Bo Yuankui hadn’t expected Ji Bozai to hold out until now. Dealing with Zheng Tiao alone had already drained him significantly, yet he still had the energy to provoke him. Bo smiled, cupped his hands, and stepped forward, “I should be the one asking for your guidance, Lord Ji.”
Though Bo Yuankui’s Yuan Power was strong, he was nearly fifty years old and lacked endurance. Fighting Ji Bozai in this state greatly increased his chances of victory. However, the man before him suddenly changed his Netherworld Domain.
The dark purple domain turned pure black. Ji Bozai raised his head, and a Dark Dragon coiled out from behind him, surveying the entire Tage Platform with disdain.
A commotion erupted around them. The Grand Minister was so excited he stood up.
“A Dark Dragon!”
“Ji Bozai, so young, yet already possessing black Yuan Power!”
“Our Muxing City is going to prosper, haha!”
The morale of Muxing’s people soared. Many Yuan Power users came down to help guard against sneak attacks. Luo Jiaoyang and the others looked back, unsurprised yet still proud.
A fighter with a Dark Dragon belonged to their Muxing City.
However, Ming Yi, watching from above, felt uneasy. Unless necessary, Ji Bozai wouldn’t reveal his true Yuan Power in such a setting, unless he couldn’t hold on any longer.
After two consecutive days of Yuan Power depletion, facing so many skilled opponents, it was understandable that he couldn’t endure. But the current situation didn’t allow him to lose.
Ming Yi recalled previous Six Cities Conferences where she had encountered similar situations. Forcing a win, then needing half a year to recover, plagued by nightmares night after night.
She hadn’t expected him to walk the same path.
Lowering her eyes to sip tea, she thought, it’s not a big deal as long as he doesn’t die.
However, when Bo Yuankui unleashed his full-strength attack, Ming Yi couldn’t help but send out a streak of earth-yellow Yuan Power.
Her Yuan Power was weak now, unable to block this attack for him. But Bo Yuankui lacked experience, his move full of openings. This streak was like a guide, telling Ji Bozai where to strike to break his offense.
As the earth-yellow Yuan Power flew by, Luo Jiaoyang didn’t stop it. He recognized this power, bearing the essence of Muxing City’s fighters and helping Ji Bozai, so he let it pass.
Ji Bozai also saw this Yuan Power. Noting it came from Luo Jiaoyang’s direction, he focused and followed its path, unleashing a jet-black dragon.
The dragon’s roar shook heaven and earth, shattering Bo Yuankui’s attack and his protective shield.
Bo Yuankui was shocked. He immediately stopped and retreated to his seat.
“The new wave pushes the old, we old ones must yield,” he said with a bitter smile, holding back blood. “It took me until thirty-seven to cultivate purple-black Yuan Power, and at forty-seven I seized the opportunity to become champion. I never thought there’d be such natural talent in this world.”
Ji Bozai’s talent was already astonishing, but in battle, his experience proved equally profound. That counterattack required at least ten years of combat experience. Had he retreated a moment later, several meridians would have been destroyed.
Heart palpitating, he looked at the Grand Minister and said deeply, “Congratulations.”
These two words weren’t just for today’s prize but for future Six Cities Conferences.
The Grand Minister wanted to be low-key, but he was too elated and couldn’t help laughing heartily. “Thank you all for your guidance. Since this is a banquet, let’s sit down and drink to our heart’s content. Come, everyone take your seats!”
Many on the field were injured. Ji Bozai was fine; though hurt, his reputation soared. But others, bleeding yet forced to sit and chat politely to show magnanimity, were truly stifled.
Though Luo Jiaoyang and the others gained nothing, their mood was good. Turning to Ji Bozai, he said, “Your personality isn’t great, but your strength is impressive.”
Ji Bozai stood still, smiling faintly. “Thank you for the compliment.”
Sensing something amiss, Luo Jiaoyang approached and asked softly, “Can’t move?”
“I’ll be fine in a moment.”
“Tch.” He sneered, “Why push yourself? After fighting so many, even if Ming Xian were here today, he’d need to be carried off.”
With that, he gripped Ji Bozai’s arm and led him off the platform.
Their movements were natural; no one around noticed anything wrong. The Grand Minister on the main seat even said, “Bozai, go unveil the red silk on the second treasure, let everyone see what you’ve won.”
Usually, the short distance from the high platform to the side would take just two steps. But now, with Luo Jiaoyang supporting Ji Bozai, both moved stiffly.
“Shall I go for you?”
“No need,” he said calmly. “I won’t die from this short walk.”
He wouldn’t die, but he would suffer. Luo Jiaoyang frowned as he watched him step forward, feeling the pain in every meridian of his body.
A bright color flew down from a nearby seat, butterfly-like, alighting beside him.
Luo Jiaoyang was startled, looking up to see Ming Yi’s beautifully smiling face.
“May this slave accompany the lord to see the excitement?” she asked, tilting her head.
Liang Xiuyuan on the seat grumbled, “She was nowhere to be seen when needed earlier, but now she runs so quickly.”
Shu Zhonglin elbowed him, whispering, “Can’t you see Bozai can barely stand?”
“With her pulling and tugging like that, won’t Bozai be even less stable?”
Indeed, Ming Yi’s actions looked less like supporting and more like clinging to his arm, dragging him down. But Ji Bozai stood more steadily, walking towards the red silk while sighing to the Grand Minister, “This person has been spoiled. Grand Minister, please forgive her.”
Remembering Ming Yi, the Grand Minister became proud again. Turning to the envoys, he said, “Everyone, please forgive her. This young lady is our city’s first Golden Hairpin Fighter and Bozai’s beloved. Letting her accompany isn’t improper.”
Golden Hairpin Fighter?
Discussions arose again: “Where did a woman learn fighting techniques?”
“Fighting techniques require innate meridian talent. Not everyone who wants to learn can succeed. Does this girl have fighter meridians?”
“Isn’t this just boasting using Ji Bozai’s name?”
“The Grand Minister himself spoke, surely he’s seen her use Yuan Power.”
Using this momentum, Ming Yi let Ji Bozai stand still, then gently raised her hand. Blue Yuan Power flew out, lifting the distant red silk.
“Heavenly Essence Crystal!” Almost all the fighters on the field stood up.
Though shocked that Ming Yi truly had Yuan Power, the Heavenly Essence Crystal was the more eye-catching item now. This crystal could store vast amounts of Yuan Power. With it, forget being challenged by several masters in succession; even if challenged by all the world’s fighters at once, one would have a chance of victory with sufficient stored Yuan Power.
To think this item fell to Muxing City. It seemed Muxing City was truly on the rise.
The buzzing voices around were incessant. Ji Bozai could no longer hear them. He turned his head and whispered to Ming Yi, “Find an excuse to let me leave this place.”
At such a moment of everyone’s attention, what excuse could allow him to leave smoothly without suspicion of severe injury?
Ming Yi’s eyes darted about. Suddenly, she covered her mouth and retched twice.