Chapter 272: All Means Exhausted

Chen Mobai crossed the underground current and flew to the square where the student council was located.

He saw that the place, bustling with activity yesterday, was now quiet and deserted.

Only one person was waiting for him.

Chen Mobai landed and observed Zuo Qiushi, who was burly, with a square face and no eyebrows, and shoulder-length hair that was half red and half black. He was wearing a red-and-black robe.

A ring-hilted great saber was plunged into the ground, his right hand resting on it. His entire being seemed cast from bronze and iron, making him appear exceptionally imposing.

"You're here." Zuo Qiushi, his face calm, spoke, not with the harsh words Chen Mobai had expected.

"I've long heard of your reputation, President," Chen Mobai replied. "The reason I challenged you to a fight is simply that I wish to test the true level of my own strength."

Seeing Zuo Qiushi's demeanor, Chen Mobai naturally responded with courtesy and immediately stated his reason for challenging him.

"Oh, you want to know your strength? Could it be that you also know about the 'Lesser Scarlet Heaven'?"

"'Lesser Scarlet Heaven'! What is that?"

The unfamiliar term in Zuo Qiushi's words surprised Chen Mobai. Was this yet another major development?

"It's something that will be launched at the upcoming millennium celebration of Chicheng Grotto-Heaven. That important figure from the Immortal Sect came specifically to oversee the 'Lesser Scarlet Heaven' matter. According to my teacher's conjecture, it might be related to another world."

Hearing this, Chen Mobai's brows furrowed slightly. On Earth Star, due to scarce resources, the Immortal Sect launched "Wars of Expansion" every so often to sustain its many cultivators.

The highest level of these Wars of Expansion was "World-Opening."

The last World-Opening war, two thousand years ago, saw the Immortal Sect lose half its population and nearly be invaded by creatures from another world onto Earth Star's home soil.

Although they eventually won, it was a pyrrhic victory.

"Are there any other details?" Chen Mobai asked instinctively, and Zuo Qiushi, facing him, was stunned.

"I invited you here to fight, not to chat."

"Oh, my apologies," Chen Mobai said. "I've been a bit fascinated by Wars of Expansion since I was young. Hearing about a potential World-Opening made me a bit carried away."

Zuo Qiushi couldn't be bothered to say more. He drew his ring-hilted great saber.

The moment the blade left its sheath, cold light radiated everywhere. It was about 1.3 meters long, slender and straight, with a slight curve at the tip. As he swung it, the saber's gleam illuminated half the square.

"Why are you the only one here? Where are the others from the student council?" At this moment, Chen Mobai noticed a problem: on the entire square, there were only the auras of the two of them.

"To avoid others knowing the exact outcome of the fight, it's easier with just the two of us." After Zuo Qiushi uttered a baffling remark, he gripped his saber and unleashed a brilliant saber gleam. It resembled a crescent moon tearing through the air, sharp and whistling.

Chen Mobai said nothing further. The Divine Wood Sword flew out from his sleeve; while shattering the saber gleam, it moved like a swimming fish, carrying a long arc of sword energy, and darted towards his opponent.

Sword energy rained down, covering the sky.

However, Zuo Qiushi simply held his long saber horizontally and then vertically. The crisscrossing saber light, forming a cross, had already cut through the oncoming sword energy.

"Is he probing first?" From Hua Zijing and others, Zuo Qiushi naturally knew Chen Mobai was a powerful sword cultivator who had mastered the "Sword-Rainbow Splitting Light" technique. Yet, his initial move was merely a sword rainbow, which made him frown slightly.

"Then I'll make the first move."

Zuo Qiushi held his saber with his right hand and suddenly formed a hand seal with his left. Immediately after, Chen Mobai felt the surrounding fire spiritual energy become active, and in an instant, a sea of flames ignited around him.

As the "Fire Restraining Art" was cast, the dark red sea of flames, which was about to engulf him, suddenly halted in place. Then, as if controlled by Chen Mobai, it condensed into a crimson bolt of lightning in his palm.

Yang Fire Divine Lightning Art!

After a period of cultivation, Chen Mobai had already mastered this lightning spell. However, this was his first time using it against a person, and his opponent was powerful enough.

Amidst the crackling thunder, a shocking bolt of lightning streaked across the void, carrying a faint scent of burning. It struck above Zuo Qiushi's head, successively breaking through three defensive spells he had cast, but was ultimately blocked by the spiritual light of his red-and-black robe and then faded away.

But at this moment, Chen Mobai reached out and removed his Flying Sparrow Hairpin.

After three probing moves, he had a rough understanding of his opponent's strength.

After all, his cultivation time was still short, and the spells he cultivated were not powerful enough to pose any threat to Zuo Qiushi.

As expected, the only thing he had that could ignore cultivation level differences was his "Sword-Rainbow Splitting Light" technique.

Thinking of having to return soon to listen to Meng Huang'er sing, Chen Mobai no longer held back and immediately unleashed his strongest technique.

A brilliant deep purple sword light flashed forth. Centered around the Flying Sparrow Hairpin, it burst from his palm like a laser beam piercing the sky. It cut through the twelve saber gleams Zuo Qiushi had unleashed, and its momentum unabated, it even sliced into the protective spiritual light of the red-and-black robe.

This was the first time Chen Mobai's sword light had been blocked.

He wasn't sure if Zuo Qiushi was truly formidable or if this defensive robe from the academy was powerful.

Saber light flared, and Zuo Qiushi, enduring the sword light head-on, had already charged in front of Chen Mobai.

The Green Scale Bracer lit up, and innumerable dark green spots flew out from his sleeve, transforming into a solid shield that blocked his opponent's long saber.

At the same time, Chen Mobai extended his left hand, which had been behind his back. Unbeknownst to Zuo Qiushi, he was holding a Golden Jade Axe, as if he had been waiting for Zuo Qiushi to come to him.

As the axe chopped down, the red-and-black robe, facing the attacks of two offensive magical artifacts, finally saw its protective spiritual light reach its limit.

Zuo Qiushi swung his saber, trying to block the Golden Jade Axe.

But he felt his wrist tighten, and for a moment, he couldn't pull his saber back.

He looked down and saw that pieces of green scales had, at some unknown point, attached themselves to his bronze-colored skin from wrist to elbow. At a crucial moment, they released a paralyzing spiritual energy, creating an opening in his defense.

Seeing the Golden Jade Axe about to strike, Zuo Qiushi had no choice but to open his mouth and spit out a fiery red pearl.

With a *bang*!

Chen Mobai felt as if the palm holding the axe had suffered a tremendous impact. The web between his thumb and forefinger was in sharp pain, and he couldn't help but let go, allowing the axe to fly into the air and embed itself in the top of the cave wall.

At this moment, his guard was completely open.

Zuo Qiushi roared, and his vigorous spiritual energy, far exceeding Chen Mobai's, erupted. While shattering the green scales on his arm, he reversed his grip on the saber and struck with the blunt side of the blade towards Chen Mobai's shoulder, neck, and chest area.

At the critical moment of victory or defeat, Chen Mobai's eyes suddenly glowed with a clear, shimmering light, and his spiritual sense operated at its peak.

Zuo Qiushi was indeed worthy of being at the seventh layer of Foundation Establishment and a powerful expert who had long held the position of the top student in the Combat Arts Academy. With three magical artifacts and combat skills that were outstandingly refined compared to others, he was the most formidable opponent Chen Mobai had ever encountered in his life.

If he had already achieved "Spirit-Soul Unification" at this moment, he could have used his spiritual sense to cast "Spirit Control Slash" and, while disrupting his opponent's mind, dodged this saber strike.

But unfortunately, his relationship with Meng Huang'er hadn't fully developed, and he hadn't listened to many songs from her.

Even so, Chen Mobai still had a trump card.

A crimson flame sword energy erupted behind him, as if another powerful Foundation Establishment cultivator was lying in ambush, seizing this rare opportunity to stab towards Zuo Qiushi's glabella.

While Zuo Qiushi's saber strike could undoubtedly disable Chen Mobai, Zuo Qiushi himself would also be severely wounded by this sword.

Since it was merely a sparring match, Zuo Qiushi naturally made the safest choice.

He flicked his wrist, changing the direction of his blade. While deflecting the flame sword energy, he also extended a leg and kicked towards Chen Mobai's chest.

His shoes were also second-tier magical artifacts, named "Cloud-Treading Boots." Besides allowing him to fly, they also possessed considerable power.

If this kick connected, even a body cultivator would cough up a mouthful of blood.

But Chen Mobai had already seized this opportunity to regain control of his body. He extended his right hand forward; the bracer he wore, while reabsorbing the scales, its cold iron essence perfectly blocked the Cloud-Treading Boots.

With a *clang*!

After an extremely dull thud, both figures simultaneously retreated rapidly.

At this moment, the Flying Sparrow Hairpin and the Divine Wood Sword, both flying swords, under Chen Mobai's spiritual sense control, had once again transformed into sword light and sword rainbows.

The long arcs of sword energy from the Divine Wood Sword crisscrossed into a sword net and slashed towards Zuo Qiushi.

Zuo Qiushi's figure retreated in mid-air, but his Cloud-Treading Boots flashed with spiritual light. Accompanying the Divine Wood Sword's attack, they continuously adjusted his posture. His long saber in hand, he swung it in a very short time, defending flawlessly.

"This guy is even more formidable than I imagined."

Seeing this, Chen Mobai finally made up his mind and activated the "Rising Sun Art."

He opened his mouth and exhaled his "Primal Yang Qi" towards the Flying Sparrow Hairpin in mid-air. The Green Yang Fire Seed, which was originally integrated with this small flying sword, instantly roared to life as if oil had been poured on it, burning fiercely.

Its color also changed from deep purple to half purple and half green.

The Flying Sparrow Hairpin, empowered by the purple-green fire seed, saw its already incredibly sharp purple fire sword light elevated to another level.

Dazzling light flared!

The massive cave, whose age was unknown, suddenly saw a purple sun appear, illuminating all darkness. Carrying a terrifying sword intent capable of severing all things, it flew to just above Zuo Qiushi's head, who had just landed.

Zuo Qiushi watched this scene, and his gaze couldn't help but change dramatically.

His face first turned pale, then crimson. He seemed to have cast some kind of spell to stimulate his potential, and his already vigorous spiritual energy instantly increased by another level.

Then, he spat out that same fiery red spiritual pearl that had sent the Golden Jade Axe flying and caused Chen Mobai's body to lose control. Only this time, it revealed its true power.

The fiery red light shone brilliantly, carrying a trace of profound Dao intent, and collided with the Flying Sparrow Hairpin.

Amidst a thunderous roar.

Zuo Qiushi, at the center of the two colliding forces, was sent flying backward again. A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

Chen Mobai, using the little spiritual energy remaining in his body, activated the Scarlet Cloud Smoke Silk Robe. He enveloped his entire body with the power of this magical artifact, and while blocking the aftermath, his spiritual sense activated.

The Formless Puppet, hidden in the shadows, darted out like a phantom.

"Cough, cough..."

A quarter of an hour later, the aftermath of the spiritual pearl and sword light collision finally dissipated. Zuo Qiushi waved his wide sleeves, wiping away the blood from the corner of his mouth while also sweeping away the surrounding dust and smoke.

Gradually, Chen Mobai's figure across from him emerged into his sight.

Wisps of smoke and mist dispersed, revealing him to be completely unharmed and composed.

In comparison, although Zuo Qiushi had promptly wiped away the blood from the corner of his mouth and his red-and-black robe remained unblemished by dust, his overall composure was somewhat disrupted.

However, as the top student of the academy for many years, he had no intention of admitting defeat just like that.

Although using a third-tier magical artifact felt a bit like bullying, compared to the outcome of failure, Zuo Qiushi was still willing to temporarily set aside that bit of pride in his heart.

"You've lost." But just as Zuo Qiushi was about to unleash the true power of his fire spiritual pearl, Chen Mobai's voice reached him.

"Lost? Impossible..."

As Zuo Qiushi retorted, he felt a bone-chilling coldness from behind, as if a sharp sword was pressed against his back, rendering him unable to move.

"He cheated? He called other helpers?" That thought flashed through Zuo Qiushi's mind immediately.

Immediately, he recalled that earlier, when he had clearly pushed Chen Mobai into a desperate situation, an inexplicable flame sword light had also stabbed from behind him, forcing him to turn his saber to defend and thus missing the chance for a decisive victory.

"I concede. What's going on?" By this point, Zuo Qiushi was not a sore loser. After directly putting down his long saber, he also dispersed the liquid spiritual energy he had gathered. His eyes stared directly into Chen Mobai's clear, shimmering Divine Vision.

"Before fighting me, didn't you inquire about my reputation?" Chen Mobai, however, countered with a curious question.

"I did inquire," Zuo Qiushi replied. "You are the top student of the 5012 class, excluding Zhongli Tianyu. First in talismans, first in sword cultivation, first in puppetry..." Zuo Qiushi suddenly stopped when he reached the last three words.

His eyes slowly widened, and he finally understood.

"So that's it." No longer caring about the flying sword pressed against his back, Zuo Qiushi turned his head and indeed saw the Formless Puppet holding the Divine Wood Sword. He couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

"Who would have noticed that you, a sword cultivator, are also a puppeteer?"

"You're quite formidable," Chen Mobai said from behind Zuo Qiushi. He snapped his fingers, and the Formless Puppet retracted its sword, jumped up, and landed beside him. "If you hadn't underestimated me at first, you might have been able to defeat me."

"I thought I took you very seriously and had already used my full strength," Zuo Qiushi said, turning around again to face Chen Mobai, somewhat perplexed. "Why do you think I underestimated you?"

"That pearl of yours is a third-tier magical artifact, isn't it?" Chen Mobai pointed to the fire spiritual pearl hovering motionless in mid-air after colliding with the Flying Sparrow Hairpin.

He hadn't noticed it at first. But now that he thought about it, a magical artifact capable of directly clashing with the top-tier second-tier Golden Jade Axe and causing his body to lose control—what else could it be if not third-tier?

Moreover, the entire Combat Arts Academy knew that Zuo Qiushi cultivated the "Can Tong Qi" and possessed a matching third-tier magical artifact.

"Indeed. But a loss is a loss," Zuo Qiushi said. "Your Formless Puppet is also a third-tier puppet. If you had activated it from the start, facing two opponents, even if I had unleashed the true power of my fire spiritual pearl, I might not have been your match."

Zuo Qiushi's demeanor was much better than Chen Mobai had imagined; he proactively admitted his defeat.

"It's not the same," Chen Mobai said. "Due to the spiritual stones, my Formless Puppet only has enough power for three strikes. If we were to do this again, you would likely win."

Chen Mobai shook his head. However, his words were half-truth and half-lie; the spiritual stone currently in the Formless Puppet was indeed a mid-grade one, and only had enough power for three strikes.

If he disregarded the consumption of that high-grade spiritual stone, the power the Formless Puppet could exert should not be inferior to Zuo Qiushi's third-tier magical artifact.

"I'm not someone who can't accept defeat," Zuo Qiushi said. "Coincidentally, I'm graduating this year, and I was already wondering who would take over. Are you interested?"

After losing, Zuo Qiushi, on the contrary, seemed relieved, extending an invitation that made Chen Mobai's expression change to surprise.

"Me? Student council president? Isn't that a bit too casual?"

"It's fine," Zuo Qiushi replied. "As long as you agree, I'll arrange the rest."

Originally, Chen Mobai had no interest in joining the student council because he didn't want to deal with trivial matters.

But if he were to directly become the president, it seemed it wasn't entirely out of the question.