Chapter 0626: Battling Zhong Taiqiu

When Jiang Qing'e declared her opponent, the entire square erupted. Countless individuals had surprise and confusion scrawled all over their faces, and the noise continued to increase in intensity.

"My God! Did I mishear? Jiang Qing'e wishes to challenge Zhong Taiqiu?"

"Zhong Taiqiu is the third strongest amongst the Seven Astral Pillars! He's just right behind Gong Shenjun and Gong Luanyu."

"He's at the Six-pearl Tier and is extraordinarily strong. His foundation is also extremely sturdy, so why would Jiang Qing'e want to challenge him?"

"This seems a little reckless. Isn't she overestimating herself?"

Everyone burst into chatter in shock, speculating endlessly on the reason why. Jiang Qing'e's choice of opponent had surpassed everyone's wildest expectations.

However, it wasn't just the general public that was surprised, Li Luo was too! Although he had guessed that Jiang Qing'e would not have chosen to fight against the weakest individual, he had never expected her to aim this high.

He had assumed that the furthest she'd go was to challenge Wang Chao or Qiao Yu, the weaker ones of the older students. However, this was beyond his wildest expectations.

This fellow was no pushover—he had once been the strongest student of the Four Star Hall.

When Gong Shenjun and Gong Luanyu had first entered the Four Star Hall, Zhong Taiqiu was the reigning leader amongst the Seven Astral Pillars.

No one would doubt his strength that had been proved through combat.

Li Luo had full confidence in Jiang Qing'e, but even he had to make sure that he hadn't heard that declaration wrongly.

"Is this all to birth vital energy?" Li Luo's gaze flashed. Jiang Qing'e would never do something meaningless. This choice was deliberate, and there had to be a goal.

"Leader, why did Senior Jiang choose such a difficult trial?" Bai Mengmeng asked, slightly flabbergasted by this.

Lu Qing'er paused and also chimed in. "Picking Zhong Taiqiu is truly shocking. Perhaps she might have been too aggressive and gone a little too far? With Senior Jiang's potential, challenging him when she has broken into the Heavenly Pearl Stage would have been the safer move."

Li Luo waved his hands helplessly. "Well, there's no point in telling me all of this. I'm not her!"

The rest also shook their heads forlornly.

"You shouldn't underestimate Jiang Qing'e." Mentor Chi Chan suddenly piped up as she observed the peerless beauty, standing by her lonesome amidst the massive square. "Amongst all the Violet Vibrance mentors, if we had to say who was the most unpredictable student, it would be the one standing over there," she gestured.

"Jiang Qing'e's cultivation technique is a little strange—it’s almost certainly some sort of secret art. It constantly suppresses her cultivation speed, much like bottling up an active volcano. Over time, the pressure and magma builds up, eventually erupting forth with terrifying power. Now, judging by the speed at which Jiang Qing'e cultivated during her time in the One and Two Star Halls, it could almost be considered disappointing with her potential and talent. Yet the moment she entered the Three Star Hall, she vaulted through the three major stages of the Earth Fiend General Stage within the short span of a year, entering the peak of the Fiend Finisher Tier. This was completely mind-boggling and unexpected. The way I see it, this is probably because she chose to restrict herself during the earlier part of her cultivation, and this restriction has reached its limit. Thus, this secret art is more than meets the eye... and it was probably given to her by Li Taixuan and Tan Tailan. Personally, I'm extremely curious. If she had chosen not to suppress herself in the past, where would her achievements lie today? Perhaps we aren't too far off from seeing that day now..." At this point, she glanced at Li Luo. Jiang Qing'e choosing to burst forth with her bottled up potential at this point probably indicated that it was all for the Housemeet.

She had been making her preparations for this day.

After listening to mentor Chi Chan's conjecture, Yu Lang, Bai Mengmeng, Lu Qing'er, and the rest seemed a little unsettled. They then turned to face the enchanting beauty who was still standing silently in anticipation of what was to come. No matter how one saw it, Jiang Qing'e was truly amazing and talented. She could be considered to be the most outstanding student of the Astral Sage College in the last few hundred years.

Especially if she succeeded in her challenge today—she would carve out an entirely new legend.

The fervor in the square did not die down, and the audience continued to chatter. Meanwhile, the faces of those atop the seven pillars also showed a hint of surprise.

This was completely unexpected even to them.

"Qing'e." The First Princess' brows were furrowed as she stared at the heroic and alluring silhouette, her heavy sword in hand. She was worried for her. If Qing'e had stepped into the Heavenly Pearl Stage, the choice of opponent couldn't be more appropriate. However, the crux of the matter was that she had not! The undulations coming from her body indicated that she was still in the Fiend Finisher Tier.

Zhong Taiqiu, on the other hand, was a Six-pearl.

This was the titan that monopolized the top position before she and Gong Shenjun had arrived on the scene. This was not a good opponent.

Yet this was the choice Qing'e had made, and the First Princess could only quietly observe, keeping her worries to herself.

Gong Shenjun's gaze flickered as well. “Just what is Qing'e relying on to even dare to challenge Zhong Taiqiu?” He understood that she was not a reckless individual, and thus the only conclusion was that she had a trump card that had not revealed itself.

"Phew." Si Tianming heaved a sigh of relief whilst a bitter smile hung upon his face. He had maintained his position as a Seven Astral Pillar, but he also felt a sour taste in his mouth. Clearly, Jiang Qing'e disregarded him and did not deem him a worthy opponent. "It looks like I really stand no chance anymore." Si Tianming bitterly shook his head.

The rest of the Seven Astral Pillars had varying expressions. They also stared at the beautiful silhouette with a mystifying temperament, a complicated look in their eyes. If she succeeded today, she would undoubtedly become the most intimidating Seven Astral Pillar to ever walk the halls of the college. In the midst of the cacophony, the challenged, Zhong Taiqiu, was also temporarily taken aback. Gradually, he stood up.

Zhong Taiqiu could be best described as ordinary. He possessed two beady eyes and an almost feminine smile, almost unremarkably normal. However, this average-looking fellow was once the strongest Seven Astral Pillar. The old were surpassed by the new, and even more outstanding individuals had appeared! This was expected. As a result, he chose to restrain his former brilliance, quietly enjoying the resources the college imparted upon him. At the end of the year, he would leave for greener pastures.

"I had planned to leave the college with the glorious Seven Astral Pillar title. However, it looks like things were never meant to be so easy." Zhong Taiqiu chuckled.

After he spoke, he took a step forward, resonant power flickering for but an instant. At the next moment, his figure reappeared several dozen meters away from her. All of this happened underneath the watchful eyes of the audience.

"Junior Jiang. You're the most outstanding student in the last few hundred years of the college's history. However, I don't want to leave the college defeated. Thus, I have to add that the decision you made might not have been the smartest choice," he continued lightly.

Jiang Qing'e remained unfazed, waves seemingly rippling within her golden eyes.

She did not bother with any more superfluous words, her eyes focusing on the opponent before her. "Senior Zhong, I seek your guidance."

Zhong Taiqiuo chuckled once again before awe-inspiring amounts of mighty resonant power burst out from him in every direction, akin to a tsunami of energy crashing into his surroundings. His resonant power was light green and a pungent, fishy odor could be smelled. Wherever the resonant power permeated through, the air would turn a shade of light green.

This was snake venom!

Amidst the roiling resonant power, the silhouette of a gigantic python gradually took form.

Lower eighth-grade Devil Python resonance.

𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

After which, six heavenly pearls began to manifest behind him, and worldly natural energy rushed towards him madly like a coursing river.

The astonishing amounts of resonant power exuded a pressure upon the entire square, giving even the members of the audience a sense of suffocation.

Zhong Taiqiu's irises turned into slits akin to those of a python, and his feminine features seemed to add a tint of coldness to his expression. His body slowly started to ascend into the air, and he looked down condescendingly at Jiang Qing'e.

"Junior Jiang, take out your trump card. If you're truly in the Fiend Finisher Tier, then I'm afraid I'm not going to lose my seat today."

"One move," Jiang Qing'e replied tartly as she glared at the massive amounts of resonant power that surrounded Zhong Taiqiu, her red lips slightly parted.

"What?" Zhong Taiqiu's gaze shrunk upon hearing it.

"Senior Zhong, if you're able to receive my move, I will naturally concede this challenge," Jiang Qing'e stated neutrally.

Zhong Taiqiu focused upon her and smiled. "Could it be that you only have a single move?" His eyes flashed and he gave a soft snicker. "As a senior, I will naturally not retreat. I really want to see what sort of abilities the strongest student in the Astral Sage College's recent history has to offer!"

As the once-strongest Seven Astral Pillar, he possessed no small amount of pride and self-confidence. If Jiang Qing'e were on a similar level, he would naturally have chosen to avoid this possibly devastating blow. Only a fool would stand there and be sliced at. But Qing'e was only at the Fiend Finisher Tier, while he was a six-pearl!

He had to see her source of confidence for himself..

"Well then, Junior Jiang. Be my guest."