technique got modified and now people use it with their palms.”

“…Maybe for aesthetic reasons.”

While Lu Yang was speaking, the Palm Thunder struck him directly.

Boom—

The Palm Thunder erupted with terrifying energy, dust billowed, and the shockwaves swept across the entire arena, affecting even Yan heir and the others who were fighting.

Zhou Fangge was panting heavily; Palm Thunder was a technique he obtained from a Tribulation Crossing Stage legacy. His spiritual energy was ten times that of others at his level, but executing Palm Thunder had drained him completely.

“Taking this move head-on, even a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator wouldn’t come out unscathed, let alone an early-stage one!” Zhou Fangge sneered. This was the price for underestimating him.

“Oh, really? I was wondering why it felt like nothing at all.” Lu Yang’s voice came from within the dust, sending chills down Zhou Fangge’s spine.

Just as Zhou Fangge braced himself for Lu Yang’s attack, Lu Yang appeared behind him, smiling as he patted Zhou Fangge’s shoulder.

Zhou Fangge instinctively leaped forward to dodge, but Lu Yang’s hand was like a mountain, throwing Zhou Fangge off balance, making it difficult for him to even stand.

Zhou Fangge swallowed a Replenishing Qi Pill, eyeing Lu Yang warily. “As expected of a disciple of an immortal sect, even this didn’t hurt you. I won’t hold back anymore.”

His third trump card came at a heavy cost but was powerful enough to contend with a late-stage Golden Core cultivator. For the sake of victory, Zhou Fangge felt it was worth the gamble.

Just as Zhou Fangge resolved to use his final ace, he suddenly felt weightless. His surroundings blurred as Lu Yang grabbed his sleeve and threw him out of the arena.

Yan heir and the others, who were locked in battle, watched Zhou Fangge, who had been so confident before the fight, get defeated effortlessly by Lu Yang. They couldn’t help but feel helpless.

To think he dared to claim he’d defeat Lu Yang when Lu Yang hadn’t even used his full strength. Didn’t they notice he hadn’t even raised his sword hand?

Then, they heard the most despairing words: “Haha, Old Meng, you’re still not done? You’re so slow—let me join in!”

Lan Ting and the others couldn’t help but close their eyes, not wanting to witness what was about to happen.

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were both capable of contending with early Nascent Soul cultivators; fighting a group of Foundation Building Stage cultivators was easier than dealing with children.

Seeing Lu Yang join the fight, Yan heir and the others abandoned their pre-battle strategies and scattered, fleeing in all directions.

Instead of fighting head-on, they decided it was better to see who could run the fastest or have the best luck to be the last one standing and secure third place.

The spectators watched as Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou chased Yan heir and the others around like they were chasing chickens. They couldn’t help but feel these two didn’t seem like good people and started to gossip.

“Why do Yan heir and the others seem so pitiful?”

“No kidding, a Golden Core bullying Foundation Building cultivators and laughing so happily—what a disgrace.”

“Brother Meng, I’m from the Yan family of Qingzhou, we’re both from noble families!” Yan heir tried to establish a connection, having heard of Meng Jingzhou’s reputation.

Meng Jingzhou maintained a stern expression. “This is the arena; there’s no distinction of status here. Winning shouldn’t be determined by identity or rank. Holding back against you would insult the competition and tarnish the Yan family’s name.”

Yan heir cautiously asked, “But Brother Meng, doesn’t you participating in this tournament as a Golden Core Stage cultivator bring disgrace to the Meng family?”

“Of course not. I’ve already run away from home.”

And with that, Yan heir was kicked out of the arena.

When Gu Qisheng voluntarily jumped off the platform, only Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou remained.

“It seems the first and second places will be decided between us.” Lu Yang smiled. He hadn’t had enough of the fight earlier, and now he could let loose.

Meng Jingzhou also smiled, releasing his Golden Core aura, causing the ground beneath them to tremble. “Come to think of it, we haven’t fought each other before. This is a great opportunity.”

“That’s exactly what I was thinking.” Lu Yang released his aura, matching Meng Jingzhou’s.

On the stage, the two auras clashed, far exceeding what early Golden Core cultivators could typically emit. The entire arena seemed like a boiling pot, bubbling ominously.

Suddenly, Lu Yang remembered something and looked up at the judges’ panel. “Oh right, Lan Ting, I forgot to ask you something.”

“Go ahead.”

“Is there a prize for first place?”

Lan Ting smiled strangely, a look that made Lu Yang uneasy. “There is.”

“What is it?”

“Third place gets a Core Formation item that increases Core Formation success by 50%, with a 10% chance of forming a first-grade Core.”

“Second place gets a Core Formation item and the Core Formation insights treasured by the State Governor.”

“As for first place, besides receiving the Core Formation item and insights, the State Governor also mentioned that the participating cultivators lack real combat experience and Core Formation knowledge, so the three of us judges will personally enter the arena to instruct the first-place winner on how to fight.”

Lu Yang blinked, looking at the strange smiles of the three judges. A chill ran down his spine, and he turned to jump off the arena.

“Old Meng, first place is all yours!”

Meng Jingzhou grabbed Lu Yang, running off the stage himself.

“My fate is too thin; I can’t bear the burden of first place. It’s all yours!”

(End of the chapter)