Chapter 486: The Power of Bonds

Su Mo and Mo Wenli had just stepped off the stage when they saw a figure rushing over, looking flustered.

The figure was none other than the Sect Master of the Thunderfire Sect. He approached Su Mo, asking with concern, "Master, are you alright?"

"Master?" Mo Wenli was baffled, unable to comprehend what was happening.

"This is my master, your grand-master," the Thunderfire Sect Master explained via spiritual transmission to Mo Wenli.

"Grand-master? Didn't you say he was dead?" Mo Wenli was startled. His attitude towards Su Mo just now had not been very friendly.

"That was just what we told outsiders. Actually, your grand-master dispersed his cultivation to rebuild it and attempt to break through to the Tribulation Transcension stage. He had a few enemies in his earlier years, and after scattering his cultivation, he didn't dare make his presence known for fear of retaliation, which is why we spread the rumor that he had died."

"So, I was about to fight Grand-master, and you didn't even tell me..." Mo Wenli looked at the Thunderfire Sect Master with a hint of resentment. If it weren't for the interference of the Heavenly Court Sect, a real fight would have broken out.

The Thunderfire Sect Master scolded him, "It's all because you can't keep a secret, boy! You were afraid of giving things away on the stage. Young Sect Master Lu was right; your lightning techniques are scattered like a bifurcated stream. Go back to secluded cultivation! You are not to come out until you've achieved some results!"

Mo Wenli's face turned ashen.

"Alright, alright, don't scare the junior," Su Mo interjected, trying to smooth things over. "Little Mo is quite strong; it's just that his opponent this time was stronger. How about this, I'll give you some pointers when we get back." Su Mo was quite pleased with Mo Wenli; he saw potential in him.

The Thunderfire Sect Master gazed at them meaningfully. "You weren't like that with me back then."

Below the stage, the five Immortal Kings exuded an aura that warned others to keep their distance. While no one dared to approach, they couldn't suppress their curiosity.

"Those five Heavenly Kings are terrifying! Just being near them makes me shiver."

"You're right. These are ancient powerful factions. In ancient times, chaos was rampant, and lives were cheaper than grass. Who knows how many lives these Heavenly Kings have taken?"

"Quiet! Don't let them hear you!"

"We're transmitting our voices; they can't hear us, can they?"

"Better safe than sorry. Who can guarantee there weren't secret interception techniques in ancient times? Look at these five; their malevolence is almost tangible. They're definitely the vengeful type. If they target you, do you think you'll have an easy life?"

"But what you're saying sounds even harsher than what we were saying."

The five Protector Heavenly Kings stood like stone statues, unmoving, their minds free of distractions, indifferent to everything, without joy or sorrow.

"Don't tell me, the Acting Sect Master's idea is brilliant. Leveraging the home advantage to let the Heavenly Court Sect make a dazzling debut. Now our Heavenly Court Sect's reputation is out there. I don't believe the demonic sects and ancient cultivators won't fall for it."

The Grand Elder transmitted his thoughts gleefully. He had clearly seen the shocked, terrified, and panicked expressions of the crowd when they first appeared, and it was deeply satisfying.

"Do you think we'll be exposed?" Grandpa Ba asked nervously. It was fun, but he feared the truth coming out.

This time was different. Before, they only deceived cultivators of the same realm. This time, they were even deceiving old seniors at the Tribulation Transcension stage.

If they were exposed, traveling outside would become dangerous.

They weren't afraid of cultivators at the Body Integration stage; no one could defeat them. But if someone from the Tribulation Transcension stage made a move, they'd have to pray their Master could intervene in time.

The Third Elder felt that his second brother was overthinking it: "No way. Junior Nephew Yun vouched for us, guaranteeing we wouldn't be exposed."

"Besides, even if we are exposed, it's fine. I've prepared a contingency."

The other four were surprised. The third brother had a contingency plan?

"What contingency?"

"I bought insurance for the five of us at the merchant guild. Even if something goes wrong, we'll get a large sum of spirit stones... Anyway, never mind that, my disciple is making his entrance."

"Dao-Seeking Sect, Meng Jingzhou!"

"Dragon Ascent Village, Long Huo!"

Dragon Ascent Village was a unique power. It functioned as an administrative unit of Great Xia while also being part of the Long family's sphere of influence.

Eight thousand years ago, a powerful cultivator named Long settled in a desolate area of Jizhou, bringing his wife, concubine, and servants. No one knew his origins; it was as if he had appeared out of nowhere. Some even said he came from the East Sea and was a Dragon-human.

The mighty cultivator had several sons and daughters before he passed away. Before his death, he left behind vast cultivation resources, and his descendants remained there, continuing to prosper.

Thanks to the resources left by the powerful cultivator, and the good talents of his children, the family's fortunes were not squandered.

As generations passed, the outside world referred to them as the Long Family of Jizhou, and they became a prestigious aristocratic family.

Gradually, the area grew in scale. Local officials came to inspect it, deemed it suitable for a village, and reported it up the chain of command. The authorities then designated it a village and, respecting the Long family's wishes, named it Dragon Ascent Village.

The village chief of Dragon Ascent Village was always the current patriarch of the Long family.

Long Huo was the son of the previous Long family patriarch. Although he was suppressed by the current patriarch in his youth, as he began to distinguish himself and display his exceptional talent, becoming the most gifted person in Dragon Ascent Village, the current patriarch could no longer easily suppress him.

Long Huo activated his Golden Core, creating a thin film of water over his body, which could resist attacks to some extent. His was a water-attribute Golden Core, a first-grade Golden Core.

"Roaming Dragon Strike!"

Long Huo moved across the stage like a swimming dragon, terrifyingly fast, leaving afterimages. Even spiritual sense found it difficult to pinpoint his exact location.

He circled behind Meng Jingzhou and, while Meng Jingzhou was unable to react, swiftly aimed a hand chop at his neck.

"Got him!" He inwardly rejoiced, thinking his opponent had been careless.

Unexpectedly, Meng Jingzhou simply swayed slightly and dodged the sneak attack.

"What?!" He shouldn't have seen him.

Meng Jingzhou yawned dismissively. This opponent wasn't very good.

Long Huo, unwilling to give up, unleashed the Roaming Dragon Strike again, sending a continuous flurry of attacks from all directions, all of which Meng Jingzhou easily evaded.

Below the stage, Young Sect Master Lu clapped his hands, his eyes showing excitement, as if he had found a desired opponent.

"Excellent! As expected of a disciple capable of representing the Dao-Seeking Sect! If my judgment is correct, he has already reached the 'Selfless and Unaware' realm in body cultivation. Even among ancient prodigies, no one has managed to enter this realm in the mid-Golden Core stage!"

Heavenly King Bupo nodded: "It appears he has just entered the 'Selfless and Unaware' realm. In this state, the body can automatically dodge attacks that are not very threatening, without the need for conscious thought."

Not very threatening doesn't mean there's no threat. If one can dodge, one naturally should.

After Young Sect Master Lu's explanation, the prodigies below the stage finally realized how powerful a body cultivator Meng Jingzhou was at that moment.

Meng Jingzhou nodded in satisfaction. Lu Yang was quite decent after all.

Bang— Meng Jingzhou executed the Six Tremors of Heaven, taking a powerful step, unleashing inch force, a triple punch force, sending Long Huo flying!

Long Huo continuously dissipated the force of the punch, retreating until he was half a foot from the edge of the stage before he could steady himself.

Meng Jingzhou was slightly surprised: "Not bad, you can withstand that punch. Again!"

Meng Jingzhou no longer held back, continuously unleashing the Six Tremors of Heaven, pushing Long Huo back. Yet, each time he thought he could knock Long Huo off the stage, Long Huo unexpectedly managed to withstand the punch.

Even so, Long Huo was gradually unable to endure such high-intensity attacks.

"You can't beat me. Give up."

Should he concede? Long Huo realized the gap between them and closed his eyes reluctantly. He was tired after fighting for so long, and continuing would be futile; the outcome was already predetermined. Was the difference between him and a true prodigy really so vast?

"Brother Long Huo, keep fighting!"

"Long Huo, don't give up!"

"You're the man who beat me and is representing the village; how can you lose here?"

Images of his companions flashed through Long Huo's mind: childhood sweethearts, close friends, the patriarch's son who was both rival and comrade...

They seemed to appear before his eyes, calling his name in his ears.

"I can't give up!" He carried the high hopes of the village and was representing the Long family; how could he concede here?

The referee walked over and looked at Long Huo, who was lying on the ground.

"Are you seeing your life flash before your eyes? The winner of this match is Meng Jingzhou."