Chapter 139: Qin Xiaochuan's Final Trump Card

Although I had sensed the increase in Qin Xiaochuan’s spiritual power before, he had been in a deep sleep at the time. I never expected his spiritual energy to have surged to such a degree. If he were to be hit by that kind of spiritual orb attack again, forget about surviving—there might not even be a scrap of him left. The way Qin Xiaochuan’s spiritual power has skyrocketed is simply terrifying!

"Crash!"

Pushing himself up from the ground, Sikong Lang stood up, his expression blank. He had smashed through countless trees, each thick enough for two men to wrap their arms around, leaving them scattered in all directions across the grove. Despite taking the full force of Qin Xiaochuan’s spiritual orb head-on, the impact had only managed to shatter his sunglasses and tear his trousers. If he were looking for satisfaction, the power of that orb was far beneath the destructive force he had anticipated. Brushing the dirt from his body, Sikong Lang stared ahead. His sunglasses had been pulverized by the impact, revealing a pair of cold, indifferent eyes. Gazing at Qin Xiaochuan in the distance, Sikong Lang felt a sense of dissatisfaction as he walked step by step toward the arena.

"Is your strength... really only at this level?" Upon entering the arena and looking at Qin Xiaochuan across the way, Sikong Lang’s tone carried a hint of disappointment. That had been a full-force strike he had taken while coordinating with Qin Xiaochuan, yet the spiritual energy of that orb hadn't caused him the slightest bit of harm. It was truly disappointing.

"M-monster!" Seeing Sikong Lang completely unscathed, Zhang Yang was so terrified that he collapsed onto the ground. To be struck by such a massive spiritual orb and not even have a scratch—Sikong Lang was simply a freak of nature.

"Ugh!?"

Seeing that Sikong Lang remained uninjured, Qin Xiaochuan’s heart tightened. This had been his full-power strike, and yet it had only knocked off the guy’s glasses. Was it really not enough? Just as Qin Xiaochuan stood there, stunned, Sikong Lang suddenly lunged forward. A surge of even more powerful demonic energy erupted from his body, piercing through the spiritual aura surrounding Qin Xiaochuan like a sharp sword and leaving cuts on his arms and legs.

*He broke through my spiritual defense with just his demonic energy? Is the gap still this wide even when he is only using eighty percent of his power?* Protecting his face with his hands, Qin Xiaochuan’s body still suffered from the grazing cuts caused by Sikong Lang’s released demonic energy. Provoked by Sikong Lang’s dissatisfied taunt, Qin Xiaochuan froze. To injure him using nothing but demonic energy—was this the difference in power? If so, Sikong Lang was indeed someone he could not defeat in his current state.

"Was I too foolish?" Looking at Qin Xiaochuan, who stood dumbfounded before him, Sikong Lang’s voice dripped with disappointment and anger. "You aren't even worth my one hundred percent. Eighty percent is more than enough. Let me finish you off like this."

"So, this really isn't going to work," Qin Xiaochuan thought, confirming his fears after hearing Sikong Lang’s words. If he continued to hold back, he might truly lose.

Watching Sikong Lang approach, Qin Xiaochuan removed the wristbands from his arms. They were the final trump card his grandmother had entrusted to him.

"Wow! Contestant Qin Xiaochuan has taken off his wristbands! But what is that shimmering on his wrists? It seems to be glowing! What on earth is happening?"

The spectators in the stands were also filled with confusion. What was Qin Xiaochuan doing? Curious spectators leaned forward to get a better look at the stage. Was the guy trying to pull another trick? The previous attack hadn't even scratched Sikong Lang; even a fool could see the gap between them. Qin Xiaochuan was bound to lose.

"The Spiritual Light Shackles!..." Sikong Lang recognized them instantly. They were a secret technique of the Spiritual Light Sect used for cultivation—a seal designed to apply pressure and elevate one's spiritual power. No wonder Qin Xiaochuan had been so confident; he had been fighting him while wearing these things the whole time. *Hmph,* how ridiculous. Exhaling slightly, Sikong Lang felt a sense of being looked down upon, but perhaps, in this case, the fight could continue.

"What is that!? His hands and feet are glowing!?" Zhang Yang was bewildered as he looked at the Spiritual Light Shackles on Qin Xiaochuan. What exactly were those things for?

"...He has been fighting while wearing something like that?" Feeling the power of the shackles on Qin Xiaochuan, Bai Ying broke into a cold sweat. What a reckless guy. He was up against Sikong Lang, for heaven's sake! To restrain his own power to fight—he was underestimating Sikong Lang far too much.

As the Spiritual Light Shackles were released, the words Master Jinghai had spoken to him surfaced in Qin Xiaochuan’s mind.

"Before the trial, there is something I want you to wear." With those words, Master Jinghai had tapped the back of his hand with his right index finger, a speck of spiritual light appearing at his fingertip. "Hold out your hands..."

"My hands?" Not fully grasping the Master's intent, Qin Xiaochuan extended his hands.

"Spark-maluni-baza." Tracing his finger around Qin Xiaochuan’s wrists and ankles, Master Jinghai recited an obscure and complex incantation. Two glowing bands of light connected Qin Xiaochuan’s wrists and ankles.

"Damn it!!?? It's so heavy!!" Unsure of what Master Jinghai had done, Qin Xiaochuan suddenly felt as if two incredibly heavy lead weights had been attached to his wrists and ankles. The immense, crushing force dragged his arms downward. He shouted at the Master in panic, "What on earth is this!?"

"This is a secret method of the Spiritual Light Wave cultivation—the Spiritual Light Shackles. Simply put, it can rapidly and significantly increase the spiritual energy within you, allowing your power to achieve a breakthrough in a short time."

"But! This is too heavy! It’s like a spring made of lead; I can't pull it open at all! Ugh~~~ ah!!!"

"Are you an idiot? You can't pull it open with mere brute force." Watching Qin Xiaochuan foolishly tugging at the shackles, Master Jinghai began to instruct him on the method for this type of training. "You must exert your spiritual power to its maximum and channel it into your wrists and ankles. Only then can you overcome the restraint of the shackles and move normally."

"Ah!? You mean I have to maintain a full-power output of spiritual energy at all times!?" Qin Xiaochuan was stunned by the Master’s words. If he used all his spiritual energy just to unlock these restraints, he would have no power left to launch an attack. Wasn't that just suicide? How could there be such a stupid method of cultivation?

"Yes, if you don't want to die." With his hands behind his back, Master Jinghai looked calmly at Qin Xiaochuan, who stood with his jaw dropped. Pointing a finger, his tone became serious. "From now on, you must adapt to these shackles as quickly as possible. You must get used to the weight of these restraints, even to the point where you can sleep spread-eagled while wearing them. If you do this, once the seal is broken, your spiritual energy will be twice what it is now. I will give you the incantation to release it, but you are forbidden from doing so until you reach your limit. The longer you wear them, the deeper your potential will become." After a pause, Master Jinghai said earnestly, "As for the right moment to release them... I think you will know best."

*I am going to release them, Grandmother!* Remembering those final words, a look of determination appeared on Qin Xiaochuan’s face. This was his final trump card. This was why he had been able to face Sikong Lang’s onslaught with such calm—because he had hidden power dormant within him. But once these shackles were removed, his ultimate reliance would be exposed. If he still couldn't defeat Sikong Lang after this, there would truly be no other way.

At this thought, Qin Xiaochuan silently recited the incantation his grandmother had given him. "Open!" As he shouted the word, a massive, surging force erupted from within him, the previously suppressed power finally unleashed.

"This is truly astounding! Such immense power has erupted from Contestant Qin Xiaochuan! Could it be that he was hiding his true strength while fighting Contestant Sikong Lang this whole time? The match is becoming more and more exciting!"

"So powerful!" Feeling the spiritual energy being released from Qin Xiaochuan, Zhang Yang was left dumbstruck. This overwhelming spiritual pressure made him feel powerless, a truly shocking level of energy. As someone who had always been confident in his own spiritual power, he now had to admit that in every aspect, Qin Xiaochuan was far superior. Looking at the spiritual energy bursting forth, it was dozens of times greater than his own—perhaps even more. It was outrageous! Where did he get so much energy? Had his grandmother passed it on to him?

"...Both of them are monsters!" Sensing the sudden pressure radiating from Qin Xiaochuan, Fei Yan’s expression turned grim. He had originally thought that he alone could defeat this Sikong Lang, but he never expected Qin Xiaochuan to have been fighting with these things on, hiding this level of power throughout the entire struggle. It was unexpected. Even if he were to consume the power of the Black Dragon Wave, he probably wouldn't be able to defeat him now. What a troublesome guy. It seemed he would need to find even greater power to stand a chance against Qin Xiaochuan. He never imagined the spiritual energy within that guy was so staggering.

"Were you planning to defeat me... while wearing the Spiritual Light Shackles?" After staring at Qin Xiaochuan for a long moment, Sikong Lang finally spoke.

"More or less. Though, it was a bit of a stretch, after all!" At this moment, Qin Xiaochuan’s tone was filled with confidence—a powerful confidence, the kind only possessed by someone brimming with absolute strength.