Chapter 67: The Battle of the Noble Clans

The next day, at Divine Stone Square.

Early in the morning, when the sky was just beginning to brighten, martial artists from all over Skyfall City had already gathered at the arena for the Martial Tournament. In the center of Divine Stone Square, around a hundred square meters of fighting ground, large slabs of bluestone were stacked. The farther these bluestones were from the center, the higher they were piled, making it easier for spectators to watch the battles within the arena.

The five great families had yet to arrive, yet around the special dueling arena reserved for their decisive matches, the uneven bluestone seats were already filled with people.

When the sun finally rose, members of the five great families made their way to the square from all directions of Skyfall City.

Shi Yan followed behind Shi Jian. Before they even reached Divine Stone Square, they could see the dense throng of people from afar.

Nearly all these onlookers were martial artists, most at the Post-Heaven, Pre-Heaven, or Human Realm stages, but there were also experts at the Hundred Tribulations and Earth Realm levels. These higher-level martial artists might not be interested in participating in the tournament themselves, but they certainly cared about the direct confrontations between the five great families.

Around the arena, martial artists huddled together, whispering among themselves. Many bore heavy swords and battle axes, exuding a fierce aura—likely mercenaries who had emerged from the Dark Forest, Death Marsh, or Misty Mountains. These men had not appeared in previous days, but today they arrived early.

As the Shi family appeared in Divine Stone Square, the crowd began to murmur, making way for them to pass.

Before the Shi family had even set foot in the center of the arena, the crowd's gaze turned once more to the entrance of the square, and soft exclamations rose.

The Mo family, led by Mo Tuo, approached with cold, grim faces.

Shi Jian gave a cold snort, his face stern, and led his family toward the arena without a word.

Unlike previous years, members of the five great families would not observe from the distant stone towers, but would instead be present at the frontlines, watching every detail of the battles at close range.

Special stone platforms had already been prepared at the edge of the arena. The waiting attendants hurried forward when they saw Shi Jian, greeting him with a smile, "Patriarch Shi, please take your seat here."

Shi Jian nodded and, under their guidance, sat down on one side of the arena along with his family, taking their places on the stone stools. A variety of delicacies and fine wines were promptly served, set upon the stone platform beside Shi Jian for the family's enjoyment.

Soon after, Mo Tuo also arrived and was seated opposite the Shi family. After sitting down, Mo Tuo stared over with frosty eyes, lost in thought.

As the sun grew brighter, the Zuo and Ling families arrived one after another. After Zuo Xu entered, he was seated beside the Shi family. He nodded slightly at Shi Jian, signaling that everything was well on the side of the Misty Pavilion—no words were needed.

The Ling family, being close to the Mo family, naturally took their places alongside them. Ling Shaofeng greeted the Mo family with a few comforting words, his expression light, and took the opportunity to exchange greetings with Mo Yanyu.

The missing Mo Chaoge was Mo Zhan’s biological father. Knowing his father had been abducted, Mo Zhan had been suppressing his rage, biding his time for bloody revenge at the tournament.

When the sun was high, Beiming Shang finally arrived with the experts of the Beiming family, fashionably late. His demeanor was indifferent, a cold aura swirling around him, and wherever he passed, the martial artists of the Merchant Alliance stepped aside in awe.

Behind him, Beiming Ce followed with a proud look, accompanied by Mu Yudie and Di Yalan.

The attendant responsible for the seating arrangements, a servant of the Beiming family, immediately yielded the best seats with fawning deference, ushering Beiming Shang, Beiming Ce, and their companions to their places, and quickly ordered the servants to bring the finest delicacies and wine.

In both the quality and quantity of the food and drink, the Beiming family was clearly a cut above the rest, their exalted status within the Merchant Alliance on full display.

After the five great families were seated, Beiming Shang pondered for a moment, then said coolly, "The rules are the same every year, so I won’t repeat them. The Martial Tournament is just a means of exchange; I hope everyone will exercise restraint and avoid unnecessary fatalities."

The other four family heads nodded gently.

Beiming Shang surveyed the crowd, fixing his gaze intently on both Mo Tuo and Shi Jian before continuing, "As usual, you may challenge each other directly or add stakes to your duels. Who would like to begin?"

"Yuyu!" Mo Tuo ordered in a low voice.

From the Mo family ranks, Mo Yanyu was the first to step down into the arena. Her bright eyes were icy as she stared in the direction of the Shi family and called out coldly, "Mo Yanyu of the Mo family, Second Stage of the Pre-Heaven Realm. Who will accept my challenge?"

"Snowfall City, a silver sand mine—here is the deed." Mo Tuo’s face was grim as he snorted.

A Mo family retainer took the deed from him and placed it on a round platform beside the Beiming family’s section of the arena, a platform set up specifically for holding wagers.

"Sunset City, the commercial rights to Eastgate Street!" Shi Jian also snorted, taking three yellow pages from a brocade pouch at his side and handing them to his attendant.

Once the attendant placed the three yellow pages on the round platform, Shi Jian said calmly, "Tianluo, go."

Shi Tianluo, his expression tense, stepped into the arena and declared solemnly, "Shi Tianluo of the Shi family, Second Stage of the Pre-Heaven Realm. Please advise!"

"Mo Yanyu of the Mo family! Shi Tianluo of the Shi family! Both at the Second Stage of the Pre-Heaven Realm. Do the two family heads agree to this match?" The thin master of ceremonies stood beside the round platform and called out.

Once both Mo Tuo and Shi Jian nodded, he announced, "Very well, let the match begin!"

Sparks crackled!

Streaks of bluish lightning suddenly burst from Mo Yanyu’s ten fingers, snaking around her like living serpents, thickening as they swirled before her.

In an instant, Mo Yanyu appeared to be encircled by lightning.

The streaks of lightning, as thick as fingers, grew longer and entwined, forming a five-meter-long lightning whip.

When the lightning whip was fully formed, it was as thick as an arm, dazzlingly bright, arcs of electricity shooting through it, sending sparks flying everywhere.

Crack! Crack!

Mo Yanyu lashed out; the lightning whip, like an electric dragon, shot toward Shi Tianluo amidst deafening thunder.

Sparks flew through the air, producing strange sounds, threads of electricity radiating outward, causing many martial artists to pale and instinctively gather their energy to defend themselves.

Shi Tianluo’s skin had already turned ashen gray; the Shi family’s Petrification Martial Spirit was ready.

Seeing the lightning whip coming, Shi Tianluo’s expression grew grave. With a sudden shout, a wild, mountainous aura erupted from his body.

"Rock Steadfast Technique!"

Shi Tianluo stood immovable as a mountain, his legs seemingly rooted deep into the earth. After petrification, his physical defense far surpassed ordinary men; he reached out unflinchingly to seize the incoming lightning whip.

Crackle!

The moment his hand extended, the whip coiled around his left arm, and a shocking current erupted from it, surging straight into his body.

With a roar, Shi Tianluo’s petrified body surged with energy, pouring into his left arm to forcibly suppress the invading current.

Relying on the might of the Petrification Martial Spirit, Shi Tianluo, though numb all over, suffered no major damage. Gripping the lightning whip, he charged straight at Mo Yanyu, moving with incredible speed—like a vast stone falling from the heavens, brimming with savage momentum.

The Shi family’s Petrification Martial Spirit excelled at close combat; once they closed the distance, their opponents’ nightmares began.

Yet, unexpectedly, as Mo Yanyu’s hand gripped the whip and Shi Tianluo charged, she did not try to evade. Instead, an eerie expression flickered across her beautiful face.

In a blink, the once rosy-cheeked Mo Yanyu turned deathly pale, as if all life had drained from her.

At that moment, the flow of energy within her body more than tripled in speed!

It seemed as if the potential within her had been instantly and completely unleashed!

"Not good!" Shi Yan exclaimed inwardly, alarmed for Shi Tianluo’s fate.

Mo Yanyu’s cultivation was clearly only at the Second Stage of the Pre-Heaven Realm, yet the sudden surge of energy within her felt as if she had inexplicably gained a power that didn’t belong to her!

Her energy now was likely far greater than that of an average martial artist at the Third Stage of the Pre-Heaven Realm!

Such an advantage was enough to render her fearless against the Shi family’s Petrification Martial Spirit!

Indeed!

Shi Tianluo had just reached Mo Yanyu’s side, not even able to launch a fierce attack, when blades of "Blue Crescent Slash" burst from Mo Yanyu’s other hand.

The Blue Crescent Slashes, as large as round shields, were more than three times stronger than those she had used against Shi Yan before!

Seven Blue Crescent Slashes erupted in quick succession from her hand, so swift that Shi Tianluo had no chance to dodge.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

All seven slashes struck Shi Tianluo’s chest one after another, sending him flying!

The force behind these seven slashes was far beyond what the first stage of the Petrification Martial Spirit could withstand.

While still in midair, blood sprayed from Shi Tianluo’s body.

Thud!

His body landed three meters before Shi Jian, blood streaming from his chest, his gaze vacant—clearly gravely injured.

"Help him!" Shi Jian’s eyes blazed with fury. After his shout, his massive body trembled slightly.

Several retainers, who had been standing by, hurried forward to carry Shi Tianluo away, hastily feeding him pills and tending his wounds.

Shi Tie’s fingers dug deeply into the stone stool, motionless as he sat, his eyes filled with endless resentment, staring fixedly at Mo Tuo in the distance.

Mo Tuo, just as murderous, stared back at Shi Tie.

"Mo Yanyu is victorious! The wager goes to the Mo family. The next match may proceed."

At that moment, the official by the round platform spoke with a cold, formulaic voice.

...

ps: There will be another chapter tonight, though it may be a bit late...