The sky above the arena was a chaotic canvas of dazzling annihilation light and relentless golden fists. The two combatants, Su Min and Hui Xing, were both drenched in cold sweat, their robes sticking to their skin. Such an intense, continuous output of spiritual power was draining even for their Nascent Soul cores. But they both knew this level of exertion could not last forever. Soon, the prismatic radiance surrounding Su Min's sword flickered and faded, leaving only one of Hui Xing's massive golden fists remaining, its momentum barely broken.
Yet, just before her defensive light vanished completely, Su Min flicked her wrist, sending a single, crimson feather shooting toward Hui Xing.
BOOM!
A twin explosion rocked the arena. The last golden fist slammed squarely into Su Min's chest, sending a shockwave through her body. At the same moment, the feather transformed into a miniature Vermilion Bird Saint Image that detonated right in Hui Xing's face.
The next moment, the spectators watched in stunned silence as both figures were thrown backward like ragdolls, crashing heavily against the shimmering edges of the protective barrier.
(Note: Due to injuries among the lower level monks from the earlier shockwaves, the elders had fully enclosed the battlefield in a special, reinforced barrier.)
Both Su Min and Hui Xing lay in crumpled heaps at the base of the barrier, their bodies clearly battered and energy signatures dimmed.
"Is that woman really just an early stage Nascent Soul cultivator?"
"Who knows? But they are both first generation talents. This is just insane."
As the two combatants groaned and staggered to their feet, panting heavily and glaring at each other with renewed intensity, many monks felt their mouths twitch involuntarily. Had Su Min been at the late stage Nascent Soul realm, they would not have been so shocked. But she was only at the early stage. No wonder she had claimed the ultimate top spot on the Golden Core Heavenly Leaderboard.
"Agh… hurts… everything hurts…"
Su Min groaned through gritted teeth as she forced herself upright, feeling as if every bone in her body had been disassembled and hastily put back together. That single, final punch had sent her flying, if she had taken the full force of the entire Thousand Hand barrage, she would have been reduced to paste.
Hui Xing, on the other hand, looked even worse. Severe, angry burns covered his face and arms. While Su Min had at least partially blocked his ultimate attack, he had eaten a point blank spiritual explosion to the face. Yet, his physical resilience was absurd. His kasaya, the traditional monk's robe, was clearly a high grade Earth tier defensive artifact, otherwise, he would not have been able to walk it off so "easily."
"I am wearing a mid grade Mystic tier armor under my robes, while he has that high grade Earth tier kasaya," Su Min calculated internally, wincing as she moved. "In terms of equipment quality, I have the advantage. In a way, I have already won this exchange."
Hui Xing's expression was dark and grim. Without his kasaya's innate protection, he would have been knocked out cold instantly. Su Min had exploited the brief moment of weakness right after his ultimate technique ended, her combat instincts and timing were terrifying.
"Regardless of her cultivation level, Benefactor Su's battle intelligence is frighteningly high," one of the observing elders remarked.
"Indeed," another agreed. "Though she used a pill to temporarily boost her strength to the mid stage, the gap between their defensive armors far outweighs that minor advantage."
Kong Chen, the elder presiding over the match and Hui Xing's master, watched with a calm, almost approving gaze. He was almost looking forward to his disciple's defeat, knowing the lesson it would impart.
"Not completely crippled, but not in great shape either," Su Min assessed her own injuries, cataloging the spiritual tears and physical bruising.
Then, suddenly, a flash of golden light streaked toward her. Hui Xing, ignoring his own wounds, had closed the distance in a blink.
THUD!
A jarring, metallic clang rang out as the two collided midair, fist meeting a suddenly materialized sword.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
In the blink of an eye, they exchanged dozens of blows, a whirlwind of golden fists and a cyan bladed greatsword, neither gaining a clear edge.
"You—!"
Hui Xing stared at his numb, trembling arms, then at the massive, unwieldy greatsword held effortlessly in Su Min's slender hands. He had rushed her despite his injuries, expecting a spellcaster or a finesse based fighter who would falter in close combat. Female cultivators usually specialized in ranged weapons or intricate spells, but Su Min?
Where did this petite woman get such monstrous, brute strength?
"A true expert leaves no weakness uncovered," Su Min stated, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "Thus, mastering both internal arts and external physical combat is essential."
Her life bound weapon had two forms, one for elegant sword techniques and ranged strikes, the other, this heavy greatsword, was for pure, unadulterated melee brutality. Hui Xing's physique was formidable, enhanced by secret Buddhist body tempering techniques, but it still fell noticeably short compared to the legendary Great Desolate Sacred Body she had faced. Given that he was at the late stage Nascent Soul realm yet struggling against her, an early stage opponent, in physical combat… frankly, Su Min was a little disappointed.
"Well, if that is the case…"
She popped another dark red pill into her mouth, swallowing it dry. Instantly, a vibrant cyan light erupted around her body, her aura solidifying and sharpening.
"The match is decided!"
Elder Kong Hui's voice rang out, clear and final. He could see that Hui Xing's rapid cultivation, while not damaging his foundation, had left his spiritual energy circulation slightly unstable. Against Su Min's flawless, rock solid execution and immense pressure, he stood no chance of victory. As soon as the words left Kong Hui's mouth, Su Min lunged forward. Her greatsword, wreathed in flame, smashed horizontally into Hui Xing's crossed bracers with enough concussive force to make his internal organs quake.
BAM!
This time, even his enhanced Buddhist physique could not fully withstand the blow. He was sent skidding backward, his boots carving grooves into the stone floor.
"Indestructible Vajra Bell!"
A massive, semi transparent golden bell materialized around him with a resonant chime, another high grade Earth tier defensive treasure. Su Min's response was immediate and brutal.
She raised her flaming greatsword high overhead and brought it down like a blacksmith hammering on a stubborn piece of iron, a style she had ironically named "New Year's Swordplay" after a character from a game in her past life.
BONG! BONG! BONG!
The arena echoed with the deafening, rhythmic strikes of her sword against the shimmering bell. Each impact sent visible ripples across the golden surface.
"Hiss—"
Even the seasoned Divine Transformation monks in the audience winced at the sight. It was a surreal scene, Hui Xing, a 2.3 meter tall mountain of muscle, was being pummeled into a purely defensive posture by Su Min, a woman who stood nearly two heads shorter and had a far more slender frame.
"Ironclad Hui Xing meets the Blacksmith Su Min," someone muttered under their breath.
CRACK!
A sharp, splintering sound cut through the noise. The golden bell finally shattered into motes of fading light, revealing a panting, wide eyed Hui Xing inside. Seizing the moment of broken defense, he thrust out a palm, unleashing a colossal, spinning "卍" (swastika) symbol that slammed into Su Min and sent her flying backward.
"Oh, you wanna play that game?!"
Su Min sneered, twisting in midair to land on her feet. Her aura flared violently as she shattered the binding symbol with sheer spiritual force. Then, clasping her hands together in a mirror of a Buddhist mudra, she conjured her own massive "卍" symbol. But she did not stop there. With her other hand, she formed a different seal, and a giant, crackling "雷" (thunder) character materialized beside it, sandwiching a recovering Hui Xing between the two.
"Ten Thousand Thunder Prison!"
Bolts of purplish gold lightning erupted from the thunder character. Su Min was channeling the residual heavenly tribulation lightning she had absorbed and stored within her body directly into the technique.
"ARGHHH—!"
Hui Xing screamed as the lightning coursed over him. In response, golden veins, like gilded branches sprouting leaves, spread across his skin, forming a protective network.
"A branch of the Bodhi Ancient Tree?" Su Min raised an eyebrow in interest.
The Bodhi Ancient Tree, like her own Fusang Divine Tree, had absorbed the essence of heaven and earth for eons. Its power was immense, but it was nearly impossible for a mortal to refine. Now, under the assault of the heavenly tribulation lightning, the dormant branch within Hui Xing was reacting, glowing with an intense, desperate light.
"Here is a little surprise for you."
With a casual flick of her wrist, Su Min summoned the small golden pagoda from her sea of consciousness. It flew from her forehead and expanded to dozens of meters in size in an instant before crashing down onto the trapped and lightning wracked Hui Xing with immense weight.
The jaws of every monk in the arena, including the elders, nearly dropped to the floor.
"She… she comprehended the Great Sun Tathāgata Sutra's pagoda technique without learning any of the supporting Buddhist arts? Just how monstrous is her comprehension?"
Unbeknownst to them, her Heavenly Dao Insight ability had passively filled in the conceptual gaps for her, allowing the intuitive creation of the technique. Under the combined weight of the pagoda and the pressure from the dual sealing symbols, Hui Xing was completely, utterly suppressed. He could not move a muscle.
Silence descended upon the arena, thick and heavy.
"Senior Brother… lost? To an early stage Nascent Soul cultivator? Am I dreaming?"
"He could fight late stage Nascent Soul experts from the fourth or fifth generations to a standstill! How… how is this possible?"
Whispers of disbelief erupted as the reality of the one sided conclusion sank in.
"Ahem." Elder Kong Chen stood, his expression unreadable but his tone diplomatic. "Since the match is concluded, Benefactor Su, please release him."
Losing was one thing, but being publicly pinned and suppressed was a deep embarrassment for his direct disciple and the sect's face.
"Fine."
Su Min formed a simple release seal with one hand. The massive pagoda vanished into golden dust, and the two giant symbols dissipated. All that was left was a dazed, soot stained, and utterly defeated Hui Xing kneeling on the broken ground. When he looked up toward the elders' platform, he saw even his own master and his most revered uncle Kong Hui wearing faint, knowing smiles of… satisfaction?
"…Huh?"
His confusion and misery only deepened.