Chapter 430: Certain Death?

Zhao Chengqian's face flushed red; he wanted to argue but didn't know where to begin.

The most important thing in using a spear is gathering momentum—how could he not know that?

The move 'Spear Shadow Kill' was extremely powerful; his starting stance was actually a way to gather momentum.

Yet precisely because this move was so powerful, Zhao Chengqian found it impossible to merge the 'momentum' of countless spear strikes into the final thrust.

But what he, a spear-wielding martial artist, could not achieve, Ye Yuan, who used a sword, had accomplished—this was nothing short of ironic.

Today's bout had undoubtedly provided Zhao Chengqian with a highly instructive practical lesson.

As long as he went back and carefully pondered it, perhaps one day he truly could integrate momentum into the Spear Shadow Kill.

"Ji Qing, don't get cocky. Our battle has only just begun! That just now... was merely a warm-up!" Zhao Chengqian's face darkened; clearly, he was now truly enraged.

"Heh, of course I know it's only just begun. You managed to dodge that move just now, but next time... you won't be so lucky," Ye Yuan said with a faint smile.

"Hmph! That's what I should be saying to you!" Zhao Chengqian snorted coldly.

This exchange left the crowd speechless.

"This... this was just a warm-up? If they really go all out, won't they tear down the entire square?"

"The strength of a genius is indeed beyond the likes of us to fathom. Even a hundred of me combined, all at the Sea of Qi realm, wouldn't be a match for the Seventh Prince."

"Most importantly, a hundred of you combined are no match for a single seventh-level Crystal Condensation expert!"

"...He's just a freak. I really want to see where his limits are!"

Ye Yuan's potential seemed endless; just when you thought he had reached his limit, in the next battle he would break through again, reaching a new height.

The onlookers now no longer cared about who won or lost, nor about whom Xiao Ruyan would eventually marry.

What they cared about most was just how far Ye Yuan could go!

Could Ye Yuan defeat the top expert Zhao Chengqian and take his place as the new king of the Windstorm Realm?

In the foreseeable future, as long as Ye Yuan didn't die today, the position of Wind Emperor would surely be his!

...

Under the gaze of the crowd, Zhao Chengqian once again pointed his spear at Ye Yuan!

This time, he actually raised the spear above his head with one hand, while the other hand formed a sword finger, pointing at Ye Yuan from afar!

Soon, a strange atmosphere began to spread.

Everyone had not yet recovered from Ye Yuan's last strike, but now they were forcibly pulled back to reality by this eerie atmosphere.

Zhao Chengqian stood there like a statue, not moving an inch for a long time.

Ye Yuan frowned slightly; instinctively, he felt that Zhao Chengqian's next strike was out of the ordinary.

It wasn't just Ye Yuan; almost all the martial artists on the square felt it!

"What martial skill is this? How does it make me feel like the air is about to freeze? Isn't the Seventh Prince's strongest skill the Spear Shadow Kill? What kind of skill is this?"

"Are you a pig? How long has it been since the Seventh Prince last used a martial skill in public? Do you think His Highness has been standing still all this time?"

"Exactly! I'm afraid even Shangguan Lingyun and the Seventh Prince don't know each other's current depth. But without a doubt, both of their strengths are now unfathomable!"

On the square, martial artists with weaker strength felt it was even difficult to breathe; such an atmosphere made them want to flee!

Clearly, Zhao Chengqian's martial skill was not directed at them, but the fear in their hearts could not be suppressed no matter what.

"Whoosh!"

Ye Yuan suddenly disappeared from where he stood!

Zhao Chengqian's body, which had not moved for a long time, finally shifted slightly.

His upper body turned a little, and his sword finger pointed to another position.

The next moment, Ye Yuan's figure reappeared, but Zhao Chengqian's spear and sword finger still pointed at Ye Yuan!

Ye Yuan's brow furrowed again.

This probing move just now finally confirmed to Ye Yuan that he was completely locked onto by Zhao Chengqian!

"Brother, what technique is His Highness using? Why does it feel so oppressive?" Shangguan Lingxue also frowned, clearly feeling uncomfortable.

Shangguan Lingyun said solemnly, "The last time I fought him was three years ago! It seems he hasn't been idle these three years either! Ji Qing is in danger!"

"What?" Shangguan Lingxue exclaimed in surprise. "How can you be so sure? Ji Qing is so strong; nothing can happen to him, right?"

Shangguan Lingyun shook his head. "If Ji Qing had the strength of the Sea Transformation realm, even just the first level, breaking this move would be easy. Unfortunately, even with the 'Nine Transformations of Yuan,' he only has the strength of half-step Sea Transformation."

"Why is that? I feel that realm doesn't seem so important to Ji Qing! Half-step Sea Transformation and Sea Transformation might make a huge difference to others, but to Ji Qing, it seems no different, right?" Shangguan Lingxue asked, puzzled.

Shangguan Lingyun shook his head again. "The higher the level of the duel, the more important realm becomes! Zhao Chengqian and I have always been at similar realms, neither leaving the other behind. Don't you find that strange?"

Hearing this, Shangguan Lingxue began to find it strange.

Although their strengths were evenly matched, it was impossible for their cultivation of Yuan power to be so perfectly synchronized, right?

Over the years, the two of them had almost always broken through to the next realm at the same time!

Now that she thought about it, it was indeed quite strange.

Shangguan Lingyun continued, "A martial artist's realm is external; everyone can see it clearly, and it can't be hidden. But the comprehension of artistic conception is internal; if we don't face each other, I'll never know how much he has comprehended. But I can be sure that even if there is a gap between us, it's only a hair's breadth. That's why we both tacitly keep our realms similar. We both know that once one of us breaks through quickly, the other will desperately break through too, because if one breaks through first, the other simply won't be a match!"

"But Ji Qing, though his realm is not high, was just gaining the upper hand!" Shangguan Lingxue said in confusion.

Shangguan Lingyun sighed. "The balance between Ji Qing and Zhao Chengqian is not like that between Zhao Chengqian and me. The reason Ji Qing has been able to hold on so far is entirely due to his superior comprehension of artistic conception! His biggest weakness is his realm!"

After a pause, Shangguan Lingyun added, "Ji Qing just tested it; he can't break free from Zhao Chengqian's qi lock! With Ye Yuan's comprehension of artistic conception, if he had the strength of the Sea Transformation realm, he could definitely break free from Zhao Chengqian's lock! But now... he has to face this blow head-on! And facing this blow head-on, even I would surely die!"

"What! Even you would surely die? How... is that possible?" Shangguan Lingxue exclaimed in shock.

Even Shangguan Lingyun, who was as famous as Zhao Chengqian, said he would surely die—how terrifying must the power of this blow be!