Chapter 70: The Final Battle of the Hundred Sects Ceremony

After a brief silence, the stands erupted in enthusiastic applause.

"Damn! What was that move? It's insanely powerful!"

"Mom, why are we kneeling to watch the match? Oh my God."

"Wait, could that move be something he comprehended from the Phoenix Nirvana painting?"

Zhang Mo's face, which had previously held a cold smile, turned an even darker shade than liver-colored.

She now understood.

Why Murong Yue's expression remained unchanged when Shen Mo was surrounded by so many people.

Murong Yue had known all along!

Shen Mo must have comprehended a powerful martial technique from the Phoenix Nirvana painting! At least Earth grade!

Zhang Mo gritted her teeth.

These people were the ones the Heavenly Water Sect had spent heavily to recruit.

Now that they were defeated, no one else would surround Shen Mo.

Her plan had failed!

Zhou Qingcang, Hong Chilong, and Mo Yuheng also reacted to this scene.

Hong Chilong's eyes widened in amazement. "See? I told you that move is absurdly strong!"

Zhou Qingcang murmured, "That azure flame seems like an Eternal Flame..."

Hong Chilong's heart trembled. "An Eternal Flame? Are you sure?"

Zhou Qingcang shook his head. "I haven't seen it before, but I've read about it."

Hong Chilong smiled bitterly. "It looks like I definitely can't beat Shen Mo. Zhou, it's up to you!"

"Why exclude me? Do you think I can't beat Shen Mo?" Mo Yuheng laughed softly.

Hong Chilong rolled his eyes. "You're not much stronger than me, and a lot of your strength comes from your tamed beasts."

Mo Yuheng chuckled but said nothing.

This was true.

She possessed the Myriad Beasts Communion Physique, which meant her strength lay in taming powerful beasts.

Her individual combat ability was not particularly strong.

Moreover, her tamed beasts were too powerful to participate in the ceremony. Otherwise, she would undoubtedly take first place.

Members of other sects and groups also had intriguing expressions.

As for those who had traveled from all over the Xuanjiang Prefecture to watch the ceremony, they were overjoyed.

Just witnessing Shen Mo defeating six opponents was worth the ticket price!

"Phew..."

Shen Mo exhaled deeply.

The Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique was a Heaven grade martial art. Despite being incomplete, it consumed a tremendous amount of spiritual power.

The Red Lotus Flame was even more demanding, constantly depleting his energy.

If Shen Mo hadn't also cultivated the Inferno Hell Annihilation Technique, another Heaven grade technique, which gave him over ten times the spiritual power capacity of others at his level, he would have run out of energy long ago.

"Anyone else want to try? Come at me together." Shen Mo scanned the area.

He could feel several gazes still watching him.

But his display of defeating six people simultaneously was too shocking.

Those hidden figures didn't dare to reveal themselves.

"Then I won't play with you anymore!" Shen Mo said calmly and continued to grab tokens.

Time ticked by.

The number of tokens floating around Shen Mo reached thirty-five.

This number practically guaranteed first place.

As the time neared its end, it was clear that Zhou Qingcang, Hong Chilong, and Mo Yuheng had far fewer tokens than Shen Mo.

Shen Mo was evidently in first place.

However, in the arena, the disciples of the Divine Sword Sect gathered around Zhou Qingcang, handing their tokens directly to him.

Zhou Qingcang frowned. "What is this?"

The disciples whispered, "Senior Brother, you must be first."

Zhou Qingcang looked over at the Divine Sword Sect's master, Luo Chaotian.

Their eyes met.

Luo Chaotian's gaze brooked no argument.

Zhou Qingcang gritted his teeth.

This strange scene with the Divine Sword Sect's disciples didn't go unnoticed by the audience.

"What's going on? Isn't this cheating?"

"Shh, the Divine Sword Sect is the strongest sect. They have the power to do what they want. What can you do about it?"

"If they did this halfway through the third round, Shen Mo would still have a chance to grab more tokens. But now, with the round almost over..."

Shen Mo also noticed and frowned slightly.

Doing this at the last minute was purely infuriating.

Zhou Qingcang took several deep breaths and asked Shen Mo, "Brother Shen, how many tokens do you have?"

"Thirty-five," Shen Mo replied.

"Master's orders cannot be defied, but I also do not wish to go against my own principles. I currently have thirty tokens. I'll take five to reach thirty-five, and then we'll compete."

He refused the additional dozen or so tokens from the Divine Sword Sect disciples and only took five.

Thus, both he and Shen Mo ended up with thirty-five tokens each.

According to the rules, they needed to battle to determine the first and second place winners.

Shen Mo looked deeply at Zhou Qingcang.

This Sword Supreme had far more martial virtue than he had imagined.

"Time's up, it's over!" The elder in charge of arbitration shouted. "Count the tokens!"

A moment later, the results for third to tenth place were clear.

Third place went to Mo Yuheng, with ten tokens.

Fourth place went to Hong Chilong, with eight tokens.

Those ranked lower had even fewer, with only three to five tokens each.

Most of the tokens were concentrated with Shen Mo and Zhou Qingcang.

"Non-participants, leave the arena. Zhou Qingcang of the Divine Sword Sect and Shen Mo of the Qingxuan Sect will now battle to determine the first and second place." The elder shouted again.

The crowd left the arena, leaving only Shen Mo and Zhou Qingcang.

"Your fight has no time limit, unless one of you concedes." The elder said solemnly.

Shen Mo and Zhou Qingcang cupped their hands to each other, indicating their understanding.

"Begin!" The elder commanded.

Like tigers descending the mountain or dragons emerging from the sea, the two clashed suddenly.

Fists and palms met with dull thuds, exchanging dozens of strikes in an instant.

"Zhou Qingcang, you are most skilled with the sword, why don't you use it against me?" Shen Mo asked.

Zhou Qingcang laughed heartily. "Alright, then I'll use the sword!"

The two separated with a simultaneous palm strike, then drew their swords.

Clang, clang, clang!

Lightning, sword shadows, and frost interwove in midair.

They exchanged dozens of rounds, each sensing the other's astonishing strength.

Their abilities were evidently well-matched.

To Shen Mo, Zhou Qingcang was the strongest cultivator of the same level he had ever encountered, seemingly on the verge of comprehending sword intent.

Sword intent was a concept realized after reaching a certain level in swordsmanship.

With sword intent, one could cut through the heavens, earth, sun, moon, and stars with a mere blade of grass, even without a sword.

Zhou Qingcang felt the same.

Shen Mo's strength had long surpassed that of his peers.

Both were the strongest of their generation.

The spectators watched, their blood boiling.

This was truly a battle of kings!

"I don't like wasting time. Since our strengths are evenly matched, let's use our strongest techniques." Shen Mo declared.

"Agreed. I was thinking the same," Zhou Qingcang nodded slightly. "However, do you have a life-saving card? I cannot guarantee the power of my strike."

Shen Mo smiled. "Don't worry, I have one."

"Good," Zhou Qingcang nodded.

Heroes respected heroes.

An opponent like Shen Mo was rare.

With no deep-seated hatred between them, Zhou Qingcang did not wish to seriously injure or kill Shen Mo.

Shen Mo felt the same.

"Frost Soul Severing Sword!"

Zhou Qingcang shouted, his long sword coated in frost, seemingly capable of freezing the soul.

Endless icy spiritual energy gathered from all directions, forming a tangible whirlwind.

Zhou Qingcang stood at its center.

"Nine Suns Divine Phoenix Technique, Second Form!"

Shen Mo abandoned his sword and formed a palm blade, azure flames erupting.

Fire spiritual energy surged from all directions, merging into his body and transforming into a torrent of fiery power.

Moreover, the spiritual energy he attracted was even greater than Zhou Qingcang's.

The resulting flame whirlwind was also larger.

The audience gasped in amazement.

"Zhou Qingcang's whirlwind has a diameter of over ten meter! Shen Mo's whirlwind is even more terrifying, over fifteen meter!"

"I heard only those with Heaven-grade physiques can attract such a massive whirlwind!"

"Everyone knows Zhou Qingcang has a Heaven-grade physique. Could Shen Mo also have one?"

"Yes! If he didn't have a Heaven-grade physique, how could he defeat Yin Xuege and Wan Renjie? If he didn't have a Heaven-grade physique, how could he face Zhou Qingcang in this final battle?"

"My God, even a second-tier sect like the Qingxuan Sect has produced someone with a Heaven-grade physique!"

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