NOVEL NEXT Chapter 165: Coveting
Hua Yufei hovered in the air, holding the "White Wall Xihua" in one hand, gripping the blade of the Pure Yang Sword with the other.
The edge of the Divine Weapon slowly drew blood from his left hand, and even the strong physique of the Divinity Realm could not protect Hua Yufei's left hand.
However, Hua Yufei paid no mind to his palm and unconsciously mimicked the lip movements of True Master Tianyang as he fell.
"The vestment robe... is from Dragon Tiger Mountain..."
Hua Yufei slowly translated True Master Tianyang's words.
Although he had never learned lip-reading, he remembered the movements of Tianyang's lips vividly. Though it was somewhat strained, Hua Yufei managed to grasp the message True Master Tianyang wanted to convey.
"Vestment robe from Dragon Tiger Mountain? Somewhat expected," someone proficient in lip-reading below also caught the message Hua Yufei read aloud.
Earlier, when Tianyang fell, Qing Yu could not see his lip movements due to the angle. But the words Hua Yufei silently read were fully perceived by Qing Yu.
It was not unexpected that the vestment robe came from Dragon Tiger Mountain. The Dragon Tiger Mountain has long had connections with Chunyang Palace, and Zhang Yuanchu providing aid to True Master Tianyang was expected.
But to choose a vestment robe of all things—if even victorious, it could not replace Luo Fu Palace to become the Pure Yang Taoist School.
And furthermore...
Qing Yu narrowed his eyes slightly, focusing on the swiftly healing wound on Hua Yufei.
The scene resembled that of the Dragon Tiger Golden Pill from Dragon Tiger Mountain.
Qing Yu had also received a Dragon Tiger Golden Pill before and had some understanding from the "Nine Tripods Elixir Scripture," so he found the phenomenon on Hua Yufei's body somewhat familiar.
According to Hua Yufei's situation, he must have wrapped the Dragon Tiger Golden Pill in True Qi and swallowed it in advance. When gravely wounded by True Master Tianyang, Hua Yufei released the True Qi surrounding the Dragon Tiger Golden Pill, allowing it to be digested directly.
That led to an important question—how did Hua Yufei obtain the Dragon Tiger Golden Pill?
Qing Yu glanced left, eyeing the high platform, silently noting: "All of them are cunning indeed."
Those old foxes each had their considerations. Qing Yu was skeptical about how they would respond if the Blood Demon Sect attacked right now.
One Divinity died today, and perhaps a second might die tomorrow. Not even the Blood Demon Sect could have killed two Divinities, yet it looked like the Taoist sects would manage it themselves.
Overall, it was quite speechless.
"Boom—"
Zhang Yuanchu lightly struck a copper bell and declared, "The duel is concluded. Luo Fu Daoist School's Hua Yufei, victorious; Chunyang Palace, defeated."
He lifted his head, "Daoist Hua, please return the Pure Yang Sword to Chunyang Palace."
From his elevated position, Hua Yufei's gaunt face was expressionless, but the increasingly rapid drips of fresh blood from his left hand suggested that he was filled with rage.
"Clang—"
The Pure Yang Sword, spinning, was thrust obliquely into the ground. Hua Yufei, without a word, flew away.
"Master Zhang, please forgive him; Brother Yufei is in a rush to heal his wounds and has been somewhat rude," said Lin Jianfeng, nursing his injuries, with a cupped fist.
"Hmm," Zhang Yuanchu nodded calmly, then addressed everyone, "The demise of Daoist Tianyang is a great sorrow for our Taoist schools. Let us end today's proceedings. We shall first prepare for Daoist Tianyang's farewell."
The faces of the people in the square were still filled with shock, and they rose with mixed emotions. Those on good terms with Chunyang Palace went to console the disciples of True Master Tianyang. The others quietly left the square.
The fall of True Master Tianyang was unsettling indeed. Initially, the number of Divinities among various sects exceeded by rather a handful, but now, one was lost.
If another were lost tomorrow, the sects wouldn't have much confidence to contend with the Blood Demon Sect.
Indeed, not even Zhang Yuanchu had anticipated the death of True Master Tianyang.
This Debating Conference was not the first to be held, and deaths had occurred before, but it was rare for a Divinity to die here.
Ultimately, it was because Hua Yufei's Killing Sword was too potent.
"A lethal stroke, extinguishing vitality. Uncle, we underestimated Hua Yufei," Zhang Yuanchu communicated grimly.
"I originally intended for Hua Yufei to expose his trump cards, facing an inevitable fight-to-death against Shenxiao Daoist tomorrow. However, I didn't expect Hua Yufei to be capable of killing Tianyang."
"The death of Tianyang was also beyond our expectations. But his success in forcing Hua Yufei to show his trump cards means this move wasn't a complete failure," Zhang Jinggen communicated back.
"Perhaps you've noticed too, Hua Yufei's Killing Sword can counter both the 'Heavenly Escape Sword Technique' and some Buddhist Martial Arts. Although his offense is strong, his defenses reveal evident weaknesses."
True Master Tianyang nearly killing Hua Yufei was unexpected by Zhang and his uncle.
That strike exposed Hua Yufei's weakness.
That was Vitality. True Master Tianyang's strike met no resistance at all, piercing directly through Hua Yufei's chest.
This was highly unusual. Hua Yufei's former 'Heavenly Jade Sword Body' was a pinnacle of the Sword Dao, but today, it seemed all his Sword Body cultivation had been exhausted.
Had it not been for the absence of the Sword Body, True Master Tianyang would not have pierced Hua Yufei's chest so easily.
"Even if the Sword Body is no more, that Slaughter Sword Qi is incomparably fierce. If wounded by it, even a warrior like Lin Zixiao wouldn't fare well," Zhang Yuanchu summarizing the features of the Killing Sword, a slight smile appearing in his eyes.
Hua Yufei's strength was confirmed, and he indeed was capable of contending with Lin Zixiao. Supporting Hua Yufei was not wrong.
As for the death of True Master Tianyang...
The death of this old fox might even be more beneficial for Dragon Tiger Mountain. Without True Master Tianyang, dealing with the remaining disciples of Pure Yang would be much easier.
As allies of Chunyang Palace, Dragon Tiger Mountain ought to protect it. If Chunyang Palace, out of gratitude, were to offer some Martial Arts Secrets as thanks, that would be only natural, wouldn't it?
The power of the 'Heavenly Escape Sword Technique' had been fully demonstrated today. Many were curious about it, including Zhang Yuanchu.
Thus, the death of Tianyang, while bad for the people of Chunyang Palace, might actually benefit others.
Watching Zhang Yuanchu warmly addressing and even personally lifting the body of True Master Tianyang, Qing Yu couldn't help but sneer internally.
He could guess most of Zhang Yuanchu's intentions, which undoubtedly focused on coveting the Martial Arts Secrets, albeit by gentler means.
If roles were reversed, Qing Yu would act similarly.
A toothless tiger naturally tempts the covetous wolf. True Master Tianyang was simply too careless, thinking the vestment robe ensured his safety.
"It's for the best. With Dragon Tiger Mountain's support, Chunyang Palace can survive. This way, I don't have to worry that by the time I'm free, Chunyang Palace will have been completely divvied up."
With that thought, Qing Yu's figure gradually disappeared from sight.