I Pick up a Lost Godhood-Chapter 57 - 55: The Bystander Zhang Xiaopang

Ma Tian’Er was still cheering, but worry had already crept into Hu Jing’s eyes. Zhang Xiaojiang had been working hard lately, but his opponent had clearly come prepared. This Hua Wuxiong specialized in countering Bow Cultivators. It would be a tough fight.

Wang Meng saw the situation most clearly. This was a battle Zhang Xiaojiang was bound to lose. Of the three opponents they had faced so far, Hua Wuxiong was the most composed. His Iron Claw Technique seemed designed specifically to counter Bow Cultivators. Hengshan Hall would have to face all kinds of opponents in the tournament, so it was only natural they’d come prepared. This man was likely their designated counter for Bow Cultivators. He had the advantage in pure strength, and his combat experience was clearly far greater than Zhang Xiaojiang’s.

But sometimes, failure is more valuable than victory, especially for someone like Zhang Xiaojiang.

However, the ’Master Zhang’ in the arena didn’t think so. He still had one last move: the Bursting Heart-Piercing Arrow.

He had trained bitterly for half a year just to master the Bursting Heart-Piercing Arrow. His master had told him that it could shatter the defenses of any Body Cultivator below the Fifteenth Layer.

As long as he mastered it, he had a chance of winning.

He was usually all laughs and jokes, but Zhang Xiaojiang refused to be the one to drag his team down. Elemental Power blazed from the Golden Silk Iron Bow.

Across the stage, Hua Wuxiong stopped in his tracks, his expression turning grave. ’His Elemental Level is only around the eleventh or twelfth layer, yet he can just barely manage a Bursting Heart-Piercing Arrow. Looks like there’s more to this fatty than meets the eye.’

If Zhang Xiaojiang were using an ordinary bow, executing the Bursting Heart-Piercing Arrow would have been far more strenuous, and its effect wouldn’t have been optimal. But the Golden Silk Iron Bow was different. Its previous owner had clearly used it for this very technique many times. This was the definition of a Treasure Artifact: at a critical moment, it didn’t act as an obstacle, but as a smooth conduit for power.

Zhang Xiaojiang’s Elemental Power and the Golden Silk Iron Bow became one. Both his confidence and his power surged to their peak.

Bursting Heart-Piercing Arrow!

VWOOM—BOOM...

A ferocious arrow shot toward Hua Wuxiong. He didn’t try to dodge; the Bursting Heart-Piercing Arrow was too fast to evade completely. ’The best defense is a good offense.’

With a thunderous roar, he lunged forward, bringing both claws down simultaneously to clamp onto the brilliantly glowing Bursting Heart-Piercing Arrow.

The surging Elemental Power was somehow stopped by Hua Wuxiong’s claws. "Hah!"

The muscles on Hua Wuxiong’s arms bulged. He leaned into the attack, his feet sinking into the ground, but he held firm against the arrow’s ferocious power. With another roar, he wrenched his claws apart.

BOOM...

Zhang Xiaojiang’s all-out attack was ripped in two. Hua Wuxiong’s iron claws were hooked around a fragment of the shattered arrow. He casually tossed it aside, revealing several scratches on his forearms.

’I didn’t expect this fatty to have so much power,’ Hua Wuxiong thought. ’If our Elemental Levels were equal, I’m not sure I could have blocked that.’

Zhang Xiaojiang was stunned to see his ultimate move defeated. He suddenly raised his bow.

Hua Wuxiong jumped in surprise. ’Don’t tell me he can fire another one of those?’

"I concede."

Zhang Xiaopang was nothing if not direct. He had always lived by the principle of knowing his own limits.

Hua Wuxiong’s arms were numb. Although he wanted to teach his opponent a lesson, the guy was an Elder’s Direct Disciple, after all. Attacking someone after they’d already conceded wouldn’t look good.

"Third match, victory to Hengshan Hall."

A cheer erupted from the Hengshan Hall disciples, but the members of the other halls grew pensive and did not join in.

"That Little Fatty’s got some real talent. To use the Bursting Heart-Piercing Arrow like that with only Eleventh-Layer Elemental Power..."

Mingren remarked, turning his head.

Li Tianyi smiled. "It was decent enough, but he’s as timid as ever."

The Lingyin Four Tigers couldn’t help but chuckle. That fatty was really something else. He conceded the instant his ultimate move was broken. So decisive. Anyone else would have struggled on for a few more exchanges, just to save face.

Clearly, they didn’t understand ’Master Zhang’ at all. Face? What was that? Safety always came first!

Hu Jing glanced at Zhang Xiaojiang. "You don’t look particularly sad, so I won’t bother comforting you."

Zhang Xiaojiang’s face immediately fell into a tragic expression. "Jingjing, I’m actually heartbroken! My heart is shattered! My ultimate move, the one I trained so hard to master, was defeated so easily! Let me have a good cry in your warm embrace!"

Ma Tian’Er, who had been about to comfort the Little Fatty, quickly covered her mouth. ’This... doesn’t seem necessary after all.’

"Alright, you did your best. I’ll go next,"

Wang Meng said.

Hu Jing shook her head. "I’ll take this match. You’ll be our anchor!"

Wang Meng shrugged indifferently. "Fine. Do as you wish."

He was clearly far more confident in Hu Jing than he’d been in Zhang Xiaojiang. That girl never did anything without a reason.

"Wang Meng, how about I lend Little Cutie to Sister Jing for her fight? She’s guaranteed to win," Ma Tian’Er said from the side.

Wang Meng couldn’t help but smile. "You silly girl. In a Hall battle, you can only use your own Spirit Beast, and you’ve already used yours." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Actually, Wang Meng had a backup plan of his own. He had originally planned to lend his Spirit Rhinoceros to Ma Tian’Er if the battle came down to the final match. He never expected her to have her own Spirit Beast, one whose power was only a step below the Golden Rhinoceros and whose innate talent was even slightly superior.

The Spirit Rhinoceros wasn’t an especially high-quality Spirit Beast to begin with. It only possessed its current power because it had undergone the Fifth Transformation. If any other Spirit Beast were to achieve a Fifth Transformation, it would probably become a Divine Beast.

"Fighting for Thunderlight Hall in the fourth match is Hu Jing. And for Hengshan Hall... Wu Dongjin."

Wu Dongjin wielded a pair of Double Scythes. That was the advantage of being a Body Cultivator: you didn’t have to worry about defense at all. All you had to do was go for the kill. His twin scythes were incredibly sharp, like the bladed forelegs of a praying mantis.

Wu Dongjin licked the sharp edge of his scythe, his eyes fixed lecherously on Hu Jing. Hu Jing’s beauty might not have been as flashy or dazzling as Yang Ying’s, but it had its own unique charm. It was no wonder the surrounding crowd’s eyes went wide; not just anyone would dare to stare so brazenly at the First Sister of Flying Phoenix Hall.

It was the first time Hu Jing had faced such a situation, yet she seemed as poised as a seasoned veteran, completely unswayed by external factors. She maintained the calm dignity befitting a Talisman Cultivator.

"Please," she said, her voice as calm as ever.

’Hu Jing’s talent is outstanding, even by my standards,’ Wang Meng thought. ’Her strength isn’t just her aptitude for cultivation, but her control over her emotions. It’s a comprehensive advantage. In my experience, people like her are the ones who go on to accomplish great things.’

The moment the battle began, Wu Dongjin charged forward without reservation, his sharp Double Scythes scissoring toward Hu Jing. With a flip of her delicate hand, Hu Jing threw two Talismans at him while simultaneously pulling back to create distance.

A cold sneer tugged at the corner of Wu Dongjin’s mouth. ’Her Elemental Power isn’t much better than that fatty’s. The advantage of a Body Cultivator is most obvious in the early stages. Talisman Cultivators and their ilk only start to show their strength in the mid-stages of cultivation. These pathetic Talismans are just a last-ditch effort. They’re less of a threat than the fatty’s Blast Arrow.’

BANG... BANG...

The two Fire Talismans were shattered by Wu Dongjin’s scythes. "Little beauty, come and get a little closer!"

Wu Dongjin cut off Hu Jing’s escape routes, his Double Scythes lashing out for the kill.

(It’s no fun reading unless a story’s "fattened up" for a binge, but man, "slaughtering" it after it’s fat is tiring. I read three million characters in two days, and my head is spinning. The Thunder won! Ah, to be young and passionate!)