The calm words resounded like thunder across the vast plaza.
The next moment, a cacophony of voices erupted.
Everyone stared at Chen Mo. The female disciples who had previously resented Chen Mo because of Mo Li's defeat now wore expressions of disdain and mockery.
In their eyes, Chen Mo's victory over Senior Brother Mo Li was purely accidental; how dare he overestimate himself and challenge Senior Sister Nalan?
Yun Yun was also filled with shock, her mind reeling. "What exactly do you want?"
Yun Hai, who had been glaring at Chen Mo with fighting spirit, exclaimed in astonishment, "Are you serious?"
"I see he's won several matches in a row; he must have become arrogant, lacking any self-awareness, actually daring to challenge Senior Sister Nalan,"
Mo Li sneered, his sarcasm largely stemming from jealousy of Chen Mo.
Nalan Yanran's eyes were fixed on Chen Mo, her gaze lingering on the young man's handsome face.
This sixteen-year-old, already a two-star Dou Shi, possessed talent far surpassing his peers, even surpassing her own at that age.
This strange feeling of inferiority caused her heart, which had remained calm for many years, to flutter slightly.
"I accept your challenge," Nalan Yanran said, calming herself. "However, I won't hold back."
Chen Mo nodded, his fighting spirit high. "Let's fight!"
A flash of light appeared on Nalan Yanran's storage ring, and a pale blue longsword materialized in her hand.
As the referee's voice rang out, she raised her jade-like hand, the sword tip pointing directly at Chen Mo.
Her graceful figure shot out, striking first.
It seemed she wanted to kill Chen Mo in one move, just like she had done with Yun Hai.
The others still standing on the field quickly dodged.
In the center of the plaza, Chen Mo slowly closed his eyes. With a whoosh, purple flames instantly enveloped his entire body, the intense heat even scorching the air.
Then Chen Mo opened his eyes, his right hand slightly extended, and in the blink of an eye, the Spear of the Underworld condensed.
With a rapid swing, a black tornado reappeared.
"It's that tortoise shell again! Senior Sister Nalan, break it!"
A disciple shouted from below.
Nalan Yanran, who was already close to Chen Mo, remained calm, as if she already had a way to break the black tornado.
She lightly touched the ground with her toes, her figure soaring into the air. Her longsword trembled rapidly, then moved slowly, leaving behind a tangible sword-shaped afterimage with each step.
"Wind Spirit Fragment Sword!"
Nalan Yanran shouted coldly, and five sword-shaped afterimages instantly appeared, slamming heavily into the black tornado.
With overwhelming force, the black tornado was annihilated.
Then, with undiminished momentum, it blasted towards Chen Mo.
Boom!
A sound like muffled thunder exploded in the center of the arena. The next moment, a figure was sent flying like a cannonball.
Just before flying out of the plaza, a black spear was suddenly thrown by the figure, embedding itself hard in a boulder at the edge of the plaza.
Chen Mo caught the spear, used the force to swing it, and returned to the center of the plaza.
"Pfft."
The figure who had just stood up suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood and knelt on one knee.
With just one move, she shattered the black tornado and made Chen Mo cough up blood.
Nalan Yanran's strength was even greater than Chen Mo had imagined.
Yun Yun, who was on the highest stone seat, suddenly stood up upon seeing this scene.
Image
Just as she was about to persuade Chen Mo to admit defeat, she felt the strange gazes around her and ultimately held back.
She would wait a little longer.
"Senior Brother Mo Li's impenetrable shell was shattered by Senior Sister Nalan in a single move!"
A disciple exclaimed in surprise. The next moment, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, cheers erupted around the plaza.
"Senior Sister Nalan is mighty!"
"Senior Sister Nalan is domineering!"
"A mere two-star Dou Shi dares to challenge Senior Sister Nalan? He should admit defeat!"
"Chen Mo's courage in challenging Yanran is admirable, but although he has the strength to challenge opponents of higher levels, the gap between him and Yanran is too great. His current strength cannot bridge that gap," Yun Leng commented from his stone seat, observing the scene below.
The dozen or so white-robed elders below nodded in agreement.
"Junior Brother, are you alright?" Nalan Yanran asked with slight concern.
Because she hadn't accurately gauged the black tornado's final defensive power, Nalan Yanran had struck a little too hard.
"Still not dead." Chen Mo slowly stood up, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, then turned and drew in the Netherworld Spear behind him. The
Netherworld Spear, embedded in the edge of the plaza, dissipated and reformed in Chen Mo's palm.
"As expected of Senior Sister Nalan, her strength is indeed extraordinary." To encourage Nalan Yanran to go all out, Chen Mo looked at her and suddenly smiled, saying, "However, this level of attack is not enough to make me admit defeat."
"So, let's continue."
As soon as he finished speaking, the purple flames on Chen Mo's body instantly expanded to more than double, and the two awakened particles within his body were ignited one after another.
The power of two giant elephants reached the top of his head, and a vast energy flowed through his body. With the addition of 20,000 jin of strength, the energy within Chen Mo's body multiplied.
But to outsiders, Chen Mo's cultivation level jumped directly from a two-star Dou Shi to a four-star Dou Shi.
Whoosh.
The entire audience was shocked.
Fama frowned. As the president of the Alchemist Association of the Jia Ma Empire, even with his soul strength, he hadn't detected Chen Mo's hidden strength.
"Just how many trump cards does this little guy have? It's truly astonishing."
Gu He's expression was similar to Fama's; Chen Mo had really given everyone too many surprises.
He glanced at Yun Yun out of the corner of his eye, as if to say, "Where did you find such a talent?
" "Is this the confidence you have to challenge Senior Sister Nalan?" Yun Hai murmured to himself, watching the scene.
"This guy, no, this is impossible." Mo Li gritted his teeth, his expression constantly changing, unable to accept the reality before him.
Although Mo Li had lost to Chen Mo in their previous battle, he wasn't convinced, believing that Chen Mo's strength lay only in his defense and battle qi reserves.
But now, he felt a deep sense of defeat.
"Is this your true strength?" Nalan Yanran's beautiful eyes held a hint of seriousness. Chen Mo had the talent to challenge opponents of higher levels, able to defeat Mo Li, a five-star battle master, with the strength of a two-star battle master.
Now that his strength has skyrocketed to a four-star Dou Shi, Chen Mo
thought,
"Perhaps, I can finally fight seriously."
Sensing Nalan Yanran's suddenly surging aura and the surging energy within her, Chen Mo raised his eyes and said, "So, you're starting to show your true strength too?"
Nalan Yanran gripped her longsword tightly, her pale blue Dou Qi robes covering her entire body. Her beautiful eyes gazed at Chen Mo, her red lips slightly parted: "Take this move."
"Extreme Wind, Whirlwind Dance!"
The space in front of Nalan Yanran trembled. With a swing of her longsword, several zhang-long (approximately 33 meters) blue wind blades appeared out of thin air, tearing towards Chen Mo.
(End of Chapter)