I Pick up a Lost Godhood

Chapter 162 - 160: Thunderlight Hall Is Not Trash

Zhou Qian forced himself back to his feet, popping something into his mouth as he rose.

His pale face flushed with color again. "You don’t need a sledgehammer to crack a nut. I’m more than enough to deal with you."

Anx Yushu paused, then couldn’t help but shrug. "At your level, it doesn’t matter what you eat. Die!"

Zhou Qian wiped the blood from his mouth. With a flick of his wrists, two Bursting Fire Talismans appeared in his hands, and he hurled them forward.

BOOM... BOOM...

Two sword strikes deflected the Bursting Fire Talismans, but the force of the blasts broke Anx Yushu’s momentum.

SWOOSH... SWOOSH SWOOSH...

Zhou Qian spread his arms, and one Bursting Fire Talisman after another flew out to circle around him. After his previous fight with Shenn Tu, Zhou Qian knew all too well that while his Blast Talisman Array was powerful, it couldn’t deliver a fatal blow to a heavily armored Body Cultivator.

And if his opponent was prepared and didn’t let him land a hit, it would be even tougher.

Having watched the earlier matches, Zhou Qian already knew there was no room for wishful thinking. The gap in their strength was real.

Luckily, he had come prepared.

Staring at the flurry of Bursting Talismans, Anx Yushu felt a bit dizzy. ’What is he trying to pull?’ Regardless, he had no intention of waiting for his opponent to finish his preparations.

"DIIIIE~~~"

The corner of Zhou Qian’s mouth quirked up. "Die, my ass!"

Streams of Bursting Fire Talismans blasted toward Anx Yushu—a Hundred Talisman Butterfly Stream composed purely of Bursting Talismans!

One Bursting Talisman after another hammered Anx Yushu. He forcefully countered the first three, but immediately found he couldn’t keep up. This wasn’t how you were supposed to trade blows.

’But something’s not right with this guy. How can he be throwing Bursting Fire Talismans this frequently? And damn it, they’re all full-powered, not just fakes.’

This was definitely not something a disciple below the Twentieth Layer could do.

Hu Jing’s expression suddenly changed as a thought struck her. "Oh no!"

"What is it?" Ma Tian’Er asked, startled.

"I once saw Brother Zhou with a bottle of Yuan Enhancement and Vein Dilation Pills..."

Yuan Enhancement and Vein Dilation Pills. The name sounded pleasant, and they did indeed enhance Yuan and dilate veins. The problem was, they were meant for temporary use in battle. Casting complex Magic would cause one’s Life Marks to become chaotic and tangled, reducing the casting frequency. However, these Pills could replenish depleted Elemental Qi and also channel the Life Marks, smoothing out Magic combinations and maintaining their formidable power.

But this kind of thing was only for occasional use at critical moments. You absolutely could not take too many...

In the middle of the fight, Zhou Qian was releasing Bursting Fire Talismans while popping one pill after another into his mouth.

"Brother Zhou, stop taking them!"

Hu Jing couldn’t help but shout.

The fighting Zhou Qian gave a faint smile and didn’t stop. ’Is this necessary? Is it not?’

Zhou Qian really didn’t know. ’Dammit, I don’t even know what I’m doing, why I’m risking my life like this. But I don’t want to lose. I just don’t want to lose.’

Anx Yushu also realized what his opponent was taking. This guy was betting his life.

Instead of being intimidated, Anx Yushu grew excited. "Now this is interesting! So Thunderlight Hall still has some real men!"

Anx Yushu tossed his Great Sword aside, let out a deafening roar, and his entire body flashed with golden light.

This was the effect produced when a Defensive Body Cultivator used their full defensive power—Golden Armor!

Body Cultivators didn’t use Life Mark Combinations. Their power was the most fundamental expression of Elemental Power. However, by constantly training a single attribute—be it offense or defense—they could form unique, single-attribute abilities.

Anx Yushu crossed his fists to protect his body and charged forward, absorbing Zhou Qian’s Bursting Fire Talismans without dodging or evading.

He was going to settle this like a man!

Zhou Qian couldn’t let up on his stream of Bursting Fire Talismans for even a second. This was his last chance. If Anx Yushu managed to close the distance again, Thunderlight Hall would truly be finished.

He shoved another Yuan Enhancement and Vein Dilation Pill into his mouth. He had been a coward many times, had run away many times. But ever since the battle at Hengshan Hall, the old Zhou Qian was already dead. It was true when he fought the Blood Soul Hall, and it was true now. He no longer had anything to fear.

Once, his brothers needed him, and he ran.

Now, as long as there were still people who needed him, Zhou Qian, as long as they were still willing to call him "Brother," then he, as their senior brother, had to act the part.

’To hell with "heaven and earth are ruthless and treat all things as straw dogs"! We have brothers!’

The Bursting Fire Talismans didn’t stop for an instant. Both fighters were now seeing red.

"This Zhou Qian is really putting his life on the line. If he keeps burning through his power like this, he’ll be crippled,"

Yao Yuan said blankly. ’He’s risking it all. Is it worth it?’

Even if he won this match, so what? It wouldn’t change their fate. Besides, even going this far didn’t guarantee a win.

The disciples of the Beast Hall were also whispering among themselves. They had never seen someone fight so desperately. ’Is it really necessary?’

Meanwhile, the disciples of Thunderlight Hall clenched their fists, filled with regret for their earlier hesitation, for even that little bit of cowardice. This was not who Thunderlight Hall was supposed to be.

If they retreated at the first sign of a strong enemy, if they fled from a real challenge, then they really were trash, just as everyone said. They would always be trash.

But they weren’t!

Zhou Qian was showing them: you can die, but don’t be useless trash ever again.

"Thunderlight Hall will be victorious!"

Someone shouted it, and the few dozen remaining Thunderlight Hall disciples began to roar.

Although they were at a huge numerical disadvantage, they were truly ignited by Zhou Qian. Maybe there were many people stronger than them, but no one could break the will of Thunderlight Hall.

Suddenly, the cries of "Thunderlight Hall will be victorious!" grew louder. The sound was coming from the distance. The disciples who had left were coming back. Halfway on their path, one of them had spoken up, "If we go back like this... aren’t we being shameless?"

Everyone had fallen silent. Was their so-called realization just a matter of vanity?

Did they not even have the courage to face this?

They were not cowards. They would face this together.

Seeing the returning disciples, in that moment, no words were needed. Everyone had a single purpose: to stand and live together, or to stand and die together!

Zhou Qian saw them too. He didn’t know what others thought, but to him, it was worth it!

"Thunderlight Hall will be victorious!"

This time, it was Zhou Qian who roared. Following his cry, streams of Bursting Fire Talismans blasted out at an even faster frequency. Blood trickled continuously from the corner of his mouth, but that was nothing.

Anx Yushu was also frantically holding on, but this was a battle of wills. And in a battle of wills, he was lacking. He wasn’t ruthless enough. He didn’t have that do-or-die spirit.

He didn’t have the resolve that comes from facing true annihilation!

BOOM...

Finally, a Bursting Fire Talisman broke through Anx Yushu’s defense. The golden light dimmed, and three more Bursting Fire Talismans slammed into his body in quick succession.

RUMBLE...

Anx Yushu’s body was sent flying. Taking that kind of attack after his defenses were breached was too much even for a Body Cultivator. His head lolled to the side in mid-air as he lost consciousness.

Zhou Qian didn’t press the attack. He knew very well the power of his Bursting Fire Talismans. He wasn’t trying to kill anyone.

He didn’t need to kill his opponent to prove himself.

Zhou Qian remained standing, perhaps still with that same humble, wry smile on his face. But here, every single person was looking up at him.

"Third match. Zhou Qian of Thunderlight Hall is the victor."

Yu Lingzi’s voice rang out as he floated to the center of the arena and quickly fed a Pill into Zhou Qian’s mouth.

"Kid, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen someone with so much backbone."

For an Elder from the opposing Sub-Hall to take the initiative to help him, Zhou Qian was probably the first in the history of the Holy Hall.

The Thunderlight Hall disciples’ eyes filled with tears. ’Damn it, Brother Zhou won this battle with his life.’

Zhou Qian was carried off, joining Suo Ming.

"Gently, gently! Brother, we’ll get you back right away."

Zhou Qian waved a hand. "It’s fine, I’m not dead yet. I have to watch until the end, or I won’t be able to rest in peace even if I die."

Hu Jing checked Zhou Qian’s pulse. She didn’t know what kind of Pill Yu Lingzi had given him, but at least Zhou Qian’s energy wasn’t in disarray. However, his Life Marks were completely empty. This was a classic symptom of overusing Yuan Enhancement and Vein Dilation Pills. There was no cure. If he recovered, it would be sheer luck. If he didn’t...

Hu Jing’s expression darkened, but Zhou Qian just smiled faintly. "I’m a lucky man. If it really comes to it, I’ll just become a Steward in the Thunderlight Pavilion. As long as you all don’t look down on me, that’s fine."

"The hell you say, Brother! If anyone dares to look down on you, we brothers will fight them to the death!"

"Don’t jinx it! Our Brother is destined to become a top-tier expert in the Holy Hall!"

"Pah, pah, pah, my stupid mouth! Of course he is! A top-tier expert!"

Everyone crowded around him.

"Old Zhou, you’re pretty ruthless yourself," Suo Ming said. His voice was calm, but it was filled with brotherly affection.

"Aren’t you the one who set the bad example?" Zhou Qian said with a wry smile. "Son of a bitch, we have to crush the Beast Hall."

It had to be said that while Zhou Qian’s desperate battle might not bring them victory, it had at least earned them respect. The disciples of the Beast Hall could no longer call Thunderlight Hall trash.

However, they were still rookies. They couldn’t stop the Beast Hall from winning. ’Let’s see every single one of you put your life on the line.’

In truth, Anx Yushu was an idiot. He knew his opponent was going all-out. He could have just avoided the brunt of the attack and waited for him to burn out. As a Defensive Body Cultivator, an opponent risking it all was the last thing he should have feared.

But in the end...

’Oh well. Just consider it a small reward for them.’

Jia Shidao glanced at Ren Dongliu. Ren Dongliu was about to step forward, but Jia Shidao shook his head slightly.

In fact, even the disciples of the Beast Hall didn’t know much about Ren Dongliu. They only knew he was a disciple from the Spirit-Controlling Valley who fed Spirit Beasts. They had no idea how he’d wormed his way into the grand competition.

He had originally been a substitute, but somehow he had been promoted to the main roster today.

Jia Shidao stepped out.

"Huh? Why him?" Fang Lufei muttered, slightly stunned.

The safest strategy would have been for Jia Shidao to fight last.

The moment Jia Shidao appeared, the Beast Hall disciples erupted in a furious roar. On the Thunderlight Hall side, Wang Meng also stepped up.

This was a long-fated battle. What was meant to be, would be.

A wicked smile played on Wang Meng’s lips. If Zhang Xiaojiang were here, he would definitely have told everyone: Brother Meng is angry, and the consequences will be severe!

"Elder Wang, I look forward to your guidance," Jia Shidao said with a beaming smile. As always, he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, his attitude impeccable.

"What Elder? Senior, beat him back to his true form!"

"Yeah! If someone at his level can be an Elder, then we’re all Elders!"

"Let ’His Excellency the Elder’ have a taste of the Beast Hall’s might!"

A cacophony of taunts erupted.

Wang Meng becoming an Elder was a miracle, but he hadn’t won over the masses.

Any Elder in the Holy Hall needed enough years of service, enough strength, enough contributions, and enough status.

But as for this Wang Meng, no matter what methods he used or what contributions he made, the ordinary disciples didn’t know about them, and so they weren’t convinced!

Wang Meng just smiled faintly. He extended a hand, pointed at Jia Shidao, then at the loudest section of the jeering Beast Hall crowd. He wagged his pinky finger, then pointed his thumb at himself.

"You’re all a bunch of scrubs!"