"Blood Burning Technique!"
The shout was like a sudden clap of thunder on the Martial Arts Arena. Zhou Chen’s body trembled, his face a mask of horror and disbelief.
WHOOSH!
A surging wave of blood-red energy erupted from Luo Tian’s body, and his aura skyrocketed.
"Heavens! This can’t be real!"
"Luo Tian actually mastered the Blood Burning Technique too!"
The spectators outside the arena were all dumbfounded, their expressions a sight to behold.
This battle had been full of twists and turns.
Zhou Chen had just used the Blood Burning Technique to turn the tables and was on the verge of victory.
But who would have thought that at the critical moment, Luo Tian would activate the exact same Secret Technique.
Blood Burning Technique versus Blood Burning Technique!
On the Martial Arts Arena, both Zhou Chen and Luo Tian were wreathed in a layer of blood-red energy, their auras violent and wild.
In comparison, the crimson glow around Luo Tian was several degrees more intense.
Celestial Star Sword Technique! Cloud Traveling Step!
Luo Tian switched from defense to offense, his combat power soaring as he unleashed a flurry of Star Trace Sword Lights that shimmered with a bloody glint.
’How is this kid’s Blood Burning Technique so powerful!’
Zhou Chen’s face paled as he was forced to retreat again and again.
The spectators assumed Zhou Chen was being suppressed by Luo Tian’s Blood Burning Technique because his own power was failing.
But as a cultivator of the technique himself, Zhou Chen could clearly sense the disparity in the Secret Technique’s power.
SHLICK! SHLICK!
Several more bloody gashes soon appeared on Zhou Chen’s body, leaving him in a wretched state.
"Yes! Yes!"
Chen Haofei, Mu Yuyan, and the others couldn’t help but cheer loudly.
Luo Tian’s delayed use of the Blood Burning Technique was a huge, pleasant surprise for his supporters.
’Luo Tian is truly unfathomable...’
Xie Lin was shaken to his core.
From the Sect Affairs Hall to the Spirit Fighting Tower, and now this battle against a Golden Lord, he had underestimated Luo Tian time and time again.
’This brat! He hides his strength so well!’
Liu Ziyan’s face was frosty. She ground her silver teeth, filled with resentment and indignation.
Judging by the situation, Zhou Chen was already showing signs of defeat.
"There’s still a chance,"
The Seventh Prince, Li Yao, said calmly.
"They’re both using the Blood Burning Technique, but the one with higher Cultivation can maintain it for longer. Zhou Chen is at the Peak of the Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening; his Cultivation Foundation is much deeper."
"Right!"
Liu Ziyan’s eyes lit up.
Just because Zhou Chen activated the Blood Burning Technique first didn’t mean he would enter a weakened state before Luo Tian.
The duration of the Secret Technique depended on one’s Cultivation Foundation.
Theoretically, someone at the Peak of the Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening could sustain it for at least fifty percent longer than someone at the Seventh Layer.
Zhou Chen understood this as well.
He gritted his teeth and held on for dear life, abandoning all offense to focus completely on defense.
In a word: stall!
The situation was no longer about who would win first.
It was about who would enter a weakened state first. That person would be the loser.
’A contest of endurance?’
A mocking smile touched the corners of Luo Tian’s lips.
He cultivated the Guiyuan True Skill, making his True Qi incredibly dense. His foundation was in no way inferior to his opponent’s.
Besides, his Blood Burning Technique had been improved by the Celestial Book. Its power was increased threefold, its side effects were reduced by thirty percent, and it was far more sustainable.
Almost ten breaths later.
Zhou Chen’s face was deathly pale, and the hand gripping his saber was trembling slightly.
’I’m almost at my limit!’
In contrast, Luo Tian had a healthy complexion and was brimming with fighting spirit.
’It’s time to end this.’
Luo Tian’s gaze turned cold. The plan had progressed this far; it was time to close the net.
Cloud Traveling Step!
Like a wisp of light smoke, Luo Tian leaped into the air and appeared directly above Zhou Chen.
Celestial Star Fourth Technique—Star Fall and Cloud Disperse!
Luo Tian’s eyes flashed like lightning as he swung his sword, unleashing a torrent of brilliant, starlit sword flashes. The attack was immense, like a nebula, and it descended in a continuous, overwhelming barrage.
"This... No!"
Zhou Chen’s pupils constricted. The terrifying power of that sword strike made him feel as insignificant as if he were facing the vast, starry sky.
"This is bad!"
Outside the arena, the Seventh Prince’s expression changed.
DING! DING! DING! PFFT! PSHH!
A magnificent and vast torrent of Star Trace sword light enveloped Zhou Chen so completely that he could neither dodge nor resist.
"What a powerful Sword Technique!"
The crowd of Golden Students outside the arena, including the two lords Yue Jing and Xie Lin, were all shocked.
The two of them reckoned that even at their peak, they might not be able to face such a move head-on.
In less than half a breath’s time.
Zhou Chen’s wild and domineering Saber Technique was crushed, and his arms and chest were wounded.
PTAH!
Zhou Chen violently spat out a mouthful of blood, staggered, and struggled to stay on his feet.
"The Secret Technique ended! He’s entered the weakened state—"
The Seventh Prince and Liu Ziyan’s expressions changed in unison.
’This is my chance.’
Luo Tian activated his Divine Vein Cold Power, sending a faint, dark strand of Star Trace Sword Qi, hidden within the massive attack, to seep into Zhou Chen’s Dantian.
「At the same time.」
With a CLANG, Luo Tian’s Wind and Snow Sword knocked the saber from Zhou Chen’s hand.
SWISH!
A brilliant, cold gleam of light shot straight for Zhou Chen’s throat.
"Stop!"
Outside the Martial Arts Arena, the Seventh Prince, Li Yao, bellowed, releasing the immense pressure of the Spirit Sea Realm.
WHOOSH!
Luo Tian’s Wind and Snow Sword stopped half an inch from Zhou Chen’s throat. He had withdrawn his killing intent.
"Luo Tian won!"
Sunrise Peak was in an uproar.
Many of the silver and Golden Students were still staring blankly, only just now processing what had happened.
A high and mighty Golden Area Lord had actually been toppled by Luo Tian, a newcomer to the Golden Area.
THUD!
His face ashen, Zhou Chen coughed up another mouthful of blood, clutched his abdomen, and collapsed to the ground.
"Quick, go check on him!"
The Seventh Prince, Liu Ziyan, and the others hurried over to check Zhou Chen’s injuries.
"Damn it! His foundation is damaged!"
The Seventh Prince’s expression changed drastically after he sent a stream of True Qi into Zhou Chen’s body.
’His foundation is damaged?’
Upon hearing this, the faces of the nearby students changed with shock and suspicion.
"His Dantian and Martial Veins have been eroded by an external Attack and Cold Power, suffering permanent damage," Liu Ziyan concluded.
"Luo Tian! How dare you use such a vicious method against a fellow sect member—"
The Seventh Prince, Li Yao, fixed him with a cold glare, exuding the domineering might of royalty.
BOOM!
A wave of pressure unique to the Spirit Sea Realm crashed toward Luo Tian, stirring up gusts of wind and dust.
Some of the onlookers trembled in body and soul, feeling a suffocating pressure.
"Without evidence, you shouldn’t slander an innocent person, Your Highness! If I hadn’t held back, he would already be dead."
Luo Tian was unhurried, having already prepared for this.
During their exchange, Zhou Chen had tried several times to cripple his Cultivation foundation.
How could Luo Tian tolerate that? So, he had devised a plan.
In the battle just now, he had taken no direct action to cripple Zhou Chen’s Cultivation.
Some of his Sword Qi Cold Power had incidentally reached Zhou Chen’s Dantian and Martial Veins, but this was within the normal scope of battle.
The clever part was that Zhou Chen had overused the Blood Burning Technique, resulting in a severe deficit of qi and blood and a great loss of Vitality. This left him with no resistance to these external forces, which in turn damaged his foundation.
"Evidence? Zhou Chen’s foundation is damaged, his Cultivation has regressed, and he’ll never be able to advance another step in his life. Isn’t that enough!"
The Seventh Prince’s voice was harsh and his expression severe, a murderous glint flickering in his eyes.
When he had examined him just now, he too had discovered that Zhou Chen’s external injuries weren’t fatal, and there were no signs of his Cultivation having been maliciously crippled.
The reason his foundation was damaged was likely related to the extreme deficit and weakness he suffered after using the Blood Burning Technique.
"Luo Tian! Kneel and come with me to the Law Enforcement Hall!"
The Seventh Prince, Li Yao, advanced step by step, projecting an unquestionable dominance.
’I can’t be bothered with evidence!’
’I’ll just take Luo Tian down first. With my transcendent status as a Sunshine Student and a Prince, I have all sorts of ways to deal with him.’
Faced with this scene, the students on the mountaintop couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat for Luo Tian.
"Haha! Li Yao! Since when did you start moonlighting for the Law Enforcement Hall?"
A clear laugh rang out.
「The next moment.」
A slender man in a Sunshine Purple Robe was seen strolling over unhurriedly.
"A Sunshine Student!"
The hearts of the students on Sunrise Peak trembled.
The Sunshine Students were the pride of the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion, and at any given time, their numbers could be counted on one hand.
And now, two Sunshine Students had appeared on the peak at the same time.
"Senior Jin?"
Xie Lin looked astonished. How did Luo Tian know such a senior Sunshine Student?
"Jin Fan! Stay out of this."
Li Yao’s brow furrowed slightly.
This Jin Fan was the most senior of all the Sunshine Students.
Furthermore, he came from one of the Seven Great Martial Arts Families of the Azure Cloud Kingdom. He was no ordinary person.
"What do you mean, ’stay out of it’? I only came here to cheer on Junior Luo. I didn’t expect to be half a step too late."
Senior Jin laughed heartily.
The implication was clear.
If you, the Seventh Prince, can come to support your subordinate, why can’t I, Jin Fan, come to support Luo Tian?
In reality, Jin Fan had arrived a short while ago. He had seen Luo Tian use the Blood Burning Technique and then decisively defeat a Golden Area Lord with the Celestial Star Fourth Technique, "Star Fall and Cloud Disperse."
At that moment, the spectators were so highly focused and lost in shock that they hadn’t noticed the arrival of a Sunshine Student.
It wasn’t until the Seventh Prince moved against Luo Tian that Jin Fan stepped forward.
Jin Fan hadn’t wanted to offend the Seventh Prince, but he owed Luo Tian a favor. That, combined with Luo Tian’s stunning talent and potential, made him decide to step out.
"Fine! Since we are both here to offer support, we will leave this matter to the Law Enforcement Hall."
The Seventh Prince gave Jin Fan a deep look and said in a heavy voice.
Since both were Sunshine Students, they balanced each other out. It was best if neither of them interfered.
"No problem."
Jin Fan smiled calmly. Going this far was enough; there was no need to completely antagonize Li Yao.
「Before long.」
Several Stewards from the Law Enforcement Hall arrived on the scene, leading an elderly Physician.
The scene of the battle had not been disturbed.
Zhou Chen lay on the ground, half-dead, his face the color of ash.
"His foundation is severely damaged. The main cause was overexerting himself with a Secret Technique, compounded by the invasion of external forces during the battle."
The elderly Physician quickly reached a conclusion.
With this verdict, Luo Tian would at least not have to bear the primary responsibility.
This was because if Zhou Chen hadn’t overexerted himself with the Secret Technique, which led to his deficit and weakness, his body’s natural defense mechanisms would have prevented such a slight erosion from external forces from damaging his foundation.
Moreover, Zhou Chen hadn’t suffered any severe injuries in the fight. At the last moment, Luo Tian had even "shown mercy with his sword," leaving no evidence that he had intentionally harmed him.
"I don’t believe it! Luo Tian must have done it on purpose..."
Liu Ziyan ground her silver teeth.
Before the fight, she had instructed Zhou Chen to cripple Luo Tian, but the result was the exact opposite.
’This brat!’
The Seventh Prince’s face clouded over. He narrowed his eyes, radiating a dangerous aura.
He also felt something was amiss, but he simply couldn’t find any clues or evidence.
"Thank you for your trouble, Senior Jin."
Luo Tian walked up and greeted Senior Jin.
’Damaging Zhou Chen’s foundation just now was somewhat risky.’
’The basic idea was to simulate the way Lin Dongfeng’s foundation was damaged.’
’I came up with the plan after Zhou Chen used the Blood Burning Technique. During our clash, I deliberately ’cooperated’ with him, letting him deplete his energy. This allowed Zhou Chen to overexert himself as much as possible, increasing my chances of success.’
"Luo Tian, congratulations! You’re the new Lord of the Golden Area."
Jin Fan said with a smile.
Last time, when he slayed the Jade Spirit Python, Luo Tian’s performance had already astonished him.
And this time, his complete victory over a Golden Area Lord was even more stunning and shocking.
"Luo Tian? A Golden Area Lord!"
On Sunrise Peak, the students slowly came back to their senses, their hearts pounding.
In this battle, Luo Tian had decisively defeated Zhou Chen, practically crippling him, and had become one of the undisputed Lords of the Golden Area.
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