Chapter 209 - 178: Combination Magic Artifact_1
“Brother, it seems that we are indeed destined to meet! Please hold back in the fight ahead!”
Qian ZhengYang, standing on the stage like a bamboo pole, looked at Xu Mu, who was slowly walking into the ring, with a serious look, completely devoid of the contempt he had shown during their previous encounter.
He had been watching the fights over these past two days. While others thought Xu Mu was lowly, he believed Xu Mu wasn’t that simple.
“It’s kind of you to say so, brother Qian. As long as you concede in time, you won’t get hurt,” Xu Mu laughed and said.
“Concede? First, I need to experience your amazing skills!”
Qian ZhengYang joined in laughing.
Dong!
The bell rang, and the match began.
This time, Qian ZhengYang made the first move. It seemed that he had been on guard against Xu Mu, aiming to avoid being caught off guard like Gu Jianyi was yesterday.
Wind Snake Skill!
Qian ZhengYang formed a hand seal, and dozens of green wind snakes, formed from wind elements, roared and attacked Xu Mu from all directions.
Whoosh!
Xu Mu pointed his fingers like a sword, swung lightly, and the longsword he had been carrying on his back abruptly flew out, transforming into a red light and piercing through all the incoming wind snakes.
The wind snakes disintegrated into a breeze with a roar.
The flying sword Xu Mu let loose, carrying on with the momentum, shot at Qian ZhengYang like lightning.
Qian ZhengYang was also not idle. As he murmured a mantra, a giant tornado formed in front of him and came whirling towards Xu Mu, colliding with the flying sword.
The sword aura tried to break through the tornado but was thrown into disarray by the whirlwind.
“Interesting!”
Xu Mu’s eyes lit up, and he started forming a hand seal. The sword light burst suddenly, scattering the tornado.
The next moment, amidst the scattered tornado, specks of green light flew out, gathered like sand piling into a tower, transforming into a large green halberd held in Qian ZhengYang’s hand.
“So someone actually has a combination artifact. That’s rich!”
Shang YaoYao from the audience couldn’t help but comment.
Because of the competition rules prohibiting the use of tier four or higher spiritual artifacts, the various peaks came up with the idea of creating combination artifacts to make the most out of the loopholes.
This implied using a large amount of small artifacts combined into a larger one, not only was its power greater than that of ordinary artifacts, but it could also change into various functions. For example, Bai Yingwu’s flying sword could switch between defense and offense.
Creating such an artifact is quite a hassle and consumes a lot, if it wasn’t for the use in such inter-clan competitions, no one would bother to create them. With the resources used to create a combination artifact, one could create a top-level spiritual artifact.
Clearly, Qian ZhengYang’s halberd was a combination artifact, it seemed even more intricate than Bai Yingwu’s flying sword.
Xu Mu was merely using a common tier three flying sword, which was clearly at a disadvantage at this point.
But this couldn’t be helped, who asked their Lonely Sword Peak to fall into decay? And while she had small savings, she wasn’t willing to create an expensive combination artifact expressly for Xu Mu to use in one competition. Thankfully, she had confidence in Xu Mu!
Holding the halberd, Qian ZhengYang realized that he wouldn’t have an upper hand if he was only involved in a magic skill fight, his own magic skills were average at best, if he wanted to win, he had to rely on body refinement.
Boom!
Qian ZhengYang1 s body roared with energy, swelling rapidly from a skinny bamboo pole to a small giant. Now, holding a large halberd, his whole appearance was filled with sinister terror, like a demon from hell.
“Get lost!”
Qian ZhengYang stomped his foot. With a loud rumble, the entire stage seemed to shake, then he swiftly turned his hip, and struck the incoming flying sword at the hilt.
Clang!
The ear-shattering sound of metal clashing reverberated.
The flying sword, humming in response, was directly struck away and somersaulted in the air back to Xu Mu’s side.
Although the sword was humming like an indignant dragon lurking, Xu Mu did not use his sword skill again.
At this point, Qian ZhengYang, who had just repelled Xu Mu’s flying sword, without missing a beat, leapt high into the air like a white ape, holding the halberd with both hands and striking down hard at Xu Mu.
This strike was as powerful as a thousand pounds, capable of shattering mountains and rivers!
“Could this guy be practicing the Mix Yuan Body Refining Skill? This power is almost catching up to the Foundation Establishment stage!”
Shang YaoYao couldn’t help but exclaim.
Those disciples who also realized this were equally shocked.
Tianhe Sect had many body refinement techniques, but the difficulty level of practicing the Mix Yuan Body Refining Skill was absolutely among the top tier, as was its power.
Although many disciples of this generation practiced both magic and physical skills, most of them used it as a supplement. It was rare for someone like Qian ZhengYang to primarily practice body refinement, and especially such a difficult skill as the Mix Yuan Body Refining Skill.
“What’s this guy daydreaming about? Don’t tell me he’s been scared silly?”
Everyone was puzzled as they watched Xu Mu not employing his sword skill to resist.
Anyone with insight could see that Xu Mu wasn’t skilled in close combat. If he didn’t resist now and let his opponent approach, wouldn’t he just end up being passively beaten?
Qian ZhengYang was also quite perplexed, but it clearly wasn’t the time for hesitation. His attack didn’t come to a halt for even a moment, continuing to assail Xu Mu.
The halberd accurately landed on Xu Mu.
Boom!
Everyone was a little stunned.
“Something’s not right! If there was a real attack on the body, the Elder would not let it happen!”
Some reacted swiftly, and the next moment the figure that Qian ZhengYang smashed into dissipated into a cloud of smoke.
“What kind of spell is this?”
Everyone came to the realization that the figure just now was merely a clone.
“It’s not a clone, it’s an illusion!”
The silver-eyed young man watching the battle from the air, his pupils radiating a bright light, as if performing a certain eye technique, suddenly looked towards a corner of the stage where a figure appeared again, it was Xu Mu.
“Didn’t they say he has a soul deficiency? How could he have developed his illusions skills to this degree?” the silver-eyed young man exclaimed.
“Could he be using a Magic Artifact?”
The gorgeous-looking female cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage suggested.
“Magic Artifacts capable of creating illusions aren’t common, and to deceive so many people on the field is truly inconceivable!”
While the crowd at the bottom of the stage was discussing this, Qian ZhengYang noticed that he had been fooled, he quickly turned to find the real Xu Mu. The moment he saw Xu Mu’s figure, he charged towards him again, only to be deceived once more.
Just like that, Qian ZhengYang incessantly attacked in all directions, but couldn’t find Xu Mu’s real body at all.
In the end, he simply gave up and stood in the center of the stage, trying to outlast Xu Mu’s patience.
As a result, the next moment, four figures of Xu Mu appeared simultaneously from all four directions of the stage. They all simultaneously controlled flying swords to transform into giant dragons, launching an attack on Qian ZhengYang.
“Damn it! Damn it! Which one is the real one?”
Sweat beads dripped from Qian ZhengYang’s forehead due to frustration. Still unable to differentiate the real from the illusions, he randomly chose one direction to attack.
Roar!
The Sword Qi of the giant dragon was pierced by a single strike from Qian ZhengYang. Instantly realizing that it was an illusion, he hurriedly turned to attack another direction, only to face another illusion. By now, it was too late to switch directions again, the other two giant dragons had already launched their attack.
“Ah!”
Qian ZhengYang’s energy erupted once more. Holding his halberd, he created a storm, protecting himself within it.
Boom boom!
The two giant dragons hit the storm and shattered simultaneously like a thin film of bubbles.
“They’re all illusions?”
Before Qian ZhengYang could react, Xu Mu descended from the sky, transformed the Sword Qi into a dragon, and directly knocked him down to his knees. He was covered in blood.
But, of course, it looked grave, but he wasn’t severely injured.
If it was truly a lethal attack, the Golden Pill Elder would not have sat by idly.
“Brother Qian, admit your defeat,” Xu Mu said, smiling at him.
The scene was akin to the one when Qian ZhengYang was confronting Li Heng earlier.
Qian ZhengYang, soaked in blood and gripping his halberd, stood up, grinding his teeth.
However, he still had his wits about him and wasn’t as stubborn as Li Heng.
“I admit defeat!” he stared at Xu Mu and said: “Brother Xu, I hope we’ll have future opportunities to spar!”
“I hope so too!”
Xu Mu replied, touching his nose.
After the Elder announced the results, Qian ZhengYang walked off the stage, and Xu Mu returned to Shang YaoYao’s side.
“When did you learn the illusion skill? How did I not know? ” Shang YaoYao curiously inquired.
“Just learned it!” Xu Mu replied with a laugh.
Shang YaoYao thought Xu Mu was joking again and didn’t take it seriously, she beamed: “I don’t know when you learned it, but that was a timely move. Now they are even less able to decipher your true skill!”
Originally, everyone thought Xu Mu’s victory was down to dishonest means and his adequate sword technique at best. Now he was seen to also add illusion skills to his array, however, he didn’t seem to be excessively proficient.
Illusion spells have a significant restraint on body cultivators but not so much on those proficient in magic spells. This leaves an opening for his opponents to believe they can win.
She had initially been concerned that Xu Mu was revealing too much of his strength and affecting the betting odds, but now she could put her mind at ease.
“Just don’t forget about my share!”
He worked hard to improve his illusions, not just to earn more money. Otherwise, one big move would have been enough.
“I won’t forget! Also, remember to address me properly before you speak to me in the future, you’re always disrespectful!”