I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 153 Autumn Wind Breaks

While Shen Nansheng was busy with his beast transformation, Xue Xiang was not idle either. A warm and smooth jade pendant appeared in his palm, which was none other than Yu Hui Yu Long.

As spiritual energy surged in, the jade body trembled slightly, and instantly, radiant light scattered in all directions. Golden and purple literary energy overflowed from the jade, surging into the sky like a tide.

The golden light was like the morning sun, warm yet solemn;
The purple aura was like the evening glow, profound and majestic.

In an instant, it gathered into a sea of ​​golden and purple clouds.

"No, it's too literary."

Lu Wenhou exclaimed in surprise.

"That's impossible. The literary style of outsiders cannot be borrowed."

Lou Changqing said sternly.

"I don't know what kind of thing it is, Brother Lou. We absolutely cannot let Brother Shen fight it alone."

Lu Wenhou shouted, "Brother Shen, attack quickly! We must not let this fellow spread his literary talent!"

It should be noted that this grandson is quite accomplished in poetry and prose.

Shen Nansheng seemed to awaken from a dream. His beastly body trembled, and he pounced on Xue Xiang. In mid-air, a gale-force wind blew like dew.

Almost simultaneously, Lu Wenhou also pushed the Cold Jade Divine Skill to its limit, and a three-zhang-tall ice crystal Dharma image appeared behind him.

The Dharma forms into a divine general, clad in armor and helmet, his entire body crystalline, his brows and eyes cold and stern, his palms holding up a sky full of frost, like ancient ice stretching across the sky, threatening to freeze the storm.

He pushed with both palms, and two ice pillars suddenly appeared in the air, shooting towards Xue Xiang with a roar. Wherever the ice pillars passed, the stones on the ground shattered.

Lou Changqing sneered, flicked his sleeve, and a long jade sword flew out.

The long sword was entirely emerald green, with runes engraved on its blade, radiating a captivating sharpness.

With a low shout, he infused his literary energy into the blade, causing the azure light to surge three zhang (approximately 10 meters) and the blade to hum like a dragon.

This sword is a blue-grade magic weapon passed down in the Lou family. He tempered his body with literary energy in the Lou family's literary pavilion in order to refine this sword. Now that it is unsheathed, it is incomparably sharp.

With a flick of his wrist, a streak of spiritual energy shot out, cracking the earth and causing the area within a ten-foot radius to tremble violently under the power of the longsword.

The three attacked, arriving almost simultaneously.

Xue Xiang remained calm and recited loudly, "In the eighth month, the autumn wind howls fiercely, tearing away the thatch from my roof."

As soon as the poem begins, the literary spirit is instantly manifested.

A fierce wind howled in from the horizon, and the clouds surged for thousands of miles. Golden flames, mixed with purple aura, gathered above his head like a raging sea.

Fragments of golden-purple energy, like broken thatched eaves, fluttered in the wind, transforming into sharp, blade-like edges that cleaved through the void.

In an instant, all three attacks were blown away by the gale.

Shen Nansheng, who was rushing towards him, was knocked over. The two ice pillars that Lu Wenhou had unleashed with his Cold Jade Divine Skill, which were filled with terrifying frost, shattered with a crash.

Lou Changqing's literary attack was directly assimilated by the whirlwind formed from literary energy.

The onlookers were stunned.

"What terrifying literary style, what powerful imagery."

"It's destined to be useless. How long can Xue Xiangwen's manifested Qi last? I don't believe he can fully unleash the Qi he's created. And with the terrifying strength that Brother Lü and the other two have shown so far, even a Core Formation expert might not be unable to fight them."

"You underestimate Brother Xue so much, just wait until you're blinded by his brilliance."

"........."

Ignoring the discussions outside the arena, Xue Xiang stood in the center of the battlefield, his robes billowing, his chanting continuing, the lingering sound echoing long afterward.

"The wind subsided in an instant, the clouds turned dark, and autumn's gloom deepened into dusk."

As the poetry recitation unfolded, the golden and purple literary energy above the platform gradually subsided. The previous raging waves slowly subsided, but instead of dissipating, they condensed into eddies, layer upon layer.

The three men, including Lü Wenhou, exchanged glances, none of them understanding what Xue Xiang was up to.

Several lines of this poem have already been written, clearly indicating that it is not a war poem.

Without using poetic imagery to launch an attack, how does the man surnamed Xue think he can defeat the three of them?

Although they couldn't understand it, Xue Xiang's creation, Yu Hui Yu Long, had completely destroyed the three's arrogance.

All three abandoned their underestimation and joined forces to launch an attack.

Shen Nansheng had completely transformed into a beast, with gleaming scales, white fangs, and limbs like towering iron pillars, each step causing the earth to tremble.

He waved his arms, causing the wind to surge and the air to swirl, shooting straight at Xue Xiang.

Lu Wenhou activated the Cold Jade Divine Skill, and the ice crystal Dharma Image behind him raised its palm like the sky, pushing endless frost and snow towards Xue Xiang.

The ancient jade knife in Lou Changqing's hand shone with an even stronger blue light, and the blade trembled and hummed like the roar of a dragon and the howl of a tiger.

He suddenly waved his hand, and the long sword flew out of his body. He actually used his qi to control the sword and slammed it towards Xue Xiang.

The three attacked like a raging torrent, like thunder, like a collapsing river, sealing off the airflow around Xue Xiang in an instant.

However, amidst the golden and purple clouds, the wind howled but never dissipated.

Xue Xiang's recitation remained steady.

"The quilt is as cold as iron after many years, and my beloved child's bad sleeping habits have torn it."

With each sentence he uttered, a literary aura emanated from him, forming an invisible barrier around him.

The barrier is invisible, yet as solid as a rock.

No matter how fiercely the three attacked, they couldn't break through even a little.

The spectators were all deeply moved.

"This...this is no longer simply driven by literary talent; it's practically using poetry as an array and words as a fortress."

"Yes, the three launched a tremendous attack, yet none of them could break through."

"Looking at Xue Xiang's calm expression, he seemed to have a plan in mind."

"No matter how you look at it, this is not a war poem. Once the poem is finished, that will be the time of Xue Xiang's misfortune."

"........."

Xue Xiang's expression was calm, but his voice was heavy with each word.

"If only I could have ten thousand mansions, to shelter all the poor and needy, and make them all smile with joy. They would stand firm as a mountain, unmoved by wind and rain."

As soon as he uttered those words, all the literary energy surged back, and golden and purple light from the sky crashed down, slowly condensing above Xue Xiang's head.

In an instant, the phantom of a thatched hut appeared in the air.

The small house may be small, but it seems to hold the sense of belonging and hope in the hearts of millions. The eaves sway gently, the sunset glow surrounds the beams, and the peace and tranquility soothe the soul.

All sounds of wind in the world seemed to fall silent at this moment.

A strange tremor surged within the three of them at the same time, as if they were facing not an enemy, but an indomitable and enduring will.

"Alas, when will I suddenly see this house before my eyes? Even if my own hut is broken and I freeze to death, it will be enough."

As the last sentence was uttered, the thatched hut that had been looming over Xue Xiang's head suddenly transformed into a golden palace stretching for hundreds of miles.

Just then, Xue Xiang made a move.

With a flick of his wrist, a Yuan Burst Bead shot out.

The Yuan Burst Bead had only been emitted for about ten feet when the Sword Spirit in his palm manifested, transforming into a sharp cone that struck the Yuan Burst Bead precisely.

Suddenly, a deafening roar was heard.

The primal explosive beads burst into the air, sending flames soaring into the sky, and a raging torrent of fire erupted.

A massive shockwave erupted, surging forth like a raging dragon.

Xue Xiang was closest to the Yuan Explosion Bead, and the terrifying shockwave struck him first.

But the golden palace, stretching for hundreds of miles, didn't even shake; it was protected better than ever.

In contrast, the other three...

The moment the Yuanbao Bead was released, the three people, filled with shock and anger, retreated rapidly, withdrew all their attacks, and simultaneously summoned a spiritual energy shield.

However, even though they retreated to the edge of the protective formation, they were still within the range of the giant explosion's shockwave.

Although the three people's spiritual energy shields were already incredibly thick, they still couldn't stop the shockwave from tearing them apart.

Shen Nansheng's scales shattered, blood splattered from his shoulder, and he slammed heavily against the stone wall of the array platform with a loud bang.

Lu Wenhou's image shattered, icy shards scattered across the sky, and half of his arm became stiff, cold, and numb, almost crippling him.

Lou Changqing's green blade trembled and rang incessantly. An inch of the blade was broken off, blood and flesh flowed from his tiger's mouth, and his arm was almost broken off.

The spectators gasped in surprise.

"This...this is only the first Elemental Burst Bead!"

"If he hadn't used his poetry to summon such protective power, he probably wouldn't have been able to withstand it! But with this protection, he was safe, while the three of them were the first to suffer the consequences."

"How ruthless, how shrewd! First, establish a strong barrier, then surround them with explosive beads, and watch the enemy burn themselves. Isn't that reversing the balance of power?"

Amid the discussions, some people shook their heads repeatedly, expressing their regret.

"We shouldn't have activated the protective formation in the first place, thinking we could trap Xue Xiang. Who knew we'd be the ones trapped now! We're stuck with nowhere to retreat, completely within his grasp. Isn't this exactly what he planned?"

Before the words were even finished, the second elemental explosion bead had already soared into the air.

Xue Xiangjian lightly touched the sword, causing the sword light to tremble slightly.

Another roar erupted, and flames engulfed the three of them!
This time, the fire surged like a raging sea, and the limited battlefield was almost completely filled with the crimson flames generated by the massive explosion, leaving virtually no place to escape.

The three stood together, activating the protective shield together, which transformed into layers of light walls, forcefully resisting the impact.

Marquis Lü Wenhou even went so far as to use his precious protective charm.

However, amidst the deafening roar, the light barrier crumbled inch by inch, the talismans burned to ashes, and the protective shield teetered on the brink of collapse. Shen Nansheng's chest split open with blood, his fangs shattered, and his face twisted into a grotesque, demonic grimace.

Lu Wenhou's entire body was covered in shattered ice, the fragments piercing his flesh, leaving him looking like a skinned beast.

Lou Changqing's arms, which were gripping the knife, were completely shattered, and blood gushed out. With a "crack," the spine of the green knife split open again.

The crowd's eyes widened in horror.

"Stop! Stop it now!"

"This isn't a battle of magic, it's a trap in hell!"

"Brother Zhou, quickly activate the protective formation and let them out; they can't hold on any longer."

"It was Brother Lü who instructed me. I have already activated the full power of the protective array, but I can't activate it again until the time is up. You think I'm not in a hurry? Didn't you see that the Yuan Explosion Bead has made the array light of my great array teeter on the verge of collapse?"

Zhou Mingtang deeply regretted his actions.

"Xue Xiang, stop, stop..."

Seeing that Xue Xiang had already taken out the third Yuan Burst Bead, Lou Changqing said loudly, "We admit defeat, we lost, you won. From now on, we will not make things difficult for you anymore."

"You win, let's end it here."

Lu Wenhou looked indignant.

He didn't feel deep down that he had lost to Xue Xiang; it was just bad luck that he was drawn into the pre-planned battle by Xue Xiang.

Shen Nansheng's eyes turned bloodshot as she stared coldly at Xue Xiang. "You've achieved your goal, taking on three opponents single-handedly. From now on, you can boast all you want."

The three of them suppressed their grief and said words of surrender.

Xue Xiang smiled slightly, "It seems that you three have gotten used to being treated like big shots, thinking that you can fight whenever you want and call a truce whenever you want."

If Xue were to end up in such a situation, would the three of you stop?

The three of you, have you forgotten that we signed a waiver of life and death?

Once war breaks out, only one side can leave this place alive.

"Xue Xiang, don't be so arrogant! My family, the Lü family, has a thousand-year-old reputation. In front of everyone, do you dare to kill me?"

"You're just bluffing, trying to drag us into the mud and make us beg for mercy. Don't even think about it."

"One should be lenient when one can. You already have the upper hand, do you expect us to kneel down and beg you?"

Lu Wenhou, Shen Nansheng, and Lou Changqing all showed their expressions.

Xue Xiang is right.

From their perspective, any life-or-death agreement is meaningless; it's just a way to trick Xue Xiang into participating, a legal and justifiable process for killing him.

They never imagined that Xue Xiang would dare to kill them in front of everyone.

This is impossible.

Even if Xue Xiang had a few times the courage, he wouldn't dare to do that.

Therefore, when pushed to their limits by Xue Xiang's Yuan Burst Beads, the three could only call a halt, reluctantly acknowledging that Xue Xiang had gained the upper hand.

However, this does not mean that the three are willing to put down their pride and beg for mercy.

“I admire your unwavering spirit, you three. May you rest in peace. I will not see you off further.”

Xue Xiang simultaneously launched two Yuan Burst Beads, one on the left and one on the right.

"No!"

"Spare your life!"

"Help!"

The sword's edge manifested from both ends, instantly striking the two elemental explosion beads.

In an instant, the sky and earth turned white, as if ignited by two blazing suns.

boom!
A deafening roar shattered the ears, and flames poured down like a thunderbolt.

Blazing light surged forth, and a sea of ​​fire roared, as if to uproot the earth.

Amidst the raging flames, the void trembled, the stone walls cracked, and the protective array of light collapsed with a deafening roar.

Within a narrow area, it unleashed a devastating force that nearly destroyed the world!

Flames mingled with stone chips and thunder; everything was burning and dissolving.

The spiritual energy shield that the three desperate individuals had managed to erect was instantly engulfed by the flames.

The amulet's faint light burned away inch by inch, its form shattered, and its light barrier crumbled like paper.

Before Shen Nansheng could finish screaming, his beast-like scales shattered, his flesh turned to charcoal, and his figure instantly melted away in the sea of ​​fire.

Lu Wenhou's face was covered in ice shards, which turned into blood mist. His Cold Jade Divine Skill completely collapsed, and his body shattered into countless fragments, vanishing into nothingness.

Lou Changqing's hand holding the knife turned to ashes completely. The green knife shattered and rang. Lou Changqing and the blade were engulfed by the flames and dissolved without a trace.

Before the screams of the dying could even begin, the entire arena fell silent.

"what!!"

The viewer is as depressed as a mountain, and the world has been low for a long time.

The onlookers were horrified, their eyes wide with rage and their hearts filled with terror.

"Such power... even a Core Formation cultivator would likely be killed on the spot!"

"This is terrifying! Xue Xiang is absolutely terrifying!"

Just then, the protective array of light completely dissipated.

Zhou Mingtang's expression changed drastically, and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. The entire protective array shattered with a crash, and the light and flames scattered like broken jade.

Dust and smoke filled the air, flames roared, and everything in sight was charred black.

However, in the very center of this world-destroying sea of ​​fire, a golden palace floated silently.

The palace was magnificent, with its eaves gleaming and beams shining, seemingly detached from the ravages of fire.

Golden light poured down, yet all was well.

Inside the hall, Xue Xiang stood with his hands behind his back, his robes fluttering even without wind.

His figure, like an indestructible monument, stands amidst flames and ashes, solitary and solemn.

He thought to himself, "Who says only war poems can kill? Poems, when used properly and combined with suitable tactics, can kill just as well."

After more than ten breaths, the golden palace collapsed and was restored to its original state of civility.

The literary energy was absorbed into Yulong, and the entire Yulong shrank by nearly a third.

Although I knew beforehand that Yulong could only use his manifested poems three times, I was mentally prepared.

However, seeing Yu Huiyu disappear like this, he couldn't help but feel saddened.

"Gentlemen, if anyone else wishes to seek my guidance, I, Xue, will gladly oblige."

Xue Xiang cupped his hands in greeting to all four directions, and in an instant, the group of aristocratic young men dispersed.

Ling Xueyi strode forward, cupped her hands, and said, "Brother Xue's divine might truly stirs the heart; I admire you greatly."

As he spoke, he waved his hand, and the three document rings, two bracelets, and one storage ring on the ground were all caught in his palm.

Immediately, he handed all six storage treasures to Xue Xiang, saying, "Brother Xue, you can accept the spoils of victory with peace of mind. There is a life-or-death agreement, and we are all witnesses. It was those three who plotted to assassinate Brother Xue, but Brother Xue killed them instead. No matter where you go in the world, Brother Xue is in the right."

Just as Xue Xiang was about to speak, the three talisman rings in his palm suddenly vanished in a flash of light.

Immediately afterwards, the talisman ring on his finger began to vibrate and hum.

With a thought, Xue Xiang entered the document ring, and the virtual map was restored.

Immediately, the scroll ring emitted a clear light that enveloped him, and when he looked again, he had been teleported to the depths of a canyon.

Immediately afterwards, the document ring sent out more information, explaining why it had malfunctioned previously, and instructing them to rest briefly while awaiting the start of the final trial.

Xue Xiang found a flat, large blue stone, sat cross-legged on it, and began to refine the blue crystal core to replenish the diminished literary energy within the literary palace.

Just as he was diligently cultivating, violent tremors began to occur repeatedly within the Canglan Academy.

Ni Quanwen and Wei Fan both received the news that Xue Xiang had killed Lü Wenhou, Shen Nansheng, and Lou Changqing.

The two looked at each other, utterly shocked.

"They've really outsmarted themselves. I wonder what their reactions will be when they receive the news?"

Ni Quanwen sighed.

Wei Fan laughed and said, "This is called reaping what you sow; you can't escape it."

Xue Xiang was also clever; in front of everyone, he signed a life-or-death agreement.

Even if it's one against three, the news will spread like wildfire, and those few families will be the ones who lose face.

Ni Quanwen said, "After all, someone has died. You should issue a report, in detail, and I will affix my seal."

Also, why haven't the questions for the final trial been released yet?

Wei Fan said, "The central government is still struggling with this. They probably want those people in the capital to eat raw meat, but they are also afraid of letting others get their hands on meat. It's a difficult situation."

Ni Quanwen scoffed, "In the end, it's still about those few purple-level demonic monsters."

I just don't understand, how much benefit can they possibly offer?

Wei Fan shook his head. "Let's wait and see. The mystery will be solved soon."

(End of this chapter)