Chapter 816: How Could It Be So Big

"Are you an eighth-rank?" Shi Tong looked at him cautiously. Given his cultivation, he wouldn't suffer any harm if the opponent were below eighth-rank, even if he stood still and let them strike him. However, the immense force just now nearly knocked his brains out. Such power was impossible unless it was an eighth-rank cultivating power from heaven and earth. He didn't even consider the possibility of the opponent being a ninth-rank. According to intelligence, this young man was merely a street ruffian who hadn't entered the cultivation world just a year or two ago. If the current facts weren't undeniable, he wouldn't dare to believe the opponent was already eighth-rank, let alone a ninth-rank, which was beyond his comprehension.

Zu An smiled faintly and said, "Take a guess."

Shi Tong scoffed. "I only suffered that loss because I was careless just now. It's truly a case of a small man getting his way, making you so smug." He wasn't overly concerned. His earlier defeat was mainly due to his carelessness and the opponent's extraordinary speed, likely a special movement technique. However, as an eighth-rank expert, he knew such a technique couldn't be maintained indefinitely. He simply needed to be more cautious.

Zu An sighed. "Losing is losing. Making excuses is the act of a weakling."

Shi Tong erupted in anger. "Then let's see how strong you truly are!"

[Anger value from Shi Tong: 444,444,444...]

No sooner had he spoken than he transformed into a human cannonball, hurtling towards Zu An.

Feeling the immense pressure, the Gu brothers finally breathed a sigh of relief. General Shi was finally serious. He had been at the peak of the eighth-rank for a long time and was undoubtedly far stronger than Zu An, who had only recently entered that rank. Despite this, a bitter envy gnawed at them. How could Zu An, whom they had always despised, have reached the eighth-rank? It would be ideal if, after Shi Tong captured him, they could interrogate him about his cultivation secrets. If they could also reach the eighth-rank… As this thought crossed their minds, their eyes gleamed with eagerness, and they secretly rooted for Shi Tong. Of course, the best outcome would be if both combatants were severely wounded. They hadn't forgotten that Shi Tong intended to have his way with Bi Linglong first, and since they both admired her, they certainly didn't want to see that happen.

While the brothers were lost in their thoughts, the two combatants had already engaged in a furious exchange. Their fists and feet clashed directly, with no fancy techniques, just raw power meeting raw power. Gao Ying and Pei You watched, wide-eyed, as Zu An held his own in a direct confrontation with Shi Tong. They finally realized that his previous victory over the Crown Prince of Qi was due to his genuine cultivation, and there was no mysterious master hidden in the shadows. Initially, they could follow the fighters' movements, but as the battle progressed, both combatants' speed increased dramatically, completely surpassing their visual perception. They could only vaguely discern two blurring figures moving back and forth, with waves of shockwaves from their blows radiating outwards.

Bi Linglong’s crimson lips parted in astonishment. She had tried her best to highly regard his abilities, yet she still underestimated him. To reach the eighth-rank at such a young age was truly unprecedented and perhaps unmatched in the future. The crucial point was that he seemed to have only cultivated for a short time… A blush slowly spread across her face as she pondered something.

"That's all you've got!" Shi Tong's scornful laughter suddenly echoed from the heart of the battle. Though initially cautious, after several exchanges, he realized that while the opponent's strength was considerable, it remained within his expectations, and their technique application wasn't particularly refined. "I'm done playing with you; prepare to die!" Hearing his words, Bi Linglong's beautiful face turned ashen. Was Zu An about to be defeated? Just then, with a thunderous crash, a figure was sent flying backward, slamming heavily onto the ground.

"Ah Zu..." Bi Linglong, frantic with worry, was about to rush forward, but she halted after her first step. The figure on the ground wasn't Zu An, but Shi Tong.

What was happening?

Not only her, but the Gu brothers, who had been poised to cheer, were utterly dumbfounded. Even Shi Tong wore a look of disbelief. "How is this possible?"

Zu An slowly emerged from the settling dust. "You fell before I even used my full strength. Who's playing whom now?"

He was now a ninth-rank, and with various divine skills, his true combat power significantly surpassed others at the same level, let alone an eighth-rank peak opponent. The reason he had fought Shi Tong to a seeming standstill earlier was because Zu An had advanced two ranks rapidly and felt his foundation was slightly unstable; he wanted to use the opportunity to solidify it. After all, it was hard to find an eighth-rank peak sparring partner, so naturally, he made the most of this unsolicited opportunity. Their recent close-quarters combat had further deepened his understanding of the power of heaven and earth and the higher realms.

Since he had accomplished his goal, there was no need to continue the charade. Little did Shi Tong know that Zu An had been serious the whole time. Since Shi Tong had been so arrogant, it was only fitting to show him a harsh lesson.

"Brat, how can you possess such high cultivation?!" Shi Tong slowly picked himself up from the ground. Indeed, the physical resilience of an eighth-rank peak expert was extraordinary. This was also the question on everyone else's mind: how could Zu An possess such high cultivation at such a young age, and apparently, his raw energy intensity seemed to surpass even that of the eighth-rank peak Shi Tong.

"You want to know? Beg me," Zu An said with a smile.

Shi Tong was speechless.

Everyone else was speechless.

How could this fellow be so irritating?

[Anger value from everyone: 666,666,666...]

"Hmph, what good is mere brute strength?" Shi Tong said coldly. "I'll show you what an eighth-rank cultivator truly means!" Having been caught off guard earlier, he decided to abandon close-quarters combat and instead utilize elemental abilities. While his young opponent might have reached the eighth-rank, Shi Tong was certain his control over elemental combat techniques couldn't compare.

No sooner had he spoken than a wind blade materialized before him, streaking towards Zu An in an instant. This wind blade was far more powerful than anything Shi Kun had previously unleashed. Six months ago, Zu An would have found it quite challenging to deal with. But now… He took a light step to the side, effortlessly dodging the attack.

"You can dodge one, but can you dodge thousands?" Shi Tong said icily.

No sooner had he spoken than countless wind blades converged densely upon Zu An, sealing off every possible escape route. Shi Tong's lips curled into a slight smirk. These wind blades were formed by harnessing the power of heaven and earth, and they consumed very little of his own vital energy. Conversely, blocking them would require his opponent to expend a significant amount of vital energy. Through this attrition, he could exhaust Zu An to death.

Facing the sky full of incoming wind blades, Zu An did not dodge. Instead, he extended his hand and drew a circle. A black hole seemed to appear in his palm, drawing in all the wind blades until they completely vanished within his grasp. He used the Taotie Devouring Heaven Art to absorb the vital energy imbued in the wind blades, then, leveraging his understanding of the power of heaven and earth, he converted them back into harmless wind elements. If his opponent continued to attack in this manner, they would essentially be supplying him with vital energy.

"What kind of combat technique is that?" Shi Tong was so astonished his jaw nearly hit the ground.

"You want to know? Beg me," Zu An replied, repeating his earlier answer.

"Insolent!" Shi Tong roared in fury. He spun rapidly, lunging at Zu An like a spiraling drill. Zu An raised a hand to block, and with a resounding thud, he was pushed back several steps. His brow furrowed. The opponent's spiral charge, powered by wind elemental ability, had an impact force many times greater than normal. It was clear that an eighth-rank peak master's application of power still held valuable lessons.

As his opponent attacked again, Zu An lightly tapped his toes, activated the Sunflower Phantom technique, and easily dodged. "Let's see how long you can keep dodging!" Shi Tong spun wildly, quickly conjuring small tornadoes around him. The immense wind pressure ripped the tent into shreds.

Bi Linglong hastily grabbed Gao Ying and Pei You by their collars and pulled them far away. The Gu brothers also scrambled to escape the danger. Zu An had initially wanted to seize the opportunity to experience his opponent's ultimate attack head-on, but with so many people unconscious in the camp, countless lives would be lost if the terrifying hurricane truly formed. He sighed. "Let's end this."

Shi Tong secretly sneered. At this point, whether the battle ended or not was no longer up to Zu An. Once his hurricane fully formed, it could render an area of several miles completely barren.

However, Shi Tong's expression suddenly froze. He found that he had lost his connection to the wind elements, and a deep chill permeated him.

*Snowflakes?*

He stared, momentarily stunned, at the falling snowflakes. How could it be snowing in the secret realm at this time of year? But in the next second, his face contorted in alarm as he immediately recognized the technique: "Snowflake Divine Sword!"

Unfortunately, it was too late. The small tornadoes before him were instantly frozen solid, and a layer of frost coated his entire body. Then, with a flash of cold light, he heard a snapping sound, as if something had shattered. He then saw a headless body, like an ice sculpture, standing nearby.

*Wait, why do those clothes look familiar?*

He quickly realized, and then his consciousness plunged into endless darkness. His final thought was: "How could the Snowflake Divine Sword be so incredibly powerful…?"