As soon as the two avatars appeared, Duan Xing turned around and left without a word. It was better for them to stay away.
The Fiend Temple disciples were slightly stunned before they hastily followed Duan Xing to another mountain.
“Sect master, about the old senior…”
“You should look after yourself. Do you really have the time to worry about the old senior? Did you hit your head on the rock this morning?” Duan Xing retorted.
Duan Xing was right. The old senior was the master of these two opponents. Was there a need to worry about him?
Duan Xing led the other disciples off Cloud Shine Peak.
At this moment, Lu Zhou was staring at the two huge avatars as well. He nodded slightly. All the rumors he had heard were verified at this moment. Their strength and cultivation bases were, indeed, as powerful as Ji Tiandao. When Ji Tiandao’s great limit was upon him, his cultivation base had deteriorated. It was only natural that Ji Tiandao could no longer restrict these two disciples at that time.
Lu Zhou suddenly realized a problem. ‘How should I defend myself?’ His Divine Court realm cultivation base was not completely restored, and he only recovered two-fifth of the Heavenly Writing’s extraordinary power. Moreover, the extraordinary power was precious. It would be a waste to use it to fend off the spillover energy from his disciples’ battle.
‘I should probably find shelter.’ Lu Zhou was about to leave when the two 100-foot avatars shot toward Lilac Mountain.
Yu Zhenghai and Yu Shangrong attacked at the same time with their Hundred Tribulations Insight avatars.
“Cloud Shine Peak is a nice place. It can’t be ruined.”
“Agreed.”
The saber and sword collided. Rocks split open, and the heavens trembled.
The Eight-leaf Golden Lotuses gathered power like whirlpools.
Yu Zhenghai joined his palms together and placed them before himself. His Jasper Saber hovered above him. Under the avatar’s enhancement, the Jasper Saber that was wrapped in energy was now 1,000 times larger. “Slash!”
Yu Shangrong’s avatar dispersed. He shot upward and raised his Longevity Sword. Thousands of energy blades merged with it, and he brought it down on the Jasper Saber’s energy blades. His avatar reappeared.
Boom!
The huge energy blade struck Lilac Mountain, causing a deep gorge on the mountain. If one looked up from the base of the mountain, the cut would resemble a slot canyon. The slot canyon did not last long before the sounds of cracking reverberated in the air. Rocks began to fall off Lilac Mountain’s face. With its support gone, Lilac Mountain began to crumble. Huge boulders rolled down the mountain, crushing trees along their way. The beasts on land ran for their lives.
Hua Chongyang looked down from above. He watched as Lilac Mountain crumbled.
“Keep up!”
“Understood!” The flying chariot flew toward Radiant Cloud Forest.
Yu Zhenghai and Yu Shangrong fought fiercely along the way. Wherever they went, the trees would fall. The two of them continued flying into the depth of Radiant Cloud Forest.
“The Hundred Tribulations Insight puts great strain on one’s Primal Qi. Just how long can they keep this up?” Hua Chongyang had difficulty believing what he was seeing.
“Brother Chongyang, you have a Seven-leaf cultivation base. If you can’t figure it out, how do you expect the three of us to figure it out?”
Hua Chongyang gulped. He looked at the huge energy blades that flew back and forth between the two avatars. The energy blades seemed several times larger compared to when they had just started out.
After a series of exchanges, Yu Shangrong moved to the forehead of his avatar at lightning speed. He raised his right hand, and the Longevity Sword flew into his grasp. He closed his fingers around the hilt, and energy blades shot out from between his fingers. “Senior brother… take this.”
Yu Zhenghai frowned slightly. He withdrew his avatar and shot toward the horizons. He unleashed his avatar again and raised his saber horizontally. He said drily, “Alright.”
Hua Chongyang and the others held their breaths.
Yu Shangrong flipped his right hand and left a series of afterimages in his wake.
What shocked the others was that his Hundred Tribulations Insight avatar left afterimages as well.
“Grand technique!?”
“Guiyuan Sword Technique. The Untraceable Sword.” It was called the Untraceable Sword because it left no trace behind as it moved. The sword could no longer be seen by naked eyes due to how fast it was moving. Yu Shangrong studied Yu Zhenghai for a moment. Then, tens of thousands of energy blades converged and shot toward his opponent. With his avatar, he made a beeline for Yu Zhenghai as he wielded his Longevity Sword.
“Great Dark Heaven Seal!” Yu Zhenghai seemed to anticipate this move from Yu Shangrong. His energy blades converged. With the Jasper Saber in the center, he was now wrapped in an extremely tough defensive shield.
Bam!
The two forces collided. The excess energy rippled horizontally over a distance of 1,000 meters.
The trees on land were also affected by the ripples. If one looked down from above, it would seem as though someone had dug pits all over the place.
The two avatars dispersed at the same time after the great collision.
Yu Zhenghai retreated.
Yu Shangrong retreated as well.
They hovered in the air as they looked at each other from a distance.
Yu Zhenghai’s hand was tightly wrapped around the Jasper Saber. He flexed each of his fingers in succession. Veins popped along his arm.
Yu Shangrong’s little finger shook slightly. He quickly suppressed it.
Yu Zhenghai spoke in a bright and clear voice, “You’re much stronger than I imagined.”
“You flatter me, senior brother. You’re not doing too bad yourself.” Yu Shangrong smiled.
“Junior brother… You’re the first person who made me unleash all my strength,” Yu Zhenghai said solemnly.
“I hope I satisfied you, senior brother.”
Yu Zhenghai spread his hands. His Jasper Saber spun in the air. At the same time, his avatar appeared again.
Whizz!
Yu Shangrong did not want to be left behind as well. His avatar appeared.
The chaotic flow of energy in the skies at the moment had caused a storm. Who would be a match for whom in this battle?
Meanwhile, Lu Zhou was still seated beside the windowsill. He would occasionally glance in the direction of the avatars. He silently praised the two rascals for being tactful enough to avoid this place.
Lu Zhou peacefully closed his eyes and entered his meditation state again. He could hear the clashes of the avatars every once in a while. The entire Cloud Shine Peak seemed to reverberate with it as well.
“Si Wuya…” Lu Zhou suddenly remembered another rascal. ‘Where is he?’
Due to the distance, Lu Zhou could not possibly see Si Wuya. However, he was certain that Si Wuya came here with Yu Shangrong. In that case, where would he be watching the battle from? He had three more improved Binding Cage Cards. Everything was ready. All he needed now was time.
Time passed by in a blink of an eye. It was a new day. When the sun slowly rose from the horizon, Lu Zhou heard thunderous clashes. He opened his eyes and looked in the direction of Hundred Leaves Lake. It was a complete disaster. His disciples were nowhere to be seen.
Lu Zhou looked at the cooldown timer for his item cards. Five hours…
“Old Senior…” Duan Xing called out at this moment.
Lu Zhou emerged from the room with his hands on his back. He saw Duan Xing standing respectfully in the center of the courtyard. The battle, which had gone on for three days and three nights, did not make Duan Xing lose his enthusiasm. In fact, he seemed more invigorated than ever. He said, filled with praise, “My horizons have greatly been widened! Truly!”
“What’s the outcome?” Lu Zhou asked. ‘Although their cultivation bases are equally matched, in a dragged-out battle, the factors that determine the victor and the loser are determination and experience.’ Based on this, Yu Zhenghai would most probably win. However, it had been many years since he had spent any time with them. Perhaps, Yu Shangrong had matured after so many years. It might be too presumptuous of him to say that Yu Zhenghai would win.
“It’s hard to tell… However, in terms of intensity, the battle isn’t as exciting as it was two days ago,” Duan Xing said.
They were progressing into the late stage of their battle.
Lu Zhou stroked his beard. ‘They should be getting tired by now.’ It was just like running. The longer one was in the race, the more tired one would feel.
After considering it for a moment, Lu Zhou said, “Let’s take a look.”
“Alright.” Duan Xing wanted to watch up-close as well. Alas, they were not brave enough.
Now that the battle was not as intense, it was difficult for them to watch from a distance. However, if they were too close, they were worried they would be discovered by the Nether Sect’s Four Great Protectors. With the old senior backing them, they, naturally, had nothing to fear.
“Kindly board the flying chariot, old senior.” Duan Xing extended his arm at once.
How else would they travel together if not on the flying chariot?
The others boarded the flying chariot as well. Although it was damaged, it played a role at the crucial moment.
As soon as Duan Xing boarded the flying chariot, he gave the disciple at the helm a kick and said, “With the old senior riding with us, I must personally man the helm.”
Lu Zhou glanced at Duan Xing. He said nothing. He reckoned that Duan Xing was only fit to be a small-time leader with that kind of attitude. In any case, it had nothing to do with him.
The flying chariot departed from the base of Cloud Shine Peak. It moved toward Hundred Leaves Lake.
“Old senior, kindly bear with this speed,” Duan Xing said.
Lu Zhou looked at the cooldown time. He stroked his beard and nodded. This speed was acceptable, considering they had to navigate around the trees.
As the flying chariot drew closer to the battle, the sounds of the clashing energies grew louder.
When the flying chariot was at Hundred Leaves Lake, their field of vision widened.
The nearby trees had all fallen.
Duan Xing smiled and said, “I’m going to speed up.”
“There’s no need for that.” Lu Zhou raised a hand and stroked his beard.
“Why?”
‘Why does he have so many questions? What a troublesome fellow!’
Lu Zhou asked, “Duan Xing, how did you find out that their battle would take place on Cloud Shine Peak?”
Duan Xing pondered over Lu Zhou’s question for a moment as he steered the flying chariot. Then, he said with a sigh, “I went through much trouble to find out about this when I went to Pingdu Mountain.” “If you’re able to find out about it, then, anyone can find out about it,” Lu Zhou said drily.
“Old senior, are you saying that there might be other people here?” Duan Xing hastily slowed down the flying chariot as he steered it toward the periphery of the forest. Lu Zhou remained silent. Although it was only a guess, the possibility was high.
Duan Xing looked to the left and the right. After the flying chariot entered the forest, their surroundings were unusually quiet. A wave of regret rose in his heart. “You’re right, old senior. I’m too hasty and obtuse… The rats would all be gone by now with our flashy movements.”
However, Lu Zhou remained calm, he did not seem angered. Duan Xing sighed inwardly with relief. When the flying chariot moved past Lilac Mountain, Duan Xing and the others were in awe. The huge chasm and the destruction wreaked by the energy blades shocked them. It was a complete mess down there.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The clashing of energies sounded closer now. Duan Xing said, “Radiant Cloud Forest is up ahead…”
The flying chariot deliberately avoided the clearings formed from the battle and moved closer to the Nether Sect’s flying chariot.
They saw the two avatars vanish just in time.
In the skies, Yu Shangrong and Yu Zhenghai reeled back at the same time. They somersaulted a few times before they finally stabilized their bodies.
After fighting for three days and three nights while maintaining their Hundred Tribulations Insight avatars, it was clear just how terrifying their cultivation bases were.
An excited expression appeared on Duan Xing’s face. “Old senior, I think they’re reaching their limits.”
Lu Zhou stroked his beard as he looked at the two opponents facing each other from a distance. “There’s no need to rush.”
Duan Xing did not dare to question Lu Zhou. If the old senior said that there was no rush, there was certainly something amiss.
