I Pick up a Lost Godhood

Chapter 156 - 154: Tremble

Qiao Qian charged at Wang Meng, his Hundred Spirits Sword erupting in a dazzling white light as he brought it down on his opponent’s head.

The Sword Qi instantly extended, and fueled by the Sword Slash spell, it transformed into a massive, thirty-foot-long Light Saber.

BOOM...

Wang Meng lightly sidestepped, and the Sword Slash struck the ground beside him. The resulting blast of Sword Qi sent his hair flying. Qiao Qian was already upon him. In close combat, the aura of Elemental Power radiating from the Hundred Spirits Sword was immensely oppressive. Wang Meng dodged repeatedly as the blade swept past, his body swaying as gracefully as a willow in the wind.

"Tianyi, don’t you want to go watch?" Mingren asked. Since the start of the grand competition, Li Tianyi hadn’t shown the slightest bit of impatience. Instead, he was calmly practicing his swordsmanship.

"Senior, there’s nothing worth watching. Thunderlight Hall is guaranteed to win."

"Oh? You’re that confident?" Mingren laughed. "Qiao Qian is quite strong, and they even poached skilled fighters from other halls this time, investing heavily to train them. They’re clearly aiming to make a splash in this competition. Wang Meng is strong, but his teammates are going to have a rough time."

"Senior, battles aren’t won on strength alone. If it were just about strength, ten Wang Mengs would have been no match for me back then, yet I still lost. Willpower, execution, experience... these are the things that decide the outcome."

Li Tianyi gazed at the rising sun. Its light was so warm, yet so powerful that no one could look at it directly.

’The King’s Sword... So this is what the old man wanted me to understand by sending me out to train. I can’t underestimate the heroes of this world, and I certainly can’t underestimate the will of an underdog.’

"Heh, even if that’s the case, we won’t get a chance to face them. We should just prepare to settle things in the individual ranking matches."

Mingren smiled. This time, Lingyin Hall was truly ambitious. With a powerhouse like Li Tianyi joining them, they were determined to reclaim their former glory. As the senior disciple, Mingren’s only wish was to see this through before his time at the hall was over.

"Senior, perhaps a miracle will happen. I’m actually looking forward to it. My plan, however, is to eliminate Dao Guang Hall in the team battles—just make sure you leave the match against Ning Zhiquan to me. Then, in the individual competition, I’ll challenge Wang Meng."

"Haha, your ranking won’t be low. When the time comes, it’ll be a question of whether *he* gets to challenge *you*."

"Senior, who says my ranking will be high?" Li Tianyi said with a wink. Some things could always be manipulated, especially for an heir of the Li Family.

Mingren froze for a moment, then shook his head. ’These lunatics are so damn persistent. Am I getting old?’

Meanwhile, in the arena, Qiao Qian was pressing his attack. The light from his Hundred Spirits Sword radiated in all directions, completely trapping Wang Meng within a Sword Array he could not escape, no matter how he dodged. The disciples of Hundred Herbs Hall were roaring with excitement, but the disciples of Thunderlight Hall refused to be outdone. Victory had never felt so close.

If they won this match, they would defeat Hundred Herbs Hall, move up a rank, and finally escape the tragedy of being the perennial last-place holder.

All their hopes rested on Wang Meng. The next two fighters for Hundred Herbs Hall, Ai Zhishu and Moo Xun, were both well-known figures—one poached from Immortal Origin Hall and the other from Hengshan Hall. Neither was weak. In contrast, Thunderlight Hall had already sent out their strongest fighter, leaving only Zhou Qian and Zhang Xiaojiang, their two least dependable members.

They cheered him on, but their hearts were filled with anxiety. Qiao Qian had complete control of the fight’s tempo. At this point, forget fighting back—Wang Meng was finding it increasingly difficult just to dodge.

Qiao Qian might have appeared disdainful, but he never underestimated anyone. It was his nature to be cautious, which was why he opened with a controlling strategy. In truth, he could tell Wang Meng had some real skill. Though his Elemental Power was weak, his technique and situational awareness were incredibly precise. He had already dodged at least three of Qiao Qian’s deadly traps, forcing Qiao Qian to maintain his controlling posture.

"Senior, this Qiao Qian isn’t that impressive. With his skills and a bunch of hired losers, he actually thinks he can challenge our Beast Hall? He’s dreaming."

Xu Song spoke with disdain. He was a top expert from the Beast Hall who had risen to prominence in recent years and was highly valued by Jia Shidao. With his delicate features, one might mistake him for a beautiful woman at first glance.

Jia Shidao looked at Xu Song with a faint smile. "Junior Brother, that Qiao Qian is a merchant to the bone. He always holds something back. He hasn’t even used half of his real strength yet. We’ll see if this Wang Meng can force his hand. This is Thunderlight Hall’s only chance; Ai Zhishu and Moo Xun are no pushovers."

As he spoke, he glanced over at the timid-looking Zhou Qian and a shifty-looking fat man. ’To think that kind of riffraff can even participate in the grand competition,’ he thought. ’Thunderlight Hall must have really been desperate to fill their roster.’

Xu Song wasn’t convinced but didn’t argue with Jia Shidao. Watching Qiao Qian control the fight, he thought, ’This is far too cautious. Someone with real power wouldn’t waste so much time.’

Qiao Qian, however, was growing increasingly alarmed. He was controlling the fight—or so he thought. The problem was, whenever he tried to press his advantage, he couldn’t make any headway. Every time he was about to turn his dominant position into a decisive blow, Wang Meng would slip away with an evasive maneuver, resetting the stalemate.

Jii Fei wasn’t too worried. His hall’s performance in the first two rounds had already been a disgrace, so an ugly win was better than nothing. A loss was still highly unlikely. ’This Wang Meng is rather interesting,’ he thought. ’He can actually resist the suppressive power of the Hundred Spirits Sword.’

’A sword of this caliber emits a powerful suppressive force; that light isn’t just for show. It seems Qiao Qian is still holding back,’ Jii Fei mused. He glanced at the focused members of the Beast Hall nearby, and his confidence in defeating them waned. The key problem was that Jin Zhigang, their main offensive fighter, was too heavily injured.

Just then, the situation in the arena shifted. Spurred on by the cheers, Qiao Qian intensified his assault. Clearly, he’d realized that simply controlling the fight wouldn’t lead to victory.

The Sword Aura emanating from the Hundred Spirits Sword grew visibly stronger, and his Sword Techniques became faster. A Sword Cultivator’s attack speed was second only to a Body Cultivator’s. Qiao Qian’s sword was incredibly fast, and the Sword Qi in each strike was potent. The foundation of the Hundred Herbs Hall’s senior disciple was undeniably solid; no one reached that position by sheer luck.

Facing the more powerful assault, Wang Meng’s evasions became more frantic. He weaved through the storm of Sword Qi, each movement a hair’s breadth from disaster, drawing gasps of alarm from the spectators. The Thunderlight Hall disciples had lost the heart to cheer. Every one of Qiao Qian’s strikes targeted a vital point. The moment Qiao Qian truly unleashed the advantage of his Elemental Power would be the end of the game, extinguishing Thunderlight Hall’s last glimmer of hope.

BOOM...

The roaring disciples from Hundred Herbs Hall fell silent in an instant.

Qiao Qian staggered back four or five steps, clutching his chest. His sword had struck nothing but air, and Wang Meng had seized the opening to land a kick.

The crucial part was that Qiao Qian hadn’t realized Wang Meng had any strength left to attack. ’Just dodging should have been hard enough for him!’

Wang Meng smiled faintly. "Brother Qiao, you weren’t planning on ending things like this, were you?"

By addressing him this way, Wang Meng was extending a courtesy, treating him as a peer rather than just a rival from another hall.

Qiao Qian paused, his anger evaporating as his expression turned serious. "Brother Wang, impressive skill. It seems I was the one being petty."

’No one knows the power of the Hundred Spirits Sword better than I do,’ he thought. ’But dozens of exchanges have passed, and he seems completely unaffected... He’s so close with Zhou Feng. Maybe he took some kind of Spirit Pill, or he’s carrying a Magical Artifact. How could I have been so careless?’

’Looks like I’ll have to use my ace in the hole. As long as I can force him into a direct clash, my absolute superiority in Elemental Power will guarantee my victory.’

Qiao Qian cautiously brought the Hundred Spirits Sword to his chest and began to slowly channel his Elemental Power into it. With a HUM, the sword’s light erupted brilliantly. The entire crowd burst into an uproar. All this time, the fight had merely relied on the innate power of the Hundred Spirits Sword; Qiao Qian hadn’t been using his own strength at all.

HUMMM...

The Hundred Spirits Sword pulsed with light, its blade becoming translucent. A powerful sword pressure radiated outwards, so intense that the disciples in the front rows felt as if they were suffocating. Qiao Qian’s very presence seemed to grow, his aura completely transformed.

Qiao Qian’s Elemental Power, poured into the Hundred Spirits Sword, activated the even greater power hidden within. This power then fed back into Qiao Qian, and the feeling of abundant energy brought a faint smile to his lips.

He swung his sword with casual ease.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

In an instant, rows upon rows of Sword Qi surged toward Wang Meng, cutting through the air as easily as a hot knife through butter.

Wang Meng was visibly taken aback and scrambled to dodge.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Despite his best efforts, a wave of Sword Qi sent him flying nearly a hundred feet before he hit the ground. His clothes were torn, and several gashes had been opened on his cheek and chest.

A broken blade had appeared in Wang Meng’s hand. It seemed this blade had blocked the fatal strike; otherwise, it wouldn’t have been a few cuts on his face, but a shattered skull.

*That* was an Immortal Sword!

Holding the Hundred Spirits Sword, Qiao Qian’s chest swelled with ambition. ’With this power, the world is mine for the taking! So what if I have to face Ning Zhiquan!’

The might of that single slash was immense. The Hundred Herbs Hall disciples erupted, finally able to release the tension that had been suffocating them. Cries for blood filled the air, and when they saw the broken blade in Wang Meng’s hand, they roared with derisive laughter.

"Senior, that Immortal Sword is incredibly powerful. We’ll have to be careful," Xu Song said, his expression suddenly grave.

Jia Shidao’s usual smile vanished, his eyes fixed on Qiao Qian’s Hundred Spirits Sword. His worst fear had been realized, and the situation might be even more severe than he’d anticipated.

"So he really found it!"

The Beast Hall prided itself on the power of its Spirit Beasts, but their greatest weakness was high-damage Magical Artifacts and Immortal Swords. While powerful, Spirit Beasts lacked tactical versatility.

’This is aimed at us,’ he realized. ’No wonder Qiao Qian is so confident.’

"Elder Jii, isn’t it a bit excessive for a disciple to be using a sword like that?" Wan Jing couldn’t help but ask.

It was considered a great fortune for an ordinary disciple to have a suitable weapon, yet Qiao Qian was wielding a treasure that even the Elders couldn’t afford.

"Elder Wan, how can you say something so unprofessional?" Jii Fei retorted. "In the Cultivation World, what matters is comprehensive strength. The fact that Qiao Qian acquired this Immortal Sword is a testament to his ability. Besides, the Hundred Spirits Sword is not a weapon just anyone can use."

Jii Fei’s words shut Wan Jing down. Power was the only true measure in the Small Thousand World, whether you were a Demon Cultivator or a Saint Cultivator.

"Brother Wang, you’ve got some good luck!" Qiao Qian taunted, a smirk playing on his lips. ’It doesn’t matter if you’re an elder or anyone else. In the face of real power, all you can do is roll around in the dirt like a donkey to barely save your skin.’

The Hundred Spirits Sword itself contained immense Elemental Power. Combined with his perfect compatibility with the blade, he didn’t need much technique to obliterate any opponent.

This was true strength—an unreasonable, overwhelming power!

Wang Meng wiped the blood from his face. "A Wood Attribute Immortal Sword paired with a Five Elements Wood Master physique... a perfect match, indeed."(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)