Paragon of Sin

"A draw?" Yang Chaoyue had been stimulated awake by Sheng Jizi. Sheng Jizi nodded gloomily, "Both of you were left unconscious; Your actions were…dangerous." Despite his gloomy demeanor, it was only brought about by the dissatisfaction of Ma Zheng continuing to have the slightest of chances at victory.

If his side had won either match, that would've been the end of it all. There would be no tension built here, and his prestige would've been firmly established. Instead, he had outright lost one through an unexpected death and an even more unexpected draw. All his preparations thus far hadn't resulted in outcomes in his favor.

Yang Chaoyue heavily sighed. "This is my fault; I apologize. Her Tear of the Rising Seas forced me to do everything I can to breach her defenses. If I hadn't…"

"I know. You did good enough. A draw is better than a loss, and your life is intact—that's great. I'm satisfied with that outcome." Sheng Jizi attempted to console Yang Chaoyue with these words. She was still a crucial piece to future plans, and a powerful cultivator. It would be foolish to blame her for this draw. He was fully aware of how monstrous the restrictive and defensive might that Faye Liying possessed.

She was the Soul-Rising Saint, and she was not ordinary.

Yang Chaoyue sighed again. "You're right. Sword King Yuangu lost his life, and I feared the same. Still, I hadn't lost. So our…" She left her next words in the air for Sheng Jizi to contemplate. And eventually, with his merchant's smile, he hurriedly waved his hand and said: "Of course, of course. To those that apply, the Mythical Oaths are completed. And as for your debt, they're officially paid in full."

Yang Chaoyue let out another sigh of emotion, "I wish I could've obtained a win for you, for the Golden Life Pavilion, especially after paying the price of my Infinite Wind Hourglass." She felt the seeds of Mythical Oaths that had been forged earlier in her life dissipate. A wave of comfort and freedom surged in her soul.

"It's fine," Sheng Jizi comforted Yang Chaoyue. "This challenge was decided during the selection rounds. No worries." After a few more exchanges, Yang Chaoyue departed from the Prosperous Arena, not intending to watch up-close and personal like them.

"You think she did this on purpose?" Yangzi Yanshi's eyes glinted maliciously as he sent spiritually to Sheng Jizi. A draw was incredibly convenient. Just before she took the stage, she had even asked a strange question.

"Obviously," Sheng Jizi's eyes grew cold. Yang Chaoyue was playing both sides, offending none, and Wu Yu sending her back had all but confirmed his suspicions. That said, this deduction wasn't some great feat. It wasn't like Yang Chaoyue was trying strongly to hide it from those with keen instincte. She was being overt and that was enough.

Regardless of the outcome, she showed her value.

The next match didn't start immediately. Sheng Jizi requested the full length of recovery, citing the rules that state if the Prosperous Arena's environment was too altered, sufficient to grant an unfair advantage or disadvantage to any particular fighter, the leading side could call forth a break while the Prosperous Arena went to work, ridding the stage of any foreign power.

Ma Zheng had no objections to this suggestion. A brief three hour break followed. It was quite difficult to expel the mystic-graded wind energies, so they had to siphon it out in a controlled fashion. When all was said and done, besides the visible signs of damage, the Prosperous Arena's environmental conditions of normal air, light, and heat returned.

Sheng Jizi used this time to restore his expended energies to the best of his capabilities, consuming a high-tier Mystic-Earth recuperative elixir meant for Ascended beings. He wasted no time directly after the maximum allotted time—three hours—was reached.

"Fairies and Heroes, I sincerely apologize for this brief delay as we served to uphold the integrity of the challenge! Without further ado, I present the final match of champions: Sheng Jizi, the current Pavilion Master of the Golden Life Pavilion! And Ma Zheng, former Manager of the Third Branch!" The introductions were the simplest of the three announcements, yet they drove the crowd wilder than before!

Sheng Jizi, however, didn't bother with mental tricks.

Ma Zheng felt relieved that this wasn't going to be a fest of unnecessary complications. He strode forth with a calm gaze, exiting the barrier, and entering the arena officially. As the last champion, it was all on his shoulders.

"You can do it, father!" Ma Sujiang cheered on, revealing a sweet and excited smile. She seemed to deage a few years, resembling a teenage girl with youthful energy. "Take him down!" She roared on, her voice louder than before.

"Don't embarrass the Young Lord," Wu Yu also cheered in his own way.

"...Take back what's yours," Sun Li chimed in, caught up in the cheering pace of the others. Since Wu Yu said some words, how could she not? She hoped greater than anything that Ma Zheng would succeed in this ambitious endeavor, especially since his lifespan was nearing its natural end. If he could accomplish this, he could…

He wouldn't have any regrets.

Huoyan Liulan wasn't going to speak, but hearing Sun Li speak, she felt a wisp of uncomfortableness manifest in her heart. "You better not lose," she said with a firm glare. Despite the discomfort she felt, she couldn't genuinely cheer on Ma Zheng's chances of victory, so she cheered for him not losing through his ingenuity and tactics. In the end, he would claim the seat with a draw.

"…" Faye Liying was still a little sullen from her draw, and this was because she was aware of the truth. Yet, in the end, she said: "Claim your seat."

Ma Zheng hadn't expected all those words. He turned to see the four cultivators that had helped him reach this point. An intense emotional heat settled in his chest. With a firm nod, he turned his attention to Sheng Jizi.

Sheng Jizi might be a businessman, but that's not how he started his cultivation journey. As he floated downwards from the spotlight, his taoist robes began to rapidly change, solidifying and darkening. By the time he landed on the arena's floor, his entire upper torso all the way down was covered in jet-black armor that was etched with golden runes.

The full-body armor bore strong resemblance to the Legion Commander's. There was a distinct oppressive, enveloping aura emanating from the armor. It felt as if the Wargod of Darkness was summoned onto the field. When Sheng Jizi's head was covered completely by a similarly jet-black armet, his entire disposition had changed, exuding a forceful aura that seemed to suppress the earth and sky.

With this armor, he felt boundless confidence in his victory. It was forged by the Godforge Emperor himself three thousand years ago! The greatest forger in the entire Grand Cyclic Stellar Region, and while wearing this armor, even three ordinary Earthly Saints would find it difficult to penetrate his armor with their full strength.

With a wave of his hand, an arming sword emerged in his hand. He truly took after many ancient knights depicted in records, a startling image that provoked all sorts of emotions.

Sheng Jizi wasn't one for talking. He felt pressured by Ma Zheng's one win and one draw, and he didn't wish to give Ma Zheng any chance to unleash any trump cards. Without any further delay, he gripped his sword and stomped his feet. With his armor glowing golden with silver and black streams of smoke, he spatially shifted through the world.

The distance of over 100,000 miles had been shortened with frightening quickness, and he arrived before Ma Zheng in what seemed like a blink of an eye! This was faster than Yang Chaoyue!

WOOSH!

With ruthless viciousness, Sheng Jizi swung his sword at Ma Zheng's neck, unleashing all of his power! If this strike hit, nevermind beheading, the sheer shockwave from contact would reduce a Demi-Mortal Lord to dust!

Bam.

A subdued sound resounded.

"...Wait…" Sheng Jizi's expression changed.

Ma Zheng, with one finger on his left hand, stopped the sword's frightening edge. At the sides of his finger, endless silver light flickered as if countless spatial walls were manifested, holding back the sword from touching his finger. Ma Zheng revealed a slight grin.

He lifted his right hand, forming a palm, and then…like a seething volcano, his Demi-Mortal Lord's aura shattered, climbing to unprecedented heights of power! Within this power was genuine Mystic Intent! Awakened Mystic Intent!

"...What…?" Sheng Jizi was stunned.

Earthly Saint?

Yet Ma Zheng hadn't given him the slightest time to think about it. Within his palm, nine Mystic Runes formed into a perfect nonagon, and each point corresponded to the nine Ways of Mysticism!

Mana!

Spirit!

Radiant!

Spatial!

Temporal!

Oceanic!

Infusion!

Permanence!

And lastly, Conversion!

With a swift movement, Ma Zheng smashed his palm against Sheng Jizi's armor. When the palm met this hardened, reinforced, and highly forged armor, it was as if a molten knife met a flimsy piece of paper, penetrating through with complete ease.

Sheng Jizi's eyes widened uncontrollably. His thoughts were so fast, yet his body couldn't keep up. He felt shackled by the entire world, especially space and time. While his thoughts were fast, his flow of energy had slowed down! Normally, this wouldn't affect much, but in such a close range, to such a simple movement, he could only observe Ma Zheng's palm touch his dantian!

"NO!" He screamed mentally, but no words came out of his mouth. It was as if he was isolated from his mind and body!

SHATTER!

It was when he heard something shatter inside him that his heart dropped to the abyss.

The impact didn't send him flying; besides a soft grunt from his throat, he landed softly next to Ma Zheng, his sword-wielding arm lowered, and his eyes beneath the helmet stared at Ma Zheng's face as if he wanted to remember every detail.

9th Runic Ascendant!

Sheng Jizi's sword escaped his grip, feeling as if he could no longer hold its weight. With the armor bearing upon him, he couldn't help but fall.

Thud!

He landed on his knees, his eyes staring fixated on Ma Zheng's face, unblinkingly in his focus. With his greatest strength, he mustered up in a hoarse voice: "My armor…when…did...you…"

"It's over," Ma Zheng calmly declared.

It wasn't just to Sheng Jizi.

It wasn't for the crowd.

It wasn't for his allies.

It was towards his past self, all those years ago, when he first lost his position to a bunch of opportunistic bandits who've long since perished. He had swore to himself then, swearing upon his very soul that one day, he would definitely reclaim the Pavilion of Endless Prosperity!

The pavilion that he founded!