Chapter 98: Quitting While You’re Ahead

“Mo Yongjian, kneel and beg for mercy!”

The sight stunned everyone, including the elders of the Outermost Sect hovering overhead.
Immediately, more than ten strands of soul-sense dropped down and settled on Mo Yongjian.

“Amazing,” one elder gasped.
“Mo Yongjian’s heart is split open—he was almost dead!”

The others saw it too and were equally astonished.

“Xia Jiuxuan’s mastery of fist and palmwork is no weaker than his spear-and-sword path.”
“Exactly! That last strike hid a secret mechanism: it cut through absolute defense and struck straight to his internal organs.”
“Xia Jiuxuan is truly a prodigy.”
“Gentlemen, this proves his true nature as an Other-Soul Adept—he found Mo Yongjian’s fatal weakness.”
“Elder Xuanhu was right. Without overwhelming soul-awareness, one could never pierce Mo’s metallic body with spiritual perception and locate his flaw.”

The elders continued their analysis.

On the platform, after Mo Yongjian had begged for mercy, Xia Jiuxuan did not kill him. In truth, Xia had sensed the old guardian stirring, so he chose to stop at the right moment.
Mo Yongjian’s guardian was not simple. That old man had refined his body to artifact rank; even his five organs and internal viscera had been transmuted into an artifact-like state, leaving almost no opening. Unless absolute force was used, he could not be defeated.
Xia even sensed that old man could match the elders of the Outermost Sect in strength.

So not killing Mo was the best choice, especially since the other side understood etiquette and bowed. There was no need to court more trouble.

“Your family’s cultivation method is excellent, but it lacks one thing. If you could refine it with earth-dragon blood through occult formulae, most of its flaws would be corrected.”

With that, Xia Jiuxuan brushed aside the matter, turned, and dismounted the platform with ease.

Mo Yongjian did not care to dwell on that final remark, but his guardian heard it and shuddered through body and spirit.
Outside the island, in the sea below, the old man withdrew his soul-sense and stood still for several breaths, dazed.

“Earth-dragon blood… how did he know about it?”
“The clan ancestor spent half his life’s years just to obtain a portion of earth-dragon blood, yet he still does not know the best way to use it. Could Xia Jiuxuan truly know?”

The old man whispered to himself, his mind in turmoil.
What kind of exalted figure is this Xia Jiuxuan? I must make him an ally.

Earlier, when this young master was badly wounded by Xia Jiuxuan, he had almost rushed to kill him.
By the end, the young master lowered his head.
The old man knew him well: only when utterly overpowered would he submit to humiliation and kneel. Otherwise, even if death loomed, he would never kneel.

In other words, Mo Yongjian did not kneel merely out of fear of dying; Xia Jiuxuan had shaken his spirit to its core.

Mo Yongjian rose from the platform and stared at Xia Jiuxuan’s retreating back.

“Xia Jiuxuan. Once I fully forge my body into a weapon, I will fight you again.”

He accepted the loss, but he did not accept defeat. At that moment Xia Jiuxuan became his ultimate opponent.
The battle came to a complete close.

“Brother Xia, you were fierce. Seeing Mo Yongjian beg on his knees had my blood running wild,” Mufeng said, staring at him with excitement.
“It was just a clever move. Otherwise, I couldn’t have beaten him.”

That was no false modesty. Xia had won solely by the Hellsplit Breaking-Palm art, a technique designed to pass through absolute defense and strike the inside.
If it were a straightforward clash, with his current realm he could not break through Mo Yongjian’s guard.
But if Xia were already beyond the Mortal realm, he could have slain him in an instant.

“Remarkable indeed—no boasting at all.”
Duanmu Wan smiled in satisfaction. This time she had finally seen his methods, and they were wondrous beyond words.
“There are even more astonishing things. Wait and watch. Learn them little by little.”

Duanmu Wan stuck out her tongue. “Why would I learn? I haven’t that kind of talent.”

“At your own pace,” Xia said, shrugging.

Wu Changkong on the platform felt his heart tighten. Xia’s performance was that overwhelming. He knew the elders would never reject him now.
So his plan to have him killed had nearly fallen apart.

“Now, is there anyone else to challenge?” Wu said loudly.

Silence below. No one dared to step onto the platform.
Of course, among the crowd there were a few youths who were openly disdainful and chose not to.

“Good. If no one dares another challenge, I now announce the standings.
First place: Team Duanmu Wan.
Second place: Team Mo Yongjian.
Third place: Team Zhou Qianjun.
Fourth place: Team Qin Wei.
…
Tenth place: Team Gu Lihai.”

The top ten were announced. No one objected.

Elder Lu descended from the sky and addressed them:
“Thank you all for participating. As only ten places are available, every person outside the top ten will receive one supreme spirit crystal as proof of our sect’s thanks. Take your crystal and then leave freely.”

One supreme spirit crystal! Everyone felt it was worth it.
“Your sect truly is generous. Thank you, elders.”
“Call us when there is another match.”
“Excellent, thank you.”

After everyone received the crystals, they all left the island.

“Your ten teams, are you willing to represent our sect and enter the Secret Realm?”
Elder Lu asked the remaining ten teams.

“We are willing.”
“Such a chance—we won’t miss it.”
“May we ask, what treasures are in that realm, and what dangers?”

All ten teams accepted and spoke up with curiosity.

“Fine. Your willingness is enough. As for what is inside and what to seek, we will discuss that later. For now, follow me to the Outermost Sect. The Secret Realm opens in three days.”

“Good.” They nodded.

They were all geniuses in the Mortal Martial Realm, yet most had no true understanding of what the Outermost really was.
Between the Mortal Martial Realm and the Outermost, the laws and prohibitions are so strict that birth alone nearly fixes one’s fate.

“Xia Jiuxuan, would you be willing to enter the Secret Realm?”
After all had answered, Elder Lu noticed only Xia had not responded, so he asked him directly.

“Of course. Why not?” Xia replied evenly.

“Good. This tournament was a little rough for you, yet its ending was complete. I hope you hold no grudges,” Elder Lu said with a smile.
Xia remained impassive. “I dare not.”

Elder Lu understood Xia was surely displeased, but he said no more.

“All right, everyone—follow me.”

He tapped the air and shot upward.
The teams below followed and mounted the huge flying fiends.

With a rush of wind and a sharp cry, more than ten flying beasts surged into the sky, plunged into the clouds, and vanished.