Chapter 1688: Killing Zhong Gu In An Instant

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Upon hearing the insults from the surrounding, the expressions of the group of people from Rising Sky Mansion, apart from Xu Cen, turned grave.

Xu Cen sneered as he watched Xu Jing’s silhouette.

In his opinion, since Xu Jing was such a coward, it would have been better if he did not participate in the Rising Sky Ranking Battle. At the very least, he would not have embarrassed the Rising Sky Mansion.

Naturally, he only thought about it. He did not dare to voice his thoughts out.

Xu Jing and the hunchback young man behind him were the only from the Rising Sky Mansion with a normal expression on their faces.

After Xu Jing’s gaze left the Flowery Monk and Jing Xu Zi, it swept past Yin Xu Zi, Yu Xu Zi, the Wine-Meat Monk, and the others before it locked on an indifferent figure dressed in plain clothing and carrying a sword wrapped in a cloth. However, his eyes shone brightly like the stars in the night sky.

“Zhong Gu!” Xu Jing finally said as he decided on his opponent.

Zhong Gu was one of the two most powerful sectless cultivators participating in the Rising Sky Ranking Battle. Previously, the crowd had thought Zhong Gu was the strongest sectless cultivator below fifty years old in the Rising Sky Mansion’s district. However, due to Li Feng, Duan Ling Tian’s fake persona, they no longer thought so.

Li Feng had killed Xu Can. Moreover, he even survived the terrifying explosion. This proved his strength was in no way inferior to Zhong Gu’s strength.

Sometimes, an unknown sectless cultivator only needed one opportunity to become famous.

‘Making a name for oneself through one battle’ was a saying that fit Li Feng, Duan Ling Tian’s fake persona, well.

The crowd was dumbfounded when they saw Xu Jing choose Zhong Gu as his opponent before they regained their senses one by one.

“In the Rising Sky Mansion’s district, rumor has it that Xu Jing, the Young Master of Rising Sky Mansion, and Zhong Gu are mortal enemies. It seems like it’s really the case.”

“That’s right! When both of them were at the peak of the Pristine Saint Stage, they’ve already fought once before. At that time, Zhong Gu won the battle. However, ever since Xu Jing has broken through to the Intermediate Refined Saint Stage, Zhong Gu’s no longer a match for him.”

“A year ago, Xu Jing was at the Early Refined Saint Stage. Although he must have received great cultivation resources from the Rising Sky Mansion, he must have only broken through to the Intermediate Refined Saint Stage. Faced with Zhong Gu who has also broken through to the Intermediate Refined Saint Stage, isn’t he afraid of losing to Zhong Gu just like before when they were both at the peak of the Pristine Saint Stage?”

“In our Rising Sky Mansion’s district, almost everybody feels that Xu Jing is no match to Zhong Gu when they both have the same cultivation base… Don’t tell me Xu Jing’s trying to change everyone’s opinion today?”

“Hurmph! It’s good to be confident. However, too much confidence is just being arrogant.”

When the crowd returned to their senses, they whispered among themselves as their words spread through the surrounding of the Nimble Chess Set.

Regardless, Xu Jing who had risen up to the sky and appeared on the chess piece beneath Zhong Gu’s feet, standing opposite him, stole the limelight.

Would Xu Jing, the Young Master of Rising Sky Mansion, be able to change everyone’s opinion today?

Everyone was looking forward to seeing this.

Even Duan Ling Tian looked forward to seeing the duel between Zhong Gu and Xu Jing.

He had taken quite a liking to Zhong Gu. As for Xu Jing, he was someone Duan Ling Tian had to kill.

If it were up to him, naturally, he would want Zhong Gu to defeat and kill Xu Jing.

“Zhong Gu, you killed a disciple from my Rising Sky Mansion, I’ll avenge him on his behalf,” Xu Jing said coldly as he stood opposite Xu Jing.

“Stop talking nonsense and just start the fight!” Zhong Gu said nonchalantly.

If Zhong Gu had not broken through to the Intermediate Refined Saint Stage yet, he might feel a hint of dread at having to face the current Xu Jing who had broken through to the Intermediate Refined Saint Stage. Since Zhong Gu had broken through as well, he did not fear Xu Jing.

It was just like rumors had said. He had no need to fear Xu Jing if their cultivation base was the same.

Xu Jing could be considered as his old rival. Naturally, he knew how powerful Xu Jing was. Unfortunately, it did not cross Zhong Gu’s mind, even in his wildest dream, that the current Xu Jing was completely different from the previous Xu Jing.

This was due to him cultivating the Devouring Dark Devil Technique.

In the past year, although Xu Jing would go back to the Rising Sky Mansion to partake in the great cultivation resources there, he had spent most of his time outside. Under the excuse of ‘training and toughening himself up’, he was actually devouring the vital blood and essence of young women.

In the past year, the number of virgin girls who had been devoured by him until they turned into dry corpses numbered close to three digits. It was precisely because of this his cultivation base had risen tremendously. Not too long ago, he had broken through to the peak of the Refined Saint Stage.

What does it mean to be at the peak of the Refined Saint Stage? It meant that he was just one step away from entering the Eminent Saint Stage!

Under the watchful gaze of the others, as soon as Zhong Gu’s words left his mouth, nobody saw Xu Jing making any move. However, the area within a 100-meter radius around him seemed to be storming.

Many people, including Duan Ling Tian, did not even realize what was happening. All they could see was a tornado twisting at lightning speed had appeared near Xu Jing. In just a moment, it charged toward Zhong Gu like a bat out of hell.

Most people thought Zhong Gu would be able to block the attack when they saw him raise his hands to block the incoming tornado.

Who would have thought the moment Zhong Gu touched the tornado, it would suddenly give the tornado a boost. The speed increased so much that it caused the sky to quake for a moment. At this moment, the tornado seemed to have transformed into a terrifying beast that had swallowed Zhong Gu up.

Pop!

As a loud sound reverberated in the sky, under the watchful eyes of the others, the tornado’s speed began to decrease. Zhong Gu who was still alive and kicking earlier had exploded. All that remained in the sky was a mist of blood.

He was dead!

All this happened in just a split second. It did not even take the span of a breath.

Everyone, including Duan Ling Tian, was dumbfounded.

High in the sky, Ren Zhong and Liu Hong Guang, who were the moderators, exchanged a look. They could see the shock in each other’s eyes.

They had heard about the Young Mansion Master of Rising Sky Mansion and knew his talent could not be considered as great. Even with the great cultivation resources from the Rising Sky Mansion, he should only be at the Intermediate Refined Saint Stage at most.

However, they could see his strength was beyond that of an Intermediate Refined Saint Stage powerhouse based on the strength he had just displayed.

At the moment the tornado twisted faster as though it had been boosted, the aura they had sensed through their Divine Consciousness did not seem like it belonged to an Intermediate Refined Saint Stage Martial Cultivator. In fact, it felt more like the aura of a Mastery Refined Saint Stage Martial Cultivator.

“Mastery Refined Saint Stage!” At this instant, Ren Zhong and Liu Hong Guang were almost certain Xu Jing was already a Mastery Refined Saint Stage Martial Cultivator.

Naturally, they did not probe Xu Jing’s cultivation base using their Divine Consciousness since it was considered rude. If they did, they would have realized their mistake immediately.

Since Ren Zhong and Liu Hong Guang were prejudiced by their first impression of him, it was only natural they were greatly shocked by his breakthrough to the Mastery Refined Saint Stage.

“Mastery Refined Saint Stage? How’s that possible?” Ren Zhong and Liu Hong Guang were the strongest people present on the scene. After that, it was followed by Xu Cen, the Grand Elder of Rising Sky Mansion. At this moment, Xu Cen’s Divine Consciousness had also sensed the aura that Xu Jing released earlier. It was something only a Martial Cultivator at the Mastery Refined Saint Stage or above had.

He was stupefied. In his opinion, this was impossible!

As the Grand Elder of Rising Sky Mansion, he knew clearly how powerful Xu Jing, the Young Mansion Master of Rising Sky Mansion, was.

He knew very well that even if Xu Jing was given great cultivation resources by the Rising Sky Mansion, it would still be impossible for him to break through to the Mastery Refined Saint Stage in such a short period of time. In fact, he was just an Early Refined Saint Stage Martial Cultivator a year ago.

The fact that he was able to rise from the Early Refined Saint Stage to the Mastery Refined Saint Stage in one year was impossible!

‘He must have a fortuitous encounter during this one year when he was out.’ Xu Cen was almost certain of this.

However, it did not cross his mind that Xu Jing’s ‘fortuitous encounter’ was him cultivating the Devouring Dark Devil Technique.

The original owner of the Devouring Dark Devil Technique was none other than the chief culprit who caused the downfall of the Rising Sky Mansion from a quasi third-rate force to a fourth-rate force.

When Xu Cen returned to his senses, Duan Ling Tian also returned to his senses. His expression was extremely grave at this moment. ‘Xu Jing’s cultivation base seems to have broken through t-to the Mastery Refined Saint Stage? How’s this possible?’ Even Duan Ling Tian was shocked by Xu Jing’s cultivation base.

‘Could the cultivation resources in the Rising Sky Mansion be this amazing?’ This was the first thought that popped up in Duan Ling Tian’s mind when he discovered Xu Jing had most likely broken through to the Mastery Refined Saint Stage. After all, unlike Xu Cen who understood the cultivation resources the Rising Sky Mansion could provide, he knew nothing about it at all.

‘I can’t believe he has actually broken through to the Mastery Refined Saint Stage… In this case, it’ll be difficult for me to kill him.’ Duan Ling Tian’s originally calm expression began to turn grave.

With his current strength, he knew that he could defeat most of the Intermediate Refined Saint Stage Martial and Dao Cultivators. As for Mastery Refined Saint Stage Martial and Dao Cultivators, he knew he could only defeat those who were slightly weaker and had an unstable foundation. If he unleashed all his techniques, he might stand a chance in defeating those who were slightly more powerful. However, he could only come to a draw with those who were more powerful. In fact, there was a chance he might even lose.

As for those eminent powerhouses at the Mastery Refined Saint Stage, he did not have any confidence at all.

He was confident about this because when Xu Cen attacked him earlier, at the instant when he took out the Jasper Celestial Sword during the critical moment, he had comprehended a little of the second stage of the Supreme Sword Dao Mental Cultivation Method, Sovereign Heart Sword.