The Halberd’s Inclination

The Halberd's Inclination

Sikong Mingyue's superiority over Luo Huan was glaringly obvious, and the spectators couldn't help but notice it.

Earlier, everyone had witnessed how Luo Huan, on the brink of admitting defeat, was targeted by Sikong Mingyue's relentless assault. Instead of merely defeating her, he seemed intent on ending her life.

On the stage of the Jun Lin Banquet, injuries and even deaths were not uncommon occurrences. Yet, if the contestants had no deep-seated animosity or grudges, they usually stopped short of crossing the line. For example, when Luo Huan defeated 4th Night, she had shown mercy, sparing him when she could have killed him outright.

Similarly, when Qin Wentian battled 6th Night, he had no choice but to injure his opponent's eyes, yet he had ultimately spared him.

If Sikong Mingyue sought revenge, he could have directly challenged Qin Wentian. In that case, Qin Wentian wouldn't have been as infuriated. However, Sikong Mingyue seemed to want things to be more complicated. He aimed to kill Luo Huan first, before seeking out Qin Wentian.

In the face of a battle of life and death, what was there to fear?

The tip of Qin Wentian's ancient halberd emitted an eerie, grating sound as it scraped against the ground, seemingly echoing his anger.

Qin Wentian now stood before 3rd Night. The sunny smile that had graced his face earlier had vanished, replaced by an icy cold demeanor.

In 3rd Night's hand, a massive axe materialized. Much like 6th Night, he possessed overwhelming strength and was undoubtedly stronger. However, he didn't underestimate Qin Wentian.

Having confidence and conviction in one's victory was crucial, but a true cultivator should never let their strength blind them to the capabilities of their opponents. Underestimating an adversary would inevitably lead to their own downfall.

"The attack power of your ancient halberd leaves much to be desired," 3rd Night remarked with a mocking tone. He maintained a solid and unwavering stance on the platform, resembling a mountain.

Qin Wentian chose not to respond, continuing his advance with slow, unhurried steps. His movements seemed as leisurely as a stroll in the park.

3rd Night furrowed his brows slightly upon witnessing Qin Wentian's serene demeanor. Paradoxically, this calmness made him feel a vague sense of danger. It was as if he were confronting a colossal, dormant, and potentially explosive beast.

The spectators noticed that Qin Wentian had closed his eyes, his face exuding an air of tranquility. Even so, he continued to move forward, as if he were in a mysterious trance. He appeared both vulnerable and invincible simultaneously.

3rd Night tightened his grip on his massive axe and exuded a domineering aura filled with lethal intent aimed at Qin Wentian. Yet, Qin Wentian's closed eyes seemed to suggest that he couldn't be bothered in the least.

"Die!" 3rd Night roared in fury as he brought his enormous axe down toward Qin Wentian. He executed the strike with profound technique, eager to see how Qin Wentian would react.

As the colossal axe descended, Qin Wentian's eyes snapped open. In the blink of an eye, the surrounding Qi of Heaven and Earth underwent a transformation.

For 3rd Night, it felt as though he had been drawn into a dreamlike state. He was confronting an overwhelmingly superior opponent, one he could never hope to defeat. Qin Wentian, his adversary, appeared to wield a power that transcended the heavens.

A rush of wind followed as Qin Wentian blurred into a streak of shadows. The aura he emanated at that moment was majestic, akin to a myriad of mountains crashing down, shattering 3rd Night's feeble intent to kill.

In that instant, Qin Wentian resembled a war deity, and 3rd Night found himself unable to even attempt to defend against the impending attack.

"Mountain Splitter," Qin Wentian declared, fully immersed in his trance. His strike was akin to that of a true war god. Spectators could only witness a faint figure wielding an ancient halberd, hurtling toward 3rd Night with overwhelming force.

The Astral Light emanating from 3rd Night's great axe, which he had used to test Qin Wentian, shattered into pieces as if it were as fragile as paper.

Struggling with all his might, 3rd Night attempted to lift his axe and continued his assault. Yet, the ancient halberd moved with such incredible speed and ferocity that all the spectators could perceive was a blinding flash of light. In an instant, the massive axe was torn from 3rd Night's grip, spiraling through the air.

Puchi!

A sharp sound echoed as the ancient halberd embedded itself into the center of 3rd Night's forehead. The halberd's tip and crescent edge simultaneously pierced through his head, snuffing out his life in an instant.

3rd Night had fallen, defeated utterly by Qin Wentian with a single strike. This happened at a crucial juncture just before the top nine contestants were to be determined. A genius had fallen.

Even the Duo Prides, 3rd Sword, and the other Snowcloud country contestants who had participated in the Jun Lin Banquet were rendered speechless. Without 1st Night and 2nd Night, 3rd Night was one of the strongest contenders, yet he had met his demise.

The void itself seemed to freeze as the gazes of everyone converged on the dominating youth.

His attack had been shockingly powerful.

"So, he has been concealing his true strength all along," many spectators silently mused.

In the section allocated for the Emperor Star Academy, Mustang and the others wore bewildered expressions. Mustang couldn't help but ask, "Does the Emperor Star Academy teach such an innate technique?"

"I don't believe so. I've never seen anyone use it here," someone replied, leaving the group puzzled.

"Definitely not. It appears that this halberd technique he just executed is his own creation," another added, sending a shiver through their hearts.

The might of the halberd technique they had witnessed could already be considered a lower-tier, earth-grade innate technique, and it seemed to be executed to perfection at the earth-grade level. However, Qin Wentian's cultivation was only at the 7th level of Arterial Circulation. How had he achieved such mastery? That previous strike of his... it was undeniably executed at the perfection stage. If Qin Wentian's cultivation base were higher, the power of that attack might have even surpassed a lower-tier, earth-grade innate technique.

For those who had seen Qin Wentian's 3rd-level Divine Inscription Painting, there was a sense that the aura of his innate technique was remarkably similar to that of the painting.

Could there be a connection between the Divine Inscription Painting and his innate technique?

As Qin Wentian withdrew his ancient halberd, a figure ascended the platform to collect 3rd Night's lifeless body. The battlefield between Gu Xing and Sikong Mingyue had also concluded. The moment Gu Xing witnessed Qin Wentian's victory over 3rd Night, he willingly exited the platform.

With Gu Xing's departure, only nine contestants remained on the platforms, out of the initial 18. Below the elevated stages, Gu Xing and Luo Huan stood, each still holding the right to return as challengers. This meant that the second round of the Jun Lin Banquet would conclude after just two more battles, one involving Luo Huan and the other featuring Gu Xing.

Sikong Mingyue's intense gaze locked onto Qin Wentian, and an overwhelming wave of killing intent surged toward him.

Unfazed, Qin Wentian maintained his position, his gaze steady. He slowly raised the ancient halberd in his hands, pointing its tip directly at Sikong Mingyue. His intentions were unmistakable, needing no words to convey.

In the air, spectators could sense the collision of two formidable waves of killing intent. Sikong Mingyue exuded fury and murderous intent, while Qin Wentian's aura appeared composed on the surface but resonated with an unyielding determination for battle.

By pointing his halberd at Sikong Mingyue, Qin Wentian was clearly challenging him. What made it even more intriguing was that both of them were destined to advance to the third round of the Jun Lin Banquet. A showdown between them was inevitable, sooner or later.

Could Qin Wentian even stand against Sikong Mingyue? Sikong Mingyue was one of the Duo Prides, holding a reputation on par with Xiao Lǜ. In this year's Jun Lin Banquet, he had been Snowcloud Country's most formidable contender.

A surge of enthusiasm coursed through the spectators. It was a feeling of rising adrenaline and anticipation. Even if they didn't believe Qin Wentian would win, they still yearned to witness the confrontation.

These conflicts and rivalries injected vibrancy into the Jun Lin Banquet, heightening the excitement for the spectators.

"Luo Huan and Gu Xing won't challenge Qin Wentian. It means that Qin Wentian is guaranteed to advance to the top nine. What a shame I didn't bet on him earlier," someone in the crowd lamented. The odds for Qin Wentian making it to the top nine before the second round had been 1:4. Betting on him would have been a lucrative choice.

In this moment, Fan Le couldn't help but gloat silently. Qin Wentian had secured a spot in the top nine. Now, he could only hope that Qin Wentian would give his best and perhaps miraculously secure one of the top three positions. That would be a windfall. He might even surpass many cultivators at the Yuanfu realm in wealth. Fan Le was already daydreaming of his newfound riches.

In the midst of the crowd, Immortal Drunken Wine and the young man from earlier observed the unfolding events.

The young man flashed a confident smile and said, "I've already pocketed a hundred Yuan Meteor Stones. Let's plan to splurge on some wine later."

"Alright, my friend, you're on," Immortal Drunken Wine responded with a hearty laugh. While he never underestimated Qin Wentian, he couldn't help but be taken aback by the fact that Qin Wentian had the power to dispatch 3rd Night in a single strike.

As he contemplated this, his thoughts drifted back to the Yuan Meteor Stones he had wagered so casually. What if, by some miracle, his bet turned out to be right? That would mean an endless supply of fine wine for quite some time.

Of course, he was well aware that the odds of such an outcome were minuscule. After all, the two Yuan Meteor Stones he had staked were for Qin Wentian to clinch the championship!