Chapter 1369: Knife and Fist Strike

Two hundred years ago, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan, along with other Nascent Soul cultivators, attacked the Ice Ape clan's ancestral land, killing a Nascent Soul stage Ice Ape.

This incident was in the past, and trade between humans and demons had since resumed. Today, however, Ao Qing brought it up again in front of so many people. Regardless, the Ice Ape clan needed to reclaim their honor, or it would be too humiliating. Additionally, Ao Qing also intended to use this opportunity to assert dominance over the human race.

With the Immortal Suppressing Pagoda appearing at the border, it was possible that the human race might try something. A show of strength was therefore quite necessary.

A white giant ape, three zhang tall, flew out. The white ape had a pointed snout, sunken cheeks, and cold eyes. Its aura was slightly stronger than Wang Changsheng's.

"A friendly spar?" Wang Changsheng narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "If Fellow Daoist Shi can withstand three moves from me, I'll concede. How about that?" He wanted to test his true strength. There's always someone stronger, and no one could guarantee there weren't demons with greater strength than the Zhenhai Ape. The Ice Ape clan possessed immense power. If Wang Changsheng won, his reputation would significantly increase; if he lost, there wouldn't be much harm.

"Three moves?" the ape scoffed. "Fellow Daoist Wang has quite the confidence. Three moves it is, but a mere spar is too dull. We should have something at stake. I'll wager a low-grade fourth-tier Yin beast's demon core." Even if he couldn't defeat Wang Changsheng, he was confident he could withstand three moves.

As Shi Hou spoke, he flipped his palm, and a palm-sized blue wooden box appeared in his hand. He opened the box, revealing a pitch-black spherical object inside.

Wang Changsheng's expression remained calm. He took out a crimson crystal and said, "This Crimson Moonstone is sufficient as a wager. Let me witness Fellow Daoist Shi's abilities."

The two flew into the distance, hovering hundreds of zhang apart in mid-air.

A series of cracking sounds emanated from Shi Hou's body as his physique more than doubled in size. He was clad in a dazzling golden chainmail that protected his entire body, and in his hand, he wielded a silver pumpkin hammer, five zhang in size. He had clearly come prepared for the challenge.

Wang Changsheng held five Sea-Stabilizing Pearls in his right hand. A large expanse of blue light emerged from his body, and countless blue water vapor instantly appeared.

Wang Changsheng smashed his fist towards the void. The blue water vapor seemed to be guided, surging in one direction and coalescing into a colossal blue fist, over a hundred zhang in size. Upon closer inspection, the blue fist was hazy with mist. Initially, there was nothing unusual. The blue giant fist lunged towards Shi Hou, causing ripples on the calm sea surface. As the blue fist moved, hundred-zhang-high waves began to rise from the tranquil ocean, and their volume continued to grow.

Accompanied by a piercing roar, the blue giant fist surged towards Shi Hou like a tsunami.

Shi Hou slammed his silver pumpkin hammer towards the void opposite him. Countless runes appeared on the hammer's surface. With a flash of silver light, a silver fist projection, over a hundred zhang in size, shot out, carrying bone-chilling cold as it met the incoming attack. Wherever the silver fist projection passed, the sea surface rapidly froze, simultaneously raising a monstrous wave.

Boom! The two colossal waves collided, exploding almost simultaneously with an earth-shattering roar. A visible shockwave spread outwards. On a nearby deserted island, earth and rocks shattered, trees snapped in half, and a mountain was pulverized into dust. The entire island was flattened, and all vegetation was uprooted.

A white ice wall, over a thousand zhang high, appeared on the sea surface, exuding bone-chilling cold. However, soon, several small cracks appeared on the ice wall's surface. The cracks continuously widened, and the white ice wall shattered into countless ice fragments. A blue giant fist flew out without warning, instantly appearing before Shi Hou.

Feeling an immense pressure bearing down on him, Shi Hou took a deep breath and swung his silver pumpkin hammer towards the blue giant fist.

Following an earth-shaking roar, the sea surface suddenly erupted. The seawater rapidly receded to both sides, raising thousand-zhang-high waves, and countless splashes of water flew everywhere.

A particular droplet of seawater suddenly flared with blue light. After a momentary blur, it transformed into Wang Changsheng's figure. Wang Changsheng abruptly appeared before Shi Hou, swinging his right fist towards Shi Hou's chest.

"Water Escape Technique!" Shi Hou reacted swiftly, emitting a strange roar and unleashing a billowing white sonic wave towards Wang Changsheng. Simultaneously, he swung his silver pumpkin hammer with a piercing whoosh, aiming for Wang Changsheng's head. Wherever the white sonic wave passed, the void froze, and a large expanse of ice shards appeared. The temperature within a hundred-zhang radius plummeted, as if one were trapped in an ice cellar.

With two thudding sounds, Wang Changsheng and Shi Hou were simultaneously sent flying backward. Shi Hou spat out a mouthful of blood, while Wang Changsheng's face flushed crimson. The white sonic wave swept over them, and the seawater rapidly froze.

Wang Changsheng took a deep breath and drew his Grand Vast Spirit-Slaying Blade. A ten-zhang-long blue blade light surged from the blade as he slashed it forward.

Rip! A piercing tearing sound filled the air, the void twisted, and the seawater churned violently. A deep sea rift, over a hundred zhang long and several tens of zhang deep, appeared.

A thousand-zhang-long blue blade qi flashed out, heading straight for Shi Hou. The deep sea rift rapidly expanded, reaching hundreds of zhang long and over a hundred zhang deep. The ocean seemed to be cleaved in two, and the wind raged with roaring sounds. The heaven-cleaving blade qi instantly shattered the white sonic wave.

Shi Hou's expression became solemn. He sensed the aura of death. Countless white cold mists emanated from his body, and his surface rapidly froze. A thick white battle armor appeared on him, encasing his entire body.

He slammed both fists towards the void. The void twisted, emitting a dull humming sound. Countless white snowflakes drifted down from the sky, suddenly transforming into a three-hundred-zhang-large white ice fist that met the incoming attack.

The white ice fist collided with the blue blade qi, instantly unleashing an invisible surge of energy. The void seemed to tear apart, emitting a piercing screech. The sea surface rapidly froze, and the ice layer spread quickly.

The two forces were in a stalemate. The blue blade qi rapidly froze. With a flash of blue light, a hundred-zhang-long blue blade qi shot out. The white ice fist shattered into countless ice fragments, and the blue blade qi instantly appeared before Shi Hou.

He swung the silver pumpkin hammer in his hand, meeting the attack with a whoosh.

He felt as if a colossal mountain had crashed into him. His body was sent flying backward uncontrollably, and he spat out a large mouthful of blood. A distinct crack appeared on the silver pumpkin hammer.

Wang Changsheng was panting, his face pale. This single strike had consumed seventy percent of his spiritual power. If Shi Hou could withstand it, Wang Changsheng would willingly concede.

Witnessing this, Ao Qing frowned, and Nascent Soul cultivators like Li Tianyang were stunned. They could clearly see that Wang Changsheng's strength surpassed Shi Hou's. Generally, human body cultivators were considered good if their physique could rival a demon beast of the same cultivation level. To exceed a demon beast of the same level, one either practiced a unique cultivation method or had numerous fortuitous encounters. Regardless of the reason, no one dared to underestimate Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng's second move was a desperate tactic. Only a demon race cultivator could have blocked it. Had it been a human Nascent Soul cultivator, they would likely have died from being struck by Wang Changsheng's punch.

Shi Hou felt his blood and qi surge within him, and a hint of dread flashed in his eyes. Without a word, he tossed the demon core to Wang Changsheng.

"I, Shi, accept my defeat. The past is the past."

Wang Changsheng put away the demon core, thinking to himself, "With this demon core, I can have Qing Qi refine a Yellow Springs Pill for Haitang to consume. Her cultivation will definitely improve."