Soul Emperor Martial God-Chapter 1684: Xiao Yi Battles Ran Qi

Next day, early morning.

It wasn’t until the sky began to lighten that Xiao Yi left the peak of Sword Mountain.

He spent the whole night gazing at the night sky.

Stars and the bright moon, all within sight.

He watched the stars fade and dim with the thinning night, watched the night reach its peak of intensity just before dawn, and the stars shine their brightest.

Until the moment the first light appeared, the radiance of the stars faded completely.

He also watched the moon slowly drift across the night sky, seemingly following the ultimate truth of heaven and earth, descending in the west and welcoming the sunrise in the east.

After a night of gazing, Xiao Yi felt indescribable.

Only in the cold and solitary night did he feel somewhat warm.

As if... he had found a hint of something he had long been away from and sought for a long time... a certain feeling.

...

In the spectators’ stand.

When Xiao Yi arrived, there were few people in the vast spectators’ area.

Yet the deacons and elders of the Sword Palace were gathered around the Martial Arts Arena.

After a hasty night, a new martial arts arena was rebuilt.

"Vice Hall Master Yi Xiao."

The deacons and elders of Sword Palace made a salute from afar.

Dongli Sword Palace had no affiliation with Demon Hunting Hall, Flame Hall, or Medicine Venerate Hall.

So, it was not a salute of hierarchy, but a salute of respect for the strong.

Xiao Yi nodded, indicating that there was no need for excessive courtesy.

"Young friend Yi Xiao," Ao Donglou flashed over.

"Palace Master Ao." Xiao Yi stood up and cupped his hands in salute.

The two, though they had not fought before, had long formed judgments about each other.

Between the two, they must be martial artists of the same level, hence they have always interacted as peers.

Ao Donglou was about to say something, but upon seeing Xiao Yi’s eyes beneath his mask, his tone suddenly halted.

Ao Donglou didn’t know what had happened.

But he clearly saw that Xiao Yi’s eyes seemed colder and more indifferent than a few days ago.

He couldn’t quite describe this feeling.

He only knew that when he saw those eyes, his heart and body unconsciously trembled slightly.

Compared to the first meeting a few days ago, today’s Vice Hall Master Yi Xiao seemed to carry a mysterious coldness, those initially clear eyes seemed like a profound icy abyss with no end.

"Palace Master Ao, what’s the matter?" Xiao Yi frowned slightly, asking indifferently.

"Oh, nothing." Ao Donglou waved his hand, smiled wryly, "Just came to exchange pleasantries."

Upon hearing Xiao Yi’s words, Ao Donglou’s feeling became more evident.

A few days ago, Yi Xiao’s tone was also cold, but there was still a hint of liveliness.

However, today’s Yi Xiao had completely lost any sign of liveliness in his tone, leaving only pure and extreme indifference.

"I won’t disturb young friend Yi Xiao anymore." Ao Donglou smiled, cupped his hands, and turned to leave.

Xiao Yi remained where he was, cupping his hands and sat down alone.

Around him, he was left alone.

He merely sat casually, without speaking, his body unmoving.

No trace of aura leaked from his body.

But just this was enough to let one feel the endless coldness.

"Nearly there, it’s nearly there."

After a while, he muttered just those few characters.

...

An hour later.

Groups of martial artists gradually arrived at the spectators’ stand.

Soon, the vast stand was once again filled like yesterday, with voices buzzing.

Ran Qi, Ye Liu, and Guu Lianxing, as a few days ago, seated beside him.

Gongsun Huowu was also present.

However, Gongsun Huowu purely sat beside Guu Lianxing out of boredom.

"Hmm?"

At the moment, the four just sat down, Ran Qi and Ye Liu simultaneously looked at Xiao Yi.

The two frowned.

A hint of confusion flashed across their faces, but they remained silent.

After a while.

From the chief of the spectators’ stand, Ao Donglou’s voice spread across the venue.

"The Martial Arts Arena is repaired, the competition begins now."

The Sword Palace referee on the arena heard and took out the list, and after a while, announced loudly the Heavenly Talents stepping onto the stage.

Whoosh... whoosh...

Two figures leaped onto the martial arts arena.

By today, the competition between those second-class forces’ Heavenly Talents had actually concluded.

Those who should have been defeated, were all defeated.

Currently stepping onto the stage, at least those from the first-class forces.

"Yun Yi from Yunfan Sect."

"Lin Lang from Ten Thousand Waters Inheriting Dao Sect."

The two Heavenly Talents cupped their hands in courtesy.

The next moment, the battle was instantly ignited.

Both were Heavenly Talents from first-class forces, with decent strength.

The battle was quite thrilling.

But for all the martial artists watching, after witnessing yesterday’s final battle between Ye Liu and Beiyin Dong, which was extraordinarily thrilling.

Today’s fight, no matter how thrilling, seemed dim in comparison.

No matter how fierce the fight, it seemed to make little interest.

Among the spectators, Xiao Yi, Ran Qi, and Ye Liu needless to say.

For their level, the competition of first-class Heavenly Talents held little to capture interest.

A while later.

The fight between Yun Yi and Lin Lang concluded.

The result ended with Yun Yi narrowly winning by one move.

Whoosh... whoosh...

The two stepped down, and under the Sword Palace referee’s announcement, two new Heavenly Talents took the stage.

In the spectators’ stand.

Ran Qi suddenly stared at Xiao Yi, "It seems it won’t be long before our battle."

Xiao Yi nodded indifferently, "To be precise, today the competition will end completely, and the slots will be finalized."

In the past days, all the Heavenly Talents nearly have had their battles.

And the second-class force’s Heavenly Talents were all defeated.

Among the remaining first-class Heavenly Talents, though quite a few in number, most of their competitions have ended.

What remains are the competitive battles among the Eighteen Mansions’s Talents and other Overlord Force Heavenly Talents.

Hence, unless there are unforeseen circumstances, the struggle for slots will completely conclude today.

Two hours later.

Several rounds of Heavenly Talents competition have ended.

The Sword Palace referee loudly declared, "Next battle, Ran Qi from Heavenly Spear Mansion."

"Opponent, Yi Xiao."

"It’s here." Ran Qi narrowed his eyes first with a sensational battle intent on his face.

Whoosh... with a flash, he first ascended the martial arts arena.

Whoosh... Xiao Yi also turned into a flash of flame, leaping onto the arena.

"Oh? Ran Qi versus Yi Xiao?" Around the spectators’ stand, the originally somewhat dull atmosphere for more than an hour instantly returned to the exclamations and discussions of previous days.

"We’re in for a good show."

"Needless to say for Purple Flame Yi Xiao."

"This Heavenly Spear Ran Qi also isn’t ordinary."

"Ranked second among the Eighteen Mansions’s Talents, and consistently holds the position. Most importantly, this guy is a Martial Arts Fool."

"I’ve heard that throughout these years, he’s been retreating in extreme seclusion, breaking through madly."

"No, no, no, I’ve heard that years ago, in Fangcun Territory, such a small region, these two set an agreed battle."

"Well, well, perhaps this battle will be even more thrilling than yesterday’s final battle." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"That’s hard to say, with Yi Xiao’s extraordinary strength, he’s often known for defeating opponents with a single punch, directly ending the fight."

For a time, around the spectators’ stand, discussions were incessant.

The emotions of the martial artists watching became ever more elevated, as if those about to fight on the martial arts arena were themselves.

...

First update.