Chapter 267: Chapter 267: The Final Champion

"The Blue Star Grass Martial Soul is a trash martial soul. The entire continent knows this. It’s such simple common sense, I trust you’re not unaware of it, President Dongfang Yanyu."

The argument wasn’t confined to the stage. Below, the many Soul Refiners had also erupted into a heated discussion.

Ye Xuan’s illogical score had indeed left many people baffled, making them harbor a sliver of doubt about the fairness of the assembly.

They didn’t have a problem with Ye Xuan, personally. They just couldn’t understand why the Blue Star Grass Martial Soul, universally known as trash, had received a special-grade evaluation in his hands.

Witnessing this scene, Luan Hong curled his lips into a mocking smile. He fixed Ye Xuan with a sharp gaze and sneered, "What an impressive trick. To get a special-grade evaluation for *that*... I, Luan Hong, have really seen it all now. But do you have no sense of shame? Can you really accept this championship with a clear conscience?"

Ye Xuan glanced at him coolly. A mocking smile, as if he were looking at an ignorant clown, touched his otherwise expressionless face. "Ignorance isn’t your fault," he said with a faint smile, "but flaunting it for all to see is just disgusting."

Luan Hong’s eyes grew cold. "What did you just say?" he snarled.

"Are you so certain my martial soul doesn’t deserve a special-grade evaluation?"

Luan Hong scoffed, "Even an idiot can see it. Do I really need to explain it to you?"

"Is that so?" An innocuous smile remained on Ye Xuan’s face. "Since you’re so certain, why don’t we make a bet?"

"A bet?" Luan Hong froze.

"That’s right. So, do you dare?"

"Me, Luan Hong, not dare?" Luan Hong sneered, his eyes narrowing. "What do you propose we bet?"

"Simple," Ye Xuan said with a lazy yawn. "Besides evaluations, a duel is the easiest way to see which martial soul is better. So, let’s have them fight. If you win, the championship is yours. If you lose, then just like Zuo Yi Alliance, you’ll hand over fifty mid-grade Profound Stones. How about it?"

Luan Hong was taken aback by Ye Xuan’s boldness. He frowned but didn’t immediately reply.

Ye Xuan grinned. "What’s wrong? Weren’t you the one just swearing up and down that my martial soul was inferior? How have you gone so soft when it’s crunch time?"

Luan Hong couldn’t stand being provoked like this. His gaze turned icy. "Fine. I’ll take that bet."

"Put the stakes on the table first. I don’t trust your integrity."

"Hmph. A mere fifty mid-grade Profound Stones. Do you really think I, Luan Hong, would renege on a bet?" Luan Hong scoffed. He then produced fifty mid-grade Profound Stones and placed them directly on the stone table in front of Ye Xuan. "Go on then," he said contemptuously. "Win them, if you can."

The moment he spoke, a shocked uproar erupted from the crowd.

Even the Soul Refining masters on the stage turned to look, their expressions filled with shock.

They weren’t shocked that Luan Hong had accepted the bet, but by the fifty mid-grade Profound Stones he had produced so casually.

After all, Kuchen was the vice president of the Liuyun Kingdom’s Soul Master Tower and a Fourth Grade Soul Refiner, yet producing fifty mid-grade Profound Stones would be a great strain for him, nearly his absolute limit. Luan Hong was merely a talented Soul Refiner from the Wushang Kingdom, yet he could produce the same amount so effortlessly. How could the crowd not be astonished?

In stark contrast to the crowd’s shock, Ye Xuan just grinned widely, his eyes fixed on the Profound Stones before him. He clearly already considered them his.

With things having reached this point and both sides having agreed, Zhu Tianlan found it inappropriate to intervene. Besides, he was also eager to find out just why Ye Xuan’s Blue Star Grass Martial Soul had received a special-grade evaluation.

The bet was set. Luan Hong leaped gracefully onto the stage. He placed his majestic Golden Roc Martial Soul in the open space before him, then looked at Ye Xuan with mocking eyes. "What are you waiting for? Get up here."

Ye Xuan ambled onto the stage and placed his Blue Star Grass Martial Soul a few meters in front of him. "Hurry up and make your move," he said languidly. "Let’s make this quick."

"My thoughts exactly," Luan Hong sneered. He instantly channeled a sliver of Soul Power into the Golden Roc Martial Soul before him. The golden roc, nearly a meter tall, suddenly erupted in a brilliant red glow. At the same time, arcs of electricity began to form around its talons, letting out a sharp CRACKLE.

SKREE!

With a long cry, a golden light flashed in the Golden Roc’s eyes. It spread its wings and soared, lightning surging around it as it swooped down to viciously claw at the delicate Blue Star Grass Martial Soul in front of Ye Xuan.

’Such terrifying martial soul fluctuations.’

’As expected of a special-grade martial soul. That single claw strike could slice through metal and shatter stone. There’s no way the Blue Star Grass Martial Soul is strong enough to withstand it.’

’Why would Ye Xuan propose such a bet? Is he suicidal?’

An uproar swept through the crowd. Many watched the pouncing Golden Roc with its wings spread wide, letting out one gasp of awe after another.

On the stage, Ye Xuan remained expressionless. The moment Luan Hong activated his Golden Roc, Ye Xuan also infused a trace of Soul Power into his Blue Star Grass. In an instant, the martial soul, which had been only three feet long, rapidly expanded. A vast number of delicate leaves sprouted, forming what looked like an ocean of Blue Star Grass.

’It’s just Blue Star Grass. No matter how much of it there is, it’s still trash.’

Luan Hong sneered. The Golden Roc’s talons plunged viciously into the dense field of Blue Star Grass. With a surge of lightning, huge swathes of grass were torn to shreds. It was completely unopposed, like a hot knife through butter.

"A martial soul like this won the championship? That’s hilarious," Luan Hong sneered.

’The Golden Roc Martial Soul is so terrifying. Ye Xuan’s Blue Star Grass is no match for it at all.’

The crowd exclaimed, their eyes shining with excitement.

Ye Xuan’s face was as blank as a block of wood. He channeled his Soul Power, and even more Blue Star Grass sprouted, wrapping tightly around the Golden Roc.

"Pathetic. Watch my Golden Roc Martial Soul tear through this." A sardonic smile appeared on Luan Hong’s face. The golden light radiating from the roc intensified, acting like a pair of golden shears. It sliced through the layers of leaves binding it as if they were tofu, meeting no resistance whatsoever.

"And this is the martial soul the Soul Tester rated as special grade? Absolutely laughable." The disdain in Luan Hong’s eyes deepened. A sharp glint flashed in his pupils. "It’s over."

As he spoke, the lightning around the Golden Roc’s talons flared, and it plunged them viciously into the core of the Blue Star Grass Martial Soul.

BOOM!

The entire Blue Star Grass Martial Soul exploded into pieces, scattering in every direction.

The crowd stared, dumbfounded. Before the Golden Roc, the Blue Star Grass Martial Soul was simply too weak. It hadn’t stood a chance.

But a faint smile remained on Ye Xuan’s lips. A sharp glint suddenly flashed in his eyes as he said coolly, "Don’t be in such a hurry. That was just a warm-up. The real show is about to begin."

The moment he spoke, the aura of the shredded Blue Star Grass surged. The once-wavy edges of the leaves twisted, morphing into rows of sharp barbs. The golden specks of light on their edges spread rapidly, engulfing every single leaf.

In an instant, the once-verdant Blue Star Grass turned a brilliant gold, its edges now lined with vicious hooks. The leaves grew at a mad pace, wrapping the Golden Roc in a dense cocoon as the sharp barbs dug deep into its body.

"What?"

The sudden turn of events left everyone stunned.

’This is bad.’ Luan Hong’s expression changed drastically. He hastily poured in more Soul Power. "Break free!"

The Golden Roc struggled violently. However, the Blue Star Grass leaves, which had shattered so easily before, were now many times tougher after turning golden. No matter how much the roc thrashed, it could only manage to tear tiny fissures in the leaves.

"Stop struggling. It’s over."

Ye Xuan spoke coolly. Countless leaves, writhing like water snakes, enveloped the Golden Roc completely. Sharp thorns stabbed into its body with mad abandon.

A series of shrill cries rang out, followed by a loud BANG. Luan Hong’s Golden Roc Martial Soul instantly shattered, dissolving into a cloud of golden motes that faded into the void.

The entire venue fell silent, filled with utter shock.

After a long moment of silence, the crowd finally reacted. A wave of noise erupted, like a pot boiling over, echoing madly throughout the valley.

"Shattered! Luan Hong’s Golden Roc Martial Soul actually shattered!"

"They’re both special-grade martial souls, but Ye Xuan’s Blue Star Grass completely shattered Luan Hong’s Golden Roc!"

"And shattering is a completely different concept from just defeating!"

"Just what kind of Blue Star Grass is that? How can it be so powerful? It completely defies all logic!"

No one could remain calm. Every face in the crowd was flushed with excitement.

"No, this is impossible!"

But the most devastated of all was Luan Hong. His face was a mask of disbelief, his eyes bloodshot as he muttered to himself.

"I’ll be taking these fifty mid-grade Profound Stones, then." Ye Xuan walked off the stage, scooped up the Profound Stones, and sat down without giving Luan Hong a second glance.

"Alright. Ye Xuan has just proven his strength through combat. Is there anyone else who is dissatisfied?" Zhu Tianlan announced, finally recovering from his shock. He gave Ye Xuan a profound look, then swept his gaze over the others on the stage, his voice cold.

At this moment, the shock in his heart was indescribable. Ye Xuan had actually refined a special-grade Blue Star Grass Martial Soul. If news of this got out, it would cause a massive sensation not just in the Thirteen Nations Alliance, but across the entire Celestial Profound Continent.

Zuo Yi Alliance was deeply resentful, but with things as they were, he was helpless. He could only nod and concede.

As for the other masters, they all nodded in shock. Not a single one had any further objections.

Soon, all the contestants’ martial souls had been tested, and the final results were presented to everyone.

The champion of this year’s Floating Light Assembly was, naturally, Ye Xuan of the Liuyun Kingdom.

In second place was Luan Hong of the Wushang Kingdom.

Third place went to Ye Fanxing of the Dongsheng Kingdom.

Fourth through tenth place went to Xia Qixi of the Celestial Gold Kingdom, Zhou Liang of the Mu Zhen Country, Bai Qi of the Black Forest Kingdom, Xuu Zhengqing of the Shizhen Kingdom, Ding Lan of the Dongsheng Kingdom, Xu Bomming of the Celestial Gold Kingdom, and Yun Aoxue of the Liuyun Kingdom, respectively.