NOVEL WEB Chapter 386, Conflict
Due to the imminent start of the Hundred Battle Arena, all the martial artists who could make it to the Beiming Domain had gathered in Ye City, causing most of the inns in Ye City to be fully occupied.
After a difficult search, Chu Ming finally found a place to stay in a corner of Ye City. Then, he headed to the City Lord's Mansion of Ye City.
The Hundred Battle Arena was related to the quota for entering Sword Peak, a significant matter, so naturally, it was organized by the most powerful force in Ye City, the City Lord's Mansion.
"It requires one hundred middle-grade Spirit Stones to participate in the Hundred Battle Arena."
An old man dressed in a gray robe, looking like a Steward of the Ye Family, spoke to Chu Ming.
"Here!"
Chu Ming took out one hundred middle-grade Spirit Stones from his Storage Ring and handed them to the old man. The old man then picked up a token and placed it in Chu Ming's hand.
"This is your entrance token. Only with this token can you participate in the Hundred Battle Arena tomorrow."
The old man said softly.
Chu Ming glanced at the wooden token in his hand. The material was ordinary, but its surface was engraved with dozens of small arrays, making it extremely difficult to counterfeit.
Placing the token into his Storage Ring, Chu Ming walked out of the City Lord's Mansion and headed toward the inn. With one day left until the Hundred Battle Arena, he planned to return to the inn to see if he could break through to the Ninth Layer of the True Dao.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
At this moment, a crisp sound of heavy hooves striking the ground echoed. Then, the crowd frantically made way as a massive flame-red beast, like a blaze of fire, strode forward.
This was a Sixth Level Demon Beast, the Flaming Pegasus Beast, capable of running on the ground and flying in the sky—a very rare mount.
On the back of the Flaming Pegasus Beast sat a young girl with flame-red hair. She had a beautiful face and a fiery figure, with a defiant look in her eyes. Witnessing the martial artists hurriedly avoiding her, she curled her lips into a cold smile.
"Make way, it's Tuoba Rong'Er from the Tuoba Family."
"I heard that a few days ago, Tuoba Rong'Er rode her Flaming Pegasus Beast through the streets, trampling three Guiyuan Realm martial artists to death, and it was a gruesome sight."
"It's only because the Tuoba Family is powerful. Otherwise, with her arrogance and overbearing nature, she would have been killed countless times by now."
"Shh, do you have a death wish? The Tuoba Family is one of the alliances of twelve families. Tuoba Rong'Er is aiming to enter Sword Peak this time. If she hears you, she will not let you off easily."
The martial artists around whispered and muttered among themselves. Hearing their words, Chu Ming understood that although Ye City was the stronghold of the Ye Family, with the date to enter Sword Peak approaching, the prodigies of other families naturally gathered in Ye City. Apparently, this arrogant girl before him was one of them.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
The speed of the Flaming Pegasus Beast was extremely fast, sparking flames on the ground, and in the blink of an eye, it was in front of Chu Ming. Thinking that avoiding trouble was better, Chu Ming was about to step aside, but his gaze suddenly focused.
Before the Flaming Pegasus Beast stood a pale-faced, terrified little girl, seemingly too frightened to move away. In an instant, the Flaming Pegasus Beast had reached her.
With a cold expression, Tuoba Rong'Er watched the little girl. In her eyes, the lives of ordinary people were no more than weeds.
Whoosh!
Chu Ming's body moved, like the wind, instantly appearing in front of the Flaming Pegasus Beast, gently picking up the little girl. At this moment, a blue Sword Light phantom suddenly descended from the sky, full of chilling intent.
"Meddlesome!"
On the back of the Flaming Pegasus Beast, Tuoba Rong'Er looked slightly enraged, holding a blue Treasure Sword in a horizontal slashing position. Clearly, the earlier slash was from her.
With a cold expression, Chu Ming held the little girl with his right hand and gripped his sword with his left hand. Stepping back with his right foot, he wielded the sword lightly, and a burst of dazzling sword light erupted from it, forming an invisible Defensive Sword Curtain. The blue light sword phantom collided with it and dissipated as if sinking into the sea.
"Courtesy demands reciprocity!"
White waves surged. Chu Ming stomped his right foot forcefully, and the Conjugate Sword in his hand shot the Sword Curtain ahead. The invisible Sword Curtain shattered and rotated in the air, transforming into thousands of small Sword Dao True Qi, slashing towards Tuoba Rong'Er and the Flaming Pegasus Beast.
"Damn it!"
Tuoba Rong'Er's expression turned furious. She did not expect Chu Ming to dare to strike back. She immediately parried with her sword, stomped hard on the back of the Flaming Pegasus Beast, transforming into a streak of light, and flitted through the small Sword Qi.
Chosen to enter Sword Peak, Tuoba Rong'Er's strength was naturally considerable, and her Body Technique was exceptional. Flittering through the dense Sword Qi, none touched her in the slightest.
Puff! Puff! Puff.....
However, the Flaming Pegasus Beast beneath her was not so fortunate. It was riddled with holes by the Sword Qi, blood splattered, and it died instantly.
Clang! Clang! Clang....
The two swords clashed, sparks flying. Chu Ming, holding the little girl with his right hand and the sword in his left, was at a significant disadvantage, but his Sword Dao was so intricate, like a divine stroke, freely and unpredictably blocking Tuoba Rong'Er's multiple strikes with a single one of his own.
"Since you want to save her, I'll make sure she dies!"
Unable to break through, Tuoba Rong'Er's eyes gleamed coldly. Her sword's edge suddenly shifted, turning into a stream of light, aiming directly at the girl in Chu Ming's right hand, with a merciless intent in her eyes.
"Scram!"
Chu Ming roared lowly, leaning back, channeling his essence, energy, and spirit to their peak. An incredibly swift sword light burst from his sword, like snow rapidly melting in midwinter.
Slaughter Sword Intent, erupted!
Immortal Sword Intent, erupted!
Slash!
As the sword tips collided, they intertwined and shredded each other, sending terrifying sparks flying and piercing the ground.
Crack!
Chu Ming took a firm step, and the Conjugate Sword in his hand instantly deflected Tuoba Rong'Er's, thrusting towards her right shoulder at high speed.
Tuoba Rong'Er's pupils contracted, her hair standing on end. Lightly tapping the ground with her right foot, she swiftly retreated, but the sword light had already reached her. A strand of black hair fell from Chu Ming's sword tip and landed on the ground.
Whoosh!
Tuoba Rong'Er glanced at the severed strand of hair, then at the fallen Flaming Pegasus Beast, her eyes filled with coldness. However, from the brief encounter, she knew she wasn't Chu Ming's match.
"This matter won't end so easily. Just wait and see!"
Tuoba Rong'Er coldly threatened, then turned and left, disappearing into the crowd.
At this moment, a panic-stricken woman rushed out from the crowd. Seeing the girl in Chu Ming's arms, she was about to kneel and kowtow, repeatedly saying, "Thank you, benefactor! Thank you, benefactor!"
"There's no need for that. Quickly take her and leave Ye City!"
Chu Ming handed the little girl to the woman and advised her.
"Thank you, benefactor. In my next life, I'll be your servant to repay your kindness!"
The woman gratefully thanked him in a low voice. Then, holding the little girl, she headed towards the city gate of Ye City. Until their figures disappeared from sight, Chu Ming continued to walk towards the inn. However, the martial artists on the street now kept an intentional distance from him. In their eyes, offending Tuoba Rong'Er was equivalent to offending the Tuoba Family, and offending the Tuoba Family meant certain death throughout the entire Beiming Domain.