Chapter 267: The Brahma Sacred Body Art, Combat Power of Dual Cultivation!

The grand array was deactivated.

Moyue returned to the Spirit Beast Pouch.

The three walked over to Ye Fan, Huang Tianxiong, and Huang Tianba.

The battle within the grand array had been incredibly fierce, but those outside had felt absolutely nothing.

"Honored Master, Father-in-law, Yue'er, are you all alright?" Ye Fan asked with concern upon seeing them.

The Huang brothers cupped their hands in a respectful salute. "Family Head, Elder."

Xu Chuan looked at the two. "The demonic cultivator has already been slain by the three of us. However, the events of today must not be leaked. I need the two of you to swear a soul oath never to reveal the truth of what happened here."

Huang Tianba and Huang Tianxiong exchanged a glance and nodded. "We understand."

They then immediately swore their soul oaths right in front of Xu Chuan and the others.

As for everything else, handle it yourselves as you see fit."

The Storage Pouch originally belonged to the Ancient Demon, but Xu Chuan had already transferred all items related to demonic cultivation. The remaining contents were just ordinary pills and Dharma Tools.

"Thank you, Family Head," Huang Tianba said, cupping his hands once more.

"When you return, how do you plan to explain this?"

"We encountered a demonic cultivator, fought a desperate battle to the death to kill him, and found brother Lu Shan's Dharma Tools in the demonic cultivator's Storage Pouch."

Xu Chuan nodded in approval, then departed with Xu Mingxian and Xu Deyue.

After they left, Huang Tianxiong lowered his voice. "Was that really a demonic cultivator?"

"That was a demonic cultivator, and it can only be a demonic cultivator!"

"I know, Big Brother," Huang Tianxiong replied, nodding heavily as he met Huang Tianba's solemn gaze.

The two returned to Cloudstream Town, handed Lu Shan's Dharma Tools over to Li Yuniang, and relayed their prepared story.

Li Yuniang's eyes were filled with agony, but she still bowed deeply to the two men. "Thank you so much for this time, Big Brother Huang. I truly feel terrible that you were almost put in danger because of us."

"It is all in the past now," Huang Tianba said, waving his hand dismissively. "Here are some Spirit Stones that brother Lu Shan left behind. Take them as well."

"Thank you."

Li Yuniang knew perfectly well that this was Huang Tianba's kindhearted financial support, but with a young son at home and a future to survive, she did not refuse.

"I will repay these Spirit Stones in the future."

"There's no need. Just live peacefully with your child from now on."

With that, the Huang brothers left the Lu family courtyard.

The Xu Family.

The matter of the Ancient Demon had finally come to an end.

Xu Mingxian and Xu Deyue resumed their secluded cultivation in preparation for the Prodigy Grand Assembly.

The next day.

Ye Fan received a voice transmission from Xu Chuan and arrived at his private cultivation chamber.

"Honored Master, you sent for me?"

Xu Chuan swept a glance over Ye Fan, taking in his cultivation realm at a glance. "As expected, even with your Heavenly Spiritual Root aptitude, breaking through from the mid-Sixth-Layer Foundation Establishment to the Seventh-Layer Foundation Establishment in less than eight or nine months will be quite difficult."

"Honored Master, I will go all out," Ye Fan immediately declared, thinking Xu Chuan was trying to dissuade him from participating.

Xu Chuan understood his thoughts and chuckled. "No need to be so tense. I didn't call you here to stop you from entering, but to lend you a helping hand.

Come closer."

Ye Fan took a few steps forward. Xu Chuan raised his hand, formed a sword sign with his fingers, and tapped the center of his disciple's brow.

Instantly, a flash of white light sank into his forehead.

Ye Fan's body trembled as a surge of memories flooded his mind. It was a body-refining Cultivation Method called the Brahma Sacred Body Art.

Furthermore, this Cultivation Method could actually be practiced all the way to the peak of the Nascent Soul realm!

"Honored Master, this...!" Ye Fan's eyes snapped open, looking at Xu Chuan in sheer disbelief.

"I obtained this body-refining Cultivation Method from that Ancient Demon. Unfortunately, one must possess at least a Tier 2 Physical Body to begin practicing it. Currently, in our entire Xu Family, you are the only one who meets the requirements.

So, you shall be the first to cultivate it."

Deeply moved, Ye Fan fell to his knees. "Thank you, Honored Master! Even if my body were ground to dust, it would be difficult to repay your immense grace."

"Rise. You are currently my only disciple and also my granddaughter's husband. We are family. There is no need to speak of repayment."

"Yes, Honored Master." Ye Fan stood up, his heart filled with soaring joy.

With this Cultivation Method, his long-stagnant physical body could finally make progress once more.

In truth, his physical strength was the very foundation that allowed him to fight opponents above his level.

But as the gap between his cultivation realm and his physical body's realm continued to widen, the amplifying effects of his physique had steadily diminished.

Ye Fan knew this, but he had suffered from a lack of methods to temper his flesh.

Having reached a Tier 2 Physical Body, ordinary physical training methods could no longer bring about any improvement.

Now that he possessed a body-refining Cultivation Method, and a top-tier one capable of reaching Nascent Soul perfection at that, Ye Fan felt even more confident about trampling the Cao clan underfoot in the future.

"I have studied this Cultivation Method. To temper a Tier 2 body, it primarily relies on medicated baths consisting of the blood from nine different Second-Tier Demonic Beasts or Tier 3 Demonic Beasts, combined with various Spirit Medicines.

Naturally, the stronger the Demonic Beast, the better. Blood from the same species of Demonic Beast can be used for the medicated bath a maximum of three times.

Therefore, I intend to have Moyue assist you for the first three times.

Given his grade, taking a medicated bath once every seven days will be enough to elevate your physical body to the late stage of Tier 2 after three sessions.

Previously, even with the armor De Ling crafted for you, suffering a powerful attack from a Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator would still injure your internal organs.

But if your physical body reaches the equivalent of late Foundation Establishment, I believe you will easily be able to withstand the shockwaves."

"Thank you, Honored Master."

"Mm. Head back for now. I am still gathering the medicinal materials for the bath. Come back in three days."

"Yes."

After Ye Fan left, Moyue flew out of the Spirit Beast Pouch and coiled around Xu Chuan.

"You certainly are generous. Countless Immortal Cultivators dream of obtaining a Cultivation Method like this, yet you causally handed it off to your disciple."

"Do I look like someone suited for the Dual Cultivation of Dharma and Body?" Xu Chuan smiled. "If an opportunity arises to walk that path in the future, I will naturally practice it as well."

"True. As it stands, that kid Ye Fan is the most suitable." Moyue paused before adding, "I'm off. I'm going to play with Little Feifei."

Xu Chuan offered a faint smile. 'Are you playing with him, or is he playing with you?'

Three days later.

In Xu Chuan's private cultivation chamber, a wooden tub roughly three meters wide was filled with a deep cyan medicinal liquid. The fragrance of the medicine was so dense it almost felt tangible, with curling wisps of white mist rising from the surface and lingering in the air of the sealed room.

Ye Fan sat cross-legged in the tub, bare-chested, with the liquid submerging his chest. The moment the liquid touched his skin, waves of warm, stinging pain washed over him.

The liquid contained Moyue's flood dragon Essence Blood, making its medicinal properties incredibly domineering.

Over the past few days, Ye Fan had thoroughly studied the cultivation methods of the Brahma Sacred Body Art.

Simply soaking in the medicated bath would only draw the medicinal power into his body. Only by actively circulating his Cultivation Method to refine it and guiding the energy through his limbs, bones, Meridians, and marrow could he truly strengthen his physical body.

He knew this body tempering session would be agonizing, but he still resolutely formed hand seals and began circulating the art.

The instant the Brahma Sacred Body Art began to circulate, the essence within the liquid seemed to be pulled by a magnetic force, frantically rushing into Ye Fan's body through his pores.

At first, it was a gentle, warm current, but when the Spiritual Qi flowed through his Meridians, the sheer overbearing power of Moyue's Essence Blood caused the warmth to abruptly transform into a boiling inferno!

"Hiss—"

Ye Fan gasped in a sharp breath of cold air, cold sweat instantly beading on his forehead. His entire meridian network felt as though it was being viciously crushed by red-hot branding irons.

The excruciating pain shot through his nerves into his limbs and bones. His skin instantly flushed a deep red, looking as if he was being roasted from the inside out.

He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to stay conscious as he continued to circulate the Cultivation Method.

If he stopped now, the body-tempering effects would be drastically reduced.

And if he passed out, all his previous efforts would be completely wasted.

But before Ye Fan could even adapt to the burning agony, the medicinal essence suddenly mutated, generating a bone-piercing power of extreme cold.

It felt as though it wanted to freeze his entire body solid.

Seeing thin wisps of Cold Qi escaping from Ye Fan's mouth, Xu Chuan immediately knew this was caused by the essence of Moyue's blood.

After all, Moyue was a water-elemental flood dragon who cultivated extreme cold Divine Abilities, so his blood naturally carried the power of extreme cold.

That chill rapidly coursed through his Meridians.

Wherever it passed, his Meridians grew stiff as ice, and his blood felt as if it were freezing over.

Ye Fan's lips instantly lost all color. His body trembled uncontrollably, and tiny ice crystals even began to form on the surface of his skin.

If not for the continuous circulation of the Brahma Sacred Body Art constantly refining the medicinal essence, Ye Fan truly might have been completely frozen solid, losing all vitality.

A moment later.

The searing heat struck again!

Enduring the alternating torments of ice and fire, Ye Fan felt as if his internal organs were churning. His vision darkened in waves, and several times, he nearly passed out.

He gripped the edge of the tub with a death-like hold, his knuckles turning white as his fingernails dug deeply into the wood's grain to maintain his lucidity.

The medicinal power from the liquid continued to surge into him, the inferno and absolute zero assaulting him like tidal waves, each stronger than the last.

Under the refinement of ice and fire, his Meridians expanded and contracted repeatedly, emitting faint creaking noises as if they might snap at any moment.

"I can't... stop..."

A faint groan escaped Ye Fan's throat, but a flash of ruthlessness and unyielding resolve crossed his eyes.

He knew that if he stopped now, all the agony he had endured would be for nothing.

For his own sake, and to honor Xu Chuan's nurturing, he had to survive this session of body tempering.

He forcefully gathered his focus, accelerating the circulation of the Brahma Sacred Body Art.

The refined medicinal liquid would form a special energy that repaired, nourished, and strengthened his Meridians, internal organs, and even his bones.

Even his blood felt reborn, containing much more potent Spirit Power.

Watching the liquid in the tub gradually turn transparent, Xu Chuan nodded in satisfaction.

Moyue watched from the side, observing Ye Fan's twisted, agonizing expression, and muttered, "This path of body refining truly isn't something just anyone can walk!"

"If you wish to obtain great strength, you must naturally pay a price," Xu Chuan said softly. "When the day comes that you face a disaster powerless, the despair you feel then will be a hundred times more agonizing than the pain you feel now."

"Perhaps."

The body tempering lasted for fully six hours.

Through it all, Ye Fan stubbornly refused to let out a single scream.

When it was finally over, he stepped out of the tub and felt his physical body, which was now terrifyingly strong.

"Honored Master, I feel like my physical body could go toe-to-toe in a brawl against a mid-Tier 2 Demonic Beast!"

"Mm." Xu Chuan smiled and nodded. "It seems my expectations were correct. Two more sessions will be enough to push you into the late Tier 2 Physical Body stage.

Coupled with your Martial Dao techniques, your pure physical body alone will be able to rival ordinary Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivators.

Once you add your Mana and Dharma Tools, perhaps you'll even secure an Official Selection Slot and compete against the Foundation Establishment prodigies of the entire Heavenly South."

"I will definitely not disgrace the Xu Family's reputation."

During this period, the Xu Family had issued quests throughout Cloudstream Town, offering high prices for the blood of Tier 2 Peak Demonic Beasts.

Although many Demon Hunting Squads were tempted by the rewards, Tier 2 Peak Demonic Beasts were terrifying enough to make anyone flinch.

Only the powerful Demon Hunting Squads helmed by Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivators, or the local Foundation Establishment Clans in town, dared to accept the quest and enter the mountain range in search of them.

Yet by the time Ye Fan's second medicated bath rolled around, only two types of blood had been collected.

'The pace is a bit too slow. It seems our Xu Family will have to do it ourselves,' Xu Chuan thought inwardly.

The reason he had issued the quests in the first place was to avoid deploying Moyue if at all possible.

But given the current situation, he had no choice but to have Ye Fan take Moyue for a trip to the Heavenly Azure Mountain Range.

Perhaps they would even find a Tier 3 Demonic Beast and could directly use its blood for tempering. It would be even better if they could establish a long-term collaboration.

The second session of medicated bath tempering.

The process was just as agonizing as before.

However, Ye Fan still managed to endure until the very end.

According to the records of the Brahma Sacred Body Art, nine tempering sessions were required to cultivate the first layer to grand completion, and the ultimate strength of the physical body was closely tied to the materials used in the medicinal liquid.

But even with the lowest quality ingredients, completing all nine sessions would result in a body comparable to a late Tier 2 physique, capable of forcibly withstanding Top-Grade Magical Artifacts.

If the blood of Tier 3 Demonic Beasts was used for all nine sessions, one could achieve a peak Tier 2 Physical Body.

For his first three sessions, Ye Fan used the blood of a peak Tier 3 flood dragon, yielding astonishingly good results. Even if he only used peak Tier 2 Demonic Beasts for the remaining sessions, it would still be enough to reach the peak Tier 2 Physical Body stage.

If he exclusively used Tier 3 Demonic Beasts, he might even push a step further.

After all, among Demonic Beasts, some specialized in physical defense while others did not.

The truly powerful defensive beasts, like peak Tier 2 flood dragons or black tortoises, could only be genuinely injured by Magic Tools possessing Artifact Patterns.

Once this tempering session concluded, Xu Chuan sent Ye Fan and Moyue to the Heavenly Azure Mountain Range to hunt for Demonic Beasts on their own.

Ye Fan's target was naturally Tier 3 Demonic Beasts; he now looked down upon Tier 2 Peak Demonic Beasts.

Consequently, after completing his third medicated bath tempering session, Ye Fan still hadn't managed to find a single Tier 3 Demonic Beast. Regardless, his physical body successfully broke through to the late Tier 2 stage, just as he had hoped.

With little time remaining, Ye Fan had no choice but to temporarily give up the hunt and focus entirely on cultivating.

Xu Chuan gave him a Token and instructed him to enter secluded cultivation in the Fire Cloud Valley.

The fire-elemental Spirit Vein there had reached the upper-grade Tier 2 level, possessing far denser Spiritual Qi than the lower-grade Tier 2 Spirit Vein in Cloudstream Town. It was significantly better suited for his cultivation.

Aided by his Heavenly Spiritual Root aptitude, high-grade cultivation pills, Realm-Breaking Pills, and the upper-grade Tier 2 Spirit Vein, Ye Fan achieved consecutive breakthroughs several months later, finally reaching the Seventh-Layer Foundation Establishment.

Back in his time, it had taken Xu Chuan three or four years to advance from the Sixth-Layer to the Seventh-Layer of Foundation Establishment.

Time drifted by.

Not long after, a piece of news spread throughout the entire Heavenly Azure Prefecture.

In five days.

The Heavenly Azure Sect would set up arenas in the Seven Heavenly Azure Cities for a span of two days.

The arenas would be defended by disciples of the Heavenly Azure Sect. Anyone who emerged victorious would be led by a sect deacon three days later to the Heavenly Azure Sect to compete for the final thirty-six slots.

This competition would also include the top thirty disciples of the Heavenly Azure Sect and the top ten disciples of the Three Sects.

Upon hearing the news, countless Foundation Establishment cultivators geared up, eager to test their mettle.

The Xu Residence.

In the main hall.

"Father, the Heavenly Azure Sect is using arenas for the preliminary screening. The disciples defending the rings must rank at least in the top fifty within their sect.

Which of the seven cities should we choose?"

Xu Chuan looked at Xu Mingxian with a faint smile. "We are simply going through the motions. Just go to the nearest one, Corner Constellation City. Make it a quick trip; I won't be going."

"Understood."

Five days later.

Xu Mingxian led Ye Fan, Xu Deyue, and several Xu Family Guards to Corner Constellation City.

The area around the arena in the center of Corner Constellation City was already packed so tightly that not even a drop of water could trickle through the crowd.

At that moment, a young man dressed in the uniform of a Heavenly Azure Sect disciple stood proudly in the middle of the ring. "Anyone who defeats me will earn the right to clash against the top Foundation Establishment disciples of my Heavenly Azure Sect and the Three Sects of Azure Wood!

Who dares to step up and challenge me?!"

"I'll give it a try!"

A middle-aged cultivator flew onto the arena.

An old man seated on the eastern side beneath the stage spoke indifferently. "State your name and background first."

"This junior is Zhang Jiao, of the Zhang Clan from Corner Constellation City."

The old man nodded, logged the information, and said evenly, "Begin."

"To come up here at the Ninth-Level Foundation Establishment, your courage is commendable. Make your move; let me see your strength."

The Heavenly Azure Sect youth stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his cyan-gray sect robes fluttering lightly in the breeze. His gaze swept over Zhang Jiao with utter arrogance.

Zhang Jiao stood tall, cupping his hands as he declared in a deep voice, "Please enlighten me."

The moment his words fell, his right hand flicked upward. The longsword at his waist left its sheath, its sword light carving through the air like a streak of silver silk, aimed directly at the youth's heart.

The Heavenly Azure Sect youth scoffed. He neither dodged nor retreated. Forming hand seals with his left hand, pale cyan Spiritual Qi coalesced into a shield.

Blocking the longsword effortlessly, he balled his right hand into a fist and drove it toward Zhang Jiao's face, backed by the immense Mana of a Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator.

Seeing this, Zhang Jiao hastily shifted the edge of his sword. Amidst a flurry of transforming sword techniques, the sword light fractured into a sky full of starlight.

Like a shower of meteors, the strikes stabbed toward the youth's vital points. The technique was as dazzling as blooming fireworks, even causing the old man seated below the eastern edge of the stage to nod slightly in approval.

"Just flashy nonsense!"

A glint of disdain flashed across the youth's eyes. His Spiritual Qi surged violently, manifesting a cyan-gray barrier of light that completely intercepted the starry sword gleams.

He stepped forward, his fists growing increasingly fierce, each strike howling as it tore through the air, forcing Zhang Jiao into a continuous retreat.

Zhang Jiao gritted his teeth and held his ground. Changing his sword art once more, the sword light condensed into a brilliant silver rainbow that slashed viciously against the youth's barrier.

The youth didn't even try to dodge. He threw both fists forward, slamming heavily into the silver rainbow.

"Bang!"

Silver sparks scattered in all directions. Zhang Jiao felt a colossal force travel up his arm, nearly ripping the sword from his grasp. He staggered backward several steps, a trace of blood leaking from the corner of his mouth.

Capitalizing on his advantage, the Heavenly Azure Sect youth pursued him. Azure-gray Spiritual Qi gathered in his right hand, morphing into a ten-foot fist projection that crashed down upon Zhang Jiao.

Unable to block the attack, Zhang Jiao was blasted completely off his feet by the massive fist projection, tumbling heavily outside the ring.

"Next!" the youth called out evenly, flicking his sleeve.

"As expected of a Heavenly Azure Sect disciple. What a clean and decisive victory! Even ordinary Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivators probably aren't his match!"

"Although Zhang Jiao also holds the title of a genius in Corner Constellation City, how could the Zhang Clan's grooming possibly compare to the Heavenly Azure Sect? Moreover, he's only just stepped into the Ninth-Level Foundation Establishment. Challenging the arena was truly too impulsive on his part."

Many in the crowd nodded in agreement, finding the logic sound.

It wasn't that Foundation Establishment Clans couldn't foster geniuses, but unless a cultivator had a very special talent, they would more often than not lose to a sect disciple in the same realm.

After all, the Heavenly Azure Sect explicitly recruited geniuses to begin with.

Subsequently, a few more mid-to-late Ninth-Level Foundation Establishment cultivators took the stage, but the best among them lasted no more than thirty or forty exchanges against the Heavenly Azure Sect youth.

From that point on, hardly anyone beneath Foundation Establishment Perfection dared to step into the ring.

Yet even among Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivators, not everyone could pass the trial.

Having the requisite Mana and realm was one thing, but if their combat instincts were weak or the grade of their Dharma Tools was subpar, defeat was guaranteed.

"It seems only the geniuses from the Golden Core Aristocratic Families or the top-ranking Foundation Establishment Clans will be able to do this."

"Indeed. In the other Foundation Establishment Clans, the vast majority of cultivators who have reached Foundation Establishment Perfection are well over a hundred and twenty years old."

As the crowd continued to murmur.

"I'll go!"

Before the voice even faded, a yellow-robed figure soared right over the heads of the crowd and landed lightly in the arena.

"It's Wenren Jie! The genius from the Wenren Family, ranked 65th on the Genius Ranking!" someone exclaimed.

After taking the stage, Wenren Jie cupped his hands. "I am Wenren Jie. How may I address this senior brother from the Heavenly Azure Sect?"

"Zeng Guang."

"Please enlighten me, Senior Brother Zeng."

Wenren Jie bowed, and the moment he spoke, pale purple Spiritual Qi coalesced in his right hand, forming a spirit blade as thin as a cicada's wing. In a flash, he slashed toward Zeng Guang's waist.

Zeng Guang didn't dare lower his guard. The cyan-gray Spiritual Qi formed a shield once more, blocking the spirit blade as he unleashed a torrent of fist projections, raining down upon Wenren Jie like a violent storm.

The two clashed instantly. The purple blade and cyan fists intertwined, and the explosive roars of colliding Spiritual Qi echoed across the arena.

After a dozen or so exchanges, the two were actually evenly matched. Even the old man on the eastern side beneath the stage sat up straighter, his eyes locked onto the ring.

Five moves later, Wenren Jie seized a momentary sluggishness in Zeng Guang's momentum. The spirit blade abruptly accelerated, slicing past the fist projections to aim directly at his wrist.

Zeng Guang hastily jerked his hand back, but he was half a beat too slow. The spirit blade grazed his wrist, leaving a shallow, bloody gash.

Taking advantage of his opponent's distraction, Wenren Jie stepped forward, channeling a massive surge of Spiritual Qi into his blade. The purple light flared as he executed a feinting slash toward the youth's chest.

Though the attack didn't connect, it forced the youth to continuously backpedal, nearly causing him to step off the edge of the arena.

"As expected of the genius meticulously raised by the Wenren Family. I have lost," Zeng Guang admitted openly.

The Wenren Family had at most two or three disciples of Wenren Jie's caliber, whereas Zeng Guang ranked thirty-sixth in the younger generation of the Heavenly Azure Sect.

If one looked at the overall ranking, including the older generation who had spent decades or even over a century comprehending Divine Abilities, he would probably be ranked somewhere in the seventies or eighties.

"Wenren Jie, passed," the old man on the eastern side said with a faint smile, stroking his beard.

Finally, someone had made it through.

Shortly after, another challenger took the stage.

Having fought several matches and sustained a minor injury, Zeng Guang was swapped out for a new Heavenly Azure Sect disciple, Leng Chen, while he stepped down to regulate his breath.

Leng Chen's strength was scarcely inferior to Zeng Guang's.

There were a total of three such disciples taking turns holding the ring. As long as they didn't suffer severe injuries, a mere half-hour of rest was enough for them to take the stage again.

Given that they were all Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivators, inflicting serious injuries upon them was no simple task.

And if an opponent truly proved too powerful, Zeng Guang and the others would naturally just concede the match.

In the blink of an eye.

Half a day passed.

Only four people had passed, all of whom were disciples of Golden Core Aristocratic Families. Not a single cultivator from a Foundation Establishment Clan had succeeded.

"The foundations of Foundation Establishment Clans are still lacking."

"Who says so?!" someone immediately retorted upon hearing this. "Don't forget the Cloudstream Xu Family! They have the 'Cold Moon Immortal Fairy', who ranks fifteenth on the Genius Ranking!

Rumor has it that her sister, 'Grandmaster Ling', is a true prodigy who has already grasped a trace of Divine Ability Power!"

"The 'Cold Moon Immortal Fairy' is here!" someone suddenly shouted.

A person's reputation commands as much respect as the shade of a towering tree.

The crowd parted automatically, clearing a path for Xu Deyue and her group.

Xu Deyue vaulted lightly onto the stage.

Zeng Guang's expression turned grim as he braced himself for a tough fight.

Right at that moment, the old man below the stage asked, "You've reached Foundation Establishment Perfection?"

"Yes," Xu Deyue replied serenely.

"Your Mana already far surpasses that of cultivators in the same realm. Otherwise, you wouldn't have defeated numerous Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivators while still at the mid-Ninth-Level Foundation Establishment. Now that you've patched your final weakness, your strength has advanced even further.

There is no need for this match to proceed. As a deacon, I officially rule that you pass directly."

"Thank you."

Xu Deyue stepped down from the arena.

The crowd assumed the Xu Family members would now leave, but to their surprise, Xu Mingxian stepped into the ring.

The old man looked surprised. "Who are you?"

"Xu Mingxian of the Cloudstream Xu Family."

Xu Mingxian maintained an incredibly low profile, so very few people recognized him. However, it just so happened that someone in the crowd knew who he was. "He is the First Elder of the Xu Family! He rarely shows his face in public."

"Begin the match," the Heavenly Azure Sect deacon instructed smoothly.

Zeng Guang appraised Xu Mingxian, noting his moon-white Tight-fitting Attire and the dark jade belt secured around his waist. His entire being exuded an aura of calm detachment and transcendence.

Such exceptional bearing was something that very few disciples in the entire Heavenly Azure Sect could rival.

"The Xu Family's First Elder looks like a banished immortal! I'm afraid many female cultivators will lose their hearts to him today."

Hearing this, someone familiar with the Xu Family laughed. "You'd be guessing wrong. Elder Xu already has a Dao companion, and a daughter to boot!

The 'Cold Moon Immortal Fairy' is his daughter."

"Hiss!"

Many in the surrounding crowd inhaled sharply, utterly astounded by the news.

"They do look remarkably alike. It seems good looks truly are hereditary!" a plain-looking cultivator lamented.

Zeng Guang was equally stunned. Unable to hold back his gossip, he asked, "Is the 'Cold Moon Immortal Fairy' really your daughter?"

"Do we not look alike?"

"You look more like siblings."

Xu Mingxian smiled faintly. "I appreciate the compliment. Make your move."

A wood-elemental Top-Grade Magical Artifact Flying Sword appeared in Zeng Guang's hand.

On Xu Mingxian's end, however, a flash of light burst from his Storage Pouch.

A Flying Sword radiating brilliant golden light and a golden-patterned shield flew out simultaneously. Both weapons bore two intricate patterns carved into their surfaces—they were unmistakably golden-elemental Two-Pattern Magic Tools!

"They're actually Two-Pattern Magic Tools!"

The crowd below erupted in gasps, their eyes locked tightly onto the two Dharma Tools, their faces overflowing with unconcealed envy.

Seeing this, Zeng Guang's expression changed slightly, and his grip on his sword tightened.

Even the Heavenly Azure Sect deacon looked utterly dumbfounded.

The Xu Family was truly rich and overbearing!

Xu Mingxian pinched a hand seal, and the golden Flying Sword instantly transformed into a golden streak, emitting an ear-piercing shriek as it sliced through the air, aimed straight at Zeng Guang's chest.

Zeng Guang hastily swung his sword to block.

With a crisp 'Clang!', the wooden sword was knocked completely askew, vibrating intensely. A tremendous force traveled down the hilt, numbing the webbing between his thumb and forefinger and leaving his arm throbbing with dull pain.

Before Zeng Guang could even steady his stance, Xu Mingxian commanded the golden-patterned shield. Flaring with brilliant gold, the shield suddenly swelled to the size of a small hill and crashed toward Zeng Guang with crushing momentum.

Zeng Guang was forced to retreat, only to be relentlessly pursued by the golden Flying Sword. His sword techniques were restricted at every turn, leaving him barely able to parry.

Xu Mingxian's offensive grew sharper and more ferocious. The Flying Sword sometimes splintered into a sky full of golden points, enveloping all of Zeng Guang's vital spots.

Other times, it condensed into a single, razor-sharp sword phantom, piercing directly through his openings.

Meanwhile, the golden shield acted as an impenetrable fortress of copper and iron, blocking every one of Zeng Guang's scarce counterattacks.

In less than a dozen moves, Zeng Guang was cornered at the edge of the arena.

Realizing that his Dharma Tool would likely crack if this clash continued, and looking at the golden sword and shield floating before Xu Mingxian, feeling the overbearing power they radiated, Zeng Guang knew a comeback was impossible. He cupped his hands helplessly and said, "I concede."

An uproar swept through the crowd, their gasps of astonishment echoing non-stop. "Two-Pattern Magic Tools are truly tyrannical!"

"It sure is nice having a top-tier Master Smith in the family. They don't have to worry about Top-Grade Magical Artifacts at all."

"Yeah! Even in Golden Core Aristocratic Families, Two-Pattern Magic Tools are incredibly rare, but Xu Mingxian pulls out two at once, covering both offense and defense.

Relying purely on his Dharma Tools, he could probably force his way into one of the thirty-six slots."

No matter how one listened to the voices, they were steeped in sour jealousy.

"I concede the honor!" After cupping his hands, Xu Mingxian leaped off the arena and returned to Xu Deyue's side.

Then, in the very next moment.

A jaw-dropping scene occurred as Ye Fan bounded onto the stage.

"What is going on? A Seventh-Layer Foundation Establishment actually dares to take the stage?!"

"Wait, isn't he the 'Sky-Shrouding Hand' Ye Fan? The Dao companion of the 'Cold Moon Immortal Fairy'!"

"Who cares how famous he is, he's still only at the Seventh-Layer of Foundation Establishment. The four major Golden Core Aristocratic Families in the city have plenty of renowned geniuses, but most of them are only at the mid-to-late stages of Foundation Establishment, far from Perfection.

None of them dared to step up, so what right does this Ye Fan have to do so?"

At this moment, Wenren Jie spoke up. "Brother Ye, it has already been a year since our last meeting at the 'Cloud Lake Gathering'. To think you've managed successive breakthroughs and reached the Seventh-Layer of Foundation Establishment.

This cultivation speed is indeed not slow."

"Brother Wenren." Ye Fan cupped his hands. "Could it be you also feel I am unqualified to take this stage?"

Wenren Jie said evenly, "Last time, Brother Ye fought Yun Yi of the Jiaocang Sect to a standstill for three moves as a mere Sixth-Layer Foundation Establishment, even injuring him. For that strength, I deeply admire you.

But this Prodigy Grand Assembly is simply too early for you."

"Do the rest of you feel the same?"

Ye Fan looked toward the Foundation Establishment geniuses of the other Golden Core Aristocratic Families.

During the last 'Cloud Lake Gathering', Ye Fan had met all of them and exchanged a few words.

"Brother Ye, there is no need to show off. We all completely acknowledge your talent and potential."

Ye Fan suddenly burst into roaring laughter. "What do you all consider a prodigy to be?"

Not waiting for their answers, he continued on his own, "To me, a prodigy is the scorching sun in the sky! Would the sun ever care about the thoughts of the sentient masses beneath it?"

Wenren Jie and the others furrowed their brows, flashes of displeasure crossing their eyes.

"You all think I'm overestimating my strength. Well, today, I am going to shatter your preconceptions and show you just how shallow your vision truly is!"

"Ye Fan of the Cloudstream Xu Family. Please enlighten me!"

His voice rolled like thunder, echoing for over half a mile.

Zeng Guang glanced at the deacon below the stage. Seeing him nod, he leveled his sword at Ye Fan. "Daoist friend Ye, be careful. I will not hold back."

"There is no need to!"

He raised his hand and slapped his Storage Pouch. Two rays of spiritual light shot out—a pair of crimson-gold Gauntlets and a suit of Armor. Both were Two-Pattern Magic Tools.

The crowd was completely numb!

Was the Xu Family a wholesaler of Two-Pattern Magic Tools?!

They really wanted to become part of the Xu Family!

If they acknowledged someone in the family as their adoptive father, could they get an Artifact Pattern Magic Tool?!

With the Armor fully encasing his body and the Gauntlets tightly gripping his hands, Ye Fan's aura instantly became incomparably overbearing and wild. The faint crimson-gold light illuminated him, making him look like a god of war.

This armor also served to conceal any strange phenomena produced when he unleashed the Brahma Sacred Body Art.

Ye Fan rolled his wrists, the Gauntlets emitting a soft, metallic hum. Using only seventy percent of his physical strength, he stomped the ground and shot toward Zeng Guang like a loose arrow.

He was once a Grandmaster of the Martial Dao, an expert in close-quarters combat.

Closing the distance to Zeng Guang in the blink of an eye, his right fist tore through the air, aimed directly at his opponent's face.

Zeng Guang hurriedly swung his sword to block.

"Clang!"

The gauntlet crashed against the blade, and a gargantuan force surged up the sword, numbing Zeng Guang's arm and nearly ripping the wooden sword from his grasp.

"What terrifying physical power!"

Disbelief flooded Zeng Guang's eyes. He hadn't held back in the slightest!

Realizing the sheer might of Ye Fan's physical body, Zeng Guang hurriedly retreated, slashing out multiple Spiritual Qi sword phantoms in an attempt to widen the gap between them.

But Ye Fan didn't dodge or evade. His crimson-gold Armor flared with spiritual light, blocking every single sword phantom.

Even bearing the shockwaves of the attacks, his internal organs were completely unharmed.

A fierce grin stretched across his face. Charging forward again, his fists rained down on Zeng Guang like a raging storm, each strike forcing his opponent further back, leaving Zeng Guang's sword techniques increasingly frantic and chaotic.