HPDBC Chapter 1219: First Battle
Chapter 1219: First Battle
Chapter 1219: First Battle
Han Li swept his gaze over the platform to discover that all of the noteworthy names that Zhou Xianyang had mentioned were present, including the likes of Luo Yuanshan of the Azure Remorse Forest, Celestial Maiden Ziluo, and of course, Sikong Jian of the Lone Sun Peak.
The spectators on the plaza were clearly also not fans of this course of action, and a chorus of boos rang out across the plaza.
Sikong Jian remained completely unfazed, and despite all the boos that were ringing out, everyone also couldn't help but be a little envious of his shamelessness. After all, if he could successfully obtain a Bodhi Token, then his shamelessness would be completely vindicated.
Overall, this was not a bad gamble to make for Sikong Jian.
"Sect Leader Zhou, if Fellow Daoist Chang manages to draw Sikong Jian, then he'd better make sure to come out on top. That way, not only will the Lone Sun Peak's reputation be razed to the ground, you'll also be able to give him some well-deserved payback," Zhao Yuanlai said with a smile.
"We can't count on such coincidences," Zhou Xianyang replied with a smile, and while defeating Sikong Jian would certainly be a very sweet victory, he was still hoping that Han Li wouldn't have to face him in battle.
After all, as a sect leader, Sikong Jian was going to be more powerful than most, if not all of the other competitors, and he was renowned for his insidious and devious character, so everyone else was naturally hoping not to have to face.
"I have here ninety-six numbered balls. Each of you will pick one, and the number you pick will be assigned to you. Number one will face number ninety-six, number two will face number ninety-five, and so on. Understood?" the officiating elder asked.
"Understood," all of the competitors answered in unison.
"Begin," the elder declared as he tossed the ninety-six numbered balls up into the air, and they began to glow like radiant stars as they hung above everyone's heads.
All of the competitors swept a sleeve through the air to each draw a ball into their grasp, and after claiming a ball for himself, Han Li injected a wisp of immortal spiritual power into it, upon which the number "ninety-one" was revealed.
Everyone else soon unveiled their numbers as well, and given that Sikong Jian was a hot favorite in the event, many people immediately turned to him to examine his number.
In the face of everyone's scrutiny, Sikong Jian made no effort to hide his own number, raising the ball in his hand up high to reveal the number "ninety" emblazoned upon it.
A loud groan rang out in the crowd, and everyone turned to discover a green-skinned man with a horn on his head, looking at Sikong Jian with utter despair.
Everyone else heaved a collective sigh of relief while also feeling rather sympathetic of Sikong Jian's unfortunate opponent.
"What's your number, Fellow Daoist Chang?" Zhao Bolao asked with a smile.
Han Li showed him the ball in his hand, and Zhao Bolao's expression instantly stiffened as he raised his own ball, which was marked with the number "six".
"Fate truly is a cruel mistress," Zhao Bolao said with a wry smile, but he was struggling to hide the elation in his eyes.
Many years ago, the patriarch of the Nine Origins Temple had analyzed the future state of the True Immortal Realm, and his predictions were gradually beginning to materialize.
Right at this moment, another wave of thunderous cheers rang out as the officiating elder announced the commencement of the battles.
"Please pardon me, Brother Bolao," Han Li said as he cupped his fist in a salute toward Zhao Bolao.
"Go ahead, Fellow Daoist Chang," Zhao Bolao replied as he returned the salute, then swept a sleeve through the air to conjure up a white light barrier that encompassed the entire platform.
The light barrier was flashing incessantly while countless six-tipped snowflake designs roamed over its surface, presenting a breathtaking sight to behold.
"Your command over the laws of ice is truly remarkable, Brother Bolao," Han Li praised with a smile.
"I've never faced a Profound Immortal of your caliber, so this is an eye-opening experience for both of us," Zhao Bolao said he swept both sleeves through the air, and wisps of glacial qi rose up from the platform, while a layer of blue frost quickly spread over the ground underfoot.
Han Li stomped a foot heavily down onto the ground, sending a burst of white energy erupting in all directions, and the converging blue frost was instantly pulverized into dust.
Zhao Bolao remained unfazed as another wave of glacial qi rose up from the ground at his behest, and a series of ice spikes emerged from the platform, pointing up at the sky like a collection of sharp spears.
Several hundred profound acupoints lit up over Han Li's body as he sprang up into the air, and Zhao Bolao immediately set off after him in pursuit with a blue spear in his grasp, appearing behind Han Li in the blink of an eye before thrusting the spear toward the center of his back.
Han Li could easily evade the attack with his speed, but given that he was currently supposed to be Chang Qi, displaying excessive speed would arouse suspicions, so he lowered his own center of gravity, standing on a pair of ice spikes as he allowed the blue spear to strike his shoulder from behind.
Even though Zhao Bolao's attack had missed Han Li's vital regions, the former was very quick to adapt to the situation, releasing a rapid torrent of immortal spiritual power into his blue spear.
A burst of radiant, blue light instantly erupted out of the tip of the spear, culminating in a glacial, blue flame that froze Han Li's entire arm and half of his shoulder solid.
"My apologies, Fellow Daoist Chang," Zhao Bolao said, but he was unable to suppress a smile.
With a forceful flick of his spear, the ice that had encased Han Li's arm was instantly shattered, and Han Li felt a numb sensation run through his arm, but aside from that, he was completely unscathed.
Zhao Bolao had expected Han Li's arm to have been shattered along with the ice that it had been encased in, and he was stunned to discover that this was not the case.
"You may be unfamiliar with Profound Immortals like myself, Brother Bolao. Our bodies are our best weapons, so we're a lot hardier than the average cultivator," Han Li said with a warm smile as a series of profound acupoints lit up over his arm, following which he threw a punch at Zhao Bolao.
He was imitating Chang Qi by releasing his power from his bones, and his entire arm looked as if it had been basked in a layer of white starlight.