Chapter 143: Song Qi vs. Yaoye

Wan Lu and Shangguan Yun were evenly matched, trading blows without either being able to gain the upper hand. Watching the two on the arena, Yao Ye yawned, bored.

Just as Yao Ye was mid-yawn, he noticed Song Qi had appeared behind Wan Xin. Song Qi was idly picking at his fingernails, looking utterly disinterested. Suddenly, Song Qi sensed something; he looked up toward a remote corner and locked his gaze onto Yao Ye. Yao Ye squinted back at him. Song Qi stood up, approached Wan Xin, and whispered something in his ear.

Seeing Wan Xin gesturing toward him, Yao Ye remained unbothered. His appearance had changed drastically over the past two years, as had his cultivation level. Yao Ye offered a wicked smile, made a throat-slitting gesture at the staring Song Qi, and then extended his thumb in a mocking display of contempt.

Song Qi’s expression darkened. Just then, the two combatants on the stage were knocked off by the force of their own collision. Song Qi stepped lightly and leaped onto the arena with a cool, dashing grace.

"I am Song Qi, a newly appointed elder of the Wan family. Which senior would like to come forward and offer some pointers?"

Although the question was addressed to everyone present, Song Qi’s sharp, intense gaze remained fixed on Yao Ye. Yao Ye turned his head away with disdain, refusing to acknowledge him.

Shangguan Xiong, seeing his own kin dead or wounded, rose in a fury. He slammed his hands onto the armrests of his chair and took a giant stride onto the arena.

"Boy, I advise you to concede. You are no match for me, and I’d hate for people to say I’m bullying the young."

"Do you truly believe you have me cornered?"

"Hmph, you refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. I want to see what kind of tricks a newly appointed elder like you really has!"

Before the words had even faded, Shangguan Xiong launched an attack. Song Qi shifted half a step to the left, and Shangguan Xiong’s palm struck empty air. Shangguan Xiong couldn't help but look at Song Qi with newfound gravity. He switched his palm to a claw and lunged again at Song Qi’s chest. Song Qi, wearing a faint smile throughout, side-stepped the attack once more.

Shangguan Xiong finally shed his arrogance and began to attack with lightning speed. Facing the barrage of punches that rained down like a storm, Song Qi moved as if he were taking a leisurely stroll.

Shangguan Xiong retreated, his chest heaving. Despite his calm facade, his labored breathing betrayed that the intense exertion had taken its toll.

"Tsk tsk tsk, Shangguan Xiong, you are truly a disgrace. Facing a junior so much younger than you, you attacked first, and even then, you couldn't land a single blow. I think you should just admit defeat!"

Faced with Wan Xin’s mockery, Shangguan Xiong lost his composure. He let out a cold snort and glared viciously at Song Qi. Song Qi, as if he hadn't noticed, continued to smile at Shangguan Xiong without initiating an attack.

"Domain: Scorching Fire World-Ender!"

Shangguan Xiong’s hands danced, forming a towering volcano around Song Qi. The volcano spewed thick black smoke, and the very space within the domain began to distort.

"Young Master, be careful!"

Song Qi waved his hand calmly, acknowledging Wan Xin. Suddenly, the crater erupted with heart-stopping magma. As the molten flow surged toward him, Song Qi stood as if frozen, making no attempt to resist.

"Junior, this is all of your own doing. Let's see how you dodge this now! Hahaha!"

Song Qi let out a loud laugh of his own. "Hahaha, and you call yourself Shangguan Xiong? I think you’re more of a coward. I’m done playing with you! Domain: Blade of Sky-Breaking Slash!"

"Hahaha, don't you think it's too late to release your domain now? Prepare to die!"

"Is that so?"

Shangguan Xiong watched Song Qi’s composed, effortless demeanor and frowned deeply. At that moment, Song Qi pointed a finger at Shangguan Xiong, and a massive ring of light instantly materialized around him.

"Ah! Words manifesting into reality—the Heaven-Reaching Realm! Hmph, you are too arrogant. So what if you are in the Heaven-Reaching Realm? You’re still going to die under my magma!"

Shangguan Xiong had been startled at first, but seeing the magma about to swallow Song Qi whole, he felt reassured.

"It seems, Shangguan Xiong, that you really are a coward. Did you truly think the Heaven-Reaching Realm was merely about words manifesting into reality? Naive!"

Song Qi extended his right hand and shouted, "Deprive!"

Shangguan Xiong’s eyes widened in horror. The entire Scorching Fire domain dissipated into nothingness, as if it had never existed at all.

"This can't be real! This isn't real! Who exactly are you?"

The crowd erupted in an uproar, staring at Song Qi in utter disbelief. Song Qi waved his hand once more, and the sound of a blade leaving its sheath echoed through the air.

"Ah!"

A miserable scream rang out. Shangguan Xiong’s head flew into the air, his eyes wide open, reflecting his dying resentment. The crowd stood up in unison, staring at the young man in the green robes, shaken to their cores.

"Interesting, this is getting more and more interesting. I never expected that we wouldn't see each other for a few years, yet you would reach such a realm."

Yao Ye examined Song Qi with keen interest. Song Qi scanned the surroundings, surveying the crowd. "Which other senior would like to come forward and offer some pointers?"

As Song Qi’s gaze swept over them, those he looked at all lowered their heads, afraid to meet his eyes. Song Qi looked triumphantly at Yao Ye. At this point, Wan Xin stood up and flew into the center of the arena.

"Everyone, the Wan family is the Alliance Leader. Does anyone have any objections? If you do, come up here and speak."

Song Qi raised a hand to interrupt Wan Xin. "Family Head, I heard someone killed my Third Master. Is this true?"

"Palace Master, we must leave! The Wan family is clearly using this opportunity to strike!" Fang Yu said, tugging anxiously at Yao Ye. Yao Ye remained unmoved, gently patting the back of Fang Yu’s hand. "Don't worry, let's watch a bit longer."

"Yao Ye, do you dare to do it but not admit it? As the Palace Master of the Heavenly Palace, what? Are you going to be a shrinking violet?"

"It’s over, we can’t leave! Everything is over!" Fang Yu’s face turned ashen as he slumped back into his chair. Yao Ye chuckled, stood up, and began to walk toward the arena at a leisurely pace.

"Hahaha, I never imagined the Wan family would collude with the Yunxiao Sect. This is clearly a plot to have us killed!"

The crowd couldn't sit still anymore and glared at Wan Xin. Wan Xin looked at Yao Ye with a haughty expression.

"Since ancient times, the victor is king. History is written by the winners. In the face of absolute power, who dares to object?"

The crowd, remembering the terrifying power Song Qi had just displayed, lowered their heads in compromise, not even daring to vent their anger. Wan Xin nodded in satisfaction, looking down on the approaching Yao Ye with contempt.

"Family Head, you should step back. You are no match for him."

Hearing Song Qi’s words, Wan Xin wanted to argue, but after opening his mouth, he eventually stepped down from the arena. Song Qi spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"Yao Ye, I never expected to meet you here. Although your appearance has changed greatly, I can still recognize you!"

"I never imagined the person thinking of me the most would be you."

"That’s right. I hate you so much I could grind your bones to dust. Let’s have a real fight! If you dare to flee, I will expose your identity and ensure you never have another day of peace."

"It seems I can't hide anymore. Very well, I also want to see just how far my cultivation has reached! Don't let me down!"