Chapter 358: All Flaws

Island in the Lake.

When Chen Mobai arrived, the people sparring in the arena all consciously quickened their pace, wanting to finish their matches quickly and yield the stage.

Every upcoming match would be a peak-level duel between Foundation Establishment realm cultivators from the Immortal Sect.

If they could learn even a little from these spars, they would undoubtedly see significant improvement.

On the platform of the Martial Arts Academy, Zhuang Jialan said with a look of shame.

During this time, Sun Daoji, in an attempt to gather intelligence, even challenged Lu Qiulong, but was rejected by the latter.

To save his peak condition for Chen Mobai, Lu Qiulong no longer cared about his reputation.

“Then I’ll make him use it today. Make sure you film it well.”

Chen Mobai said with a smile, leaving Zhuang Jialan at a loss for words.

Isn't filming this so that you can gather more intelligence on your opponent?

Now, the two great academies, Kunpeng and Butian, along with several top-ranked academies, had clearly united to target Chen Mobai. From Daoist Ling onwards, they had already disregarded all pretense of fairness.

Today, Lu Qiulong, for the past three days, had only chosen three very ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators to warm up.

But now, he had not only cleanly shaved his stubble but also changed into a white tight-fitting vest, black trousers, and cloth shoes, revealing his heavily muscled shoulders and arms. Standing at the forefront of the True Spirit Academy's platform, he looked like a furnace of surging vitality.

Just standing there, he exuded a powerful, robust, and imposing visual impact.

“I’ve waited a long time for this day.”

Lu Qiulong spoke to Chen Mobai. A striped tiger slowly rose from his feet, standing nearly two meters tall, exuding a fierce aura that made the other Foundation Establishment cultivators from True Spirit Academy on the platform shiver.

“A long time? Wasn’t it just two days ago?”

Chen Mobai looked puzzled upon hearing this. He had only challenged Lu Qiulong two days prior.

“That defeat in Lesser Scarlet Heaven was my second defeat since graduation. The first opponent was Lan Haitian, and I accepted that loss wholeheartedly.”

“In other words, you’re not convinced by your loss to me, then.”

Chen Mobai tilted his head slightly, indicating he didn't quite understand Lu Qiulong’s words.

“Precisely. I am utterly, extremely, completely unconvinced!”

Lu Qiulong used three adjectives to emphasize his feelings.

“I see. So, when you said 'a long time,' you meant since you lost to me in Lesser Scarlet Heaven. What a petty man you are.”

Chen Mobai pouted. Lu Qiulong’s eye twitched upon hearing this, feeling that from now on, the term 'petty' might follow him for a long time.

“Enough talk, let’s begin!”

Feeling that he was no match for Chen Mobai in a war of words, Lu Qiulong immediately cut short their preliminary verbal sparring.

His powerful legs pushed off the platform, causing the supporting branches to bend into an arc. Then, he launched himself like a cannonball, flipping twice in mid-air before landing heavily on the lake surface.

With a thunderous crash!

The entire lake surface beneath the triangular arena where Lu Qiulong landed was churned up, revealing thick, gnarled tree roots at the bottom of the lake, like coiled dragons.

A towering, striped shadow also descended from the sky, standing lazily beside Lu Qiulong.

“Your cultivation is still a bit lacking; you can’t even make heavy things seem light.”

Chen Mobai slowly descended, hovering in mid-air, waiting for the churned lake water to settle, all the while not forgetting to comment.

“It’s not that I can’t do it; it’s just that I want to pour all my essence, qi, and spirit into focusing on you, so I didn’t want to waste a single shred of spiritual sense.”

After saying this, Lu Qiulong raised his right fist towards Chen Mobai.

Whoosh!

Chen Mobai felt his vision blur. Lu Qiulong, along with his massive fist, had already filled his entire field of view.

With a 'bang,' a wisp of light red smoky cloud gas exploded at Chen Mobai’s glabella.

This was the cloud shield formed by the Scarlet Mist Cloud Silk clashing with Lu Qiulong’s fist. Although it countered strength with softness and blocked the punch, the magic artifact was only a low-grade second-tier item. When facing power beyond its limits, there was always a point where it couldn't hold up.

Lu Qiulong’s second punch followed instantly. Chen Mobai’s eyes lit up, and a formless, invisible thought-blade, though launched later, arrived first, striking towards his opponent’s Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness.

However, this tactic had already been exposed when he dealt with Daoist Ling, so Lu Qiulong was well-prepared.

A tiger's roar, like thunder, shattered the two thought-blades that had just burst from Chen Mobai’s eyes, before they could even slice into Lu Qiulong’s Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness.

Chen Mobai’s brows furrowed slightly. He glanced at the Supreme Ferocious Tiger wagging its tail not far away, then green electrical light flashed from the five fingers of his palm, condensing into a ball of lightning, which directly confronted Lu Qiulong’s incoming punch.

But at this moment, a massive tiger paw, carrying an eerie platinum aura, appeared out of nowhere at Lu Qiulong’s chest, helping him block Chen Mobai’s Azure Wood Divine Thunder.

This big cat is so fast!

Chen Mobai was slightly startled by this sight. The afterimage of the Supreme Ferocious Tiger still remained in his vision, but its true form had already rushed between the two, helping Lu Qiulong block the Azure Wood Divine Thunder.

It even flicked its tail like a whip towards Chen Mobai, but was struck back by a flash of sword light.

At the same time, the dazzling azure electrical light made contact with the platinum aura, erupting in a blinding radiance. However, it seemed to be suppressed, its power gradually weakening, until it was even pushed back by the tiger’s paw.

Amidst the whooshing sound, Lu Qiulong’s fist struck down once more.

Although it was two against one, Chen Mobai remained exceptionally calm. His eyes gleamed as he used his Spirit-Piercing Eyes to capture his opponent’s movements. His spiritual sense manipulated the scattered cloud-qi of the Scarlet Mist Cloud Silk to form a shield once more, blocking another punch.

However, on the surface, he had fallen into a disadvantage.

This scene made hundreds of Foundation Establishment true cultivators show expressions of excitement.

Indeed, as long as his third-tier lightning techniques could be defended against, the chief disciple of the Martial Arts Academy was merely an ordinary genius, completely unable to overpower the top warriors of the same realm.

Lu Qiulong pushed his speed to the limit, making it seem as if three or four people were punching and kicking Chen Mobai.

If not for the Scarlet Mist Cloud Silk being refined to respond to his will and change shape at will, Chen Mobai would probably have been injured.

“President!”

On the platform of the Martial Arts Academy, Zhuang Jialan looked worried at this sight. Although she knew Chen Mobai still had his Sword Fiend unused, if it were exposed here, it would be even harder to defeat subsequent opponents.

“Don’t worry, the situation is completely under his control.”

Bian Jingchun said. Sun Daoji and Chi Shicheng also appeared completely at ease. The three Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer cultivators clearly saw that while Lu Qiulong’s offense was fierce, every punch and kick held back about thirty percent of his strength.

As for Chen Mobai, it went without saying that he was merely testing his opponent’s offensive power, with most of his energy focused on the Supreme Ferocious Tiger.

The occasional casual bursts of sword light, mixed with flashes of bright azure lightning, demonstrated his effortless mastery.

“My patience is limited. If this is all you’ve got, you might still lose unwillingly today, you know.”

After twenty moves, Chen Mobai suddenly spoke.

Then he opened his mouth and spat out a wisp of Azure Yang Fire.

He didn’t use his Sword Fiend; he merely used the refined Azure Yang Fire to condense into a sword light, like a faint green fiery thread spewing from the corner of his mouth. In an instant, it pierced through the platinum aura’s defense, leaving a deep, bone-scorching black sword mark on Lu Qiulong’s crossed arms.

A tall, dark shadow, carrying a foul wind and malevolence, lunged towards Chen Mobai. This was a peak second-tier spirit beast, inherently possessing a powerful bloodline that could control both metal and wind attributes. Its spiritual power and vital energy were more immense than any Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer cultivator present.

Chen Mobai, facing the lunging Supreme Ferocious Tiger, maintained an unperturbed expression.

After spitting out the Azure Yang Fire, he raised his right hand and touched the Flying Sparrow Hairpin tucked into his high ponytail.

Just as an earth-shattering sword strike was about to be unleashed, the Supreme Ferocious Tiger actually halted its advance. Its tiger face showed a very human-like expression of apprehension as it retreated to Lu Qiulong’s side.

“The color of your sword light has changed?”

Lu Qiulong glanced at the wounds on his arms caused by the Azure Yang Fire sword light. His spiritual power and vital energy surged throughout his body, forcing out wisps of faint green flames.

“I’ve made a slight step forward in the way of the sword.”

Chen Mobai spoke the truth, but Lu Qiulong merely thought the sword light had become more powerful.

“You’re right. Probing is just a waste of time for us.”

As he spoke, most of the injuries on Lu Qiulong’s arms had already healed. Chen Mobai floated in mid-air with his hands behind his back, seemingly waiting for his opponent to recover.

Did he want his opponent to be defeated when at their strongest and most confident? As expected of him.

Seeing this scene, this thought surfaced in the minds of the Foundation Establishment true cultivators, deepening their impression of the Martial Arts Academy’s chief disciple’s arrogance.

“Because my cultivation is not as profound as this old friend’s, after spirit-beast fusion, my body will be filled with its demonic qi, and my spiritual sense will also be affected. I can only stop once its power has been unleashed to a level lower than my own spiritual power.”

Lu Qiulong spoke. At the same time, the Supreme Ferocious Tiger shook its head slightly and nudged him, seemingly urging him not to use this move.

“Old friend, just let me be willful this one last time.”

Lu Qiulong reached out and stroked the 'King' character mark on the Supreme Ferocious Tiger’s forehead. The spirit beast shook its head again. In their previous exchange, it had already sensed Chen Mobai’s terrifying sword light, especially its fire attribute, which was most restraining to it.

The chances of victory in this battle were not high.

“Don’t let me be a man who breaks his word.”

As Lu Qiulong said this, his complexion instantly turned pale, but then flushed intensely, his entire body growing larger, and veins bulging all over.

The Supreme Ferocious Tiger, seeing this scene, let out a long howl heavenward. After using this move, there was no turning back.

Accompanying a furious roar that shook heaven and earth, Chen Mobai saw the Supreme Ferocious Tiger transform into a large plume of platinum aura, mixed with black and red vital energy, adhering to Lu Qiulong’s body surface.

At the same time, the last remaining Azure Yang Fire on Lu Qiulong’s arms was completely expunged, and his wounds healed, with only faint traces of the charred sword marks still visible.

His aura, meanwhile, surged higher and higher, instantly breaking through to Foundation Establishment Eighth Layer, Ninth Layer, finally reaching consummation, and even continuing to ascend to the true ceiling of the Foundation Establishment realm.

As the platinum aura dispersed, a transformed Lu Qiulong appeared before Chen Mobai’s eyes.

He had swelled considerably, fine hairs sprouted on his skin, and a row of sharp tiger teeth gleamed coldly, making him look like an upright walking tiger.

“Excellent. This power makes even me tremble.”

Chen Mobai saw that in this state, Lu Qiulong’s spiritual power level was almost comparable to a consummate Pure Yang Scripture Foundation Establishment cultivator. This was already the peak of power achievable in the Foundation Establishment realm.

This sense of oppression was something he had never experienced in the Foundation Establishment realm.

“Are you ready to accept defeat?”

Lu Qiulong uttered this with a suppressed, muffled voice, then instantly teleported right before Chen Mobai, launching a heavy punch.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Chen Mobai’s body was struck as if by a high-speed tanker, knocked down from the air onto the lake surface, splashing up several huge plumes of water like skipping stones.

With a sonic boom, Lu Qiulong instantly teleported before Chen Mobai again. His massive hand, now adorned with sharp claws, pressed onto Chen Mobai’s forehead, seemingly about to force him to the bottom of the lake.

A sharp slice!

A wisp of azure sword light, like a thread, illuminated Lu Qiulong’s palm. Accompanied by fresh red blood, the half-hand Lu Qiulong had pressed on Chen Mobai’s face was sliced open.

Chen Mobai tilted his head slightly, and with that, he had already broken free from Lu Qiulong’s remaining half-hand.

But under intense pain, Lu Qiulong seemed to have completely unleashed his bestial nature. He clenched his other intact hand into a fist, wielding terrifying power capable of overturning the entire lake island, and heavily smashed it towards Chen Mobai’s chest.

Facing such an onslaught, Chen Mobai’s eyes glimmered, his expression calm. He spread the five fingers of his right hand, and five-colored Five Elements sword light intertwined to form a rain of swords, stabbing towards various parts of Lu Qiulong’s body.

However, a wave of platinum aura, like an armor of vital energy, covered Lu Qiulong’s entire body.

Just as Lu Qiulong thought this defense could easily block the Five Elements sword light rain, just as it had blocked the third-tier lightning technique before, pinprick-like pains began to spread throughout his body.

“Too bad, this isn’t your own power.”

Chen Mobai said calmly. With his Spirit-Piercing Eyes activated, he saw at least a dozen points of physical overload on Lu Qiulong’s body, caused by the disharmony between his spiritual power, demonic qi, and spiritual sense.

These were spread throughout his five viscera, six organs, and twelve meridians.

His Five Elements sword light rain targeted these precise spots; moreover, it specifically struck the vulnerable internal organs that were susceptible to his attacks.

With a 'bang,' the platinum aura covering Lu Qiulong’s entire body completely disintegrated, just like the misty cloud gas his punch had shattered earlier.

“If that’s the case, then at least it will be a mutual defeat!”

Seeing himself completely defenseless, Lu Qiulong, instead, shed all thoughts of evasion. He took a deep breath, suppressing the severe pain in his internal organs caused by the imbalance of the Five Elements, and channeled all remaining usable strength into his intact right fist and arm.

His already thick arm swelled further at this moment, with meridians bulging like earthworms, and even faint wisps of blood mist seeping from his pores, showcasing the immense power behind Lu Qiulong’s punch.

He even punched out rings of air.

However, with another 'slice!'

Chen Mobai, holding the Flying Sparrow Hairpin that he had unknowingly drawn, lightly swiped it before him with his left hand.

The Azure Yang Fire sword light flashed like a thread.

Lu Qiulong’s fist was also severed at the wrist.

Chen Mobai had originally expected an exciting duel between true men, but unfortunately, Lu Qiulong, despite his great reputation and possessing the strongest power after spirit-beast fusion, was…

“Full of flaws!”