Chapter 186: Chapter 186: Qin Zi's Devilish Smile
After a long while, the dust finally settled.
Snow Prince was embedded in a large, earth-colored crater, lying on his side in the classic pose of a discus thrower.
He didn't move.
At this moment, the surroundings were deathly silent.
Everyone stared in stunned disbelief at the tall, black-clad figure, forgetting even to gasp.
"As expected, nothing more than this," Qin Zi said with a smile, shaking his head. He then looked at the dazed crowd and cheerfully called out, "Everyone, carry on. This person lacked skill but tried to insult the heroes of the Northern Region, so I've subdued him."
His smile was humble.
It was as if he were saying—there's no need to thank me. I'm just doing my duty, eliminating evil for the greater good!
The corners of everyone's mouths twitched as they forced out awkward smiles in response.
There's a saying: don't hit a smiling person. Especially when that "smiling person" could pin you down and grind your face into the dirt at any moment.
Naturally, no one dared even think of raising their hands.
"You've gone far enough," an icy voice rang out.
Qin Zi turned towards the speaker.
Standing on the golden bridge was a young man dressed in blue, staring coldly at him. His eyes were filled with sharpness and undisguised hostility.
"Oh? Does the esteemed Young Master have some advice for me?" Qin Zi asked with a smile.
"Today is a grand event hosted by my Wu family, gathering talents from all regions. Yet you've brazenly injured one of my guests. Isn't that a bit inappropriate?" Wu Cheng said coldly.
Qin Zi shrugged casually and replied, "It wasn't my choice. But when someone seeks to disgrace themselves, what can I do?"
"You think he brought disgrace upon himself?" Wu Cheng sneered, his eyes narrowing. "Have you considered that your words and actions now are no different from his?"
"So, does the young master intend to teach me a lesson?" Qin Zi's eyes narrowed in response.
"I wouldn't presume to 'teach.' But I do think it's necessary to remind you of some basic principles." Wu Cheng snorted.
Boom!
A brilliant burst of golden light shot up from Wu Cheng, swirling like countless golden dragons ascending into the sky!
"What?!"
"The Law of Gold!"
"Wu Cheng has already stepped into the realm of the Heavenly Saint!"
"No wonder he's been so generous in inviting us to comprehend the Ten Thousand Laws Heavenly Pool. He's already taken the lead in understanding the laws!"
"Such a talent, unrivaled in the Northern Region!"
The surrounding geniuses gasped in awe.
Qin Zi gazed at the overwhelming spectacle and paused for a moment.
Then, his eyes lit up with intense battle spirit, and he said excitedly, "It seems today's fight is inevitable!"
"A fight? Do you even deserve it?" Wu Cheng smirked mockingly.
Clearly, Qin Zi hadn't grasped the vast gap between a mere Saint and a Heavenly Saint. Did he truly think he could challenge him? Wu Cheng found this ignorance laughable.
No matter how powerful a Saint was, they were still bound by the limitations of their realm. Against the might of the laws, such strength was meaningless!
With his hands clasped behind his back, Wu Cheng looked down at Qin Zi, exuding an aura of a god surveying mere mortals. He said indifferently, "I, Wu Cheng, have never lost against an opponent of equal rank. Today, I am a whole realm above you. Fighting you would be meaningless. Instead, I'll make it simple: if you can walk up to me, I'll consider it your victory."
Hiss!!
The crowd was stunned.
Standing still and allowing his opponent to approach—this was supreme confidence, bordering on arrogance!
At the same time, it was a great humiliation for Qin Zi. If he failed under these conditions, his defeat would be absolute, his reputation forever tarnished.
This brash genius from the Eastern Region would not only lose today, but he'd likely never have the face to step into the Northern Region again.
It was a mental and psychological blow, aimed straight at his core.
Yet, Qin Zi didn't feel insulted. Instead, he appeared somewhat taken aback by Wu Cheng's "generous" offer.
Scratching his nose awkwardly, Qin Zi said, "So you're just going to stand there and let me hit you? That doesn't seem right…"
"Heh." Wu Cheng shot a disdainful glance at Shui Qingrou, as if to say, "Watch closely." He then rose into the air from the golden bridge. A thick, powerful aura of gold expanded outward, blazing like the rising sun!
Buzz!!
The indestructible Law of Gold formed a massive golden sphere around him, expanding until its diameter reached a hundred meters.
"I said it—if you can walk up to me, you win," Wu Cheng stated, his hands still clasped behind his back.
"In that case, I won't hold back." Qin Zi smiled, shrugged, and began to walk forward leisurely.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
With every step he took, his aura surged higher, growing stronger and stronger with no end in sight!
"So powerful!"
"How can this be?!"
"Is he really still a Saint?"
"A monster, an absolute monster!"
The crowd cried out in disbelief. Qin Zi's strength had already surpassed the limits of the Saint realm.
"He… How is this possible…?" Wu Cheng's pupils contracted. Just from this aura alone, he realized that if they were in the same realm, he would undoubtedly lose to this man!
"But I am now a Heavenly Saint! No matter how monstrous he is, he can't break through the laws… Impossible…"
Boom!!
Crack!
Before he could finish his thought, a violent tremor spread out without warning, followed by a sharp cracking sound.
The massive golden sphere surrounding Wu Cheng suddenly trembled, and then fissures began to snake across its surface.
"You'll keep your word, won't you?" Qin Zi asked, his bloodstained fist emerging from the shattered golden sphere. He flicked the blood off with a smile as he stared at Wu Cheng.
He had shattered the Law of Gold with his bare fists!
"You…!" Wu Cheng's heart constricted painfully, a suffocating pressure weighing down on him, as if a primordial beast had its sights set on him.
Before he could react, Qin Zi had already stepped forward. The shattered remnants of the golden sphere flew out like shards of glass, scattering in all directions, leaving a dazzling spectacle in their wake.
In an instant, Qin Zi stood before the stiff-faced Wu Cheng, their eyes locking.
Gulp…
Wu Cheng swallowed nervously.
His mind went blank.
His heart raced frantically. In this moment, thoughts of reputation, honor, anger, and humiliation all vanished.
Qin Zi reached out with his right index finger, gently lifting Wu Cheng's chin, a devilish smile spreading across his face.
"I've won."
Wu Cheng's body trembled.
His eyes went vacant, the reflection of Qin Zi's mischievous grin frozen in his pupils. His expression began to change ever so slightly.
It was as if that devilish smile had seared itself into his mind, shattering something deep within him, while simultaneously awakening something previously locked away…
"Arghhh!!"
Suddenly, Wu Cheng threw his head back and screamed. A violent surge of golden law erupted from him, blasting Qin Zi away.
"Whoa!" Qin Zi yelped in surprise, flipping through the air before landing gracefully. He turned to look at Wu Cheng.
Wu Cheng, his hair disheveled, had broken free from his hairpiece. He stood hunched over, gasping for breath, his hands on his knees.
His aura seemed to have changed. He now appeared more ethereal, yet at the same time, a bit more… delicate.
"This…"
Qin Zi's scalp tingled. His playful gesture seemed to have triggered some unexpected transformation.