Chapter 644: A Sword Like Blood
Lin Feng heard Qing Mengxin's words and sighed inwardly, glad that he had obtained the first jade key.
In a situation like Qing Mengxin's, having the eleventh jade key meant that after he and Tang Youyou finished selecting their opponents, it would be the turn of six of the eight strongest individuals to choose. Qing Mengxin would inevitably have to face one of them, with no way to escape. Therefore, in this round, Qing Mengxin was indeed very likely to be eliminated.
As the crowd waited, one hour finally passed.
When Xue Wuchang's gaze fell upon the sixteen people, their eyes all trembled. They understood in their hearts that now, the true battle had only just begun.
Looking at the sixteen, Xue Wuchang parted his lips and then spoke: "Next, you sixteen will not be easily eliminated. The rules of battle will change. You sixteen must have a detailed ranking."
"Hmm?"
The crowd's eyes all narrowed. The rules of battle were going to change?
Indeed, now that they were down to the final sixteen, a rough ranking would be unfair. Xue Wuchang said that a change would be made, from first to sixteenth, a detailed ranking.
"It seems things aren't as dire as I imagined."
Qing Mengxin, lying on the dragon-claw rock formation, pouted. Seeing the enchanting smile in her eyes, Lin Feng was startled and said, "It seems you knew this would happen all along?"
Qing Mengxin smiled at Lin Feng: "Every round of the Snow Domain Grand Competition is like this. With the final sixteen geniuses, how could they still be eliminated randomly? When it comes down to eight, or four, would they still eliminate randomly? Only someone as foolish as you wouldn't understand."
"Ah!"
Lin Feng was stunned. He rubbed his head, feeling a bit frustrated at being looked down upon.
However, Qing Mengxin seemed to have a point. If they were still eliminating people now, what would happen when it came down to eight or four? Would they still eliminate so roughly? That was clearly unrealistic.
"Alright, now all of you listen carefully to the rules." Xue Wuchang continued: "First, you will still act according to the order of your jade keys, determining the initiative. However, if you fail in your challenge, you will receive the last jade key. The person behind you will receive your jade key, and everyone behind you will move up one position. Only the loser gets the last place."
"Ah..." Lin Feng was stunned again. He smiled bitterly. It seemed that obtaining the first jade key wasn't such a worry-free matter after all. There was still suspense. As long as he lost one challenge, he would be ranked last—from first to last. So, Lin Feng couldn't afford to lose. He absolutely must not be defeated.
"After the eight battles are over, your jade keys will be rearranged. But this ranking is not your final ranking in this Snow Domain Grand Competition; it is only a temporary arrangement. Based on the ranking jade keys in your hands, I will take you to a place where you will have an excellent opportunity. There, as long as you have good luck and strong talent, you can take your cultivation a step further."
"Indeed, there are still opportunities." The crowd's eyes all trembled, revealing a hint of anticipation. There would be another ranking, and after the ranking battles ended, Xue Wuchang would take them to a place of opportunity to enhance their cultivation strength.
Lin Feng's eyes flashed. He vaguely remembered Xue Wuchang's reminder: do not waste the first jade key. Now, it seemed the meaning was even clearer.
Keep the first jade key, then enter the place of opportunity. Perhaps different jade keys would bring different fortunes. The first would naturally receive the best.
"Interesting." A sharp glint appeared in Lin Feng's eyes. There were still opportunities. He could further improve his cultivation strength. It seemed that defeating the eight strongest geniuses was not impossible.
But for now, what he needed to do was to keep his first jade key.
"After returning from the place of opportunity, all of you will start from the same starting point again, fighting one battle after another. Everyone must clash and engage with each other. Only then can we see who is truly stronger. At that time, I will tell you the new rules and determine the final top sixteen rankings of the Snow Domain Grand Competition."
After Xue Wuchang finished speaking, his gaze fell upon the crowd, looking at them: "Do you all understand?"
The crowd nodded one after another. Xue Wuchang's meaning was not difficult to understand. How could they not understand?
"Good. In that case, continue the battle. I remind you once more: protect your jade keys."
When Xue Wuchang said this, it seemed he was looking at Lin Feng, causing Lin Feng's expression to become somewhat serious. It seemed he had to stay alert. This battle was extraordinary. If he won, his jade key would still be in hand, still the first jade key, and he might obtain great fortune. If he lost, it would be the last jade key, the sixteenth jade key.
This battle: only victory, no defeat.
With a step, Lin Feng arrived at the center of the battle platform, sweeping his gaze over the figures on the dragon-claw rock formations. He had to choose one from these fifteen people.
The fifteen people all stared at Lin Feng. If there was anyone easiest to pull down, it was Lin Feng. They still firmly believed that Lin Feng was the weakest among the top eight.
In the end, Lin Feng's gaze fell on the fifteenth person. That person specialized in lightness movement techniques. In the previous round, he had relied on his movement skills to wear down his opponent and advance to the top sixteen.
"You're the one."
Lin Feng pointed at the fifteenth person and spoke, causing that person's gaze to freeze. However, he soon revealed a smile. Fighting Lin Feng was perhaps the best outcome.
With a step, he moved as lightly as a swallow, gracefully descending in front of Lin Feng.
"Thank you."
This person looked at Lin Feng, and his first words startled Lin Feng. Lin Feng had chosen him, and yet he was thanking Lin Feng.
"Are you sure you want to thank me?" Lin Feng asked indifferently.
The person nodded: "I watched your battle. That Buddha-Dao Golden Body of yours is very powerful, with terrifying defensive power reaching the Seventh Layer of Mysterious Martial Realm. But in that state, you have no speed at all. I can deal with you however I want. I really don't understand why you chose me as your opponent."
"So, you think you can definitely beat me, and that's why you're thanking me?" Lin Feng asked.
"Yes. To thank you for choosing me, I will cripple your cultivation."
The person said again, leaving Lin Feng speechless once more.
"Thanking me because I chose you, giving you a chance to win; crippling me because I chose you, as you see it as an insult." Lin Feng naturally understood the other's meaning. He muttered softly, and the other person nodded frankly: "You are very smart, but you did a stupid thing."
"Alright, since you're so confident, I'll give you the chance to thank me."
Lin Feng slowly placed his hand on his back, on the hilt of the sword in the ancient scabbard.
This stunned the crowd. Besides the Buddha Golden Body, did Lin Feng also excel in swordsmanship?
With a soft ring, the sword left its scabbard. In Lin Feng's hand appeared a blood-red longsword, covered entirely in eerie blood-colored light, dazzling and brilliant.
The blood sword also carried a trembling sword intent—the intent of blood-drinking.
"Hmm?" The person looked at the blood-drinking sword in Lin Feng's hand, stunned. Lin Feng could also use a sword?
A sword intent was released from Lin Feng's body. Sword qi howled. In an instant, Lin Feng's surroundings were enveloped in a layer of sword light.
"In the state of the Buddha body, speed is necessarily slow? Besides the Buddha Golden Body, can I not possess other powers?" Lin Feng said lightly, then took a step. Instantly, terrifying sword intent surged wildly, stabbing toward the other person, causing his eyes to freeze.
What a powerful blood sword. What formidable sword qi.
"You made me use the sword."
Lin Feng took a step, his body lunging toward the other person. The terrifying Sword Dao Will surged violently, as if it would shred the opponent's body.
The person's feet trembled, and his body turned into a phantom of light, as fast as lightning.
"I don't believe your sword can match my movement speed."
In the void, the person coldly spat out a voice. But Lin Feng leaped up, his entire body covered in terrifying sword qi. Sword Dao Will—this was the power of Sword Dao Will.
"Kill!"
A layer of Sword Dao Will bloomed together with the blood sword. The crowd only saw a flash of blood light, fleeting. The person's body trembled, trying to move, but then felt his entire body stiffen. He lowered his head, looking at his waist. There, a bloodstain.
"Is your movement faster, or is my sword faster?"
A voice rang out, causing his heart to tremble violently!
PS: Thanks to Great Pest for the tip. Twenty chapters. The person is exhausted, collapsing.