Chapter 523 - 498: Awaiting a Single Strike

Chapter 523: Chapter 498: Awaiting a Single Strike

On the high platform of White Python Mountain, a sudden hush fell, as if everyone had pressed a pause button at the same time.

The crowd of Nascent Soul True Monarchs stared at one another, speechless, the shock in their eyes impossible to hide.

"How dare he? How could he dare!"

Zhuo Xiong muttered, unaware that his fingers had dipped into his Spirit Wine.

"Such boldness. I am not his equal!"

Han Chaoran sat bolt upright, his usual playful and frivolous demeanor completely gone.

Weak Crown Foundation Establishment, Armor Core Formation, and reaching the Nascent Soul stage in just over two hundred years—he was seen as destined for Divinity Transformation, the future hope of the Five Phoenix Sword Sect.

For his sake, the Sword Sect had not hesitated to expel the Celestial Principle Sect, establishing a Daoist Temple on White Python Mountain at an exorbitant cost.

And his rate of cultivation was worthy of such treatment.

But Han Chaoran was self-aware. While his cultivation had progressed by leaps and bounds, his foundation in the Sword Dao was inevitably lacking.

Every cultivator has limited energy. It’s impossible to have it all, and one must make trade-offs.

The decision he made after consulting with Ma You was to prioritize his cultivation.

The Five Phoenix Sword Sect was long past the point of needing its younger generation to uphold its prestige, so the combat strength of a new Nascent Soul cultivator didn’t matter.

In any case, Han Chaoran possessed an extremely high aptitude for the Celestial Phoenix Shocking God Sword Techniques. It wouldn’t be difficult for him to refine his swordsmanship once his cultivation was higher.

Within a hundred years, he would surely be able to shore up his foundation and elevate his Sword Dao Realm to a level that met everyone’s expectations of him.

But no matter what, with such a massive gap in cultivation, Han Chaoran didn’t believe he could challenge a Late-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator within two hundred years.

Great True Monarch—a difference of a single word.

The fact that the Cultivation Realm gave a different title to Late-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivators was an implicit acknowledgment of a qualitative difference between the stages.

Judging from Bai Zichen’s life story, he was one of the most monstrously talented cultivators in history.

His aptitude for cultivation and his talent for combat had progressed in parallel, and he had neglected neither.

"Senior Brother, if this young man dies at the hands of Xiang Banshan, it would be such a waste..."

Han Chaoran sent the message via sound transmission, his tone devoid of any gloating.

Back when the news of an up-and-coming Sword Cultivator from the Northern Domain performing a Nascent Soul Reversal Cut while still at the Core Formation stage reached the Central Domain, Ma You had told his junior brothers it was a pity. He said that even with unparalleled talent, being from a small sect in the Northern Domain meant the young man would languish for ages at the stage of Shattering Core and Transforming into Nascent Soul, wasting his aptitude for the Sword Dao.

He never expected that news of Bai Zichen successfully reaching the Nascent Soul stage would arrive not long after.

When Han Chaoran heard the news, he was greatly invigorated and had clamored for a match with Bai Zichen to witness for himself the swordsmanship that could slay cultivators of a higher realm.

Meeting him today, Han Chaoran had been thinking of inviting the man to stay for a friendly sparring match after the ceremony. He never expected him to so brazenly challenge Xiang Banshan.

Being able to perform a Nascent Soul Reversal Cut while at the Core Formation stage didn’t mean an Early-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator could defeat a Late-Stage one.

All the major sects of the Central Domain had gathered detailed intelligence on the battle where he slew True Monarch Jiulian, obtaining far more inside information than the Northern Domain Sects themselves.

They all had some degree of understanding of Bai Zichen’s trump cards.

"Don’t worry. I’ll intervene at the critical moment. I won’t let Xiang Banshan take his life."

Ma You’s expression remained unchanged, but a low sword hum, audible only to him, resonated within his sleeves.

CLANG!

Miyi, who was standing behind a beautiful middle-aged woman, fumbled and dropped a long-necked glass vase on the ground.

She was a mortal blood relative of Fairy Haitang and had also been accepted as her closed-door disciple, raised by the Fairy’s side since childhood.

"Fellow Daoist Bai, don’t act so rashly! Hurry and apologize to Great True Monarch Half Mountain!"

Meng Dongye scrambled to his feet, wanting to try and dissuade him further.

"Haha! Using me to test your sword? You’re quite an interesting brat!"

Xiang Banshan rose slowly. Though only of average height, he gave the impression of a majestic mountain rising into the sky.

"I haven’t made a move in nearly a hundred years, and it seems I’ve lost all face. Even a brat from the Northern Domain dares to make a name for himself by stepping on my Nine Tribulations Sect. First, you injure my son, and now you use me as a stepping stone at a banquet. Do you really think I can’t kill you right here and now?! Fellow Daoist Ma, lend me your precious land. You have no objection to me fighting this Northern Domain brat, do you?"

"Please try to exercise restraint, both of you. Don’t let it damage our friendly relations."

Ma You suddenly recalled a letter he had received several months ago. Xiang Banshan had condescended to visit White Python Mountain in person today, and for that other matter, the Five Phoenix Sword Sect truly did need a favor from the Nine Tribulations Sect.

’If I step in to help Bai Zichen, will I earn Xiang Banshan’s resentment and jeopardize the future cooperation between our two sects?’

Though his mind was racing, his hands didn’t stop. With a flick of his finger, the defensive light shield over White Python Mountain shifted. Countless pillars of light descended, sealing the Daoist Temple in a tight embrace.

At the same time, the array opened a gap, motioning for the two of them to leave the mountaintop so the aftershocks of their combat wouldn’t affect the area.

He feared that if two Nascent Soul True Monarchs were to clash with their full power, not a single palace or Daoist Temple on the main peak of White Python Mountain would be left standing.

Xiang Banshan let out a wild laugh and flew outside the range of the array.

Bai Zichen smiled and nodded at Meng Dongye, then followed close behind.

"He’s insane! Absolutely insane! Or maybe I’m the one who’s gone mad!"

Below the high platform, the representatives from the Core Formation Level factions were only just now beginning to understand what had happened, and an immediate uproar erupted.

"I was guessing Half Mountain Great True Monarch came for the Five Phoenix Sword Sect, so how did he end up fighting Bai Zichen from the Northern Domain? One is a newly ascended Nascent Soul, the other is a Great True Monarch. The gap between them is immense—what could they possibly be fighting over!"

The Core Formation Elder from the Mu Family clutched his graying hair, utterly baffled.

"Could it be that Great True Monarch Half Mountain is just instructing a junior and demonstrating his Divine Techniques?"

Mu Leyao’s mouth hung open as she stared at the two True Monarchs outside the array.

"How could that be? If it was just a sparring lesson, would the atmosphere be this hostile? Would everyone on the high platform be so tense and grim?"

the Core Formation Elder from the Mu Family said in a low voice, gesturing toward the True Monarchs on the high platform.

He was like an ant on a hot griddle, exchanging glances and information with several nearby Core Formation True Men.

...

"I’m very curious, where does your confidence come from... That senior brother of yours, Ge Cang, is certainly impressive. I reconstructed the course of his battle and nearly thought it was a fellow Daoist from the Five Thunders Sect fighting Wanyi. His strength is no less than that of an ordinary Mid-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator."