Chapter 523 - 295: Life and Death at One’s Own Risk, Grand Tournament Finals! (Part 2)

"Very similar... but not the same person, and that creature’s strength should not match anyone on the stage."

Shangguan Ke’s eyes were fixated on Wang Chan on the stage. As Wang Chan unleashed her fist momentum and Gang Force, she couldn’t help but think of that creature in the Land of Cyan Clouds.

The figures of the two also partially overlapped in her mind.

That creature, Su Mu, had also comprehended fist momentum and mastered Gang Force.

But what that creature specialized in was the destructive Fire Attribute Gang Force, conjuring up a gigantic flaming bird with unclear features during combat.

On the stage, although Wang Chan was quite similar to that creature in many aspects, the cultivation technique she practiced was obviously of the Water Attribute, manifesting a water-attribute demon ape.

While a Martial Artist can cultivate multiple attribute Gang Forces, their lifespan and energy are limited, usually leading them to focus primarily on one attribute Gang Force.

There are benefits to this approach; specializing in one attribute allows for deeper cultivation, leading to a quicker breaking realm and rapid acquisition of powerful combat strength. Furthermore, focusing on one attribute power invisibly improves and nourishes a Martial Artist’s physique during cultivation, enabling them to more seamlessly harness and perform the powers of that attribute.

Moreover, when opting for a secondary attribute, one typically chooses a subsidiary attribute that complements or enhances the primary attribute.

For instance, for the Cyan Cloud creature that focuses on Fire Attribute Power, it would be best to supplement with Wood, as in Five Elements Mutual Generation, wood can fuel fire. Alternatively, one might cultivate Wind Attribute Power amongst different attributes since wind aids fire’s momentum.

However, neglecting wood and wind to cultivate water attribute power, which conflicts with the primary attribute, would instead hinder one’s cultivation and destabilize their powers.

Founded on this widely recognized cultivation knowledge, Shangguan Ke shook her head, dismissing the notion that Wang Chan and Su Mu were the same person.

"Clang, clang, clang!"

The fierce battle on the stage continued. Su Mu restrained his fist momentum, ceaselessly clashing with Guo Zhen’s saber momentum, his eyes growing ever brighter.

The sixth piece.

The seventh piece.

...

Until the ninth piece of saber momentum fragment was born in his sea of consciousness, the gray mist vibrated with a hum as the nine saber momentum fragments resonated, bursting into a complete saber momentum identical to Guo Zhen’s on the stage.

The momentum collided, spurring the fist shadow in the sea of consciousness to rise in spirit, contesting fiercely with the saber momentum.

Finally, under the unity of Dragon-and-Phoenix Level comprehension, Inference Talent, and Myriad Phenomena Concentration Divine Technique, Guo Zhen’s saber momentum was entirely imprinted.

"It’s done!"

Su Mu whispered softly, a slight smile curling his lips.

And at this very moment.

Guo Zhen’s eyes narrowed. He keenly perceived Su Mu’s momentary distraction on the stage, realizing this might be his only chance to defeat Su Mu.

"Void Step - Mirrored Form!"

His aura surged, his figure flickered on the spot, simultaneously drawing out two afterimages.

These afterimages were not merely simple illusions but instead identical replicas of Guo Zhen himself, practically akin to clones.

When speed reaches a certain point—so fast that the human eye can hardly catch, the mind can’t quite analyze—it creates afterimages, which are essentially visual residues.

The stronger a cultivator becomes, with enhanced five senses and mind, the harder it is to leave afterimages, exponentially so.

The average person can create an afterimage effect, but leaving an afterimage identical to oneself in the eyes of a group of powerful Middle Third Grade cultivators...

Achieving this is extremely difficult.

"What a remarkable body technique!"

"If this young man ascends to Grandmaster in the future, his speed will be even faster!"

At this moment, Guo Zhen’s explosive speed was astonishing, causing several in the guest seats to exclaim in awe.

"Guo Zhen didn’t exhibit this body technique in his earlier fight against Song Jingyuan. Was he holding back?"

Exclamations filled the arena.

Regaining his composure, Su Mu saw three Guo Zhens simultaneously draw their blades from different directions, his expression remaining calm. His eyes narrowed slightly, the Dragon of Spiritual Power in his Mud Ball Divine Palace burning hot.

A touch of Long Wei spread out, coupled with his terrifyingly acute five senses.

In a split second, Su Mu detected the subtle differences among the three Guo Zhens.

"The one on the left is the true body."

Then his lips parted slightly, his chest heaving like a colossal beast swallowing the surrounding air. At this moment, his Jiao Tendon Jade Bone shimmered with cyan light, merging instantaneously.

Every inch of flesh moved rapidly, and as golden light flowed, Su Mu quietly entered a Half-Step Limit-Breaking State, as the dragon-elephant pattern on his back and shoulders slowly lit up.

Profound Demon Five Transformations - Water Ape Limit Break!

Su Mu clenched his fists, the roaring sound of the Dragon Elephant as loud as an Ancient Bell.

Hundred Battle Fist - Greedy Wolf!

Kill!

A punch smashed out, suddenly exploding on the field with a cloud-piercing, sky-splitting sound of attack.

"Boom!"

At the instant this punch was thrown, Guo Zhen was suddenly jolted as if struck by lightning, his scalp tingling intensely, and an overwhelming sense of crisis was born in his heart.

Sensing this strong death premonition, Guo Zhen was instantly intimidated, forced to abandon his offensive and switch to defense.

The three Guo Zhens seemed to face a formidable enemy, as if possessed, frantically swinging the White Wave Saber in their hands, weaving a terrifying saber momentum and Qi Blood into a dense, impenetrable saber curtain around him.

However...

Before that fist, all seemed to crumble.

"Crack—crack—"

A series of sounds like ceramics shattering echoed, and the center of the saber curtain suddenly collapsed, then crumbled inch by inch; the impenetrable saber curtain abruptly disintegrated, shattered into pieces.

Then Su Mu’s domineering fist momentum, under the augmentation of the Water Ape Gang Force and a touch of the White Dragon Power, remained undiminished.

"Bang-bang—!"

Two muffled sounds followed.

The central and right bodies of Guo Zhen twisted fiercely, losing form under the fist momentum, turning into two lumps of mud that suddenly exploded.

In Guo Zhen’s shocked tiger eyes, the fist infinitely enlarged.

Finally, it hovered an inch from his brow.

The fist wind whistled, blowing away Guo Zhen’s bound hair, his black locks wildly flailing, the black martial robe representing the White Whale Gang flapping fiercely, roaring white waves passing by on both sides.

Guo Zhen’s heart and lungs stopped abruptly, and a moment of daze seemed to take him to the ghost gate, as he returned to his senses, no fighting spirit remained in his eyes, replaced by dullness, bitterness, and helplessness.

No matter how proud he was, he knew he was no match for Wang Chan before him; recalling the previous fierce battle, Guo Zhen only felt ridiculous and laughable.

His all-out efforts, in Wang Chan’s eyes, were likely just a warm-up.

Just as the opponent got serious, even if he seized a moment of distraction, he was completely powerless to fight back, his ambition to use the opponent to hone his saber momentum was utterly laughable.

A pair of contracted pupils slowly recovered, and Guo Zhen looked at the fist hovering an inch away, knowing if the opponent harbored the intent to kill, he would either die or be severely injured.

Bare fists and legs see no eyes in a big tournament, getting severely injured by a punch, or even killed on the spot, the White Whale Gang couldn’t complain, just outmatched.

Thinking of this.

Guo Zhen took a deep breath, feeling reverence, and respectfully saluted Su Mu.

"Guo Zhen admits defeat... Thank you for your mercy!"

Su Mu calmly retracted his fist, since Guo Zhen hadn’t offended him before, he learned from Guo Zhen’s saber momentum, letting him off was a fair exchange.

Thoughts flow smoothly.

Su Mu turned and left the platform, casting a distant glance at the Tao Family and the guest seats, feeling two killing intents earlier, one from Tao Xinglie.

The other was from Tao Yang, the Patriarch Tao of the Tao Family.

"In this battle, Wang Chan of the Li Family wins!"

The elder regained his senses, announcing belatedly.

As Su Mu exited, the crowd below voluntarily made way, the gaze from both sides full of admiration and awe.

After consecutively defeating Gu Xue’er and Guo Zhen with a crushing posture, Wang Chan’s status in the eyes of the spectators raised from a dark horse to a contender for the championship.

After a short break.

The tournament reached its climax, with Donglai Governor Song Yuanshan personally taking the stage to announce.

"First match of the finals, Tao Xinglie of the Tao Family against Wang Chan of the Li Family... Please both contestants ascend!"

The audience below suddenly boiled like water in a boiler, as excited and joyful as New Year’s, all eyes shifting back and forth between Su Mu and Tao Xinglie.

In the Li Family resting area, Su Mu slowly opened his eyes, stretched his muscles and bones, and walked towards the Martial Arts Arena.

Tao Xinglie had already taken the stage and waited.

"Second rule of the Donglai tournament..."

Tao Xinglie, towering and looking down at Su Mu walking below, spoke with a low and oppressive voice.

"Bare fists and legs see no eyes, life and death self-assumed on the martial stage... If accidentally killing an opponent, no factions in Donglai shall pursue any responsibility afterward..."

"Wang Chan, do you understand what I mean?"