Seeing Chen Xingcai still stubbornly refusing to use her Supreme Blood, the last trace of hesitation in Hong Longxiang's eyes transformed into utter determination and battle intent.
He said nothing more. With a low roar, the dark gold patterns of his Tongtian Sacred Body flared once more. His entire being became like a humanoid tyrant dragon as he launched another earth-shattering offensive!
Chen Xingcai took a deep breath, suppressing her injuries, her gaze incredibly grave. She knew that against an opponent who had activated his Tongtian Sacred Body and utterly outclassed her in both speed and power, continuing to rely on the Graceful Fluttering Technique for guerrilla warfare was meaningless. It would only accelerate her defeat.
She made a decision that no one had expected—she completely gave up on dodging!
Her feet planted firmly on the arena floor, spiritual energy circulating through her body at unprecedented speed, pouring entirely into defense. Her hands moved in a blur, condensing one refined, dazzling Heaven-Blocking Sword Gang after another before her, stacking and layering without restraint!
"BOOM!"
"BOOM!"
"BOOM!"
Hong Longxiang's fists were like falling stars from the nine heavens, each punch heavier and fiercer than the last, madly smashing against those layered sword barriers!
Every collision erupted with deafening roars. Terrifying shockwaves of energy exploded repeatedly, tearing jagged furrows into the incomparably solid Grade-A arena floor, sending stone fragments flying!
Chen Xingcai stood behind the sword barriers, her face growing increasingly pale. Blood trickled continuously from the corner of her mouth, and her slender figure trembled slightly, clearly bearing tremendous pressure.
Yet she gritted her teeth, her eyes stubborn, still frantically outputting spiritual energy to maintain her crumbling defense.
"What is she doing? She can't hold on like this!"
"Hong Longxiang's power is too terrifying! She'll be worn down sooner or later!"
"Why is the Holy Maiden still persisting?"
The spectators below were frantic with worry, unable to understand why Chen Xingcai would choose such a seemingly foolish tactic.
Only on the high platform, Chen Chang'an, Xiao Chen, and a few others narrowed their eyes slightly, seemingly seeing something.
Han Yu murmured, "She's... gathering momentum?"
Xiao Chen nodded. "The Heaven-Blocking Sword is not purely a defensive sword art. Its deepest secret lies in its ability to transform and accumulate a portion of the attacks it receives... She's taking a dangerous gamble!"
On the arena, Hong Longxiang also sensed something was wrong. He felt his fist energy crashing into those sword barriers was like clay oxen entering the sea.
Though he could shatter them, some portion of his power was being absorbed and stored through some strange method. His opponent seemed on the verge of collapse, yet always remained just a hair's breadth from being completely defeated!
This set off alarms in his mind. His attacks grew even more ferocious, trying to completely destroy her with absolute power before she could complete whatever arrangement she was making!
"BREAK! BREAK! BREAK!" Hong Longxiang roared repeatedly, his fist techniques like a violent storm, nearly drowning out Chen Xingcai's figure completely.
Finally, after enduring countless wild bombardments, a resolute light suddenly flashed in Chen Xingcai's eyes!
She pressed her palms together. The final, already-cracked Heaven-Blocking Sword Barrier before her didn't shatter—instead, it suddenly erupted with unprecedented brilliant radiance! Upon the barrier, all the attack energy that had been absorbed and transformed earlier awakened like an enraged dragon, exploding forth!
"HMMMM—!!!"
A massive, complex sword formation composed of countless sword shadows, centered on Chen Xingcai, suddenly manifested and expanded, instantly enveloping the entire arena!
The Heaven-Blocking Sword Formation! This was the ultimate transformation of the Heaven-Blocking Sword that could only be triggered at the highest level of mastery—accumulating and transforming all the attack power received, finally transforming it into an incredibly powerful counterattack sword formation!
Within the sword formation, sword energy soared to the heavens! All the fist energy and power Hong Longxiang had unleashed earlier now seemed to have been granted the sharpness and edge of swords, counterattacking him from every direction, omnipresent and unavoidable!
The speed was extreme! The power was extreme!
"WHAT?!"
Countless people below shot to their feet in shock!
This sudden, earth-shattering reversal exceeded everyone's expectations!
"Did she turn it around?!"
"She was hiding such a trump card!"
"The Holy Maiden is mighty!"
The thunderous cheers had barely begun to rise—
"BOOOOOM—!!!"
The terrifying sword formation energy erupted completely. Countless sword shadows collided and exploded madly with Hong Longxiang's protective sacred light! The entire Grade-A arena seemed to transform into an ocean of energy. The blinding light made it impossible to look directly. Even with the barrier blocking it, the violent shockwaves still made it difficult for nearby spectators in the front rows to breathe!
The arena was a scene of devastation. Dust and smoke filled the air, energy currents raged, obscuring the view within.
Everyone held their breath, nervously watching the chaotic center, awaiting the final result.
The cheers gradually quieted, replaced by tense silence.
The vast majority believed that under such a terrifying counterattack, Hong Longxiang had no hope of survival! The Holy Maiden of the Immortal Spirit Sacred Land's reputation was ultimately unassailable!
However, when the lingering dust and raging energy currents slowly dispersed, revealing the scene on the arena, everyone's expressions instantly froze. The cheers caught in their throats, transforming into collective gasps of cold air!
Hong Longxiang still stood tall on the arena!
His upper garment had been completely shredded, reduced to tattered rags hanging from his body, revealing perfect muscle definition like cast bronze. The dark gold sacred body patterns on those muscles still gleamed, though somewhat dimmed. Blood also trailed from the corner of his mouth, his breathing slightly ragged, clearly showing he had taken some impact from that terrifying counterattack.
But that was all!
He hadn't been defeated! He hadn't even been seriously injured! That Heaven-Blocking Sword Formation counterattack, sufficient to annihilate ordinary cultivators at the peak of the Heavenly Realm, had merely torn his clothes and slightly unsettled his qi and blood!
"Mon... monster..."
"What kind of body is this?! Even that attack couldn't break through?!"
"The Tongtian Sacred Body... is this terrifying?!"
Just as everyone fell speechless from this unbelievable sight, a bitter taste in their mouths—
Hong Longxiang moved!
He gave Chen Xingcai no time to catch her breath! While the sword formation energy hadn't fully dissipated, while Chen Xingcai was in her weakest moment—old power exhausted, new power not yet risen!
He stomped his foot. The arena floor exploded! His entire body shot forth like an arrow leaving the string, instantly crossing the distance between them!
One punch!
Simple, direct, brutal! Yet it condensed all the sacred body power and soaring battle intent he could currently muster!
Chen Xingcai had barely recovered a thread of awareness from the massive depletion of triggering the sword formation when that ever-enlarging fist in her pupils occupied her entire field of vision! She wanted to dodge but her body was weak; wanted to block but she couldn't summon a thread of strength!
"BOOM —!!!"
A heavy, dull sound clearly rang through the silent venue.
That punch landed solidly on Chen Xingcai's undefended abdomen!
"PUH—!"
Chen Xingcai's eyes flew open. A mouthful of blood sprayed forth as her entire body was slammed backward by that irresistible force, finally crashing heavily against the barrier at the arena's edge with a heart-stopping thud, then sliding softly to the ground.
[
Dear Readers,
If you have been following the story, you already know I have been releasing two chapters every day along with bonus drops and early access to new projects. Right now, you can get 30 advanced chapters instantly for the same price the old 20-chapter tier used to cost.
Joining Patreon also gets you ongoing monthly chapter releases and bonus content.
I will not sugarcoat this. I am struggling financially right now. Mass cancellations recently wiped out most of my paid membership, and your support directly determines whether I can keep writing consistently.
I am also aware that I let quality slip. For two years, fans loved this work and I had drive because of that. The mass cancellations killed that momentum. I am trying to get it back, but I do not know what the right fix is yet.
If this story has hooked you even once, consider backing it. Every bit helps.
https://www.patreon.com/c/Alex_Cruise
Thanks for reading.