Volume One: The Celestial Cloud Palace Chapter Forty-Seven: Fame Forged in Battle

Chapter Forty-Seven: Fame from a Single Battle

“Lady Su Qing!”
The disciples gathered at the edge of the Ascendant Terrace nearly shrieked in disbelief. The most renowned beauty of the Sixteen Immortal Palaces, famed far and wide, had actually come to gamble?

There were still three matches yet to be decided on the terrace; all others had already produced their champions. Su Qing was the victor of the first group.

She stood with long, straight legs, her graceful figure wrapped in elegant, simple robes. Her flawless, luminous face shone like jade, as if she had stepped straight out of a painting, stunning all with her ethereal beauty.

“My wager is this.” Su Qing’s expression was cool; her slender, jade-like hand extended, revealing a crystalline lotus, as clear as water, to the crowd.

The lotus was exquisitely carved, seemingly sculpted from ice, and radiated a chill that made the surrounding air drop several degrees. Even without visible frost, its biting cold was palpable to all.

“A Crystal Ice Lotus!” the crowd burst out, voices rising in awe. “Heavens, what a priceless treasure! It’s said the Crystal Ice Lotus can preserve the heart meridian of the dying, sending them into slumber and preserving their body from decay. Its value is beyond measure!”

“Lady Su Qing is truly magnanimous, staking such a treasure on Zhou Hao’s victory. I, Wang Er, trust her judgment. I’ll bet on Zhou Hao as well!” A broad-voiced immortal palace disciple, full of admiration, tossed down five thousand silver-patterned spirit crystals.

“Indeed! Lady Su’s word is law to me—no question! I wager six thousand gilded spirit crystals.” Another disciple eagerly followed her lead, solemnly drawing a beast-hide pouch. As he opened it, golden light burst forth, dazzling everyone as diamond-shaped crystals filled with golden liquid spilled out.

“I’ll bet on Zhou Hao too—seven thousand Vermilion Flame spirit crystals!” Yet another disciple opened his beast-hide pouch, releasing a flood of dazzling red crystals burning with fiery luster, so beautiful it made hearts race.

“Eight thousand Nether Sea spirit crystals…”

“Eight thousand gilded spirit crystals…”

“Nine thousand silver-patterned spirit crystals…”

“Nine thousand Vermilion Flame spirit crystals…”

And so it went—the wagers piled up, growing ever more frenzied. Unbelievably, every single person bet on Zhou Hao to win! Even those who had previously wagered on Luo Lan against Zhou Hao now switched sides at the last moment.

“Sister Su, you’re amazing!” Xiao Shanshan gazed up in worship at the older girl beside her, who was a full head taller. Her large eyes sparkled with adoration.

Meanwhile, on the Ascendant Terrace, the fierce duel had already begun in silence. The protagonists of this contest, Zhou Hao and Luo Lan, clashed utterly unaware of the uproar around them.

Clang!

A sword cry split the air, a golden light shot forth—Zhou Hao wielded the golden sword he’d claimed from the Celestial Vault, intent on defeating Luo Lan with swordsmanship.

As for Luo Lan, she was dressed in flowing green, light and graceful like a woodland sprite. With a single glance, one would remember her for a lifetime. She marshaled her immortal power, eschewing weapons, her slender hands weaving seals at astonishing speed.

Buzz!

Her hands moved so swiftly they blurred. With each change of seal, rings of emerald leaves appeared around her, indistinguishable from real leaves, yet formed entirely of immortal sigils.

The shimmering green light seemed to embody the primal essence of life. Each leaf was exquisitely perfect, clustering around Luo Lan, merging into a long green sash—flexible as a serpent, twining and spiraling forward.

The green sash clashed in midair with Zhou Hao’s golden sword, producing an ear-splitting screech of metal on metal. The crowd was astounded—was the green sash made of metal?

The golden sword was tightly bound by the sash, while leaves fell in showers, covering the stage in a carpet of green. The man and woman were only two or three meters apart, the collision of sword and sash sending sparks flying, ringing with metallic clangor. The leaves, seemingly delicate, were as hard as steel.

Steel against steel! The phrase echoed in every mind.

“What a formidable woman—those leaves must be refined with immortal power, their sigils used as vessels and forged to such perfection. Remarkable indeed,” Zhou Hao silently praised. Luo Lan’s technique was truly extraordinary.

Imagine: immortal sigils, once mere patterns of energy, painstakingly refined into an unbreakable weapon! Such patience and talent were rare even among the Sixteen Immortal Palaces.

The green sash struck like a serpent, not only entangling Zhou Hao’s sword but threatening to ensnare him as well. The way it moved, if he were caught, he’d surely be flayed alive!

These leaves, as sharp as blades, had become lethal weapons through endless forging. Even Zhou Hao’s sword was helpless; in terms of armament, Luo Lan had utterly bested him.

Swish!

Forced to abandon his sword, Zhou Hao leapt nimbly back. Fortunately, his speed was supernatural—the green sash, twisting through the air, could not match his ghostly footwork.

Luo Lan, calm as a still lake, hovered in the air, the green sash trailing behind her, appearing regal and aloof, Zhou Hao’s golden sword now in her hand.

“Your footwork is the fastest I’ve seen among the palace disciples. But… running alone won’t let you win.” Luo Lan smiled sweetly, wagging a slender finger in playful admonition.

She had seen Zhou Hao’s ethereal footwork several times before, but now, in direct confrontation, she realized its true speed was not to be underestimated—even she, a genius with speed as her forte, could barely keep up.

“Heh, normally I wouldn’t run from a beautiful woman, but if I don’t, I’ll get hurt. As they say, you can’t have your cake and eat it too—so I’ll give up beauty for safety!” Zhou Hao replied shamelessly, calling out to Luo Lan, who floated nearly a hundred meters away.

“I didn’t expect you to be so glib as well!” Luo Lan was caught off-guard, covering her mouth with a laugh.

“A single smile from you could topple kingdoms. Look at them—they’re all captivated,” Zhou Hao gestured toward the disciples ringing the terrace.

Luo Lan didn’t answer. Of course she knew their feelings—an immortal beauty such as herself had long grown indifferent to men’s pursuit and adoration. What she sought was perfection, the chance to one day ascend to the highest realms of the Immortal Way.

“Enough talk. Let’s finish this. Show me what you’re truly capable of!” Luo Lan attacked again, her delicate fingers sweeping out as layers of phantom vines appeared, reaching for Zhou Hao.

“Well met!” Zhou Hao leapt into the air, his right palm crackling with arcs of lightning.

Palm Lightning!

In a heartbeat, the tangled vines were reduced to ash, raining down from above, but the duel raged on.

Clashing in the air, exchanging martial arts and immortal skills atop the terrace, Zhou Hao and Luo Lan had already traded 150 blows, each move more dazzling than the last, drawing gasps and applause.

“Incredible! This battle alone was worth the price of admission!” a disciple shouted, clapping enthusiastically.

“I told you—Zhou Hao is something else, the very model of a dark horse!” another disciple joked.

“I think the outcome is close. Zhou Hao is definitely stronger than Luo Lan. The move he used to defeat San Yi of the Weituo Palace was terrifying—if he used it against Luo Lan, she’d have lost already,” offered a white-haired disciple sagely, and others quickly agreed.

Sure enough, moments later, Zhou Hao reclaimed his golden sword and pressed its tip to Luo Lan’s throat, sword-qi flaring like a tangible blade, threatening to pierce her swan-like neck at the slightest movement.

“I… have lost,” Luo Lan said softly, gazing at the cold blade before her, lowering her head in defeat.

The battle was over.

“Zhou Hao won! Zhou Hao won! We bet right!” Xiao Shanshan cheered, turning to her fellow gamblers. “You lost—pay up the spirit crystals!”

“You’re mistaken!” a male disciple retorted.

“What, trying to renege?” Xiao Shanshan glared at him.

“No, but after Lady Su Qing’s call, we all bet on Zhou Hao, so… now that he’s won, why should we pay you?” The disciple glanced toward the elegant figure in the distance, then shrugged at the fuming Xiao Shanshan.

“What? You all bet on Zhou Hao? No way! That’s cheating. My spirit crystals…” Xiao Shanshan was on the verge of tears.

“One last match remains.” On the terrace, Zhou Hao turned his gaze to the final member of their group.

This man was thin and tall. He slowly stepped four meters before Zhou Hao, locked eyes with him, and the duel was about to begin.

Zhou Hao struck first, darting forward with the intent to win by speed, but the other suddenly called out, “Wait! I can’t beat you—I surrender!”

With that, under countless astonished gazes, the tall man quietly left the center of the platform, just as steadily as he had arrived.

The crowd erupted—was this for real? He’d come up just to surrender and leave?

Even Zhou Hao was stunned. After a few seconds, all he could do was smile wryly. Was it really this easy to win?

“The final victor of Group Six—Zhou Hao!” the presiding palace lord announced loudly.

In that moment, the eyes of over a hundred disciples focused on Zhou Hao—some envious, some jealous, some resentful, but most of all, admiring.

Nine consecutive victories! A small feat, perhaps, but several of his opponents were renowned talents from various immortal palaces. Such a record was more than enough to command respect.

“What a remarkable Zhou Hao—exceptional skill and innate talent. A rare prodigy!” the palace lords high above nodded in approval, each calculating furiously as they watched the still-youthful figure below.

With this battle, Zhou Hao had truly made his name. Whether or not he advanced to the top three today, the Sixteen Immortal Palaces would remember him!