“What if I refuse?”
Su Jingzhen’s face remained calm with a gentle smile still gracing his lips.
He didn’t seem the least bit angered by Cang Yun’s words, instead exuding a sense of stubborn defiance.
As soon as he spoke, Cang Yun’s aura grew sharp and oppressive, directly enveloping Su Jingzhen.
This guy was actually at the late stage of the Golden Core!
Such a cultivation level was naturally insignificant in front of the current Su Jingzhen.
But judging by his age, he likely wasn’t more than two years older than Su Jingzhen.
He would be an absolute genius in the Qingzhou region.
If he were truly facing an unknown small power, he would indeed have every right to be arrogant. After all, many forces have their strongest members barely at the Golden Core stage.
“As cultivators, why should we be afraid of fighting?
I, Cang Yun from Huangzhou Dongxuan Academy invites you to a duel.
Right here, right now, regardless of life or death!”
As Cang Yun spoke, a strong killing intent emanated from him. Su Jingzhen’s reckless behavior greatly displeased him, and he had decided to fulfill Su Jingzhen’s death wish.
Upon hearing this, the others from Dongxuan Academy, standing atop the Divine Wind Eagle, all smiled knowingly. Cang Yun’s actions didn’t surprise them in the slightest. They were well aware of his temperament.
Even earlier, while they were traveling side by side, he had already shown great interest in Xuening.
Moreover, Cang Yun had a particular ability that was highly regarded by everyone in Dongxuan Academy—precognition.
In many situations, he could foresee certain events with remarkable accuracy. This innate talent alone earned him a high position within the academy.
Cang Yun had predicted that Xuening might provide them with significant assistance during this visit to the Dantai Clan’s ruins.
This, too, was an inexplicable premonition. Yet, everyone in Dongxuan Academy believed him. Otherwise, the two elders wouldn’t have deliberately stopped for this matter.
Meanwhile, Shen Yifeng, who was on the White Feather Eagle, maintained a calm expression.
Regardless of how Su Jingzhen had managed to kill ‘Yin’ in the past, he had the experience of killing a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. This alone placed him far beyond Cang Yun’s reach.
So, in Shen Yifeng’s opinion, even in a one-on-one duel, Su Jingzhen had no reason to fear Cang Yun.
At this moment, Su Jingzhen’s expression subtly changed, and a flicker of fear appeared in his eyes.
“Can I refuse?” he asked, his voice trembling slightly.
When it came to controlling his microexpressions, Su Jingzhen was a master. Playing the role of the fool was something he thoroughly enjoyed.
Cang Yun sneered again, “Once I’ve spoken, refusal is not an option. Otherwise, everyone on that White Feather Eagle of yours will pay the price for your earlier offense. The choice should be easy—one life or all.”
Hearing this, Su Jingzhen shook his head slightly once more, muttering to himself, “Is the killing intent in the cultivation world really this intense? Fortunately, I’m not one to shy away from killing either.”
After talking to himself, Su Jingzhe looked at Shen Yifeng next to him and said, “Can we kill the people from Dongxuan Academy?”
Shen Yifeng gave a definitive answer, “As long as you can kill them, I’ll back you up, no matter how many.”
With these words, Su Jingzhen was completely reassured.
He glanced back at Cang Yun, and once again, a look of despair and helplessness flashed in his eyes.
“It seems a battle is inevitable today. So be it. Su Xiaoman of Shenwu Sect, ready to fight!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Su Jingzhen took the initiative to fly towards the desolate mountain below, using his sword.
He was a Body Cultivator, and fighting in mid-air didn’t play to his strengths.
Since Dongxuan Academy had actively sought him out and Cang Yun had the audacity to harbor killing intent towards him, Su Jingzhen intended to teach him a proper lesson.
Seeing this, Cang Yun hesitated for a moment. He hadn’t expected Su Jingzhen to so readily accept the challenge.
Something felt off in his heart, but he often couldn’t foresee events that involved himself. It was similar to those diviners who could predict everything except their own fate.
However, when Cang Yun’s gaze fell on Xuening, his earlier unease was replaced with renewed confidence.
He smiled at Xuening and said, “Miss, please wait a moment. Soon, you’ll see that you’ve made the right choice in company. Staying with Shenwu Sect will only waste your potential.”
The implication behind his words was clear: stay with trash, and you become trash.
With that, Cang Yun tossed his folding fan into the air, stepped onto it, and flew towards the mountain where Su Jingzhen was waiting.
Among the younger generation in regions like Qingzhou and Huangzhou, his late-stage Golden Core cultivation was enough to dominate his peers.
Even within Huangzhou’s Dongxuan Academy, Cang Yun was ranked among the top ten of his generation. His confidence was unwavering.
As the two descended to the desolate mountaintop, the Divine Wind Eagle and White Feather Eagle circled downward, gradually lowering themselves. Both sides found themselves in a standoff.
At this moment, Shen Yifeng could sense that the two old men from Dongxuan Academy had locked onto him with their auras.
It was clear they were somewhat wary of him. However, he remained unbothered by their vigilance.
Watching everyone descend from the sky, Su Jingzhen inwardly sneered, “Such a grand display, but this won’t take much time at all.”
As Su Jingzhen mused to himself, Cang Yun’s arrogant voice rang out once more.
“Make your move. Let me see what strength you possess that makes you think you deserve to stand beside that young lady. If you don’t act now, you might not get another chance.”
As he spoke, Cang Yun held an ancient tome in his hands, from which emanated a mysterious aura.
He had no idea what Su Jingzhen’s exact cultivation level was since Su Jingzhen concealed his aura well.
However, in Cang Yun’s mind, how powerful could a young member from an obscure sect truly be?
Su Jingzhen nodded slightly. Requests like these, where he was asked to make the first move, were usually ones he was happy to oblige. After all, as a Body Cultivator, his specialty was the element of surprise.
He had no intention of dragging things out with Cang Yun.
In an instant, a black brick appeared in his hand. The blood energy from his eight Secret Repositories surged through his body, following the path of the Netherworld Ghost Technique.
In the next moment, three afterimages were left in his wake as Su Jingzhen’s speed caught Cang Yun off guard.
Cang Yun struggled to react.
“If I strike, you won’t have a chance either.”
By the time Cang Yun caught sight of Su Jingzhen’s figure, he was already within ten feet of him.
Su Jingzhen still wore that gentle smile, but in Cang Yun’s eyes, it was now the smile of a reaper.
Cang Yun’s face paled, and he immediately abandoned his planned offensive.
In a split second, he activated the ancient tome in his hands. The book instantly expanded in front of him, its pages flipping rapidly as a dark light emanated from within, forming a rather formidable defense.
“Bang!”
Su Jingzhen didn’t use his Dragon Form Qi but instead struck directly with the black brick.
The loud explosion echoed as the ancient tome, hit by Su Jingzhen’s Flesh Body Nascent Embryo-level power, immediately shrank back.
Despite its impressive defensive capabilities, the tome was still unable to fully withstand Su Jingzhen’s force.
Cang Yun was propelled backward, his body vibrating from the residual impact, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood. His aura weakened significantly.
This was only the first exchange.
Even with the ancient tome defending him, Cang Yun had been severely injured.
If he hadn’t activated the tome in advance, Su Jingzhen’s strike would have been devastating beyond imagination.
“Not a bad artifact. But if it can withstand one strike, what about the second?”
As Cang Yun tried to use the rebound force from Su Jingzhen’s attack to create some distance, Su Jingzhen’s voice echoed in his ears once more.
Cang Yun’s expression changed again.
A look of despair appeared on his face.
He had already recognized Su Jingzhen as a formidable Body Cultivator with unmatched speed. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t prevent Su Jingzhen from closing in.
“Divine Protection!”
“Thunderfire!”
As Su Jingzhen advanced with his second strike, Cang Yun’s storage ring flashed several times.
Suddenly, thunder roared in the sky, and intense flames surged towards Su Jingzhen.
At the same time, a sturdy turtle shell seemed to materialize around Cang Yun.
In this critical moment, Cang Yun activated two high-grade talismans in quick succession.
The power of the Thunderfire was comparable to Nascent Soul-level attacks, and the turtle shell appeared nearly impervious.
Cang Yun’s face showed a hint of pain as he activated the talismans.
Their rarity and value were self-evident.
“Boom!”
The Thunderfire struck. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
Under Su Jingzhen’s clothing, countless silver-white Heavenly Dragon scales instantly appeared.
Since his breakthrough to the Flesh Body Nascent Embryo stage and acquiring these Heavenly Dragon scales, Su Jingzhen had been eager to test their power.
Cang Yun was the perfect opponent to do just that.
In response to the Thunderfire attack, Su Jingzhen activated the defensive power of the Heavenly Dragon scales.
Aside from this, he had no other defense.
The Thunderfire struck him immediately, causing a tingling sensation and intense pain.
However, the pain was merely sharp, far less severe compared to the effects of the North Sea Dragon’s blood or the aftereffects of Bloodthirst.
As the Heavenly Dragon scales’ defense flared up, everyone saw a silver light emanating from Su Jingzhen’s body, obscuring what was beneath.
With just the power of this one talisman, Su Jingzhen was able to test out that it was comparable to an attack from the Nascent Soul stage, and under the defense of the dragon scales, it could indeed hurt him.
But it has no impact on its combat effectiveness.
He was elated. According to Bai Suzhen, the Heavenly Dragon scales would grow stronger with his cultivation. The current display of their abilities already exceeded his expectations.
Su Jingzhen continued to press his advantage, sending the black brick straight towards Cang Yun.
“Boom!”
Another thunderous sound erupted. The turtle shell created by the Divine Protection talisman in front of Cang Yun was immediately covered in cracks.
Seeing this, Cang Yun’s face turned ashen, and even the spectators’ expressions were filled with shock.
The energy fluctuations from the turtle shell indicated it was a defense comparable to Nascent Soul-level.
Yet, it had been shattered by a single blow from Su Jingzhen.
The implication was clear: Su Jingzhen’s strength was overwhelmingly superior.
“Cease your arrogance!”
The failed defense of the Divine Protection talisman left Cang Yun in an even worse state.
Another mouthful of blood spurted from him, and his aura had completely collapsed. The difference in power between the two combatants was starkly apparent.
The two old men from Dongxuan Academy could no longer remain seated.
They stepped forward in unison, their auras erupting and sending a powerful pressure directly towards Su Jingzhen.
It was clear now why the Dongxuan Academy’s members had been so arrogant.
Both old men had reached the Soul Formation stage, a testament to the prestigious and formidable nature of Dongxuan Academy, a prominent holy land in Huangzhou.
Their presence here, with two Soul Formation experts accompanying them, was not surprising.
As the oppressive force of the Soul Formation stage spread, one of the old men quickly stepped through the air towards Cang Yun, catching him and assessing his condition. He was alarmed once again.
Earlier, they had observed clearly that Su Jingzhen’s strikes had not hit Cang Yun directly but only through the residual force. Yet, this had severely injured Cang Yun.
They realized that such strength would likely be considered elite even among Nascent Soul experts.
If the two of them hadn’t interveined, Cang Yun would not have been hitting a wall, but a diamond!
The other old man dissipated the residual force from Su Jingzhen’s previous attack with his own pressure and then stepped directly towards Su Jingzhen.
“Youth, your killing intent is excessive. You must be eliminated!”
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