Zhan Chen’s Determination

Zhan Chen's Determination...

"Wentian gege!"

The clear, gentle voice reverberated in Qin Wentian's ears, sending ripples through the void of his heart, momentarily suspending time itself.

The stupefied expressions on the faces of the spectators mirrored their collective astonishment. The practitioner of the fearsome devil arts was, astonishingly, a young maiden—this alone was enough to leave them thunderstruck. But what truly boggled their minds was the revelation that this mysterious figure was not only a woman but also an exceptionally young and beautiful one at that.

Adding to the intrigue, she seemed intimately acquainted with Qin Wentian, addressing him as "Wentian gege," a term of endearment that suggested a close relationship. Tears glistened at the corners of her eyes, and her lips curved into a poignant smile, even as blood tainted her visage. The spectators couldn't fathom the depths of this connection; they couldn't grasp why this maiden had undertaken such drastic actions in the first place.

In the crowd, Bai Qingsong clenched his fists, and Autumn Snow bit her lip, their eyes fixed on the unfolding scene. They harbored self-loathing more profound than anyone else in that moment.

They had revealed the truth to Bai Qing. In return for her sake, Qin Wentian had chosen not to kill Bai Qingsong despite all he'd done. Perhaps this realization weighed heavily on her conscience, compelling her to repay his kindness through these extreme means. In truth, her actions had been wholly unnecessary.

"You silly girl."

Seated on the arena platform, Qin Wentian gently guided Bai Qing to rest her head upon his thigh, tenderly brushing her cheek. He spoke softly, "Do you realize that, by what you've done, you've only deepened Wentian gege's sorrow? If my attack earlier had possessed even a fraction more force, I would have been tormented by regret for the rest of my life."

Even in his most vivid dreams, Qin Wentian could never have fathomed that the black-robed figure was, in fact, Bai Qing. She, the little girl who had incessantly followed him around and driven him to distraction in the days of Sky Harmony City, had grown into a woman of astonishing beauty and formidable strength. She outshone even her sister, Autumn Snow, one of the four great beauties of Sky Harmony City. Her transformation was nothing short of extraordinary.

Yet, in Qin Wentian's memories, she would forever remain the sweet, endearing child who had adored him. He couldn't forget that night when Bai Qingsong had attempted to silence him. Thanks to Bai Qing's intervention, he had escaped unscathed. Behind her father's back, she had passed him a dagger and then thrown herself at him, offering her life in exchange for his freedom.

Now, many years later, it seemed that this young woman had still not acquired an ounce of pragmatism; she continued to act with the same innocence and devotion.

"If that were the case, wouldn't Wentian gege remember me forever?" Bai Qing laughed, her smile retaining the same innocent radiance it had borne for years. Even beneath her black robes and her transformation into a devil, whenever she faced her Wentian gege, she was still that same little girl.

"You can't say things like that." Qin Wentian scolded her, then shifted his gaze down to the platform. He called out, "Qingcheng, come meet my little sister, Bai Qing."

Mo Qingcheng materialized on the platform, her hands holding a few medicinal pills that she gently offered to Bai Qing.

"Sister Qingcheng, you are so beautiful." Bai Qing couldn't help but flash a mischievous grin. "Sister Qingcheng, I didn't have any bad intentions. I just wanted to see what my future sister-in-law would be like."

"Who's your sister-in-law?" Mo Qingcheng replied weakly. But when she saw Bai Qing's innocent smile, she couldn't bring herself to scold her. This silly girl had nearly thrown her life away earlier.

"Then, if I call you Sister, you can't get mad at me, okay?" Bai Qing smiled. Mo Qingcheng nodded gently. "Don't worry about it; it's all in the past."

"Hahaha, let's get down from here." Qin Wentian felt a tad uncomfortable under the scrutiny of so many eyes.

Guiding Bai Qing to stand, he noticed her gaze flicking towards a group of Mystic Moon Hall members, ultimately landing on a woman dressed in black. Bai Qing bowed slightly in her direction. "Master, in the battle for the Heavenly Fate Rankings, my abilities could only carry me this far. I hope I haven't embarrassed you."

The onlookers observed that the black robe Bai Qing wore closely resembled the one worn by the woman in the winding pathway. So it was that Bai Qing hailed from the Mystic Moon Hall.

The woman nodded and calmly replied, "Qing'er, now that the knot in your heart has unraveled, I couldn't ask for more. Your results are more than satisfactory for our Mystic Moon Hall. Take a good rest."

"Thank you, Master." Bai Qing smiled as she departed from the platform, accompanied by Qin Wentian and Mo Qingcheng.

Throughout history, the Heavenly Fate Rankings had been dominated by members of Ancient Grand Xia's nine grand clans. Bai Qing's achievement, as a Mystic Moon Hall disciple, was truly remarkable and brought honor to her sect.

Many eyes remained fixed on Qin Wentian. Their curiosity about him only grew.

Qin Wentian, the dark horse, had secured a place in the top four. He had the company of Mo Qingcheng and now possessed a beautiful, powerful younger sister. Yet, this 'sister' of his didn't seem to share a blood bond with him, igniting the crowd's imagination.

The Heavenly Fate Rankings witnessed another round of battles drawing to a close.

Chen Wang emerged victorious against Shi Potian.

Si Qiong prevailed over Zhan Chen.

As for Qin Wentian, he technically defeated the black-robed figure, although it wasn't a typical victory; the figure had willingly withdrawn from the ranking battle.

The gleaming scoreboard now displayed the Mystic Moon Hall at position #6.

The next clash was destined to be between the two contenders who had met defeat—Shi Potian and Zhan Chen.

Shi Potian had succumbed to both Chen Wang and Qin Wentian, while Zhan Chen had been vanquished by Chen Wang and Si Qiong.

Herein lay a pivotal point: If Shi Potian overcame Zhan Chen, Zhan Chen would automatically be ranked #5, and Shi Potian would gain the opportunity to challenge Si Qiong. Conversely, if Zhan Chen emerged victorious over Shi Potian, Shi Potian would be pegged as #5, and Zhan Chen would earn the right to challenge Qin Wentian.

Old Man Tianji announced a brief intermission before the next battle, during which spectators were divided in their support, with some favoring Shi Potian and others leaning towards Zhan Chen.

Both fighters had faced two consecutive losses, but who among them would prove the stronger contender now?

Both had suffered defeat at the hands of Chen Wang. Shi Potian's loss to Qin Wentian stemmed from their vast difference in speed, while Zhan Chen's defeat to Si Qiong was attributed to his inferiority in other aspects, particularly in delivering soul-based offensive attacks. Despite his invulnerable golden body, his soul remained vulnerable, leading to Si Qiong's victory.

As they stood on the stage, Shi Potian and Zhan Chen exuded unwavering determination and a burning desire to win.

Having each lost two battles, they couldn't afford another defeat in this round. A third loss would cement their rankings at #5. Only by securing victory could they retain a chance at one of the coveted top three positions.

In this impending battle, their resolve and determination were palpable.

Shi Potian's body expanded as his primordial blood surged, imbuing him with tremendous strength. His formidable offensive and defensive capabilities had been among the most fearsome in the ranking battles. Regrettably, he had fallen to Qin Wentian due to speed and the influence of the fourth-ranked Inscription. His second defeat came at the hands of Chen Wang.

Zhan Chen's entire body took on a golden hue, an instinctive response to the looming threat posed by Shi Potian's current transformation.

"In this moment, I refuse to accept defeat, no matter the cost," declared Zhan Chen, his eyes blazing with an intense and fearsome determination. He shut his eyes tightly, muttering incantations as an inexplicable energy enveloped him, carrying with it a sense of majesty and boundless power.

The crowd watched in astonishment as Zhan Chen seemed to have one last ace up his sleeve. Strange columns of starlight descended from the heavens, merging with the golden radiance enveloping him. Zhan Chen's presence grew increasingly sharp and formidable with each passing moment.

"He's still hiding a secret technique?" murmured someone in the audience, sending ripples of anxiety through the hearts of the onlookers.

Then, Zhan Chen uttered in a low voice, "Summon, Will of the Ancient!" His body convulsed violently, and when his eyes opened again, a brilliant light shone from the center of his forehead, while golden lightning flickered in his irises. His eyes, though still retaining a human-like quality, now possessed a strange and terrifying aura, as if they belonged to something other than a human.

"I draw upon the limitless essence of gold, Punishment!" Zhan Chen proclaimed, surrounded by a terrifying golden radiance that seemed to emanate from his very core.

As he advanced toward Shi Potian, both fighters filled the platform with an eerie blend of demonic energy and golden light that overwhelmed the senses. Zhan Chen's force was so sharp it could seemingly cut through the fabric of the universe itself.

Shi Potian, undeterred, pressed forward with overwhelming strength. Yet, as they neared each other, a palpable sense of danger emanated from Zhan Chen, causing Shi Potian to hesitate momentarily.

With a fearsome roar, Shi Potian summoned the image of a colossal golden dragon that rent the heavens and shook the earth. In response, Zhan Chen unleashed his own attack, coalescing the boundless golden light into the form of a Punisher Sword that surged forth, obliterating everything in its path. The platform quaked as the two titanic forces clashed in a cataclysmic confrontation.

The Punisher Sword erupted with a furious blaze of light, striking forth relentlessly, its onslaught seemingly endless. The golden dragon, wrought by Shi Potian's power, cracked and shattered upon impact. The once formidable armor encasing Shi Potian's body disintegrated into fragments. The unstoppable Ancient Golden Punisher Sword continued its path, its target set squarely on his chest.

A resounding BOOM echoed through the arena as Shi Potian was propelled into the sky, the sword piercing through his body. Spectators watched in stunned silence as Shi Potian was sent hurtling through the air before crashing violently outside the platform. Zhan Chen remained at the platform's edge, his aura surging uncontrollably. With a deliberate effort, he closed his eyes, gradually reining in his overwhelming power.

The victory was unmistakably Zhan Chen's. He had employed his most potent attack head-on against Shi Potian and emerged victorious. However, it was apparent to onlookers that this immense strength was not easily wielded, and Zhan Chen struggled to control it fully.

Upon reopening his eyes, Zhan Chen turned to fix his gaze upon Qin Wentian. Despite his two prior defeats, he still possessed the chance to vie for third place against Qin Wentian. The spectators, noticing the intensity in Zhan Chen's stare, couldn't help but resign themselves to the belief that Qin Wentian's journey had reached its conclusion. Zhan Chen would, as he did against Shi Potian, unleash his formidable might with the intention of crushing Qin Wentian completely.

The next round would pit Zhan Chen against Qin Wentian, while Chen Wang would face off against Si Qiong. If Zhan Chen were to defeat Qin Wentian, he would secure the third position, pushing Qin Wentian to fourth place. Meanwhile, Chen Wang and Si Qiong's match would determine the championship.

The crowd had overwhelmingly shifted their support to Zhan Chen. Although Qin Wentian possessed immense power, Zhan Chen's recent victory over Shi Potian in a direct confrontation was no small feat. Prior to this, only Chen Wang had managed such a victory. Zhan Chen had become the second contender.

All eyes were now fixed on the impending duel between Chen Wang and Si Qiong, which was poised to decide Zhan Chen's final ranking as third overall.