Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 295: Chapter 295: Fire Is Not Something to Play With Like That

Lie Buqun had long been waiting on the arena stage, but he did not expect that the moment Ye Qingchen jumped onto the platform, thunderous cheers would erupt from the crowd below.

Ye Qingchen’s performance yesterday had left such a deep impression on everyone. Seeing him take the stage again filled the spectators with the expectation that he would dazzle them with an even more brilliant display today.

However, among the onlookers, there were sober-minded individuals who were not optimistic about Ye Qingchen’s battle with Lie Buqun.

”That kid, although formidable, is only at the Fourth Layer of the Martial Spirit Realm. Sect Leader Lie is at the peak of the Ninth Layer of the Martial Spirit Realm. In terms of strength, he’s much stronger than Sect Leader Feng.”

”That’s right. And that kid, Ye Qingchen, was only able to render Sect Leader Feng defenseless because he was immune to his Martial Soul attacks. I’m guessing this kid must also possess a Wood Attribute Martial Soul, just one grade higher than Sect Leader Feng’s six-star Orchid Martial Spirit.”

”Then this kid has even less of a chance! Sect Leader Lie possesses a Fire Attribute Martial Soul, which specifically counters Wood Attribute Martial Souls. Combined with the huge gap in strength, Ye Qingchen stands no chance at all!”

The murmurs of discussion naturally reached the stage. Lie Buqun looked at Ye Qingchen with disdain and said, ”Kid, you heard them. My Flame Leopard Martial Soul is specifically designed to counter Wood Attribute Martial Souls. You’re just unlucky to have run into me!”

Ye Qingchen sneered. ”A Flame Leopard Martial Soul is nothing to be scared of. Today, I’ll slowly settle the score for injuring the Venerable!”

The two exchanged heated words until the bell signaling the start of the match rang out. Lie Buqun launched his attack immediately.

Lie Buqun summoned his Flame Leopard Martial Soul, which materialized into a physical form. It looked like a real leopard, over four meters long and wreathed in roaring flames, giving it a majestic and ferocious appearance. With a roar, it pounced fiercely toward Ye Qingchen.

The Flame Leopard was not only of the Fire Attribute, but its speed was also extreme. It reached Ye Qingchen in the blink of an eye.

However, Ye Qingchen had activated his Dual Pupil Martial Soul from the very beginning and was well-prepared for Lie Buqun’s attack.

As the Flame Leopard lunged, Ye Qingchen used Mystifying Steps to sidestep and evade it, the Qingfeng Sword instantly appearing in his hand.

Wind Blade Sword Technique!

He struck with his sword, unleashing the might of heaven and earth. The attack was magnificent in momentum, its sword light completely engulfing Lie Buqun’s figure.

Ye Qingchen unleashed a killing move from the very start, displaying the full power of his Earth Rank, mid-grade Martial Technique.

Lie Buqun had thought he could catch Ye Qingchen off guard with his Martial Soul’s ability. To his surprise, Ye Qingchen not only dodged it with ease but also launched a counterattack before he could even react.

But Lie Buqun was worthy of his status as a peak Ninth Layer Martial Spirit Realm expert. Even amid the sudden turn of events, he instinctively ducked and rolled three meters along the edge of the stage, narrowly avoiding Ye Qingchen’s sword strike.

Ye Qingchen’s Sword Qi missed, smashing heavily into the arena platform.

BOOM!

A loud explosion echoed as the stage filled with thick smoke. After the dust settled, a crater nearly two meters deep had appeared on the stage.

Lie Buqun gazed at the large crater and unconsciously swallowed hard.

This stage had been personally constructed under the supervision of the Wuji Immortal Palace. An ordinary Martial Spirit Realm expert would find it difficult to even leave a scratch on it, yet Ye Qingchen had just blasted a massive crater into its surface.

Lie Buqun dared not imagine what would have happened if that sword had struck him—whether he would still be alive.

Although Lie Buqun’s method of dodging was not the most graceful, the audience understood when they saw the huge crater on the stage.

Compared to one’s life, what was face worth?

Lie Buqun had long suspected that Ye Qingchen was strong; otherwise, he could not have pushed Feng Xingpo to such an extent.

But Lie Buqun had never expected Ye Qingchen to be this strong!

Is this really just someone at the Fourth Layer of the Martial Spirit Realm?

After his strike missed, Ye Qingchen did not press the attack. Instead, he simply stared coldly at Lie Buqun.

Lie Buqun scrambled to his feet, took a deep breath, and drew his own superior-grade spiritual weapon: a flame saber.

”Kid, you’ve truly surprised me! But that must have been your strongest attack, right? Let’s see how you handle what I have in store for you!” Stroking the flame saber in his hand, Lie Buqun said to Ye Qingchen with a sneer.

Ye Qingchen said nothing, merely gathering his power for his next attack.

”Let me show you my Mysterious Rank Martial Arts! Fiery Slash!”

As Lie Buqun shouted, the flame saber in his hand erupted in flames about a foot high. At the same time, the Flame Leopard appeared behind him again, pawing at the ground, ready to attack Ye Qingchen at any moment.

Ye Qingchen shook his head disdainfully. This fool only knows that I have a Wood Attribute Martial Soul. He’s forgotten that I also possess the Fen Tian Earth Fire and the Ancient Jade Spiritual Fire. His fire-attribute attacks will be completely countered by my two Exotic Flames.

With Lie Buqun’s slash, a ten-meter-long saber shadow materialized in the air. It was wreathed in flames, demonstrating the power of a Mysterious Rank Martial Arts.

”Bind!”

Ye Qingchen uttered a quiet command, and several vines as thick as water buckets appeared before him, surging toward Lie Buqun.

A sneer formed on Lie Buqun’s lips. ”Kid, have you been scared witless? If you had used that same swordsmanship from before, you might have stood a chance of blocking my attack. But to use a Wood Attribute Martial Soul... Don’t you know that wood feeds fire? Your Martial Soul’s ability will only serve as nourishment for my Martial Technique!”

Ye Qingchen simply smiled without responding. Self-assured people like Lie Buqun are the very definition of true ignorance.

After speaking, Lie Buqun directed the saber shadow to slash down at Ye Qingchen, while the Flame Leopard behind him pounced simultaneously to cut off any escape route.

Ye Qingchen did not hesitate, unleashing both the Fen Tian Earth Fire and the Ancient Jade Spiritual Fire at the same time. The vines instantly caught fire.

It was just as Lie Buqun had said: wood feeds fire. Fueled by the vines summoned from the Willow Wood Martial Soul, the Fen Tian Earth Fire and the Ancient Jade Spiritual Fire began to burn with even greater intensity.

Under this terrifying temperature, even the saber shadow that Lie Buqun had slashed out began to show faint cracks.

The Flame Leopard let out miserable cries, no longer daring to approach Ye Qingchen.

”That’s not how you play with fire!” Ye Qingchen said disdainfully, then manipulated the flaming vines to whip toward Lie Buqun.

The ten-meter-long saber shadow was shattered by the whipping vines. Their momentum unabated, they continued toward Lie Buqun. He did his best to evade, but the terrifying heat still managed to scorch his hair and beard.

Lie Buqun had never expected Ye Qingchen to be so formidable. While desperately dodging the attacks, he imperceptibly popped a Spirit Pill into his mouth.

Of course, this did not escape Ye Qingchen’s eyes.

Lie Buqun had taken a Forbidden Medicine, something strictly prohibited in the competition