Chapter 358: The Duel

Chapter 358: The Duel

Translator: yikaii Editor: yikaii

(TL Note: I'm changing Meng Jingzhou's Spirit Root from Single Spirit Root -> Single Bachelor's Spirit Root to differentiate itself from people with a regular Single Spirit Root (i.e only have one spirit root such as Lu Yang) and people who have a Pure Yang Spirit Root like Meng Jingzhou. The same goes for his Golden Core which has been changed to Single Bachelor's Golden Core.)

Boom—Boom—Boom—

On the arena, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou exchanged blows, each impact resounding like thunder. Their footwork and movement techniques were honed to perfection, with the slightest shift allowing them to evade attacks.

Their control over their strength was so precise that even the Golden Core Stage cultivators watching below couldn't help but twitch at the corners of their eyes and swallow nervously. Such intense combat, yet not a trace of power leaked out—it was hard to believe they were only early-stage Golden Core.

No, could this level of control even belong to the Golden Core Stage?

"You have the Single Curse Fist. You can easily take on three opponents!"

"Nonsense, my Single Curse Fist only works on men, and using it actually makes them fight with double their combat power! You've got the Lu Clan's Arhat Fist, so what's three people to you?"

"Are you kidding? If I use the Arhat Fist, do you think Lan Ting will let me off? The entire Moon Laurel Immortal Palace wouldn't spare me!"

"Besides, didn't you say you wanted to be first? I'll let you have first place!"

"No rush; you can be first."

They launched into battle, competing for second place.

One-on-one, they feared no one, but taking on three at once? Unless their brains were completely taken over by the Invincible Core, neither would take that kind of risk.

Lu Yang tried to jump off the stage but was pulled back by Meng Jingzhou, who pinned him down by the shoulder. When Meng Jingzhou attempted to leap off, Lu Yang grabbed his wrist and flung him back.

They repeatedly blocked each other's attempts to exit, each trying to be the first to concede the top spot but constantly thwarted by the other.

After a fierce struggle, they ended up dragging each other down and fell off the stage simultaneously.

Bai Ming stood up and applauded. "A tie for first! Let's give them a round of applause!"

Skipping the post-match commentary, Bai Ming, holding his white and gold patterned spear, leapt directly from the judges' seat onto the arena.

Lan Ting and Yan Tianzhi followed closely behind.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Lu Yang, Senior Brother Meng Jingzhou. Who would've thought you'd defeat so many talented Foundation Building cultivators to claim first place!" Bai Ming said, struggling to contain his schadenfreude.

"I think there's been a misunderstanding between us. Lan Ting, you know me—I've never bullied anyone weaker than myself!" Lu Yang protested his innocence.

"Attack!" Bai Ming didn't give Lu Yang or Meng Jingzhou a chance to speak. It was a rare opportunity to spar, and who knew when the next chance would come.

As the most gifted disciple of the Five Elements Sect, Bai Ming rarely found suitable opponents. No one at his level could defeat him, and fighting those above his level lacked the right feel.

Calculating his options, only the other four disciples from the immortal sects could be his true rivals.

He swung his spear upwards, leaving a white streak across the arena.

Lu Yang raised his sword to block, deflecting the spear tip, fully alert as if facing a formidable foe.

"A fine strike. Even when I was battling Foundation Building cultivators on this stage, I didn't feel this kind of pressure!"

Lu Yang's interest was piqued, his eyes flashing with a restless desire. If it was a fight Bai Ming wanted, then he would give him a proper battle.

After all, his purpose in attending the Qingzhou Grand Meeting was to exchange techniques with peers.

Bai Ming, provoked by Lu Yang, ignited the True Fire of the Sun at his spear's tip. The temperature on the stage soared, and even the audience behind protective barriers could feel the heat waves emanating from the arena.

Lu Yang raised an eyebrow. He remembered Bai Ming had used the Golden Crow Flame during the Foundation Building Stage. It seemed that after ascending to Golden Core, the flame had evolved into the True Fire of the Sun, comparable to Pure Yang True Fire.

Of course, in terms of power, it couldn't match Meng Jingzhou's Pure Yang True Fire, which was acquired at the cost of two Single Bachelor's Golden Cores.

Historically, no cultivator with a Single Bachelor's Spirit Root dared to take such an extreme route.

"Break!" Lu Yang shouted softly. The Qingfeng Sword sliced through the air with a sharp whistle that echoed across the arena. Those with lower cultivation levels felt their eyes sting, as if pricked by needles.

"It's sword energy!" A Golden Core cultivator in the audience exclaimed in shock. They had heard that when sword energy reached a certain level, even looking at it directly could cause physical harm.

He had never seen anyone cultivate sword energy to such a degree before.

Who would have thought that Lu Yang, just an early-stage Golden Core cultivator, had already mastered sword energy to the point where it could cause injury.

The sword energy pierced through the True Fire of the Sun at the tip of Bai Ming's spear, causing the True Fire to fall to the ground, burning small pits wherever it landed.

During the earlier team battle between Yan heir and Meng Jingzhou, the arena remained completely undamaged.

Lu Yang laughed heartily, his spirits soaring: "Lan Ting, you and Bai Ming come at me together!"

Lan Ting smiled faintly, "As Senior Brother Lu Yang wishes."

Her skirt ribbons danced like swimming dragons, swirling around Lu Yang before suddenly tightening, attempting to bind him.

"Shrinking Earth!"

Lu Yang had anticipated this and burrowed underground, causing the ribbons to miss.

"This girl is interesting. She also has an Immortal Physique; you're in for a good fight." In the mental space, Everlasting Fairy observed from her bed.

"Lan Ting also has an Immortal Physique?" Lu Yang had assumed Lan Ting just had a Single Spirit Root.

"Yes, she has the Primordial Chaos Immortal Physique. Legend has it that this was the first Immortal Physique mastered by the human race. Before the Immortal Physique cultivation system was established, the universal cultivation method for humans was Qi Training, where practitioners would draw various types of qi from nature into their bodies. Those who succeeded were called Qi Trainers."

"However, the Qi Training method was not universally applicable and was gradually abandoned by humans."

"The creator of Qi Training was a Primordial Chaos Immortal Physique. He pioneered human cultivation, leading humanity in resisting beasts and natural disasters, allowing humans to establish themselves in the wilderness era. As the Primordial Chaos dawned and humanity saw the first light, this Immortal Physique was named Primordial Chaos Immortal Physique."

"So, do you want me to help you fight?"

"No need, I'll give the Invincible Core a try."

...

Yan Tianzhi quietly approached Meng Jingzhou, a faint light flickering on his back that extended to his neck. It was only then that Meng Jingzhou noticed a tattoo on him.

A phantom of a mythical beast appeared behind him, with the body of a sheep, tiger teeth, eyes under its armpits, and a cry that resembled a baby's wail, stirring up a sense of irritation.

"Taotie?" The crowd below stirred, confused about what was happening.

An elder selecting sect disciples recognized the Taotie's origins and explained to those around him: "This is a Prison-Suppressing Sect battle tattoo. Starting from the Foundation Building Stage, they can tattoo images of demons and beasts onto their bodies, gaining their power and divine abilities. With each realm ascended, they can add another beast tattoo."

"But this is the first time I've seen someone tattoo the Taotie at the Golden Core Stage."

"So, you're a fellow from the Prison-Suppressing Sect. Our clan elders highly praise the battle tattoos of your sect, and today I see that reputation is well deserved!" Meng Jingzhou clasped his fists with respect.

"Dao Seeking Sect, Meng Jingzhou."

"Prison-Suppressing Sect, Yan Tianzhi."

Yan Tianzhi opened his mouth, and the Taotie phantom behind him became clearer, almost as if it were coming to life.

"Swallowing Heaven Devouring Earth!"

A fierce wind swept through the arena, and the terrifying suction made it difficult for Meng Jingzhou to keep his footing.

"Heaven Shaking Six Forms—Earth Tremors!"

Meng Jingzhou responded calmly. His fists struck like muffled thunder, creating shockwaves in the air. Each wave was drawn into Yan Tianzhi's stomach, causing him stomach pain and forcing him to stop the Taotie's divine power.

Meng Jingzhou gathered his inner strength, shaking the heavens and earth. The wind howled, and his momentum was astonishing. Yan Tianzhi resembled a human Taotie, devouring everything in his path.

Their massive fists collided repeatedly, each clash producing a deafening roar that sent shivers down the spines of the onlookers. Sweat dripped down their foreheads, and their faces were filled with excitement.

They moved so fast that they became near-blurs, invisible to those with weaker eyesight. The top eight of the tournament could still see them, but only barely; their minds struggled to keep up with the rapid exchanges.

"Is this really the combat power of early-stage Golden Core?" The Golden Core cultivators below the arena were in disbelief, feeling as though their own cultivation had gone to waste.

"What kind of Golden Core are they...? Oh, right! Isn't there a Golden Core appraisal event? Get those people over here to take a look!"

(End of the chapter)