Chapter 1044: Unexpected Ending

Upon entering the black iron tower, Qin Lian noticed the scene around her shift. When her vision cleared, she found herself on a vast, jade-like battle platform, surrounded by a faint protective light shield.

Evidently, she was now within one of the tower's internal levels.

Qin Lian's expression remained calm. Her sharp eyes fixed on the space ahead, where the void rippled slightly, and a figure emerged.

It was Zhang Chengfeng from the Scarlet Cloud Sword Sect.

"My junior brother Jihu has often spoken of Miss Qin Lian's formidable strength," Zhang Chengfeng said with a smile, looking at Qin Lian. "It seems today is my unlucky day."

Qin Lian, however, showed no inclination to reply. With a swift grip of her slender hand, the Red Sparrow Blade materialized, its edge glinting with a cold light that caused the surrounding void to subtly waver.

Furthermore, an astonishing surge of Source Qi erupted from within her body.

Three translucent great suns shimmered faintly in the void behind her, as a raging storm of Source Qi generated an oppressive aura.

"A Source Qi foundation of around 2.1 billion..."

Upon seeing this, Zhang Chengfeng's pupils contracted slightly. The opponent's Source Qi foundation was a full 200 million greater than his, a considerable gap that exerted immense pressure on him.

"To contend with the sixth-ranked cultivator on the Heavenly Sun List — it's certainly a wish fulfilled for me!"

However, Zhang Chengfeng was no ordinary individual. Despite the solemnity he felt, he harbored no fear. He clasped his palms together, then slowly drew them apart.

Scarlet Source Qi spread across his palms, gradually forming a three-foot-long sword wreathed in flames. Numerous flame patterns were etched onto its blade, emitting intense heat that warped the surrounding void.

Scarlet Source Qi erupted from him, and a translucent Heavenly Sun also flickered faintly behind him.

Nevertheless, even though both were translucent Heavenly Suns, there was an obvious disparity in their power. At the very least, Qin Lian's Source Qi was significantly more profound than Zhang Chengfeng's.

Qin Lian's gaze was sharp as she gripped the Red Sparrow Blade. The next instant, with a roar of Source Qi, her figure shot out like a streak of scarlet light, moving with the speed of thunder. Zhang Chengfeng only saw a flash of red before a crimson blade light, accompanied by a clear sparrow's cry, slashed down fiercely.

The blade light streaked by, tearing through the void.

Zhang Chengfeng dared not hesitate, and his flame-engulfed sword light abruptly met the attack.

Blade and sword light collided head-on, sending tremendous flames splattering and incinerating the void.

In the direct clash, Qin Lian's slender frame remained perfectly still, while Zhang Chengfeng's figure was sent stumbling backward, his movements somewhat disheveled. The fire sword in his hand emitted a faint wail, a clear sign that it could not withstand Qin Lian's fierce assault.

The disparity created by the 200-million Source Qi foundation difference was now undeniably clear.

Having gained the advantage with a single strike, Qin Lian bent her slender legs slightly as flames erupted around her, and her figure vanished like a phantom.

*Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!*

A myriad of scarlet blade lights descended from above, completely engulfing all of Zhang Chengfeng's escape routes.

"Minor Saint Art, Scarlet Cloud Sword Light!"

Zhang Chengfeng unleashed the Source Qi within him in a frenzy. Sword lights swept forth and coalesced, forming layers of rolling scarlet clouds that surged towards Qin Lian.

The Scarlet Cloud Sword Light was one of the Scarlet Cloud Sword Sect's signature Source Arts; once activated, the sword lights would layer like clouds, making escape virtually impossible for anyone caught within, as if trapped amidst a raging celestial fire.

Clearly, Zhang Chengfeng had no intention of merely testing; his first move was a full-power, decisive strike.

As the Scarlet Cloud Sword Light enveloped her, Qin Lian's eyes narrowed slightly. The next instant, her long ponytail suddenly unfurled, her dark hair transforming into a vibrant scarlet and flowing like a true Red Sparrow.

"Minor Saint Art, Red Sparrow Dance!"

A low incantation escaped her lips.

She stepped gracefully through the air, her slender body spinning as scarlet Source Qi surged around her. The Red Sparrow Blade in her hand then slashed down forcefully.

That single strike, resembling the light dance of a Red Sparrow, cleaved fiercely into the scarlet clouds with the overwhelming force of a raging prairie fire.

*Rip!*

A tearing sound seemed to echo through the void. As the blade light descended, the continuous scarlet clouds were violently ripped apart. Even the jade-green ground below bore a long mark, though the jade seemed to possess a restorative power, and the mark quickly vanished, returning to its original state.

*Pfft!*

Zhang Chengfeng, however, lacked such resilience. The residual power of the Red Sparrow blade light, after tearing through the scarlet clouds, struck directly into his chest. He immediately gushed a mouthful of blood and was sent stumbling backward for a thousand zhang, his body skidding awkwardly along the ground.

The exchange between them was brief, but the outcome was already quite apparent.

Simultaneously, outside the iron tower, countless onlookers watched the battle and let out low murmurs of surprise.

From the preceding exchange, it was clear that Qin Lian would undoubtedly win the first round.

On the Tianyuan Region's side, numerous cheers and applause erupted, and many Heavenly Sun stage experts wore expressions of pride.

"As expected of Senior Sister Qin Lian," Mu Youlan said, letting out a sigh of relief. Among the four leading Heavenly Sun stage cultivators of the Tianyuan Region, her strength was considered the weakest. If she had faced Zhang Chengfeng, her chances of victory would have been slim. Thus, Qin Lian's swift and decisive win significantly boosted morale.

Zhou Yuan remained silent, glancing towards the distant location of the Five Great Alliances. There was no movement from their side, nor did the expected panic materialize. It was as if they had anticipated this outcome all along.

He furrowed his brows deeply, wondering what the opponents were truly planning. Had they resigned themselves to their fate?

Qin Lian, her crimson hair flowing, slowly descended. The Red Sparrow Blade in her hand swung gently as her gaze, cold and sharp, fixed on Zhang Chengfeng in the distance. His chest was almost entirely cleaved open, presenting an extremely bloody and disheveled sight.

"Cough, as expected of the sixth-ranked cultivator on the Heavenly Sun List, truly formidable," Zhang Chengfeng said with a grin, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.

Qin Lian remained silent. Her long hair still flowing, she slowly advanced, dragging the blade across the ground and leaving black scorch marks in her wake.

"I know that in a match against you, Qin Lian, no Heavenly Sun stage cultivator in the Five Great Alliances, myself included, can be your match," Zhang Chengfeng continued.

"Perhaps all of you believe you'll win this match decisively... Heh heh..." His smile grew somewhat eerie.

Qin Lian's eyes suddenly blazed with cold light. Her speed surged, transforming her into a streak of scarlet light, intending to kill Zhang Chengfeng immediately and end the fight.

"But Qin Lian, you can't defeat me!"

He grinned maliciously as the flesh around his wound began to writhe. Then, something appeared to emerge from within it: blood-stained runes that rapidly intertwined to form a crimson orb of light.

A disquieting power emanated from it.

The runic orb appeared to pulse faintly, eerily abnormal.

Despite knowing the runic orb was extremely dangerous, Qin Lian's face remained icy. The Red Sparrow Blade slashed down fiercely, while the translucent great sun behind her blazed brightly, its surging Source Qi directly causing the void to tremble.

However, before her blade could descend, the blood-red light on the runic orb began to writhe. The next instant, a terrifying force erupted from it, causing the very void to twist.

*Boom!*

Outside the iron tower, countless eyes stared dumbfounded at the unfolding scene.

The sheer terror of that force was such that it directly tore apart the light shield enclosing the battle platform.

*Thud! Thud!*

Two figures were flung from within the tower, landing heavily on the surface of Wind-Rain Lake, creating large splashes. They skidded thousands of feet across the water before finally coming to a stop, utterly disheveled.

*Pfft!*

Qin Lian steadied herself, a mouthful of fresh blood spurting from her lips.

Her eyes blazing, she glared at Zhang Chengfeng in the distance, who lay like a crumpled rag on the water's surface. His entire body appeared to be almost torn apart, and his face was ashen, as if death was imminent.

Yet, even in such a gravely injured state, Zhang Chengfeng managed a grin at Qin Lian.

Qin Lian's face turned livid.

Of course, she wasn't the only one whose face turned livid. Xi Jing, Sect Master Xuan Kun, and others also adopted grim expressions.

Qin Lian and Zhang Chengfeng were both ejected from the iron tower.

Although Zhang Chengfeng was barely clinging to life, the overall outcome remained largely unchanged.

In other words...

The first round, which their Tianyuan Region should have won decisively, ultimately ended in a draw!

The contest for the wondrous item had, after all, taken an unexpected turn.