Chapter 334: The Duel

Chen Hang followed the sound and looked over, seeing that the person who had spoken out to stop Lou Bing was a young Daoist priest stepping on a flying snake, accompanied by a rhinoceros and a dragon-horse on his left and right.

He wore a brocade robe and a jade-beam crown; just looking at his attire and appearance, he was quite extraordinary.

When Lou Bing saw this person come out to stop him, the expression on his face was not surprised; he only sneered:

"Sun Mo, this is the time of the Grand Competition. The True Elders of the Upper Sect and fellow disciples of the Four Courts are all gathered here; how can you be allowed to act so presumptuously?"

"Hurry up and retreat, don't make a fool of yourself here!"

Sun Mo, who was stepping on the flying snake and guarded by the rhinoceros and dragon-horse, shook his head upon hearing this and retorted:

"Presumptuous? If a petty person like you, who returns evil for good, were allowed to steal the high seat and become one of the Ten Great Disciples, that would truly be making a fool of oneself! Even if it spread outside, it would be a laughingstock for fellow practitioners of the Profound Gate!"

After saying this, Sun Mo did not say anything more; he only pinched a seal to summon a cloth bag, then released dozens of exotic tigers and leopards, setting up an aggressive offensive posture, pointing directly at Lou Bing on the jade platform.

Seeing this scene, there was no look of agitation on Lou Bing's face; he only sighed.

"Fortune is determined by Heaven; it is naturally occupied by those with virtue, and lost by those without!"

"Sun Mo, since you cannot even see through this point and remain obsessed, repeatedly entangling yourself without end, then this senior brother will find it hard to hold back!"

Lou Bing shook his head, then leaped down from the jade platform, coming through the air.

Every step he took, a streak of murky yellow brilliance would rise beneath his feet, flowing nimbly around his body, flickering and shifting.

That thick, deep, and vast aura.

It was simply like a towering ancient mountain slowly pressing over!

Although his movements were not particularly swift, they gave people a terrifying feeling of being unable to avoid it.

It was as if one were destined to be ground into fragments and powder by that force, unable to escape!

"Profound Scripture of Manifesting the Subtle through Preserved Light?"

Chen Hang saw that every move Lou Bing made seemed to be in harmony with the earth's veins; it was thick, ancient, and extremely condensed, with streaks of murky yellow circling his body.

After a brief thought in his mind, he guessed the origin of this profound art.

The "Profound Scripture of Manifesting the Subtle through Preserved Light" was a profound earth-attribute art with a very significant origin within the Four Courts of Yuchen.

It is said to be simplified from the "Earthly Treasure Record" among the Twenty-Five Orthodox Laws, and it is extremely extraordinary!

Once one cultivates it to success, not only can it stabilize the Dao foundation and assist the growth of true qi, but it can also passively temper the tendons, bones, skin, and membranes, and purify the blood qi.

Even without deliberately cultivating supernatural powers of the "sanctification of the physical body" type.

As this cultivation level improves.

The physical body and blood qi are far more powerful than those of ordinary people at the same level!

It can be said that apart from the cultivation progress being slightly slower and requiring some precious earth-attribute spiritual materials for assistance.

This "Profound Scripture of Manifesting the Subtle through Preserved Light" is worthy of being a simplified version of the "Earthly Treasure Record"!

It has obtained quite a bit of the charm of this Yuchen orthodox law!

And even within the Yuchen Four Courts, wanting to exchange for the "Profound Scripture of Manifesting the Subtle through Preserved Light" from the masters in the courts is not an easy matter.

In addition to spending a large amount of merit, one also needs to pass the master's examination of one's cultivation before one can successfully obtain this profound art.

At this moment, within just a few steps, seeing Lou Bing's aura become thick and solid, as if it were substantial.

Sun Mo, who was facing Lou Bing, also knew the severity and dared not let him continue to build up momentum; he hurriedly made a gesture and summoned his group of spiritual pets to go up.

In an instant.

One could see the rhinoceros spitting waves and the dragon-horse spraying smoke.

A group of tigers and leopards rose up, riding the clouds and treading the wind, numbering over a hundred, all killing towards Lou Bing!

"It seems that in these few years, he has indeed made quite a bit of progress..."

Lou Bing thought to himself, moving his profound art, and those murky yellow lights circling his body merged into one, forming a vast and mighty giant screen, like several city walls surrounding his body.

No matter how hard the spiritual pets raised by Sun Mo tried, they could not break through.

For a time.

The scene fell into a stalemate.

And at this time.

On a distant peak.

From the words of Shen Cheng on the side, Chen Hang also learned of the grudge between Lou Bing and Sun Mo.

It is said that these two were originally close friends. When they were outside the court killing demons to earn merit, they luckily entered a predecessor's cave dwelling and, by mistake, broke through a formation that had already been loosened by more than half.

There were not many precious relics in that predecessor's cave dwelling, and the remaining items had long been worn away by time.

Only a Two-Phase Elixir, which could shed the mortal body and exchange the bones and wash the aptitude, remained intact.

There was only one elixir.

But there were two people.

One could not cut it open and have one person take half.

Because of this Two-Phase Elixir, it is heard that Sun Mo and Lou Bing had a fierce fight, and it was only by relying on a sneak attack from behind that Lou Bing barely won by one move, nearly killing Sun Mo.

In the end, he took the elixir and left the cave dwelling, feeling proud and satisfied.

And Sun Mo had previously shown Lou Bing much kindness, but was nearly killed by a sudden blow from behind, so he naturally felt indignant in his heart, concluding that Lou Bing was a person who sold out his friends.

From then on, he opposed him everywhere and swore not to give up.

However, since swallowing that Two-Phase Elixir and washing his aptitude.

Lou Bing also changed his allegiance, defecting to the side of the noble families and becoming a secret guest of the Chi-Shuo Liu clan.

After Lou Bing had this layer of identity, even if Sun Mo was furious, he was ultimately alone and weak, unable to do anything, and could only watch as the distance between himself and him widened bit by bit.

But in this current situation...

"Lou Bing first took the Two-Phase Elixir, and later became a guest of the Chi-Shuo Liu clan, receiving their support. Now Sun Mo is able to briefly contend with him, and his cultivation has not fallen behind?"

Chen Hang looked at the fierce battle in the clouds in the distance, and understood in his heart.

The group of spiritual pets raised by Sun Mo is quite interesting, with the lowest being comparable to a Purple Palace High-Gong.

And the rhinoceros and dragon-horse, their aura, are even more powerful, like a Cave-Mystic Third Layer cultivator!

Being able to raise so many spiritual pets in one breath, form a vital blood contract with them, and make them form a mysterious battle formation to attack and face the enemy.

This Sun Mo.

Is also not an ordinary person...

"It seems that the elders of the Upper Sect are placing bets on Sun Mo to confront the noble families?"

Chen Hang smiled and asked.

"My master's move is just a casual move, far from being a bet."

Shen Cheng sighed upon hearing this: "Sun Mo is ultimately unstable in character and lacks steadiness."

"If he wins against Lou Bing today, even if he doesn't sit firmly in the position of the Ten Great Disciples, after this battle, I will have one more junior brother, but if he loses..."

When the words reached this point.

Shen Cheng's voice stopped, and he just shook his head slightly; the meaning was self-evident.

Chen Hang had thoughts on his face; this seat of the Ten Great Disciples not only involves future cultivation prospects, but behind the scenes, it is also a secret game between the noble families and the sects.

Who wins and who loses.

Which side is the leader of the Grand Competition.

This vaguely also relates to the struggle for face between the two sides...

"It's just a pity that against the current Lou Bing, Sun Mo has little chance of winning."

Chen Hang looked at the clouds in the distance and thought to himself.

And almost in the next instant, Sun Mo, seeing that he could not win after a long battle, finally lost his patience.

He muttered something in his mouth, suddenly pinched a magic formula, and a cluster of nine-colored flames burning fiercely appeared between his fingers, turning into a rainbow light and flying out, killing towards Lou Bing's face.

And when the nine-colored fire collided with Lou Bing's murky yellow brilliance, it actually emitted a crisp sound like tearing silk.

That murky yellow brilliance, which had remained motionless under the fierce attack of over a hundred spiritual pets, was now instantly shattered!

The nine-colored fire swallowed the astonished Lou Bing with lightning speed.

Only hearing a short scream, Lou Bing fell from the clouds, struggling in the dust, his posture looking wretched.

Seeing this scene.

Several cultivators in Qi-Yun Mountain could not help but change their expressions.

And among the group of spectators in the distance, bursts of exclamations erupted, almost everyone's eyes flickering, greatly terrified!

"This is... Nine Phoenix Breaking Origin Gang Battle?"

At the dragon-headed flying boat.

Jiang Daolian, who was holding Tu-Shan Ningning, frowned slightly and spoke softly.

"What? What?"

Tu-Shan Ningning, who had been listless, suddenly pricked up her two ears and became slightly interested:

"What is it?"

"Nine Phoenix Breaking Origin Gang Battle, this is a famous secret method of the Yuchen Sect. The essence of the elixir, the nine-colored divine phoenix, beats its wings to exert power, guiding to the heavenly path... Although Sun Mo has not yet cultivated this method to the ultimate realm, it has a few shapes."

Jiang Daolian replied casually, and a trace of doubt slowly appeared in her eyes.

Although the Nine Phoenix Breaking Origin Gang Battle is powerful, it also consumes a lot of true qi and can only be used as a decisive means.

And Sun Mo was able to have the opportunity to learn this method, but Lou Bing was not an unknown person.

He is an old-fashioned refiner of the Four Courts, and his methods have always been powerful; there is no reason he would be defeated so easily.

Just when Jiang Daolian was puzzled.

At Qi-Shan Cloud, after a brief moment of ecstasy, Sun Mo finally settled his mind and noticed a trace of something wrong.

However, before he could go up to investigate, a fierce wind suddenly struck the back of his head. Even though he subconsciously tilted his body, he was still grazed on his left arm, and instantly his protective magic robe, along with a large piece of flesh and blood, was shattered!

Sun Mo's eyes went black from the pain, and he couldn't help but stagger under his feet.

And although he was injured, his experience in fighting was still there. He forcibly stabilized his surging blood qi, took out several talisman artifacts to strike at Lou Bing, who had suddenly appeared behind him, and hurriedly chanted a spell to summon his spiritual pets to protect his body.

"Just this ability? You don't know that after cultivating the 'Profound Scripture of Manifesting the Subtle through Preserved Light', even without using Dao methods, just the physical body alone—"

Lou Bing sneered, took out a demon-subduing stick, easily split and knocked down the incoming talisman artifacts one by one, his face filled with murderous intent:

"I can also be comparable to those of average aptitude in martial arts!"

Sparks flashed and flickered!

The explosive sound of metal clashing was endless!

Seeing Lou Bing dancing the demon-subduing stick so tightly that not even water could pass through, like an iron bucket, and no talisman artifact could get close to his body, Sun Mo's pupils could not help but shrink.

But fortunately, taking advantage of the few breaths of time delayed by the talisman artifacts, those spiritual pets also arrived in time.

But unexpectedly, Lou Bing suddenly spat out a mouthful of yellow smoke, which turned into a rolling murky current, actually separating the long sky in one breath, blocking those spiritual pets on the other side!

And at this time, because he kept using his consciousness to control the spiritual pets and had also released that Nine Phoenix Breaking Origin Gang Battle, Sun Mo had already lost a lot of mental energy, and his face showed a slight look of fatigue.

Seeing Lou Bing suddenly jump up, fiercely leaping out of the talisman artifact siege, and soaring high into the void.

Then he raised his stick.

And swung it fiercely towards his own head!

Sun Mo was shocked, but could only hurriedly pull out a cluster of clear qi to protect his face.

The gang clouds collapsed, the airflow rolled and shattered, emitting a sharp whistling sound.

This stick fell.

It was almost as if nothing could stop it!

And the next instant.

But no explosive sound spread out.

It was just that the demon-subduing stick was steadily stopped by an inexplicable force three feet above Sun Mo's head, unable to advance an inch.

At this time, Elder Zou, who had been sitting in the clouds with his eyes closed, raised his eyelids and said:

"Lou Bing, you won this round, go back."

Once these words were spoken.

The win or loss was completely determined.

Lou Bing glanced faintly at the unsettled Sun Mo, did not say anything more, just put away the big stick, raised a streak of yellow smoke, and returned to the tenth jade platform.

"With this person's ability, he hasn't used his full strength yet. If it were in previous years, it wouldn't be impossible to fight for the eighth or seventh seat, but this time he is playing it safe..."

Shen Cheng's gaze was heavy, and he said in a low voice.

At this time, on a peak, a Daoist wearing water-fire magic robes suddenly laughed and clapped his hands:

"Bravo! Bravo! Chen Chen Shidi Lou Bing, congratulations!

From now on, you have stepped into the gateway of the Great Dao of Longevity, and you are truly one of us!"

"Xiao Xiao Shixiong Liu Xu overstates it, it's just temporarily occupying the last seat, how can it be worth anything?"

Lou Bing, who was proud and satisfied, heard these words, the pride on his face suddenly faded, and he bowed modestly, saying.

And that Liu Xu, who was wearing water-fire magic robes, did not avoid it, accepted this bow calmly, and just nodded slightly.

"That Liu Xu wearing water-fire magic robes is a disciple of the Bai-Shang Court. He, along with Xiao Xiujing, Liu Guan, Xie Rongzhao, and Sima Tan, are all old-fashioned refiners of the noble families, and their reputation is not small."

"Each of them is not an ordinary person, and they are even better than Lou Bing by several levels!"

Shen Cheng pointed out to Chen Hang via voice transmission:

"Junior brother, don't be careless when facing these few, it's better to be careful!"

Chen Hang had already seen Xiao Xiujing and Liu Guan before, and they were not unfamiliar.

As for Xie Rongzhao and Sima Tan.

Chen Hang followed Shen Cheng's line of sight.

He saw that the former was a beautiful woman with ice-like skin and jade-like bones, with a dignified demeanor, like peach blossoms in a deep valley.

As for the latter, Sima Tan, he was a thin, yellow-faced child. Beside Sima Tan stood a tall man who looked somewhat similar to him.

According to Shen Cheng's voice transmission, that man was Sima Tan's younger brother, Sima Xian. Although his reputation was not as good as his brother's, his methods were also not bad, and he had easily defeated Shen Ming.

This Four Courts Grand Competition is not ordinary.

Because of the three people: He Lizi, Shi You, and Wei Daofu.

Feeling the fierce competition.

Many Four Courts disciples extinguished their thoughts and placed their opportunities in the next session, not entering the field.

And the assessment when entering the mountain was also more cruel compared to the past.

Although there are still less than fifty Four Courts disciples standing on Qi-Yun Mountain now, each of them has powerful methods and is not light in weight!

If placed in a poor land like the Southern Region, any one of these disciples could sweep across a group of cultivators at the same level, and they are definitely not ordinary people!

And at this moment, after Lou Bing finished adjusting his breath, another person came up to fight him, but was also defeated cleanly and could only sigh and leave.

Ninth seat, eighth seat, seventh seat...

People came and went, smoke rose and smoke vanished.

As time passed bit by bit, four people were already standing steadily on the jade platforms.

And at this time, on the peak of Qi-Yun Mountain, there were less than twenty people left here.

Compared with the previous number of fifty, it was less than half, which shows the cruelty of the fighting.

At this time, Shen Cheng suddenly laughed and said to Chen Hang:

"Junior brother, I will go first!"

"I wish senior brother a victory at the first battle and success!"

Chen Hang also smiled and said.

After the two bowed to each other as a courtesy, Shen Cheng did not hesitate, moved his sleeves, and flew up into the sky.

And almost at the same time, Xiao Xiujing also stepped on jade smoke and got up from the peak.

He and Shen Cheng looked at each other across the air, but they were both tacit, their gazes separated lightly, and they did not face each other.

Instead, one chose the sixth seat, and one chose the fifth seat.

Just as the atmosphere in the field became increasingly oppressive and tense, and the undercurrents surged.

The Star Palace at the four corners.

At the east position, an old man sitting on a jade bed in the hall suddenly smiled slightly.

He looked at the west palace and sighed, transmitting his voice:

"Xiao Xiao Shixiong Huo Mi, there is nothing to do anyway, why don't we guess and make a bet."

"Who will take the leader of the Ten Great Disciples in this session?"

Merged

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 335 =====