Chapter 34: Chapter 34: The Final Duel
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Time passed, another half-quarter of an hour.
Chen Tianqi saw that Lu Li still appeared unsteady, as if about to collapse, and couldn't help feeling a bit impatient.
"Could this person have also unleashed a Forbidden Technique?"
He felt that the Essence Blood within his body had been depleted by several layers, his complexion turning extremely ashen.
Another while passed.
Chen Tianqi saw that the Sword Qi was still emerging in the void, seemingly never-ending.
Although much weaker than before, it was still beyond his current capacity to defend against.
He couldn't help feeling a sense of despair.
"I..."
Just as he was about to concede defeat, a sudden change occurred on the field.
The surrounding sword shadows fiercely dissipated into streams of light converging onto the blade, and the Aminokaze shone with an extremely dazzling light.
A sword light several feet long undulated in the void, terrifying to behold.
This transformation was completed in the blink of an eye, then swiftly struck down at Chen Tianqi's head like lightning.
Lu Li was constantly observing his opponent's condition and seeing that Chen Tianqi was about to yield, he struck with full force in an instant.
"Ah... The scoundrel was actually feigning! My life is over!"
Chen Tianqi let out an angry roar, his face filled with terror, finally realizing that the opponent's Mana exhaustion was just a pretense.
All happened too suddenly, leaving him no time to prepare; he could only pour all his remaining Mana into the Magic Artifact above his head.
Hoping it could block this fatal blow.
"Villain, how dare you!"
Chen Mo's face was filled with rage.
Members of the Chen Family too looked furiously up at Lu Li and the Lu Family members below, their eyes burning with murderous intent.
"Hmph... what, you want to start a fight? My Lu Family is ready to accompany you to the end!"
Lu Hongchang, seeing the situation, coldly snorted with an overwhelming presence.
As long as he breathed, not just anyone could bully the descendants of the Lu Family!
Hearing Lu Hongchang's words, the members of the Lu Family rose to their feet, their powerful aura suppressing the entire scene.
Among them, Lu Yuting's Qi Cultivation at full circle was the most shocking.
At this critical moment, Lu Yuting also revealed her protective nature, indicating that only she was allowed to "bully" the youngsters of the Lu Family.
Lu Qingqing and Lu Yuling were also very surprised; in everyone's eyes, Lu Li had always been low-key, and they hadn't expected him to have such astonishing methods.
The cultivators from the Lin and Wang Families looked surprised at the platform, realizing that the person from the Lu Family still had strength to spare.
On the other side, Chen Mo and Chen Wuluo saw the atmosphere drop and neither had the courage to start a fight right then.
Their eyes flickered, preparing to break the Array.
The Lu Family was also ready to strike at any moment to prevent a surprise attack.
All this happened in the span of a breath below the platform.
On the battle stage.
Lu Li controlled the Aminokaze, turning it into a huge ray of sword light, fiercely slashing towards the opponent's Defensive Treasure Cauldron.
"Boom..."
A loud collision sounded as the cauldron was cleaved open by the sword, turned toward the Array Light Screen behind it, creating violent ripples.
The Aminokaze's momentum lessened somewhat but continued to slash towards Chen Wuluo.
Chen Tianqi, facing the approaching Flying Sword, felt a chill throughout his body, as if plunged into an ice cave.
He quickly took out several Defense Talismans, and upon their instantaneous activation, several Spiritual Energy Shields appeared above his head.
"I concede!"
At the same time as the talismans were activated, he called out loudly in a hurry.
But the sword had already reached above his head, penetrating several defensive shields before slashing down at him.
Though its force was much diminished.
Seeing the sword blade about to strike his head, Chen Tianqi had no choice but to twist his body aside.
"Ah..."
Along with a scream, an arm instantly fell to the ground, blood spattering the battle platform.
Chen Tianqi clutched his severed arm, his face filled with terror as he looked at Lu Li.
Just now, he had clearly felt the breath of death; if he hadn't reacted quickly, it would have been more than an arm.
This man truly dared to kill him!
Lu Li, seeing that his strike had not killed his opponent, wasn't annoyed.
He quickly retracted the Flying Sword, not striking again, as that previous hit could be excused, but another might result in an immediate battle between the two families, and the situation would be difficult to manage.
"Mr. Chen, my apologies, I couldn't hold back in time..."
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Lu Li wore a smile on his face, completely harmless to man and beast.
At this moment, Chen Mo also opened the Array and joined Chen Tianqi's side.
Members of the Lu Family also gathered around Lu Li.
The atmosphere between the two parties tensed instantaneously, like drawn swords and ready crossbows.
"Chen, old ghost, what do you mean by this? As I've said before, if a war is what you want, the Lu Family is ready to oblige!"
Seeing this, Lu Hongchang did not mince words.
"Hmph... such vicious scheming in one so young."
Chen Mo let out a cold hum, his eyes glinting with a chilly light.
"With Chen Wuluo and Zhu Yu as precedents, I see nothing inappropriate here."
Lu Hongchang smiled slightly, clearly in a good mood.
Chen Wuluo's earlier actions had left the members of the Lu Family nursing a grudge, and to turn the tables with a taste of their own medicine had offered some sweet retribution.
At this moment, an elder from the Lin Family began to mediate: "It can also be understood that the younger members of the Lu Family might not have held back in the heat of the moment, and they did not pursue the matter further. It might be best to let this go, to avoid damaging our collective harmony."
Anyone with eyes could see this was an outright fabrication, yet the Chen Family members were powerless to contest it.
The consequences of starting a war now were unpredictable.
With this in mind, Chen Mo let out a cold hum and led his people down from the platform.
Chen Tianqi picked up his arm from the ground and left the battlefield.
As he departed, he cast a hate-filled glance at Lu Li.
This battle had severely disrupted his path; though his arm could be reattached, the injury to his physical body was not so easily healed.
Furthermore, with his Essence Blood damaged, a full recovery might take over a decade.
By the time his Qi Cultivation was complete, he would be over sixty years old, making Foundation Establishment all the more elusive.
Such enmity was irreconcilable under heaven!
Back at his spot, Chen Tianqi glared venomously at Lu Li.
Lu Li's mouth curled with a hint of coldness.
It seemed a more permanent solution to rid himself of this man would have to be found.
Lu Li rejoined the others at a distance and sat down cross-legged to begin restoring his Mana.
Meanwhile, the elders of the four families met on the platform.
An elder from the Wang Family commented with a hint of envy, "Mr. Lu, with the scores of the Chen Family and Lu Family now even, will you choose to challenge them again?"
"Of course."
Lu Hongchang nodded in agreement.
Before stepping down from the platform, he had received a message from Lu Li to challenge Chen Wuluo the next day.
"Then by the rules, tomorrow will determine the final rankings."
Afterward, the four returned to their respective places.
At the Chen Family's assembly point, Chen Wuluo sneered. He couldn't believe this person would truly dare to come and meet his end.
If that was all the Sword Array amounted to, then it was insufficient; he was no Chen Tianqi.
...
The next day, at dawn.
The morning sun had just begun to rise.
Lu Li slowly exhaled a murky breath, having fully recovered his Mana after a day's rest.
At that time, Lu Hongchang and Chen Mofei ascended the platform.
"The final battle, Chen Wuluo versus Lu Li."
Then, the two flew back to their places.
Lu Li leapt up energetically and flew onto the battlefield.
The frenzy of the wind whipped his white robe, making a rustling sound.
He stood on the platform, hands clasped behind his back.
His tall, straight figure stood like a mountain, emanating a sense of steadiness.
From below, Lu Yuling watched Lu Li with admiration, only now realizing just how deeply her sixth brother had concealed his strength.
Lu Qingqing was also delighted; the family finally had a younger member capable of sharing some of the burden.
"Good looks, but in the end, everything depends on actual strength."
Unsatisfied, Chen Wuluo scoffed.
Then he flew up to the battlefield.
The two began their standoff.
Their auras clashed, producing sounds of howling winds.