Chapter 184: Breaking Through Once More
Chen Changan stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over Han Yu and Jiang Che, a faint trace of satisfaction glimmering in his eyes.
"Good, very good," he said with a slight nod. "The Heaven-Resisting Sword was originally a technique that turns defense into offense. Yet Han Yu was able to store power within his defense, even using the enemy's own strength against them."
"And Jiang Che's Great Sun Scorching Heaven Technique—though a forceful, domineering method of pure yang—he was able to refine his flames into a single bead, returning to simplicity after extremity."
"You two have each found your own path."
He lifted his hand and tossed out a jade-green pill that landed before Han Yu.
"Take it and restore your true essence."
Han Yu accepted the pill and swallowed it without hesitation. His aura recovered swiftly, and the pallor on his face gave way to a healthy flush.
Xiao Chen smiled faintly. "Junior Brother Han, shall we fight another day?"
Han Yu shook his head, his gaze falling on the faint sword circle still imprinted on the ground—left behind from his Heaven-Resisting Sword. The sword intent had not yet dispersed, and within the circle, traces of Jiang Che's Great Sun Scorching Heaven flames still flickered.
"No need." He looked up, his eyes blazing with renewed fighting spirit. "The power of Junior Brother Jiang's Great Sun Scorching Heaven Technique still lingers in my sword circle. At this moment, I might be stronger than usual—far stronger."
He paused, glancing at Xiao Chen, and the corner of his lips curved upward. "It seems, Senior Brother, that you might be at a disadvantage."
At that, Xiao Chen laughed aloud. "Isn't that what senior brothers are for—to take the loss?"
Their gazes met, and their battle intent surged to the peak.
"In that case, let's make this quick," Xiao Chen said calmly.
He slowly raised his hand, lightning flashing across his palm. A long sword of violet lightning materialized before him, its blade etched with golden thunder patterns, faintly radiating heavenly might.
"Nine Heavens Thunder Movement — Ten Thousand Tribulations!"
Before his words even finished, he transformed into a streak of blinding lightning, merging completely with his sword. In that instant, it seemed as though heaven and earth held only that single bolt of thunder.
Boom!
Before the lightning even struck, the oppressive force shattered the ground into fissures, and the air itself tore open into black cracks, as if space could not endure the sword's sharpness.
Han Yu's expression tightened. He drove his sword into the ground, the blade vibrating intensely as the sword circle condensed into a beam of concentrated sword light shooting skyward.
"Heaven-Resisting Sword — Return Their Own Way!"
In that moment, all the power of the Great Sun Scorching Heaven Technique that his sword circle had absorbed earlier, along with his own sword intent, erupted in full force!
Boom!!!
The two attacks collided midair, releasing a blinding explosion. The entire training ground quaked as Chen Changan's barrier trembled violently, nearly shattering under the force.
When the light faded, Xiao Chen's figure appeared first. He was kneeling on one knee, a line of blood trickling from the corner of his mouth—but his eyes still burned with undiminished resolve.
Han Yu had been forced several steps back, his long sword trembling slightly, faint traces of lightning flickering along its blade before finally dimming out.
Yet his sword circle continued to shudder. The remnants of the Nine Heavens Thunder Movement's power had not fully dissipated, and at that moment, Xiao Chen's "Ten Thousand Tribulations" thunder once again came crashing down!
"Heaven-Resisting Sword Formation — Fusion of Thunder and Flame!"
Han Yu lifted his sword high, tracing a smooth circular motion through the air. The sword circle expanded instantly, swallowing all the incoming lightning.
But this time, he did not disperse the power—instead, he forcibly fused the lightning with the remaining golden flames of the Great Sun Scorching Heaven Technique still within the circle!
Boom!!!
Thunder and fire intertwined, erupting with a power unlike anything before. Within the sword circle, golden flame and purple lightning intertwined violently, forming a colossal blade of thunder and flame that pierced through heaven and earth.
Its blade shimmered with annihilating energy so fierce that even space itself burned into jagged black fractures.
"Go!"
Han Yu pointed his sword forward, and the colossal blade of thunder and fire tore through the air, cleaving straight toward Xiao Chen!
This was no longer a simple Heaven-Resisting Sword — it was a strike born from the fusion of Xiao Chen's Nine Heavens Thunder Movement and Jiang Che's Great Sun Scorching Heaven Technique, a blow of unparalleled might.
Xiao Chen's pupils contracted sharply.
Before the thunderfire sword even descended, its crushing pressure made his bones creak audibly. His skin blackened under the scorching heat, and even breathing became difficult.
"This is bad! Senior Brother's going to lose!"
Jiang Che jumped to his feet, his eyes locked on the massive sword of thunder and flame splitting the sky. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.
"Second Brother's sword… it actually fused my flame art with Senior Brother's thunder method?" His voice trembled. "That power… even a cultivator at the Longevity Realm couldn't withstand it!"
Beside him, Ji Lingxiu clenched her pale hand tightly, her nails digging deep into her palm. Her cool eyes now held a trace of rare anxiety. "Senior Brother's sword intent is completely suppressed… he won't be able to block that strike."
Old Wu leaned on his blackwood pipe, his cloudy eyes glinting sharply. "Second Young Master's 'Return Their Own Way'—he's grasped the very essence of the Heaven-Resisting Sword. As for the Eldest Young Master this time…" He shook his head and said no more.
Medicine Elder's expression was grave. "No good! Xiao Chen's protective thunder aura is collapsing!"
The crowd's faces changed at once. In the center of the arena, Xiao Chen's violet lightning was being forced back by the descending thunderfire sword. Blood welled from his lips, evaporating in the heat before it even touched the ground.
"Senior Brother! Dodge!" Jiang Che shouted, stamping his foot in desperation. "You'll die if you take that head-on!"
Ji Lingxiu turned suddenly toward Chen Changan. "Master!" she cried, her voice carrying rare panic.
But Chen Changan still stood with his hands behind his back, the faintest smile on his lips. "No need to worry."
At that critical instant—
Crack!
A clear sound of something breaking echoed through the air.
…
"Am I… going to lose?"
Xiao Chen gritted his teeth, gripping his violet lightning sword tightly. His true essence surged madly within, yet it still could not withstand the force of annihilation pressing down on him.
But just as the thunderfire sword was about to fall—
Crack!
Something within his body shattered!
A torrent of unimaginable power erupted from his dantian. Within his Purple Mansion, the dormant thunder core flared to life, bursting forth with dazzling golden radiance. Countless runes of heaven appeared, weaving into serpentine dragons of lightning that coiled around his entire body.
All his prior accumulation erupted in that single moment.
Xiao Chen threw back his head and roared, lightning exploding outward from him. The golden thunder patterns on his violet sword awakened fully; its blade hummed with divine resonance, shaking even the fabric of the void.
"Nine Heavens Thunder Movement — Heavenly Tribulation: True Revelation of Ten Thousand Thunders!"
Boom!!!
From the heavens above, endless tribulation lightning poured down, forming a vast ocean of thunder that crashed against the descending thunderfire sword.
A blinding white radiance swallowed the entire arena. The barrier trembled violently, fracturing inch by inch under the force of the explosion.
When the light finally faded, Xiao Chen hovered in midair, his body wrapped in golden lightning. His aura was vast and boundless — he had stepped into the Longevity Realm.
Han Yu knelt on one knee below, his long sword plunged into the ground to support himself. The Heaven-Resisting Sword Formation had been completely shattered, the sword circle dispersed, and fine cracks ran along the blade.
He looked up at Xiao Chen, his expression shifting before finally turning into a weary sigh. "Breaking through mid-battle… Senior Brother, you truly…"
Xiao Chen descended, withdrawing his lightning aura, and extended a hand to pull him up. "If not for your thunderfire sword, I would never have broken through at the edge of life and death."
Han Yu gave a bitter smile and shook his head. "A loss is still a loss."
— In this battle, Xiao Chen broke through mid-fight and emerged victorious.
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