Chapter 216

When Shen Tang and Lu Xingzhou proposed that one person could fight multiple times, Shi Tielong felt he had hit the jackpot.

Because they had a first-grade.

If each fighter could only fight once, his first-grade would be wiped out by the opponent's sending a random ninth-grade cultivator, just for one win... Don't say he felt stifled—did a first-grade cultivator travel thousands of miles just to fight a ninth-grade?

A first-grade cultivator has his pride: either he doesn't fight at all, serving only as a stabilizing pillar, or he fights early and sweeps the entire opposing team.

Originally, Gu Xuyang thought a second-grade Shi Zhong stepping forward would be enough to crush the other side; he himself only needed to act as the stabilizing pillar and had no need to fight at all.

But Shi Zhong hadn't even worn down the opponent much—this fishing platform was no longer stable. If Shen Tang later eliminated several of them, the score would vanish outright; he had to act soon.

Zhang Rongzhi's expression turned grave, asking Shen Tang: "Your sect… do you have a candidate? What does Elder Chu think?"

He was practically begging Hua Hua Sword Sect's Chu Zheng to fight this round.

Chu Zheng felt awkward; having been invited as an arbiter, how could he possibly step onto the battlefield himself…

Ye Tinglan, seated on the spectator bench beside the Tianxing Sword Sect's lineup, uncrossed his legs and prepared to join this round.

But then Shen Tang spoke from the stage: "Mr. Gu, you're first-grade lower tier?"

Gu Xuyang replied coolly: "Correct. What does Sect Master Shen wish to say?"

Shen Tang responded calmly: "I wish to test how much distance lies between myself and a first-grade lower tier."

The crowd fell utterly stunned.

Those who understood knew that third-grade and first-grade were within the same great realm, merely early and late stages—but the actual combat gap was immense, unlike the difference between early and late stages in lower realms.

Forget third-grade to first-grade—even between third-grade middle tier and third-grade lower tier, the energy required could equal the total of all previous lower realms. Otherwise, why are third-grade cultivators relatively numerous, while first-grade are exceedingly rare? The world's spiritual energy isn't dense enough to sustain cultivation at higher levels—clearly, the gap is enormous.

A third-grade middle tier fighting a second-grade lower tier could still be barely said to be merely two tiers apart, with one's cultivation art and martial techniques barely compensating.

But when a third-grade middle tier fights a first-grade lower tier—how do you compensate? Do you think you're the late Imperial Tutor, True Person Tinglan?

History only records True Person Tinglan achieving such an astonishing feat—but even then, he was covered in wounds, barely exchanged his life for victory, and spent long months recovering afterward.

That man was the number one under heaven—what are you? You're a cripple—are you mad?

Even Ye Tinglan was stunned, turning slowly to Lu Xingzhou: "Is this what you meant—that everyone underestimates Shen Tang?"

Lu Xingzhou: "..."

I didn't think that. I didn't even know why my wife was this bold.

Was it just to avoid letting her "rival" help?

Shen Tang glanced at Lu Xingzhou and Ye Tinglan, smiled faintly, her eyes holding hidden meaning.

Lu Xingzhou had never met the Imperial Tutor and couldn't recognize him—that was understandable. But Shen Tang had met the Imperial Tutor; among acquaintances, even the most hidden traces were hard to fully erase. Over these days, Shen Tang had slowly sensed something off—the woman's demeanor, aura, abilities… they felt suspiciously like the Imperial Tutor's.

If she truly was the Imperial Tutor, perhaps she had misunderstood her relationship with Lu Xingzhou, and she'd misjudged the wrong person… but the fact that the Imperial Tutor lived nearby meant she was observing her.

If so, could she herself do what the Imperial Tutor had done?

Besides, if the Imperial Tutor was truly beside her, her safety was guaranteed—this might be her only chance to face a first-grade without fearing for her life. Such training was rare beyond measure—where else could she find it?

To rapidly ascend to the pinnacle of Daqian, could she just hoard herself in the mountains and cultivate in solitude? No. Without facing life-or-death challenges, what talk of self-strengthening without ceasing?

She took a deep breath, her expression grave as she faced Gu Xuyang: "I am not joking. Mr. Gu, please instruct me."

Gu Xuyang initially felt insulted, but seeing Shen Tang's solemn expression, he couldn't help but feel a measure of respect: "Sect Master Shen, your courage is commendable… but courage alone isn't enough for many things."

Shen Tang smiled faintly: "Then please, Mr. Gu, give me this lesson."

Gu Xuyang swept his sleeve, and a small seal flew out, then expanded rapidly, descending to crush Shen Tang.

Seals of the Fantian type were always favored by Dao cultivators—powerful, brutal, and imposing immense psychological pressure, especially against lower grades, creating absolute dominance in both power and mind.

As the seal loomed like a mountain descending, nearly covering the entire vast arena, with no escape, spectators instinctively clenched their fists, palms slick with sweat.

Shen Tang lifted her head slightly, gazing at the sky.

Only when the seal crashed down upon her head did she suddenly extend her slender hand.

"Boom!"

The massive, mountain-sized seal was held aloft by her single hand, her long hair stirring without wind, her eyes glowing with violet qi.

A first-grade treasure—yet it could not press down upon that seemingly fragile jade hand, as if she were holding up a mountain.

The crowd stared, dumbfounded—how was this possible? Where did she get such strength to directly withstand a first-grade treasure?

Anuo's mouth hung half-open, her candied hawthorn falling from her lips.

This fighting style suits Anuo perfectly!

Meanwhile, Gu Xuyang wasn't idle—he unleashed a blazing fire dragon that roared toward Shen Tang's face.

Forming fire techniques into dragon shapes was another favorite among fire Dao cultivators.

Lu Xingzhou watched with grave expression, his mind forming a judgment: a very cautious, uninspired, unoriginal cultivator.

Such cultivators usually had no glaring weaknesses—their cultivation was solid and well-rounded. Whether their techniques were crude or not didn't matter—as long as they worked.

Shen Tang's flying sword also emitted a dragon's roar, its sword qi surging straight at the fire dragon, as if two dragons clashed.

The sword qi failed to stop the flames—the fire still surged toward Shen Tang, while the flames likewise couldn't block the sword blade, which pierced through the dragon and shot straight for Gu Xuyang's chest!

Shen Tang's wheelchair unfolded a protective barrier; the fire dragon, already weakened by the sword qi, struck the barrier and vanished.

Shen Tang's flying sword also had no effect on Gu Xuyang—he simply stepped forward casually, and the sword passed harmlessly by, while that step had already landed midair, atop the seal.

"Boom!"

The seal's power surged, pressing down harder.

Violet qi swirled around Shen Tang, gradually becoming tangible.

He was determined to overpower her with sheer force—to crush her into submission. The battle had become this template: Shen Tang couldn't even reach her opponent.

And the seal grew heavier—Shen Tang's grip began to tremble.

Spectators clenched their sweaty fists.

In truth, surviving two exchanges had already earned Shen Tang newfound respect.

But a third-grade fighting a first-grade was still too much…

Just as she thought this, the flying sword Shen Tang had just thrust into emptiness spun with extraordinary spirituality, like a true dragon with a soul, raising its head to chase after Gu Xuyang's form.

Gu Xuyang's heart jolted: "You still have the strength to control a flying sword?"

Separated by the massive seal, Shen Tang's expression was invisible; only her slightly strained voice could be heard: "Mr. Gu insists on teaching me that one force can overcome ten skills... Pity that in my view, Mr.'s force is far from the level of his own self-perception." Gu Xuyang's face sank like water; suddenly a peach-wood sword appeared in his hand, and he abruptly slashed down upon the sword light chasing him: "Then let me show you the result of a natal flying sword shattering!"

"Bang!" Taking advantage of his momentary distraction to deal with the sword light, Shen Tang's other hand formed a fist and, with unparalleled swiftness, punched the bottom of the seal.

"Boom!" The seal shook. Gu Xuyang, from above, fiercely slashed at Shen Tang's sword light; the flying sword looked slightly dim, spun again, and flew away. The so-called "shattering of the natal flying sword" never happened; instead, his seal seemed on the verge of cracking...

Everyone watching felt a shock in their hearts.

Shen Tang truly wanted to shatter a magic treasure with bare hands! Her so-called flying sword's purpose was only to distract and attract Gu Xuyang's attention; in reality, all her power was condensed into her fist, and one punch made a first-grade magic treasure shake!

Is this really third grade?

Only Ye Tinglan present could see that this punch was not the strength Shen Tang should possess... She had drawn upon all the power of the Shanhe Pearl within her wheelchair; the Imperial Extreme Shocking World Art erupted violently, and together they unleashed the strongest punch!

"Boom!" Before Gu Xuyang could react from above, Shen Tang's second punch slammed into the same point.

Unmatched, ferocious qi energy exploded upward; even the arena below could not withstand the recoil of this strike. The ground began to crack, and the wheelchair sank into the fissures.

People could even see blood all over Shen Tang's fist; her physical body could not endure it and began to suffer injuries.

"Boom!" The third punch!

Blood sprayed; the fist was a mess of flesh and blood, and the ground collapsed. Yet people watched in horror as small cracks truly began to appear on the bottom of the seal.

Gu Xuyang dared no longer stand above and add force; if this magic treasure were destroyed, it would truly be a loss far outweighing any gain.

He swiftly soared down on clouds and, from the seal's edge, once again flung the peach-wood sword in his hand; dazzling white light rushed toward Shen Tang, arriving in an instant.

Viewed from the seal's edge, Shen Tang under the massive seal looked like an ant, yet this ant held firm there, and the seal had not pressed her down by even half an inch.

Shen Tang did not attend to the peach-wood sword magic treasure about to reach her; taking advantage of Gu Xuyang not adding force from above, she suddenly let out a sharp shout and unleashed her fourth charged punch.

"Bang!" This time, the entire seal was knocked upward several feet, as if an ant had moved a great mountain.

The peach-wood sword had already reached Shen Tang's shoulder, piercing straight through.

At the instant the peach-wood sword neared her body, Shen Tang had already grasped the returning flying sword; person and sword became one, and she shot like lightning toward Gu Xuyang not far away.

The peach-wood sword pierced her shoulder; blood flowed like a stream, yet she did not even emit a single muffled groan.

Seizing the brief moment when the seal rose several feet and lost its pressing force, risking that the opponent would not dare to deliver a killing blow directly and would be judged as losing, she allowed the magic treasure to pierce her shoulder, solely to grasp this precious instant of breaking free from the pressure.

Shen Tang had always been clear: as long as this seal pressed down, she could do nothing; the only thing she could seize was the instant the seal was knocked upward. Given even this brief moment to catch her breath, the opponent was not without flaws.

Because a magic treasure is never simply thrown away and done with; it is tightly connected to one's own spirit. Those four punches striking the seal absolutely caused the opponent's sea of consciousness to tremble, and their reaction would be much slower than normal. This situation, where she allowed the peach-wood sword to pierce her shoulder to risk a life-and-death strike, obviously exceeded the opponent's expectations; this instant of misjudgment was the only opportunity!

Indeed, Gu Xuyang froze for a moment; only when the sword light neared his body and raised goosebumps did he react, quickly raising a small shield before him.

"Clang!"

That seemingly unstoppable sword intent did not strike the small shield.

Taking advantage of the instant Gu Xuyang summoned the shield to defend, the sword light rose upward, like a dragon ascending to heaven.

Shen Tang's entire body flashed with purple light; she exhausted all her strength to thrust into the tiny cracks created by the previous four punches.

"Crack..."

The cracks rapidly expanded, spread, and fissured.

"Bang!" The seal shattered into four pieces and five fragments. Everyone stood like wooden chickens, watching Shen Tang break through the mountain-like seal, as if a purple dragon pierced through mountains and peaks, raising its head to ascend heaven amidst a sky filled with flying giant rocks.

Imperial Extreme Shocking World: The Flying Dragon is in Heaven.

Gu Xuyang, holding the shield to defend, suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, staining his own shield red.

— He had not let Shen Tang experience the taste of a natal flying sword shattering; instead, he himself tasted what it meant for a natal magic treasure to shatter.

That tremor of the divine soul and the backlash of magic power churned Gu Xuyang's meridians throughout his body, and his head throbbed as if about to split.

In a daze, shouts of alarm rose at his ears. Gu Xuyang looked up; Shen Tang, once again person and sword as one, descended from the sky.

Solemn white robes were entirely stained with blood; in those beautiful eyes lay an unmasked, chilling killing intent.

The Dragon of Exaltation has regret.

It was clear she had no strength left either.

But descending from the sky was natural force.

Gu Xuyang, whose head throbbed from the shattering of his natal magic treasure, temporarily lost all thought; he only instinctively held the small shield over his head.

The result was again unexpected; the sound of sword and shield colliding still did not arrive.

Shen Tang sheathed her sword and extended her palm.

That applied force was not an attack; it was... a push.

A great force surged forward; Gu Xuyang instinctively retreated, but before he had taken two steps, one foot stepped into emptiness.

Gu Xuyang reacted immediately, adjusting his true qi to hover in mid-air.

The entire arena fell into solemn silence.

His seal just now had occupied almost the entire arena space; when he descended from the seal, he was obviously at the arena's edge. Pushed by this shove... he was out of the arena!

Even hovering outside, it was out of the arena.

The arena rules, even children know: stepping out of the arena means defeat.

Even though he had only suffered injuries from the backlash of the magic treasure shattering and could recover his combat power with a slight adjustment, while the Shen Tang before him was bathed in blood, her "lame" legs could no longer stand, and she could only sit collapsed on the platform, appearing to have no combat power whatsoever left...

Yet the result was: she was on the arena, and he was already out.

Victory and defeat were decided.

(End of this chapter)