Whoosh!
As the Ice Fiend Qi slashed down, Qu Zhanqian felt half of his body stiffen from its invasion, dramatically slowing his movements!
In a life-or-death moment, Qu Zhanqian glared furiously, his spiritual power within the Dantian bursting forth like a flood, spreading throughout his body.
With the force of this explosive spiritual power, the rampaging Ice Fiend Qi inside him was slightly alleviated, and he forcefully jerked his body back, retreating ten feet.
However, Ye Zhen’s Ice Fiend Qi, like a shadow, slashed forth, cutting him in two in an instant; his body shifted once more as Ye Zhen’s Ice Fiend Qi chopped down from Qu Zhanqian’s right shoulder!
"Stop!"
"You mustn’t!"
Shouts of alarm suddenly arose from behind Ye Zhen.
But Ye Zhen didn’t show any intention of holding back. Qu Zhanqian had tried to kill him several times—how could Ye Zhen spare him and invite trouble?
Whoosh!
The terrifying strength of a Spirit Transformation Realm martial artist was fully displayed at this moment.
Although it was only the first stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm, the moment Ye Zhen’s Ice Fiend Qi penetrated into Qu Zhanqian’s shoulder, an unprecedented resistance materialized out of nowhere.
The robust physical body of a Spirit Transformation Realm martial artist, together with the spiritual power embedded in his flesh, erupted completely. The Ice Fiend Qi from Ye Zhen made it only halfway through before its remaining force dissipated.
Just as Ye Zhen prepared to deliver another fierce blow, an extremely dangerous sensation came from behind.
Before Ye Zhen could even react, a Great Palm Seal suddenly struck from behind, lightly pinching like picking up a chick, lifting Ye Zhen up.
Only then did Ye Zhen realize that Sect Leader Guo Qijing had intervened.
"Scoundrel, how dare you openly harm your fellow sect brothers!"
The angry roar of Fifth Elder Hong Banjiang suddenly resounded; as soon as his voice erupted, he shot forward like lightning, a sword light slashing toward Ye Zhen.
"Shameless old man, I knew you would do this!"
In the sky, Liao Feibai’s voice abruptly rang out, and almost simultaneously, a Rainbow Ribbon also shot out like lightning, striking at Hong Banjiang, who was about to attack Ye Zhen.
Under the dual attack of the sword and ribbon, Hong Banjiang, who had just leaped forward, was actually forced back to the Observation Platform by Liao Feibai and Fairy Caiyi!
Bang!
The chair under his feet shattered inch by inch as Hong Banjiang retreated extremely awkwardly four or five steps before stabilizing himself.
Liao Feibai’s combat power was not to be underestimated, and together with Fairy Caiyi, they handed a sizable defeat to Hong Banjiang.
"Enough, aren’t you ashamed enough yet?"
With a thunderous shout from Sect Leader Guo Qijing, he stopped Hong Banjiang, who was about to strike again, while Liao Feibai and Fairy Caiyi, like two guardian goddesses, hovered protectively above Ye Zhen on his left and right.
Like two door deities, they clearly intended to protect Ye Zhen.
On the Martial Combat Platform, Sect Leader Guo Qijing had already set Ye Zhen down, placing a palm on Qu Zhanqian’s back to heal him, but as soon as his palm touched Qu Zhanqian’s back, Guo Qijing’s expression changed!
Everyone, both on and off the platform, had been stunned by the turn of events in that moment.
Everyone stood gaping, their eyes filled with nothing but shock.
The Spirit Transformation Realm’s Senior Brother Qu was defeated? Almost killed by Senior Brother Ye!
Senior Brother Ye, in the late-stage Spirit Summoning Realm, was actually able to defeat a Spirit Transformation Realm opponent!
Fifth Elder Hong Banjiang had been repelled by Liao Feibai and Fairy Caiyi.
At that moment, many felt their brains couldn’t keep up, with too many unbelievable things happening too fast.
Ren Xihua, Changsun Ran, Han Shi, and Gao Xinglie all had their mouths open wide enough to fit a fist.
Ren Xihua and Han Shi were somewhat immune to Ye Zhen’s anomalies, but Changsun Ran and Han Shi felt differently.
Especially having been defeated by Ye Zhen, there was a faint dissatisfaction and displeasure.
But at this moment, all dissatisfaction and displeasure vanished, replaced by nothing but admiration!
Damn, so Ye Zhen hadn’t used his real strength in their battles, he had been holding back.
Both Changsun Ran and Gao Xinglie were sure, had Ye Zhen employed the Wind Cloud Sword Technique right from the start, neither of them would have lasted even half a move against him.
Fan Chuyu, who had been full of anticipation, was now dumbstruck, as if struck by lightning.
"My heavens, to think that someone in the late-stage Soul Summoning could defeat an early-stage Spirit Transformation Realm! If his cultivation breaks through to the Spirit Transformation Realm, that would truly be something!" Mei Yuanju exclaimed.
Wuw Mingda, who had previously considered Ye Zhen might win, now smiled wryly. He had imagined that Ye Zhen might win, but in his mind, it was to be after a mutually damaging fight, with Ye Zhen barely securing a victory.
Not in this manner, nearly slaying Qu Zhanqian!
True Inheritor Luv Xin’s face was also full of astonishment.
"Ah...."
When Sect Leader Guo Qijing cleared the rampaging Ice Fiend Qi from Qu Zhanqian’s body, he let out a long sigh.
This deep sigh immediately dispelled any resentment Ye Zhen had toward Sect Leader Guo Qijing for stopping him from killing Qu Zhanqian.
Guo Qijing’s sigh made Ye Zhen understand that in Sect Leader Guo Qijing’s eyes, whether it was the meteorically rising Ye Zhen or Qu Zhanqian, who had advanced his cultivation to the Spirit Transformation Realm and was just one ceremony away from becoming a True Disciple, both were pillars of the Qiyun Sect!
The true measure of a sect’s strength is not how powerful its Sect Master or the Sect Elders are, nor how many disciples it has, but the number of True Disciples.
True Disciples are the future backbone of a sect.
In the eyes of Sect Leader Guo Qijing, both Ye Zhen and Qu Zhanqian are equally important.
Sect Leader Guo Qijing was aware of the enmity between Ye Zhen and Qu Zhanqian, so during their fierce battle, he was always ready to intervene at a moment’s notice, in case anything unexpected happened.
He was unwilling to see either of them harmed during their conflict.
If the battle had turned against Ye Zhen, Sect Leader Guo Qijing would have intervened without hesitation.
However, even with constant readiness, he was still a moment too slow.
A step slow, and all steps follow!
The Ice Fiend Qi that Ye Zhen struck into Qu Zhanqian’s right shoulder spread at an unprecedented speed due to the direct hit to the body.
By the time Guo Qijing intervened, it was already too late.
At that moment, Hong Banjiang also rushed onto the Martial Combat Platform, seeing this, Ye Zhen cautiously retreated to stand beside Sect Leader Guo Qijing.
This was the first time that Ye Zhen had used the Ice Fiend Qi in actual combat, and he did not know the condition of Qu Zhanqian, but from the look on Sect Leader Guo Qijing’s face, things seemed very grim.
Stretching out his hand, Fifth Elder Hong Banjiang’s eyebrows immediately stood on end, and a color of deep sorrow quickly spread across his cheeks.
"Sect Leader, fratricide is a great taboo of the Qiyun Sect! And this traitor Ye Zhen has publicly harmed a fellow disciple during the sect competition. Sect Leader, this matter must be accounted for to all hundred thousand disciples of the Qiyun Sect!
Otherwise, the dignity of our sect’s rules will be utterly lost!" Fifth Elder Hong Banjiang roared.
Sect Leader Guo Qijing frowned and cast a disapproving glance at Fifth Elder Hong Banjiang, who had made a scene in front of many guests, which was rather insensitive.
This matter was indeed difficult to handle.
Just as Sect Leader Guo Qijing was feeling troubled, Liao Feibai’s angry scolding could be heard.
"Hong, I’ve seen people who are shameless, but never anyone as shameless as you!"
"You tell me, Qu Zhanqian’s cultivation has broken through to the Spirit Transformation Realm, so why has the ceremony for the True Disciple not been held yet?"
"A Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator who only lacks the ceremony to become a True Disciple, yet stoops to participate in an Inner Sect Disciple’s sect competition? What ulterior motives could you have? Do you think everyone here is a fool?"
"What exactly is Qu Zhanqian trying to do? Who doesn’t know?"
"Isn’t it just to act shamelessly and use the sect competition as a chance to take advantage of his cultivation and avenge his severed arm! Now see, it serves him right that his own schemes backfired.
But you, old man, instead of preventing it when it was obvious, now come to blame Ye Zhen!"
"Come on then, I’ll fight you for three hundred rounds and see if you dare to hold back when we fight desperately! Believe it or not, if you dare to hold back even a little, I could punch a few holes through you!"
After a flurry of scolding like rapid gunfire, which left Hong Banjiang speechless, it also extinguished the fire that had just been ignited in the hearts of many disciples.
Right, Senior Brother Qu is already in the Spirit Transformation Realm, yet he chose to participate in the sect competition, which doesn’t make sense!
He surely had nefarious motives, such as using this opportunity to take revenge for his severed arm.
The audience’s eyes are sharp, they all saw Qu Zhanqian’s frenzied assault.
Moreover, if Qu Zhanqian had not harbored evil intentions and participated in the sect competition, would today’s disaster have occurred?
Suddenly, the many disciples started to view Ye Zhen and Qu Zhanqian differently; it turned out that Senior Brother Qu was the real villain.
However, Qu Zhanqian no longer cared about all these changes.
Lying there half-reclined, Qu Zhanqian’s gaze was vacant, staring dully at the sky.
Words such as cast down from the heavens, or heaven and earth turned upside down, were insufficient to describe Qu Zhanqian’s current feelings.
Although Sect Leader Guo Qijing had not specified how severe his injuries were, Qu Zhanqian knew himself best.
His entire right arm, right shoulder, and even most of his right chest felt nonexistent, making breathing very difficult.
Even his heart only beat powerfully because of a trace of Spiritual Power left by Sect Leader Guo Qijing.
The power of the Ice Fiend Qi that entered his flesh was too great; within moments it had destroyed everything around the wound, including his heart!
If he lost his left hand, he would still have his right arm!
If he lost his right arm, he would still have his legs!
But what if his heart failed...
With an overwhelming rush of emotions, all went dark before Qu Zhanqian’s eyes, and he fainted.
"The just battle was indeed dangerous, Ye Zhen, though weaker, had triumphed over the stronger, it was truly hard to hold back, alas, it’s my fault..." Sect Leader Guo Qijing reproached himself, effectively smoothing things over.
As he spoke, he sighed softly looking at the unconscious Qu Zhanqian, "Elder Hong, take Qu Zhanqian back first, let him rest well. If any medicinal materials are needed, take them from the sect’s storehouse."
Having said this, Sect Leader Guo Qijing turned to Seventh Elder Zhongli Jing and commanded, "Elder Zhong, continue!"
"Hmph!"
With a cold snort, Fifth Elder Hong Banjiang glared fiercely at Ye Zhen like daggers from his eyes before carrying Qu Zhanqian away!
Cough!
Clearing his throat, Seventh Elder Zhongli Jing spoke.
"This sect competition concludes with this event, I will now announce the rankings and distribute the rewards!" (To be continued. If you like this story, you are welcome to vote and support on Qidian.com. Your support is the greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)

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