Thunderous cheers erupted from the spectator stands. I had only just begun to grasp the truth: Ugelee’s axe was a weapon that transcended realms. It was only because of this that he, with the strength of the late Cloud-Swallowing stage, could slice through the steel bars of a cage designed to imprison a beast nearing the Cloud-Eating stage as easily as if he were cutting through tofu.
Strictly speaking, such a weapon was classified as a Divine Weapon. Unlike ordinary armaments, they possessed no upper limit to their power. They did not require repeated forging and advancement as the wielder’s cultivation rose, like common Dharma treasures. Instead, they exerted power corresponding to the user’s current realm, or perhaps slightly higher, though never excessively so. To put it simply and bluntly, it could be considered a Sun-Shrouding stage weapon, even if its full potential could not yet be unleashed. Divine Weapons were generally famous artifacts of antiquity. While contemporary weapons forged within the last century might also require only a single forging without further advancement, they could only be classified as Immortal Tools.
I had not encountered many Immortal Tools or Divine Weapons. Aside from the natal Dharma treasures our Master had painstakingly prepared for each of us—searching for materials and commissioning masters at great expense—there was Lord Wei’s Still Water Blade, and ancient legendary blades like Hanguang and Xiaolian. Lord Wei’s Still Water Blade had been bestowed upon her by that mysterious ancestor with whom she shared a bond of half-discipleship. It was a precious ancient artifact over a thousand years old; its material and origins remained a mystery that even the well-traveled Lord Wei had not fully deciphered. In truth, it was the finest of the fine among Immortal Tools.
As for the name "Still Water," it was taken from *Zhuangzi*: "None can see their reflection in running water, but in still water; only that which is still can still the stillness of all." The ancestor had remarked that her nature was violent and cold, yet her talent was boundless. Whether she would destroy the world or shoulder the burden of the common people depended entirely on a single thought. She was, in essence, an extremely dangerous person. Gifting her this precious weapon was also a reminder for her to use it as a mirror for self-reflection, lest she fall into evil ways and bring ruin upon herself, and lest she fail his earnest expectations and the Wujing Sect’s devoted cultivation.
In the arena, several more rounds of chaotic fighting had passed. The owner of the Still Water Blade turned to look at me, asking with a faint, smiling grace, "A-Zhi, which side do you hope will win?"
Though I had spent several years roaming the world with Big Brother Nie and had experienced much, and was no longer innocent or soft-hearted, I still shook my head. "There is nothing worth celebrating regardless of who wins. The existence of such an industry is cruel to both humans and demons, though the cruelty suffered by the demons is far more severe." Then again, for any sentient being born into this world, life is but a process of being ground down by fate until death. In this mortal realm, how many can truly claim to have found a lucky and perfect fulfillment?
Wei Qingming gently stroked my head and said softly, "Whether human or demon, if there is an encounter, one should treat them with gentleness. That is all one can do."
Hearing such tender words from the mouth of this 'God of Slaughter' caused the gloom in my heart to dissipate. I hugged her arm and replied with a smile, "Doesn't Lord Wei believe in the path of the Asura? How did you come to realize such a philosophy?"
Wei Qingming smiled, her tone turning playful again. "Just my thoughts on raising a cat."
Canglan, having been used as a decoy by Ugelee, was consumed by rage. He swung a claw down, aiming directly for the top of Ugelee’s head. Ugelee’s movement technique was also superb; he had already anticipated the strike as Canglan dove from the heights. With a pivot of his heel and his waist and shoulders twisting at a bizarre angle, he nimbly evaded the blow. This technique seemed characteristic of the Southern Border or Re-Tian—novel and rare.
After the dodge, Ugelee’s next move was even more terrifying. He actually leaped up and seized Canglan’s feathered ankle. Borrowing the momentum of Canglan’s ascent, he swung his axe in mid-air. Gray-blue feathers spiraled down like snow; he had nearly severed one of Canglan’s legs!
Before Canglan could counterattack in pain, Ugelee had already flipped back to the ground, parrying a punch from the Earth-Sand Beast that was aimed at Luoshan. The collision of axe and armor produced a sound that shook the heavens.
This move was both handsome and sharp, executed without a hint of hesitation—perilous yet extraordinary. It was a magnificent spectacle, and the entire arena erupted in fervent cheers and applause. Canglan, dragging his bloody and nearly severed left foot, charged toward An Zhe, who was currently the weakest. He intended to disable one person first before dealing with Luoshan and Ugelee. Meanwhile, the Poison Bird-Lizard, pinned down by Ugelee, had taken three arrows and a spear-thrust from Luoshan, all hitting vital spots. She was at her last gasp, yet she did not forget to use her final trace of demonic power to continuously release toxic mist. Because Luoshan and An Zhe were trapped within the range of the gas by the Earth-Sand Beast and the Green Python-Lizard, their strength was greatly diminished, leaving them neither the power nor the time to block Canglan’s attack.
Suddenly, leaden rain clouds gathered in the sky, filled with constant lightning and rolling thunder. Canglan’s demonic talent had finally been unleashed: it was the Glacial Light of Lightning!
Since the human fighters all carried metal weapons, any bolt of lightning from a near-Cloud-Eating stage beast hitting them would not only cause heavy injury but would also destroy their weapons, leaving them with no way to fight back!
Luoshan’s mind was half-clouded by the toxic gas, yet relying on her instincts as a jungle hunter, she quickly discarded her iron weapons, holding only her wood-handled spear horizontally before her. Canglan’s target, however, was not her, but An Zhe, five paces away. The unstoppable claws of the Dragon-Lizard lunged straight for him. Between his talons, there flickered a lightning even more terrifying than the thunderclouds above!
Ugelee also discarded his great axe and, ignoring the toxic gas, jumped into the fray. He used his bare palms to resist the simultaneous charge of the Green Python-Lizard and the Earth-Sand Beast, hoping to stall them long enough for Luoshan and An Zhe to escape. But then, Ludos—the black-robed figure who had remained silent and solitary as if no one else existed—vanished like a ghost in the sunlight. In the next instant, he flickered to An Zhe’s side. Somehow, he seized one of the Earth-Sand Beast’s arms and hoisted it high, using it as a living shield right in front of Canglan’s claws!
The Earth-Sand Beast was heavy; lifting it required at least several thousand catties of strength, yet it came from a withered, corpse-like, frail body. We were all left dumbfounded. Nie Xiaoyan couldn't help but mutter, "Using a beast made of sand and stone to block lightning..." As she spoke, she looked at that sinister, terrifying, inhuman figure in the black robe and shuddered.
Canglan showed no mercy. His claw pierced through his companion’s exposed chest and abdomen without hesitation. He did not pull back; instead, he turned his thrust into a hook, viciously ripping upward and tearing off An Zhe’s head!
Before An Zhe’s body could even hit the ground, the black-robed man swung the Earth-Sand Beast’s bloody body aside. Canglan swatted it away like an insignificant pebble, gathered another bolt of lightning, and struck at Ludos.
That bolt of lightning, entwined with ghostly blue light, was intercepted by a brilliant flash of fire. A cold, haughty female voice rang out: "That is enough. Demon Daoist Wang Guangqi, you have used evil arts to delude the masses. Surrender now!"
As expected, it was the Cloud-Eating stage Adept from Yingzhao Temple whom Lord Wei had arranged. She was at the mid-stage of her realm, just enough to suppress Wang Guangqi. With a wave of her sleeve, she struck out four light-incantations, causing the four beasts to lose their human forms and revert to their original appearances, though the Poison Bird-Lizard and the Earth-Sand Beast showed little sign of life.
Wang Guangqi gave a cold snort. He was true to his word, however; he abandoned the crystal-ball-like Small World and fled in a streak of light. The female senior was not about to let him escape and vanished in pursuit.
The appearance of the demon daoist was abrupt and carried the omen of subverting order. The intervention of the authorities seemed quite ordinary by comparison. However, the arena was full of wealthy idlers who were dissatisfied that the match had not finished and the bets were not settled; many clamored for the refund of their betting tickets.
This battle had been so perilous and deadlocked only because Wang Guangqi had used a secret method to temporarily transform the four beasts. Unfortunately, it could not grant them permanent sapience. The Canglan Dragon and the Green Python-Lizard, who could still move, reverted to their beast forms and lay on the ground as if they had lost their support. The strongmen of Mogulan swarmed forward, shackling them and returning them to their cages.
Ugelee turned back to support Luoshan, who was struggling to stay conscious, and hurried to the backstage. The stewards of Mogulan and Jipen came forward to announce that today’s beast-fighting was suspended and tomorrow’s sessions were also canceled, drawing a great deal of booing.
I breathed a small sigh of relief and unconsciously grabbed Lord Wei’s hand. "Will people from the Temple come to investigate this afternoon?"
"Mhm." Her expression remained as casual as ever as she smiled. "We can let Chu Shiqi worry about that."
"That female senior was so majestic!"
"She is one of the strongest in the Temple," Wei Qingming replied. "Her name is Yu Jingrou. She actually hails from the Tianjun Sect. Our office pays a high price to retain her."
Despite my worries, I couldn't help but be amused by the faint mockery in her words toward another of the world's top sects.
In truth, those in the know understood that Canglan’s strength after transformation was simply too great. Had the fight not been interrupted, that exploding lightning ball would likely have taken half the lives of the three people in the arena, let alone deciding a winner. Since Lord Wei had brought in reinforcements, Mogulan should owe her a favor—or perhaps her previous interactions with Agawa were a debt she owed him, which was now fully repaid.
I soon understood which case it was. Wei Qingming pointed to the Small World—the crystal ball still steaming with mist where it lay on the yellow earth beside the grandmaster's chair—and smiled. "That is the tribute Zhenzhen wants." So, it was Mogulan who owed her.
Even so, I was greatly shocked. "That thing is too precious. Will Old Man Agawa really give it to you as thanks?"
She had already stood up and extended her hand to me, signaling for me to follow her down the steps. "We shall know in a moment."
Several nimble servants brought specially made Dharma tools and carefully retrieved the Small World. They placed it into a high-grade spirit crystal box as if treading on thin ice, then solemnly and slowly carried it to the back of the arena.
I turned to greet my elder brother and the others. They left Jipen by a shortcut to head to the reserved private room at Fengle Pavilion. We, meanwhile,
