Your Turn

Your Turn...

Qin Wentian's heart quivered as Yun Mengyi's whispered words reached his ears. Could she really know such an incantation? Was she truly Princess Tianyu?

A deep, resonant melody played in the background. Yun Mengyi's lips were so close to Qin Wentian's ear that her breath brushed against his skin as she softly chanted the cryptic incantation. The scene appeared undeniably intimate, drawing the attention of those nearby, including the two beautiful women.

"Sister Qingcheng, aren't you feeling jealous?" Bai Qing teased playfully, as if she were intentionally trying to stir things up.

Mo Qingcheng couldn't help but feel a pang in her heart as she watched Qin Wentian and Yun Mengyi. Even just glancing at the two of them made her heart ache.

"If I were you, I definitely wouldn't stand for this," Bai Qing added with a mischievous grin. Mo Qingcheng looked at her, then burst into laughter. "Are you trying to provoke me into action?"

The eyes of other onlookers began to drift towards them. Many of them envied Qin Wentian—not only was he incredibly talented, but he was also surrounded by such captivating women.

Mo Qingcheng—the unrivaled beauty of the Moon Continent, the pride of Pill Emperor Hall, and Qin Wentian's companion.

Bai Qing—the girl who risked her life to earn Qin Wentian's forgiveness, demonstrating her deep affection for him. She was also a Heaven's Chosen from the Mystic Moon Hall.

Yun Mengyi—a woman of strength, ranking in the top ten of the Heavenly Fate Rankings, and one of Qin Wentian's close associates.

These three women were undoubtedly the most enchanting and remarkable figures in the Heavenly Fate Rankings, and all of them had a connection with Qin Wentian. It was no wonder that the other men couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.

"But there's another secret about the Purgatory Vermilion Bird hovering above your head," Yun Mengyi continued after imparting the incantation. She went on to explain, "When you donned the platinum battle robe and became the first to enter the Vermilion Bird Formation, the true spirit of the formation world granted you the spirit of the Purgatory Vermilion Bird. The stronger you become, the stronger it will grow, and its intelligence and wisdom will also increase. This is why it continually absorbs the ancient luck of others. If it completes its evolution, it will be powerful enough to summon the true spirit of the Vermilion Bird from the formation world. This is the advantage of being the first to enter the formation world."

Qin Wentian's eyes sparkled with newfound trust in Yun Mengyi. Her knowledge of the Vermilion Bird Formation, even if she wasn't Princess Tianyu, suggested a deep connection with Ancient Grand Xia. The Vermilion Bird Formation held profound secrets that transcendent powerhouses couldn't fully comprehend. It was considered the most advanced trial ground for those in the Yuanfu Realm throughout Grand Xia. Yun Mengyi's insights into this hidden knowledge left Qin Wentian even more convinced of her reliability.

"Until now, the transcendent powers only understood the necessity of being the first to enter the formation world but not the underlying reason," Yun Mengyi explained. She concluded by saying, "Your Vermilion Bird has a profound bond with you. If you wished it to sacrifice itself, it wouldn't hesitate." With these words, she turned and departed.

Qin Wentian watched her leave, his expression contemplative. Then, he turned his attention to his Purgatory Vermilion Bird.

The bird had grown even larger than before and exuded a formidable aura. With a mere thought, it comprehended and descended to stand beside Qin Wentian, nuzzling affectionately against his body.

"You've evolved to the point where you possess a true body. How about being my companion from now on?" Qin Wentian inquired. The Vermilion Bird now possessed a genuine soul and corporeal form, making it a living being rather than a mere illusion.

The Purgatory Vermilion Bird fluttered with excitement at Qin Wentian's words. It soared into the sky, circling above him with joyful cries before eventually landing beside him, its demeanor calm and gentle.

Qin Wentian affectionately stroked the bird's wings, a warm smile gracing his face. As he did so, he noticed Mo Qingcheng and Bai Qing approaching, both wearing radiant smiles.

In that moment, the once-demonic young man appeared warm-hearted and kind, leaving the spectators in disbelief at the contrast between his current demeanor and the tyrannical figure they had witnessed on the stage.

"It's about to begin," Mo Qingcheng remarked as she sat next to Qin Wentian, leaning against his arm.

In her heart, a faint trace of worry still lingered. Would Qin Wentian return unharmed from the ranking battle? She hoped that he wouldn't suffer needlessly just to prove a point. After all, his safety was paramount to her.

"Mhm, he'll be back soon," Qin Wentian reassured her. The two of them huddled together, cherishing each other's warmth.

In the horizon, sunlight gradually spilled downward as clouds drifted by. The sunrise was breathtaking, leaving people breathless in its beauty.

"How beautiful," Mo Qingcheng whispered.

"Yes, just like that day when we admired the winter snow. It truly warms the heart," Qin Wentian said with a peaceful smile.

They seemed like an immortal couple descended to earth.

"Qin Wentian."

A voice suddenly echoed out; Si Qiong was already standing on the arena platform. His eyes were ice-cold as he stared at Qin Wentian and Mo Qingcheng. Qin Wentian had dared to dismiss him, arrogantly declaring that he would face Chen Wang. How could he show such attitude?

The spectators fixed their gaze on Si Qiong on the stage, sensing the intense battle intent radiating from him.

Were the two dark horse contenders about to start their battle?

Until now, Si Qiong had been seen as the strongest dark horse in this competition. However, after witnessing Qin Wentian's victory over Zhan Chen, no one dared to underestimate him.

The two strongest dark horse contenders would now face each other in the upcoming battle.

Who would prove to be the strongest among them?

Qin Wentian slowly stood up, giving a warm smile to Mo Qingcheng before his figure vanished, reappearing on the platform. The Vermilion Bird on his head let out a shrill cry, its baleful gaze fixed on Si Qiong's Vermilion Bird.

"Seems like your ancient luck is rather uneasy," Qin Wentian remarked casually. He exuded a completely different aura from before.

"So what? Ancient luck is just ancient luck. It doesn't matter if it's consumed or not. But you refused the exchange offer. I'm curious to see what makes you so confident," Si Qiong retorted coldly. He was skilled in soul attacks and possessed knowledge of soul-search techniques. He had revealed this during his fight against Mu Feng, although he had ultimately failed and was gravely poisoned.

This time, he intended to search Qin Wentian's soul.

"Let's begin, then," Qin Wentian said quietly. Their robes fluttered in the gentle wind, and the surroundings fell silent.

This was a showdown between the two strongest dark horse contenders. If Si Qiong won, he would instantly claim the second rank. If Qin Wentian emerged victorious, he would earn the right to challenge Chen Wang for the top spot.

Qin Wentian extended his palm, and a shroud of demonic energy enveloped it, morphing his hand into the likeness of a kirin's limb. A crimson light emanated as the blood within his body surged.

Having reached the ninth level of Yuanfu, Qin Wentian's true strength was an enigma even to himself. He had never fully unleashed his power before.

With the Fiend Art Transformation and the second level Mandates in the Mandate of Demon and the Mandate of Force, coupled with the Divine Energy within his Yuanfu, all amplified by the release of his Astral Souls, what pinnacle of power could he reach with his full might?

Even he couldn't accurately gauge it.

A sizzling sound resonated as the Divine Energy in Qin Wentian's Yuanfu surged. He stood still, yet exuded an overwhelming sense of power.

A demonic gale blew, manifesting a pair of formidable demonic wings behind him. With a mere thought, the wings took shape instantaneously.

Si Qiong, too, felt the mounting pressure and immediately summoned his Astral Souls. His first was a wind-type; his second, a water python gracefully twirling in midair; his third, an eerie specter. The golden aura enveloping the Astral Souls indicated that the first two hailed from the 4th Heavenly Layer, and the third from the 5th Heavenly Layer.

"How formidable!" Spectators' hearts trembled. Few could rival Si Qiong in terms of Astral Souls' quality.

"Do you think you can defeat me? Have you ever seen Astral Souls like mine?" Si Qiong muttered, and an eerie, soul-suppressing melody resounded, directed at Qin Wentian. The menacing specter he released fixated on Qin Wentian, as if attempting to influence his very soul.

"BOOM!"

Qin Wentian's third eye burst open, radiating a brilliant light. His third Astral Soul emerged—the Demon Sovereign Astral Soul, evoking expressions of awe from the onlookers.

"#1 in the Warbeast Index, Demon Sovereign."

The crowd's hearts quivered, recalling the terrifying power of this Astral Soul from Qin Wentian's previous use. Its summoning alone had been enough to overwhelm experts at the pinnacle of Yuanfu.

"Fifth Heavenly Layer," Si Qiong murmured. Yet, what did it matter? In this ranking battle, many contestants possessed third Astral Souls from the 5th Heavenly Layer.

"BOOOOOOM!"

As Qin Wentian took another step forward, his Great Dream Astral Soul materialized. Its radiant golden halo was blinding, creating an impact no less significant than when his Demon Sovereign Astral Soul appeared.

"Fifth Heavenly Layer."

Qin Wentian's second Astral Soul also hailed from the 5th Heavenly Layer. Were it not for Si Qiong's strong willpower, ordinary experts would have already succumbed to the overwhelming drowsiness it exuded, falling into a deep slumber. Then, they would only be awaiting their inevitable demise.

"What an astonishing Astral Soul! But how remarkable are his perceptions? Two Astral Souls from the 5th Heavenly Layer?" The crowd erupted into animated discussions. They'd just realized that Qin Wentian's second Astral Soul was also from the 5th Heavenly Layer!

"You are merely a frog in a well, gazing at the vast skies," Qin Wentian retorted, causing Si Qiong's countenance to contort in anger. His earlier words to Qin Wentian had rebounded upon himself.

"I will show you the world," Qin Wentian declared, taking another step forward. His first Astral Soul, the Heavenly Hammer Astral Soul, erupted into existence. Observing the resplendent golden light it emitted, spectators felt as though a thousand hammers were relentlessly pounding at their hearts.

All three of his Astral Souls were from the 5th Heavenly Layer. This was beyond belief!

Did this mean that from the very beginning of his cultivation, Qin Wentian could already condense an Astral Soul from the 5th Heavenly Layer? How was this possible? How had he achieved this?

"Have you ever seen Astral Souls like mine?" Qin Wentian threw Si Qiong's own words back at him, doubling the impact right before the eyes of the countless onlookers.

But in the next instant, Qin Wentian's silhouette flickered and vanished.

"Peng!" The moment Qin Wentian moved, Si Qiong employed Stellar Transposition, disappearing from sight. Yet, Qin Wentian swiftly shifted his trajectory, moving like lightning and thrusting out a single finger. A vast torrent of demonic energy converged on the platform as his finger descended.

The platform seemed on the brink of collapse, morphing into a black hole filled with countless sharp swords. The black hole possessed a gravitational pull that sucked everything toward its gaping maw, all focused on the tip of Qin Wentian's finger. Although the gravitational force appeared slow, it locked onto Si Qiong in an instant.

Si Qiong's complexion paled. Although his attacks and defenses were formidable, he knew he was somewhat lacking in strength. This was why he had lost to Chen Wang. While it was fine when Qin Wentian refrained from attacking, once he did, it resulted in an earth-shattering, heaven-rending strike—a single finger thrust aimed directly at Si Qiong's heart.

No matter how potent his soul attacks or impervious his water shield defenses might be, they were futile before this attack. If Qin Wentian had faced Chen Wang, perhaps Chen Wang could have countered this with his overwhelming strength. But for Si Qiong, it was an impossibility.

"RUMBLEEE!" A brilliant light flashed as a watery, formless divine armor enveloped Si Qiong. This armor resembled flowing water and continually swirled around his entire body.

The black hole fueled by Qi-sword-type Divine Energy struck Si Qiong, propelling him through the air. Qin Wentian's Purgatory Vermilion Bird then proceeded to consume Si Qiong's ancient luck.

"Si Qiong, he broke the rules and used divine armor!"

"That divine armor had no distinct form; Si Qiong definitely hails from a formidable major power, as they bestowed it upon him as a life-saving treasure."

As Si Qiong's body was sent hurtling from the arena platform, Qin Wentian's demeanor remained cool as he observed. His voice dripped with sarcasm as he commented, "You couldn't even withstand a single strike. It's truly pitiful that you had to resort to such measures, breaking the rules and donning divine armor just to save your miserable life."

However, Qin Wentian was well aware that due to Si Qiong's influential background, Old Man Tianji and the others wouldn't dare to penalize him for his actions. With that in mind, he no longer paid any heed to Si Qiong. Instead, he shifted his gaze towards Chen Wang.

His eyes transformed into piercing beams of determination, slicing through space as they locked onto Chen Wang. "It's your turn."