Cultivation: From Poor Peasant to Celestial Lord

Chapter 161: Chapter 107: The Final Showdown, the Outcome Is Decided

But it was precisely because they were experts that they understood the true caliber of the scene before them.

They had each fought one of the two combatants on the stage.

In the semi-finals, whether it was Lü Qing against Ji Li or Wu Jianfei against Chu Bai, they had both been defeated. But at least they had managed to last a few rounds, even landing a counterattack or two.

However...

Watching the tempestuous exchange of offense and defense on stage—a destructive storm woven from Dharma Artifacts and Magic Techniques—

a despairing thought simultaneously rose in the minds of both Lü Qing and Wu Jianfei.

The intensity of this fight far surpassed that of their own matches!

’If they had started with this kind of all-or-nothing fighting style from the get-go, using all their Dharma Artifacts and every trick up their sleeves...’ Lü Qing gave a bitter smile, glancing at the Profound Gold Armor he was so proud of. ’I’m afraid I wouldn’t have even lasted five rounds before being thrown right off the stage.’

It was like thinking you had forced your opponent to play their trump card, only to realize they were just using you for a warm-up.

’I thought this Immortal Official Examination would be my last chance to defeat Ji Li, or even to get the upper hand on that monstrous newcomer.’

Lü Qing lowered his head to look at the White Talisman in his palm. The joy he’d felt from Receiving the Talisman moments ago was now significantly dampened by this overwhelming sense of disparity.

’A pity... The gap between us is only growing wider.’

’Will I ever get another chance when we meet again?’

He felt disheartened, momentarily at a loss for words.

’I’ve spent three years accumulating power, arduously cultivating my fire techniques. I was confident my offensive power was second to none.’

Wu Jianfei also let out a long sigh, his gaze complicated as he watched the young man in Golden Armor weave through the barrage of attacks like a fish in water. He couldn’t help but lament:

’But who would have thought... In the end, I couldn’t even give Chu Bai a truly satisfying fight.’

For this group of proud, ambitious geniuses, the sense of defeat was utterly profound.

BOOM!

Just as the two were lost in their thoughts, another earth-shattering clash erupted on stage!

Ji Li was multitasking three ways: the Thundercloud Bell suppressed the space around them, the Flying Sword weaved about for an assassination, and his own body unleashed a Primordial Magnetic Hand Seal that came smashing down.

But Chu Bai was not to be outdone. His Essence-Bearing Tripod met the great bell, his Guardian Shield parried the Flying Sword, and his Formless Cloud Hand manifested as a sky full of palm images to meet the massive Hand Seal head-on.

Dharma Artifacts whined and Magic Techniques detonated.

On the ever-changing battlefield, the two pushed every ounce of their power and every Dharma Artifact to the absolute limit. Their counters and maneuvers were so exquisite they seemed to have been rehearsed a thousand times over.

In the span of just a few breaths, they had already exchanged more than ten blows!

And every single blow was a lethal strike, capable of deciding the victor—and survival.

’His defense is impenetrable, and he handles all my moves with ease. If I stick to conventional attacks, I’m afraid I’ll run out of Spiritual Power before I find a fatal opening.’

Ji Li calculated inwardly as he controlled his Flying Sword and the Thundercloud Bell in a feint.

’Fortunately, I still have that one move... one I’ve never shown to anyone before.’

’I’ll use it as bait and wait for the perfect moment to end this in one fell swoop!’

His mind made up, an infinitesimally small pause appeared in Ji Li’s hand movements. The once-fluid execution of his Magic Techniques slowed by half a beat, revealing a fleeting opening.

How could someone as sharp as Chu Bai miss it? The instant the opening appeared, several Spirit Water Needles shot out, precisely disrupting the rhythm of Ji Li’s follow-up technique.

’Ji Li’s combat sense is too strong. He’d never make such a rookie mistake at a critical moment like this... He must be baiting me.’

Chu Bai sneered inwardly, seeing through the ploy as clear as day.

But even knowing it was a trap, he didn’t hesitate for a second.

’Trying to lure me in? Then as you wish!’

BOOM!

The Fire Element Ring at Chu Bai’s feet erupted in red light. Pushing Fire Step Ascension to its absolute limit, he left a trail of afterimages across the stage.

He had seen through the ruse, but instead of retreating, he seized the opening and shot forward like an arrow from a bow!

His opponent had the advantage in Spiritual Power. For Chu Bai, the best solution was to risk everything on a single, decisive exchange.

Dozens of fist intents condensed from his Formless Cloud Hand surged forth like a dragon from the sea, carrying the power to shatter mountains as they blasted straight for Ji Li’s face.

Seeing Chu Bai take the bait, Ji Li’s eyes filled not with alarm, but with delight.

’Just as I expected!’

’If you’d kept your distance, I really would’ve been out of options. But now that you’ve come to me, you’ve saved me the trouble of using Primordial Magnetism to drag you over.’

’And with this... the battle is decided!’

Facing the dozens of ferocious fist intents that blotted out the sky, Ji Li remained surprisingly calm, adopting no defensive stance whatsoever.

Instead, his body shot ten feet into the air, where he hovered with his arms raised to the heavens as if embracing some invisible power.

”Primordial Magnetism: Polar Celestial Waterfall!”

With a low cry, a terrifying, suffocating pressure instantly descended.

RUMBLE!

In an instant, a visible storm of black and white energy seemed to sweep across the stage!

It was a destructive force field centered on Ji Li, woven from the ultimate extremes of Primordial Magnetic Repulsive Force and attraction.

The dozens of once-menacing fist intents from the Cloud Hand were instantly torn to shreds by the violently twisting force field the moment they touched the storm’s edge, their attack completely nullified.

”What... what is that technique?!”

Gasps erupted from below the stage. Even the Instructors couldn’t help but stare, wide-eyed.

No one had ever seen this technique before! They didn’t even know when Ji Li had mastered such a devastating move, one that could almost be considered a Forbidden Technique!

”Forcing me to use this move, you can’t say your loss was unjust.”

At the center of the storm, Ji Li’s long hair streamed wildly behind him. His tattered white robes snapped in the gale, making him look like a God in control of the magnetic field.

As he pressed his hands down through the air, the surrounding space seemed to warp under the terrifying suction. All matter, Spiritual Power, and even air collapsed inward toward him.

Chu Bai, caught in the storm’s core, naturally bore the brunt of the assault.

PFFT!

The horrific tearing force pierced his body, and an agonizing pain shot through him as if his organs were being rearranged. A trickle of blood instantly spilled from the corner of his mouth.

But he ignored it. Not only was he not pushed back, but he even used the suction to increase his speed, continuing to charge at Ji Li like a moth to a flame!

’So he did have another trick up his sleeve...’

Chu Bai wiped the blood from his lips, a savage grin spreading across his face.

”But who’s to say I don’t?”

They were only a few yards apart. For Chu Bai, now moving at full speed, closing that distance was instantaneous.

Of course, the closer he got, the more terrifying and despair-inducing the tearing force of the Polar Celestial Waterfall became.

Still, Chu Bai pressed forward!

As long as his opponent fell first, as long as his opponent was eliminated first, then no matter the cost, he would be the sole victor!

”Transform!”

With a single thought, the Formless Cloud Hand—which had just been scattered and had only ever been a diversion—dissipated completely.

The next instant.

Chu Bai took a final step, stopping less than three feet from Ji Li. He snapped his head up, his gaze locking onto the god-like figure above him.

One stood high, the other low; one clad in white, the other in gold. They locked eyes amidst the furiously raging Primordial Magnetic Storm.

The black and white of Chu Bai’s pupils vanished, replaced by two orbs of golden light—brilliant and sharp beyond measure!

At that moment, all the Five Elements Spiritual Power in his body converted into the purest, most indomitable Innate Geng Metal Qi!

”Golden Eye Shattering Illusion!”

”Shatter!!!”

Two beams of seemingly tangible golden light shot from his eyes, carrying an peerless sharpness capable of severing all illusions and obstacles as they stabbed directly toward Ji Li’s eyes!

Ji Li gritted his teeth, his once-confident and indifferent eyes now flooded with an indescribable terror!

It was the stench of approaching death.

Unstoppable!

The two beams of golden light were too fast—faster than thought, faster than the limits of reaction. It was the explosive release of pure Geng Metal Qi condensed to its absolute extreme, a blade that could pierce through anything!

No time to dodge!

At this distance, in that fleeting instant, it was too late to cast any Defense Technique.

”Rise!”

At the precipice of life and death, Ji Li let out a hysterical roar. He desperately channeled the vast Spiritual Power of his recent breakthrough to the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, trying to use Primordial Magnetic Repulsive Force to launch himself upward and escape the fatal blow.

But... he was a fraction of a second too slow.

His body had only just risen a few inches.

When the two brilliant beams of golden light arrived!

The Primordial Magnetic Shield, powerful enough to warp space itself, was pierced like a sheet of paper before the supremely sharp golden light.

Immediately after, blood splattered!

Two gruesome, bloody holes appeared on Ji Li’s chest, pierced clean through. Fragments of his pulsing organs were even visible within.

The tremendous impact sent his body flying backward. He slammed heavily onto the edge of the stage, unable to rise again.

The storm ceased, and the golden light faded.

The entire arena fell deathly silent, with only the sound of Ji Li’s ragged gasps and dripping blood echoing through the air.

And so.

The match was decided.