Chapter 173: Grew Up Alone, Right?

Yan Buji nodded: "In the arena duel we don't fuss over life and death. Since you, fellow cultivator, are higher than me, but I still have some energy left, I also want to learn a thing or two."

Chen Song sneered: "You don't think I'm as easy to deal with as that bunch of trash, do you?"

As soon as he said that, the surrounding cultivators' faces turned sour.

What does that mean?

So arrogant?

Yan Buji frowned: "Why must you speak like that, fellow cultivator? We're all practitioners, with no deep grudges. Even if your techniques are astonishing, you shouldn't demean others."

Chen Song glanced at the cultivators below the stage, then at Yan Buji, and disdainfully said: "Only the weak form groups and huddle for warmth, so cultivators like you are destined to be the lowest."

"What did you say?!"

"You, Chen Song, stop being cocky! If I can't beat you, others will surely beat you!"

"What are you pretending? Why haven't I seen you deal with those listed cultivators?"

The surrounding cultivators were collectively furious.

Yan Buji's eyes flashed, he clenched his fist, his face indignant: "Fellow cultivator! You speak so cuttingly sarcastic—did you grow up alone from childhood?!"

"Hahaha"

"I thought Huang Hao spoke politely, but now it seems his level is also high."

The cultivators around burst into laughter.

Chen Song widened his eyes, surprised that Yan Buji dared to retort, and pointed at him angrily: "You scoundrel, I'm going to tear your mouth off!"

"If you have the skill, come try!"

"Huang Hao, go for it, take him down!"

"Damn that son of a bitch!"

"You speak with no manners at all, why pretend to be a big‑tailed wolf? Huang Hao, take him down; if you get injured, I'll pay for your treatment!!"

The surrounding cultivators were collectively excited, perhaps Chen Song's words had struck a fragile chord in the lower‑tier cultivators' hearts.

Although this is an obvious fact, truth is always a sharp knife that wounds.

Once such words are spoken, even saints would be muttered against by the lower‑tier cultivators, let alone you, Chen Song, who is only at sixth layer of Qi refinement.

As a result, many cultivators around who were indifferent to Huang Hao suddenly wanted to see him directly defeat the arrogant Chen Song on the arena.

Chen Song was indifferent, instead giving Yan Buji a cold stare, as if saying, "Meeting me today, you old thing have hit the jackpot!"

Yan Buji, though not fully aware of Chen Song's true strength, wondered what would happen if he lost this duel.

No, he cannot lose this.

If I lose, my rapport with the crowd will suffer.

Getting on the list is just to gain fame, to launch the next plan, right?

This Chen Song has drawn a wave of popularity for me, so he's a good guy; later I'll strike the key point!

Yan Buji felt he could also reveal some strength, otherwise everyone would truly think he only knows ordinary techniques, relying solely on skill and experience.

Thinking that, the referee simultaneously waved his hand: "Duel begins!!"

Chen Song suddenly drew a long sword, pulled out its sheath, and charged at Yan Buji!

"Old man, don't think I only talk the talk!"

Yan Buji was startled, and suddenly saw three images of Chen Song attacking, but his spiritual perception could not discern which was real!

All three images emitted aura of magical power, yet Yan Buji's battlefield experience wasn't very extensive, though he had at least seen great storms before.

By analyzing the opponent's moves, Yan Buji judged that Chen Song was most likely a sword cultivator.

Sword cultivators are inherently strong practitioners who walk the path of killing, and those who have comprehended sword intent and sword heart are even more terrifying than ordinary sword masters.

With additional techniques, their sword power surges, and most cultivators, even if they understand sword cultivators' methods, find it hard to devise proper countermeasures.

For example now, Yan Buji cannot tell which of the three images is real, but knows that a spiritual shield alone cannot block the opponent's fierce sword technique.

Fortunately, he had learned the Bee‑Prong Shield, a good chance to test its defensive performance.

Immediately, Yan Buji activated the technique; as surrounding Qi surged outward, it formed a series of honeycomb‑shaped pronged spiritual shields, expanding layer by layer!

Dang—dang—dang—dang!

Right behind me!

Hearing the direction of the strike, Yan Buji spun around and spat a burst of Spiritual Fire, forcing it back.

Chen Song widened his eyes: "Bee‑Prong Shield? You can use it too?"

Yan Buji raised an eyebrow, seeing the spiritual shield surrounding Chen Song push back his Spiritual Fire, also revealing a honeycomb pattern, instantly realizing the opponent's skill level was not low.

Good fellow.

The elusive movement being hard to discern is one thing, but his Bee‑Prong Shield was shattered after the opponent pierced it with just four sword strikes; to use it again he must recreate it.

Yet the opponent blocked his Spiritual Fire effortlessly, and the faintly visible Bee‑Prong Shield still hovered around him, showing the opponent's cultivation of that technique was far more profound.

"Sir, is that all you know?"

"Hmph, if it were an ordinary spiritual shield, I could pierce it with a single sword! I didn't expect you to have learned the Bee‑Prong Shield, but alas, it's still inferior to mine!!"

Chen Song laughed loudly, again lunged forward, his sword flash flashing, instantly sending several sword qi towards Yan Buji.

The sharp sword qi sliced across his cheek; Yan Buji barely dodged to the side to avoid being hit. Otherwise, even with his refined jade‑like bones, he likely couldn't withstand the strike.

Unless he had activated Martial Dao Profound Skill body protection, supplemented with post‑natal vigor, he couldn't block a single sword qi.

Dodging well, but that doesn't mean Yan Buji gains the upper hand.

On the contrary, Chen Song seemed to have already anticipated Yan Buji's evasion path, instantly changed direction, and a sword struck right in front of Yan Buji!

In an instant, Yan Buji slapped downward with both hands, and several wooden snakes surged from the ground, binding Chen Song's legs.

Whoosh—whoosh!

With only two sword strikes, the entwining wooden snakes Yan Buji had just created were broken by the opponent, like a raging storm giving him no breath, and he lunged again.

Hahaha, these little tricks are useless!

Are sword cultivators really this ferocious?! Yan Buji exclaimed.

I didn't even think that the opponent's sword wasn't an Accumulation Device, but just a mundane refined iron weapon that could easily break my techniques; probably the sword aura imbued on the blade is too sharp!

Otherwise, even if the opponent were at the sixth layer of Qi Refining, they shouldn't be able to break free so easily.

Whoa, Huang Hao, be careful!

My goodness, Chen Song really is a sword cultivator? A sixth-layer Qi Refining sword cultivator should be able to wrestle with a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator; Huang Hao, this is tough.

Chen Song's strength is undeniable; whether it's his sharp sword aura or his control of the battlefield, one can see he indeed has the capital to be arrogant.

Of course Yan Buji isn't unaware of this, but it's indeed the first time he's seen a true sword cultivator, and he's somewhat shocked.

Even in his mundane days, he had indeed seen those powerful martial artists who understood sword intent, but they also couldn't withstand his punch.

But cultivators who specialize in sword practice are different; they know many techniques, their sword aura is stronger and more terrifying. I wouldn't dare touch it lightly, otherwise having multiple holes in my body would be normal.

But precisely for this reason, Yan Buji felt it was time to reveal one of his trump cards.

In the blink of an eye, Chen Song's sword lunged at Yan Buji's forehead, and Yan Buji suddenly spat out a mouthful of Spiritual Fire!

The fierce Spiritual Fire resembled a long serpent, but Chen Song scoffed: "Too weak!"

With one sword, he cut the fire serpent; Chen Song then wanted to end the battle!

Clang!

A crisp clang of metal rang out, and the surrounding cultivators widened their eyes.

Impossible!