Chapter 388: Elder Black Sword, Conflict
"The Imperial Soul-Capturing Spear, a sixth-grade weapon!"
In the vast square, the only sound remaining was Mo Yu's laughter. Everyone else was silent, completely shocked. Even though most people present had never heard of this spear, they were all stunned by the mention of a sixth-grade weapon!
A sixth-grade artifact forger was considered a true master in the Western Region, someone who had reached the pinnacle of the craft.
"Sister, Mo Yu really did it! A sixth-grade weapon! Now, he will definitely win against Sun Wuji's Vajra Rainbow Sword," Lan Bingbing exclaimed, covering her red lips in astonishment.
"No wonder the Artifact Master Bingli took notice of him. To think that at such a young age, he has already become a sixth-grade forger…" Lan Yuan, the head of the Lan family, stood up in awe, his gaze fixed on the extraordinary spear in Mo Yu's hands. His expression was a mixture of surprise and delight.
On the other side, Tang Hao's face twitched with disbelief and suppressed fury.
A sixth-grade weapon! This damned kid could actually forge a sixth-grade weapon!?
The situation had taken a sudden turn. If the spear in Mo Yu's hand was indeed a sixth-grade weapon, the Tang family would face utter defeat in this contest between the Tang and Lan families. For Tang Hao, who was intent on ruling over West Wild City, this was a severe and humiliating blow.
On the high platform, Elder Black Sword, with his eyes half-closed, gazed at the weapon in Mo Yu's hand and muttered, "The Imperial Soul-Capturing Spear... a soul-based weapon... Could it really be a sixth-grade artifact?"
Seeing this, Lan Yuan prepared to announce the result. "Well then, I declare that in this contest between the Lan and Tang families, the winner is..."
Before he could finish his sentence, a voice interrupted him.
"Wait!"
The sharp voice that rang out came from Sun Wuji, who stood up abruptly, his face twisted with anger.
Lan Yuan frowned at being interrupted and turned toward Sun Wuji, whose eyes were bloodshot. "What is it now, Young Master Sun?" he asked coolly.
"I don't believe he forged a sixth-grade weapon! I want to inspect it myself!" Sun Wuji shouted, pointing directly at Mo Yu.
Lan Yuan's brows furrowed even deeper as he replied, "I'm sorry, Young Master Sun, but that's not in line with the rules of this contest."
"Lan Family Head, you're mistaken! What if that Mo Yu simply produced a showy weapon to deceive us? Should we let him win just like that? Moreover, we've never heard of this so-called Imperial Soul-Capturing Spear, unlike the well-known Vajra Rainbow Sword from Myriad Sword Pavilion. Perhaps you're biased in favor of someone hired by your family. Given the number of people here, what are you afraid of?" Tang Hao interjected coldly from the platform, seizing the opportunity to stir suspicion.
As Tang Hao spoke, murmurs began to ripple through the audience. Many seemed to agree with Sun Wuji's demand for an inspection.
Hearing the whispers, Lan Yuan's face darkened. He hadn't expected this level of stubbornness from the Tang family.
Mo Yu, sensing Lan Yuan's hesitation, smiled and said, "Lan Uncle, let them inspect it. Otherwise, it might seem like we have something to hide."
Lan Yuan paused, taken aback by Mo Yu's calm demeanor. After a moment of contemplation, he sighed and nodded. "Very well, we'll allow an inspection. However, Sun Wuji will not be the one to conduct it. As a participant in the contest, he has no right to inspect the results of another contestant."
"In that case, let the inspection be done by you, me, and Elder Black Sword," Tang Hao said, gesturing toward the elder beside him. "Elder Black Sword is from Myriad Sword Pavilion, and his reputation is well-known. With him involved, we can ensure fairness. What do you say, Lan Family Head?"
"Elder Black Sword?"
Lan Yuan and the rest of the Lan family stiffened upon hearing the name. Even the entire audience grew tense at the mention of the formidable elder from Myriad Sword Pavilion, whose aura was as deep and unfathomable as an abyss.
"An elder from Myriad Sword Pavilion…" Mo Yu narrowed his silver eyes slightly as he gazed at the elder beside Tang Hao. The man's aura was even more terrifying than that of the Elder Demon from Flame Valley. If Mo Yu guessed correctly, this elder was likely at the level of an Eight-Star Douzong.
"Since it's Elder Black Sword, then I agree to the inspection," Lan Yuan reluctantly nodded, recognizing the gravity of the situation.
"I refuse to believe you forged a sixth-grade weapon!" Sun Wuji sneered, his eyes flashing with hatred as he stared at Mo Yu.
In response, Mo Yu merely smiled disdainfully.
Once the rules were settled, Lan Yuan, Tang Hao, and Elder Black Sword descended from the platform to inspect the weapon. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the three approached Mo Yu and took the Imperial Soul-Capturing Spear from his hand. They then began to carefully examine the weapon, using their soul senses to assess its grade and detect any flaws.
The inspection lasted for nearly five minutes. The crowd held its breath as they waited. The expressions on the three inspectors' faces grew serious, especially on Lan Yuan, whose face was tinged with barely concealed joy. On the other hand, Tang Hao's expression was dark and grim.
Watching the scene unfold, a sense of dread crept into Sun Wuji's heart. Could it really be a sixth-grade weapon…?
"Elder Black Sword, as the most esteemed figure present, please announce the result," Lan Yuan said with a smile, returning the spear after completing the inspection.
With a sigh, Elder Black Sword glanced at Sun Wuji, then cast a meaningful look at Mo Yu before turning to the crowd. After a brief pause, he spoke.
"The inspection is complete. This spear, the Imperial Soul-Capturing Spear, is indeed a sixth-grade weapon, and not just any weapon—it is a rare soul-based weapon!"
As the elder's words echoed across the square, the crowd erupted in astonishment.
"A soul-based weapon? Then it must truly be a sixth-grade artifact!"
"With Elder Black Sword confirming it, the Lan family has won both rounds of the contest. It seems the question of who will rule West Wild City is now open."
"Mo Yu defeated both Tang San and Sun Wuji. No doubt, the name Mo Yu will become legendary in the Western Region!"
In the Lan family seats, Lan Yingying and Lan Bingbing both smiled in delight at the announcement.
"No wonder Mo Yu seemed so calm during the forging. It turns out he was crafting a soul-based weapon all along," Lan Yingying mused with a smile.
Soul-based weapons are incredibly rare due to their unique ability to bypass the body and directly attack an opponent's soul. Such attacks are far more difficult to recover from than physical injuries, making soul-based weapons highly coveted. However, because of their focus on soul attacks, these weapons don't emphasize material strength, and in physical combat, they might be less powerful than even some fifth-grade weapons. This explained why no one had realized that Mo Yu had been forging a sixth-grade weapon during the contest.
After the result was announced, Mo Yu retrieved his spear and glanced coldly at Sun Wuji before turning to leave.
But as he turned his back, a venomous look flashed in Sun Wuji's eyes. Forming a hand seal, Sun Wuji released a faint pulse of soul power. In an instant, a soul arrow shot from his mind, heading straight for Mo Yu's back.
The sudden attack caused an uproar in the crowd, with many shouting in outrage. Mo Yu had won the contest fair and square, yet Sun Wuji dared to resort to such a disgraceful sneak attack!
Shh!
The soul arrow struck Mo Yu squarely in the back. However, there was no blood. Instead, Mo Yu's figure began to blur and then fade away.
"A mirage?" Sun Wuji's heart sank as fear gripped him. He began to back away, but his retreat was halted as his body froze in place. Above him, a far more terrifying soul imprint had appeared, hovering ominously over his head.
"Stop!" Voices from the Tang family seats cried out in panic.
Elder Black Sword, who had been preparing to leave, immediately turned back, his expression darkening. He shot forward in a blur, racing toward the scene.
"If you want to play with soul techniques, then your life is forfeit. You brought this on yourself."
Mo Yu's cold voice drifted into Sun Wuji's ears. Terror overwhelmed Sun Wuji, and before he could even beg for mercy, the soul imprint descended.
Thud!
A mouthful of blood spewed from Sun Wuji's lips as his body crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
Mo Yu casually dusted off his hands, a mocking smile tugging at his lips. Sun Wuji had probably thought that by using a rare soul technique, he could take Mo Yu down. Little did he know he had picked the worst possible opponent.
Elder Black Sword rushed to Sun Wuji's side, checking his condition. His face grew increasingly grim. Though Sun Wuji was technically still alive, his soul had been utterly destroyed. Even if his body could be healed, he would be no more than a mindless husk.
The elder's gaze turned deadly as he looked at Mo Yu. With a furious laugh, he spat, "You dare kill a disciple of Myriad Sword Pavilion? You'll regret this, boy!"
At these words, the faces of Tang Hao and the others turned deathly pale. Sun Wuji, the apprentice of the famous swordsmith, had been killed in front of them. If this enraged the swordsmith, even the Tang family could be dragged into ruin.
"You dare kill Sun Wuji, the beloved apprentice of the Swordsmith Master? I swear, we'll never rest until you're dead!" Tang Hao roared, his voice filled with venom, as the square fell into a stunned silence.
Facing the threats of Elder Black Sword and Tang Hao, Mo Yu's expression remained calm. A cold smirk played on his lips as he responded icily, "So, when he attacks me in secret, it's acceptable, but when I defend myself, I'm in the wrong?"
"I don't care about that! You've harmed Sun Wuji, and now your life is forfeit. If you surrender now, maybe the Swordsmith Master will spare you. But if you resist, I'll ensure you die a painful death!" Tang Hao's voice was chilling, filled with murderous intent.
"Stop this at once!" A group from the Lan family rushed into the square to stand beside Mo Yu. Lan Yuan's face was grim as he spoke, "What are you doing, Tang Hao? Mo Yu acted in self-defense. Surely the Swordsmith Master will understand. You can't just seize him like this."
Tang Hao's expression darkened further. "Mo Yu attacked Sun Wuji! Will the Lan family stand by an outsider, even if it means war with the Tang family? Do you realize who Sun Wuji's teacher is?"
The mere mention of Sun Wuji's teacher sent shockwaves through the Lan family. Everyone knew that Sun Wuji's master was a legendary eighth-grade swordsmith whose influence was so great that even Dou Zong-level powerhouses tread carefully around him.
"If Sun Wuji dies here, the swordsmith's wrath could burn this entire city to the ground," Lan Yuan murmured, his face pale.
"Regardless, Mo Yu was defending himself. Surely the Swordsmith Master is a reasonable man. Tang Hao, it's premature to take drastic action. This matter still needs proper investigation," Lan Yuan said, standing his ground.
Tang Hao sneered coldly, "Lan family, you have some nerve."
Suddenly, Elder Black Sword's cold voice echoed through the square, silencing everyone. "I will take this boy back to Myriad Sword Pavilion. The Lan family will not stop me."
His words were calm but left no room for argument. Everyone in the square felt the weight of his authority, knowing that a direct confrontation with Myriad Sword Pavilion was not something the Lan family could handle.
Lan Yuan's expression tightened. He knew he could stand up to the Tang family, but against an elder from Myriad Sword Pavilion, there was little he could do.
Lan Yingying and Lan Bingbing, watching anxiously, couldn't help but feel regret and worry. If it weren't for them, Mo Yu wouldn't be caught up in this situation.
Amid the rising tension, Mo Yu's voice cut through the air, clear and unwavering.
"No one—not even Myriad Sword Pavilion—has the right to take my life."
His words hung in the air, bold and defiant, resonating across the entire square.
(End of Chapter)
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