235 Prelude to the Honor Duel

Today was the day that Alliance Leader Lu Yun was supposed to duel with the Devil Goddess at the Clarity Valley of Melody.

Almost all the celestial cultivators from both sides had gathered at the perimeter as they could not be allowed to enter the valley to observe the duel.

However both sides were allowed to pick seven representatives to observe the duel and be witnesses.

Lu Qingyun's side had picked the same seven representatives that were selected for the peace talk a month ago. They were Tang Xuefeng, Qian Jingjing, the three divine rulers, Saint Tang Yiren and Saint Lin Wucheng.

The Devil Goddess had her usual pick too; four golden shadows and three shadows. However since no one could see their appearances, they did not know whether they were all the same person.

Under the rules of the honor duel, the witnesses had to stay five miles away from the duelists.

This was not actually far as most of the witnesses had excellent eye sight and could reach the duelists in a few short blinks of an eye.

Saintess Su Rushuang smiled to Lu Qingyun, "Alliance Leader Lu, may your victory be swift and fortune accompanies you."

Lu Qingyun returned a faint smile, "Thank you."

As Lu Qingyun walked to the epicenter of the duel location, Tang Xuefeng gasped softly. "Brother Qingyun, please be careful. I hope that you can win."

Qian Jingjing was nodding tearfully, "You must win and come back to us alive. Please."

Lu Qingyun inhaled deeply as he took a last look at the two maidens before he said. "I'll try."

Saint Yuan Chenggong shouted behind Lu Qingyun, "Alliance Leader Lu, we are behind your back."

But he was secretly cursing, "I hope that both the Devil Goddess and you can perish together. That will be the best outcome that can happen."

As he said that, he returned a cunning glance to Saint Linghu Fei. If this Alliance Leader Lu wins then they would not take any action. But if he had lost, the golden celestials behind them would quickly attack to overwhelm the Devil Goddess.

No matter what happened today, they would not allow the Devil Goddess to escape from this valley.

They had secretly calculated that this duel would have snapped most of the profound strength of the Devil Goddess. Therefore this was their best chance of attacking the Devil Goddess.

And of course there were two saint-step divine swords for the pickings too and they were determined to obtain it.

They did not discuss with Saintess Su Rushuang about this plan of theirs as they saw that she was now hesitating.

Saint Tang Yiren sighed softly, "This Alliance Leader Lu is a hero. Let's hope that he can win this duel."

Tang Xuefeng averted her eyes quietly, "If he perish, I don't wish to live as well."

Saint Tang Yiren: …

Saint Tang Yiren rebuked them, "The two of you! Alas! Stupid! Foolish!"

Saint Lin Wucheng was smiling bitterly. It was because he was a shadow of the Devil Goddess and naturally he would be supporting her. But this Alliance Leader Lu seemed like a righteous fellow and he was beginning to like him.

In fact most of the righteous celestials were now proclaiming Alliance Leader Lu as the next greatest hero after Saint Gao Tianshou.

He was not only the youngest saint now and had two saintly divine swords but he had also created three auspicious omens on the same day as well.

The morale on the righteous celestials' side was naturally high because of the feats that were performed by their Alliance Leader Lu.

As Lu Qingyun walked over to the Devil Goddess, he was greeted by her soft chuckle. "I see that Alliance Leader Lu have two maidens that are pinning for you and you can't bear to die yet."

Lu Qingyun sighed, "Indeed."

The Devil Goddess continued, "You've made quite a stir recently. I've heard that you have three auspicious omens that had befallen upon you and that you are a saint now?"

Lu Qingyun inhaled softly, "Yes, I have just recently breakthrough to the seventh realm sacred saint level."

The Devil Goddess said, "Well, congratulations to you then. If you got killed then this duel will be so boring. But you look like a weak saint. You've not recovered your profound strength yet?"

Lu Qingyun smiled weakly, "Indeed you're right. But you don't look too well either. You have not fully recovered from your injuries yet?"

The Devil Goddess chuckled softly, "That's none of your business.

Lu Qingyun slowly raised his swords before asking, "So shall we begin our duel now?"

The Devil Goddess hummed coldly as she displayed her swords. "Naturally we can."

Lu Qingyun was sighing secretly, "Keqin, to think that we have to come to this point."

The Devil Goddess was also sighing in secret, "Yun'Er, do we really have to fight?"

Saint Yuan Chenggong was now looking at the duelists excitingly, "It is about to start soon. The fate of the Nine Celestial Fraternity is about to start soon. This will be the most exciting duel ever and today we are bearing witness to this epic fight."

Saintess Su Rushuang sighed softly, "Let's hope that our side will be the final victor and we can all go home in peace."

Saint Linghu Fei smiled coldly, "Today will also be the end of the Devil Goddess."

Tang Xuefeng was staring at the Devil Goddess as she said silently, "Is the Devil Goddess someone that Brother Qingyun knows? I can see from his eyes that he is hesitating. I hope that he is able to win and live at the same time."

Qian Jingjing was sighing secretly, "Brother Qingyun, I don't sense your killing intent at all. Why is that so? If you don't intend to win then why did you have to expend so much of your effort to concoct a divine pill that can take you to the sacred saint level?"

Saint Tang Yiren said quietly, "They are now drawing their saint-step divine swords now."

Saint Lin Wucheng turned to him and asked, "Who do you think will win?"

Saint Tang Yiren heaved a soft sigh, "If the Devil Goddess isn't injured, I will surely place my bet on her."

Saint Lin Wucheng returned a nod, "But unfortunately our Alliance Leader Lu doesn't seem to be in his peak either. He had just cultivated to the sacred saint level and his profound strength seems to be lacking. He can only be considered as a half-step saint."

When Tang Xuefeng and Qian Jingjing heard him, their hearts began to sink. It was because they knew that it was true.

After Lu Qingyun had breakthrough to the sacred saint level, he had only a week to cultivate whatever profound strength he could muster.

Tang Xuefeng had even borrowed hundreds of spirit stones from her two god-fathers Tang Yiren and Lin Wucheng for Lu Qingyun but that was still not enough for him to regain even a third of his profound strength.

But Lu Qingyun merely laughed it off by saying, "Now that I am a saint, I will be able to muster my saintly divine swords to its fullest potential. I don't need a lot of profound strength since I am not expecting a prolong battle. What I need is a good opportunity to use my sword arts and I can finish the fight quickly. So don't worry too much for me."

Right now, Tang Xuefeng and Qian Jingjing could only pray to the heavens for Lu Qingyun.