Chapter 19: Accepting the Challenge from Blazing Bone Sect

Chapter 19: Answering the Challenge of the Blazing Bone Sect

At the altar's high seat, Sect Master Taiyi frowned deeply, his expression grave.

He stared intently at the two figures confronting each other in the arena, his heart clear that this would undoubtedly be a perilous, vicious battle.

The Blazing Bone Sect's techniques were sinister and ruthless, and his opponent's cultivation level firmly overshadowed Lian Hua's. With far greater experience in cultivation, if Lian Hua rashly accepted the challenge, she would very likely suffer damage to her Dao body.

Yet he was even more keenly aware of the bigger picture.

The Supreme Elder held the highest seniority; if he personally stepped down to engage in a private duel, it would compromise his dignity as an elder and be inappropriate.

As for himself, his cultivation had been stuck at the Mid Nascent Soul stage for years, neglected due to sect affairs—if he took the field, defeat was certain.

As the sect master, losing publicly would cost not just a single match, but the face of the Taiyi Sect's thousand-year legacy, reducing Taiyi to a laughingstock across the entire cultivation world.

Weighing both options, Lian Hua's voluntary offer was the only optimal solution at hand.

Though there was risk of injury, it preserved the sect's honor and left room to maneuver either way.

The Sect Master steadied his mind, his clenched fists betraying deep worry.

The Blazing Bone Sect's Grand Elder, upon hearing this, immediately burst into sinister laughter, his face full of disdain and mockery.

"Hahaha! The Taiyi Sect truly has no one capable! You'd send a four-hundred-year-old child to compete with This Seat? Since you insist on seeking death, This Seat shall grant your wish!"

The chilling laughter exploded outward, baleful aura sweeping in all directions. The entire arena's atmosphere tightened to the extreme, and everyone believed this lopsided vicious battle was unavoidable.

Ling Xuance had been standing at the side of the altar, his expression indifferent and aloof, with no intention of meddling in the sect's disputes of pride.

But sensing the restless and worried emotions of the youth within the small world, the lazy indifference in his eyes was instantly veiled with a thin layer of coldness.

The next moment, a man in white robes stepped forward slowly, his bearing elegant and transcendent, landing steadily beside True Person Lianhua.

His gaze swept lightly over the arrogantly laughing elder of the Blazing Bone Sect, his voice clear and cool, unhurried yet carrying an imposing confidence.

"For a four-hundred-year-old True Person Lianhua to deal with an elder who has cultivated for centuries would be overkill—a waste of talent."

He paused, then glanced down at himself, speaking calmly: "No need to trouble True Person Lianhua. Let this three-hundred-year-old youngster take this trip on the True Person's behalf."

The moment those words fell, a steady and vast spiritual power exploded outward—the overwhelming pressure of Mid Nascent Soul cultivation radiating unabated from his entire being!

Torrential spiritual energy surged skyward, churning the sea of clouds atop the mountain peak.

The elders of every sect stood frozen in place, their eyes filled with sheer disbelief, erupting into clamor!

"Three hundred years old?! Mid Nascent Soul?!"

"Did I hear that right? This Elder Lin Che is merely three hundred years old and has already reached Mid Nascent Soul?!"

Gasps of cold air filled the arena as everyone's gaze toward Ling Xuance completely overturned all their previous assumptions.

In the cultivation world, time reveals true skill. An ordinary cultivator might spend a full century just to barely establish their foundation.

Even geniuses from top-tier sects like Taiyi or the Blazing Bone Sect—those who established their foundation at a hundred, and reached the Late Golden Core stage by two hundred—were already hailed as unprecedented prodigies.

Yet the man before them, barely over three hundred years old, was a genuine Mid Nascent Soul cultivator!

Such speed of cultivation was unprecedented, crushing every genius in the cultivation world!

With talent like this, breaking through to Spirit Transformation and ascending to the rank of great power in the future was practically a certainty!

At the high seat, Sect Master Taiyi's pupils contracted slightly, his face full of surprise, followed by extreme delight surging in his eyes.

With such a monstrous guest elder stationed at Taiyi, the sect's foundations would surely reach new heights in the future!

Beside him, True Person Lianhua also turned her head, a flicker of astonishment passing through her eyes.

In the arena, the Blazing Bone Sect's Grand Elder, who had been arrogantly laughing, froze completely. His face shifted from red to green, then from green to grim.

He stared hard at the white-robed youth before him, feeling that Nascent Soul pressure that was in no way inferior to his own—indeed, even more refined—and a trace of wariness rose in his heart.

Three hundred years old, Mid Nascent Soul... with such terrifying talent, if allowed to grow, within a hundred years he would surely surpass him!

Ling Xuance ignored the malice in his eyes, standing tall and straight in the wind, his brow cool and indifferent, speaking calmly: "Elder, you spoke so fervently of comparing cultivation just now. Now this three-hundred-year-old junior is here to spar with you. I ask you, elder—dare you, or dare you not?"

As those words landed, after a moment of utter silence, the shock throughout the arena had yet to subside.

True Person Lianhua's heart tightened with worry. She frowned and turned to look at the white-robed youth standing serenely beside her, her fingers curling slightly as she secretly broke out in a cold sweat.

Even she had no chance of victory in volunteering herself. Ling Xuance, having just broken through, was now facing an elder with a thousand years of cultivation—one misstep and he would be severely wounded or defeated.

All eyes burned with focus on the arena, some expectant, some merely waiting to watch the show. The atmosphere was so tense it was suffocating.

Ling Xuance's expression did not change in the slightest, completely ignoring the mixed gazes around him and the murderous intent hidden in the Blazing Bone Sect elder's eyes.

He slowly turned his head, raised his eyes to the Supreme Elder on the high platform, bowed slightly, and spoke with respect.

"Master and Teacher above, your disciple presumes to request guidance from the Blazing Bone Sect elder."

"Your disciple is young in cultivation with shallow experience. If I should lose and bring shame to the sect, I beg Master not to take offense."

On the jade seat of the high platform, the Supreme Elder, always gentle and composed, was finally moved.

He had lived over a thousand years and witnessed countless prodigies of the cultivation world, yet never had he seen such terrifying speed of cultivation.

Three hundred years old at Mid Nascent Soul—even in a golden age, this would be top-tier talent, let alone in these difficult times. Such aptitude was unprecedented, enough to overturn the common understanding of cultivation.

The Supreme Elder gazed deeply at the white-robed youth below, his eyes churning with intense shock and astonishment.

After a moment of silence, the shock in his eyes gradually receded. He nodded slowly, his voice long and steady, resounding across the entire altar:

"Cultivation sparring has always had winners and losers—advance and retreat are both tempering of the Dao heart."

His bearing was transcendent, entirely unconcerned with judging honor by victory or defeat, and he spoke openly to reassure: "You are still young, and the path of cultivation is long. It is only natural that your foundation is not as deep as an elder's. Even if you lose today, there is no shame in it, and no one will dare criticize you or Taiyi for it."

After sweeping his gaze across the crowd, he raised his sleeve slightly and gave his solemn permission: "Go forth with confidence."

With those words from the Supreme Elder, everything was fully covered.

Ling Xuance bowed once more in salute, his bearing tall and sharp, spiritual energy slowly circulating as he gathered his power.

The Blazing Bone Sect's Grand Elder's face turned completely black, grim as water. He gritted his teeth and let out a cold shout: "Ignorant child! You don't know your place! This Seat shall teach you a proper lesson!"

With that, he spread his form and leaped onto the central dueling platform, black robes billowing, baleful aura surging.

Ling Xuance stepped forward with unhurried grace, white robes fluttering lightly, landing steadily on the opposite side of the platform. His posture was upright and composed, showing not a trace of fear.

The next instant, two overwhelming waves of Nascent Soul pressure exploded simultaneously!

On one side, the thousand-year-old late Nascent Soul elder exuded a deep, murderous aura—domineering and fierce.

On the other, the three-hundred-year-old Mid Nascent Soul cultivator's pure spiritual power—condensed, cold, and sharp.

The two supreme Dao pressures collided violently, and countless disciples below the stage instantly felt their blood roil, their legs going weak as they nearly collapsed, instinctively stumbling backward.

The cultivators from the surrounding sects all wore grim expressions, barely steadying themselves, their hearts trembling.

Seeing this, the Supreme Elder on the high platform casually raised his sleeve and waved his hand.

A translucent, lustrous barrier of light instantly enveloped the entire dueling stage, firmly containing the violent spiritual power and killing intent, sealing all the leaking pressure within the barrier.

The storm subsided abruptly, and the crowd below felt an immediate relief, finally able to watch the match with ease.

"The Supreme Elder's Dao mastery is unparalleled! With a single thought, he summoned a barrier that suppressed Nascent Soul pressure—truly worthy of a millennia-old great sect!"

"With this bearing and magnanimity alone, he far surpasses those heretical, bloodthirsty sects! The Taiyi Sect truly deserves its title as the righteous leader of the cultivation world!"

Waves of praise rose from all directions, winning over every heart in genuine admiration.

In contrast, the Blazing Bone Sect delegation seated nearby sat rigid and humiliated, their faces burning with shame as the surrounding praise made them look worse by comparison.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the battle on the dueling stage was about to erupt.

Ling Xuance raised his hand and made a gentle grasping motion—a clear, ringing chime suddenly resounded across heaven and earth.

A sword, pure white as if sheathed in frost and snow, materialized from the void. Its blade flowed with faint silver moonlight, its sword aura sharp and vast!

"The Dark Moon Sword?!"

Someone below instantly recognized the divine weapon and cried out in shock, triggering a wave of sharp gasps across the entire arena.

"It's the divine sword Dark Moon! Legend has it this blade was lost during the demon race's war—who knew it had ended up in Elder Lin's hands!"

"This sword slays evil, breaks corruption, suppresses demons, and cleanses filth—it's a supreme treasure of the righteous path. No wonder he can outclass his peers at such a young age!"

Inside the barrier, the moment the Blazing Bone Sect's Grand Elder laid eyes on the sword, his pupils abruptly contracted, and a fierce surge of dread and apprehension churned in his heart.

The Dark Moon Sword was specifically designed to counter yin and evil aura—and his entire Blazing Bone Sect cultivation was rooted in the deepest yin and darkest evil, making him naturally suppressed by this blade!

Intense fear swept over him, but under the watch of the masses, he was already in a bind with no way out—he absolutely could not show weakness or retreat.

The elder gritted his teeth, suppressing the fear in his heart. His face twisted viciously, and black aura surged wildly around him!

He muttered a grim, savage incantation under his breath, and rolling black miasma churned and swelled around him, thick rotting-bone evil aura coiling about his body—this was the Blazing Bone Sect's ultimate secret art: the Blazing Bone Incantation!

Black wind howled, and half the dueling stage was utterly shrouded in sinister darkness.

In contrast, Ling Xuance remained immaculate in white, standing at the edge of the evil aura, his expression indifferent and composed, his voice cold and steady.

"Elder, please enlighten me."

"Enlighten you? This Seat will cripple you today, you arrogant brat!"

The Blazing Bone Sect's Grand Elder roared with boundless fury, his form suddenly surging forward in a violent charge!

A pitch-black palm, wreathed in endless bone-burning evil aura, struck with terrifying force aimed directly at Ling Xuance's heart—vicious and venomous, every move meant to maim or kill.

Just as the palm wind was about to land, Ling Xuance's form suddenly flickered.

A white-clad afterimage drifted unpredictably, his movement technique fast to the extreme, like flowing wind beneath the moon. No matter how fierce and domineering the elder's palm strikes were, they couldn't even touch a corner of his robe.

The Blazing Bone Sect's Grand Elder struck several times in succession, black aura churning—all of it hitting nothing but air!

He couldn't track Ling Xuance's movement at all, only seeing a blur of white flashing before his eyes. Growing increasingly furious, he shouted, "You coward! All you do is dodge and flee—what kind of righteous cultivator are you?!"