Chapter 6678 A Crushing Defeat
BOOM!
That giant astral bell collapsed, exploding like millions of fireworks going off at once. Following that, a wave of destructive power spread outward.
Unable to contain it, the martial stage’s barrier blew apart. As it did, a new barrier appeared outside of it.
One barrier after another rose, only to be destroyed. Eighteen barriers were obliterated in succession. On the nineteenth barrier, this terrifying power finally came to a halt.
Each shattered barrier allowed a trace of that destructive aura to leak out. Though infinitesimal, it was enough for the spectators to taste death in the air.
The martial stage trembled violently. Turbid astral energy churned within it, obscuring everything from view.
Gradually, the astral energy dispersed and purified itself. The scene on the stage became visible once more.
There was a giant hole in the center of the stage, and it now covered most of its surface. The martial stage was ruined.
Li Tianbi and the others lay sprawled along the edges, their bodies twitching as they struggled to rise.
Among them, only Qu Yingying fared slightly better. She crouched in a corner, pale and trembling, but unharmed.
Just moments earlier, she had truly believed she was about to die.
She wasn’t a true fighter, nor did she possess strong defensive abilities. Furthermore, she had already exhausted herself by enhancing everyone else’s astral energy.
When the bell exploded, they could barely protect themselves, so how could they shield Qu Yingying as well? However, just as she thought that she was about to be ripped to shreds, a Starry Sky Battle Robe appeared on top of her.
At first, she assumed it was the martial stage’s protection. But if the martial stage had intervened, it would have meant failure, and she should have been transported out. Instead, she remained on the stage.
Then, Qu Yingying sensed Long Chen’s aura coming from the Starry Sky Battle Robe. She realized that Long Chen had sent it over to protect her.
She was truly baffled. Sending the Starry Sky Battle Robe to someone else? That completely overturned her understanding of that technique.
What she didn’t know was that this wasn’t the true Starry Sky Battle Robe. It possessed only defensive properties, with no offensive power.
After all, this Starry Sky Battle Robe had been sent through Long Chen’s Supreme Bone, and it was fueled by his internal astral energy. If Long Chen had to use the outside world’s astral energy, he wouldn’t be able to do this.
“Damn it...”
Li Tianbi and the others felt as though every bone in their bodies had shattered.
Kuang Qingsheng, ranked fifth among them, spat out blood. He gritted his teeth as rage and resentment burned in his eyes.
Across the giant hole, Long Chen stood unscathed; not even a single hair on his head was out of place.
This scene was unreal.
The top eight Heaven Ranking geniuses—the pride of the Starry River Palace—had joined forces. They were hailed as monstrous existences, future pillars of the Starry River Palace. Together, they had summoned an unprecedented Starry River Demon Suppressing Bell, but they still lost.
It was an absolutely crushing defeat.
Long Chen’s aura barely dropped, which signified that he still had around seventy percent of his power.
“Damn it! If we’ve already lost, why haven’t we been transported out?!” Kuang Qingsheng shouted as he slammed his hand into the ground.
Bloody bricks stained his fingers as madness crept into his voice. “Are we supposed to be humiliated to the very end?!”
The others felt the same.
Was losing not enough? Were they meant to endure further disgrace—or worse, be killed outright?
A touch of fear suddenly appeared in their eyes.
Long Chen looked at them coldly. His gaze was like that of a death god, as though their lives were his to take at will.
His eight gates flashed once more.
Long Chen said icily, “You really are fools. That foolish big sister of mine was the only chance for you to turn the tide, but when danger came, not a single one of you was willing to risk your life to protect her.
“If this had been a real battle and she had died, none of you would have survived. You’re the strongest members of the Heaven Rankings? You have neither power nor brains. I really don’t know how the tumors on your shoulders kept you alive this long. You guys even somehow became the so-called heavenly geniuses that others look up to? How did that happen?”
Long Chen’s words were exceedingly humiliating.
Li Tianbi and the others trembled with fury, their fists clenched white.
“Qu Yingying, heal us!” Li Tianbi transmitted urgently. “His aura is falling! One more attempt and we can win!”
However, Qu Yingying shook her head and said, “If Long Chen had not protected me just now, I’d have been expelled from here. The only reason we are still here is that I have some energy left. The martial stage judged that we can still fight because of that. But that energy exists only because of Long Chen. I will not use it to fight him.”
Li Tianbi and the others’ expressions sank. Without Qu Yingying’s aid, they didn’t stand the slightest chance.
Qu Liushang finally smiled the slightest bit when he heard Qu Yingying’s response.
Nearby, the Qu family’s experts let out quiet sighs of relief as the gloom on his face eased.
This battle had disappointed Qu Liushang again and again, until that disappointment curdled into anger. He was so close to losing control.
Yet, at this final moment, the very person he once considered foolish gave him a bit of comfort.
A person’s power was admittedly important, but their character mattered more.
The top ten of the Heaven Rankings were idols, future leaders of the Starry River Palace. If their character was lacking, then the stronger they became, the more harm they would bring to the Starry River Palace.
Qu Yingying had always been rather unreliable. Yet, under peer pressure, she had held her bottom line. Not everyone could do the same thing.
After all, every person on the martial stage was under immense pressure. This battle was related to the glory of the Starry River Palace, as well as the legacy of a Heavenly Sovereign.
No one would say a word even if Qu Yingying went all-out against Long Chen at this moment.
By doing the opposite and refusing to fight, she would have to face the hatred and curses of all the disciples, as well as the criticism of the higher-ups. She could even be punished after this.
However, Qu Yingying did not care about any of that and refused to fight. That resolve made Qu Liushang see her in a new light.
“My foolish big sister,” Long Chen said with a faint smile, “you can be smart sometimes after all.”
“You evil little brother, I already told you that I’m not foolish! Everyone just says I don’t use my smarts where I should,” corrected Qu Yingying.
Long Chen didn’t argue with her. He formed hand seals, and the starry sea appeared above him once more. Without Qu Yingying’s Astral Restriction, Long Chen connected to the astral sea above.
“There’s no point in dragging this out,” Long Chen said calmly. “I’m not interested in waiting for all of you to recover either.”
His hands continued forming seals.
He said, “In that case, I’ll use this technique to end it.”
The moment the seals took shape, an uproar erupted throughout the audience.
“Impossible!”