Chapter 1178: Battle with Luo Changan Again
"Elder Huanzhi, that brat Yun Che... Does your Ice Phoenix Sect also have some kind of secret technique?" Huo Rulie asked with a shocked expression.
"Sect Master Huo!" As soon as he finished speaking, Yan Juehai's low shout came into his ear. He quickly came to his senses and asked no more.
Such a short time and such an astonishing improvement were certainly extraordinary. The Flame God Realm had used some kind of "secret technique" to raise Huo Poyun's profound strength to the late stage of Divine Spirit Realm over two years, which was why Huo Rulie had asked. But such "secret techniques" were sect secrets and naturally not to be casually inquired about.
"..." Mu Huanzhi, however, shook his head, his face showing a shock that had not dissipated for a long time.
With a lifespan exceeding ten thousand years, he had never heard of any method in the sect that could raise a disciple consecutively by seven minor realms within Divine Tribulation Realm, and the sect's records had never mentioned such a thing.
The seats on Feng Shen Platform were in an uproar. The path of profound cultivation most abhors seeking quick success and instant gains, but to "rush" to such an extent, everyone was astounded... including the Realm Kings of the upper-tier star realms.
"Divine Tribulation Realm... a rise of seven minor realms, even with the use of that Time Wheel Pearl, it's only been a month."
On the eastern seats, the various Divine Emperors all frowned deeply, their eyes flashing with amazement.
At this moment, the Dragon Emperor suddenly spoke: "It is the Qiankun Five Jade Pill."
"Correct." Zhou Tian Shen Di also slowly nodded: "The medicinal aura on his body has not yet dissipated; it should undoubtedly be the Qiankun Five Jade Pill. With the abilities of Yin Xue Realm King, it is indeed easy to fuse the Qiankun Five Jade Pill, but gathering all the materials is not easy either."
"However," the Dragon Emperor continued, "a single Qiankun Five Jade Pill, even if perfectly refined, would never cause such a great increase. The Yin Xue Realm should not be underestimated."
"Hehe." Zhou Tian Realm King laughed: "Our Zhou Tian has existed for six hundred thousand years, while the Yin Xue Realm has already exceeded nine hundred thousand years. Among these star realms that inherit the legacies of gods and have long histories, which one doesn't have its own unknown secrets? It's just that... these 'secrets' either come at a great cost or are extremely difficult to achieve, yet they are used on this brat. That is truly puzzling."
"No," the Dragon Emperor gently shook his head: "This junior is likely far from as simple as he appears. The mere fact that he can use Shadow Concealment shows a clue. The name of Yin Xue Realm King Mu Xuanyin, I, Long, have heard even in the Western Divine Region. For her to take him as a personal disciple and spare no expense to raise him to this level, this child is definitely not ordinary."
"Such a sudden huge increase in profound strength must have used some extremely high-grade secret medicine or technique. Even for our Liuguang Realm, achieving this level would be extremely difficult. I never imagined a mid-tier star realm could..." In Liuguang Realm, Shui Yingyue said softly.
"Sister," the girl beside her suddenly asked, "Did our first brother, second brother, third brother... tenth brother, eleventh brother... ninety-ninth brother open a betting pool for this match?"
"No." Shui Yingyue glanced at Shui Meiyin, surprised why she suddenly became interested in betting: "The result of this battle is completely without suspense. Opening a betting pool would only guarantee a loss."
At every Profound God Convention, countless betting pools arise in the Eastern Divine Region, and Liuguang Realm naturally would not give up this opportunity to make money. Moreover, due to Liuguang Realm's prestige and influence, the bets placed were also extremely large.
"Mm... what a pity." Shui Meiyin's eyes, which shimmered with a mysterious and unusual light, stared unblinkingly at Yun Che: "If everyone had bet on Luo Changan to win, then ninety-ninth brother and the others could have made a lot of profound crystals."
Shui Yingyue's gaze flickered with surprise: "Meiyin, do you mean..."
"That big brother Yun Che will win," Shui Meiyin said very seriously.
"Win?" Shui Yingyue couldn't understand: "Although his profound strength has increased greatly, he is only at the late stage of Divine Tribulation Realm. No matter what, he cannot be a match for Luo Changan."
"Hehe..." Shui Meiyin laughed: "Not only has his cultivation changed, but his eyes have also completely changed."
On Feng Shen Platform, Quhui Zunzhe fixed his gaze on Yun Che for a few breaths. After his surprise, he said coldly: "Hmph, Yun Che! In this Divine Seal Battle watched by myriad realms, you actually dare to be late. Do you still have any respect for this Profound God Convention?"
Yun Che didn't move at all and said calmly: "Being late is indeed somewhat improper, but according to the rules of the Divine Seal Battle, one must be late by fifteen breaths to be judged as losing. And just now, if I didn't miscalculate, I was only late by about seven breaths, yet I heard Quhui Zunzhe was announcing the result... That seems even more improper, doesn't it?"
"You..." Quhui Zunzhe's brows sank deeply, and he nearly lost his temper again because of him.
With his status, even a Realm King would not dare to show the slightest disrespect, but Yun Che... was definitely one of the few anomalies he had seen in his life.
Thinking of his identity, Quhui Zunzhe instantly suppressed the anger that had just surged up, floated into the air, and shouted heavily: "The time has come. You two... begin the battle immediately!"
Under Quhui Zunzhe's command, Feng Shen Platform finally quieted down. But neither of the combatants made a move.
One was leisurely, the other wore a look of amusement.
Although Yun Che's profound strength change was astonishing, he still remained in the Divine Tribulation Realm. In anyone's eyes, it was absolutely impossible for him to pose even the slightest threat to Luo Changan.
Luo Changan opened only half his eyes, scanning Yun Che up and down, with a ambiguous smile on his face, as if appraising an interesting plaything: "Not bad. Two days ago, you were so scared by me that you didn't even dare to step onto Feng Shen Platform, and today you actually have the guts to stand up here. Tsk tsk tsk."
"In one day, from Divine Tribulation Realm Level 1 to Divine Tribulation Realm Level 8, hahaha..." Luo Changan's mouth curled up, and he sneered contemptuously: "Although I don't know what method you used, even a three-year-old knows that divine path cultivation requires gradual progress and caution. You are so foolish. While your profound strength has increased not a little, it must have severely damaged your talent and lifespan. How utterly laughable. And even more laughable... you don't really think that now you are no longer a waste, do you?"
Yun Che: "..."
Luo Changan slowly extended a finger toward Yun Che: "Kid, I'm always soft-hearted, so let me kindly remind you: I haven't fought with trash below Divine Spirit Realm for nearly twenty years, so it's easy for me to misjudge my strength. If I accidentally leave you half-dead, paralyzed for a hundred or eighty years, tsk tsk, what a pitiful sight that would be."
"So, I'll kindly give you a chance." Luo Changan grinned and held up five fingers: "I'll give you five breaths to obediently surrender, then roll down from here forever, continue being that lowly waste, and spare me from dirtying my hands with trash like you."
Faced with an absolute weakling, Luo Changan's venomous ridicule, devoid of any grace, made many people frown inwardly. Yet the two had not made a move for a long time, and Quhui Zunzhe said nothing.
But Yun Che laughed: "You, Luo Changan, keep saying the word 'waste' all the time. It seems you truly look down on conceding and surrendering."
"Hehehe," Luo Changan laughed with extreme contempt: "True men like me will fight until the last moment as long as they have consciousness, even if it means fighting to the death! Only lowly wastes like you would beg for surrender like dogs! But watching a lowly waste like you beg like a dog, heh... is also a good enjoyment, so I'll give you this chance... but you only have five breaths!"
"Four!"
"Three!"
"Two!"
Luo Changan withdrew his five fingers one by one, but Yun Che did not move. Luo Changan could see not a trace of tension or fear on his face, not even anger or humiliation, which greatly diminished his pleasure, and his gaze gradually turned venomous.
"One!"
With the last finger withdrawn, Luo Changan laughed: "I gave you a chance. When I lose control of my strength later, heh... you'll have no chance to regret it!"
As the son of the Saint Universe Realm King, Luo Changan was notorious for his arrogance and domineering ways. Perhaps because within the family, his glory was completely overshadowed by his younger brother Luo Changsheng, he greatly enjoyed humiliating the weak. The sight of their anger and humiliation yet daring not to resist brought him a twisted pleasure.
But today, he did not achieve the satisfactory effect from Yun Che; instead, he felt anger. As soon as his voice fell, he suddenly struck out. The instant his right arm rose and then thrust forward, the profound energy vortex in his palm swelled dozens of times, blasting straight at Yun Che's heart.
With an absolute advantage in profound strength, he not only struck first but also with extreme viciousness. If this blow landed solidly, not to mention Divine Tribulation Realm Level 8, even a peak Divine Tribulation Realm cultivator would be severely injured in an instant.
"Yun Che!" Among the Yin Xue group, except for Mu Bingyun, all were shocked.
The spectators from Saint Universe Realm also frowned deeply... Although Luo Changan had used at most twenty percent of his strength, his opponent was merely someone at Divine Tribulation Realm. At the very least, this blow would cause severe injury, and it was more likely he would be killed on the spot.
Of course, Saint Universe Realm was not afraid of Yin Xue Realm. Killing a Realm King's personal disciple was not a big deal in their eyes. They doubted that even if Yin Xue Realm had a Divine Lord Realm King, it would never dare to do anything to Saint Universe Realm. But this was the Divine Seal Battle; maliciously killing could potentially lead to disqualification... However, even if Saint Universe Realm wanted to stop it, it was already too late.
Boom!!
Yun Che did not move, and under the suppression of profound strength exceeding his own by a whole major realm, he indeed could hardly stir. Luo Changan's blow struck Yun Che's chest directly. With a thunderous roar, the area for hundreds of miles was engulfed by an extremely powerful force. Even a mountain would be instantly crushed to powder.
At the moment just before hitting Yun Che, a cruel smile curled at the corner of Luo Changan's mouth. But immediately, his smile completely vanished because the blow that had clearly struck Yun Che passed through empty air. What appeared before him was not the scene of Yun Che being blasted off Feng Shen Platform in an instant, but a trail of ice shadow dissipating in the shattered aftermath.
Luo Changan was startled, then whirled around... Yun Che maintained his previous stance, with his hands clasped behind his back, standing there serenely, still less than ten paces away.
"It's the Sect Master's Moon-Breaking Shadow Flick!" Several palace masters and elders from Yin Xue Realm exclaimed in unison.
"What a Moon-Breaking Shadow Flick! Truly worthy of its reputation!" On the eastern seats, the Dragon Emperor blurted out in praise.
"While shifting form, it also halts presence; it confuses the opponent's perception while teleporting," Zhou Tian Shen Di glanced at Xing Shendi and said with a smile: "In this aspect, it is already comparable to your Star God Realm's Star God Remnant Shadow."
Comparing a mid-tier star realm's movement art with their Star God Realm's divine technique, Xing Shendi did not sneer but instead nodded slightly: "Star God Remnant Shadow is extremely difficult to comprehend. In my Star God Realm, apart from the Star Gods, no one could master it. As for Moon-Breaking Shadow Flick, it was said that in Yin Xue Realm, only Realm King Xuan Yin had mastered it... And this brat not only mastered it, but also reached the legendary 'Shadow Concealment' realm. He deserves the Dragon Emperor's personal praise."
"But, no matter how strong the movement art, it can only barely keep one from losing temporarily! It can never allow one to defeat an opponent!"
"Yo, not bad." Luo Changan turned back, his eyes narrowed slightly. Without any visible movement, a burst of energy erupted from his body. Dozens of profound energy strands were released instantly, turning into invisible claws, weaving a large net that suddenly enveloped Yun Che.
Ding!
Dozens of profound energy strands struck Yun Che simultaneously, but they only produced a light sound and a shattered, dissipating ice shadow.
And Yun Che's aura appeared once again behind Luo Changan.
Luo Changan's face finally darkened. With his mid-to-late stage Divine Spirit Realm profound strength, he had struck twice without even touching an opponent only at Divine Tribulation Realm, and under the eyes of the public. This was undoubtedly humiliating.
He slowly turned around and sneered: "Heh, your fleeing skills are not bad. Then... try to flee again!"
Luo Changan's profound energy suddenly surged, releasing nearly seventy percent of his power, locking firmly onto Yun Che... A Divine Spirit Realm Level 6's forced suppression over a Divine Tribulation Realm profound practitioner was almost impossible to break free from. At that moment, Luo Changan also leaped into the air and punched down.
"Obnoxious waste... get lost!"
Facing Luo Changan's venomous blow, this time, Yun Che did not choose to dodge. He stood motionless, a faint cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
His two teleportations earlier were not meant to genuinely mock and anger Luo Changan, but to gauge his current level of strength.
Two days ago, even facing a Divine Spirit Realm Level 1 force, he would have felt enormous pressure.
But just now, during Luo Changan's two attacks, he did not feel any sense of being suppressed. Both teleportations were as easy as a leisurely stroll. Even when he was brushed by the residual waves of Luo Changan's power, it was like being tickled by a gust of wind.
Puff-Boom!!!!!!
Luo Changan's blow, filled with venom, landed solidly on Yun Che's chest, producing a deafening explosion of profound energy...
"Waaaah!"
And after the roar, a figure flew backward violently, a crimson mist of blood bursting fiercely in the air, accompanied by a cry of extreme pain.