Chapter 1971: Making Friends Through Martial Arts

"The Many-Eyed Race's divine abilities are formidable," Li Rufeng said with a wry smile. "My sister and I teamed up, but we only managed to injure two of them; they are simply too difficult to handle."

"They aren't that hard to deal with, as long as you disable their eyes," Wang Changsheng dismissed this idea. He had already identified many weaknesses of the Many-Eyed Race. "All their divine abilities stem from their eyes."

"That may be true, but it's still not easy to disable the Many-Eyed Race's eyes," Li Rufeng sighed. Different members of the Many-Eyed Race possess different divine abilities. Some Many-Eyed beings can immobilize artifacts with their eyes, while others can petrify them. It is said that Many-Eyed beings at the Integration Stage can even cast a secret art that tears through space.

"The Many-Eyed Race? They're much easier to handle than the Bone Race." A white-robed youth, nine feet tall, and a graceful young woman in a blue dress walked up.

Wang Changsheng's eyes flashed with surprise when he saw them. He had seen these two at Xuanguang Tower, but that was two years ago. Wang Changsheng had a particularly strong impression of them because they were disciples of the Xuanqing Sect.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, Fairy Han, allow me to introduce Junior Brother Wang and Junior Sister Wang," Chen Xin said, standing up and gesturing towards Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan.

"I am Shen Tianhong. It's a pleasure to meet Fellow Daoist Wang and Madam Wang."

"I am Han Rongrong. It's a pleasure to meet both of you, fellow Daoists."

The white-robed youth and the blue-dressed young woman quickly introduced themselves by name. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan followed suit. The four of them sat down, enjoying tea and conversation.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, have you fought against the Bone Race?" Wang Changsheng asked curiously. The Bone Race somewhat resembled bone cadavers, but with a key difference: Bone Race members were independent entities with their own thoughts, capable of communicating with people. Bone cadavers, on the other hand, were refined corpses that wouldn't develop sentience or communicate unless they reached a high cultivation level.

Shen Tianhong nodded, stating calmly, "I've killed several Bone Race members at the Nascent Soul Stage. Compared to them, the Many-Eyed Race is much easier to deal with." From his tone, eliminating Nascent Soul Stage Bone Race and Many-Eyed Race members seemed like a trivial matter.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, you might not know this, but Fellow Daoist Shen has already slain no less than ten Nascent Soul stage alien cultivators," Li Rufeng explained, his face filled with admiration.

"Hehe, Fellow Daoist Shen's illusionary arts are impossible to guard against," Chen Xin chuckled, praising him. "Only the Bone Race is slightly less susceptible."

"Illusionary arts!" A flicker of surprise passed through Wang Changsheng's eyes. When illusionary arts were mentioned, Wang Changsheng thought of Bai Xin and Bai Ling'er from the Eastern Desolate Lands. Their illusionary arts were quite powerful, though Wang Changsheng hadn't experienced them firsthand. Wang Ruyan, on the other hand, required some time to cast her illusions using musical compositions.

The Xuanqing Sect was one of humanity's foremost sects, so it was not surprising for a Nascent Soul cultivator to practice illusionary arts. However, Shen Tianhong's ability to eliminate multiple Nascent Soul stage alien cultivators demonstrated his profound powers.

"Fellow Daoist Wang and Madam Wang were able to eliminate two Nascent Soul Stage Many-Eyed Race members, which suggests your divine abilities are not weak. How about the three of us spar?" Shen Tianhong proposed, his face full of arrogance.

"Spar? I'm sufficient by myself," Wang Changsheng replied, unimpressed. Shen Tianhong was too arrogant, intending to take on two opponents by himself.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, I recommend you team up with Madam Wang," Han Rongrong reminded him, her face full of confidence. "Senior Brother Shen is one of our Xuanqing Ten Prodigies; even late Nascent Soul stage senior disciples might not be his match."

"Junior Brother Wang, don't be overconfident," Chen Xin advised via spiritual transmission. "Fellow Daoist Shen's divine abilities are considerable. While your divine sense is quite strong, Fellow Daoist Shen's illusionary arts are indeed formidable."

"Sparring? Haha, I've arrived at just the right time. Count me in!" A hearty male voice suddenly rang out. As soon as the words finished, a robust young man in a red shirt approached.

The red-shirted youth had a square face and bronze-colored skin, wearing a red fitted suit. Two small axes, glowing with an unstable red light, were tucked into his waist, and a faint murderous aura emanated from him. Judging from the insignia on his sleeve, he was clearly a disciple of the Divine Weapon Sect.

"I am Zhao Gang. It's a pleasure to meet all of you, fellow Daoists," the red-shirted youth said with a cupped-fist salute, appearing quite familiar and at ease.

Shen Tianhong narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed on Zhao Gang. "Are you Fellow Daoist Zhao?" he asked. "I heard you fought two beastmen to a standstill by yourself."

"Hehe, I'm far inferior to Fellow Daoist Shen," Zhao Gang replied. "Today's a good day; how about we spar? It's much more interesting to make friends through combat; just drinking tea and chatting is quite dull." Zhao Gang was eager to try, his gaze fervent, looking like a martial arts fanatic.

Wang Changsheng sized up Zhao Gang. He could naturally tell that Zhao Gang was a Body Cultivator. After arriving in the Xuanyang Realm, Wang Changsheng hadn't met many Body Cultivators. Chen Xin was one, and now Zhao Gang was another.

"Alright, then let's make friends through combat and have a spar," Chen Xin readily agreed. For cultivators, sparring with others and exchanging insights into their respective Daos had certain benefits for their cultivation. Shen Tianhong and Zhao Gang were both elite disciples of their respective sects. Sparring and exchanging insights with them was also a form of cultivation.

Wang Changsheng also agreed. Sparring with elite disciples from other sects could help one clearly assess their own strength.

"I know a place that's perfect for sparring," Li Rufeng said with a smile. "No one will disturb us there."

After about the time it takes to steep a cup of tea, the ten of them appeared in a Bluestone Plaza spanning ten thousand acres, which was paved with numerous blue stone slabs.

"Fellow Daoists, I'll go first!" Chen Xin leaped into the center of the Bluestone Plaza, his expression calm.

"Alright, let my sister have a go with Fellow Daoist Chen," Li Ruyue responded, leaping down into the center of the plaza.

Li Rufeng took out a pale-green circular token, injected spiritual power into it, and a beam of green light shot out, disappearing into the ground. Soon, countless abstruse runes emerged on the surface of the floor tiles, emitting a faint green glow. With a flash of green light, countless abstruse runes surged forth. After flying high into the sky, they suddenly transformed into a dense green light screen, covering the entire Bluestone Plaza. Wang Changsheng and the others watched the battle from outside the green light screen, allowing Chen Xin and Li Ruyue to fight without worry.

As the match began, Li Ruyue conjured a misty, water-elemental banner. She struck a spell into it, and the banner's surface brightened considerably. A large expanse of blue seawater surged out, instantly transforming into a deep blue river that enveloped and protected her. Li Ruyue formed a hand seal, and the deep blue river violently churned, whipping up huge water tornado waves. After a brief blur, it transformed into a torrent of blue water, rushing towards Chen Xin with a deafening tsunami-like roar.

Chen Xin showed no fear. With a flick of his right hand, a golden flash appeared, and a gleaming golden iron staff materialized in his grasp. After he injected spiritual power into it, the golden staff rapidly grew in size. He lightly flicked his wrist, and the air shrieked loudly. The staff's shadow moved like wind, and the colossal golden staff, like a white flood dragon amidst waves, charged directly towards the blue torrent.

With a thunderous roar, the blue torrent was struck in half by the golden staff, splitting into two separate blue giant waves, hundreds of feet high.