Chapter 716 - Chapter 716: Chapter 10: Boma in Arms

Chapter 716: Chapter 10: Boma in Arms

Everyone was shocked when the final defender from the Star Chamber resorted to a spirit art that would cause mutual destruction. There were powerful warriors from the Fierce Realm among the crowd. The destructive power of the fiery anger he unleashed was comparable to a combined attack of transcendental warriors, a force that even average Fierce Realm warriors would not dare to directly withstand with their physical bodies, let alone two transcendental warriors.

However, a hurricane swept up the flames, obstructing everyone’s view, preventing anyone from deciphering the final status of the two opponents or predicting the outcome of the battle.

About five breaths of time passed before the flames dissipated, revealing a battered fighting platform.

The protective energy around Li Xuanba had been shattered. His Xuanhuang energy was dispersed by the fiery hurricane, yet the powerful body-cultivator managed to protect his eyes and nose with his hands and endure the explosion without moving an inch. His clothes were incinerated and his skin charred and blistered, yet the prodigy from Fuling City stood his ground, managing to withstand the spirit art of comparable power to a combined attack.

The other combatant was not so lucky. First enduring a Xuanhuang strike and then being injured by his own fiery hurricane, Fang Xiong only survived because his Wind Spirit Body has an extreme adaptability to the spiritual powers of wind and fire. Otherwise he likely would have died by his own hand. His clothes and mask were torn to shreds. His body was charred and he lay far away, completely incapacitated, a far cry from his earlier overwhelming dominance.

Du Ting, who was in charge of the Aran Mountain fighting platform, had already positioned himself in the middle of the platform during the fiery explosion. He now crouched down to check Fang Xiong’s pulse, put a Creation Pill into his mouth and announced loudly, “The Star General of the Star Chamber has lost his ability to fight. Young Master Li Xuanba of Fuling City has successfully challenged all twelve chambers of the Mount Lan City Stars. Therefore, the chambers of the Mount Lan City Stars are now closed. Any challengers who wish to continue should go to the other two cities to register.”

This blunt announcement caused a commotion among the audience. Many of the scions from numerous influential families who had chosen not to enter the challenge were now eager to see exactly what kind of abilities the twelve Star Generals possessed. While they were grateful to Li Xuanba for finally revealing this crucial information, they were stunned to discover that the Star Palace was indeed going to be closed. This left them utterly bewildered.

However, everyone understood that the Star Palace was set up by Tang Luo as a method of selecting members for the “Longzhou Youth Martial Arts Conference” team. As soon as the challenge platform at Lanshan City closes, it meant that warriors who did not challenge would have to travel by ship to either Qutang City or Boma City to participate.

With only two days left in the selection process and a distance of hundreds of miles by water, the people who had not yet had the chance to challenge were stunned. They did not even have the time to congratulate Li Xuanba, who stood on the platform, as they rushed out of the Martial Battle Pavilion one by one.

The members of the Righteous Gang, responsible for maintaining order, began to inform the spectators to leave, while the doctors who had been prepared at the scene carried the unconscious marshal of the Star Chamber away.

Du Ting, the President, stepped onto the platform and handed over a token representative of membership to Li Xuanba. He then relayed, “Report to the summit of North Mountain’s Cloud Dispatch Peak two days later, ready to head to Martial Saint Mountain.”

Upon receiving the token, Li Xuanba asked, puzzled: “I thought successfully challenging the twelve chambers only won the qualifications to vie for a place in the team. From what you’re implying, I am already a member of the team. Why is that?”

“Because we’re setting off in two days, I no longer have the time to pick and choose.”

A young gentleman dressed in black suddenly appeared on the platform, causing Li Xuanba to stifle a gasp. He discreetly took a step back to increase the distance between them, warily on his guard.

“Don’t be nervous,” the newcomer said, shrugging nonchalantly. “Let me introduce myself. My name is Tang Luo.”

When President Du Ting bowed respectfully, Li Xuanba realized that the man in front of him was the rumored prodigy of the Tang Clan. He quickly returned the bow, “Nice to meet you, Captain Tang. My name is Li Xuanba.”

“I know, you’re the eldest son of the head of the Li family from Fuling Mountain, a genius of Xuanhuang body, a rare occurrence in a century.” Tang Luo smiled amiably. “I watched your entire challenge, quite impressive.”

“Thank you, Captain Tang. May I ask where the other members of the team are?”

“What other members?” Tang Luo pointed at himself. “What you see here is the entire team.”

“Wha… What?”

“Don’t worry, by the time we set off, the team will surely be complete. You just have to show up at North Mountain’s Cloud Dispatch Peak in two days.”

Mentioning this matter, Tang Luo felt a surge of anger. He had originally set up the platform with the expectation that it would stimulate the competitive spirits of these young talents. He had underestimated their arrogance and foolishness.

Other than Tang Qingshan, who had not yet recovered from his injuries, the others either felt cold towards him as captain or indifferent about competing with the warriors from the Marshal Star Pavilion. Those influential scions with notable names—all of them—did not step forward to take on the challenge.

Tang Luo, of course, knew what they were up to. They simply wanted to drag out the availability of the platform until the last moment when he could not gather enough members, thus embarrassing him publicly.

Being a captain unable to secure the full count of his team members would naturally tarnish his credibility. When the time came, he would be the one pleading with them to join the team.

Therefore, without participating in the challenge, they had elevated their own status and demeaned the captain’s credibility. These people not only cultivated outstanding martial arts, but also devised numerous schemes. As a result, the platform had been open for half a month, and astonishingly, it was the prodigy from Fuling City who had completed the challenge in Lanshan City.

In response to their silly stratagems, Tang Luo’s retaliation was especially brutal. They didn’t want to participate? Then the three platforms in the three cities would only release three slots in total. Once they’re all taken up, it’s done. We’ll see who panics in the end!

…

When Li Xuanba obtained the first slot, and the news that the Lanshan City’s twelve-chamber platform was closed spread like wildfire, the smart ones guessed right. The three challenge platforms were in reality only giving out three places.

Inside the Boma City’s Xiao Family mansion, Xiao Ziyu’s fury was about to tear the dome of the courtyard: “Ridiculous! Tang Luo is being absolutely ridiculous! Why would Li Xuanba, of all people, be chosen to represent Longzhou West? As the team captain, he clearly doesn’t know how to utilize his team members to their full potential. Is he treating this Dragon Zhou’s Young Martial Artists Conference like child’s play?”

He had thought that by joining forces with the sons of the other city’s influential families, they could easily take down this old opponent. But he didn’t expect him to be so stubborn and capricious, by actually handing a place to Li Xuanba and closing the Lanshan City platform before setting out on their journey in two days. Doesn’t he realize how much risk this hasty appointment may bring to the team?

The housekeeper, who was responsible for delivering messages, looked at Xiao Ziyu’s rage and said with a bitter smile, “Young master, there’s no point being angry. The number of people registering for the platform in the city has greatly increased and many promising league members could not restrain themselves and have signed up. If they take the place assigned for Boma city, we really won’t have time!”

With a dark face, Xiao Ziyu realized without a doubt that he and the other city’s sons’ attempts to constrain Tang Luo had failed. But with the mere thought of fighting against the odds and ends picked from the refugees, he felt sick.

Moreover, now that the Xiao family and Tang family are bound by marriage ties, even if he does step onto the platform he can’t be ruthless. He feels even more perplexed.