Chapter 1325: Walking on the Waves

From the moment I finished speaking until I broke through and endured the lightning tribulation, exactly eleven breaths had passed. This was one more than I had promised, and the fact that my opponent didn't seize the opportunity to launch a sneak attack was a significant act of kindness. I must repay this kindness, no matter what!

"What did you say?" Zhang Yunfeng's teeth ground so hard they felt like they would shatter; he felt as if he was about to explode. He had just been so thoroughly beaten that he didn't know up from down, and now Zhang Xuan was openly offering to let him have three free moves. It was blatant contempt!

"Go ahead and attack. I won't retaliate for three moves!" With his hands clasped behind his back, Zhang Xuan smiled faintly.

"You're asking for death!" Zhang Yunfeng could no longer restrain himself. Within the Zhang Clan, while his talent wasn't among the very best, he was always known for his composure. This was precisely why Zhang Qian had asked for his help in seeking revenge, and he hadn't rushed to commit. Yet, even his renowned composure had shattered. This fellow in front of him seemed to know exactly what would irk his opponent and spoke it precisely, driving people half-mad with rage and making them wish to tear him to shreds.

His body shot forward, stepping onto the stage. Though standing on the smooth, elevated platform, he moved as if treading on waves, not fast, but with an overwhelming momentum reminiscent of surging tides, compelling an opponent to face him. In their previous clashes, he had maintained his dignified stance and never initiated an attack. Now, however, his proactive move immediately revealed a different side.

"That's the Zhang Clan's Wave-Treading Movement Technique!"

"The Wave-Treading Movement Technique, it's said, was developed by a senior from the Zhang Clan who, while walking by a river, observed water striders moving along ripples. It's not merely agile; more importantly, it allows one to dodge and attack in sync with incoming force, much like standing firm on a wave, no matter how turbulent."

"This technique bears some resemblance to the Shadow-Following Movement Technique, but it's far more profound and grand!"

"By employing this technique, it seems Zhang Yunfeng is finally getting serious!"

"That Zhang Xuan is likely to lose... while his recent breakthrough was astounding, the initial stage of the Nascent Phantasm realm is still too low for this fight!"

A buzz of discussion spread through the crowd. While Zhang Xuan's recent breakthrough had astonished everyone, they generally believed it was due to sufficient prior accumulation, with this moment simply being the final push. Although the breakthrough was dramatic, his actual combat strength still lagged considerably behind that of the Zhang Clan's genius.

"Fall!" Upon reaching a distance of ten meters, Zhang Yunfeng unleashed a palm strike from mid-air, pressing down. This palm strike appeared unremarkable, yet to his opponent, it felt like a torrent of turbid waves, seemingly blotting out the sunlight and imparting an overwhelming sense of irresistibility. It was a Saint Tier, mid-grade martial art... the Sky-Sifting Palm!

Completely enraged, he held nothing back. Combining his martial art with his domain, Zhang Yunfeng's initial strike made the entire stage feel as if it had plunged to the seabed, where any attempt to move would be subject to his control.

"Not bad!" With a faint smile, Zhang Xuan's hands remained clasped behind his back. He subtly flickered, as if the ground beneath him had contracted, instantly evading the lethal attack and appearing on the other side.

Having broken through to the initial stage of the Nascent Phantasm realm, his combat power had more than doubled once again. Although he hadn't yet fully tested his new strength, he knew that if he truly exerted himself, Zhang Yunfeng would be no match. It was precisely this confidence that allowed him to concede three moves without the slightest hint of tension.

While he only possessed Heavenly Dao cultivation techniques for the Primordial Spirit realm, he had studied numerous secret arts of the Nascent Phantasm realm in the Qianchong Empire's Black Market and had even acquired some from Ji Lingfeng's storage ring. Although these hadn't coalesced into true Heavenly Dao techniques, they were remarkably close. Coupled with his intense cultivation during this period, his accumulation was more than sufficient, allowing him to successfully break through in one go when combined with the potent Frost Spirit Liquid. He had even surpassed the half-step Nascent Phantasm realm, reaching the pseudo-Nascent Phantasm stage.

As for enduring the tribulation, having already experienced the Conferred Saint Tribulation and cultivated the Heavenly Dao Witch Soul Art, his Primordial Spirit was already of pure yang essence. The lightning tribulation, which everyone spoke of with dread, was, for him, the simplest part. This was why he appeared to be "bathing" in the air. In truth, it wasn't a deliberate show of arrogance, but merely an attempt to distribute the lightning evenly across his Primordial Spirit in the shortest possible time, allowing it to be tempered more effectively. Even so, it still took one breath longer than planned... leaving him rather embarrassed. Regarding his colossal soul, he had used techniques from the Void Heaven Book to shrink it, all in the interest of maintaining a low profile. Otherwise, if a ten-meter-tall soul had directly manifested, the lightning tribulation would likely have been frightened away.

"Escaping? Halt right there!" Seeing Zhang Xuan flicker away, Zhang Yunfeng's eyes narrowed, and he pointed a finger through the air. Sword intent tore through the air. His single finger demonstrated that his comprehension of the Sword Dao was formidable, having reached the realm of Upper Sword Heart. Before the sword qi reached him, it abruptly burst apart, forming hundreds of tiny sword qi strands that pierced forth from all directions.

"That's a martial art too?" He had thought his opponent merely flicked his finger casually, but unexpectedly, it was a martial art. It began as a single stream of sword qi, but upon nearing, it exploded. While its power was somewhat diluted, it was designed to induce immediate panic and disarray. In duels between experts, psychological advantage is crucial. Once such an emotion surfaces, there are numerous ways to achieve victory. However, while this move was certainly effective against others, it held little utility against Zhang Xuan. His body flickered again, reappearing on the other side of the elevated platform. All of his opponent's moves had, once again, missed their mark.

"Can you only dodge?" After two consecutive attacks, still unable to even graze his opponent, Zhang Yunfeng could no longer hold back and let out a furious roar.

"I said I would let you have three moves, and I will!" Zhang Xuan replied with a faint smile.

"You..." His face flushed red, Zhang Yunfeng pressed forward. This time, his speed was several times faster than before. While still unable to match Zhang Xuan's Limitless Walker technique, it vastly surpassed ordinary movement arts.

"Such incredible speed! What kind of movement technique is that?"

"It's the highest realm of the Wave-Treading Movement Technique: Traceless Wave-Treading!"

"To think he's cultivated it to such a level! He truly is a genius!"

Those who recognized the technique were all filled with astonishment. The Wave-Treading Movement Technique is an exceptionally difficult martial art to master, demanding not only innate talent but also countless hours of personal refinement. To have reached its peak, the Traceless realm, at such a young age, speaks volumes of his astounding talent.

Under the astonished gazes, Zhang Yunfeng closed the distance to less than five meters. The air shrieked, and his domain instantly unfurled, engulfing Zhang Xuan. Zhang Xuan immediately felt a crushing pressure swarm him from all directions, as if invisible hands had seized him, rendering him unable to move.

"So powerful!" Zhang Xuan's expression grew solemn. For a typical Saint 6-dan initial stage cultivator, a newly formed domain feels like a gentle current, with a not-too-strong oppressive force. At the mid-stage, it's like a swamp; at the late stage, like mercury; and at the peak, like an inescapable cage... Each progression makes the power increasingly potent. Thus, while the range of domains might not vary significantly, their respective power levels are easily distinguishable. Although Zhang Yunfeng was also at the initial stage, his domain's power was formidable. Even for Zhang Xuan, breaking through it wouldn't be easy.

"Since you offered me three moves, you won't have a chance to strike back..." Enveloping Zhang Xuan, Zhang Yunfeng roared coldly and brought his palm down once more. This palm strike, amplified by the domain's power, was more than twice as ferocious as the previous one. Even before it landed, it seemed capable of crushing both soul and body, extinguishing any thought of resistance. Looking up, Zhang Xuan felt as if he was engulfed by dark clouds, and with the domain's restrictions, escape seemed impossible.

"Under normal circumstances, if I didn't retaliate against this palm strike, I certainly couldn't withstand it. But now..." With a faint smile and not a hint of tension on his face, Zhang Xuan still didn't retaliate. Instead, he slightly contracted his body and shielded his vital points.

"Is he planning to endure it head-on?"

"Even a Domain expert would struggle against Zhang Yunfeng's attack. Taking it head-on like that... won't he be killed instantly?"

"I don't know... but that fellow's audacity is simply too great..."

Witnessing his actions, everyone present was momentarily stunned. Within one's own domain, martial arts unleash double their usual power. The Sky-Sifting Palm just now was already terrifying, and now he wasn't even dodging... he could very well be killed on the spot.

"Should we intervene...?" Filled with anxiety, Elder Hanzhu couldn't help but glance over.

"No need... Zhang Yunfeng knows his limits! We'll act if it truly becomes necessary..." Elder Haoyu also clenched his fists, his eyes flickering with an unreadable light, lost in thought.

Under stunned gazes, Zhang Yunfeng's palm struck Zhang Xuan's back. A violent burst of qi erupted, sending chaotic air currents scattering in all directions.

"It's over..." Seeing that the recently breakthrough genius youth indeed hadn't dodged, many spectators believed he was surely doomed and couldn't help but cover their eyes. However, instead of a pained shriek, they heard a rapid explosion, followed by a muffled grunt from Zhang Yunfeng. Looking up, they saw the Zhang Clan genius, his palm trembling uncontrollably as he hastily retreated, his face ashen as if he had seen a ghost.

"What happened?" Those who had covered their eyes, having missed the preceding events, were utterly bewildered.

"It's the lightning tribulation!" A Master Teacher exclaimed, filled with excitement.

"The lightning tribulation?"

"Precisely. Master Zhang's primordial spirit had just swallowed all that lightning from the sky. He didn't dissipate it; instead, it permeated his entire body. When Zhang Yunfeng's attack landed, not only was it blocked by the lightning, but he also suffered a backlash! Look at his pale face; his primordial spirit must have been damaged!" The Master Teacher who had been observing closely explained excitedly.

"Lightning tribulation covering his entire body, used to counter attacks?" Everyone present reeled in disbelief.

While absorbing lightning into the body to temper both flesh and primordial spirit could indeed yield temporary benefits, prolonged exposure would undoubtedly cause immense harm. But... once it had entered his body, releasing it would be incredibly difficult, let alone doing so in the midst of combat. At that very moment, Zhang Yunfeng's palm made contact, and with a single touch, it absorbed the lightning. This not only gave him an electric shock but also inadvertently resolved the hidden danger for Zhang Xuan... killing two birds with one stone.

"Could it be... that he had already anticipated Zhang Yunfeng would use palm techniques, and deliberately offered to concede three moves... actually intending to use his opponent's strength to better temper his primordial spirit and physical body, and simultaneously draw out the remaining lightning?" Someone exclaimed, the realization dawning.

All the experts present were filled with a mixture of horror and disbelief. If this was truly deliberate, it meant not only precise calculation but also an extreme, almost horrifying, understanding of lightning, Zhang Yunfeng's strength, and his behavioral patterns! Otherwise, even a slight miscalculation would have resulted in severe injury for him, not Zhang Yunfeng!

"Is he even human?" Swallowing hard, the many geniuses who comprehended the implications of this move exchanged terrified glances, a deep sense of panic surfacing within them. High talent was one thing, but to possess such a devilish intellect and rock-solid composure... Even if they faced him, could they truly hope to win?