Chapter 185: Hearing the Xiang Jianzong

At this moment, several chatroom comments floated across the phone screen in front of Xu Xing.

Sword Sovereign: "Rebuilding from the Dongzhen realm certainly offers great advantages, but such an opportunity cannot be replicated."

Master Mei Zu: "If she reaches the step of knocking again at the Immortal Gate, her chances could increase by half a percent over before."

Master Mei Zu: "Cutting away the clutter and regaining new life… Brother Dao's sword is truly formidable."

She was rare indeed to be serious for once.

"Just luck," Xu Xing replied offhandedly.

Diluting the essence of Heaven, Xuan, and Ancient made the backlash no longer pure, and required 'Heaven' to strip away the host's cultivation insights entirely as nourishment.

Never mind whether it could happen again.

Even if it could, they would never allow such a thing to occur under their own noses.

Master Mei Zu: "Brother Dao, perform a talent act for us—I'll send you a gift!"

This guy clearly couldn't stay serious for long.

Xu Xing ignored her.

Sword Sovereign: "Want me to send you a sword qi? / Spits out a little yellow duck made of sword qi"

Master Mei Zu: "/shivering"

The two exchanged emoticons until a message from Tyrant Sovereign halted them.

Tyrant Sovereign: "During the Starfront battlefield, my fist intent felt the sharpness of that sword strike—Brother Dao, are you about to take the next step?"

This was serious business!

Instantly, everyone fell silent, waiting for Xu Xing's reply.

They could only sense that part of Hun Tian Yi had been refined after Xu Xing emerged from seclusion, but they knew nothing of his cultivation realm advancement.

Even Xiang Yuanjun beside him now turned to look at Xu Xing.

At first she hadn't noticed any difference in Xu Xing from before, until that day inside the Secret Realm, when that sword strike was unleashed…

Only then did she realize that Brother Dao's sword had indeed changed greatly.

She had planned to ask after this martial tournament, but Tyrant Sovereign had asked first.

"Sort of, but only half a step forward," Xu Xing did not conceal it.

Half a step…

Everyone fell silent.

They hadn't even touched the threshold yet.

Long silence.

Alchemy Sovereign: "Brother Dao, how do you plan to name it?"

"We'll see—when I've fully taken this step, we'll discuss a name together."

As for sharing experience, such things must wait until a second person also reaches this threshold, and the two can verify each other's insights.

Otherwise, if one walks into a dead end, correcting it becomes extremely troublesome.

Hong Sovereign: "Brother Dao is now free, unburdened by Hun Tian Yi—what are your plans next?"

Xu Xing had long decided: "After visiting Ling Yin Fang, barring unforeseen circumstances, I will head to the Starfront battlefield."

As expected.

Hearing this, Xiang Yuanjun's heart stirred slightly.

Heading to the Starfront battlefield…

Given Brother Dao's nature, now unburdened by Hun Tian Yi, once he goes there, he won't withdraw from the Starfront battlefield until the Cang race is utterly exterminated.

"And since Elder and the other Daoist have long guarded the Starfront, this would be a good chance for them to return to the Central Continent and rest."

What about you? Xiang Yuanjun suddenly wanted to ask that.

But after hesitation, she gave up.

She knew well—such words change nothing.

Suddenly!

Spirit Sovereign: "Let's not rush the Starfront battlefield matter."

An unexpected comment floated by.

Spirit Sovereign: "Even if you go to the Starfront battlefield, the stalemate with the Cang race won't change much."

Spirit Sovereign: "Come to Ling Yin Fang—I may have a way to break the deadlock. It won't necessarily be a permanent solution, but it's far faster than continuing as we are."

A way to break the deadlock? "Fine, I'll go right away," Xu Xing said decisively.

Spirit Sovereign would never speak without reason; the Alliance's martial tournament meant nothing compared to this.

Spirit Sovereign: "No need to rush—follow your original schedule. I still need to prepare."

Spirit Sovereign: "By the way, tell Yuan that Sister Wan Zhu is waiting for him."

Spirit Sovereign: "If you're not here in three days, you'll bear the consequences."

Spirit Sovereign had rarely sent such a long message.

…………

On the arena.

Meng Xuan nearly swept all opponents.

Whether strong or weak, whether artificial or innate, no one could withstand a single strike from her. Such performance was breathtaking.

Those present were not without Foundation Establishment cultivators.

For example, the current Speaker.

Yet after mentally simulating a battle, he found that his own Foundation Establishment self, facing this young cultivator, had a 99 percent chance of defeat…

That sliver was the last shred of dignity he left himself.

But this was absurd.

Fortunately, such a prodigy belonged to the Zhengdaoxian Alliance!

Now that the founding chairman has ascended to immortality and returned, when the elder also breaks through the Immortal Gate, the younger generation has Chen Yuanlin and other such prodigies! The Zhengdaoxian Alliance has a promising future! …

…

Soon.

Meng Xuan faced her final opponent—the Alliance's sole Creation Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Most defeated contestants, and the majority of viewers watching outside the Secret Realm, assumed this would be a evenly matched contest.

After all, that Creation Foundation Establishment cultivator had previously defeated every opponent with a single strike.

But the moment they clashed, they realized they were wrong.

Overwhelming!

Purely one-sided domination! Both were Creation Foundation Establishment cultivators, nearly the pinnacle of the very realm of "Foundation Establishment."

Zilaa!

The Creation Foundation Establishment cultivator opposite Meng Xuan was wreathed in lightning, wielding a lightning spear, moving as swift as Lei Guang.

But it was utterly useless.

Meng Xuan merely casually flicked out ordinary true energy pulses, forcing him into desperate retreat.

His form moved as swift as Lei Guang, yet he could not even close the distance.

After another finger strike forced him back, the Creation Foundation Establishment cultivator was gasping for breath, his true energy reduced to one-tenth.

"I still have one final strike left!"

If this last strike failed, he would have no choice but to surrender.

Fuck!

We're both Creation Foundation Establishment cultivators—how could she be this strong?!

Just as he mentally cursed, a faint voice spoke: "My true energy is exhausted. I surrender."

Huh? He looked up, bewildered.

He saw the opponent had already turned and left the arena.

Whoa! It wasn't just him who was stunned—once the defeated contestants realized what happened, they erupted in uproar.

Wait, you looked so relaxed and effortless, and now you say your true energy is gone? Who believes that? Fixed match?

Yes! Absolutely a fixed match! The murmurs grew louder.

Meanwhile, on another arena.

Chen Yuanlin had finally defeated the Soul Transformation-level puppet.

The puppet dissolved into a pill, its aura dimmed, and flew back into the hands of the Jishi Valley observer.

The current chairman snapped out of his shock over Meng Xuan's surrender.

"Young friend, rest assured—we will soon deliver the corresponding resources and repair your puppet."

This was an old tradition.

"Thank you, Elder."

The Jishi Valley observer nodded in gratitude.

Afterwards, everyone except Xiang Yuanjun, Ming Yu, and Yuan turned to look at Xu Xing.

Since the martial contest began, the Jian Sect and the Long Xiang Qing Tian Sect—as two famed brute factions of the Xuan Realm—had never failed to descend and offer instruction.

"Brother, you sit in second place—you go first." The Long Xiang Qing Tian Sect's giant rumbled.

Perhaps because he had not moved.

"I've heard the Jian Sect's sword art is peerless in the world; this junior reveres it deeply—please, Elder, grant me your instruction!"

A clear voice rose from below, echoing across the Cloud Terrace.

On the arena, Chen Yuanlin's eyes gleamed with sharp light, gazing toward the peak's Cloud Terrace.

Jian Sect!

The number-one immortal sect of the Xuan Realm!

Its sword cultivators possessed unmatched offensive power; that Chi Jiuyu, two years younger than him, was already at the peak of Nascent Soul.

"Alright, then I'll go."

Xu Xing complied readily, flicking his hand to send forth a blade of light.

The blade of light landed on the arena, forming a blurred, sword-wielding figure, radiating a faint aura.

Soul Transformation, early stage.

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