Chapter 529 527: Any Regrets?

WHOOSH!

A terrifying aura erupted from He Yunkong. He connected with the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, creating an invisible pressure that extended for several hundred meters. The winds howled, and Sword Qi coiled around him!

This astonishing scene instantly caused an uproar!

"Is that... the Celestial, the Celestial Pool Realm?"

"How is that possible?"

"It's only been a little over three months since He Yunkong broke through to the Half-step Celestial Pool Realm!"

The disciples and upper echelons of the Three Sects were all shocked.

The battle hadn't even begun, yet such an unexpected scene had already occurred!

Previously, everyone had estimated that Luo Tian's chances of winning were only twenty to thirty percent.

But now, Luo Tian had no chance of winning at all!

This battle seemed to have lost all suspense. After all, the victor might be decided in an instant!

"What's going on?"

Yue Linfei's face was filled with astonishment.

He Yunkong had been in seclusion at his master's residence for the past month, so she hadn't heard any news about him.

But she never could have expected this!

He Yunkong had actually broken through to the Celestial Pool Realm!

"This time, he's really done for!"

Qi Yuntian sighed.

Even Luo Tian had times when he would stumble.

On the Martial Arts Arena.

Luo Tian, standing opposite He Yunkong, instantly felt an invisible pressure.

'Celestial Pool Realm?'

Luo Tian was also a little surprised.

"Luo Tian, are you filled with regret?"

He Yunkong let out a smug chuckle.

He had always been the one to suffer at Luo Tian's hands!

But now!

He Yunkong could finally get his revenge!

Luo Tian must be panicking, filled with endless regret and agony!

But in reality, He Yunkong saw none of that on Luo Tian's face.

"Actually, I wanted to ask, are you the one with regrets?"

Luo Tian asked in a low voice.

"You brat, what nonsense are you spouting?"

He Yunkong shot him a cold glance.

'He was about to crush Luo Tian underfoot and experience immense satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. What was there to regret?'

'Luo Tian is still pretending to be calm, spouting gibberish.'

"You were desperate for quick success, disregarding the cost and your own potential, and forced a breakthrough to the Celestial Pool Realm."

"In the short term, your power has grown, but what about the future?"

Luo Tian said slowly.

'And in truth, He Yunkong seems to have some kind of flaw. He can't be considered a complete Celestial Pool Realm expert!'

A sharp glint flashed in He Yunkong's eyes. It seemed Luo Tian's words had struck a nerve.

In the next instant.

White light surged around He Yunkong as the aura of the Celestial Pool Realm erupted completely. The very sky and earth seemed to sink.

The disciples from the Three Sects watching nearby immediately felt a suffocating pressure!

SWISH!

With a wave of his hand, He Yunkong sent a feather-shaped stream of Sword Qi tearing through the void, hurtling toward Luo Tian!

The Sword Qi flickered between illusion and reality, both true and false. It was ethereal and agile, impossible to grasp, leaving one flustered and disoriented.

Facing an opponent at the Celestial Pool Realm level, Luo Tian felt immense pressure.

SHING!

The Ice Nether Sword left its sheath. True Essence surged, and he channeled fifty percent of his Sword Intent, unleashing a sharp, cold Sword Light as graceful as the wind!

In the void, it was impossible to clearly see their Sword Techniques.

But an explosion erupted in an instant.

BOOM!

A wave of grayish-white Sword Qi swept out, covering a hundred-meter radius.

Luo Tian felt a vast, frigid Sword Qi relentlessly assailing him, causing the blood and qi in his body to churn.

"Luo Tian blocked it!"

"That was just a casual strike from He Yunkong. He didn't even draw his sword or use his Sword Intent. He's obviously toying with Luo Tian for a while longer!"

"If I were Luo Tian, I'd surrender immediately to avoid needless suffering."

Discussions broke out all around.

"Junior Luo, don't force yourself."

Yue Linfei called out.

Hearing this, He Yunkong's brow twitched.

'It's a decisive battle between me and Luo Tian. Forget being happy for me, my junior sister is actually worried about Luo Tian!'

CLANG!

His sharp sword left its sheath, and his Sword Intent Prototype erupted.

Layers of illusory, feather-like Sword Qi swirled around He Yunkong, like the crashing of torrential waves, emitting an immense, oppressive feeling!

"Celestial Feather Ling Sha!"

A thousand phantom feather Sword Lights materialized in the void, exuding a sense of holy, divine majesty as they descended upon Luo Tian.

Yue Linfei's words had infuriated He Yunkong, causing him to attack with his full power!

Luo Tian instantly felt the pressure intensify!

"Cloud Dispersing!"

Luo Tian's Sword Intent erupted in full. He activated his Nether Dragon Divine Vein and executed the second stance of the Sky Wind Divine Sword!

The chaotic and ethereal Cold and Mysterious Sword Qi transformed into a continuous whirlwind, sweeping out with majestic force!

Within the void.

Sword Lights flashed and collided, sending sparks of Sword Qi flying everywhere.

Faced with He Yunkong's Sword Technique, Luo Tian launched a fierce and sharp counterattack, managing to block it head-on.

"Let's see how many of my strikes you can block!"

He Yunkong sneered and slashed out a torrent of glowing Sword Qi feathers that resembled a tornado, their destructive power increasing once more!

CRACKLE-BOOM!

Luo Tian's Sword Technique was instantly shattered!

An illusory and piercing Sword Qi swept toward him!

Luo Tian's physical defense was largely ineffective against a Celestial Level Martial Artist. He had to rely on his Celestial Silver Feather Robe to mitigate most of the damage.

He retreated again and again, his body sustaining one wound after another.

"Luo Tian is going to lose!"

"It's impressive he's lasted this long. He Yunkong not only crushes him by several Realms in Cultivation but also surpasses him in the Tier of his Swordsmanship."

A few disciples discussed amongst themselves.

The Swordsmanship manuals Luo Tian and He Yunkong cultivated, the Sky Wind Divine Sword and the Illusion Feather Sword Technique respectively, were both obtained from the Tai Yuan Sect.

And He Yunkong's Illusion Feather Sword Technique was more expensive, which undoubtedly meant it was more powerful.

Yan Yufeng nodded with a faint smile.

'With my help, He Yunkong forced his breakthrough to the Celestial Pool Realm, and the flaws in his Body Technique, Swordsmanship, and Cultivation Technique have also been perfected!'

'The outcome is decided!'

'The five-year pact... I've won!'

However.

Luo Tian, on the Martial Arts Arena, showed no fear or panic, let alone any thoughts of regret or surrender.

"He Yunkong, is this all the strength you have after breaking through to the Celestial Pool Realm?"

Luo Tian chuckled softly.

His words stunned everyone in the vicinity!

Facing a powerful Celestial Pool Realm enemy, Luo Tian was still teasing and mocking him!

'Could it be that Luo Tian has a masochistic streak?'

Qi Yuntian, Xia Bingyue, and the others were utterly dumbfounded!

'What on earth is Luo Tian trying to do?'

On the Martial Arts Arena.

The smug He Yunkong's mouth twitched, and his expression darkened.

"We are fellow sect members, after all, so I was deliberately holding back. But it seems Junior Luo wishes for me to go all out?"

He Yunkong said coldly.

'I'll say this first.'

'This way, if I happen to cripple or maim Luo Tian later, I'll have a reasonable excuse.'

"Heh, you took a Celestial Essence Pill and, with Elder Yan's help, forced a breakthrough to the Celestial Pool Realm. This results in a weak and unstable foundation. Compared to someone who breaks through normally, your strength is forty percent weaker!"

Luo Tian said with a faint smile.

This was the conclusion he had reached after clashing with He Yunkong.

He Yunkong had used external forces to make a breakthrough. He possessed the power of the Celestial Pool Realm in name only and had yet to comprehend a complete True Intent.

He could only be considered a "flawed Celestial Pool Realm" cultivator!

Furthermore, his foundation was weak and unstable, and he hadn't had time to solidify his Cultivation. His combat strength was only sixty percent of a normal Celestial Level expert's.

If he were a true Celestial Pool Realm expert, Luo Tian indeed would have had no hope.

"Not only that, but your future potential will be greatly diminished. You'll be stuck in the Celestial Pool Realm for life. It will be nigh impossible for you to even step into the High Tier Celestial Pool Realm!"

Luo Tian continued.

"You...?"

A flash of surprise crossed He Yunkong's eyes, and his face instantly darkened!

'How does an outsider like Luo Tian know all this so clearly?'

After hearing Luo Tian's words, the other upper echelons of the Tai Yuan Sect also understood.

They all looked toward Yan Yufeng!

This was Yan Yufeng's own bet, yet he had sacrificed his own disciple's future potential for it. Such an act was undoubtedly selfish!

Besides, just how little confidence did Yan Yufeng have?

Did he really have to make He Yunkong break through to the Celestial Pool Realm at any cost just to defeat Luo Tian?

Yan Yufeng had no way to defend himself. After all, He Yunkong had been at his residence for the past month. No one would believe him if he said he had nothing to do with it!

"Luo Tian, stop your nonsense!"

He Yunkong roared!

'Even if I've sacrificed my future potential, at least right now I can crush Luo Tian underfoot and win back my junior sister's heart!'

A thought even surfaced in He Yunkong's mind!

'I'll inflict an incurable, grievous wound on Luo Tian during this fight and destroy his future as well!'

SHHFF!

A radiant cascade of feather-like Sword Qi descended from the sky with torrential, ferocious power!

He Yunkong unleashed his full power without mercy!

"Celestial Furnace Treasure Shield!"

A silver luster erupted from Luo Tian's body, forming a massive silver shield!

Even though He Yunkong's foundation was weak and unstable, possessing only sixty percent of a Celestial Pool Realm expert's strength, he was still formidable!

Meeting him head-on was no different from seeking death!

BANG!

The Celestial Furnace Treasure Shield was shattered by the White Feather Sword Qi. Luo Tian immediately executed the Perfection Level Wind Manipulation Technique, leaping and soaring to evade!

The situation was completely one-sided!

"Sigh, all that trash talk from Luo Tian was useless. He's still going to lose."

"He'll last ten moves at most. His defeat is certain!"

People in the crowd kept commenting.

But Luo Tian, on the Martial Arts Arena, spoke again. "Senior Brother He, you're weaker than any Celestial Level Martial Artist I've ever met."

Everyone in the crowd was dumbstruck!

Did Luo Tian truly not know how to spell the word "death"?

Even now, he was still deliberately provoking He Yunkong!

Many people thought Luo Tian was an idiot.

Others were already mourning for Luo Tian in silence!

"You brat!"

He Yunkong, hovering in mid-air, gritted his teeth, his anger flaring!

He too had struggled for a long time before choosing to sacrifice his future potential to force a breakthrough to the Celestial Pool Realm!

Luo Tian's series of remarks had pierced the most vulnerable part of his psyche!

SHHFF!

A brilliant white feather of Sword Qi light slashed down violently, leaving a clear, straight gash on the Martial Arts Arena!

Relying on his powerful senses and Perfection Level Body Technique, Luo Tian dodged the strike in a breathtakingly close call, leaving many in the audience on the edge of their seats!

"Junior Luo, please stop provoking Senior Brother He..."

Yue Linfei clasped her hands together, her heart filled with worry.

She was worried that Luo Tian might accidentally die under He Yunkong's sword!

"Heh, Senior Brother He, as one of the bottom-feeders of the Celestial Pool Realm, how does it feel?"

But Luo Tian provoked him once again.

"Do you regret it now?"

Luo Tian asked again.

He had asked the same question before the duel began.

Back then, He Yunkong had been able to maintain his composure. But now, his accumulated rage completely erupted, and a chilling killing intent spread in all directions!

SWISH-SHHFF!

He Yunkong attacked with lightning speed, sending two incomparably powerful White Feather Sword Lights, imbued with a terrifying, heart-stopping power, slashing toward his target!

Although he was only a flawed Celestial Pool Realm cultivator, the power He Yunkong was unleashing at this moment had reached the level of a normal Celestial Pool Realm expert!

"Hm? Why does it feel like... Luo Tian is getting more and more relaxed?"

Elder Lu suddenly frowned.

He Yunkong was growing stronger, yet Luo Tian seemed more at ease. This was a contradiction in itself.

But the other high-ranking members of the Three Major Sects were also starting to get this feeling.

Gazing at Luo Tian.

They saw a strange, dark gleam in his eyes and a faint smile playing on his lips. He exuded an enigmatic and devilish spiritual aura, like an Evil Monarch of a generation.

Under the stimulation of Luo Tian's words, he was covertly using the Demon Thought Technique.

Luo Tian had already grasped the flaws in He Yunkong's state of mind!

He Yunkong's attacks seemed peerlessly ferocious, but in reality, they were crude, brutish, and lacked any real form.

Relying on his powerful senses and Perfection Level Body Technique, Luo Tian indeed had a much easier time!

But what he wanted was to win!

Simply dodging wasn't enough. He also needed... to counterattack!