C39 On the Day of the Final Battle

Time slipped away like grains of sand through an hourglass.

Before he knew it, less than a day remained until the appointed meeting between Jiaang Lin and Qiao Junhan.

In the days leading up to this, Jiaang Lin had been diligently cultivating in his courtyard, using the Spirit Gathering Pill to continuously enhance his Cultivation Level.

The pill essence within him had become increasingly solidified, and the Genuine Qi it contained was purer than ever. His Cultivation Level had advanced from Qi Gathering Level One to Qi Gathering Level Two, and the rapidity of his progress was nothing short of astonishing!

"Tyrant Blade!"

Jiaang Lin's eyes sparked with intensity as he channeled Qi into his right arm and swung it forward.

A blade aura, stretching dozens of meters, burst forth, splitting a massive boulder in the courtyard cleanly in two.

The ground bore witness to the blade's terrifying power, a lengthy scar etched into the earth, a testament to its devastating force.

At that moment, Jiaang Lin was executing the Tyrant Blade Spell, a martial skill personally imparted to him by Que Chunye in his past life.

Though the Tyrant Blade Spell was originally a Yellow Rank Middle Grade martial skill, Jiaang Lin had elevated it to the Profound Rank Low Grade through his enhancements in his previous life.

It was perfectly suited for his current use!

"Wind Cloud Step!"

Having unleashed the Tyrant Blade Spell, Jiaang Lin's form flickered as he deployed a series of Movement Martial Skills.

Beneath his feet, Genuine Qi roiled like mist, his silhouette swift as the wind, turning intangible, leaving a trail of afterimages in the courtyard, his speed incredibly fast.

The Wind Cloud Step, a Yellow Rank High Grade martial skill, had been taught to Jiaang Lin by Jee Heishui in his previous life. Just like the Tyrant Blade Spell, Jiaang Lin had improved it, elevating it from High Grade to Profound Rank Middle Grade.

Armed with the Eight Extreme Fist, Tyrant Blade Spell, and Wind Cloud Step, Jiaang Lin was well-equipped for his current realm of cultivation.

His figure gradually materialized, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

He glanced up at the sky, and before he knew it, evening had crept in.

"Tomorrow is the duel with Qiao Junhan. I'll get a good night's rest tonight," Jiaang Lin murmured to himself.

He had been relentlessly training day and night, striving to boost his Cultivation Level. Sleep had been scarce, but now his strength had soared to Qi Gathering Level Two. Jiaang Lin felt assured that with his current prowess and the martial skills he had mastered, he was ready to face Qiao Junhan.

With that thought, he headed to the kitchen for a simple dinner before retiring to his room and promptly falling asleep.

The next morning dawned.

At the Central Battle Platform in Clear Water Town, the area was already teeming with people. Cultivators from all over the town had converged on the rooftops of nearby restaurants and buildings.

The news had spread that today, the Qiao family's top prodigy, Qiao Junhan, would engage in a life-or-death battle with Jiaang Lin, the so-called weakest member of the Jiaang family.

Despite the general consensus that the duel held no mystery regarding its outcome, the crowd was eager to witness the event.

A fight between a genius and a supposed 'trash' was predictable, but the cultivators were drawn to the spectacle, eager to see Qiao Junhan's valor in person.

After all, Qiao Junhan was Clear Water Town's unrivaled talent, a young man whose abilities stood unmatched. He seldom made public appearances, making any opportunity to see him a rare treat.

For many, witnessing Qiao Junhan in action today would be an extraordinary privilege.

"Jiaang Lin really has some nerve, challenging Qiao Junhan like that," remarked a cultivator from within a restaurant, shaking his head in amusement as he sipped his wine.

"Indeed. Jiaang Lin is nothing but trash! How could he possibly stand a chance against Qiao Junhan?" another cultivator chimed in, his voice dripping with scorn.

"Hmph! And you think you have the right to call my brother trash?"

As the cultivators were engaged in conversation, a chilling voice carried over from a distance. The sound of it caused the cultivators to simultaneously shift their attention toward a figure by the window. There, they spotted a striking young man clad in a white robe, flanked by several middle-aged men in gray.

"What's wrong with calling your brother worthless? Not only is your brother worthless, but you, Shaang Duoge, are just as pathetic!"

The speaker was immediately recognized by the cultivators as none other than Shaang Duoge, the Young Lord of the Dao Artifact Hall. He was the other notorious failure of Clear Water Town, famously bonded in brotherhood with Jiaang Lin, together known as the 'Two Wastes of Clear Water.'

Incensed by Shaang Duoge's demeaning remarks, the cultivator couldn't contain his anger and retorted sharply.

Thud ~

A resonant thump echoed as a Dao Artifact Hall Expert beside Shaang Duoge moved in a flash, delivering a powerful kick to the cultivator's chest. The force sent him tumbling backward, crashing into tables and chairs, and sprawling awkwardly onto the floor.

"How dare someone at the mere level of Body Refining Level One refer to me as trash?" the Dao Artifact Hall Expert sneered, gazing down at the cultivator with disdain.

He was about to crush the cultivator's ribs and execute him publicly when he was abruptly halted.

"Stop, let's not create a scene," Shaang Duoge commanded, his face devoid of emotion, signaling the Dao Artifact Hall Expert to cease.

Upon hearing the order, the expert immediately withdrew and returned to his seat beside Shaang Duoge.

The restaurant was filled with cultivators who were taken aback by the unfolding events. They were all wondering why a Dao Artifact Hall Expert would show such deference to Shaang Duoge, whom they considered a failure.

They were well aware that Shaang Duoge, whose cultivation had stagnated, was regarded as nothing more than trash, overlooked by the Dao Artifact Hall and often subjected to ridicule and beatings by its disciples.

How could a Young Lord, deemed insignificant and powerless within the Dao Artifact Hall, suddenly wield influence over its experts?

The onlookers weren't the only ones riddled with curiosity; the middle-aged cultivator who had been sent flying by the Dao Artifact Hall Expert was equally astonished and intrigued.

His eyes brimmed with terror, his face ashen, a sheen of cold sweat streaming down his forehead. He had previously dared to disrespect Shaang Duoge, thinking him a worthless nobody, overlooked by the Dao Artifact Hall.

Yet, now he was baffled. How had his irreverence towards Shaang Duoge provoked an attack from a Dao Artifact Hall Expert, leaving him gravely wounded and nearly dead? When had Shaang Duoge gained the clout to wield such power?

Unperturbed by the astonished stares of the other cultivators in the tavern, Shaang Duoge sipped his wine, the picture of serenity. His dark eyes were fixed on the massive Central Battle Platform in the plaza.

He had arrived early to witness his brother, Jiaang Lin, take down Qiao Junhan and to lend his support with cheers. To his dismay, he overheard someone disparaging his brother as worthless, which irked Shaang Duoge.

"Look, the Qiao family has arrived!" someone suddenly exclaimed.

The crowd around the Central Battle Platform instantly shifted their attention to see the Qiao family patriarch, Qiao Kai, arriving with the family's top brass. This included his two sons: Clear Water Town's top prodigy, Qiao Junhan, and the less accomplished Qiao Mingfan.

"The Jiaang family has come too!" another voice called out after a while.

Jiaang Zhengzu, the Jiaang family patriarch, was seen leading his kin to the Central Battle Platform. Among them were the family's premier talent, Jiaang Xue, as well as Jiaang Zhengshan and his son, Jiaang Xiang.

"The Seven Great Protectors of the Myriad Medicine Pavilion have also made an appearance."

Soon after, a shout drew eyes to the Seven Great Protectors of the Myriad Medicine Pavilion, arriving in force.

With the arrival of the esteemed Martial Dao Families and the Myriad Medicine Pavilion, numerous other Martial Dao Forces from Clear Water Town also gathered to witness the event.

The Sect Master of the Celestial Wolf Gang, Yinn Shediao, arrived with his Vice Sect Master and several Hall Masters in tow.

For a moment, the Central Battle Platform in Clear Water Town was a convergence point for Martial Dao Forces from all directions. The spectacle was magnificent and awe-inspiring.

"Who would have thought that the duel between Qiao Junhan and Jiaang Lin would draw such a crowd of onlookers!"

Witnessing the leaders of various factions making their way to the Central Battle Platform and taking their seats, many cultivators were moved to reflect on the moment.

"It's beyond belief! A nobody challenging a prodigy. We don't even need to see the fight to know the outcome. And yet, the powerhouses from these factions have actually turned up to catch a glimpse of the duel!"

At that moment, one of the cultivators expressed their curiosity.

"Perhaps they've all come for Qiao Junhan?"

"Indeed. Only Qiao Junhan could draw such a multitude of forces to watch a duel. He is, after all, the First Martial Dao Talent of Clear Water Town. At just seventeen, he has already achieved the Cultivation Level of Qi Gathering Level Two Peak Stage!"

...

Around the outskirts of the Central Battle Platform, tens of thousands of cultivators gathered to watch the battle, their conversations creating a thunderous buzz of excitement.