High-Martial World: System Arrives 30 Years Late-Chapter 346 - 288: Enemies Meet on a Narrow Road—Dao 9’s Blade and Ye Wanqing’s Breathing Technique

Chapter 346: Chapter 288: Enemies Meet on a Narrow Road—Dao 9’s Blade and Ye Wanqing’s Breathing Technique

The news that Su Mu defeated Gu Xing from Overlord Blade Saint Martial Hall with one move at the mid-mountain hotel spread across Celestial Cloud Mountain like wildfire.

Zhao Dong, one of the three main judges, chuckled upon hearing the news.

"Defeating someone from the Ba Dao Martial Arts Hall in just one move, it seems Su Mu truly gained a lot from his time in the Beast Cave relics."

"I’ve always heard Hong Lie mention that Su Mu is a fighter; now I truly see it."

"This stage of the tournament was set up for Su Mu. Yesterday, my Southern War Zone’s people lost; I hope today Su Mu can bring a surprise for the Southern War Zone. However, his true opponents this time aren’t just Ye Wanqing..."

"There’s still a Martial Saint disciple in the arena."

Amidst the surging clouds, people from all directions gathered at the top plaza of Celestial Cloud Mountain.

As soon as Su Mu appeared, he felt numerous heated gazes fixed on him. This level of attention was in no way inferior to the thousand kun and thousand ape frenzy yesterday, perhaps even surpassing it.

"I heard Su Mu recently defeated Gu Xing in one move. Isn’t that strength a bit exaggerated? Unfortunately, I was warming up on the mountain path then and missed it."

"Su Mu is undeniably strong, but I don’t think Su Mu is as terrifying as everyone imagines. I was present then, and in my opinion, the main reason was Gu Xing’s carelessness; after all, who would have thought Su Mu would strike so suddenly."

"That’s true. The draw is about to start. If Su Mu gets paired against Gu Xing from the Overlord Blade Saint Martial Hall, that would be exciting; there’s going to be a good show!"

The crowd watching was abuzz with discussions, many eagerly anticipating the draw, reveling in the thrill of the spectacle.

"Today’s battle will determine the true number one of the Celestial Pride List. It will employ an elimination format. Let the draw begin!"

Following the announcement by Grandmaster Lu Heng of the Huaxia Martial Arts Association from the organizer’s seat, several spirited figures stepped out from various factions.

Su Mu, Ye Wanqing.

Li Huo from the Huaxia Martial Arts Association.

Fan Zhen from the Southern War Zone.

Ye Qingyu, Ye Wufeng from the Ye Family.

Dao Jiu, Gu Xing from Overlord Blade Saint Martial Hall.

Gu Chen, ranked third on the Celestial Pride List.

Saint Martial Grand Sima Ji, Gongsun Wen, Wu Heng from Saint Martial University.

The grand procession numbered in the hundreds, but by the end of today, only twelve would remain. Originally, several had the qualifications to directly participate in today’s contest, but like Gu Chen, they opted out and participated in yesterday’s battle instead.

Among them, only Gu Chen emerged victorious from yesterday’s intense and brutal competition; the rest all fell.

"They went straight for an elimination format, and it looks like both Su Mu and Ye Wanqing will participate. This is getting interesting."

"Indeed, this South China Martial Arts Exchange was initially set up for a battle between those two. If either fails to reach the final but gets eliminated midway, that would be quite the entertainment."

"You shouldn’t rule it out; there’s a genuine Martial Saint disciple in this exchange. If someone’s unlucky enough to face them early on, being eliminated is a real possibility."

"But if both get eliminated, that would be even more entertaining!"

Su Mu stood up and slowly made his way to the stage. This elimination format was just what he wanted; it would serve as a good warm-up. He could hardly contain the heat surging within his boiling blood.

Su Mu and Ye Wanqing were the first to draw a black metal ball from a box.

They unscrewed the metal ball, revealing a slip of paper with their opponent’s name.

Su Mu glanced at the slip, a hint of amusement crossed his eyes, then handed it to the judge beside him for announcement.

"Sixth Match: Su Mu from the Southern War Zone vs. Gu Xing from Overlord Blade Saint Martial Hall!"

As soon as the draw result was announced, the crowd erupted in an uproar. Many spectators wore expressions of eager anticipation, ready for the show.

"So, they’re facing off directly, really like enmity finds a narrow path."

"Haha, could it be that the organizers did this on purpose?"

"Anyway, there’s going to be a good show. Gu Xing suffered a significant loss to Su Mu, and given the Overlord Blade Saint Martial Hall’s usual aggressive style, Gu Xing might really go all out this time."

At the same time, Su Mu felt a venomous gaze filled with fury and murderous intent from beside him. He didn’t need to look to know it was from Gu Xing.

At this moment, a mischievous thought entered Su Mu’s mind.

He immediately smiled, formed his hand into a blade, and slid it across his neck towards Gu Xing.

"Bastard, you’re courting death! I’ll kill you later!"

Seeing this, Gu Xing’s eyes almost popped out of his head, seething with rage, and a fierce blade momentum surged from his body.

Instead, Su Mu simply smiled.

"Alright, I’ll be waiting."

After the draw concluded, Gu Xing clenched his fists tightly. To him, Su Mu was undoubtedly a small-minded opportunist—keeping silent in front of Master Sima, pathetic indeed.

Yet now, with people from the Southern War Zone present, Su Mu was acting so arrogantly. This two-faced nature made Gu Xing’s eyes almost blaze with fire.

The crowd from Overlord Blade Saint Martial Hall all frowned at Su Mu’s smiling face, while Dao Jiu, silent all along, showed a hint of disappointment watching Su Mu on stage.

His gaze then shifted from Su Mu to the people from the Ye Family.

On witnessing this, Sima Lin sneered inwardly. He wasn’t mistaken about Su Mu; seeing him now, it was clear Su Mu was just so-so, bullying the weak while fearing the strong. Being under the favor of Qingfeng Martial Saint was just a stroke of luck; nothing more.

"Gu Xing, here’s your chance."

"I’ll definitely kill him," Gu Xing intently glared at Su Mu.

Soon, the first match began, an internal battle among Saint Martial students. Sima Ji from Northwest Saint Martial University faced off against Wu Heng from Central Plains Saint Martial University.

Upon the referee’s announcement, the bout began. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Their two figures, each crowned with three powerful Three Flowers, instantly clashed over a distance of hundreds of meters.

Clang clang clang.

Cold weapons violently collided, producing a fierce clamor of clashing metal.

Their two spiritual powers stirred the Power of Heaven and Earth into chaos, the turbulent forces filled the entire field. With each breath, their silhouettes intertwined constantly, both being the current head students of their respective universities, matched in strength.

Ultimately, Sima Ji gained the upper hand, seizing the opportunity to defeat Wu Heng.

"Thank you for letting me win."

Sima Ji retracted his black long spear, cupped his hand respectfully.

"In this battle, Sima Ji from Northwest Saint Martial University emerges victorious!"

The competition continues, with the second match between Dao Jiu from Overlord Blade Saint Martial Hall and Gongsun Wen from South China Saint Martial University.

"Finally, it’s Dao Jiu’s turn to go on stage!"

"The strength of a Martial Saint disciple must be terrifying. I’m really looking forward to it."

Dao Jiu, clad in a black martial robe, ascends the stage, immediately attracting the attention of everyone. Bai Ji, who is broadcasting live, immediately gives Dao Jiu a close-up.

At this moment, Bai Ji also looks up at the sky. The black mist enveloping Celestial Cloud Mountain is even more terrifying today.

Today she arranged for a separate camera to focus on Su Mu, but there’s a difference: this camera feed will not be broadcast live, as Su Mu requested last night.

Bai Ji speculates it’s related to some exclusive blockbuster news from their deal. Although puzzled, she complies.

Compared to Dao Jiu’s calm demeanor, Gongsun Wen, the current leader of South China Saint Martial University, looks pale. He’s filled with regret, considering this draw extremely unlucky.

Before departure, his teacher prepared a killing move for him, enough to pose a threat even to a Grandmaster. Originally, if facing others, he might have a chance, but Dao Jiu is a genuine Martial Saint disciple!

"Never mind, even if Dao Jiu is a Martial Saint disciple, taking my move should still cost him."

Gongsun Wen steels his mind.

Then...

Clang!

After a heavy, resonant sword cry, a solid and terrifying sword momentum emerges. An overwhelmingly domineering sword light instantly dismantles Gongsun Wen’s trump card.

"This, how is this possible?!"

The sword light brushes past Gongsun Wen’s side, cutting off his hair.

Clang.

The long sword in Gongsun Wen’s hand falls to the ground.

His face freezes, eyes contracting fiercely, filled with disbelief.

Gongsun Wen knows he’s no match for the Martial Saint disciple Dao Jiu, but never expected the gap between them to be as vast as heaven and earth.

The side-glancing sword momentum hasn’t fully dissipated yet, pervading the air, making Gongsun Wen’s left cheek burn painfully.

If Dao Jiu wanted.

The previous strike would have been enough to kill him on the spot.

"Thank you for letting me win."

Dao Jiu doesn’t give Gongsun Wen a glance, with eyes only for his sword. He meticulously sheathes the sword, producing another resonant sword cry as the wholly black, ancient and domineering sword is sheathed.

"What a terrifying strike."

"Wow, such strength. It’s too powerful, defeating Gongsun Wen in a single move. They’re saying Gongsun Wen is the strongest of the three Saints Martial University participants."

"No wonder it’s Overlord Blade Saint Martial Hall, no wonder it’s a Martial Saint disciple."

Earlier, when everyone heard that Gu Xing was subdued by Su Mu in one move, some took pleasure in the misfortune, but Dao Jiu’s strike thoroughly silenced their criticism of Overlord Blade Saint Martial Hall.

The profound foundation of Saint Martial Hall is beyond their questioning.

"The Great Success Blade Momentum... wasn’t just recently achieved."

"Mastery in sword technique should have just broken through the third realm of mastery not long ago."

Su Mu felt surprised, as this is his first time sensing the Great Success Blade Momentum from another.

"And, there’s a Grandmaster-level sword."

It’s also Su Mu’s first time seeing a Grandmaster-level weapon. Now he understands that Tier Eight Grandmaster weapons are currently the strongest weapons humans can forge.

Previously, Su Mu would have felt desire and fear, but now his flesh has undergone a second full transformation, and the Fixed Star Body Refining Technique has reached the second stage.

His blade momentum has also broken through the eighth level, just a step away from Peak Blade Momentum. Su Mu doesn’t need any Divine Soldiers or sharp weapons; an ordinary blade in his hand can exert power comparable to a Grandmaster-level weapon.

Enough with a Cold Moon and a Red Flame.

"The third match, Ye Wanqing from the Ye Family versus Fan Zhen from the Southern War Zone."

As soon as the words fall, the venue erupts again. Many people just returned from Dao Jiu’s stunning move and saw Ye Wanqing taking the stage, exclaiming in excitement.

Leader Zhao Dong pats Fan Zhen on the shoulder, "Fight with all your might, don’t worry about the outcome."

"Understood, Leader!"

An ice-cold long spear cuts through the air, forming a frosty path.

The gap in their strength is vast, and Fan Zhen on stage suffers defeat as soon as he enters the arena. He stands there disenchanted, acknowledging the gap between himself and true geniuses.

"Thank you for letting me win."

Ye Wanqing twirls her spear with a flourish before retracting it. She turns to glance at Su Mu, briefly pausing before fixing her gaze provocatively on Dao Jiu.

"Ye Wanqing’s strength is even more terrifying than before. What happened during this time?" Gu Chen in the audience adopts a solemn expression, feeling a bit dejected. His purpose here is to seek vengeance against Ye Wanqing.

But now it seems that possibility is very bleak.

Because their strength seems no longer in the same league...

And he likely won’t get the chance to challenge Ye Wanqing.

"Dao Jiu just didn’t use the Rule Breathing Technique... Ye Wanqing is stronger in the Rule Breathing Technique than anyone who’s appeared so far, and it seems to suit her flesh well, maybe it’s some kind of innate talent."

Su Mu squints slightly, multitasking, with his Sea of Consciousness’s Crystal Human Form continuing to imprint Dao Jiu’s earlier strike.

Bai Ji gives Ye Wanqing a close-up, then approaches. Yet, under the terrifying black mist shrouding Su Mu, she can’t see any phenomena from Ye Wanqing.

"In this match, Ye Wanqing from the Ye Family wins!"

The competition continues. In the fourth match, Ye Qingyu easily defeats Li Huo, who fought through over two hundred people yesterday. The fifth match sees Gu Chen narrowly triumph over Ye Wufeng from the Ye Family.

Of yesterday’s three, only Gu Chen remains now, but everyone knows that this celestial pride list third-ranked genius has reached his end in the exchange conference.

"Final match of the first round elimination..."

"Su Mu from the Southern War Zone versus Gu Xing from Overlord Blade Saint Martial Hall."

"Both parties, please get ready!"