Xu Qing's words exploded in the city like lightning and even caused rumbles to echo.
Most of the cultivators who heard this were shocked, especially the disciples of the various forces.
It had been too long since such a life-and-death battle had appeared in the Absolute Beginning Separation City.
Generally speaking, everyone tacitly agreed for the disciples of the various forces to challenge each other here. After all, they were all heaven's chosens of the human race. With so many of them gathered together, it was inevitable that there would be disputes to determine who was superior.
Coupled with the rules of the Sword Holding Court, the number of challenges became even more frequent. During this period of time, challengers appeared in every force.
However, there was never a life-and-death battle. Hence, Xu Qing's words were naturally like thunder to everyone.
They never expected that Xu Qing, who had been avoiding battle and was thought to be weak by many people in private, would be so murderous the moment he spoke.
This was beyond the expectations of too many people.
"How ruthless!"
"He is silent when he doesn't make a move, but the moment he makes a move, he wants to kill?!"
"Previously, I was still thinking that as a quasi-Dao Child, how could Xu Qing be so weak? Now, this is exciting!"
"It's hard to say. I hope Xu Qing isn't courting death. That Li Ziliang isn't simple!"
Discussions continued. A large number of cultivators soared into the air and looked in the direction of the Grand Affairs Immortal Sect in unison, wanting to see if Li Ziliang would take the challenge.
Among the crowd that flew up, there were also disciples from the Alliance.
The cultivators of the Alliance knew more about Xu Qing and were delighted. This was even more so for the Seven Blood Eyes' disciples.
Very soon, more and more people paid attention to this matter and they were all waiting for Li Ziliang's answer.
Even the people climbing the Absolute Beginning Separation Pillar got down one after another and paid attention to this battle. It could be said that Xu Qing's words instantly attracted the attention of everyone in the city.
Xu Qing was someone who enjoyed the treatment of a Dao Child in the Eight Sects Alliance. His status and identity were extraordinary.
As for Li Ziliang, it was the same. Although he wasn't the Grand Affairs' Dao Child, he was still extremely famous.
In addition, he had been in the limelight during this period of time. He had easily won more than ten challenges. The combat strength of his four palaces was astonishing. He was also always above the other climbers in the Absolute Beginning Separation Pillar.
In fact, there were even some Sword Holders who paid attention to him, so this battle naturally became a hot topic instantly.
Amidst the countless gazes, in the Grand Affairs Immortal Sect, Li Ziliang's expression was calm. A cold glint flashed in his eyes, but he was a little hesitant.
The people outside didn't understand Xu Qing but he had specially paid attention to him and knew that the other party wasn't simple.
If it wasn't a life-and-death battle, he wouldn't have hesitated at all. After all, no matter what, there was no life-and-death crisis, and he could give it his all.
He even felt that there was a high chance that he could win.
Moreover, fighting with Xu Qing would attract even more attention. After all, the other party's status in the Eight Sects Alliance was extraordinary. If he won, he could suppress the other party and his position would soar.
He would gain a lot of reputation.
The display of his talent could also attract the attention of the Sword Holding Court and secretly increase his points.
Most importantly, someone had promised him great benefits to probe Xu Qing's depths.
He knew very well that that person valued Xu Qing's life lantern.
That person was extremely meticulous in his actions and always pursued the path of victory.
In reality, he also took a fancy to Xu Qing's life lantern.
However, he wasn't ready yet, so he was a little hesitant to take the life-and-death battle challenge.
This wasn't the Grand Affairs Immortal Sect. If he really went, it would be a life-and-death battle. With so many people watching, it was impossible for the Grand Affairs Immortal Sect and the Alliance to protect them.
However, he thought of how powerful his four Heavenly Palaces were and according to the information, Xu Qing only had three Heavenly Palaces.
Even if the latter had an emperor-level cultivation art, he would only be on par with him.
"Life-and-death battle… If I kill him and take away his life lantern, the Eight Sects Alliance and that person won't be able to say anything."
"However, since Xu Qing dared to propose a life-and-death battle, he must have something he's confident in. The outcome of this battle is hard to say…" Li Ziliang wasn't stupid. His analysis was very thorough. It was just that he was more or less caught between a rock and a hard place now.
After all, he was the one who had proposed many challenges previously. If he didn't accept the life-and-death battle, he would definitely lose all his face and the reputation he had gained in the past would instantly dissipate.
"Although there are unknown dangers, it's still an opportunity."
"Besides, other than Zhang Siyun, that sinister, cunning, cold-hearted, and almost inhumane person, I have never encountered another person who could avoid my trump card."
Li Ziliang continued to ponder for a while and the discussions outside gradually increased. As all kinds of rumors faintly echoed, killing intent flashed in Li Ziliang's eyes.
He knew that he couldn't hesitate anymore and sneered again.
"Xu Qing, since you have a death wish, you can't blame me!"
He flew out of his tent. The moment he stepped into the sky, the gazes of countless cultivators in Absolute Beginning Separation City focused on him.
Under the gazes of everyone, Li Ziliang transformed into a rainbow and headed straight for Xu Qing.
From afar, he saw Xu Qing standing in the air outside the city.
He wore a purple shirt and had long hair. He had a demonic appearance, a cold expression, and calm eyes.
All of this caused Li Ziliang to narrow his eyes. His speed didn't decrease as he headed straight for Xu Qing. Just as he was about to rush out of the city, his speed suddenly increased by two times.
When he arrived, his speed was already very fast. Now that he suddenly increased his speed, it formed a sense of surprise, especially since this speed was something he had never displayed when fighting others before.
At that moment, his speed soared explosively. His entire person transformed into an afterimage and rushed out of the city, approaching Xu Qing. He then lifted his right hand and pressed down fiercely.
Four Heavenly Palaces manifested behind him.
The shapes of these four Heavenly Palaces were similar, but they were different from ordinary Heavenly Palaces. They were in the shape of a ladder and were completely made of crystal. They were filled with runes and emitted a resplendent light.
As Li Ziliang pressed down, the four Heavenly Palaces instantly appeared above Xu Qing's head.
They were piled together. From afar, the four Heavenly Palaces overlapped and seemed to form a crystal pagoda.
They instantly suppressed Xu Qing.
All of this happened in the blink of an eye and this was Li Ziliang's trump card when coupled with his speed.
As the Heavenly Palaces landed, Li Ziliang suddenly spread out his divine sense and transmitted his voice to Xu Qing, saying something that only Xu Qing could hear.
"Xu Qing, I've been looking for you for a long time. Do you still remember the hatred between us…"
These words echoed in Xu Qing's heart. Xu Qing was expressionless. He didn't know the other party and was certain that he had never seen him before. Otherwise, if the other party had any hatred for him, he would have been put on the bamboo slip long ago.
Hence, he didn't care what the other party said. At that moment, the four Heavenly Palaces above whistled down and smashed fiercely toward him. The power of the four palaces erupted completely.
The surroundings trembled. The pagoda formed by the four Heavenly Palaces drowned Xu Qing's figure.
Countless bolts of lightning formed around it that connected to the ground like threads. The pagoda kept on smashing toward the ground.
However, the pagoda suddenly stopped in mid-air. As its body trembled, an earth-shattering bang echoed.
Amidst the rumbling, the pagoda collapsed at a speed visible to the naked eye and shattered into countless pieces that shot in all directions.
It revealed Xu Qing's figure in the air and the nine layers of waves that flipped the sky around him.
Waves after waves spread out in all directions. Xu Qing, who was standing on the waves, was like a sea god.
A roar rang out. Behind Xu Qing, above the waves, the Golden Crow was like the sun rising from the sea, emitting a golden light above Xu Qing.
Although its body was black in the golden light, it had already grown 19 rainbow-colored phoenix tails that danced in the air. Wherever it passed, burning phoenix feathers would circle the world.
Li Ziliang's expression changed. He knew that Xu Qing was very strong but it was only at this moment that he truly sensed the berserk power on Xu Qing's body.
He felt that the latter was infinitely close to five palaces combat strength.
'Damn it, why didn't my voice transmission plant any doubts in his mind!'
Almost at the instant he looked at Xu Qing, Xu Qing moved.
He rushed straight toward Li Ziliang. The Golden Crow spread its wings and the raging waves followed.
Li Ziliang's pupils contracted and he rapidly retreated, performing a series of hand seals with both hands.
"Immortal art, True Spirit Ice Spear!"
Dazzling ice spears manifested in the surroundings and whistled toward Xu Qing.
They tried to obstruct Xu Qing but were destroyed by the Golden Crow.
"Immortal art, Fire Omen!"
In that instant, a sea of fire formed in all directions, transforming into a huge fire palm that swept toward Xu Qing. However, it was drowned by the furious waves.
"Immortal art, Divination of the Four Palaces!"
The shattered Heavenly Palace fragments in the sky all blurred and dissipated. After that, four more Heavenly Palaces appeared in the air and lined up. Two were side by side in front and two were vertically behind.
It was like a fragmented divination array that seemed to be analyzing and deducing.
This wasn't the end. With a wave of Li Ziliang's hand, a huge mirror appeared below Xu Qing.
This mirror was illusory and countless blurry figures appeared in the mirror. They couldn't be seen clearly but they seemed to contain some strange power, causing one's gaze to involuntarily look over. The more they couldn't see clearly, the more they wanted to see.
After doing this, Li Ziliang raised his right hand and quickly performed a series of hand seals, as though he was calculating something.
The many figures in the mirror also began to become clearer.
At the next instant, Xu Qing punched open the Heavenly Palaces, and Li Ziliang's expression suddenly changed drastically and he spat out a mouthful of blood. He looked at Xu Qing in disbelief and cried out involuntarily.
"I know why you don't recognize me. Your body… you were actually…"
As he spoke, he looked like he had seen a ghost. He suddenly turned around and fled into the distance.
The instant he fled, Xu Qing grabbed.
The direction Xu Qing grabbed wasn't where Li Ziliang was fleeing but behind him!
