Obsessiveness

Luo Qianqiu exuded an aura of dominance, arrogance, and tyranny as he made his promise to Qin Wentian, effectively deciding on behalf of the 3rd Prince. But because of his stature, Chu Tianjiao didn't take offense.

Chu Tianjiao had complete trust in Luo Qianqiu. As Luo Qianqiu confidently stepped forward, the troops surrounding Qin Wentian quickly withdrew, leaving only two figures on the snowy path: Luo Qianqiu and Qin Wentian.

A burst of lightning erupted around Luo Qianqiu's body. His Astral Energy possessed lightning-elemental properties, so his Astral Soul was naturally related to one of the lightning-type constellations.

As Luo Qianqiu stood in the center, the snow around him disintegrated, accompanied by loud explosions. His aura left many spectators awestruck, quietly acknowledging Luo Qianqiu's monstrous talent.

"It's no wonder he's one of Emperor Star Academy's prodigies. With his cultivation at the 8th level of Arterial Circulation, he's more than qualified to be one of the Royal Capital's ten prodigies. For Qin Wentian to face three of his attacks, it's like confronting a nightmare."

The onlookers marveled at the spectacle, seeing Qin Wentian put away his ancient halberd. Since it was only three attacks, he didn't need to rely on Divine Weapons for augmentation.

The space lit up with columns of lightning, and every step Luo Qianqiu took exuded an overwhelmingly tyrannical aura, as if he could crush Qin Wentian instantly.

Without hesitation, Luo Qianqiu thrust his five fingers forward, closing the gap between them in an instant. A manifestation of a thunderous python flew at Qin Wentian, aiming to devour him. The power it radiated felt capable of annihilating everything.

Simultaneously, Qin Wentian unleashed his Revolving Sea Imprints formed from Divine Energy. His superimposed palm imprints possessed the might to topple mountains and overturn seas. However, thunderous explosions filled the air as the palm imprints were enveloped and easily pierced by the lightning arcs, crumbling on impact. Qin Wentian felt a numbness coursing through his body as the residual energy pushed him back ten meters.

In the face of this, Qin Wentian's posture remained unwavering, and his gaze remained fixed on Luo Qianqiu.

Luo Qianqiu, walking with an air of dominance, moved forward as he retracted his outstretched fingers. His long white hair billowed in the wind, his robes as pristine as snow. To him, Qin Wentian was nothing more than a stepping stone. He was determined to prove the Emperor Star Academy wrong by crushing this stepping stone beneath his heel.

With less than two months left in the year, the last month would be his moment of glory. His plan was to reach the 7th level of the Heavenly Star Pavilion, a feat his father once achieved. But for Luo Qianqiu, that was only the beginning. In his eyes, Qin Wentian was inconsequential.

Qin Wentian wouldn't withstand even the first attack. With that in mind, the fate of the remaining two attacks was already sealed.

As Luo Qianqiu approached Qin Wentian again, the swirling snow around him danced wildly in the air. His eyes glinted with the power of lightning, piercing into Qin Wentian's soul. He unleashed another explosive palm strike, akin to a thunder god, destined to annihilate everything in its path.

The circular arterial pathways in Qin Wentian's body roared with energy as he met Luo Qianqiu's gaze without fear. Energy surged and gathered in his arms.

"Emptiness Imprint!" Qin Wentian roared. This was the 3rd Imprint from the Thousand Hands Imprint innate technique. It siphoned all the energy from his circulatory pathways and burst forth, dismantling illusions and obliterating everything in its path.

Their attacks collided, creating a storm of overwhelming vibrations that radiated outward. The snow around them was whipped into a swirling tornado, dancing frenziedly in the air.

Unlike the previous exchange, Qin Wentian's stance remained unwavering.

"Get lost!" Luo Qianqiu bellowed.

"Scram!" Qin Wentian roared in return. Both were pushed backward, but Luo Qianqiu only retreated one step while Qin Wentian was forced back more than ten steps, emphasizing the cultivation gap between them.

Qin Wentian's body trembled as if the lightning shock had penetrated him, threatening to consume him from the inside. However, his eyes reflected determination and unwavering resolve. His heart remained steadfast, no matter what happened.

Spectators were astounded. They hadn't expected Qin Wentian to withstand Luo Qianqiu's second attack. Based on the power displayed by Luo Qianqiu earlier, even an 8th level Arterial Circulation cultivator would have been grievously injured by that strike.

There was no trace of snow left under their feet after the attack.

The chilly wind swept around them, causing Luo Qianqiu's snow-white robes to flutter. He had been forced back one step, a humiliation he couldn't accept, even though it was just one step.

To him, it didn't matter that Qin Wentian's innate technique was extraordinary or that it was of earth-grade. Luo Qianqiu was Luo Qianqiu, and all his cultivation arts and innate techniques were extraordinarily powerful, with explosive elements in his Astral Souls. He should not have been pushed back even a step, nor did he believe he had any reason to be.

"The third attack, are you ready?" Luo Qianqiu raised his head, his voice dripping with arrogance as he regarded Qin Wentian. It was as if this question marked the beginning of the end. His second Astral Soul had also emerged, and his Astral Energy, crackling with the properties of lightning and thunder, roared within him like a tempestuous demon.

This strike was meant to utterly obliterate Qin Wentian.

"Boom."

But then, Qin Wentian stepped forward abruptly, releasing both of his Astral Souls. The six circular arterial pathways in his body channeled energy frenetically, creating a sound akin to the roaring waves of the ocean.

"Hmm?" The spectators froze as they witnessed Qin Wentian leap into the sky, moving with the force of a tornado and the swiftness of lightning, akin to a Garuda spreading its wings.

"Impossible," murmured the onlookers. Only those at the Yuanfu level could fly, yet here was Qin Wentian soaring through the air!

Even Luo Qianqiu was stunned, but he couldn't dwell on it for long because Qin Wentian was already descending. Qin Wentian's eyes gleamed with a radiance, his long hair fluttering in the wind. In the depths of his gaze, Luo Qianqiu could see an indomitable will capable of toppling the heavens and shattering the earth. This will transformed into an image that imprinted itself directly into Luo Qianqiu's mind.

"How swift," the spectators marveled. This time, Qin Wentian didn't merely defend passively; he seized the initiative to attack.

The figure descending from the skies harnessed his entire reservoir of energy, unleashing a palm strike. This palm strike, inspired by the concept of the Emptiness Imprint, carried a pressure as weighty as countless mountains, aimed at crushing Luo Qianqiu.

In that instant, Luo Qianqiu's countenance froze. He had been too arrogant, presuming that for his third attack, Qin Wentian would stand by passively, preparing to defend against his mightiest blow. He had overestimated himself and underestimated Qin Wentian.

In the moments before impact, Luo Qianqiu had no time to think. He could only thrust both his palms outward, unleashing a ferocious surge of lightning energy in a desperate attempt to obliterate everything. However, the determination in Qin Wentian's heart could not be extinguished.

"Peng!"

The cataclysmic collision of energies nearly caused Luo Qianqiu's body to bend and tumble to the ground. The pressure was too overwhelming, even for him. He felt his body quivering violently under the impact.

"That was the third attack," Qin Wentian declared with unwavering confidence as he locked eyes with Luo Qianqiu.

"Screw off!" Luo Qianqiu bellowed in anger. He channeled boundless energy into the form of a lightning sword, slashing it down towards Qin Wentian. Qin Wentian's face froze, but his left palm quivered, forming a mountain-like barrier that intercepted the lightning sword. The electric blade sliced through the massive obstruction, sending Qin Wentian hurtling through the air. He crashed heavily into the ground, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

"This is your fourth attack," Qin Wentian stated, lifting his head to meet Luo Qianqiu's gaze, along with those of the onlookers.

Three attacks, and Luo Qianqiu hadn't managed to subdue Qin Wentian. Not only that, after their fourth exchange, they stood on even ground.

Watching the splendor of the two Astral Souls Qin Wentian had unleashed, the spectators were awestruck. To think that Qin Wentian's martial prowess had reached such a staggering level.

Though he was injured, the brilliance he displayed remained untarnished.

His name was Qin Wentian. After this battle, it would be etched into history.

With 3rd and 4th Heavenly Layer Astral Souls, exceptional martial prowess, an indomitable spirit, and the backing of the Emperor Star Academy, Qin Wentian was like a radiant star illuminating the night sky.

"You are quite clever," Luo Qianqiu remarked after a pause, breaking the silence yet retaining his earlier arrogance.

"You saved your most potent strike for the final moment, catching me off guard and sparing yourself from a nightmare," Luo Qianqiu continued slowly. "I must admit that you now possess the qualifications for me to take you seriously. However, this is a one-time occurrence. There will be no second chance. In our next encounter, you won't have any opportunities."

Even now, Luo Qianqiu's words oozed with pride and arrogance.

Yet, Qin Wentian remained unperturbed.

"The first time I met you at the Emperor Star Academy, you shamelessly declared ownership of the Blood Ember Fruits, a display of power far exceeding mine," Qin Wentian recounted. "The second time, in the Dark Forest, on Chu Tianjiao's orders, you pursued me relentlessly, and if not for the horde of demonic beasts, you would have succeeded. Once again, your power surpassed mine."

"Today marks our third encounter. You couldn't defeat me in three attacks and even broke our earlier agreement with a fourth strike. Yet you remain so arrogant," Qin Wentian continued. "Let me make this clear. The next time we face off, I'll reveal how laughable and pitiful your so-called 'pride' and 'arrogance' truly are."

Qin Wentian spoke slowly, his eyes radiating unwavering resolve and determination.

He, too, possessed his own kind of pride. This was the third time he had clashed with Luo Qianqiu, but the next battle would be different. He would wipe the slate clean and make Luo Qianqiu pay for his arrogance.

This was his pride and his unwavering will.

The spectators turned their gaze toward the youth who had made a name for himself today. The fiery, determined youth with a heart as fierce as a tiger's! Today, Qin Wentian had every reason to take pride in his accomplishments!