Chapter 1235: A World of Difference
Yun Che landed on the Feng Shen Platform, facing Luo Changsheng at close range.
The spectator seats grew quiet, but there was no tension in the air. Luo Changsheng's body carried no profound energy, yet the intangible aura of a Divine King had already proclaimed everything. In the face of this aura, Yun Che's presence exuded a kind of invisible inferiority that anyone could perceive.
The previous battle had been so brutal, yet in just three short days, it was already a world of difference. Yun Che was still at the ninth level of the Divine Tribulation Realm, while Luo Changsheng had stepped into a completely different domain, no longer the Luo Changsheng of three days ago.
Facing Yun Che, his expression remained unchanged, as calm as ever, as if he hadn't even seen Yun Che.
"..." Yun Che took a deep breath.
"There's no need to reiterate the rules," Quhui Zunzhe waved his arm. "Begin battle!"
Boom!
As soon as Quhui Zunzhe's voice fell, Yun Che activated his "Heaven-Shattering" realm gate, his profound energy exploding to its peak. The Heaven-Defying Demon-Slaying Sword was already in his hand, releasing a heavy sword might.
But Luo Changsheng didn't move at all, not even releasing any profound energy. Only his expression finally changed, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth: "Yun Che, you really didn't disappoint me. If you had been scared out of your wits and conceded directly, that would have been far too boring."
"Hmph." Yun Che narrowed his eyes. "Luo Changsheng, while your cultivation has advanced, you've also grown much more talkative."
In the previous battle, at Quhui Zunzhe's shout, the two had clashed fiercely in the first instant, without a single word exchanged.
"Heh," Luo Changsheng smiled faintly. "That's because last time, I regarded you as an opponent. But today, you no longer deserve that."
Yun Che: "..."
"Oh ho, this kid is getting arrogant," Shitian Shendi said, slanting a glance.
"A person's nature doesn't change drastically in a short time," Fantian Shen Di said. "Since he has already released the strength he had been forcibly suppressing, why continue to suppress his nature? Especially in front of Yun Che, who was the first to make him suffer defeat and humiliation."
"Still, a thirty-year-old Divine King has every right to be arrogant, even to the heavens," Xing Shendi said.
Luo Changsheng's arrogant and contemptuous words surprised many of the profound practitioners in the spectator seats... In every battle of the Feng Shen Competition before, no matter how weak his opponent, Luo Changsheng had never struck heavily, never mocked or sneered at his enemy, and had even tried to let his opponents lose gracefully.
Even in the previous battle against Yun Che, though he had looked down on him from the start, there had been no disdain or arrogance.
Today's Luo Changsheng had not only entered a shocking new realm of power, but his words and demeanor seemed to have transformed as well.
Saint Universe Realm King Luo Shangchen frowned.
"Heh," Yun Che let out a cold laugh. "Looks like your face wasn't swollen enough from the last battle!"
With that sneer, Yun Che's figure erupted forward, turning into a swift streak of light as he slashed straight down at Luo Changsheng with his sword.
Luo Changsheng's entire aura, posture, and gaze had changed. It was still Luo Changsheng before him, but Yun Che felt as if he were facing a completely different person.
The Luo Changsheng before him hadn't moved a trace of profound energy, yet he gave off a terrifying, unfathomable feeling that suffocated Yun Che. But his mind remained clear—Luo Changsheng's released arrogance and contempt didn't anger him, but instead... were Luo Changsheng's weakness!
The moment the Heaven-Defying Demon-Slaying Sword swung out, golden flames erupted, setting the sky ablaze. How terrifying the might of this sword was, everyone had witnessed three days ago, causing many profound practitioners to tighten their hearts. But in the next instant, their eyes widened in shock.
Because, facing the suddenly blasting sword might and flame might, Luo Changsheng did something incomprehensible. He didn't move an inch, his right hand lightly tucked behind his back, while his left hand extended unhurriedly, welcoming the oncoming Heaven-Defying Demon-Slaying Sword's might.
"Ah!? Luo Changsheng, he... what is he doing? Is he going to..."
"That's Yun Che's sword might, plus Golden Crow Flame. Even if he's a Divine King, it's impossible..."
Boom!
The Heaven-Defying Demon-Slaying Sword collided with Luo Changsheng's palm in midair, but instead of a loud explosion of sword might, it produced an exceptionally dull rumble. This rumble echoed above the Feng Shen Platform and resounded deep in everyone's hearts.
Yun Che's momentum stopped there, his body stiff, his pupils violently contracting.
Luo Changsheng's body remained motionless, only his extended left hand was slightly pressed back. In his slightly open left hand, the heavy vermillion blade of the Heaven-Defying Demon-Slaying Sword was frozen in place.
The spectator seats fell into dead silence. Countless eyes were wide open, unable to believe what they were seeing.
Yun Che's terrifying sword might, enough to crack the Feng Shen Platform itself, had been caught bare-handed... with one hand!?
And he hadn't even taken half a step back!
Watching Yun Che's suddenly shrinking pupils, Luo Changsheng's mouth curled slightly. He slowly closed his fingers, gripping the blade. With his gentle movement, the Heaven-Defying Demon-Slaying Sword's might scattered like flowing water, and the Golden Crow Flame was extinguished layer by layer, burning weaker and weaker.
"Ah... ah... ah..." Huo Poyun leaned forward, his face losing color. Beside him, Huo Rulie's expression was grave, but without any surprise. As a powerful Divine Sovereign, how could he not understand the concept of a "Divine King"? How could he not know the world of difference between the Divine King Realm and the Divine Spirit Realm?
Luo Changsheng's pressed-down arm slowly rose, his unhurried movement seeming casual, but Yun Che felt as if a titanic force was pressing down on his sword. No matter how he gathered strength, he could offer no resistance, his body forced back, and the Golden Crow Flame on his sword was completely extinguished at that moment.
"Not bad power," Luo Changsheng looked at Yun Che with half-lidded eyes, an almost pitying gaze. "It actually made my hand feel a little pain. Worthy of commendation."
His tone was admiring, yet it carried undisguised contempt and mockery. Luo Changsheng's mouth slanted slightly as he gently pressed the hand holding the sword forward.
Bang!
A formless, colossal force transmitted from the Heaven-Defying Demon-Slaying Sword. Yun Che's whole body shook violently, stumbling backward. He barely stopped after dozens of steps, his Qi and blood churning violently, and a deep shock surged in his heart.
The Heaven-Defying Demon-Slaying Sword... was caught... with one hand...
Although Yun Che had never fought a Divine King, he understood what it meant to cross a major realm bottleneck. That was why he dared not underestimate Luo Changsheng's current strength.
That strike just now, though a test, had used almost all his power. He was confident that even a Divine King wouldn't be able to handle his sword might easily...
He had truly never dreamed that Luo Changsheng would catch it with one hand, bare-handed, and with such an effortless posture, like brushing away dust.
Yun Che's chest heaved violently, his breathing chaotic... How could this be? Even if he had crossed a major realm, he was only a beginner at the Divine King Realm. How could the gap between the Divine King Realm and the Divine Spirit Realm be this huge?
While Yun Che was shocked, the young profound practitioners were all dumbfounded. The disciples of Yinxue and Yanshen were completely stunned. Huo Poyun's gaze was also vacant, unable to snap back to reality.
Three days ago, they had fought until the sky went dark, exhausting almost every last bit of strength and every drop of blood. Just three short days later, with just one step of advancement by Luo Changsheng... the gap had increased this much!?
Luo Changsheng didn't take the initiative to attack. He stood still, his right hand still behind his back, a lazy smile on his face as he raised his left hand weakly: "Come, continue. Let me see just how much you can struggle. Don't disappoint me too much, alright?"
His demeanor was like a lofty god mercifully issuing a divine decree to a lowly mortal.
Yun Che's breathing gradually steadied. Golden flames reignited on the Heaven-Defying Demon-Slaying Sword, burning even fiercer than before. He leaped up, gathering all his power into the sword, and smashed down at Luo Changsheng's head.
Facing a strike whose might clearly far surpassed the previous one, Luo Changsheng remained motionless, directly reaching out to grab it.
Boom!
The impact was still incredibly dull. The Heaven-Defying Demon-Slaying Sword was caught directly by Luo Changsheng. The formidable sword might, as if suddenly imprisoned in an inescapable cage before it could even erupt, quickly faded away, and the Golden Crow Flame extinguished layer by layer.
"!!!!" This time, Yun Che's shock was beyond measure. He hurriedly retreated, then suddenly erupted, the Heaven-Defying Demon-Slaying Sword sweeping with overwhelming pressure as he slashed horizontally again.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom...
Strike after strike, Yun Che grew more ferocious, more berserk, the blazing flames spreading an expanding fire domain around him. But no matter how the sword might hammered and the Golden Flame raged, Luo Changsheng's body remained fixed in place, not shifting half a step. Every single strike was caught bare-handed by his left hand, not a shred of sword might or Golden Flame touching his body, only his long hair fluttering freely.
And his right hand was always behind his back, never withdrawn for a single moment.
"..." All the disciples of Yinxue and Yanshen were as if turned to stone, completely frozen. For a long time, no one could speak a single word.
"This is the power of a Divine King," Huo Rulie sighed softly again. "Xiao'er, this is why, even though you are already at the late stage of the Divine Spirit Realm, your master never dared to hope you could achieve the Divine King Realm before a hundred years of age. Even if you, with your talent, were to remain at the peak of the Divine Spirit Realm for a hundred years, I wouldn't be surprised. Because becoming a Divine King is far, far too difficult."
"And once you step into this domain... it is to go from 'mortal' to 'king'."
"Now, Yun Che himself has seen the vast gap between him and Luo Changsheng. He should give up by now," Yan Juehai said slowly. "A small gap in strength can be compensated by strategy or special moves to seek a chance of victory. But this absolute gap cannot be bridged by any means."
Mu Bingyun: "..."
Boom!!
Another strike was deflected by Luo Changsheng with one hand. Yun Che was knocked far away, but he forcibly twisted in midair and smashed down again... However, just as the Heaven-Defying Demon-Slaying Sword was about to land, Yun Che's figure suddenly shattered and vanished, appearing like a ghost behind Luo Changsheng.
"An...ni...hi...la...tion... of... Hea...ven... and... Earth!"
The sword might erupted wildly in an instant, striking at Luo Changsheng's back with earth-shattering force.
Boom!
The sword might exploded, producing a heaven-shaking roar. But this strike did not land on Luo Changsheng's body; instead, it hit a pale-yellow barrier. The barrier sank slightly, but completely blocked the sword might of the Heaven-Defying Demon-Slaying Sword, not harming Luo Changsheng in the slightest.
"..." At that moment, Yun Che's heart and soul seemed to plunge into an abyss.
Luo Changsheng slowly turned his head halfway and said in a measured tone: "There's something I should perhaps remind you of. As early as two years ago, I could have already broken through and become a Divine King."
Yun Che: "..."
"But my master worried that I would be too dazzling and attract jealousy, so he placed a seal on me, forcibly suppressing my profound power at the peak of the Divine Spirit Realm. That's why you were able to luckily defeat me three days ago." Luo Changsheng's eyes narrowed slightly, a cold glint of hatred flashing. "In other words, the only reason you could defeat me was that I wasn't able to use my full power then. From the very beginning, you were never worthy to be my opponent!"
As the last word fell, the yellow barrier suddenly exploded, and a terrifying force swept across Yun Che's body.
As if struck by a heavy hammer, Yun Che was sent flying sideways. When he landed, a trace of paleness appeared on his face. He forcefully suppressed the surging counterflow of blood, but still, a streak of crimson blood quickly trickled from the corner of his mouth.