Chapter 1268: Not Playing Fair

The intense battle allowed the cultivators secretly observing to witness the formidable power of the Stone Race up close. What astonished them even more was the profound hidden strength of Lu Yiye from the Nine Heavens Realm.

Had they not witnessed it firsthand, they would never have believed that someone at the eighth-layer Divine Sea Realm could unleash such terrifying power. Every one of them had advanced from the eighth layer, and in their respective realms, they were all capable of defeating opponents above their own level. Each harbored a sense of pride, but this comparison made them realize they had been somewhat narrow-minded.

Before coming here, they had harbored a trace of doubt, wondering if there was something amiss with Lu Yiye's astonishing achievements. After all, only a few thousand cultivators participated in the Divine Sea conflict, and for one person to have killed over two hundred seemed somewhat illogical.

Only now, having witnessed Lu Yiye's outburst firsthand, did they realize that such achievements were not without reason.

Yet, no one could tell who would emerge victorious in today's battle. From the spectacle, there was no clear advantage or disadvantage between the two combatants. Every clash shook the heavens and earth, full of immense power.

The Stone Race's powerful physique was breathtaking, and Lu Yiye's ferocious blade techniques were equally chilling. The sense of aggression unleashed by the dancing longblade made one feel as if an ancient beast was raging. Even while observing in secret, they were assailed by the sharp aura, their skin tingling, as if fangs and sharp claws hung invisibly above their heads, ready to strike at any moment.

Each swing of the longblade produced dazzling light, and every movement of the body was a display of ultimate adaptability. Danger was evident in every inch of their struggle.

To Ling Wen, Bao Shi felt only one way: incredibly tough!

This was undoubtedly an advantage stemming from the opponent's physique. The well-defined, blocky flesh on this individual didn't just look like stone; the feedback from the Mountain-Shattering Blade's strikes genuinely told Ling Wen that he was indeed striking a stone.

And it was an incredibly tough, unyielding rock.

But he also knew that this was the opponent's skill. In a life-and-death struggle, one naturally uses every means available. Just as he could leverage the advantages of his own physique, it was understandable for his opponent to employ some unconventional tactics in battle. If he couldn't adapt, that was his own failing.

A fierce blade gleam flashed, and another swift strike descended. The speed was so great that Bao Shi had almost no time to react, yet he instinctively raised an arm to block the ferocious blow.

Just as he managed to stabilize himself and tried to regain his stance, Ling Wen's Gravity Stone Race ability manifested again, immediately disrupting Bao Shi's rhythm and frustrating him immensely.

Ling Wen could achieve this by relying on the evolution of his Gravity Stone Race ability and, more importantly, on his rich combat experience.

A round of furious attacks pushed Bao Shi back step by step. No matter how formidable his physique, it still had limits; he couldn't endlessly withstand Ling Wen's brutal slashes.

So now, what he needed to do was complex: find a way to control the battle's rhythm, making his opponent follow his pace. Only by doing so could he quickly defeat this opponent.

A true combat master knows to avoid the enemy's strengths and exploit their weaknesses during a fight.

What was happening? A look of doubt flashed in Bao Shi's eyes. Although their engagement hadn't been long, he felt he had already grasped Ling Wen's true capabilities. It was undeniable that this human indeed possessed strength utterly disproportionate to his size, which should have been enough to put pressure on him. Yet, the sense of lightness from that particular blade strike was strangely powerful.

Against an opponent like Bao Shi, merely relying on the sharpness of the Mountain-Shattering Blade was no longer realistic. The Mountain-Shattering Blade was inherently known for its sharpness, but even with Ling Wen's Sharpness Stone Race enhancement, its effect was…

Every race possesses its own advantages, but it's impossible for all advantages to be concentrated within a single race. While Lu Yiye possessed a physique so robust it was almost indestructible, his movements were consequently less agile. Of course, this was only relatively speaking.

The fierce battle continued unabated, and Bao Shi had completely fallen into a disadvantaged position. Although he fought back desperately, it was futile; everyone could see he was like a cornered beast.

On his chest, the Blood-Dyed Stone Race ability had already spread out. As a drop of essence blood burst, the Mountain-Shattering Blade enveloped Bao Shi in continuous blade light.

For a master of Stone Race abilities, especially given Ling Wen's familiarity with close-quarters combat, controlling the battle's rhythm was actually not difficult.

As a result, defending left and right, not a single blade strike could be fended off, and he completely became a target for attacks.

Gasps of shock came from all directions. Everyone was stunned by this scene, having thought Lu Yiye's previous performance was his limit. Who knew he still had trump cards?

The cultivators secretly observing watched with wide eyes, secretly exclaiming in satisfaction. It had to be said that such an observation greatly benefited almost everyone, making them clearly realize the enormous gap between themselves and those top-ranked, true prodigies.

Throughout his cultivation, he had always upheld one principle: a dead opponent is the best opponent!

Bao Shi raged. For a race that prided itself on its formidable strength, such suppression was undoubtedly intolerable. With a roar, he suddenly stood up.

However, the exhilaration in his heart did not diminish his fighting spirit or killing intent; instead, it made them burn even brighter. Such a worthy opponent naturally deserved his full effort, to be slain on the spot, only then could today's battle be considered perfect.

To ensure a single strike was effective, Ling Wen evolved his Gravity Stone Race ability to eight layers. This was the limit he could achieve in an instant; any more, and the formation of the Stone Race's suppression would become unstable.

It had to be said, Bao Shi's senses were incredibly sharp, because the moment Ling Wen's blade struck, it wasn't just a burst of his power; the Gravity Stone Race ability was also simultaneously manifested within the Mountain-Shattering Blade.

So, when facing his furious attacks, Bao Shi only needed limited defense to completely neutralize the offensive. Conversely, when Ling Wen faced Bao Shi's counterattacks, he was inevitably constrained. He was, after all, made of flesh and blood; taking a blow from Bao Shi would not end well.

He had no choice but to be unconventional.

At this moment, his entire body looked like a porcelain doll that had fallen to the ground, covered in spiderweb-like cracks. Even his bald head seemed fragmented and incomplete.

If this continued, he feared he would be shattered to pieces. Yet, he still didn't back down, continuing to grapple with Ling Wen, swinging his fists and turning every part of his body into a weapon to kill the enemy, as if even in death, he wouldn't let Ling Wen off easy.

The sound of metal clashing rang out, and a strong halo burst forth as spiritual energy surged. Bao Shi was about to counterattack, when he suddenly sensed something was amiss, because the lightness accompanying that blade strike was far greater than before.

Since the Eight Forms of Overlord Blade had failed to yield results, Ling Wen simply stopped employing complex blade techniques. Instead, he focused on pure, straightforward slashes, stabs, and thrusts, often supplemented by small tricks like consecutive slashes and quick flashes. His speed and strength were such that even when he used blade techniques, simply performing the most basic chops, every strike carried immense impact and lethality.

This was not merely suppression brought about by physical strength; it was more like the eruption of another mysterious energy.

Gasps of astonishment secretly emanated from all sides. Since the battle began, Ling Wen had been suppressed in terms of strength. But at this very moment, the observing cultivators actually witnessed Bao Shi being suppressed, which was truly incredible.

Ling Wen was already prepared. He moved forward, his aura suddenly rising significantly, with a faint red blood mist swirling around his entire body.

Such fighting spirit and perseverance earned the solemn respect of all observing cultivators!

"Too much, this is unbearable!" Bao Shi was clearly immersed in the fight, constantly swinging his fists against Ling Wen's longblade while shouting loudly. He had encountered many opponents in the Grand Beginning Realm, but never had an opponent managed to hold out against him for so long. Those with strength rarely entangled with him, which meant that for over two months, he hadn't had a truly satisfying and intense battle.

The heaviness of his blade technique made even Lu Yiye's eyes widen in surprise. His body was suddenly pressed down, almost forcing him to one knee.

He suddenly realized that Lu Yiye from the Nine Heavens Realm was no good. He had thought he encountered an exciting opponent he could go all out against, but who knew this person constantly employed tricky tactics, truly lacking martial virtue.

For Ling Wen, once the battle's rhythm was under his control, Bao Shi was merely a target to be hit. His physique was indeed incredibly robust, but his weakness was also obvious: he wasn't agile enough.

He always believed in one principle: there was no unbreakable defense in this world. Bao Shi was only at the Divine Sea Realm. Although he possessed a massive physical advantage that other races lacked, as long as the attacking force was sufficient, the protection afforded by his powerful physique could still be broken.

His own power was already incomparably ferocious, and combined with the burst of the Gravity Stone Race ability, that's what made Bao Shi suffer a hidden loss.

His encounter with Ling Wen today undoubtedly compensated for the regret in his heart, and it made him even more grateful that he had followed the Wheel of Reincarnation Tree's guidance to come here.

The situation changed in an instant. The battle, which had seemed evenly matched, was unbalanced at that moment. What no one expected was that Ling Wen was the one gaining the upper hand.

Originally, many people came here with skepticism, thinking there must have been something wrong with Lu Yiye's achievements. However, after witnessing this astonishing battle firsthand, everyone knew that even if there truly were issues with his achievements, Lu Yiye's ranking was well-deserved.

But the more this happened, the more furious he became. The more furious he got, the more constrained his responses became. Often, a blade strike he thought was powerful and heavy was actually just a feint, while a strike he considered no threat was Ling Wen's full-power burst.

However, in that instant, the extremely light pressure suddenly vanished without a trace. His prepared counterattack fell on empty air, leaving Bao Shi incredibly frustrated. Although he forced himself to stand up, he couldn't help but stumble.