With a resounding boom, the massive wave of sword Qi violently collided with the vortex generated by the Heavenly Star Might Shifting Art, completely engulfing it!
Onlookers could clearly see Fang Yuan being forcefully driven downward, his stature nearly halved. He was pushed to the brink of a humble half-kneel, almost as if bowing in submission before Jiang Chen!
However, the sword Qi from Silent Annihilation did not completely breach Fang Yuan’s defenses.
Instead, Fang Yuan stubbornly withstood the initial barrage of this fearsome attack. He was now gradually neutralizing the force of the vortex produced by the Heavenly Star Might Shifting Art!
Spectators watched in awe as the sword Qi unleashed by Jiang Chen’s Silent Annihilation technique was methodically neutralized, its energy redirected towards the surrounding formation barrier of the stage.
In an instant, much like the calm surface of a lake disturbed by a sudden storm, countless ripples erupted.
Observing the effect of the Heavenly Star Might Shifting Art, Jiang Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly.
He recognized the principle of this cultivation method—it resembled Tai Chi, where its practitioner could deflect a thousand pounds using merely four ounces of force!
Indeed, this defensive secret art was arguably the most formidable Inquiring Journey rank technique Jiang Chen had encountered so far!
While Jiang Chen found a moment for these reflections, on the surface, he did not capitalize on his apparent advantage. Instead, he feigned weakness, giving the impression that the energy expenditure had been immense and that he needed to recharge his Origin Power.
He was fully aware that in this battle, directly defeating Fang Yuan was not a viable option.
In fact, overpowering Fang Yuan in a single move was not only impractical but also undesirable.
The reason for his restraint was clear: he aimed to create a favorable impression on Nangong Wan and Shangguan Ning. A total and immediate defeat of Fang Yuan would paint him as an intimidating oppressor, lacking the finesse and grace expected of a true gentleman.
With this in mind, Jiang Chen chose to conceal his full strength, saving it for potential future encounters with Fang Yuan.
Determined, Jiang Chen exhibited a fascinating tactic on the battlefield. His formidable sword Qi struck with swift decisiveness and retreated with equal speed, flowing seamlessly and naturally without any hint of anomaly.
Fang Yuan, gritting his teeth, continued to deploy the Heavenly Star Might Shifting Art, barely managing to maintain his stance!
This development left the tens of thousands of spectators in awe.
Soon, their astonishment turned into praises such as ’Senior Brother Jiang Chen truly possesses a discerning eye,’ ’keen perception,’ ’sharp observation,’ and similar commendations.
Moreover, the exhibition of Jiang Chen’s sword technique during this duel was profoundly impressive, radiating an aura reminiscent of a celestial being descending upon the mortal realm. It was truly extraordinary!
On the other hand, Fang Yuan cut a pitiable figure!
As a result, countless cultivators found their respect for Jiang Chen deepening.
For Fang Yuan, he was reduced to merely a stepping stone, a means to enhance Jiang Chen’s prominence, a backdrop that underscored Jiang Chen’s superiority.
At this pivotal moment, after weathering the onslaught of Silent Annihilation’s sword Qi, Fang Yuan hastily retreated, his eyes locked on the slightly pale Jiang Chen. A flurry of thoughts raced through his mind: ’The last attack he made must have depleted his reserves of Origin Power significantly!’ he concluded internally.
"To wield an Inquiring Journey rank sword technique while only at the Heavenly Origin realm, Jiang Chen is undoubtedly formidable," he mused quietly. "However, he isn’t in my position. He lacks the guidance of mentors like Nangong Wan and Shangguan Ning. Therefore, he must be nearing his limit now. That sword strike likely represented his most lethal attack!"
Reaching this conclusion bolstered Fang Yuan’s confidence in his potential to emerge victorious. Unlike Jiang Chen, he still had an ace up his sleeve!
However, out of caution, Fang Yuan refrained from launching an immediate attack while Jiang Chen appeared to be in a weakened state.
Instead, he opted to resume a probing strategy!
This approach would also give him a chance to recover and replenish his Origin Power.
Previously, deploying the Heavenly Star Might Shifting Art had significantly drained his energy, nearly depleting his reserves of Origin Power.
At this juncture, the ’weakened’ Jiang Chen looked at Fang Yuan and chuckled, "You’ve lived up to your reputation. You actually withstood my Silent Annihilation Heavenly Sword Art."
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"Regrettably, you’re now heavily drained. Your chances of victory have diminished," he advised. "Let’s call it a day; you ought to concede."
"No!" Fang Yuan roared, his eyes flashing intensely red, "Unless the formation’s protective mechanism intervenes, I will not yield!"
As he declared these words, the audience beneath the stage erupted into a cacophony of disapproving jeers.
"This Fang Yuan truly lacks self-awareness!"
"Indeed, Senior Brother Jiang Chen was merely trying to leave him with some dignity, to avoid total humiliation, yet he has the audacity to decline!"
"He’s so excessively arrogant and stubborn!"
"It’s such a shame that Senior Brother Jiang Chen holds him in high regard!"
Indignant, the cultivators voiced their shared contempt for Fang Yuan one after another.
On the stage, a helpless smile flickered at the corner of Jiang Chen’s mouth. "Very well. Then I’ll continue to be your sparring partner!" He then casually swept his right hand, which held the long sword.
Swish!
A blade of sword Qi instantly barreled towards Fang Yuan’s face.
Lustrous Illusionary Steps!
Fang Yuan executed his lightness skill, his entire form blurring into three distinct illusions.
The three mirages he transformed into didn’t strike back but instead sought to escape at full speed!
Slash!
Jiang Chen’s sword Qi obliterated one of the illusions, and the residual power pressed on to target the next mirage.
However, Fang Yuan deftly continued to use the Lustrous Illusionary Steps during his evasive maneuvers, skillfully compensating for the illusions that had been destroyed.
Simultaneously, Fang Yuan rapidly absorbed the ambient spiritual Qi, replenishing his own reserves.
At this critical juncture, he effectively employed the Origin Power restoration techniques imparted by Nangong Wan and Shangguan Ning. His rate of Origin Power recovery significantly outpaced that of other Heavenly Origin realm cultivators of the same level.
Despite continuously employing the Lustrous Illusionary Steps, Fang Yuan’s Origin Power was steadily recuperating, with his replenishment rate surpassing his consumption.
Furthermore, while skillfully dodging attacks, Fang Yuan meticulously observed Jiang Chen.
He analyzed Jiang Chen’s expressions, movements, aura, momentum, attack power, and other factors to gauge his opponent’s condition.
Before long, Fang Yuan reached a conclusion in his mind—Jiang Chen’s capacity to recuperate Origin Power did not match his own, and it appeared he had no additional tricks up his sleeve.
Otherwise, why would Jiang Chen have not already used them to subdue him? Why allow the situation to lapse into a stalemate?
"The time has come to end this fight!" While skillfully dodging and weaving, Fang Yuan began to gradually close the distance between him and Jiang Chen, seemingly gearing up for a fierce confrontation, ready to unleash a lethal strike.
’Is he about to play his trump card? It seems the time has come to end this fight!’ Jiang Chen also noticed Fang Yuan’s aggressive approach, and a trace of cynical amusement stirred within him.
"Let’s settle the score!" Fang Yuan bellowed, attacking Jiang Chen from an unpredictable angle with his technique, Long Sea Reflecting Sky Sword!
His remaining illusions simultaneously lunged at Jiang Chen.
No one could discern whether the roaring Fang Yuan was the genuine one or if his real body was concealed among these illusions.
Confronted with Fang Yuan’s counteroffensive, Jiang Chen remained composed, forcefully sweeping his long sword horizontally in front of him as he employed the Silent Annihilation technique once again.
Just at that moment, with a hoarse cry of "Die!" Fang Yuan’s eyes blazed with intense light. The sword technique he had been feigning abruptly shifted, transforming instantaneously into a much more formidable spear technique—specifically, the fourth move of his Fierce God Seven Killings Spear Technique, Death Decree!
Although utilizing a spear technique with a sword might not deliver the full power of the attack, Fang Yuan was undeterred. To compensate, he simultaneously activated a self-harming power-amplifying secret art, the Wild Spirit Explosion Art.
In a flash, Fang Yuan’s attack power surged at least tenfold, and the sudden shift in his technique caught everyone off guard!
Witnessing this transformation, the hundreds of thousands of spectators beneath the stage widened their eyes, their faces marked by sheer astonishment.
However, Jiang Chen, ever perceptive, realized that Fang Yuan’s surprise attack had been meticulously planned.
Without hesitation, he deployed two techniques from his arsenal. The first was a soul attack, the Soul Stirring Needle from the Dormant Spirit Stirring Divine Art. The second was the lightness skill that had been a staple in this title battle, the Great Martial Eight Ghostly Steps.
This time, Jiang Chen employed the Great Martial Eight Ghostly Steps Skill at its maximum potential.
In an instant, an invisible ripple propagated. Despite initiating his counterattack later, Jiang Chen’s move astonishingly struck first, impacting Fang Yuan with full force.
Simultaneously, Jiang Chen’s figure abruptly flickered backwards, evading any potential retaliation.
"Aaagh!!" Fang Yuan let out an agonizingly shrill scream as he found himself assaulted by the Soul Stirring Needle. Instantly, he was gripped by a throbbing headache, as if his head was on the verge of bursting.
Despite the crippling pain inflicted by the Soul Stirring Needle, Fang Yuan did not relinquish his assault on Jiang Chen.
Over the past two years, from his descent from celestial heights to the depths of the abyss, only Fang Yuan himself knew the extent of the trials he had endured to keep going.
His resilience and determination allowed him to withstand the intense headache. Even as his mind teetered on the brink of coherence, he persevered, brandishing his long sword and executing the fourth move of the Fierce God Seven Killings Spear Technique, Death Decree!
He and his sword merged into one entity, transforming into a piercingly sharp long spear. Like a comet hurtling towards the earth, he aimed directly at Jiang Chen, who was still flickering and retreating.