Cohabitation with Sword Spirit-Chapter 205 - 172: If You Have No Money, What Do You Have Left?
December 25, 2017
The match between Qian Yue and Li Chaolu also drew a large crowd.
However, unlike those enthusiastic about immortal cultivation sports and expecting high-level performances, most of the audience came to watch a catfight between the girls.
The love-hate rivalry between these two adversaries has become a well-known story in Qingyun City, attracting many followers.
Their conflict became public in July when Wang Jiu's reputation began to spread in small circles, and fans spontaneously formed clubs. The young ladies entered a full-blown war over the title of number one fan, each sparing no effort to strike at their rival in every field. Li Wanqing, leveraging her identity as a member of the Li Family, seemingly held an advantage on the surface. However, Qian Yue was not to be outdone, always finding ways to release scandalous rumors that turned the tables and infuriated her father.
Yet, no matter how intense their rivalry became, it was confined to a competitive level. Now that both are arranged to be in the same arena, where they can blatantly use immortal techniques for mutual assault, it has become a blatant war.
It really makes one anticipate their methods. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎
In fact, this battle has been eagerly awaited by many, long before Wang Jiu's appearance. These two had already been engaged in open and secret struggles for various reasons, including but not limited to the purchase and use of certain fashionable items, dominance within small circles, rankings on the most adorable girl list, etc.
Coupled with the background of the past century, where the Qian Family rose and the Li Family waned, many have predicted that a confrontation between these two was inevitable.
Now, the fires of war have finally descended.
——
With the referee's shout to start the match, Li Chaolu was the first to strike without any courtesy, a streak of blush pink light flashing as she swiftly approached Qian Yue's face, catching the Cloud Surge Realm early-stage Qian Yue off guard with her speed.
Assault Sword, Ephemeral Bloom Flash.
Having undergone repeated polishing in the Inner Sect Special Training class, the Hundred Flowers Swordsmanship had now reached mastery. Compared to a few months ago, Li Chaolu's speed with the Ephemeral Bloom Flash was almost twice as fast.
Even though her True Essence Realm lagged behind Qian Yue's by a lot, in terms of pure speed, Li Chaolu had enough confidence to be superior!
Clang!
After a crisp sound, Qian Yue retreated two steps awkwardly, two broken gold coins floating before her and quickly turning into dust.
This was the Qian Family's inherited secret technique, the protective Golden Scale Armor. By condensing fortune with True Essence, wealth is directly transformed into utility, similar in nature to Qiankun Throw, although this move leaned more defensive.
With Qian Yue's current cultivation level, she could simultaneously refine 12 gold coins, each able to withstand a full-force strike from an early-stage Cloud Surge Realm cultivator.
With a single strike, Li Chaolu pierced through two gold coins with her Wind-Rising Realm True Essence level, showcasing the power of the Assault Hundred Flowers Sword. On the other hand, Qian Yue's 12 protective gold coins' defense was vividly demonstrated.
Li Chaolu had anticipated this long ago. Failing with one strike, she did not rush to pursue, and immediately stepped back to disengage without any attachment to the fight.
The next moment, a thousand golden raindrops fell from above, striking the thin membrane covering the surface, creating continuous ripples.
If she had stayed in place, this golden rain would have left her in a sorry state, and while not necessarily defeated, she certainly would have lost the initiative.
Qian Yue raised an eyebrow and clicked her tongue.
Li Chaolu actually avoided it... what a pity, she had deliberately pretended to be caught off guard and sacrificed two precious Golden Scale Coins to lure the opponent into staying and fighting, but unexpectedly, Li Chaolu was so vigilant.
After pulling away, Li Chaolu sneered: "Didn't expect I already guessed your next move, did you?"
Qian Yue snorted, rotating her True Essence, sending another golden rain roaring forth. Li Chaolu's expression slightly changed as she spread her Hundred Flowers Sword, dodging and blocking without letting a drop through.
However, Qian Yue didn't care whether her offensive was effective, continually operating her True Essence, refining Spirit Stones from her bag, transforming it into a golden rain more overwhelming than a floral downpour, launching an indiscriminate coverage strike. Within no time, wave after wave of golden rain bloomed throughout the arena, creating an astounding visual effect.
Yet among the audience, some frowned.
Such uninhibited, large-scale attacks, not to mention the Spirit Stone consumption, the True Essence consumption was far from ordinary. Even though Qian Yue was more than a year older than Li Chaolu and her True Essence Realm was several steps higher, she could not indefinitely withstand such profligate use, could she?
Indeed, the continuous barrage of golden rain brought such great depletion, and after merely a quarter of an hour, Qian Yue was already noticeably out of breath, her cheeks flushed.
On the other hand, Li Chaolu's condition was visibly worse, her chest heaving with intense breaths, Ephemeral Bloom Flash long disused, her body technique evidently slowed considerably... even getting brushed by a falling golden raindrop on the shoulder, shaking out a semi-illusory protective petal.
With a smile on her face, Qian Yue said, "What, can't hold out any longer? So weak, how are you going to serve Mr. Wang Jiu in the future?"
Li Chaolu lifted her chest: "No matter how weak, I can last longer than you!"
After saying this, Li Chaolu directly launched Ephemeral Bloom Flash, stepping in front of Qian Yue, aiming a stab with her long sword, catching Qian Yue off guard, directly breaking one protective Golden Scale Coin.
Qian Yue immediately countered by releasing two golden snakes, which tore through the air, forcing Li Chaolu back.
"Hey, why are the golden snakes so small now? Is your golden rain used up?" Li Chaolu panted as she taunted.
Qian Yue retorted, "Begging on the battlefield, aren't you embarrassed?! Fine, since you're so sincerely pleading, I'll grant you one more grand fortune!"
With that, Qian Yue took a breath and continued pouring down golden rain over her opponent. Li Chaolu's gaze stiffened, and she had to employ her body technique and swordsmanship, both blocking and countering, to keep going.
Being a year younger, with a significantly lower True Essence Realm, the disadvantages were huge in actual combat... Even though Qian Yue could squander True Essence like a tycoon, she could still hold on longer than her.
The Assault Type Hundred Flowers Sword, despite its unique advantages in burst and speed, allowed a Wind-Rising Realm cultivator like her to contend with Qian Yue, who was nearing mid-Cloud Surge Realm, for a long time. But on the other hand, the consumption of the Assault Type Hundred Flowers Sword was also considerable... If not for her well-preparedness for this Cyan Cloud tournament, she might not have endured to this point.
Of course, from another perspective, lasting to this moment can actually be considered a victory for Li Chaolu.
Qian Yue, despite having advantages in all aspects, was led by Li Chaolu into a protracted battle, which actually signified a misstep.
But such a result, where there is glory in defeat and failure in victory, is certainly unsatisfactory for both sides.
So even as the situation became increasingly passive, Li Chaolu persevered relentlessly.
A quarter of an hour, two quarters, under the gaping stares of countless spectators, half an hour passed before the battle finally approached its end.
By this time, the scene on the battlefield was beyond bleak.
Qian Yue's golden rain from above had long dried up, both golden snakes becoming sluggish, and she herself was as pale as paper, almost shaking to her core.
On the other side, Li Chaolu was even more disheveled, continuously breaking into cold sweat, and even dark blood trickled from her mouth, clearly the result of True Essence depletion and backlash on her body. Although not severely injured, scuffs were numerous, her clothes appeared somewhat messy and disheveled—yet still decently covered—truly exhibiting exhaustion to the utmost degree.
The referee had long furrowed his brows, intensely focused on these two girls. At this point, neither could stop with ease, as victory and life might soon intertwine closely, so he had to make a timely judgment to prevent severe casualties.
On the other hand, Qian Yue really didn't want to keep tearing at Li Chaolu anymore, and aggressively taunted: "...Clinging to the bitter end, do you think you look good like this, or that it will win you Mr. Wang Jiu's favor? Conceding earlier would make you seem more graceful!"
Li Chaolu panted, "What, out of Spirit Stones to make moves, just left with smack talk? Haha, Yue Tycoon, if you've squandered all your wealth, what's left for you?"
"Three properties in Qingyun City, two in Heaven-Reaching City, three at Feiyan Mountain, five shops in Qingyun City, control over five large merchant corporations behind the scenes, and lastly, a high-rank inheritance right from the vast assets of the Qian Family."
"..."
"Ha, that expression suits you. How about I help say what's in your heart: Damn rich people!"
