Unending Battle

Unending Battle . . .

Following Dugu Xishan's impressive performance, it was once again Mo Wen's turn to step onto the battlefield. She hailed from the Supreme Moon Prefecture, holding the esteemed title of top ranker, but had already suffered a defeat in a previous round. However, her opponent in that battle had been none other than Gusu Tianqi, a formidable adversary by any measure.

It was only natural for Mo Wen to have faced defeat against such a renowned martial artist. No one in their right mind would claim otherwise when pitted against Gusu Tianqi's unparalleled skill. In her earlier bout, Mo Wen had showcased incredible strength, but she had chosen to concede voluntarily, leaving everyone curious about her true combat potential if she were to give her all.

Jun Mengchen, watching closely, whispered in a hushed tone, "Let's hope she can secure a victory this time." He held genuine hope for Mo Wen, knowing that another loss would eliminate her from the competition. Furthermore, her options for challengers were becoming limited, as she couldn't face those who had already lost a round, leaving only formidable opponents in the running.

"Sorrowless of the Western Desert Prefecture," Mo Wen declared her chosen adversary. Sorrowless held the third rank in the Western Desert Prefecture's hierarchy and had yet to engage in combat. This choice offered Mo Wen a better chance at victory, as she was cautious in her approach.

Sorrowless, the very monk Qin Wentian had encountered in the Eastern Sage Cliff, ascended to the platform. His bronze-hued skin exuded a sense of immense strength and authority, while his eyes possessed a formidable presence that unnerved anyone who met his gaze. He began chanting a Buddhist mantra, bathing the skies in golden light. An ancient golden Buddha manifested, its radiance enveloping Sorrowless as he unleashed a colossal palm strike, resembling the palm of a golden Buddha, hurtling toward Mo Wen.

In response, Mo Wen exuded an icy aura, conjuring the image of a frost king wielding an icy spear. The surrounding temperature plummeted, freezing the air around them. She effortlessly created a screen of frost that intercepted and nullified the incoming golden Buddha palm, causing both attacks to disintegrate.

Icy qi surged forth, engulfing the space and threatening to freeze Sorrowless's constellation solid. Yet, he remained unfazed. Closing his eyes, he levitated, assuming a cross-legged position. A multitude of runic inscriptions representing Buddhist arts materialized, giving rise to numerous images of Buddhas of Suffering, all in meditative repose. An overwhelming Buddha light enveloped the surroundings, cocooning Sorrowless within. From a distance, he resembled an immense, ancient golden Buddha.

The frigid power of the frost king's qi raged, attempting to encase the golden Buddha in ice. However, this cold energy failed to penetrate its formidable defenses. The golden Buddha's protection could only be described as utterly impervious.

Spectators contemplated the match's significance. "In this immortal banquet, only the Western Desert Prefecture can rival the Cloud Prefecture. The Cloud Prefecture boasts three fellow sect members among the top twenty, whereas the Western Desert's three representatives come from different sects." The battle raged on, and Mo Wen transformed into a frost queen goddess, her hair crystallizing into ice. Her ethereal beauty resembled that of a snow spirit, captivating all who beheld her.

As the battle between Mo Wen and Sorrowless raged on, an awe-inspiring spectacle unfolded. Sorrowless emitted boundless Buddha light from his mouth, prompting the airborne Buddhas to launch their formidable attacks. To the amazement of the spectators, ancient bells materialized, mirroring an innate technique that Qin Wentian himself had comprehended during his time at the Eastern Sage Cliff.

"The defense of Sorrowless is astounding, and his attacks are overwhelming," the spectators marveled. Nevertheless, Mo Wen continued to unleash her own latent strength. The temperature plummeted as her power grew, until, in the end, a single strike from her could freeze the very heavens. Even the seemingly impervious golden body defense of the Buddha began to crumble. None could withstand her sheer might.

Mo Wen's strength was nothing short of astonishing. In her previous battle against Gusu Tianqi, she had held back and lost, but now she could no longer afford to do so. She gave her all, tapping into her frost king physique to narrowly defeat Sorrowless, emerging victorious.

Following this, it should have been Blackpeak's turn to engage in battle. However, as he had already been defeated by Qin Wentian, the turn naturally passed to the next participant, Xia Jiufeng. Having lost to Jun Mengchen earlier, Xia Jiufeng now possessed the initiative authority, allowing him to choose his opponent.

Much like Mo Wen, Xia Jiufeng could not afford another loss and had to fight with all his might to secure a victory. However, he was limited in his choice of opponents, as he could not challenge those who had already lost a battle. He could only challenge winners or those who had yet to participate.

Among the latter group were three contenders: Qin Ta, the second ranker of the Western Desert Prefecture; Hua Taixu, the disciple of the Myriad Transformations Immortal King; and Ruthless, the disciple of the Undefeatable Devil King.

Xia Jiufeng found himself in a difficult predicament. All three remaining opponents were exceptionally formidable. Hua Taixu was widely renowned, while Ruthless's master, the Undefeatable Devil King, was known for his terrifying strength. Consequently, Xia Jiufeng felt that he would have a better chance if he challenged Qin Ta from the Western Desert Prefecture.

Thus, the stage was set for a showdown between the second rankers of the Eastern Prefecture and the Western Desert Prefecture. Xia Jiufeng and Qin Ta faced each other with determination in their eyes, both aware that a single loss could lead to elimination.

Xia Jiufeng, driven by the constellation of a fierce and tyrannical demonic beast, took a stance, ready to unleash his most potent techniques from the outset of the battle.

In the midst of this intense competition, a figure loomed large on the battlefield, a veritable giant among men. This was Qin Ta, a member of the formidable Heavenly God Race hailing from the Western Desert Prefecture. The Heavenly God Race was known for their immense stature and boundless divine strength, a race of near god-like beings who could shape the very elements around them.

As Qin Ta's imposing frame stood before Xia Jiufeng, his rage reverberated through the arena. His body radiated a celestial aura, and with a resounding roar, he underwent a remarkable transformation, growing to over ten meters in height, akin to a true heavenly deity. Behind him materialized a colossal silhouette that stretched a thousand meters, exuding boundless power.

The spectators marveled at this astonishing sight, as one among them explained, "People of the Heavenly God Race possess a unique advantage—the ability to perceive a constellation in the nine heavenly layers known as the Heavenly God Constellation. When they ascend to the Celestial Phenomenon stage, they can condense Heavenly God astral souls and evolve them into a Heavenly God Constellation. This is an inherent gift bestowed upon powerful ancient races."

Qin Wentian, listening attentively, found himself fascinated by the diversity of the immortal realms compared to particle worlds. Here, ancient races possessed not only formidable bloodlines but also an innate connection to specific constellations—an unparalleled advantage that endured through generations.

Qin Wentian's concerns for Xia Jiufeng were evident as he whispered, "I fear Xia Jiufeng may be at a disadvantage in this battle." Qin Ta's strength was already formidable, sitting at the ninth level of Celestial Phenomenon and approaching the immortal-foundation stage. Despite the disparity in their levels, ascendants with higher cultivation had deeper martial path insights. Thus, even with their cultivation bases suppressed, this advantage remained. Qin Ta's status as a member of an ancient race only heightened his potential for victory.

Xia Jiufeng sensed the overwhelming might of Qin Ta, and the air quaked as countless barbaric beasts surged forward, seeking to obliterate everything in their path.

Qin Ta remained composed, stomping the ground as he unleashed a barrage of punches, aiming to rupture the very fabric of reality. Spectators watched in awe as the arms of this Heavenly God surged forward with divine force, obliterating the barbaric beasts.

"His strength is astounding. If not for the suppression of his cultivation base, he'd be at the ninth level with profound martial insights," the spectators murmured, their expectations fulfilled as Xia Jiufeng fought valiantly but ultimately succumbed to Qin Ta's overwhelming power. He was sent hurtling from the platform, heavily injured, marking the end of his journey and ranking within the top twenty.

As the dust settled from the previous battles, a somber mood hung over the arena. Blackpeak's life had been extinguished, Gu Zhantian and Xia Jiufeng were now eliminated. The cruel reality of the later stages of the immortal banquet selection tests had become painfully clear. No matter how powerful the contenders were, they could still fall in consecutive defeats, as demonstrated by Gu Zhantian and Xia Jiufeng.

The crowd watched, their hearts heavy with the weight of the competition. These were no ordinary contestants; they were formidable warriors in their own right. Yet, they had met their end in this unforgiving crucible.

Following Xia Jiufeng's departure, it was Qin Ta's turn to challenge, but given his recent battle, another participant was called forward.

"Next in line, Sorrowless," announced Dongsheng Ting. Sorrowless, like Mo Wen, had suffered one loss already. Now it was his turn to enter the fray, and he held the coveted initiative authority, allowing him to choose his opponent.

The pressure weighed heavily on Sorrowless. Among the remaining contenders, only Hua Taixu and Ruthless had yet to fight. The others had already proven themselves as victors in their respective matches.

With determination in his eyes, Sorrowless made his choice, uttering the name "Ruthless." Ruthless, the disciple of the Undefeatable Devil King, stepped onto the platform. An ominous aura surrounded him, evoking fear in those who gazed upon him.

Immortal and devil cultivation paths stood in stark contrast, with the latter being far less common. The way of the devil demanded unparalleled commitment and self-discipline. For the most powerful devil cultivators, they transcended emotions and desires, dedicating themselves entirely to the path of the devil.

The spectators watched with fascination as the battle unfolded—a clash between Buddha and devil. Sorrowless radiated a serene Buddha light, while Ruthless exuded torrents of devilish energy. In Ruthless's hands, a demonic spear materialized, pulsating with a malevolent crimson glow. With every step he took, the air quivered with his overwhelming devilish aura, and his spear appeared capable of rending the very fabric of reality.

An immortal king in the audience spoke with a hint of amusement, "Ruthless, the disciple of the Undefeatable Devil King, is a figure shrouded in mystery. His appearances in battles are a rare occurrence. We owe this spectacle to the esteemed Dongsheng Ting."

The question lingered in the minds of all present: How formidable could a disciple nurtured by the Undefeatable Devil King truly be? In a gathering of prodigies where brilliance was commonplace, could Ruthless carve a path of dominance through bloodshed?