MSBITRS Chapter 75 V2

The boundary is set at the plaza before the hall. As per Dragon Palace’s prior rules—stepping out of bounds counts as a loss.

No lethal treasures are allowed.”

Both Ao Yi and Li Changshou agreed.

Ao Yi then set aside his spirit sword, reached into his robes, and pulled out a pair of silver-white gloves, slowly putting them on.

Then, he turned and cupped his hands toward five Jin’ao Island Heaven Immortals, requesting:

“Senior Brother, please seal my cultivation at the Seventh Stage Nascent Soul Realm.”

“Very well,” a middle-aged Daoist nodded, drawing a talisman in the air and pressing it onto Ao Yi’s body.

Instantly, Ao Yi’s aura dropped.

“This seal will last for one hour.”

“Thank you, Senior Brother.”

With that, Ao Yi and Li Changshou stepped into the sparring area, standing fifteen zhang apart, their auras locking onto each other.

Suddenly, a voice called out:

“Senior Brother Changshou!”

Li Changshou glanced over—it was Youqin Xuanya, clad in a flowing red dress, watching him anxiously from the hall’s entrance.

“Don’t push yourself too hard.”

“Mm.” Li Changshou smiled and nodded politely.

Then, turning back to Ao Yi, he said:

“Prince Ao Yi, today’s battle is different from our duel at the Demon Conference.

I may not win fairly.”

Ao Yi’s youthful face was filled with guilt as he replied in a clear, gentle voice:

“Please, do not hold back.”

Li Changshou nodded, adjusted his robes, and made a courteous gesture of invitation.

The battle began.

But in his heart, he had already made his decision—

He would fight steadily but cunningly.

A calculated victory, revealing as little as possible.

Ao Yi took a deep breath, his expression growing serious as clusters of mystical ice flames ignited around him.

From Li Changshou’s sleeve, yellow paper talismans shot out, scattering into the air. In an instant, over a hundred talismans filled the battlefield.

Ao Yi had seen this technique before, but now, he could sense that these talismans were far stronger than the last time.

He halted his steps for a brief moment before dashing forward, his body skimming just above the ground. The ice flames around him transformed into dragon-shaped shadows, circling him protectively as he charged straight toward Li Changshou.

But this time, Li Changshou didn’t dodge or maneuver away. Instead, he stood there calmly, rapidly chanting an incantation. His words blurred together, his voice resembling a melodic hum.

Ao Yi closed in!

With a punch carrying the power to shatter mountains, he swung straight for Li Changshou’s chest. However, just as Ao Yi furrowed his brows, preparing to retract his strike at a moment’s notice…

Whoosh!

Li Changshou suddenly sank into the ground as if he were diving into water.

Earth Escape Technique!

Ever since his trip to the Northern Continent, where he used Earth Escape to save Youqin Xuanya twice, this technique has already become well known within the sect. Now, Li Changshou could use it openly without hesitation.

Ao Yi’s punch hit nothing but air. His body lurched forward, stumbling ten steps ahead.

He spun around just in time to see the yellow talismans forming an array. One after another, fiery explosions erupted around him!

Although these flames were merely basic spell fire, when empowered by Li Changshou’s simulated Nascent Soul-level mana, their force became far more formidable than before.

Ao Yi crossed his arms, shielding his face as he twisted and turned, dodging as best he could—yet he was still struck repeatedly by the barrage of flames.

Meanwhile, underground, Li Changshou moved silently like a lurking predator, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

He could afford to win. He could afford to lose. To him, the result didn’t matter.

What mattered was how he won—or how he lost.

If he engaged in a direct clash, battling Ao Yi head-on, he would leave a strong impression in the minds of his fellow disciples, whether he won or lost.

But if he relied on Earth Escape and talismans, avoiding confrontation, then even if he won, it would seem like nothing more than a lucky trick. No one would think of him as some grand hero.

…Well, except for the toxin cultivator. That guy was an outlier and didn’t count.

Even if this strategy earned him a few unfavorable opinions, it didn’t matter.

All he wanted was for this event to end quickly, so he could return to his peaceful cultivation life.

So…

Apologies, little dragon.

The talisman array continued its fiery onslaught, making Ao Yi look more and more disheveled, though not severely injured.

Growing increasingly anxious, Ao Yi desperately searched for Li Changshou’s presence.

The ground remained eerily still, except for a faint trace of residual energy…

There!

Ao Yi lunged forward and smashed his fist into the ground, shattering it into a deep crater.

Yet, Li Changshou was nowhere to be found.

At that very moment, a hand quietly emerged from behind Ao Yi, clutching a sharp enchanted dagger.

Stab!

A small arc of blood spurted out.

Ao Yi instinctively leaped away, his head snapping around just in time to see the hand retreating into the ground.

A chill ran down his spine.

He swiftly swung a palm strike toward the ground—but once again, his attack hit nothing but space.

Frustrated, he launched himself into the air!

But Li Changshou had been expecting this.

More talismans had already been prepared above. Without warning, dozens of them activated, unleashing a barrage of fiery explosions. The sheer force knocked Ao Yi out of the sky, sending him crashing to the ground.

This time, the flames contained a hint of True Yang Fire, burning Ao Yi’s skin and leaving scorch marks across his body.

It was a carefully controlled flame, created by Li Changshou combining his Qi Flame with a strand of his essence.

A perfectly calibrated version of Three-True Flame!

As soon as Ao Yi hit the ground, another hand emerged from his blind spot.

This time, it held a short sword aimed directly at the back of his knee.

Stab!

Another thin streak of blood shot out!

From the grand hall, several elders chuckled softly.

Ao Yi turned his head, fury blazing in his eyes—but the hand had already vanished underground once more.

His handsome features twisted into a scowl. Gritting his teeth, he sensed another trace of energy in the ground and immediately threw another devastating punch, blasting another deep crater into the stone floor.

The sect’s grand plaza had been paved with refined stone, reinforced for durability.

Yet despite having his cultivation sealed, Ao Yi could still punch through it with brute force—an impressive feat that even made some of the immortals watching nod in approval.