Chapter 404: Time Guang

Although there was no personal animosity between them, Shi Guang was Lu Ye's final opponent on the Spirit Stream Roll, and he represented the last stand for the Myriad Demons Ridge faction.

The top position on the Spirit Stream Roll was both a symbol and a mark of identity. Cultivators from neither of the two major factions would easily concede it to the other.

For over a decade prior, this position had been monopolized by Feng Yuechan of the Danxin Sect. There was no way around it; she had been entrenched in the Spirit Stream Realm for more than ten years.

Cultivators of her generation had already advanced to the Cloud River and True Lake Realms, yet she remained in the Spirit Stream Realm. Her formidable foundation, built over many years, was simply not something a rising talent could challenge.

After much effort, the three "problematic figures" of the Spirit Stream Roll were finally gone, and it was Myriad Demons Ridge's turn to claim the number one spot.

Yet, how long had it been since then? A mere two months, at most!

Then, from the Vast Heaven Alliance, Lu Yi Ye appeared. He advanced with unstoppable momentum, breaking numerous records from previous years, and now he was even qualified to contend for the top position!

Therefore, Shi Guang absolutely could not, and dared not, lose this battle! If Lu Ye were to truly claim the top spot on the Spirit Stream Roll with his Heaven Eight cultivation, cultivators from Myriad Demons Ridge would forever be seen as inferior.

In the arena, which was several dozen feet in circumference, Lu Ye looked at the figure pulsating with spiritual power and raised an eyebrow.

His opponent's condition this time seemed off; it was as if he had consumed some spiritual elixir that could temporarily enhance his power!

Such spiritual elixirs existed in the cultivation world. Lu Ye had previously seen one called a "Violent Qi Pill" while browsing the Heavenly Secret Treasure Trove. After consuming it, for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, a cultivator's spiritual energy flow could increase by thirty to forty percent, resulting in a dramatic surge in their overall strength.

However, these elixirs, which could boost a cultivator's strength for a short period, often came with severe side effects. The more potent the effect, the more intense the repercussions.

Shi Guang had clearly consumed something akin to a Violent Qi Pill before entering the arena. If he failed to defeat Lu Ye within the time it took an incense stick to burn, he would be utterly unable to retaliate.

"I'll handle this myself!" Lu Ye suddenly murmured.

He said this to Yi Yi, who had already burrowed underground and was ready to intervene at any moment. However, Lu Ye had felt incredibly constrained during his previous challenges, and this time he had finally met a normal opponent. Despite the suspicion that this opponent had consumed a Violent Qi Pill beforehand, he still didn't want Yi Yi to interfere.

As Shi Guang roared in fury, he charged at Lu Ye like a thunderbolt, rapidly building momentum with his long spear as he ran.

Lu Ye advanced to meet him at the same time.

Within the arena, the distance of several dozen feet closed in an instant, followed by a violent collision.

The Mountain Cleaving Blade was drawn, its fiery blade descending.

The long spear thrust forward, like a sleeping dragon suddenly emerging from its lair.

After a brief stalemate, a loud explosion erupted. Spiritual power, intensely compressed, surged outward, and both figures were sent reeling backward by the impact.

Mid-air, Lu Ye felt a tingling numbness in his hand. He hastily stabilized himself, grabbed Amber, who was perched on his shoulder, tossed it aside, and then landed awkwardly. He stumbled back several feet before finally regaining his footing.

Regardless of whether Shi Guang had consumed a strength-enhancing elixir beforehand, Lu Ye now felt he had encountered a formidable adversary. Engaging such an enemy, he couldn't afford to be distracted by protecting Amber.

On the other side, Shi Guang also landed, his feet planted firmly, yet his body slid backward for nearly ten feet.

Before he could steady himself, a figure flashed into his vision. Lu Ye had already lunged forward, his sharp long blade thrusting directly at him.

Such a brutal strike would undoubtedly cause an ordinary person to dodge with all their might, but Shi Guang merely shifted his body slightly, his long spear, like a dragon, also thrusting towards Lu Ye.

A tearing sound resonated as the two figures passed each other, blood spraying into the air.

A bloody gash appeared across Lu Ye's waist, while Shi Guang's chest was similarly ripped open.

This was destined to be a furious battle. Both combatants fought with the intent to kill, neither entertaining the thought of retreat. As a result, they were both injured after only their second exchange.

However, Lu Ye's injuries were slightly lighter because, at the moment the opponent's long spear descended, he had formed a defensive spirit pattern!

Although it couldn't entirely block the spear's full power, it did manage to dissipate a significant amount of its force.

Shi Guang appeared impervious to pain. He spun his long spear in a semicircle in front of him, and as he shifted his grip, the spearhead became the butt, which he then thrust backward.

His change of moves was so swift it was dazzling.

At this very moment, Lu Ye still had his back to Shi Guang, and the tip of the long spear was aimed with incredible precision at the back of Lu Ye's head.

Yi Yi, hidden in the shadows, nearly gasped aloud, and even Amber rushed forward, poised to save its master.

However, Lu Ye seemed to have eyes in the back of his head; he suddenly ducked, and the spear grazed his scalp as it shot past.

Avoiding this unseen strike was undoubtedly due to Lu Ye's heightened perception. In that brief instant, he distinctly felt an intense stinging sensation at the back of his head, accompanied by a feeling of mortal danger.

Arching his body, Lu Ye delivered a backhand slash. As his blade struck Shi Guang's chest, Lu Ye was simultaneously whipped to the ground by Shi Guang's long spear.

Shi Guang's spear thrust missed, but he used the momentum to whip it downwards.

Forced back by the strike, Shi Guang looked down at his chest. Even though he wore protective armor, it couldn't withstand the opponent's sharp blade. Two gruesome, torn wounds marred his chest, and blood stained his clothes red.

Had he not been protected by the armor, those two slashes would likely have claimed his life.

On the other side, Lu Ye hastily rose, his right cheek twitching uncontrollably, revealing a rod-shaped mark on his face...

...from being struck by Shi Guang's spear shaft...

This mark stretched from his face down to his right abdomen, causing a burning pain.

"You are truly impressive!" Shi Guang praised loudly, his words emanating from the heart.

Lu Ye paused for a moment, then replied lightly, "You too!"

Although he wished he could pin his opponent to the ground and cut him into a hundred pieces, this did not diminish his pleasure at receiving such praise. Acknowledgment from an adversary was, without doubt, the most authentic.

"It's not the same," Shi Guang slowly shook his head. "I've been on the Spirit Stream Roll for several months, receiving a Heavenly Secret blessing each month. Before entering, I even consumed a Violent Qi Pill, allowing me to unleash power far beyond my natural level. But you have nothing, and your cultivation realm is even one level lower than mine..."

As he spoke, Shi Guang couldn't help but question his own perception of reality. Could such a person truly exist in this world?

He was one minor cultivation level higher than his opponent, had received several Heavenly Secret blessings, and had even consumed a Violent Qi Pill, yet he could only fight to a draw.

If his opponent had accumulated such resources, how much more powerful would he be?

For a person like that to continue living would undoubtedly be a nightmare for the Myriad Demons Ridge faction.

"Are you finished talking?" Lu Ye asked, holding the Mountain Cleaving Blade with a hint of impatience.

"One last thing," Shi Guang snarled with a grim smile. "Though it's not glorious, I'm grateful I consumed the Violent Qi Pill before coming in. Otherwise, I would be no match for you at all!"

As the last word fell, both fighters lunged at each other simultaneously, and the deadly struggle, just like before, resumed. Blades flashed, spears cast shadows, killing intent flared, and wild spiritual energy surged violently across the several dozen feet of the arena. Blood splattered frequently, and the clang of weapons echoed continuously.

Neither of them resorted to wielding their spiritual weapons. From the very start, it was a brutal, close-quarters melee. Lu Ye was fueled by a pent-up frustration, while Shi Guang knew he was no match for Lu Ye in terms of spiritual weapon control, so he naturally wouldn't invite further humiliation.

However, as time passed, Lu Ye's exhibited strength noticeably increased. Both his speed and power were considerably greater than at the outset.

As the Mountain Cleaving Blade drew a spray of blood, Shi Guang's leg swept like a whip across Lu Ye's shoulder and elbow. Even though Lu Ye had preemptively activated a defensive spirit pattern, he was still sent flying by the whip-like kick, crashing heavily to the ground. He rolled several times before stopping, quickly scrambled up, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth, his left arm dangling limply and useless.

It was dislocated!

"So, you also consumed a strength-enhancing elixir beforehand," Shi Guang snorted coldly.

He clearly perceived Lu Ye's increasing strength and mistakenly assumed Lu Ye was similar to him. However, Lu Ye's enhancement was visibly gradual, not a sudden burst, leading Shi Guang to deduce that the elixir Lu Ye had taken was likely a milder variant, not as potent as the Violent Qi Pill.

Lu Ye couldn't be bothered to explain; he had not consumed any strength-enhancing elixir.

He had merely created a Blood-Stained Spirit Pattern on himself!

He had obtained this spirit pattern a long time ago, but until now, he had only ever used it once: during the Spirit Stream defensive battle.

This was because ever since he acquired this spirit pattern, he rarely encountered opponents who were his equal, or even slightly superior.

In recent days, Lu Ye had frequently been hunted by large groups of people, leaving him no opportunity to utilize the Blood-Stained Spirit Pattern.

Challenging Shi Guang, however, presented him with this opportunity.

He gripped the Mountain Cleaving Blade between his teeth, pulled a bandage from his storage pouch, and casually wrapped it around his left arm a few times to stabilize the dangling limb.

Naturally, Shi Guang wouldn't simply stand by during this process. However, Lu Ye was too quick; by the time Shi Guang rushed closer, Lu Ye had already finished.

Facing the direct spear thrust, Lu Ye advanced with his long blade, cutting through the spear's intricate movements and closing in on Shi Guang right along the spear itself.

Shi Guang's expression changed. He pulled his spear back to block, and the Mountain Cleaving Blade descended.

A loud thud echoed, and Shi Guang's body felt light as he was struck and sent flying.

The augmentation from the Blood-Stained Spirit Pattern brought about a drastic change in Lu Ye's blade speed and power. The battle, which had previously been evenly matched, now began to lean towards an overwhelming victory for Lu Ye.

Activating Wind Movement, Lu Ye shot forward, leaped high, and brought his blade down.

Although Shi Guang barely managed to block this strike, its immense power still sent him plummeting. While still in mid-air, Lu Ye nimbly spun around and swept his right leg out like a whip.

Shi Guang, who hadn't yet landed, was sent flying once more. This whip-kick struck his head, making him see stars.