Divine Falcon Light

Divine Falcon Light . . .

Upon the battle platform, Qin Wentian settled into a composed stance. While Su Feng still hung in the air, a sense of dejection clouded his gaze.

He had been bested. As the illustrious top-ranked martial prodigy of the Thunder Prefecture, it was a bitter pill to swallow. To lose to someone also at the pinnacle of the fifth level of Celestial Phenomenon, Qin Wentian, was a heavy blow. Qin Wentian seemed poised to secure a place among the top twenty contenders effortlessly, and his prowess left no room for doubt.

Su Feng had aspired to join the prestigious top twenty as well. To achieve that goal, he had aimed to deliver a dazzling performance that would leave a lasting impression on the immortal kings. Yet, with his defeat at the hands of Qin Wentian, there could be no more losses to any other fifth-level Celestial Phenomenon cultivator.

"At the thirteen prefectures, there exist thirteen top-ranked talents. Yet Su Feng, the Thunder Prefecture's foremost, has been defeated," murmured the attendees at the immortal banquet.

"Indeed, Su Feng fought valiantly, but Qin Wentian clearly outshines him. It seems Qin Wentian is nearly invincible at this level, alongside luminaries like Gusu Tianqi, Feather King, Cang Ao, Ye Qianchen, and Dugu Xishan. His place among the top twenty seems assured."

"Well done. These young talents are truly exceptional. Let's watch the upcoming battles. Unless another contender emerges as remarkable as him, this young man could easily secure a spot within the top ten."

"Indeed, he appears to possess the talent to break into the top ten." Several immortal kings acknowledged Qin Wentian's combat abilities. The Idlecloud Immortal King beamed with pride, seeing a chosen from his prefecture defeat the Thunder Prefecture's top-ranked prodigy.

As for the fifth-level ascendants, Qin Wentian had yet to face Zi Qingxuan. However, he had no intention of challenging her, recognizing that he had already demonstrated his prowess and should leave room for Zi Qingxuan's performance. After all, they hailed from the same sect, and on average, two cultivators per level could enter the top twenty.

"This should suffice," Qin Wentian thought silently. He gracefully descended from the platform, returning to his seat at the banquet. The Idlecloud Immortal King offered a nod and a smile. "Impressive!"

"Thank you for your kind words, Senior," Qin Wentian replied with gratitude. As for the representatives from the major powers of the Cloud Prefecture, they averted their gazes, feigning indifference to his presence. Qin Wentian paid them no mind; such individuals were beneath his concern.

Qin Wentian leaned in closer to Zi Qingxuan, his voice laced with a sense of caution. "This Su Feng is quite formidable. His Ten Thousand Manifestation Killing Beams are incredibly potent, reaching a level of simplicity that embodies the true essence of his combined components. If you face him, you must be vigilant."

Zi Qingxuan nodded thoughtfully, her gaze focused. "Indeed, his ultimate technique, the Ten Thousand Manifestation Killing Beams, is highly regarded by the Thunder Prefecture's lord. However, in your duel, your attack proved even more formidable."

"Su Feng hasn't left the platform; he's already challenging the other fifth-level ascendants, aiming to use them as stepping stones toward the top twenty. You mustn't lose to him, or he'll undoubtedly succeed," Qin Wentian emphasized. The three of them had accepted the Heavenly Talisman Realm's mission to secure the top three ranks. Even if they couldn't accomplish this mission, their rankings mustn't fall too far behind. With Bai Wuya observing, the Heavenly Talisman Realm would undoubtedly be aware of their standings.

Su Feng retraced Qin Wentian's footsteps, challenging each of the fifth-level ascendants one by one. As the Thunder Prefecture's top-ranked prodigy, his reputation was well-earned. Despite his defeat by Qin Wentian, there was a clear gap in strength between him and the other fifth-level ascendants. He defeated them without resorting to the Ten Thousand Manifestation Killing Beams. His true intent's windstorm and spatial teleportation made him unmatched in speed, and their attacks couldn't overwhelm him. Essentially, they had no means of engaging him in combat.

Buoyed by his formidable strength, Su Feng remained undefeated in his challenges. Eventually, his gaze shifted toward Qin Wentian and the maiden beside him, Zi Qingxuan.

He had already tasted defeat at Qin Wentian's hands, which meant his next target would undoubtedly be Zi Qingxuan. If he wished to secure a place among the top twenty, he had to win this bout. A loss here would effectively shatter his hopes.

"I challenge you. Step forward and fight," Su Feng declared, fixing his determined gaze on Zi Qingxuan.

With graceful poise, Zi Qingxuan rose to her feet. Like a falcon taking flight, she materialized on the battle platform in an instant.

"BOOM!" Her constellation burst forth. Golden flames enveloped her, and a majestic, colossal constellation in the form of a divine falcon materialized in the sky. She radiated divine falcon light, resembling a fiery golden divine falcon herself. Her eyes blazed with intense golden fire, exuding a fearsome power that seemed capable of scorching Su Feng with just a glance.

"BANG!"

In the blink of an eye, Su Feng vanished, but simultaneously, Zi Qingxuan disappeared as well. She soared upward like a falcon in flight, and below her, thunderous explosions echoed as Su Feng's attacks struck the empty air. Su Feng maintained his relentless movement, teleporting ceaselessly after each strike.

The golden fire in Zi Qingxuan's eyes intensified, leaving nothing beyond her scrutiny. The colossal divine falcon in the sky folded its wings, entrapping even the space within its embrace. Zi Qingxuan unleashed a furious double-fisted strike, sending numerous falcons hurtling in all directions with explosive force.

The spectators in the stands watched with anticipation, their brows furrowed in concentration. The moment Zi Qingxuan's divine falcon folded its wings, it was as if the entire space had been constrained, shrinking the battleground and significantly limiting Su Feng's advantage.

The immortal kings among the audience, however, had eyes that gleamed with an eerie light. While Zi Qingxuan's actions obscured their direct view of the battle, they possessed the means to pierce through the spatial manipulation and still witness the fierce confrontation.

Inside the confined space, Su Feng and Zi Qingxuan clashed head-on with unrestrained ferocity. Su Feng's every strike possessed the potential to rend everything asunder, while Zi Qingxuan's divine falcons appeared indestructible, capable of obliterating all in their path. They traded blows, the impact giving rise to chaotic energies that tore through the enclosed arena.

"This young lady is exceptionally powerful," murmured some of the immortal kings in admiration as they observed the battle. Terrifying golden runic inscriptions adorned the wings of Zi Qingxuan's divine falcon, while her eyes blazed with an intense golden fire, raising the ambient temperature within the enclosed space. It appeared as though golden flames engulfed the surroundings, burning even the boundaries of the sealed arena.

Simultaneously, an even more intense blaze enveloped Zi Qingxuan herself. It was her bloodline power, fueling her strength as she drew upon the might of her constellation. Su Feng now had to adapt his approach to the fight.

As anticipated, Su Feng abandoned the head-on clash. He unleashed the Ten Thousand Manifestation Killing Beams, causing the enclosed space to tremble violently as it shifted from its original location. Each beam of this technique was an exquisite display of power, and it seemed that Zi Qingxuan could no longer defend herself effectively. Despite her enhancement from her bloodline power, which intensified the golden flames around her, Su Feng's ultimate technique proved no less formidable.

Quickly, the Ten Thousand Manifestation Killing Beams restricted Zi Qingxuan's available space further, weaving a deadly net of slaughter.

"How intriguing," some of the immortal kings couldn't help but praise as they watched. The battles among the younger generation's most formidable geniuses from the thirteen prefectures were truly captivating. Such spectacles were rare, and among these participants, many were worthy of becoming disciples of the immortal kings.

"I may have to request His Majesty's permission to recruit some of these participants as my disciples," one immortal king mused aloud, surprising the onlookers. It seemed that aside from the top three potentially becoming Sage Child figures, the other seventeen had the opportunity to be chosen by the supreme immortal kings of the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect as their disciples.

For these 160 participants, their fates and talents varied greatly. Some would become disciples of the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor, some would become personal disciples of immortal kings, and others would simply be core disciples.

...

"If this young lady can withstand this assault, she will undoubtedly advance to the next round," commented another immortal king. Su Feng's eyes gleamed with murderous intent. Zi Qingxuan, however, refused to concede defeat. Her constellation radiated with dazzling runic inscriptions, and her golden flames transformed into the shape of a protective divine falcon, enveloping her completely. She had become like a falcon deity, ready to face whatever Su Feng unleashed.

"KILL!" Su Feng's resounding roar echoed through the arena as he unleashed his ultimate technique once more. Beams of light crisscrossed the battlefield, shredding everything in their path. However, at this critical moment, a divine falcon emerged from the fiery chaos, emitting a spine-chilling shriek. The web of relentless killing beams closed in further, attempting to ensnare the divine falcon. But in a thunderous explosion that shook the entire space, the words vanished.

"Bloodline Protection!" exclaimed some of the immortal kings in astonishment. The golden flame divine falcon broke free from the Ten Thousand Manifestation Killing Beams, hurtling toward Su Feng with blinding radiance.

When the dust and smoke cleared, only Zi Qingxuan remained standing on the battle platform. Her body trembled, the radiance fading, and her chest heaved with each heavy breath.

Su Feng, on the other hand, bore grievous wounds, blood flowing profusely from his pale visage. Ordinary ascendants struggled to comprehend the climax of the battle, but they couldn't help feeling a sense of pity for Su Feng as he descended from the platform, resembling a tragic hero past his prime—moving yet melancholic. He had been formidable, but even he had met his match.

The Idlecloud Immortal King drew a deep breath. The trio of heaven-chosen—Qin Wentian, Zi Qingxuan, and Jun Mengchen—alongside Gu Zhantian, were all representatives of his Cloud Prefecture. There was a strong likelihood that his Cloud Prefecture would secure four spots in the top twenty, a remarkable achievement.

"This young lady is quite remarkable. She possesses a powerful bloodline and even a violet-gold astral soul. She's certainly worth nurturing," remarked one immortal king.

"Su Feng's defeat is unfortunate. It's not that he lacked strength, but rather that his opponent was stronger," another immortal king observed.

"Qin Wentian seems to share a deep connection with Zi Qingxuan. Could they be lovers? If so, what a harmonious match, akin to an immortal couple!" An immortal king burst into laughter. Meanwhile, on the battle platform, Zi Qingxuan's expression shifted, her heart experiencing a momentary fluctuation.

However, she quickly regained her composure and followed the path taken by Qin Wentian and Su Feng, challenging the other fifth-level ascendants and emerging victorious in every match. Her graceful silhouette left a lasting impression on the eyes of all the experts present.