I made the entire cultivation world cry

Chapter 442 Top of the Three Lists (Part Two)

As Jiang Yi had predicted, Liu Taozhi ultimately lost to Lei Wanting.

After using up all the one-time magic treasures she had to try to make up for the difference in cultivation level, Liu Taozhi finally admitted defeat after even the tortoise shell talisman was shattered by Lei Wanting's sword.

Lei Wanting said that Liu Taozhi's ice-type sword technique had a certain degree of suppression over his lightning-type sword technique. If Liu Taozhi were at the late Golden Core stage at this moment, the outcome would be uncertain.

Liu Taozhi herself didn't care too much about winning or losing this match; on the contrary, she felt relieved.

Before being teleported away, Liu Tao smiled at Jiang Yi and Luo Qingsi respectively, mouthing that she hoped they would win the championship.

In the second match, Zhaoming faced Yunxiu.

There were few words at the beginning.

Yunxiu's first move was to unleash the Starry Sword Intent, which enveloped the entire arena. The sword light split into multiple pieces, like pieces falling from the Milky Way, and dozens of silver-white sword energies as thin as shooting stars wove together an invisible net.

As Zhaoming took a step, Gengjin bamboo leaves silently appeared, transforming into miniature rotating sword wheels that precisely countered each incoming starlight sword aura.

Zhaoming has a clear and insightful mind; he is a hardcore technical player who excels at countering any move.

Yunxiu is resourceful and decisive, with a keen eye for detail, and is adept at setting traps that are layered upon each other.

The arena was a tapestry of light and shadow, crisscrossed with sword energy, a breathtaking spectacle of calculation and counter-calculation.

Yunxiu's sword moves were continuous, like a net spread across the sky. The Starry Sword Intent gave the battlefield an invisible grid, and every step was within her calculations.

With his sword heart fully awakened and his talent fully unleashed, Zhaoming's Yaoling sword sometimes pierced through the void like a sword soaring through the air, and sometimes mimicked the wonders of star chess to guide the sword energy to deflect. His movements in battle quietly became more efficient, and each response was faster and more accurate than the last.

Yunxiu's attacks were unsuccessful, and his ingenious plans were repeatedly exposed or brutally defeated by the Yaoling Sword.

The pace of the battle was prolonged, with the two exchanging blows for a full hour without a clear winner.

Yunxiu originally intended to win by relying on her cultivation level and drag it out until Zhaoming was exhausted, but as long as Zhaoming stood still, she could quickly absorb the earth's spiritual energy to recover.

Furthermore, the contract between Zhaoming and Jiangyi provides additional support, giving Zhaoming incredible recovery abilities. He can even draw mana directly from Jiangyi to replenish his own energy reserves.

Left with no other choice, Yunxiu finally unleashed her strongest killing move, pushing the Starry Sword Intent to its peak. The entire performance platform seemed to be covered by invisible star trails, and countless tiny sword energies followed the optimal path, attacking from all directions at unpredictable angles, leaving no room for evasion!
Zhaoming also stopped holding back, and the Ten Thousand Bamboo Sword Formation instantly unfolded. Centered on him, the tough and sharp azure-gold jade bamboo burst from the ground, the bamboo leaves above the bamboo forest turned into a rain of sword energy, and the bamboo roots under his feet pierced and entangled him.

The sound of metal clashing was deafening!
The bamboo forest strangled the star trails, the stars annihilated the sword energy, and the center of the performance platform was completely submerged by the violent energy turbulence.

Amidst the swirling light and shadow, only two figures could be vaguely seen darting and colliding at high speed.

After an unknown amount of time, the storm subsided slightly.

Zhaoming and Yunxiu stood facing each other across the platform.

Zhaoming's bamboo hat was shattered at one corner, and his black jade bamboo body was covered with crisscrossing sword marks of varying depths.

Yunxiu's green robes were torn in several places by the sword energy, her face was pale, and her hand holding the sword trembled slightly.

The outcome is hanging by a thread!
The two attacked almost simultaneously, with lightning speed!

clang!
A piercing, sharp screech exploded!
Yunxiu was so shocked that she staggered back three steps before finally managing to steady herself. But a sweet taste rose in her throat, and a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of her mouth.

Zhaoming's sword tip hovered just an inch in front of her heart, its sharp edge piercing her skin with pain.

If Yunxiu had reacted even a fraction slower, or if Zhaoming's sword had been even a fraction faster, it would have been a fatal blow to the chest.

Zhaoming slowly sheathed his sword and stood still.

Yunxiu raised her hand to wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth, looked down at the ripped clothes on her chest, and instead of feeling annoyed, she showed a relieved and slightly admiring smile.

She took a deep breath, sheathed her sword, and nodded slightly to Zhaoming.

"With a clear mind, one becomes stronger when facing a stronger opponent. Zhaoming, you are truly remarkable! In this battle, I was simply outmatched, and I wholeheartedly admit defeat."

After saying that, Yunxiu stopped looking at Zhaoming, nodded slightly in the direction of Jiang Yi outside the arena, and was teleported away in the next instant.

Zhaoming was already extremely difficult to deal with, and Yunxiu dared not even think about it. Add Jiang Yi to the mix, and who could possibly defeat them, master and servant?

The three strongest swordsmen were born, leaving only Lei Wanting, Luo Qingsi, Zhaoming, and Jiang Yi, who stood up to stretch his limbs, on the performance stage.

The final draw began immediately, and the little lark flew out of the clouds once again.

Luo Qingsi stared wide-eyed, nervously unleashing her sword energy at one of them.

Lei Wanting also focused his attention and waited, his sword energy shooting out rapidly.

Only Zhaoming remained still, letting the lark fly overhead before lightly flicking his fingers.

This time, Zhaoming and Luo Qingsi were both unlucky and drew each other.

Lei Wanting was lucky enough to get a bye.

"Senior Sister..."

Luo Qingsi sidled up to the edge of the light screen, looking at Jiang Yi with a pitiful expression.

"I don't want to fight Zhaoming, but I promised my master I would win the championship, so I can't admit defeat!"

Jiang Yi looked at Luo Qingsi's pouting face, which looked like she would cry whether she was hit or not, and then she considered her options.

She didn't care about being the leader of the swordsmanship, and Zhaoming didn't care about it either.

Most importantly, if Luo Qingsi doesn't win first place this time, she'll probably cry her eyes out, and no amount of comforting will help.

Jiang Yi got a headache just thinking about that scene.

Through the light screen, Jiang Yi said to Luo Qingsi, "Then let Zhaoming admit defeat? That way you won't have to 'bully' him."

Luo Qingsi's eyes widened instantly, filled with incredulous excitement, "Ah? Is that okay? If Zhaoming is willing to admit defeat, I'll give him all my treasures!"

Jiang Yi looked at Zhao Ming, and Luo Qingsi followed suit.

Zhaoming looked up, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Yi before landing on Luo Qingsi's face, and he nodded.

He didn't really care about winning or losing, but deep down he still had the fighting spirit to fight Luo Qingsi.

However, Jiang Yi secretly sent a message to Zhaoming, saying that he could fight Luo Qingsi anytime, not necessarily at this moment.

Over the years, it seems that Luo Qingsi has been following her senior sister, but in reality, Luo Qingsi has helped her a lot on many occasions.

For example, during these ten years, Hua Gu was able to successfully cultivate the long-named technique, Zhu Xin, because she cultivated with Luo Qing Si, and even her lightning was imbued with a trace of the primordial true lightning's heavenly might.

Luo Qingsi's master, Bu Liujianjun, also risked his life to save her master and mother, so she should take good care of Luo Qingsi.

Let alone making Zhaoming admit defeat now, if she could participate in person, she would definitely give up the position of swordsmanship champion to Luo Qingsi.

She spoils her own junior sister, so what?
Seeing this, Lei Wanting's eyes widened. He looked at the expressionless Zhaoming, then at Jiang Yi who was still lazy outside the light screen, and finally fixed his gaze on Luo Qingsi, whose eyes were shining with unexpected joy.

"Isn't this a bit too frivolous?"

Many people have worked hard for a hundred years just to win this moment. Zhaoming has the strength, and Lei Wanting is also looking forward to fighting Zhaoming.

So Zhaoming just admitted defeat to Luo Qingsi like that?

Lei Wanting actually didn't want to fight Luo Qingsi the most, since they were both from the Taichu Sword Sect, and Luo Qingsi was a lightning-type sword cultivator like him, so fighting would be pointless.

Lei Wanting was furious and felt sorry for Zhaoming, who had such an irresponsible and unambitious master. It was such a pity!
Just as Lei Wanting was about to stand up for Zhaoming, a sudden change occurred deep within the Kunwu Mountains. This time, Lei Wanting and Luo Qingsi also clearly saw and sensed the anomaly outside the secret realm.

A tremendous, soul-stirring clang resounded throughout the heavens and earth!

On the eastern side of the Kunwu Mountains, a colossal cauldron covered in mysterious runes and swirling with five-colored clouds soared into the sky.

The cauldron radiated countless rays of light, and its mouth spewed forth a condensed, tangible seven-colored elixir of energy.

The bursting forth of elixir energy did not dissipate, but instead quickly condensed in the sky into a huge illusory elixir emitting endless medicinal fragrance.

Golden runes, shimmering with iridescent light, flowed across the surface of the elixir, transforming into three large characters imbued with Daoist charm, which hung high above the giant cauldron.

Jiang Heying, the top alchemist!

Almost simultaneously, on the western side of the Kunwu Mountains, a dull, thunderous sound, like a giant hammer crashing into the void, shook the mountains.

A huge phantom image of a vessel material appeared out of thin air, surrounded by surging earth fire, turbulent wind and thunder, and the incessant clanging of metal.

The phantom image eventually solidified into the shape of a giant forging hammer, with its hundreds of millions of tiny patterns moving and evolving like living things.

Ultimately, these patterns converged into a magnificent rainbow bridge, spanning the sky, and several equally radiant golden characters also appeared on the rainbow bridge.

Jiang Heying, the champion of all trials!

The heavens and earth trembled, and all living things fell silent.

Thirteen cultivator cities, and even the major sects in the heart of the Central Continent, and all cultivators who were paying attention to the Kunwu Mountains, were completely shocked at this moment.

"The Alchemy Ranking! The Hundred Refinements Ranking! My goodness, are there really so many rankings in the Kunlun Secret Realm?"

"It's Jiang Heying again!"

"She's the champion of alchemy, the champion of Hundred Refinements, and the previous champion of Daoist arts—she alone has won three titles?!"

"This...how is this possible? How can one person be proficient in three disciplines?"

"Wait! She's on the sword-making stage, so how did she manage to complete the alchemy and weapon-forging?"

"It's her spirit, it's definitely her spirit! She sent a spirit to participate in other trials in her place. She's so lazy, she'd definitely do something like that!"

"My God! Her sword spirit can break into the top ten of the Sword Dao Ranking and is proficient in swordsmanship! And her alchemy spirit and weapon-forging spirit are also so terrifying that they directly topped the list?"

"Swordsmanship, alchemy, weapon crafting—this isn't a demon spirit! This is practically a god of wealth!"

"Are the demon spirits of Beixuan really this miraculous? And they're even proficient in a side profession?! The way Beixuan controls demons is just too heaven-defying!"

"Are there any demon slayers taking on apprentices? I want to change careers—"

Envy, jealousy, and disbelief all eventually transformed into an endless yearning and fervor for the identity of a demon tamer.

At this moment, countless cultivators wished they could immediately join the Northern Profound cultivators and become disciples of the Demon Tamers.

Dao Yuan Star Lord, Cang Yi Star Lord, and Tian Shu Star Lord, along with Nascent Soul cultivators from all over the Eastern Continent, gazed at the three lists shining brightly in the sky. Even with their firm Dao hearts, they could hardly suppress the turbulent waves in their hearts at this moment.

Jiang Yunye's lips were sore from laughing, while Su Hua scolded him irritably from the side.

"Laugh, laugh, all you do is laugh. With her making such a big splash, she's bound to become the target of everyone's criticism. You'd better think of a way to protect her!"

Upon hearing this, Jue Mingzi quickly said, "He Ying is no longer just herself; she represents the entire Northern Xuan. Rest assured, anyone who dares to touch her will have to step over me first."

Youying replied earnestly, "Me too, I will do everything in my power to protect her from harm!"

On the kendo demonstration stage, Lei Wanting was almost dumbfounded.

For a moment, he couldn't understand how Jiang Yi, right in front of him, could simultaneously obtain both the Pill Cauldron and the Hundred Refinements Champion.

When the four figures were teleported to Jiang Yi's side and he saw the four transformed demon spirits, each with their own unique strengths, even Lei Wanting, who always had a pure sword heart and did not care about external things, was so envious that he almost cried.

As soon as Hua Gu saw Jiang Yi, she rushed over to hug him, while Hong Li tossed her red hair and proudly puffed out her chest.

"A mere alchemy trial? A piece of cake!"

Zhenshan and Duanjin stood to the side, cupping their hands in a respectful gesture, and said, "My lord, we have not failed in our mission!"

Jiang Yi said with a hint of guilt, "It was clearly you who passed the trial, but in the end, I was listed on the Heavenly Ranking. I feel ashamed."

Hua Gu shook her head vigorously to show that she didn't care, but Hong Li scoffed, "It's a trivial matter. I, Hong Li, am not the kind of fox who cares about empty fame. Besides, I don't bother to leave my name on the Kunlun Ranking."

Zhenshan said in a deep, muffled voice, "That's right, Kunlun looks down on us demons, and we look down on it too."

Duan Jin nodded, "It's just an empty title, my lord, you don't need to care. We have gained a lot from the trials, and nothing else matters compared to these gains."

Upon hearing this, Hua Gu immediately took out a white, long-necked porcelain bottle from her storage ring.

Hua Gu cleverly transmitted her voice to Jiang Yi, "I got some good stuff from the treasure vault. This is a drop of innate divine water, which can help me advance. Hong Li also got a drop of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox's essence blood, which can help Hong Li activate the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox's bloodline."

Hongli was unaware that Huagu had already sold her out, and was looking around with ulterior motives in mind.

Jiang Yi asked Hua Gu, "Did you two only get two things from the treasure vault?"

Hua Gu nodded, "Yes, the treasure vault considers me and Hong Li as one."

Jiang Yi frowned, recalling the cultivation technique "Nine Revolutions of Burning Heaven" that she had seen in the treasure vault. It was a technique that was very suitable for Hong Li.

“My lord, this is what we have obtained from the treasury.”

At this moment, Duan Jin offered two items, one of which was a crimson jade slip, which was none other than the "Nine Revolutions of Burning Heaven".

Duan Jin transmitted his voice, "Zhenshan and I are not lacking anything now. We searched for a long time in the treasure vault and finally found that this cultivation method is very rare. Zhenshan can learn a thing or two about the way to control fire, so we chose this cultivation method."

"There is also this painting, which depicts the ancient divine beast 'Suanni,' one of the nine sons of the dragon. Legend has it that it is a descendant of the dragon and the lion. When Zhenshan and I were looking at this painting, we vaguely sensed that the demonic creature was restless, but we did not know why. So we brought it back and asked the master to help us to investigate."

Lei Wanting was still watching from the side, and the situation on the performance platform could be seen by people outside.

Jiang Yi did not open the painting; she quickly put it away when Duan Jin handed her the two items.

"Understood. You all rest here. We'll discuss other matters after we leave the Kunlun Secret Realm. After the swordplay is decided, I need you to fight alongside me again."

The demons were puzzled, but they just looked at each other and then sat down to meditate.

After Zhaoming agreed to her surrender, Luo Qingsi obediently sat down to regulate her breathing and consumed all the pills that Liu Taozhi had left for her.

Even children, when faced with a goal they want to achieve, will restrain their instincts and do their utmost.

But if Luo Qingsi really wins, how should she tell her about not keeping Jianjun?

Thinking of this, Jiang Yi sighed heavily, and her head started to ache again.

One day later.

The final battle of swordsmanship begins. After Zhaoming concedes defeat, he is teleported, and Jiang Yi activates the contract at the opportune moment.

It was just an experiment, but I didn't expect to be able to successfully bring Zhaoming and Yaoling back to my side, instead of throwing them out of the secret realm directly.

Lei Wanting gave Jiang Yi a deep look, then strode into the arena and stood opposite Luo Qingsi.

(End of this chapter)