The Game Begins

"Ancestor? What's going on?" Mo Qingkuang asked in confusion, silently inquiring from Mo Fan. 

Mo Fan had previously said he was familiar with the Fallen Leaf King's Tomb. Now that it had appeared but not truly opened, he didn't understand why. 

Mo Fan chuckled softly, "Let them struggle for a bit; soon enough, it'll be up to you." 

For some reason, Mo Qingkuang sensed a strange tone in Mo Fan's voice but couldn't figure out what it was. 

Led by Wu Ming, the three stepped forward together, their formidable auras rising skyward, causing everyone to quickly retreat a considerable distance to avoid being harmed. 

Wu Ming let out a low shout, his hands making a gripping motion, and a large staff formed from black true energy slowly materialized in his hands. 

Wu Ming leaped high, the staff in his hands growing larger and longer, and he slammed it down toward the entrance. The force of this strike was terrifying, its immense power sending a chilling aura that could be felt from far away, accompanied by faint wails. 

Then, Lu Qing drew his treasured sword, pointed it at the sky, and suddenly, lightning flashed, and thunder roared. It was unclear if Lu Qing had intentionally guided it or if the sword had simply been raised too high, but a bolt of lightning struck down, wrapping around the sword. 

With lightning entwined around his sword, Lu Qing slashed, and the terrifying sword light, accompanied by thunder, reached the entrance even faster than Wu Ming's strike. 

This was Yuan Sword Sect's ultimate technique, the True Yuan Lightning Sword! This Earth-grade martial technique harnessed the power of lightning to enhance the sword's destructive power and speed. Lu Qing's fame as the Swift Sword came from practicing this technique. 

Next, Yuan Kuang let out a fierce roar, dragging out his treasured blade from behind him. Gone was his hunched, old appearance; instead, he looked wild and imposing, his hair and beard flying. 

His long blade had nine rings, and as he infused it with true energy, the dazzling blade light exploded, sending violent sword energy flying in all directions, even cutting the clothes and faces of those nearby. 

Yuan Kuang roared, bringing his blade down. A massive blade light over ten feet long shot from his hands, heading straight for the entrance! Its momentum was even more imposing than Wu Ming and Lu Qing's attacks, creating a palpable sense of suppression! 

"Is this the Dominating Blade?" Han Yan exclaimed softly. 

The Dominating Blade was one of Tian Dao Sect's ultimate techniques, an advanced Earth-grade martial technique, powerful and unparalleled. Only those with abundant true qi could practice it, and it was highly difficult. 

Anyone who practiced the Dominating Blade was a master of challenging higher-level opponents, explaining why even ordinary Martial King experts were reluctant to provoke Yuan Kuang. 

This was Mo Qingkuang's first time seeing someone from Tian Dao Sect in action, and a single slash from Yuan Kuang was indeed overwhelmingly dominant! 

The combined attack of those three was so terrifying that it seemed capable of destroying the entire Zhenyu Mountain Range. Everyone felt that with this, they should be able to break the barrier of the Fallen Leaf King's Tomb. 

All eyes turned to the entrance, where the barrier seemed to sense the tremendous threat and shone brightly. A faint, illusory figure appeared. 

The staff, sword, and blade struck the array almost simultaneously, causing an earth-shaking energy explosion. 

The figure within the array lifted its leg and kicked out three times in the blink of an eye, countering the three attacks. 

The resulting explosion was deafening, and the collision of energies forced everyone to step back. 

After a while, they recovered from the shock. 

Had it been broken? 

No! 

Turning to look, the entrance to the Fallen Leaf King's Tomb was intact, even the stone tablet at the door remained unscathed. An illusory figure floated within the array, shining brightly. 

It vaguely resembled an elderly man. 

"Who disturbs my rest?" Though the old man looked aged, his voice was as powerful as a bell, resonating throughout the entire mountain range for all to hear. 

"Is this... the Fallen Leaf King?" This was the question in everyone's minds. 

"Greetings, Senior Fallen Leaf King." Everyone bowed deeply, showing their respect. 

The old man was not appeased by their humility. He turned to Wu Ming and the other two, snorting coldly, "Were you three the ones who just made a move?" 

"Hmph, grave robbing is one thing, as even I once took treasures from my predecessors' ruins. But do you have to be so intent on destroying everything?" 

The Fallen Leaf King looked displeased, and Wu Ming and the others were at a loss for words. 

'If you hadn't set up such a barrier, do you think we'd be willing to go through all this trouble?' 

Though they knew the Fallen Leaf King was merely a residual spirit, his ability to fend off three Venerable-realm experts simultaneously made it clear that no one present could defeat him. 

"We beg your pardon, Senior," the three of them conceded. 

The Fallen Leaf King sneered, "The treasures in my tomb are meant for future generations, but you must follow my rules." 

"Please, enlighten us, Senior!" 

The Fallen Leaf King cleared his throat and said, "My tomb will only open when a descendant of the Flower King appears. Among you..." 

His gaze swept the crowd and suddenly stopped on Mo Qingkuang. 

"Indeed, you have arrived!" He extended his hand, and Mo Qingkuang was involuntarily lifted into the air, suspended. 

"Senior, please show mercy!" Wu Ming quickly interjected when he saw Mo Qingkuang being grabbed. 

The Fallen Leaf King ignored him and continued to toy with Mo Qingkuang mid-air, "Hmm, a delicate young man. That Flower guy is still a face-judger, but his taste is lacking. With such little talent, you think you're worthy of inheriting my 'Fallen Leaf Compendium?" 

Everyone watched as Mo Qingkuang was casually manipulated by the Fallen Leaf King, feeling a mix of schadenfreude. 

"So, this is the guy who won at the Flower King's Tomb back then!" 

"Brother, you're out of the loop. His alias was Kuang Qing, but his real name is Mo Qingkuang! He's also this year's martial champion of the Tianxuan Empire!" 

"Whether he's a literary or martial champion, I've heard the Fallen Leaf King and Flower Plucking King were arch-enemies. He might crush Mo Qingkuang right here..." 

Among the crowd, Lin Yang's eyes burned with intense anger. Mo Qingkuang had repeatedly ruined his plans. In the previous battle between the Saint Alchemist and Mo Fan, Lin Yang had almost died, recovering only after using many elixirs, depleting his stockpile from the Flower Plucking King's Tomb. 

The appearance of the Fallen Leaf King's Tomb was an opportunity he couldn't miss because he knew Mo Qingkuang, having inherited the Flower King's legacy, would definitely come! 

Additionally, two beautiful women clung tightly to each other's hands. One was Han Yan, concerned for Mo Qingkuang, and the other was Chu Yanran, standing beside Lin Yang with a look of bitter resentment. 

The Fallen Leaf King chuckled and continued, "I know your purpose here. But as the descendant of Flower Plucking King, you irritate me!" 

"Let's play a game. My inheritance lies within the tomb, and you can retrieve it, but I'll add some complications. From now on, anyone who kills this boy before he obtains my inheritance will receive it themselves!" 

With that, he tossed Mo Qingkuang toward the entrance. The barrier at the entrance dissipated instantly, transforming into a black wormhole, and the Fallen Leaf King's figure vanished along with Mo Qingkuang. 

The Fallen Leaf King's playful voice echoed through the sky, "Now, let the game begin." 

 ***

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