Chapter 283: Breaking the Record

"Did the Pure Yang School agree?" Chen Mobai asked. Even though no one dared to wield the Primordial Yang Sword currently, it was still one of the Immortal Sect's rare Fifth-Tier flying swords and a symbol of the Pure Yang School. Its possession was precisely why the Pure Yang School consistently ranked among the top three academies.

"Of course, they didn't agree, but sometimes a smaller force can't overcome a greater one," Che Yucheng replied. "While Gongye Zhixu is the deputy head of the Immortal Affairs Hall, if our Daoist Academy doesn't cooperate, the Little Scarlet Heaven simply cannot be opened. I only made a suggestion, but he surely assumed it was the Dean's directive. So, he invited Nangong Xuanyu and me for a discussion. Conveniently, you were on a winning streak in the Little Scarlet Heaven at the time, which prompted him to propose using you as the stake. If you could break Patriarch Yuanyang's winning streak record, the Primordial Yang Sword would be used as the core of the Little Scarlet Heaven. If not, they would take the Nine Dragon Cauldron from the deepest part of the Ten Thousand Treasures Cave."

Che Yucheng smiled faintly, revealing some of the unspoken details behind the arrangement. Chen Mobai listened, utterly astonished. He had never imagined that he could determine the fate of a Fifth-Tier magical artifact.

"If Sima Xingyu cripples his own cultivation, I doubt he'd be my match." Chen Mobai spoke with confidence. At his peak, Sima Xingyu was hailed as the Pure Yang School's second-greatest genius in a century, surpassed only by Xiahou Weihuan. His mastery of both the Pure Yang Art and Primordial Yang Sword Art was top-tier, and he had even slain the chief of the Heaven Mending Daoist Academy in direct combat. Chen Mobai knew that facing such an opponent at his full strength would give him little chance of victory. However, if Sima Xingyu were to intentionally regress to Foundation Establishment Sixth Level, his control over spiritual power and sword qi would inevitably suffer. With such vulnerabilities, he would have a high probability of losing against Chen Mobai.

"You're oversimplifying things a bit," Che Yucheng said, leaving Chen Mobai bewildered.

"What's wrong, Master?"

"He will cripple his cultivation to Foundation Establishment Sixth Level in the Immortal Sect. However, due to the unique nature of the Little Scarlet Heaven and the fact that Sima Xingyu already has an existing character template, when he faces you, he'll be able to wield his peak Foundation Establishment Eighth Level power." Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai involuntarily gasped. "How can I possibly win?" Although he still had some trump cards, facing such an opponent, his chances of victory were, at most, ten or twenty percent. After all, Sima Xingyu was no ordinary late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. Beyond his top-tier cultivation techniques and sword arts, he, like Xiahou Weihuan, had mastered the Sword Rainbow Splitting Light realm. Chen Mobai's greatest advantage in defeating higher-level opponents was his sword light, but his opponent also possessed it, possibly at an even more profound level. Furthermore, while Chen Mobai could temporarily raise his Pure Yang Scroll to Foundation Establishment Second Level using the Two-Phase Rotation, it would be utterly insufficient against Sima Xingyu at Foundation Establishment Eighth Level.

"Master, doesn't that mean I'm in grave danger?" Chen Mobai became anxious. He didn't put much emphasis on his personal wins or losses, but if his failure jeopardized Che Yucheng's and the academy's crucial plans, he would certainly be consumed by self-reproach.

"Don't worry," Che Yucheng said, calmly brewing and leisurely sipping a cup of tea. "Since I'm aware of this, there's no way I'd let Nangong Xuanyu have his way."

"Master, what's the strategy?" Chen Mobai pressed, eager to learn more. But Che Yucheng shook his head, refusing to divulge any details. "Just go ahead and matchmake; I'll handle the rest. It's not that I don't trust you, but only three of us know about this plan. That way, it won't draw Nangong Xuanyu's attention, and he'll walk right into our trap."

Despite his intense curiosity, Chen Mobai didn't press further, given Che Yucheng's words. "So, can I enter the Little Scarlet Heaven now and proceed directly to matchmaking?" His curiosity had led him to this quickest way to uncover the truth.

Che Yucheng nodded, indicating it was fine. Meanwhile, Lan Haitian, who had just departed Mount Chicheng, was en route. Suddenly, his expression shifted. With a slight smile, he gave an instruction to Lin Yin, who was driving, then leaned back in his seat, closed his eyes, and simultaneously entered the Little Scarlet Heaven.

Chen Mobai opened his eyes and clicked the matchmaking button in the upper right corner. Instantly, the news of his online status was relayed by the Little Scarlet Heaven's operators to the Pure Yang School.

"We've finally been waiting for him." Inside the room, a pale-faced Sima Xingyu stood up, facing the deeply furrowed brow of Xiahou Weihuan. After his defeat by Lan Haitian, the Pure Yang School's strongest Foundation Establishment cultivator in a century had lost his initial arrogance and confidence.

"The future of the school is entrusted to you." At this critical moment, Xiahou Weihuan, who was overseeing the situation, could only force himself to rally. He led everyone to Sima Xingyu, who was injured from having crippled his cultivation.

Sima Xingyu took a vermillion pill and swallowed it. This secret medicine of the Pure Yang School could restore him to his peak state within a short time, potentially even allowing him to surpass his former self and reach Foundation Establishment Ninth Level. Coupled with manual adjustments by the Little Scarlet Heaven's operators, he would be matched with Chen Mobai upon entering, enabling him to complete this final ambush.

"Leave it to me; victory in this battle is assured!" After delivering these words decisively, Sima Xingyu projected himself into the Little Scarlet Heaven.

The pill's power began to take effect, and he felt the spiritual energy in his dantian and qi sea surging, rapidly filling his entire body, even creating a sensation of bloating as if he might burst. "What immense power! Is this the normal state of Senior Xiahou?" he mused. "Though I crippled my cultivation this time, if I defeat Chen Mobai, I can use the academy's pills to recover, and perhaps even break through a new bottleneck to achieve Perfect Foundation Establishment. It might even be a blessing in disguise."

With these thoughts, the frustration that had accumulated in Sima Xingyu's heart from crippling his cultivation dissipated. His sharp, sword-like eyes beneath his unibrow gleamed with intensity, and a surging sword intent threatened to burst forth from his body, desperately needing an opponent to vent upon. "Prepare to die, Chen Mobai!"

Soon, the mists before him dissipated, and the opponent pre-arranged by the Little Scarlet Heaven operators appeared before Sima Xingyu. He stared, wide-eyed and incredulous.

"Who are you?" Chen Mobai asked, equally wide-eyed, looking at the tall, thin young man with dark circles under his eyes. He clicked on his avatar to check his profile, only to find he was merely at Foundation Establishment Fifth Level. "Where's the Sima Xingyu I was promised?"

"I didn't expect to be matched with the Battle Victor of the Weapon Dance Daoist Academy," the young man with dark circles said, rubbing his hands with a hint of excitement. "But according to your custom, shouldn't I withhold my name until after I've endured your first sword strike?"

"So that's how it is." At that moment, Chen Mobai finally understood why Che Yucheng had been so confident and certain about him coming here to break the record.

The Pure Yang School believed everything was settled, confident that with Sima Xingyu guarding the final stage, no matter how many previous victories were accumulated, the ultimate outcome would be defeat. What they hadn't realized was that Gongye Zhixu had likely already secretly brokered a deal with Che Yucheng, effectively selling out the Pure Yang School.

Still, Nangong Xuanyu couldn't be blamed; he had simply underestimated the Golden Core Perfected Lords who held positions of power in the Immortal Sect. Even if he had known about this in advance, he likely couldn't have resisted. After all, if Gongye Zhixu and the Weapon Dance Daoist Academy united to exert pressure, the Pure Yang School would still have to surrender the Primordial Yang Sword. However, at least that would have been a dignified defeat, and Chen Mobai wouldn't have so easily swept his way to breaking the record. Perhaps they would have shamelessly deployed Sima Xingyu earlier, even at the one hundredth consecutive victory mark.

It was a pity that the true nature of this setup was only revealed at this late stage.

As Chen Mobai mused on how much more he had to learn, his mind still lingered on Sima Xingyu, the powerful opponent he had expected to face. "I wonder who he's matched with now?" he thought. But no matter who it was, with Che Yucheng and Gongye Zhixu having joined forces, everything had already been set in motion. Even if Sima Xingyu tore his opponent limb from limb, it wouldn't change the fact that Chen Mobai was about to break Patriarch Yuanyang's winning streak record in the Little Scarlet Heaven.

It was then that he finally remembered he was still in a duel, with an opponent standing before him. "As the one I defeat to break the record," Chen Mobai said, "you may state your name first."

Upon hearing this, the young man with dark circles gravely performed an ancient salute, then spoke his name. "Tian Wenguang, a graduate of the Grand Medical Academy. Battle Victor, please enlighten me!"

Chen Mobai nodded slightly after hearing this. Then, he widened his eyes again, meticulously scrutinizing the tall, thin opponent who looked somewhat lacking in vitality. A 'no wonder' expression crossed his face.

"You know me?" Tian Wenguang asked, a little surprised by Chen Mobai's expression. Although he was a graduate of the Grand Medical Academy, had achieved Foundation Establishment, and worked as an andrologist in a major hospital within a certain grotto-heaven, he was generally only known by people within specific medical fields.

"I've heard things," Chen Mobai replied. He certainly couldn't admit to having seen the post Tian Wenguang had once restricted access to, which detailed a peculiar cultivation method for reaching critical limits; revealing that would surely cause Tian Wenguang immense social embarrassment.

"I know I'm no match for you," Tian Wenguang said with a solemn expression, "but as a highly significant battle, I still wish to give it my all and not squander the fortune of being matched with you this time." After speaking, he interlaced his hands, and spiritual energy condensed into a series of surgical knives in his palms, as he began to unleash his most potent offensive spell.

Chen Mobai knew that this individual was a rare talent. Having cultivated to Foundation Establishment Fifth Level and then being matched with him indicated a very high win rate in the Little Scarlet Heaven. He presumed that, to avoid public scrutiny, the opponent for this match was a truly random selection. This was preferable; if he had been matched with a newly established Foundation cultivator, breaking the record might not have been convincing to the public.

Five surgical knives, gleaming with cold light, shot towards him like five sharp streams of sword qi. Chen Mobai extended his five fingers, and Heavenly Wood Spiritual Light formed a luminous shield before him.

Like knives sinking into cotton, the five spiritual surgical blades slowed increasingly after embedding themselves in the Heavenly Wood Spiritual Light, gradually coming to a complete halt before Chen Mobai. With a wave of his hand, purple flames flickered, incinerating them.

However, at that very moment, Tian Wenguang approached him from the right. Golden light appeared in his right palm, condensing into a long sword, which he swung in a sidewise slash.

"Decent speed, almost on par with Dai Shiqing," Chen Mobai thought, evaluating his opponent. Then, extending his left sword-finger, a burst of purple flame sword light erupted, clashing with Tian Wenguang's golden sword.

With a sharp *crack*, the long sword in Tian Wenguang's hand shattered, and he was sent flying backward.

After just two moves, Chen Mobai had gauged his opponent's skill level. He might be able to hold his own against Dai Shiqing, but he was a tier below Lu Qiulong. Against Chen Mobai himself before his recent breakthroughs, Tian Wenguang might have posed a slight threat. However, in Chen Mobai's current view, he was simply too weak.

With this thought, Chen Mobai ceased to hold back. To avoid any prolonged complications, he immediately unleashed his most powerful technique. Under the blessing of his Fire Spirit Body and the Sun Ascension Art, the Azure Sun Fire Seed instantly blazed, transforming into a sphere of purple-green flames that erupted from his palm as dazzling, brilliant sword light.

He had also meticulously prepared a trump card. In the Little Scarlet Heaven, physical objects cannot be projected, but pure elemental energy like the Azure Sun Fire Seed can be perfectly replicated. Furthermore, spells with severe repercussions can be used without limitation here. Therefore, Chen Mobai could use "Blaze Blast" to detonate the power of the Azure Sun Fire Seed, thereby unleashing the Crimson Flame Sword Art. Even if he were to face Sima Xingyu, this move, if caught off guard, would likely inflict injury.

However, he was now using it against Tian Wenguang, and the effect was far better than he had anticipated. As the sword light swept through, Tian Wenguang, whose spiritual energy had formed seven or eight layers of golden light shields, was instantly vaporized, along with his defensive projection avatar.

A "ding" sound rang out—the automatic system notification confirming victory after a duel in the Little Scarlet Heaven.

After breaking the record, Chen Mobai looked at the empty virtual arena, now swept clean by his sword light, leaving nothing but a blank expanse. A sense of emptiness washed over him. After all, the opponent had been a bit too weak. The thrill of breaking the record significantly diminished. Still, it felt incredibly satisfying!

Feeling a profound sense of satisfaction and accomplishment welling up inside him, Chen Mobai couldn't help but laugh aloud. Throughout the Immortal Sect's Thirty-Six Grotto-Heavens and Seventy-Two Blessed Lands, everyone watched as this young chief of the Weapon Dance Daoist Academy shattered a record that had remained untouched for over two millennia. Although a premonition had long existed, witnessing it firsthand still left them profoundly shaken. "Could this be the beginning of a new legend?"

"Team Leader, you stopped Sima Xingyu for that young man; does he know?" Lin Yin, who was driving, couldn't help but ask as she saw Lan Haitian open his eyes in the back seat. With screens in her car and her own mobile phone, she had personally witnessed Chen Mobai break Patriarch Yuanyang's record and Lan Haitian defeat Sima Xingyu.

"It was an order from above, after all," Lan Haitian said with a smile, idly twirling the Star-Gathering Stone in his hand. "Besides, sometimes if you explicitly mention a favor, it becomes too deliberate. What's more, my coming to Chicheng this time actually puts me in his debt."