"Crimson Flame Art!"
Song Changsheng quickly formed a hand seal, releasing a wave of orange-red fire. The surrounding temperature surged instantly.
"Protective Spirit Shield!"
Qu Jinsheng, now in the middle of the Foundation Establishment, had ample spiritual power. The barrier of spirit gang energy he deployed blocked the searing flames completely. But just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Song Changsheng's iron fists once again came howling through the air with a deafening sonic boom.
This punch was earth-shattering Qu Jinsheng's protective barrier shattered instantly. The fist, now swollen to the size of a sandbag and brimming with roaring blood energy, thundered straight for his chest.
In a panic, Qu Jinsheng could only raise his spirit sword across his chest to block.
Clang!
A burst of spiritual light erupted as the spirit sword let out a mournful screech. Qu Jinsheng was thrown back dozens of meters by the immense force before he could dissipate it.
His face turned dark as he said coldly, "So you're trained in both body and magic… We underestimated you, you little bastard."
"Spouting nonsense. Today, I'll have your head!" Song Changsheng stood firm against the wind, pointing at Qu Jinsheng and shouting coldly.
"You arrogant brat! I've cultivated for over a hundred years. You think I'll tolerate such impudence from a mere whelp?" Qu Jinsheng's eyes bulged with fury, his robes flaring without wind. The spirit sword in his hand began to gather countless streams of sword light.
Whoosh!
Countless sword gleams surged forth, engulfing Song Changsheng in an overwhelming sea of razor-sharp energy that made his skin itch from the pressure.
Song Changsheng reached into his storage pouch with a swipe. A flash of spiritual light revealed a small shield that rapidly expanded in front of him, blocking the sword light entirely.
It was the Tiangang Shield, a defensive artifact he had forged when he first became a second-rank low-tier artifact refiner. Its defense was quite solid.
"Shadow Pierce Sword!"
Enraged, Qu Jinsheng charged with his sword. The two transformed into streaks of light, clashing again and again mid-air like blazing comets.
Below them, Song Xianhe and the others were awestruck, their hearts stirred. A battle between Foundation Establishment cultivators was a rare spectacle if one was lucky enough to comprehend something from it, they might just break through their bottleneck.
The two exchanged more than ten furious rounds. Yet, Song Changsheng suppressed Qu Jinsheng with pure physical might alone, leaving the latter completely on the defensive, barely able to strike back.
As the battle reached its climax, a black streak of light suddenly shot into the fray. Song Changsheng took a closer look it was Zhang Chenlong, returning to the field. He now wore dark armor and wielded a long spear, exuding an imposing presence.
Sure enough, the armor was extraordinary. Even when Song Changsheng struck him with full force, Zhang appeared completely unfazed.
His already dark face grew even darker. With a flick of the spear, countless spear shadows burst forth.
"Hah!"
Song Changsheng let out a thunderous roar. Yin and yang energies surged out, painting the sky in black and white. Countless vortices formed, swallowing the spear shadows entirely.
"Like a Dragon!"
Spiritual power gathered at the tip of the spear. A vivid, lifelike phantom of a flood dragon coiled around it. With a thrust, the dragon's roar filled the sky a truly awe-inspiring strike.
"Protective Spirit Shield!"
Song Changsheng raised his defenses again, but in the blink of an eye, the shield shattered like glass. A bloodied hole burst open in his left chest, and blood poured out instantly.
"Giant Sword Art!"
Qu Jinsheng, who had been waiting for the perfect moment, seized the opportunity. His spirit sword lit up, projecting a massive phantom sword, which he brought down toward Song Changsheng with devastating force.
If this strike landed, Song Changsheng would be reduced to bloody chunks.
"Yin and Yang Infinite, Four Symbols Take Form Defend!"
The grand formation within Song Changsheng's body roared to life. Yin and yang energies gushed out from the Spirit-Slaying Gourd, forming a black-and-white barrier that fully enclosed him.
Clang!
The massive sword crashed down, and the yin-yang energies exploded in all directions, blotting out the sky and sun.
Watching from below, Song Xianhe and the others turned pale with shock.
Was this the end? Had he lost?
Qu Jinsheng and Zhang Chenlong stood side by side, weapons in hand. Their expressions remained grim and focused, their eyes fixed on the roiling mass of yin and yang energy
not daring to relax for even a second.
The chaotic yin and yang energy slowly dissipated. There sat Song Changsheng cross-legged upon a lotus platform. Hovering above his head was the Soul-Slaying Gourd; the Tiangang Shield revolved protectively around him. In his palm rested a golden, gleaming bronze bell. His aura was deep and steady, showing not the slightest sign of weakness.
"This man must not be allowed to live," Zhang Chenlong said, visibly shaken. "He's just broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage, yet the two of us together still can't take him down. What will he be capable of in the future?"
"Today, the two of us must join forces to kill him and crush this threat in its cradle. The Song Clan must not produce another Song Taiyi!" Qu Jinsheng declared coldly.
"Talk is cheap," Song Changsheng said with a rising aura, pointing at them. "If you want this fine head of mine, come and see if you're worthy!"
His fighting spirit surged to its peak. Dragon roars and phoenix cries echoed faintly around him.
"Arrogant fool!"
Qu Jinsheng and Zhang Chenlong charged toward him together.
"Lu Wu, help me trap the enemy!"
The bronze bell in Song Changsheng's hand spun rapidly, rising into the air and enlarging. The Lu Wu etched on its surface let out an earth-shaking roar. Zhang Chenlong suddenly felt his mind waver as the bell came crashing down upon him he couldn't move in time to escape.
"A spirit artifact?!" Qu Jinsheng was dumbfounded. No one had known that Song Changsheng possessed such a powerful treasure.
In that instant, he cursed every female ancestor of the sect's intelligence division with all his might.
"Formation, arise kill the enemy!"
Spiritual energy poured continuously from the lotus platform into Song Changsheng's dantian. The acupoints and formation lines within his body began to glow as the Yin-Yang Duality Array activated at full force.
Black and white energies coalesced into a massive pair of shears that flew straight toward Qu Jinsheng.
His face changed drastically he felt utterly powerless to resist. His legs felt like they were weighed down with lead. At the last critical moment, survival instinct made him twist his body slightly.
"AAAH!"
Blood sprayed through the air. Hot blood and severed limbs flew skyward. Qu Jinsheng let out a wretched scream, his face pale as paper.
All will to fight was gone. Clutching his wound, he turned into a streak of light and fled in panic, leaving Zhang Chenlong behind. He fled so fast that even Song Changsheng was left in the dust.
"Cowardly rat," Song Changsheng scoffed, making no move to pursue.
Instead, he turned his gaze to Zhang Chenlong, who was trapped within the Lu Wu Bell. It was only through catching him off guard that Song had managed to imprison him but dealing with him now posed a real problem.
The armor he wore had astounding defensive power. Ordinary methods wouldn't harm him. The song would have to target his soul. Unfortunately, the Soul-Slaying Gourd needed time to recover. If it were ready, taking his life would've been effortless.
"The soul... maybe I could try sound-based attacks," Song Changsheng muttered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"Lu Wu, lend me your strength." Song pressed his palm to the bronze bell. Gentle ripples spread across its surface, and the carved Lu Wu seemed to come alive, letting out a sky-shaking howl.
Inside the bell, Zhang Chenlong felt it begin to hum. Then his head started to tremble, his eardrums rang violently, and his very soul began to tear apart…
Half a moment later, Song Changsheng retrieved the Lu Wu Bell.
Zhang Chenlong fell to the ground like a pile of sludge blood splattering in every direction.
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