Chapter 15: Qin Xuan vs. Chrysanthemum Douluo
Hearing Qian Daoliu's words, Qin Xuan immediately understood the High Priest's intention. The old man was offering him a dignified, iron-clad way out. He was trying to protect him.
But at this moment, his purpose in going to Slaughter City was no longer to escape Qian Xunji and cling to life. It was no longer even for Bibi Dong.
His purpose was now for himself. It was to obtain the Slaughter God Domain. And, most importantly, it was for the inner core of the Ten-Headed Fierce Yang Serpent—a treasure that was key to the evolution of his Spirit.
With the Ghost Valley techniques in hand, he was no longer a lamb fleeing the wolf. He was a new predator, heading to a new hunting ground.
"I ask High Priest to grant my request," he said, bowing his head deeply and cupping his fists. His attitude remained resolute, his voice echoing in the cavernous hall.
As soon as he spoke, the vast Elder Palace hall fell silent once more. The only sound was the faint, illusory hum of angelic power from the grand statue behind the High Priest's throne.
Qian Daoliu frowned, his golden eyes staring at Qin Xuan, analyzing him. He remained silent; no one knew what he was thinking.
From the row of Consecrated Elders, Guang Ling Douluo, the Fifth Consecrated Elder, whispered from the side, his voice thin and reedy, "Hey, Big Brother, I think this kid Qin Xuan has a lot of backbone. Why don't you just grant his wish? It's just Slaughter City."
"Guang Ling, shut up. High Priest has his own judgment." Xiongshi Douluo, the tall and robust Fourth Consecrated Elder, crossed his massive arms. His full beard bristled as he glared at his compatriot.
Guang Ling Douluo pouted indifferently, turning his gaze to the two men standing at the end of the line—Qian Jun and Jiang Mo. "Hey, Sixth and Seventh, Qin Xuan is your disciple. Aren't you going to say something for him?"
As for Qingluan Douluo, the Third Consecrated Elder, and Gold Crocodile Douluo, the Second Consecrated, he dared not ask them. Those two were more ancient and arrogant than the last, and their strength was outrageously powerful. Xiongshi Douluo was like a junior in front of them.
Guang Ling certainly wouldn't be so foolish as to invite trouble for himself.
The steady Sixth Consecrated Elder, Qian Jun Douluo, spoke calmly, his voice a deep, unshakable baritone. "I only listen to High Priest."
And Jiang Mo, the Seventh Consecrated Elder, simply scratched the back of his head with a simple, almost dull smile. "Me too."
"Well, asking was pointless then." Guang Ling sighed with theatrical regret, withdrew his gaze, and said nothing more.
Amidst his sighs, Qian Daoliu, who had been deep in thought for a long time, finally spoke. His calm voice was an undeniable absolute.
"Since you are so insistent, then this old man will not force you."
"However," he continued, his gaze hardening, "you still need to prove that you possess the strength to survive in Slaughter City."
"I await High Priest's guidance." Qin Xuan knew this was coming. He was being tested.
"Mm." Qian Daoliu nodded slowly, a flicker of appreciation in his eyes. He then suddenly released a miniscule, targeted wave of his spirit power, shouting in a deep voice that resonated through the palace, "Gui Mei! Yue Guan!"
No sooner had his voice fallen than two ghost-like figures, one gold and one black, flashed in from outside the massive hall doors.
They moved so fast they were little more than blurs, passing Qin Xuan in an instant. His long red robes billowed violently in the wind of their passage, and he heard two sharp whooshing sounds from his left and right.
The next second, Gui Mei and Yue Guan appeared before Qian Daoliu, their backs to Qin Xuan. They dropped to one knee in perfect unison, their voices respectful.
"High Priest."
Qian Daoliu waved his hand, and the two Elders rose, turning to stand at the side.
He then addressed Qin Xuan. "You were able to suggest going to Slaughter City to Ji'er, so you must know what kind of place it is. In Slaughter City, you cannot use any spirit ring abilities. Everything relies solely on your basic strength, your spirit power, and your skill."
"The opponents I have prepared for you are these two." Qian Daoliu pointed to Yue Guan and Gui Mei.
"If you can defeat them, one by one, without either side using Spirit Abilities, then I will no longer object to your request."
Qian Daoliu had his own considerations in appointing Yue Guan and Gui Mei as Qin Xuan's opponents.
Slaughter City, since its establishment, has been a dark partner of Spirit Hall, a place used to accommodate and contain the world's most evil Spirit Masters. Therefore, Qian Daoliu had a deep and thorough understanding of its inner workings.
According to his estimation, true Titled Douluo-level powerhouses would not appear in the Hell Slaughter Field.
Because those who could reach that realm in the current age had almost all experienced the great ups and downs of life and overcome countless difficulties. They were not desperate fools.
Achieving a hundred consecutive victories in the Hell Slaughter Field by relying on powerful and profound spirit power might not be difficult for them, but the Hell Road was still quite dangerous.
Domain-type abilities were indeed precious, but they were not worth risking their lives for.
This was also why his good-for-nothing son, Qian Xunji, who due to insufficient talent did not awaken the Angelic Domain, had never gone to Slaughter City for training.
To put it bluntly, Qian Xunji was afraid of death. He was unwilling to risk everything he currently possessed.
However, while Titled Douluo might not appear, there were still a few Spirit Douluo.
If Qin Xuan could not defeat a Spirit Douluo individually in this controlled environment, then even if he went, it would be suicide. This test wasn't even factoring in the Hell Road, which was, in its own way, even more dangerous than a Spirit Douluo.
"Defeat... us?" Yue Guan and Gui Mei were momentarily stunned.
One must know that they were not some random nobodies. They were Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, two of the most feared Spirit Douluo in the entire Spirit Hall, both with spirit power as high as Level 89.
If they broke through just one more rank, they would achieve the legendary Titled Douluo rank.
Even without using Spirit Abilities, their physical bodies, tempered by Level 89 spirit power, were not comparable to a mere Spirit King.
Not to mention if that Spirit King also couldn't use Spirit Abilities.
Not just them, even the Six Consecrated Elders frowned in unison, though they didn't say much. They were absolutely loyal to the Angel Clan and to Qian Daoliu. They only needed to obey the High Priest's orders; everything else was irrelevant.
"Old Ghost, is High Priest making a mountain out of a molehill?" Yue Guan, Chrysanthemum Douluo, whispered to Gui Mei.
Gui Mei glared at him, his voice hoarse and spectral. "Shut up, Chrysanthemum. High Priest has his own judgment."
Compared to the flamboyant Yue Guan, Gui Mei clearly knew better how to position himself.
"Senior Yue Guan, Senior Gui Mei, which one of you will go first?" Qin Xuan looked at the two, his right hand glowing red. Accompanied by the faint, clear cry of a phoenix, the Changming Sword appeared in his grasp.
He pointed it at Gui Mei and Yue Guan.
Only his Spirit was visible. No spirit rings. He had answered with his actions.
Hearing these words, everyone's faces became serious. The testing atmosphere began to turn earnest.
Yue Guan and Gui Mei exchanged glances. They did not answer Qin Xuan, but instead looked at High Priest Qian Daoliu.
The latter waved his hand, and with a sweep of his body, he led the Six Consecrated Elders back to the innermost part of the hall, in front of the massive Seraphim statue, to observe the battle.
"I'll go first," Yue Guan said, his voice sharp and high-pitched. He walked to stand opposite Qin Xuan, his movements unnaturally graceful. He wore golden armor with clawed gauntlets and high-heeled boots, looking heroic and strikingly androgynous.
The two stood thirty paces apart. Yue Guan beckoned with a golden-clawed finger, a condescending smile on his beautiful face. "Come on, little Qin Xuan. Let this seat see how much you've improved these past few years."
"My apologies, then, Senior." Qin Xuan braced himself.
He did not rush. He activated the Ghost Valley Breathing Technique within his body. His spirit power, now 50% faster and purer, channeled into the Changming Sword. The crimson blade glowed with a dazzling, contained fire, and red lightning flashed almost invisibly along its edge.
He analyzed his opponent. Yue Guan was an attack-system Spirit Master.
[Inorin's Note: The Ghost Valley Breathing Technique and Longitudinal and Horizontal Swordsmanship are crossover elements, likely from Qin's Moon. The "Vertical" (Zong) and "Horizontal" (Heng) sword styles are its core tenets.]
The Horizontal Sword Technique attacks with skill, seeking its advantage, which is for opening. The Vertical Sword Technique attacks with momentum, seeking its substance, which is for closing. Opening and closing are the ways of heaven and earth.
The Horizontal Sword Technique was as wild as the wind, as fierce as waves, with earth-shattering momentum, a visible murderous aura, and lightning-fast speed. Its moves were ever-changing, and every strike was fatal, giving the opponent no chance to breathe.
It was perfectly suited to deal with an aggressive, attack-system master like Yue Guan.
Clang—
The clear sound of a sword ringing out filled the hall. Qin Xuan moved. He swung his long sword, dragging the tip along the floor, and his entire body rushed towards Yue Guan in a fluid, S-shaped movement.
The blade scraped against the special, reinforced floor of the Elder Palace, creating a shower of fierce sparks, which then extinguished just as quickly.
"Come on." Feeling the sharp, sudden change in Qin Xuan's aura, Yue Guan also became serious. He took up a stance, his clawed hands ready.
But he was only slightly serious. He didn't even bother to activate his protective spirit power shield.
He fully intended to rely on his powerful Level 89 spirit power to block Qin Xuan's attacks with his bare hands, which were covered by those sharp, metal gauntlets. It was the ultimate show of arrogance from a Spirit Douluo to a Spirit King.
Clang—!
At a distance of about five paces from Yue Guan, Qin Xuan suddenly and violently changed his sword stance. He leaped high into the air, his red robes billowing, gripping the sword in a reverse grip and chopping straight down.
The move was so precise, so unexpected, that it defied the logic of a Spirit Master's attack.
"This is…" In the back of the hall, the eyes of the seven Consecrated Elders narrowed simultaneously. A look of genuine surprise flashed in their pupils in unison.
And at the side, Gui Mei's shadowy form tensed. He, who understood his partner's arrogance better than anyone, suddenly felt a spike of mortal danger.
He shouted, his voice sharp with alarm, "Chrysanthemum, you fool! Quickly, get out of the way!"
As the saying goes, those involved are confused, while bystanders are clear.
"What…?"
Although Yue Guan was puzzled—it was just a sword-chop from a child—the tacit understanding and absolute trust developed over years of being with Gui Mei made him react instinctively.
He didn't question it. He dodged.
The next second, Qin Xuan landed. The reverse-grip chop slammed into the empty space where Yue Guan had been standing.
A red, crescent-shaped sword energy shot out from the blade.
Crack!
The Elder Palace floor, forged from special, spirit-power-infused material, was actually cut with a deep, narrow gash.
[Inorin Note:
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