Chapter 656 - 656: The Difference in Combat

A platinum-gold saber gleam.

It radiated a sharp, terrifying aura that sent the Heaven and Earth Primordial Power above Chu Qingyun churning violently.

'This is… the Intention Realm of a Saber Technique? Sword Intent?'

Chu Qingyun was instantly puzzled.

He had clearly seen before that Bao Yongnian's Martial Soul was only a Tier Three Martial Soul.

Based on Chu Qingyun's combat experience and understanding, a Soul Technique from a Tier Three Martial Soul should be utterly incapable of such momentum and power!

But then he shook his head.

That platinum-gold saber gleam held no trace of the Intention Realm. Instead, it was filled with the fluctuations of Martial Soul Power and Primordial Power. It was definitely a Soul Technique!

The thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.

As the saber gleam slashed down, Chu Qingyun had no more time to think. With a thought, he controlled the vast amount of Heaven and Earth Primordial Power above, forming it into a giant Primordial Power hand over two hundred meters long that grabbed at Bao Yongnian from the air.

"Hmph, break for me!"

Bao Yongnian barked, and an even sharper aura instantly erupted from the saber gleam.

PSHHHT!

The giant Primordial Power hand was cleaved in two and slowly dissipated, while Bao Yongnian descended from the sky, slashing rapidly toward Chu Qingyun.

However, using the moment the giant hand bought him, Chu Qingyun dodged to the side, evading Bao Yongnian's Soul Technique slash.

The platinum-gold saber gleam struck the ground, tearing a massive, deep trench in the hard-packed earth outside the Saint Extreme Tower.

His first slash having failed, Bao Yongnian activated his Soul Technique again.

A moment later, he raised both hands, and another two-hundred-meter saber gleam flashed into existence, cleaving straight for Chu Qingyun.

This time, however, Chu Qingyun had already summoned his own Martial Soul before Bao Yongnian could strike.

"Iron Thread Ten-Star Vine!"

Chu Qingyun shouted softly, and a Martial Soul Illusion over two meters tall instantly appeared behind him.

It was a Tier Four Martial Soul, and it still looked the same as always, with no apparent changes.

However, as Chu Qingyun infused his Primordial Power into his Martial Soul to deploy the vines, he was suddenly startled.

As he injected his own Primordial Power, the surrounding Heaven and Earth Primordial Power also began to surge madly into the Martial Soul Illusion at an incredible speed.

Ten extremely thick vines grew out from the Martial Soul Illusion behind him.

Back in the Martial Spirit Realm, the vines Chu Qingyun could manifest were only as thick as a thumb. Even when pushed to their limit, they could only reach the thickness of a wrist.

But now, the ten vines that sprouted forth already had a diameter of over a meter!

Furthermore, as the vines grew, their tips continued to swell!

Bao Yongnian's saber gleam was already falling. Chu Qingyun immediately controlled the ten vines to rise up, arranging them side-by-side to meet the attack.

THWACK!

THWACK!

THWACK!

The sharp, platinum-gold saber gleam severed three massive vines in a row, but when it bit into the fourth, it finally got stuck.

The Iron Thread Ten-Star Vine was a Tier Four Martial Soul, and it possessed Tough Soul Techniques.

Bao Yongnian's Golden Blade Slash, however, was only a Tier Three Soul Technique. Although it was the type to counter the Iron Thread Ten-Star Vine, severing three vines was already its limit.

After all, in terms of Primordial Power, although Bao Yongnian was a Tier Two Martial King, he wasn't that much stronger than Chu Qingyun.

Chu Qingyun's ability to call upon more Heaven and Earth Primordial Power completely compensated for the disadvantage of his own Primordial Power being of lesser quality.

With three vines severed and one pinning the saber gleam, Chu Qingyun controlled the remaining six vines to surge toward Bao Yongnian from different directions, like giant flood dragons.

The sudden immensity of the vines felt very awkward to Chu Qingyun.

Fortunately, his Control Power over his Martial Soul had always been exceptionally strong, so he was able to manipulate them, albeit with some difficulty.

"Damn it, get off me!"

Two vines coiled around him like giant pythons, slowly tightening for the Strangulation.

Bao Yongnian roared in fury. A large amount of a Tier Two Martial King's pure Primordial Power erupted from his body, and even more Heaven and Earth Primordial Power gathered around him as he tried to break free of the two vines.

The massive amount of Primordial Power resisted the Strangulation of the two vines.

But before Bao Yongnian could even breathe a sigh of relief, Chu Qingyun directed two more vines to join the assault.

The balance of power was instantly shattered.

BANG!

The Primordial Power around Bao Yongnian's body collapsed. He let out a pained cry as he was instantly engulfed by the dark green, python-like vines.

Without the aid of his Primordial Power, his Physical Strength as a Tier Two Martial King was no match for the four vines.

Under the impact, Strangulation, and crushing pressure of the vines, Bao Yongnian was instantly and severely injured, coughing up blood.

Fortunately, Chu Qingyun had no intention of killing him. He controlled the vines, slowly retracting them and letting him go.

The ten vines, along with the Martial Soul Illusion, quickly dissipated.

Bao Yongnian, however, lay collapsed on the ground, trembling all over and continuously spitting out mouthfuls of blood. His internal organs had been severely damaged by the crushing pressure.

If Chu Qingyun had tightened the vines just a little more, he could have easily crushed him to death.

'Fighting in the Martial King Realm is a world of difference from the Martial Spirit Realm. It seems I'll need a lot more real combat experience to truly master the power of a Martial King...'

Chu Qingyun thought to himself.

These two battles had given him a completely new understanding of combat in the Martial King Realm.

The addition of a Martial King Essence Pill and the control it granted over Heaven and Earth Primordial Power fundamentally changed the style and scale of combat.

Previously, when Chu Qingyun was in the Martial Spirit Realm, the only moves he had with a destructive range of one hundred meters were the Great Devouring Palm, the Tier Four Soul Technique Blazing Flame Pillar, and the Celestial Sword Technique.

But all three of those were exceptionally rare and almost never seen.

Now in the Martial King Realm, a casual strike that gathered Heaven and Earth Primordial Power could create a move exceeding a hundred meters.

However, Chu Qingyun didn't feel proud or complacent just because he had defeated Li Da and Bao Yongnian.

He knew very well that Martial Kings like the two of them were likely among the weakest of those in the Martial King Realm.

Never mind him—even Core Disciples like Shen Hao and Xu Shijie could probably defeat these two easily after stabilizing their cultivation as Tier One Martial Kings.

Even a Tier Two Martial King had been effortlessly defeated by Chu Qingyun.

The surrounding crowd, including Deng Xuan and Wu Jiancheng, was naturally once again utterly shocked.

He had only broken through to the Martial King Realm two days ago, yet not only was his use of Heaven and Earth Primordial Power masterful, but his control over his Martial Soul was also far beyond that of an ordinary person.

Such strength was simply unbelievable!

At this moment, however, Chu Qingyun turned his gaze to Wu Jiancheng.

Faced with Chu Qingyun's stare, fear finally showed on Wu Jiancheng's face. He scrambled backward a few steps, nearly tripping over his own feet.

"Chu Qingyun, you—what do you want?"

"I'm telling you, my grandfather is an Inner Sect Elder! If you dare to hurt me, this won't be over!"

Wu Jiancheng shrieked, his voice cracking with fear.