The voice of the elder in the gray robe had barely fallen when Zhao Hu let out a piercing cry. Yin winds blew continuously from his hands while his body leaned forward, accompanied by a roaring sound as he charged towards Chu Ming.
Pfft!
Facing Zhao Hu, Du Ming dared not hold back at all. He directly drew his refined iron sword from his waist and advanced, flames of Fire Essence continually burning on the blade, unleashing immense power.
Bang, bang, bang...
Palm shadows and sword light interchanged unceasingly, yet to the disciples' astonishment, the duel on stage did not see either party crushed. Instead, it seemed evenly matched.
"Chu Ming is really a monster! He's only at the Postnatal Ninth Layer, yet he can contend with Zhao Hu for so long!"
"I think once he breaks through to the Transcendence Realm, he'll be able to hold his own against martial artists at the Fifth Layer of the Transcendence Realm!"
"Celestial Star Sect has always prided itself after Tianxing Zi emerged, but in my view, Chu Ming is even stronger than Tianxing Zi!"
"That's not necessarily true, the higher the realm, the greater the disparity in strength!"
The spectators below the stage sighed as they watched the duel, their eyes filled with admiration and jealousy towards Chu Ming.
The elder in the gray robe, observing Chu Ming's figure, had a glint in his eye. With Chu Ming's talent, he could certainly catch the elder's attention. A sect needs a fresh influx of blood to develop, which comes from these disciples. In his opinion, if Chu Ming could grow safely, he would undoubtedly become a leading figure of the younger generation in Cyan Yang Sect, the next Li Yuqing.
Bang!
The two figures collided fiercely, emptying the surrounding airwaves. Then, both simultaneously stepped back three paces and stood firm.
"I didn't expect to be mistaken!"
Displeased, Zhao Hu looked at Chu Ming with initially dismissive eyes, viewing him as just a minor lackey. But to his surprise, even lackeys could someday rock the trees.
Chu Ming's expression remained calm, secretly breathing a sigh of relief. Zhao Hu's cultivation of the Yin Cha Technique was only at the Fourth Layer. If Zhao Hu had reached the Fifth Layer, the battle wouldn't have been so easy for him.
Do not underestimate the gap of one layer. Both Cyan Yuan Technique and Yin Cha Technique are top-tier Yellow Level techniques, comparable in Spiritual Power quality and quantity. However, Spiritual Power of the Fourth Layer to the Fifth Layer differs one-fold in quantity, not to mention the quality. The same martial technique's power would differ by two to three times.
"Yin Wind Palm!"
Zhao Hu moved suddenly, seemingly transformed into a Yin Wind, concealed with a murderous intent. Pale blue streams surrounded his body.
Having trained to Perfection, the Yin Wind Palm, a top-tier Yellow Level martial technique, roared with the Yin Wind. Chu Ming's face turned serious.
He lightly waved his refined iron sword, immediately gathering water vapor around the platform. Within the mist, sharpness exuded faintly—it was the Rainfall Sword Intent. The surroundings darkened, and a white sword light appeared strikingly visible.
"Rainfall Kill!"
Swish, swish, swish!
The white sword light grew larger and finally clashed with the pale blue Yin Wind Palm. There was no violent explosion, only the diminishing Spiritual Power, gradually fading to tranquility, with both withdrawing three steps once again.
Not giving Chu Ming a moment to breathe, Zhao Hu, just steadying himself, had countless blue spiritual powers entangling his hands and immediately reached Chu Ming. His body chilled, originally the Yin Cha Technique was meant for women, but Zhao Hu irrationally chose to practice it, disregarding other techniques.
At the southeast corner of the duel platform, a man in a blue robe quietly observed the duel. Seeing Chu Ming contend fairly with Zhao Hu, a flash of murderous intent crossed his eyes, quickly returning to calm.
"This person must die!"
The two on stage clashed repeatedly, palm shadows and sword light flickering, hard-pressed for a victor.
"Chu Ming, try this, Great Yin Wind Palm!"
Zhao Hu withdrew from the fight, yelling as his spiritual power suddenly grew ferocious. Countless pale blue spiritual powers slowly condensed into deep blue, like wailing ghosts and howling winds to Chu Ming.
Facing the huge approaching palm, Chu Ming's refined iron sword turned red. Waves of destructive Fire Sword Essence burst out, leaving red shadows in the air.
"Starfire Extinction!"
Boom!
The Fire Sword Essences in Chu Ming's sword completely shattered, spreading like wildfire, evaporating the air, and creating a vacuum around Chu Ming.
On the platform, blue and red opposed slowly. Zhao Hu's Great Yin Wind Palm, an evolved Yin Wind Palm, extremely difficult to master, once mastered, equated to a Low Tier Profound Level martial technique, still exceptionally precious.
"Starfire Swordsmanship has reached mastery?!"
Seeing Chu Ming's Starfire Swordsmanship, the elder in the gray robe couldn't hide his astonishment. Initially thinking Chu Ming might reach Li Yuqing's heights, he now firmly believed Chu Ming's future achievements would surpass Li Yuqing.
Boom!
Suddenly, a booming sound erupted from the platform, both attacks nullified. One figure stumbled back, vomiting blood, looking disgracefully battered.
It was Zhao Hu!
"In this duel, Chu Ming wins!"
The gray-robed elder declared loudly from the column outside the platform. Zhao Hu, hearing the result, fainted instantly. Two of his close disciples immediately carried him away.
Chu Ming saluted the elder and headed towards his yard. The elder nodded in appreciation, relieved that Chu Ming hadn't grown arrogant and complacent from this victory.
"Wow, even Zhao Hu at the Transcendence Realm Third Layer isn't a match for Chu Ming. Chu Ming is truly a monster!"
"It's not that Zhao Hu is weak, but Chu Ming is too strong. Just now, Chu Ming's Starfire Swordsmanship clearly reached mastery!"
"I believe Chu Ming will become a leading figure in Cyan Yang Sect's younger generation!"
"I disagree. With so many experts on the Cyan Yang List, while Chu Ming is strong now, it doesn't mean he will always be. He might become average in the future!"
The disciples discussed fervently. Seeing Chu Ming, they all respectfully called "Brother Chu!" As strength dictates everything in the sect, even the young must be addressed as senior if they are powerful.
Li An glanced complexly at Chu Ming from a distance before turning to leave. The man at the southeast corner, seeing Du Ming defeat Zhao Hu, had even stronger murderous intent, nearly tangible.
"Hm?" Chu Ming suddenly stopped, looking towards the many disciples behind him but finding nothing out of the ordinary. "Did I sense wrong?" Confused, Chu Ming had felt a cold killing intent aimed at him but it vanished after he turned. Shaking his head, he walked towards his yard.
"Such keen alertness!" The blue-robed man breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Chu Ming leave, nearly exposing himself.
Back in his yard, Chu Ming quietly cultivated. Having mastered Starfire Swordsmanship, Divine Travel Step, and Tyrant Fist, he sought to enhance his strength, achievable only by advancing his cultivation.
Time in cultivation flew by. In a month, Chu Ming spent 40,000 taels of gold to buy twenty Middle Grade Spirit Gathering Pills. After fully refining these pills, he peaked at the Postnatal Ninth Layer, unable to advance further in this realm. Any progress meant entering the Transcendence Realm.
Not in a rush, Chu Ming noted his rapid recent breakthroughs, feeling his Spiritual Power tripled from a month ago. Confidently, he felt that even without Starfire Swordsmanship, he could defeat Zhao Hu in three moves.
"Time to accept a mission!" Chu Ming tidied up and headed to the Task Hall. On the way, disciples respectfully called "Brother Chu!"
Reaching the Task Hall, Chu Ming bypassed Copper Level tasks to the Silver Level tasks section.
"Kill the Shadowless Leopard, take its pelt. Reward: 500 Contribution Points, 30 Lower Grade Spirit Stones. Suggestion: One Transcendence Realm Fourth Layer, or two Transcendence Realm Third Layer!"
Seeing this task, Chu Ming shook his head. The reward wasn't as substantial as killing the bandit Huai Kui's, and the Shadowless Leopard, incredibly fast and rare, might not even be seen in a month in the forest.