Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

Li Guanqi’s contempt faded. He was taking Xiao Chen seriously now.

Xiao Chen was not an incompetent prodigal son at all.

Even Ye Feng had a grave expression. From their brief exchange, he hadn’t thought Xiao Chen was particularly strong. He figured Xiao Chen had to have more tricks up his sleeve, but Ye Feng did too.

Still, Ye Feng could only use the first tier of the Soul Dissolution technique. Unlocking the Heaven-Opening Tier required an extremely high-quality spirit void.

Boom!

Powerful spear intent shot into the clouds, with Xiao Chen’s battle spirit threatening to burn up the sky. His spear intent was only at the Spear Courage Realm, but he had been at this level for a long time.

The two energies clashed, a long crack splitting the space between them. Xiao Chen and Li Guanqi slammed together like colliding storms.

Clang! Clang clang clang! Boom!

They fought so fast they became a blur. Both were masters of their respective weapons. Neither made basic mistakes, and both moved at lightning speed. Every parry and technique change was a split-second decision, and the battle was nearly impossible to track.

Space shattered around them. Metallic clangs rang out constantly.Xiao Chen’s expression grew solemn. Neither side had fought at maximum strength, yet Li Guanqi had matched him blow for blow. Xiao Chen’s spear was thick and more than one zhang long. With a flick of his wrist, he could transfer strength from the handle to the tip, delivering blows with the force of tens of thousands of jin.

And yet, Li Guanqi faced this enormous force effortlessly. He didn’t even rely on sword techniques to redirect the momentum. He met it with pure physical strength.

Ye Feng smirked. He doesn’t know Li Guanqi is a spirit-martial double cultivator.

And Li Guanqi had grown even stronger since they’d last met.

Li Guanqi noticed Xiao Chen’s surprise. Since Xiao Chen had realized this much, there was no point holding back.

Li Guanqi’s primordial soul blazed with light, and great vital force coursed through him. He pushed the Dragon-Elephant Subduing Sutra to its limits, his blood surging as the roars of dragons and elephants echoed around him. He skipped straight to the sutra’s sixth tier.

Clang! Boom!

With a deafening explosion, the space within dozens of zhang of Li Guanqi shattered.

Unstoppable force traveled through the Divine Blood Spear. Xiao Chen paled, too slow to block. The spear bounced back and slammed into his chest.

Pfft!

He was sent flying back hundreds of zhang, his feet gouging two long trails through space before he could finally stabilize himself. The skin between his thumb and index finger had split, and both his arms trembled uncontrollably.

He looked up at Li Guanqi, then murmured, “Illusory Martial Tier physical body! You’re a spirit-martial double cultivator!”

Li Guanqi shrugged, flicking his wrist to shake his sword. “Isn’t it obvious?”

Xiao Chen cracked his neck. The torn skin on his hand was already healing.

He glared at Li Guanqi and licked his lips. He slammed the butt of the Divine Blood Spear into space, then stripped off his top and hung it at his waist, revealing chiseled muscles. His upper body was covered in scars.

He kicked the bottom of his spear, sending it spinning into the air. When it fell, he caught it with both hands, dropped into a fighting stance, and growled, “Again. Don’t waste time testing the waters. Let’s fight with everything we’ve got.”

Xiao Chen’s battle spirit soared, and Ye Feng felt a grudging respect for him. Xiao Chen didn’t blame Meng Wanshu for this fight against Li Guanqi. His attitude was pure: a warrior who simply wanted to face a strong opponent.

“Boss, don’t hit him too hard,” Ye Feng called out, grinning. He found Xiao Chen interesting.

Li Guanqi smiled and ripped off his white robes, ripped and thrown by the spear. Beneath them, even more chiseled muscles emerged, along with a dense web of wounds.

They didn’t resort to any flashy or dramatic maneuvers. Instead, they delivered decisive blows, and if they couldn’t withstand their opponent’s attacks, they’d be seriously injured.

Ye Feng’s palms were sweating. Their battle had exceeded what he could handle without releasing his Ghost Arm. If he’d been in that fight, he would have lost in five breaths.

Li Guanqi’s sword shadow and Xiao Chen’s spear lights blurred together. Metallic clashes rang out, unable to keep pace with their speed as they flew through the air, terrifying power radiating from them both.

Xiao Chen relied on his spear’s length for range. Li Guanqi was like a fierce beast, pressing closer and closer. The moment Xiao Chen let down his guard, he’d be swallowed alive.

Slowly, Xiao Chen tired out. He had the advantage of reach, but Li Guanqi blocked his every attack, pressing in without letting him catch his breath. A single mistake would break his rhythm and leave him vulnerable.

Xiao Chen narrowed his eyes, then pushed Li Guanqi back with his spear.

He quickened his footwork, twisting like the wind as he swung the spear around and thrust it forward.

“Fallen Deity Slash!”

The spear bent as it descended, his aura compressing the surrounding space until it was as sturdy as sealed space. Scorching flames erupted from the spear, burning up everything in their path.

Li Guanqi threw a punch, shattering the attack. He swung his leg in an arc and thrust his sword upward, the strike filled with powerful vital force and sword intent. Purple-black lightning mixed with flames erupted with terrifying force.

“Immortal-Slaying Slash!”

Boom!

Powerful sword intent exploded outward, manifesting into a one-zhang-tall hologram of the Yanluo Sword behind Li Guanqi. An attack strong enough to slay an immortal.

Boom!

The spear light shattered, and blood spurted from Xiao Chen’s chest. A long gash opened from his left shoulder to below his right ribs. He was sent flying backward, hitting the ground on one knee, vomiting mouthfuls of blood.

He supported himself with the spear, trembling.

“I... have lost.”