"They're all giving it their all!"
The spectators craned their necks, eagerly speculating who would emerge victorious from the thick smoke.
Suddenly, a giant paper-crafted python, battered and bruised, wriggled out of the smoke. It finally collapsed powerlessly by the Myriad Laws Altar, nearly crushing spectators on the periphery.
The giant python quickly lost its strength. Its lifelike scales began to burn rapidly, and in the blink of an eye, the hundred-meter python turned to ash.
Following closely behind, Yuan Jianxin walked out of the smoke.
"It seems Yuan Jianxin still has the upper hand!" the crowd exclaimed. "A Gong is also impressive, but how many more of these paper-mache pythons can he summon?"
Just as everyone believed Yuan Jianxin had gained the advantage, the python carrying A Gong slowly poked its head out from the smoke.
A Gong sat atop the python's head, completely unharmed.
In the next second, a shocking scene unfolded.
Behind the python, two more heads emerged!
Before the onlookers could even gasp in surprise, more giant pythons emerged from the smoke!
A quick count revealed a total of nine giant pythons!!
"This..."
The crowd was speechless. Yuan Jianxin could cleave one python with a single sword strike; now, with nine pythons appearing, wouldn't Yuan Jianxin have to strike nine times?
Nine sword strikes, merely to slay the paper pythons summoned by A Gong, and not even touching A Gong himself!
These two were still nowhere near deciding a winner!
As the smoke dissipated, the spectators finally got a clear view of the nine giant pythons. It turned out A Gong hadn't summoned nine separate pythons, but rather a single nine-headed giant python!
The awe-inspiring presence of the nine-headed python surpassed that of nine individual pythons combined. A Gong, standing on the central python's head, exuded an air of looking down upon all.
"Good heavens, I was wondering what A Gong had been busy with lately! So he conjured this thing up!" Long Feicheng couldn't help but shout.
Previously, people's understanding of paper effigies was limited to the eerie realm of human-shaped figures.
A Gong's performance completely revolutionized their perception of the paper effigy craft.
It was then that they remembered that in the past, paper effigies of horses could run and pull carts, and paper effigies of fish could even swim in water. Now, with A Gong conjuring a nine-headed python, it didn't seem all that out of place!
Yuan Jianxin turned to face the nine-headed python. His expression was no longer rigid; his eyes blazed with intense fighting spirit.
It seemed as if, at this moment, he finally acknowledged A Gong, deeming him worthy of being his opponent!
Yuan Jianxin brought his Peach Heart Sword to his chest, holding the sword with one hand and pressing his other sword-finger against the blade.
He closed his eyes and recited an incantation. Soon, five-colored lightning reappeared on the sword's edge.
"This strike is called 'Azure Sky'!"
The lightning on the Peach Heart Sword grew brighter, even vying with the sun. Many people couldn't help but squint, shielding their eyes with their hands, yet unwilling to miss a single moment, they could only observe through their fingers.
A Gong's expression was grim. He knew Yuan Jianxin was no easy foe, but resigning himself to fate was not his nature.
Therefore, he directly commanded the nine-headed python to clash head-on with Yuan Jianxin!
The nine-headed python lunged at Yuan Jianxin, its gaping heads attacking one after another!
Suddenly, Yuan Jianxin opened his eyes and casually thrust his sword forward!
The sword's light instantly pierced through five of the python's heads!
Those five heads shattered instantaneously, transforming into a sky full of yellow paper that drifted in all directions!
The sky seemed to rain, but instead of raindrops, it was yellow paper that fell.
Thick layers of yellow paper quickly accumulated on the ground, like fallen leaves, reaching Yuan Jianxin's ankles.
He quickly turned, the wind he generated scattering the yellow paper at his feet. Simultaneously, he unleashed another sword strike, shattering three more python heads!
When his sword stopped, A Gong and the last python head were mere inches from the sword's tip.
If Yuan Jianxin took one more step, he would defeat A Gong.
The spectators' tense hearts finally relaxed.
It seemed the winner was decided. Despite A Gong's excellence, he was ultimately no match for Yuan Jianxin...
Yuan Jianxin stared at A Gong, his brow furrowed. Then, he took a large step forward, the Peach Heart Sword piercing straight through the python's head and emerging from A Gong's back!
"What?!"
The crowd cried out in shock. The matches in the Grand Celestial Tournament were supposed to be to a point of restraint. Yuan Jianxin, having participated before, why would he suddenly resort to a killing blow?!
Yan Nanfei, Ling Xiaoxiao, and others couldn't help but call out: "A Gong!"
However, when Yuan Jianxin withdrew his Peach Heart Sword, A Gong's body, along with the python's head, crashed heavily onto the ground, sinking into the yellow paper and disappearing from sight!
"That's... a paper decoy?!" Nun Guan Yun exclaimed. "Yuan Jianxin has been fighting a substitute all this time?!"
If even Nun Guan Yun was so astonished, let alone the others below the stage.
Yuan Jianxin's ability to discern A Gong's decoy was no small feat. Yan Shouyi could tell that this person possessed an exceptional state of mind.
Now, only a thick pile of yellow paper remained on the Myriad Laws Altar, with Yuan Jianxin standing alone, sword in hand. The spectators couldn't find any trace of A Gong.
Suddenly, Yuan Jianxin seemed to have his ankle grabbed by something, and then he was yanked into the yellow paper!
The crowd couldn't help but stand on tiptoe to see, but they could only glimpse the surging, wave-like movements within the pile of yellow paper, unable to discern what was happening below.
After a few breaths, the commotion suddenly subsided.
Then, a flash of sword light appeared, and the scattered yellow paper was abruptly pushed into the sky. Only then did the spectators see the scene within the Myriad Laws Altar!
Yuan Jianxin was in tatters, with numerous wounds and blood trickling from his mouth.
Yet, he held the Peach Heart Sword horizontally, its tip pointed directly at A Gong's throat.
"Alas!"
Long Feicheng sighed loudly.
He lost after all!
What a pity!
The others finally recovered, all sighing with emotion.
Yuan Jianxin was already incredibly strong, yet the paper effigy user, A Gong, could push him to this extent.
Although A Gong lost this match, he had left a profound impression on everyone. From now on, when disciples of various sects mentioned a paper effigy successor, their first thought would be this young man named A Gong.
Magnificent, truly magnificent!
Yuan Jianxin let out a suppressed breath and asked the A Gong before him, "Do you concede? If not, we can fight again."
A Gong shook his head and replied, "I won't fight anymore. I can't."
"So, you concede?"
"Mm."
A Gong nodded, then abruptly fell backward.
His body once again transformed into a mass of yellow paper!
Yuan Jianxin's eyes widened in disbelief.
Another decoy?!
How many decoys did this guy have?!
Before the crowd could react, the real A Gong appeared at the other end of the Myriad Laws Altar.
He panted heavily and said to the officiating Daoist priest, "I concede, I can't fight anymore!"
The officiating Daoist priest looked surprised, "You really can't fight anymore? Yuan Jianxin isn't in much better shape than you."
A Gong shook his head, "I've used up all the paper effigies prepared beforehand, and besides, I'm genuinely out of strength."
With that, he collapsed onto the ground and fell into a deep sleep.
Manipulating paper effigies was extremely draining. It was evident that A Gong was truly exhausted, while Yuan Jianxin, though injured, had not sustained any fundamental damage. If the fight had continued, he could have fought for another hundred rounds.
Therefore, A Gong was bound to lose eventually, so it was better to make a dramatic exit.
The officiating Daoist priest collected himself and quickly announced, "In this match, Yuan Jianxin of the Laoshan Sword Sect wins!"
For the first time, the match had concluded, the winner decided, yet the arena was silent.
Everyone was still immersed in the surprise A Gong had brought them.
Yuan Jianxin stood with his sword, speechless, even harboring some self-doubt.
After fighting for so long, he had only been battling A Gong's paper effigies. If A Gong had been even slightly more formidable, or better prepared, wouldn't he himself be the one losing today?
After a while, Yuan Jianxin finally emerged from his contemplation.
Meanwhile, Yan Shouyi and the others had already gone onto the stage, carrying the sleeping A Gong back. Old Jin checked him and confirmed that he was merely exhausted and sustained no injuries.
"Wait!" Yuan Jianxin suddenly stopped Yan Shouyi and his companions.
"What is it?" Yan Shouyi asked.
"What is his name?"
The crowd chuckled. Yan Shouyi replied, "He's A Gong, a paper effigy successor from a folk sect."
"I'll remember him," Yuan Jianxin nodded, sheathed his Peach Heart Sword, and walked away, cradling the sword box.
"That guy really knows how to put on a show," Long Feicheng grumbled.
"Swordsmen must be cold and stubborn. If not for Yuan Jianxin's personality, he probably wouldn't have achieved his Sword Heart so early," Yan Shouyi commented.
"I'm also a swordsman!" Long Feicheng retorted indignantly.
"Are you a swordsman? You're being a scoundrel!" Luo Ning taunted.
The crowd understood the jest after a moment and burst into laughter. "Chinese culture is truly profound and extensive."
Long Feicheng's face turned red, leaving him speechless.
Although A Gong lost, he had still earned considerable respect for them. They carried A Gong back down from the stage. The disciples of Longhu Mountain quietly went up to clean the area, muttering complaints as they worked.
The scattered yellow paper had piled up like a mountain. They couldn't fathom how A Gong had acquired so much yellow paper.
Finally, Zhang Shanli intervened, setting the paper ablaze with a single flame. He then waved his sleeve, blowing away the ashes.
Thus, the Myriad Laws Altar was restored to its former state.
"Next match," Yan Nanfei said with a sigh, looking at the tidied Myriad Laws Altar.
"Who's next?" Old Jin asked.
Yan Nanfei replied with a sigh, "Next, it's me against Luo Ning."
He held up the "Tiger" token, and another "Tiger" token was in Luo Ning's hand.
Luo Ning showed no surprise, clearly having known for a while that her opponent was Yan Nanfei.
The others sighed; it was finally time for allies to face each other.
Yan Nanfei cupped his hands, "Miss Luo, please don't hold back later. Let's both give our all and have a good fight!"
"Alright!" Luo Ning smiled mysteriously and turned, blowing a whistle towards the mountains.
Immediately, countless startled birds took flight from the forest, and the ground began to tremble faintly, as if some colossal being was approaching the Myriad Laws Altar.
Zhang Shanli, who was at a distance, suddenly changed his expression and shouted:
"An evil entity approaches the Celestial Master Hall! The Grand Celestial Tournament is temporarily suspended! All disciples, prepare for battle and protect the Celestial Master!"