Volume 3 Chapter 150 - All Breakthroughs (1/2)

Gu Xichun’s body was stiff and as he heard Xie Rou’s words, his body started to tremble. He did not want to speak and admit defeat.

There was another way to admit defeat, leaving in silence.

But, his sword had fallen by his side. If he left now, he would lose this sword.

For the swordsmen of Changling, this was a great embarrassment.

He did not want to speak, neither did he dare to pull out the sword by his side. It was a dilemma.

Due to this, he stayed where he was.

Most people’s shock had yet to fade. They would have enough patience to see what would develop, but not everyone had patience, especially when the outcome was determined.

Lin Suixin turned slightly and looked at Gu Xichun who trembled but had not moved after Xie Rou’s words. He sneered. “You still do not admit defeat. Do you really want him to stab your, or for me to find a block of tofu?”

Gu Xichun could not ignore Lin Suixin’s words. Thinking of how today’s events would appear in many history books and the expressions people would have when they discussed it, his trembling lips parted slightly and he vomited blood.

Peach flowers appeared to bloom again in front of Gu Xichun.

Gu Xichun looked blankly at the dots of red on the ground. He smiled, a smile that contained unspeakable pain. He could feel the blood reversing and surging in his body.

Ordinary cultivators would attempt to the backflow of blood in their bodies because the blood would backflow through the meridians and cause serious consequences.

But Gu Xichun felt everything was meaningless right now. He had spent so much effort, but let alone defeat Ding Ning, he could not even attack once. What was the meaning in life?

Gu Xichun turned around, distressed. He laughed hoarsely and vomited blood once again. Then, he fell to the ground in an ugly posture.

He did not hesitate in climbing up. He walked several paces, and then fell down again.

Seeing his stumbling figure in the darkness, many students felt there was only a shell left.

“Without defeat, how is there victory? Thinking you could defeat all your opponents using profound sword moves no one had seen before is the greatest fallacy.”

Jin Liuli watched as Gu Xichun’s figure faded into the darkness and shook her head without any sympathy. “This kind of person, even if he studies in Min Mountain Sword Sect, will not achieve anything.”

**

“Little Sect Brother!”

Zhang Yi charged to Ding Ning’s side and started to clumsily clean off the mercury powder stuck to Ding Ning.

Everyone could sense his excitement and joy, as well as the admiration and concern he felt towards his junior sect brother. So no one felt this was inappropriate and he was being too sentimental.

“No need.”

Ding Ning used his sleeve to wipe around his eyes and then shook his head towards Zhang Yi.

Zhang Yi stopped. He looked at Ding Ning’s eyebrows, shook his head and was stubborn for the first time. “If you win again, you will be first. How glorious will it be… How can I allow my junior sect brother to welcome that kind of glory when unkempt?”

“No need.” Ding Ning snook his head again. He looked at the students standing in the distance and slowly said, “Look at them… even if I look extremely slovenly, will they look at me differently?”

Zhang Yi stilled. He looked across the students in the distance.

Seeing their trembling gazes that unconsciously flinched from Ding Ning’s gaze, he started to understand what was different from the start of the trials, and what true glory was.

Zhang Yi thought of Xue Wangxu and choked.

Just one last step.

Everyone looked towards Ye Haoran.

Even without this battle, even if Ding Ning lost to Ye Haoran, Ding Ning would be the legend of the trials. Even after many years, many would remember this wineshop youth and the glory of him and White Goat Cave.

Yet, anyone who saw this legend with their own eyes felt that if he defeated Ye Haoran, the trials which heralded the arrival of the third freak after An Baoshi and Jin Liuli would not be perfect.

There were many in the valley who did not want to see Ding Ning win. Yet they subconsciously wanted to see such a legend. They were in great conflict.

Ding Ning and Zhang Yi’s gaze landed on Ye Haoran.

Among all the students facing Ding Ning, Ye Haoran was the only one who did not avoid Ding Ning’s gaze.

Under everyone’s eyes, this youth from Li Lingjun’s establishment had a calm expression.

“I had not thought you would reach this step,” he looked at Ding Ning and said calmly. “Honestly, when I saw you win against Gu Xichun, I hesitated about fighting you. Then you will completely become a legend. But I just realized that whether or not I did, has no meaning. Since you have enough confidence, even if I will not step aside, I may not win against you. But if I do not, I may see a stronger performance from you.”

Ding Ning nodded and did not respond. Yet Dugu Bai suddenly grew shocked and excited.