Chapter 7: The Final Battle at the Mountain Stronghold (6)
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“Come on, come on! This is the last match! If you want to place extra bets, now’s your chance!”
“Once you place your bets, you can’t take them back!”
The liveliest spot on-site was undoubtedly the betting station.
Countless audience members flocked in, eager to get rich overnight.
Of course, the increasingly lively betting scene puzzled the Demon-Subduing Alliance and their companions.
Logically speaking, with the entire representative team of the mountain stronghold wiped out, the championship fight would unfold among the Demon-Subduing Alliance members. No matter who won, that side would control the fate of the stronghold.
Ordinary folks in such a situation would likely be panicking and fleeing for their lives.
Yet, contrary to expectations, the stronghold displayed not a hint of chaos.
The main gate remained half-open, and the betting activities organized by the stronghold thrived. Did they not understand that any money they made would belong to other factions with just one word from the champion?
So, what was backing them up, allowing them to remain composed?
Could it be… they planned to dodge accountability?
In the role of the stronghold leader and the Demon Sect’s enchantress, they could definitely choose to tear up their agreement with the Demon-Subduing Alliance.
However, if they did so, they would plunge into a quagmire of public opinion and lose any moral support.
Was such a heavy price really worth it to them?
Amidst this perplexity, the final showdown between the two teams finally began.
Ao Hongtu glanced at the young monk standing across from him with his palms pressed together, the grayish-blue monk robe fluttering gently in the breeze. He knew that even teaming up with Mu Zhi wouldn’t guarantee overcoming Liao Chen.
After all, this bald man had quite the reputation; he was far from the ordinary experts they had dealt with previously.
If the woman in red didn’t make her move soon, they could be facing defeat in the blink of an eye.
Mu Zhi, too, had little confidence in defeating Liao Chen. Although he had never fought the monk before, for some reason, the gap in their presence felt like a chasm. He had tried to make eye contact to boost his confidence, but just one glance brought a wave of chanting Buddha energy crashing into him, immediately extinguishing his fighting spirit.
Yes, at that moment, he could hardly muster any murderous intent.
What was a rival without the will to k*ll? Just a straw man, right?
“You all step back; I’ll handle them alone,” Lin Nan said calmly.
For some reason, upon hearing this, Ao Hongtu and Mu Zhi both sighed in relief.
But then they quickly realized that this was not the reaction they should have. Ao Hongtu said, “We’ll deal with the other two Wudang Daoists together.”
Lin Nan replied, “No need, because they are only sending one person to fight.”
“What?”
Both were shocked. How did she know their plan?
Soon enough, Lin Nan’s statement was confirmed.
The Shaolin Wudang Team had indeed sent out only Liao Chen, while the other two Daoists stood outside the arena, merely spectating.
Only when facing Liao Chen would Lin Nan shed the frost that covered her outside.
Or perhaps it was just her innermost desire; she didn’t know why, but she acted on her whims.
“Hey, monk!”
This was the first time Lin Nan was facing Liao Chen so closely since she met him.
The area was packed with people; the betting gamblers all widened their eyes, hoping their chosen side would crush the other completely and emerge victorious.
The quality of the fight had become irrelevant to them.
“May the female donor be well.”
The moment Liao Chen spoke, he unleashed the Lion’s Roar skill.
It wasn’t the ear-splitting sound one might expect; Liao Chen infused his voice with a calming demonic tone. Ordinary folks felt nothing, but demons, upon hearing the demonic sound, would invariably show some flaws.
Yet Liao Chen was astonished, as he could almost guarantee that this woman had the demonic energy he recognized, yet astonishingly, she didn’t react at all to the calming sound.
Clearly, this woman’s powers should not be underestimated.
“Hey, monk! I want you to leave the monkhood and marry me, okay?”
Not only were Ao Hongtu and Mu Zhi taken aback, but the spectators also erupted in gasps.
This “Woman in Red” couldn’t possibly be losing her mind, daring to make such shameless remarks in front of a renowned monk from Shaolin. It was simply insane!
Liao Chen remained unfazed, “Female donor, my heart has long been dedicated to the Buddha. There is no room for even a grain of sand from the secular world. Best for you to give up this thought soon.”
With her delicate fingers brushing over her crimson lips, Lin Nan feigned regret, “That’s such a pity. But if I win against you, will you listen to me?”
Liao Chen coldly replied, “There’s no need for so many words, if we are to duel, then let’s duel!”
No sooner had he finished speaking than he hurled a large glowing ball of Buddhist beads at Lin Nan.
“Om Mani Padme Hum!”
To everyone’s surprise, the string of 109 beads floated above Lin Nan’s head, spinning continuously.
“Banish all troubles!
No shame, no guilt!
k*ll! k*ll! k*ll!”
Lin Nan was shocked.
d*mn it! This bald monk goes all out right from the start! He clearly sees her as less than human!
Well, to him, she probably was like a demon he wanted to eliminate posthaste.
As Liao Chen chanted his spell, the bead string exploded, and the 109 beads floated around Lin Nan, completely sealing off her escape routes.
His move left the entire audience dumbstruck.
What Liao Chen used couldn’t possibly be explained with normal martial arts; it had transcended to a level of Taoist magic.
Seeing the Woman in Red surrounded by the beads and unable to escape, Ao Hongtu and Mu Zhi broke into a cold sweat.
If it were them facing Liao Chen…
What’s more, they had never anticipated Liao Chen would be so ruthless, skipping the initial probing phase and aiming to obliterate his opponent in one swift move.
Could it be that he was provoked by the Woman in Red’s taunts?
“Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh…”
As the 109 beads spun rapidly, the ethereal light on their surfaces intensified.
Even in the setting sun, the spectators could clearly see the light trails the beads left behind as they sliced through the air.
Lin Nan stood at the eye of the storm, her red dress swirling up and down, occasionally revealing her smooth, long legs.
In this era, a woman showing her ankles in front of strangers was considered sinful; how could anyone have witnessed such a thrilling sight?
Everyone’s eyes went wide,
They wanted nothing more than to stretch their heads into the eye of the storm and take in the spectacle before the Woman in Red was completely defeated by Liao Chen.
“Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh…”
The trajectory of the beads began to tighten around Lin Nan, almost brushing against her sleeves.
“Woman in Red!”
“Miss Red!”
Ao Hongtu and Mu Zhi couldn’t help but shout out.
They even jumped into the competition area without a second thought, their swords pointed straight at Liao Chen.
