60: Chapter 56: The End_1 60: Chapter 56: The End_1 Boom!

Right as Lin Zhengren was pressed against Zhang Linchuan, ready to unleash his Dao Technique,

Zhang Linchuan exploded.

This wasn’t an exaggeration, but rather an objective description.

The thunder and lightning that must have been gathering for a long time burst forth from his body.

His hair stood on end, his body charred everywhere, and electric sparks flickered continuously.

Correspondingly, Lin Zhengren, who was almost sticking to his body, was also affected in no time, his entire body blown away.

After crashing to the ground, he twitched and convulsed.

This was the first time Lin Zhengren looked so disheveled since he started fighting.

The cause of this effect was a high-grade, B-level Dao Technique called Thunder Punishment.

However, contrary to everyone’s expectations, the target of Zhang Linchuan’s technique was himself, not Lin Zhengren.

When Lin Zhengren interrupted his A-grade Dao Technique, Zhang Linchuan didn’t even try to maintain it but immediately activated an Instantaneous Dao Art that had been engraved in Tongtian Palace and directed it at himself.

This was undoubtedly a very risky and even insane move.

If Lin Zhengren hadn’t chosen to close in immediately or had been even slightly slower, Zhang Linchuan could have become the only cultivator in the Three City Dao Debate to be defeated by his own Dao Technique.

He would have become the laughingstock of the entire venue.

Luckily, he won the bet and secured that almost imperceptible chance of victory for himself.

With Thunder Punishment injuring both, and Lin Zhengren just entering the ranks of Grade-6, not yet at the peak of his realm.

Zhang Linchuan, who had long practiced thunder techniques, actually recovered a few breaths ahead of time.

Zhang Linchuan’s hands flew forming seals, ready to seize this fleeting moment to completely defeat his opponent.

But his face suddenly stiffened.

He discovered that Tongtian Palace was completely empty!

This Dao Technique couldn’t be completed.

Only then did he notice that unbeknownst to him, about five steps in front of him, there was a small, semi-transparent grass swaying in the wind.

He recognized it, it was the Path-Aiding Grass, a C-grade, low-quality Dao Technique.

The effect was: Within the range of the Path-Aiding Grass, the consumption of Path Origin increased.

The drawback was: it did not distinguish between friend and foe.

However, Lin Zhengren had already opened the Heaven and Earth Gate and was constantly replenished with the vitality of heaven and earth.

Zhang Linchuan, however, was still before the Heaven and Earth Gate, only able to fight relying on the Path Origin reserves in his Tongtian Palace.

One, two, three…

the more Zhang Linchuan counted, the uglier his expression became.

Without his knowledge, Lin Zhengren had planted a total of nine Path-Aiding Grasses on the battlefield.

It could be said that if it weren’t for the disruption caused by Thunder Punishment, Lin Zhengren would have planted even more.

Despite having a huge advantage and victory within reach, Lin Zhengren still planted such measures.

He was such a cautious and meticulous fellow, wasn’t he?

Under the influence of the nine Path-Aiding Grasses, Zhang Linchuan’s Path Origin had been completely depleted.

The opportunity flashed by, and was lost.

Lin Zhengren recovered, leaping to his feet.

“I’ve lost,” Zhang Linchuan said hoarsely.

Having no rationale for victory, he certainly wouldn’t give Lin Zhengren a chance to torment him.

Fenglin City missed the chance for a three-peat victory, missing out on the most important slot to enter the National Daoist Academy.

Yet, no one at the venue blamed Zhang Linchuan.

Throwing Thunder Punishment on oneself was such a brutal act.

Especially for someone who cared so much about his image and manner, to look at his charred appearance now, how could anyone say he didn’t fight hard?

Even Dong Ah didn’t say anything.

He couldn’t say that this disciple hadn’t put in all his effort.

Actually, Zhang Linchuan did have a chance just now.

If he had been willing to dissolve a Dao Spiral, he could have temporarily obtained a large amount of Path Origin, seizing that gap to defeat Lin Zhengren.

However, by doing so, even if he had won the battle, he would have fallen back to Grade-8 in cultivation, with his progress stalled for life.

Even if he had entered the National Daoist Academy, what would it have meant then?

The honor of Fenglin City’s Daoist Academy was important, but he couldn’t stake his future on it.

The referee announced the result.

The champion of the Five-Year Three City Dao Debate was Lin Zhengren, a Grade-6 Ascending Dragon Realm cultivator from Wangjiang City’s Daoist Academy.

Next year, he would be a freshman at the national Daoist Academy, with a bright future ahead of him.

Fenglin City harvested two second-best champions, maintaining its prestige.

Only in this Dao Competition, the Daoist Academy of Sanshan City gained nothing.

Jiang Wang saw that the eyes of Zhao Tiehe, Yang Xingyong, and others were all red.

But this was competition.

…

Three Fragrances Tower.

Miss Miao Yu was in front of a mirror, delicately applying rouge with her pinky finger.

Behind her, a black-clothed old man was kneeling and pleading, “Noble lady, I beg you to take action!

Otherwise, our people will all die!”

“I told you not to be greedy.

You lost your souls at the mention of the Dark Candle.

Now, what’s the use of asking for my help?

The shadow of Netherworld Pass has been sent to Yun Country, so how can I compete with Wei Quchibi?”

“We were confused indeed, but the Bone Messenger agreed to it as well…”

“Ha,” Miao Yu laughed softly, “then ask him to take action.”

The black-clothed old man was at a loss for words, continuing to kowtow repeatedly.

“The moment I show myself, Wei Quchibi will immediately take action to suppress me.

Not to mention Dong Ah watching eagerly from the sidelines.

We have no chance,” her voice was partly admonishing, partly complaining.

“Who asked you not to leave the shadow of the Netherworld Pass for me in the beginning?”

Grinding his teeth, the black-clothed old man said, “It is not easy for our Bone Tao to accumulate strength.

All these Dao friends, just died for nothing?”

“Alright, alright, don’t make a fuss here.

I’ve already set up a backup plan.

Judging from the time, the Dark Candle should have been safely dispatched by now.

As for those Dao friends…”

Miao Yu paused and snapped the rouge case shut.

“If they’re dead, they’re dead.”

…

Thanks to tight defenses and proper dispatch of forces, the unrest in Fenglin City came to an abrupt end.

After all, the news of the Dark Candle’s appearance was so sudden that Bone Tao had no time to make a more solid preparation before being faced with a decision.

The significance of the Dark Candle to Bone Tao was such that they simply could not refuse it.

Wei Quchibi and Dong Ah had already laid a trap as vast as the net of heaven and earth.

The outcome was actually predetermined before it even began; none of the people that Bone Tao sent out this time would survive.

But this did not mean the outcome was decided, because Bone Tao was in fact prepared for the total annihilation of their forces.

As long as they managed to seize the Dark Candle, it would not be a defeat for Bone Tao.

…

On the Qingmu Grand Road, the peddler carrying his loads was still moving along at a leisurely pace.

He was very familiar with this city, as if born and raised here.

He had anticipated Wei Quchibi’s ambush, just not expecting the attack to be so fierce and the preparation so thorough.

He knew that the Dao friends who came this time were more likely doomed than not.

But he would not die.

Despite the sudden outbreak, he was very aware of this city, knew if the City Guard Army were to fully deploy, and where their main forces would be stationed.

He could avoid them with ease.

Turning left ahead, there was a narrow path, which passed by a bathhouse.

He planned to take a bath there, to wash away the dust.

The load could be left with the bathhouse masseur, Master Song, who was very honest and would not touch his belongings.

Who would imagine that something as precious as the Dark Candle would casually be left with an ordinary bathhouse masseur?

He could even take a nap in the bathhouse, and after the storm had passed, walk out of the city with big strides.

In any case, he would not die.

But then, he saw a bald head, just as he stepped into the narrow path.

Perhaps a follower of Buddhism?

But the bald man’s countenance was too fierce and did not match the image of someone from Buddhism at all.

“I smell something strange,” the bald man said.

And he licked his lips.

The peddler suddenly felt an intense fear and gathered his Path Origin, ready to fight.

That was when he realized his heart was gone.

The whole world plunged into eternal darkness.

“Holy lady, is this the scenery at the bottom of the River of Oblivion?” he wondered in the end.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep