Chapter Ten: The Second Divine Martial Arena Section Eighteen: The Martial Venerable (Part Three)

Section 18: Martial Sovereign (Part 3)

"But Gar's internal power is profound. How could July manage to embed all those hidden weapons into his meridians?" Zheng Linran was deeply bewildered.

Chu Gaoge laughed, "I suspect it was a bluffing series of maneuvers."

This was precisely Bu Jingxian’s deduction as well. Yet, if that were the case, while July could kill Gar, her own depletion would surely be severe. How would she then handle challenges from other masters? As Bu Jingxian pondered this, he suddenly recalled the detail of how Bailin’s daughter had intended to challenge Ling Luo earlier, only to be held back by her mother.

"Could it be that July did this intentionally to intimidate the other masters? Since when did she become so bold and calculating?"

As he watched, July shot out her hidden weapons, spun around, and donned her robe. Descending rapidly from mid-air, she executed the very technique known to everyone under the heavens: the Immortal Descends to the Mortal World Palm.

Gar, riddled with hidden weapons, was furious. Seeing July descend from the heights to unleash the Immortal Descends to the Mortal World, he became even more incensed.

"Does this girl really think she is Zheng Feixian? She knows nothing of the heights of the heavens or the depth of the earth!"

He immediately channeled his Great Vajra Palm and struck directly at the descending July.

In truth, July had fired over a hundred hidden weapons in an instant. To ensure sufficient lethality, she had infused them with significant internal energy, meaning she had only expended a fraction of her power. Chu Gaoge had correctly surmised that this move was a bluff—a calculated risk to sacrifice a portion of her spirit to force a recovery of combat power while setting up subsequent tactics.

Gar thrust out both palms, his internal energy manifesting as two giant hands the size of a person.

When they collided with the descending July, July’s spirit count dropped by one in an instant.

The subsequent eruption of spirit energy immediately drained one unit of spirit from Gar. Gar, clearly ignorant of the mysteries of spirit energy—like many who possess the ability without realizing it—thought it was merely a natural occurrence. After a sudden, intense pain, he felt his combat prowess surge and his internal energy fully restored.

However, the spirit energy he released was blocked by July’s technique of delaying spirit energy eruption.

Their spirit counts shifted from 6-to-13 to 5-to-12.

July’s physical capacity rapidly surged to 5,400, with zero internal energy. This time, she truly employed the spirit energy techniques she had learned from Li Yijian. Her palms moved as fast as lightning, striking the hidden weapons already embedded in Gar’s body, driving them all deep within him.

With the Seven-Star Lock engaged, Gar’s physical capacity dropped to 4,000, and his 3,000 units of internal energy could not be circulated at all. His combat strength had shifted from an advantage to a disadvantage; his 4,000-point physical combat ability stood no chance against July’s 5,400 physical capacity! Furthermore, Li Yijian’s spirit techniques allowed one’s physical capacity to double. With July’s physical advantage, a single palm strike could cost Gar his life. Even if he fought desperately to defend, one strike would leave him half-dead!

July flew forward and pressed a palm onto the crown of Gar’s head, then used the momentum to backflip away. Her speed and agility were in no way inferior to Li Yijian’s. Gar instantly lost another unit of spirit.

This was the very method Li Yijian used to avoid spirit energy eruption—striking once and immediately retreating.

Their spirit counts became 5-to-10.

Under normal circumstances, Gar would have had no chance of victory against such an onslaught, but perhaps July feared he might call out a surrender and flee the stage, or perhaps she simply wanted to end the fight as quickly as possible.

She landed, gathered her strength, and lunged forward. By the time Gar turned around to raise his palms, July’s hands were already pressed against his chest.

The eruption of spirit energy consumed one of July’s spirit units and drained another from Gar. Yet, Gar’s second attempt at a spirit energy eruption was again thwarted by July’s delay technique.

July did not cease her palm strikes, attacking with raw, frontal force, landing eight consecutive blows.

Their spirit counts became 1-to-2.

Gar had long wanted to withdraw, but July’s peerless speed gave him no opportunity to even shout a surrender! In that moment, Gar felt the same terror of death he had faced twice before against Zheng Feixian. He struggled desperately, ignoring all else, but he could not land a hit on his opponent; he didn't even have the chance to fight for his life!

"Die!" July barked with hatred. The final palm struck Gar squarely on the forehead.

A flash of spirit energy eruption illuminated the stage.

Gar’s powerful, stalwart frame toppled backward onto the ground, lifeless. A grandmaster of his generation, the second-ranked martial artist in the world, had been killed on the Shenwu Stage by a junior in less than twenty moves!

The sight left the heroes and masters watching the battle in utter disbelief.

The Northern Martial Sect Master had died at the hands of Ling Luo, and although the world’s masters were surprised, they knew the martial arts of the North Spirit Mountain were formidable; battles between internal energy masters often resulted in death, so it was not unheard of. But Gar’s power surpassed that of the Northern Martial Sect Master, and he had mastered both internal and external arts. Even Zheng Feixian had been unable to kill him in the past.

Yet now, a disciple of Zheng Feixian had slain him on the stage in a dozen moves.

July tidied her disheveled hair and scanned the gathered masters, her gaze finally resting on the face of the Blue Ghost she had seen in the Chu State. She pointed at him, "You! Why don't you come up?"

The Blue Ghost’s expression shifted repeatedly. He had intended to step onto the stage if Gar were defeated, but now, trembling with fear, he dared not move. He knew his own power was not significantly higher than Gar’s. If Gar could be killed in a dozen moves, how could he dare to go up and seek his own death?

He hurriedly cupped his hands in a salute, "To have such a brilliant disciple, Zheng Feixian must be proud. I have come today merely to observe, never intending to challenge anyone. The world today belongs to the young; why should old folks like me strive for the title of the world’s best?"

"You won't strive? So, you believe you still have the ability to contend with this Sovereign? Then come up here!"

July gave the Blue Ghost no face, her tone aggressive and unrelenting.

Under the gaze of the crowd, the Blue Ghost was filled with fury, but he was no longer young and would not risk his life for the sake of pride. With an unchanged expression, he smiled, "As I have no desire to contend, I lack the ability as well."

July let him go, turning her focus to Bailin.

"When we met in the Chu State, you dared to speak disrespectfully to my Master. I intended to make you pay for that then. You once said that we would definitely meet on the Shenwu Stage today; now, come up!"

Bailin’s seemingly gentle daughter was filled with righteous indignation and was about to leap onto the stage, but Bailin grabbed her hand tightly.

"What madness has possessed you, girl? Even Gar was killed by her in a dozen moves! This wretched girl is even more powerful than Zheng Feixian was in her prime. Are you trying to die? I have finally raised you as my daughter; I will not let you throw your life away. The responsibility of restoring the White Palace rests on you—do not let your emotions dictate your actions!"

The girl’s face was twisted in anger, but she was restrained by her mother, and it took a long while for her to suppress her rage and sit back down.

"Why sit down? Come up! If you want to fight, come up! I, July, haven't even warmed up yet; I need you to help me get started!"

Bailin endured the anger and humiliation, pretending to be indifferent, "My daughter’s cultivation is still shallow. If the Martial Sovereign wishes to spar with her, she can wait until the next Shenwu Stage."

"The White Palace—is nothing more than this!"

July ignored the mother and daughter, instead circling the gathered masters and shouting, "Is there anyone else—who refuses to submit?"

For a long while, no one stepped onto the stage. Everyone found Gar’s death impossible to believe, unable to stop themselves from wondering if this young woman on the stage was even more formidable than Zheng Feixian. Despite feeling resentful of July’s arrogance, no one dared to step up and invite death.

"Bring it here!" July commanded. The judge hurriedly presented the Martial Sovereign’s robes, and two palace maids came forward to help her put them on.

King Zheng stood up and laughed heartily.