I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 191 A Series of Battles (Silver Sprouts 3)

The wind howled on the mountaintop, and the banners fluttered.

While Xue Xiang was playing with crickets with the human, ape, and demon in private, a human and a demon stepped forward side by side and began to explain the rules of the battle.

It turns out that the two sides have already reached an agreement.

This time, they will defend their title.

Whichever side successfully defends their position will claim the sword intent from the heavenly sword.

The speaker from the demon race seemed to be someone with connections; he spoke haltingly and incoherently.

The human preacher gave a direct example.

Xue Xiang heard it clearly.

It is said that if A and B fight, and A wins, then A will be the defender of the title.

If Player A wins three consecutive matches, they will be the winner of this tournament.

Conversely, if A loses a particular match, the person who defeated A becomes the new champion and must win three more matches.

In the ultimate battle to defend the title, the challenging side can send two players to fight.

Apart from this, there are no other regulations.

"Believe it or not, the rule that allows two people to challenge each other in the ultimate battle is aimed at Akari-senpai."

The ape-demon looked as if he understood everything. "As everyone knows, within the same realm, our combat power far surpasses that of the demon race."

Even though the atmosphere here is filled with literary atmosphere.

Those two human cultivators at the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul stage certainly didn't have the courage to fight Senior Chi Ri one-on-one.

That's why they set this rule.

The fact that Senior Akari could accept this only shows that he was already confident of victory.

What a load of rubbish about defending the title; in the end, it was Akari who swept them all.

Just watch, it's the younger generation that's trying to make their presence known from the very beginning.

As soon as he finished speaking, a young figure calmly stepped out from the human camp.

Dressed in a purple robe that shone in the sunlight, with a jade pendant at his waist jingling softly, his expression was both proud and somewhat indifferent.

His clear voice reached everyone's ears: "Grandmaster of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Ning Yi, the third son of Prince Duan, is willing to take the stage and fight first."

"I am at the Core Formation stage."

The demons sneered.

"A mere Core Formation cultivator dares to presume to defend the title?"

"He's nothing but a pawn, someone who wants to dampen the spirits of my demon race."

"Who finished off this kid? He deserves the credit."

"........."

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, several figures of the demon race leaped out in succession.

Finally, with a casual click, Crimson Sun and Windfire selected the Leopard Demon.

The leopard demon was overjoyed and rushed onto the arena.

He roared, and his body swelled up.

Then, two array plates flew out simultaneously from the human and demon arrays, forming a protective array barrier that enveloped the mountaintop.

The leopard demon roared to the sky, its bones cracking and its blood energy soaring into the heavens.

In the blink of an eye, his body grew several meters taller, his limbs became as thick as stone pillars, his back bulged, his body was covered with colorful patterns, and his fangs were as sharp as knives.

Amidst the howling wind, he stood atop the arena, his imposing presence like a mountain pressing down.

The crowd of demons below cheered.

"The Leopard King's lineage is as swift as thunder and as powerful as a collapsing mountain!"

"This kid is dead!"

"How can a human at the Core Formation stage withstand such demonic power!"

The demons cheered and lauded the leopard demon as an unparalleled war god.

Ning Yi's expression remained unchanged, his robes fluttering in the wind. He raised his head and recited:

"Sword energy sweeps across the autumn sky, chilling the white sun."

A fierce wind swept snow into Chang'an.

Tigers and leopards, though roaming freely, eventually find themselves trapped.
A resounding song echoes through the mountains.

As the sound faded, the heavens and earth trembled.

Poetic imagery materialized, and in an instant, a fierce wind whipped up a sky full of white snow, which howled down from the void.

The sword flashed like frost, slashing straight down onto the arena.

Amidst the wind and snow, an ice trap suddenly appeared, its eerie light shimmering.

The leopard demon was about to move, but it seemed to be stuck in an invisible swamp, and its limbs suddenly froze.

The next instant, the hundred-foot-long sword energy transformed into a torrent of frost and snow, pouring down from the sky.

With a deafening roar, the leopard demon's howl abruptly ceased, its massive body shattering instantly, its blood vapors rising and being completely swallowed by the flying snow sword light.

Outside the arena, there was first a deathly silence, then cheers and curses resounded through the sky.

"Damn it! A mere Core Formation cultivator dared to kill my own kind with poetry!"

"This kind of writing is too sharp, leaving no room for any hope of survival!"

"Indeed, the words of humans can be weapons, even more vicious than swords!"

Some people cursed through gritted teeth: "This child will surely be punished by heaven and die without a burial place!"

In contrast, the human faction erupted in cheers.

"it is good!"

"Brother Ning Yi, you truly live up to your title of Prince Duan!"

"The demon race is nothing special. To say that they are invincible within the same realm is utter nonsense!"

The crowd was excited, and several elderly monks showed great joy.

Suddenly, a cold snort came from within the demon formation, and a great demon rose up, his demonic aura as vast as the sea, pressing down on the barrier and causing it to tremble.

His scales shimmered with light, and his figure transformed into a streak of rainbow light, landing directly in the center of the arena.

The great demon was over two zhang tall, with shoulders and back as broad as a giant mountain.

Its entire body was covered in bluish-black scales, as if cast in iron, with a cold light swirling within them, as if thunder and fire were lurking beneath the surface.

Suddenly, a pair of jet-black wings stretched out from his back, seemingly capable of blotting out the sky and the sun.

"Azure Feather Demon King, Tuoba Wei, go into battle."

His voice was hoarse and deep, yet it shook the rocks on the mountaintop, causing them to crumble and fall. "Human brat, you tried to kill my general with your words, prepare to die!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the barrier around the arena flashed with light, as if even the array plate could not withstand his power.

The demon camp was roused, and the demons roared in unison: "Azure Feather Demon King! Peng Clan Bloodline! Nascent Soul Grandmaster! Victory is assured in this battle!"

Ning Yi remained calm and composed as he bent down to pick up the still-warm demon core from the leopard demon's remains. He held it in his palm and played with it, the crystalline blood light reflecting off his purple robe.

He chuckled softly and said with a self-deprecating tone, "That poem just now has exhausted all the knowledge I have gained in my life."

Unfortunately, I have no more brilliant lines to compose; even if I were to fight again, it would only bring me further humiliation.

As soon as he finished speaking, he tossed the demon core into the air and caught it steadily. His posture was relaxed. Then he cupped his hands in a salute and said in a clear voice, "I concede defeat in this round."

Having said that, he walked off the stage with his hands behind his back, his demeanor unchanged, as if admitting defeat was as easy as a breeze.

The demon camp erupted in chaos:

"mean!"

"Slay my demon infant first, then pretend to be a gentleman and admit defeat!"

"Clearly a fame-seeker!"

"What kind of ridiculous rule is this? Giving up before even fighting is cowardly and shameless human brat..."

The demons roared, their curses like thunder.

The human leaders sitting in the center looked pleased.

"As expected of a noble descendant, the young prince has slain a great demon on his first appearance on the arena. Today's battle is one that will be remembered for generations to come."

Pang Weiyi, who was speaking, was tall and slender. Although his temples were streaked with white, they were not messy. His eyebrows were bright and his demeanor was calm and refined. "What is even more rare is that the young prince knows when to advance and retreat. To have such understanding at this age is not easy. The Duan Prince's Mansion has a worthy successor."

"Mr. Pang, you flatter me. What skills do the younger generation have? They can only come up with some tricks, which are purely lucky and not worth mentioning."

Prince Duan had a square face and clear, handsome features. He looked to be only thirty years old. He was dressed in a plain brocade robe and had a dignified and elegant demeanor.

He calmly looked at the imposing Tuoba Wei in the arena and asked, "Mr. Pang, shall we send you or my side to fight in this battle?"

“The young prince has already done his part; it’s time for my people to step in.”

Pang Weiyi slammed his tablet together, turned to look behind him, and asked in a steady voice, "Who is willing to fight?"

The first to speak was Pei Yunzhong, the deputy hall master of the First Hall. He was also dressed in a dark black official robe, with a lean and refined appearance. "I have a disciple named Zhang Yuan. Although he is only in the mid-stage of Core Formation, he is unparalleled in poetry and prose. He possesses both talent and courage and is willing to take the stage to test his skills."

Immediately afterward, Guo Qing, the Vice Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, also stepped forward hastily. He was slightly overweight and had a ruddy complexion: "In my clan, there is also a skilled man who often uses words as weapons. He can transform sharpness into strength by reciting poems and essays."

I think this situation is perfect; let my Guo family members take the field!
Pang Weiyi listened quietly, his lips slightly pursed, showing neither joy nor anger. He slowly raised his hand and pointed to the person Pei Yunzhong had mentioned: "It is Zhang Yuan."

As Pang Weiyi finished speaking, a young scholar stepped out from the crowd. He was fair-skinned, beardless, dressed in a scholar's robe, and had a bamboo scroll hanging from his waist.

This man exuded an air of scholarly refinement in his every gesture. After bowing to Pang Weiyi and the others, he said with conviction, "Zhang Yuan is here and is willing to lead this battle."

After saying that, he moved swiftly and entered the arena, his entire being like a drawn sword, its sharpness fully revealed.

Tuoba Wei spread his wings halfway, his scales shimmering with light, and coldly looked down at Zhang Yuan, his eyes full of contempt. "The human race sends such a Core Formation child to fob us off? How laughable!"

He stepped forward, and the arena shook violently. The demonic energy surged like a tide, causing the barrier array light to tremble repeatedly. "If you want to fight, please send out a Nascent Soul expert whose cultivation is comparable to ours!"

Otherwise, I wouldn't even bother lifting a finger.

The demons below the stage burst into laughter, their voices rising in unison:
"well said!"

"Nascent Soul versus Core Formation? That's child's play!"

"Humans are ultimately hypocritical. My demon race is upright and would never do anything like bullying the weak."

"..."

Pang Weiyi's gaze shifted and landed on an old man in a green robe at the front of the formation.

He is the one who speaks for both the human and demon races in this external conflict.

The old man in the green robe stepped forward, his eyes piercing, and said in a loud voice: "The rules are set, and all defenders, regardless of their cultivation level, must fight. If Tuoba Wei refuses to fight, he will be forfeiting this match and will undoubtedly lose!"

The human faction was immediately energized and echoed loudly, "Well said!"

"A battle to defend one's title allows no room for sophistry!"

The demon race was in an uproar, with the demons roaring angrily and all staring at Tuoba Wei.

Tuoba Wei's eyes flashed with a blood-red light, and his jet-black wings suddenly flapped, creating a gale. "Since you humans are not afraid of the bloodshed of your children, what harm is there in killing one more?"

After drinking, Tuoba Wei suddenly flapped his wings, his voice like thunder.

His chest heaved, and a low growl came from his throat. Then, he opened both claws, and two blazing orbs of light suddenly condensed between his fingers.

The ball of light was initially no bigger than a fist, but in an instant it grew to about ten feet in size. Runes flashed on its surface, as if lightning and fire were flowing, and countless lightning snakes seemed to be swimming inside.

Each flash was accompanied by a deafening roar.

The light was blazing white, illuminating the shadowy areas within the barrier and even turning the banners on the mountaintop a blood-red hue.

Two orbs of light swirled around Tuoba Wei, each rotation accompanied by a sharp, cracking sound that seemed to tear the void apart.

He pushed his arms forward and shouted sharply, "Go!"

Two beams of light burst through the air with a thunderous roar, hurtling towards Zhang Yuan with earth-shattering power.

Zhang Yuan's robes fluttered, yet his expression remained calm.

He raised his hand to the booklet at his waist, his eyes piercing, and recited in a clear voice:
"A long wind sweeps across the sea, turning the world white."

The sound of pine trees echoes through the valleys, filling the vast expanse of the land.

Though the thunder and fire rage fiercely, they will eventually extinguish themselves.
A single, resounding song overwhelms the mountains.

Before the sound of poetry had faded, heaven and earth suddenly responded, and a great deal of literary energy fell away.

On the arena, a fierce wind howled, and the roar of the ocean surged forth, like a symphony of mountains and valleys.

An invisible, righteous aura shot straight into the sky, transforming into a sky full of white light, instantly engulfing the two balls of lightning and fire.

"boom--"

The sound was like the sky collapsing.

The sphere of light was swept up by the wind and the sound of the waves, compressed layer by layer, and the runes shattered inch by inch.

The thunderous roar was completely disintegrated in an instant.

Immediately afterwards, the vast white light did not dissipate, but instead transformed into a heavy pressure that swept back towards Tuoba Wei, covering the sky and the earth.

Tuoba Wei flapped his wings violently, forcing his feet to take half a step back. Runes flashed on his scales, and he was pressed down so hard that he could hardly breathe.

The human faction was in an uproar.

"it is good!"

"Zhang Yuan's poem actually surpasses the Nascent Soul stage!"

"This world was founded by sages, and it should be ruled by us Confucian scholars!"

The demon camp was stunned. The demons looked at each other in disbelief, and a buzzing sound arose from all sides.

"A mere Core Formation cultivator could actually force back the Azure Feather Demon King?"

"This... the literary talent is so strong!"

"Our clan should diligently cultivate its literary talents."

"This is so unfair! We have spent years cultivating ourselves, only to be suppressed by two lines of pretentious and mediocre poetry."

Fortunately, this world is not full of literary talent, and even the most learned people cannot produce masterpieces in every single one of their works.

"........."

The wind howled inside the arena, while outside, discussions surged.

Zhang Yuan stood tall, like a straight, long sword, its sharpness fully revealed.

Tuoba Wei roared, his voice shaking the arena.

Suddenly, his brow lit up, and a beam of dark blue light shot into the sky, followed by the appearance of a shrunken demonic phantom, which was his natal nascent soul.

The nascent soul was covered in scales, its wings were like blades, and its eyes were cold and menacing, just like the original body.

As soon as the nascent soul emerged, it suddenly opened its mouth and exhaled, transforming into a blue protective shield that enveloped Tuoba Wei's entire body.

The vast white light poured down, crashing into the protective barrier and unleashing a deafening roar.

The air was torn apart, leaving streaks of black, and the array patterns of the barrier flickered rapidly.

Tuoba Wei's feet sank into the stone surface of the arena an inch deep, his shoulders and back arched, his wings flapping angrily, yet he managed to withstand the pressure.

After more than ten breaths, the white light gradually dimmed, and the sound of the wind and waves dissipated. The majestic image finally faded and returned to nothingness.

Tuoba Wei's chest heaved violently, and blood glints oozed from between his scales, but he still stood in the center of the arena, a sinister smile on his face.

Zhang Yuan's heroic spirit had not yet subsided, and he was about to recite again.

Suddenly, Tuoba Wei's eyes turned bloodshot, and he was filled with rage. He raised his hand and pointed, and demonic energy shot straight into the sky.

With a "whoosh," a long, narrow streak of light descended from the sky, as fast as thunder, pressing down on Zhang Yuan's head with chilling power, as if it would crush his figure in the next instant.

In the human camp, Pang Weiyi raised his tablet and his voice boomed like a bell: "Wait!"

His gaze was deep and resolute as he declared in a loud voice, "In this match, Zhang Yuan has exhausted all his strength, and his literary talent has waned. His momentum in defending the title cannot be sustained any longer. In this battle, Zhang Yuan is defeated!"

Zhang Yuan didn't linger and quickly left the arena.

Pei Yunzhong's expression darkened slightly. He couldn't help but step forward, cup his hands, and asked, "Scholar Pang, Zhang Yuan was not completely defeated just now. Why did you stop now? If you had fought him, you might have been able to force Tuoba Wei to retreat."

Pang Weiyi raised his eyes, gently tapped the tablet in his hand, and pointed it towards the sky.

Above the sky, the scattered streaks of light still swirled, like falling stars, yet they exuded a chilling sharpness.

He explained, "That streak of light is Tuoba Wei's innate divine power. If it were to fall, it wouldn't be a contest, but a one-sided massacre." Pang Weiyi's gaze swept across the crowd, his tone turning stern: "Letting the youngsters show off is enough to appease the people. Why make them die in vain?"

Pei Yunzhong's expression changed, and after a long silence, he finally replied in a low voice, "I understand."

Tuoba Wei flapped his wings, his narrow pupils gleaming coldly. He surveyed the human camp, a smirk playing on his lips. "Who else wants to die?"

The roar shook the runes on the arena, as if the entire mountaintop was enveloped by his oppressive aura.

Suddenly, a person slowly stepped out from the human formation.

He was dressed in a blue robe, with handsome and upright features. He went straight into the arena and said, "Great Zhou, Shanhe Academy, Jiang Qing, requests to fight."

As soon as he finished speaking, the wind seemed to stop abruptly.

Jiang Qing walked slowly to the center of the arena, his blue robe fluttering in the wind like a mountain standing tall.

Within the human faction, discussions suddenly became heated.

"Jiang Qing is a genius that has not appeared in the Shanhe Academy in nearly a hundred years!"

An elderly scholar with a white beard slammed his fist on the table and stood up, his voice trembling with excitement. "Not only has he cultivated to the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, but he has also entered the realm of poetry. Every word and every thought can take form!"

Another official, his eyes gleaming, added, "Don't forget, he's also the royal tutor! His Highness the Crown Prince learns everything by himself every day. Such a status is far beyond that of ordinary academy students."

"The realm of poetry!"

Someone exclaimed in a low voice, their eyes filled with awe, "How difficult this situation is."

Someone sighed, "In the academy's grand competition, he used a poem called 'Ode to Lofty Ambitions of Mountains and Rivers,' which summoned the power of mountains and rivers, overwhelming all the students!"

Another voice rang out, "If he can kill Tuoba Wei today, it will be a legendary tale that will be celebrated for generations to come!"

All eyes turned to the figure in blue robes in the center of the arena.

Jiang Qing stood with his hands behind his back, his expression as steady as mountains and rivers, seemingly unmoved, his aura already rivaling that of the Azure Feather Demon King.

Tuoba Wei didn't waste any words. He swelled his chest, looked up at the sky, and let out a strange howl that pierced the heavens.

The next instant, its wings suddenly spread out, covering the sky and the earth, with black feathers lying horizontally, sharp as ten thousand blades.

Immediately, his claws swirled violently in the void!
"boom!"

The air seemed to be torn apart, and the black light condensed into a hurricane-like vortex. Two jet-black halos burst out from the depths of the vortex.

The intertwined lights, leaving long trails, hurtled towards Jiang Qing with destructive power.

Jiang Qing's blue robe billowed, and he parted his lips slightly, uttering a single word:

"Mountain."

Its sound is like a clear bell, resounding throughout heaven and earth.

As soon as the word was uttered, golden light exploded, and a powerful, illusory image of the character "山" (mountain) appeared in the void.

In an instant, it transformed into a mountain mist, stretching across the center of the arena.

"boom!"

The two wheels crashed heavily onto the mountain, causing thunder and fire to explode and flames to scatter, leaving only scorch marks on the mountainside.

The entire mountain remained unmoved and unshaken.

Jiang Qing stood atop the mountain, his robes fluttering, his figure blending seamlessly with the mountain's contours, exuding an aura of a master of the land.

When Tuoba Wei saw that the light wheel was firmly blocked by the real mountain, his narrow pupils suddenly contracted, and a lightning pattern burst out from between his eyebrows.

In an instant, a streak of light descended from the sky, radiating brilliance.

In an instant, the sky was filled with turbulent winds and clouds, and lightning flashed wildly, as if a sea of ​​thunder had been overturned.

He reached out with both claws, drawing all the lightning in the air and condensing it into a pitch-black lightning prison, shaped like a cage, which crashed down upon them.

Within it, thousands of lightning snakes surged, each containing earth-shattering power.

Thunder rumbled repeatedly, as if the heavens were collapsing.

As soon as Lei Wei was born, all those below the Nascent Soul stage who were watching the battle activated protective shields.

Xue Xiang remained motionless, sensing something, and looked towards the direction of the human race.

There were two old acquaintances there, the Two Saints of Cloud and Thunder.

Among them, Lei Sheng Lei Ze is an expert in playing with thunder.

Seeing that he too was horrified, it was clear just how powerful and domineering this thunder was.

Tuoba Wei displayed his supernatural powers, and the demons were already in an uproar.

"My innate divine power, Sky-Splitting Thunder Prison!"

"King Tuoba is indeed mighty! This thunderous cage has imprisoned and killed countless powerful figures, and its reputation is renowned."

"Once the Sky-Splitting Thunder Prison closes, the lightning within will generate and multiply on its own, becoming more and more intense the struggle. Even a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator will be completely obliterated."

"What good is a mere scholar, even if he is a master of poetry? Under this Thunder Prison, he is nothing more than a lump of charcoal waiting to be chopped."

The demons spoke with excitement and sneered, their eyes burning as if they could already see Jiang Qing reduced to ashes.

Above the arena, the Thunder Prison roared down, lightning bolts crisscrossed, and the sound shook the heavens.

The mountain that Jiang Qingxian transformed is now riddled with cracks and is on the verge of collapse.

Jiang Qing stood atop the mountain, his blue robe fluttering, and recited aloud:

"The towering peaks stand firm against the wind, unyielding."

The ancient pine stands proudly against the snow, its thunder rumbling softly.

The majestic mountains and rivers form a natural barrier.
Even when faced with imminent calamity, he remained steadfast.

As the poem was recited, its literary charm rustled and fell.

The mountain, which was on the verge of collapse, rose several meters higher again, and countless ancient pines and cypresses grew among the rocks, with iron-hard branches and deep roots.

A majestic aura burst forth from the mountain, forming a barrier against the raging thunder.

"boom--"

The thunderous hell pressed down, lightning snakes danced wildly, striking mountains and causing them to crumble and pines to snap one after another.

But every time a branch is broken, a new branch will sprout from the ground.

Jiang Qing stood amidst the pine trees, his sleeves fluttering, his face slightly pale, but his expression resolute.

The majestic spirit of the mountains and rivers intertwined with his figure, supporting the near-destructive pressure of the thunder.

"Immovable as a mountain, let me show you the true power of the Sky-Splitting Thunder Prison."

The lightning pattern between his brows suddenly blazed brightly, and the illusory image of his nascent soul and his true form roared in unison.

The next instant, the entire Thunder Prison suddenly contracted, and the lightning serpents coiled back, like ten thousand rivers flowing into the sea, condensing into a destructive torrent.

"Boom——!"

From the center of the Thunder Prison, a pillar of azure lightning suddenly descended, over a foot thick, piercing straight through the mountain.

Within the pillar of lightning, countless bolts of electricity roared, transforming into thunder dragons.

Above the sky, the two protective array plates were spinning frantically, almost bursting into flames.

Lightning flashed and electric arcs danced wildly, turning the ancient pines on the mountaintop into charcoal in an instant, and shattering the stone walls into powder.

Under this world-destroying pressure, Jiang Qing's expression remained cold and stern. He suddenly flicked his sleeves, and a light flashed between his brows.

"boom--"

Light condensed in the void, and a majestic precious tree rose from the top of his head.

The tree trunk is as thick as a mountain, its branches are crisscrossed, and its abundant leaves are like a canopy, shining with a magnificent and dignified light.

The shadows of the trees enveloped the arena, their roots seemingly penetrating the very source of heaven and earth, and among the branches and leaves, poems and runes faintly emerged, weaving together into a vast and resounding melody.

As soon as the precious tree appeared, a gentle breeze rustled through its branches and leaves, pouring into the mountains.

The mountain, which was on the verge of collapse, suddenly became perfectly stable.

The human camp erupted in uproar, exclamations of surprise rising and falling: "The Tree of Literary Qi!"

"Truly a master of poetry, such a powerful literary talent!"

Xue Xiang stood in the crowd, his heart trembling slightly, his gaze fixed on the towering tree.

"So strong!"

He gritted his teeth secretly, a surge of emotion coursing through him.

Compared to his own sapling, this was a true treasure tree of literary talent, powerful enough to suppress an entire region.

He clenched his fists, his ambition growing.

On the arena, thunder roared and the precious tree stood tall.

The mountains and the thunder dragon clashed violently, lightning and the sound of pine trees intertwined, unleashing a deafening roar.

The protective array plate spun wildly, its light nearly burning out.

The cultivators and demons watching the battle held their breath in awe of this violent spectacle.

It took a full quarter of an hour for the roaring of the heavens and earth to gradually subside.

Jiang Qing stood atop the mountain, his blue robe torn in a few places, his face pale, yet his back remained straight.

The radiance of the Wenqi Treasure Tree behind him dimmed, and its branches and leaves fell in a rustling sound.

Tuoba Wei's wings were half-folded, his aura was heavy, his scales were dull, and the lightning pattern between his brows flickered erratically.

The cold light still lingered in his narrow pupils, yet it couldn't conceal the surging of his blood and qi.

Their eyes met, both looking pale and exhausted, clearly having reached their limits.

Jiang Qing spoke in a clear and melodious voice: "Regardless of who wins or loses this battle, neither of us is able to defend our position. How about a draw?"

"A draw is a draw!"

Tuoba Wei knew that Jiang Qing had the advantage of poetry and prose, making the literary atmosphere here lively. If the fight continued, he would eventually fall behind.

A draw is the best possible outcome.

As for Jiang Qing, Tuoba Wei had exhausted the energy of his Wenqi Treasure Tree.

If you keep struggling, you might be able to defend the title once, but you definitely won't be able to defend it a second time. It's better to exit with dignity.

At that moment, the human and the demon on the arena each left the stage.

Just then, the two array plates shattered almost simultaneously, leaving everyone stunned.

Both sides then replaced their formation plates with new ones and re-weaved their protective formations.

Before long, the war reignited, and powerful figures from both sides took to the field one after another.

As one side finishes its battle, another takes the stage. Sword light, demonic shadows, literary energy, and blood energy, along with secret techniques and innate divine abilities, intertwine to create breathtaking scenes.

A demon king spread his wings and soared into the sky, burning the heavens with a sea of ​​fire, but the human race's poems turned into rain, extinguishing the flames.

A human scholar recited ancient poems, his literary talent transforming into a dragon, only to be torn apart by the blood claws of a demon.

One battle after another, danger and wonder coexist.

After more than a dozen battles, no one has ever managed to defend the ring twice, let alone reach the final battle.

Neither side was disappointed; on the contrary, they were completely absorbed in the game.

Every single match is a rare and spectacular event, leaving the audience breathless and wanting more.

Xue Xiang stood in the crowd, his eyes shining, a smile playing on his lips: "Worth it... so worth it."

Although he did not personally experience the arena, what he saw and heard was enough to surpass a thousand days of arduous training.

In his eyes, how these super-strong individuals gathered their strength, how they planned their strategies, when to attack, and when to switch to defense were all clearly manifestations of top-tier combat experience.

Xue Xiang became more and more excited as he looked at it.

In the blink of an eye, another seven or eight battles had passed.

An unassuming old man stood in the center of the arena, dressed in a gray robe and plain clothes, with white hair and beard, his expression indifferent yet as steady as a rock.

Who would have thought that he would have already won two cities in a row.

He won the first victory and became the champion.

He won the first time and successfully defended his title once.

This was the end of his second arena fight.

The dragon-headed demon opposite them, its blood surging and its spiritual light blazing, was forced to retreat step by step, its composure shattered.

The old man stood with his hands behind his back, his voice deep yet booming like thunder, reciting aloud: "...

Waiting for the river to flow eastward for ninety thousand li.
The mighty river never returns.

A thousand iron cavalrymen turned to dust.
A single volume of poetry can determine the fate of the world.

As he recited, the long narrative poem finally came to an end.

The poetic imagery was also brought to its fullest potential.

The surging river flowed down from the sky, carrying the sound of ten thousand galloping hooves. The waves crashed against the void, turning into a raging torrent that rushed straight towards the demon race.

The great demon roared, and the copper wall and iron curtain formed by its innate divine powers collapsed instantly under this surging torrent of poetry.

"boom!"

The demonic figure was swept into the waves, its body crashing heavily to the ground. Rocks shattered, and dust scattered in all directions.

The dragon-headed demon had all four limbs severed, its scales shattered, and blood gushing from its mouth and nose.

Only the nascent soul fire burning fiercely in his chest managed to protect his heart meridian, thus preventing him from dying on the spot.

The raging storm subsided, and the old man stood with his hands behind his back, seemingly disdainful of killing a defenseless enemy.

As soon as the dragon-headed demon was carried away, the human camp erupted in a thunderous cheer.

"nice!"

"They've advanced to the final battle!"

"We humans are born extraordinary; you barbarian demons, accept your fate."

"But what is this senior's name? We can't disgrace the name of a hero."

Everyone praised the old man in gray, but no one knew his origins.

The old man in gray robes said calmly, "The recluse of Qingzhou Academy, Du Qian!"

These words immediately caused an uproar within the human faction.

"Du Qian?!"

"Du Qian, the sword immortal who swept aside all talents twenty years ago and was known as the 'Poetry and Sword Master'?"

"It is said that the sword immortal Du Qian suffered damage to his dantian and lost all his cultivation in the war in the Demon Realm."

"It is him! Although his dantian is destroyed and his spiritual power is lost, he has devoted twenty years to cultivation, turning his vast knowledge of history and classics into poetry. Today, he has used pure words to create verses that can still crush powerful enemies!"

Upon hearing this, everyone gasped in surprise, their gazes all fixed on the gray-robed old man in the center of the arena.

Du Qian remained standing with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent, seemingly unconcerned about the surrounding noise.

Amidst the howling wind, his solitary figure stood tall and imposing, as unshakeable as a mountain.

The human faction was deeply shocked, and then developed an even deeper respect for them.

Within the demon race's camp, the previously noisy shouts and curses gradually subsided.

"This person... his poetic talent is simply unparalleled."

"How could a mere cripple manifest such imagery through poetry?"

"........."

After a flurry of discussion, all the topics boiled down to one: who would be the next to fight?

With Du Qian successfully defending his position in the second arena battle, if he wins the next battle, the human race will win the entire campaign according to the rules.

The demon kings all had cold and stern expressions.

They were not afraid of war, but rather they knew that the battle before them was of great importance.

If we lose, losing face is a small matter, but causing the demon race to lose this battle would be a greater sin.

Gradually, all eyes turned to Crimson Sun and Fire.

As the leader of the demon race in this battle.

This ultimate problem, of course, still needs to be solved by him.

(End of this chapter)