Chapter 1972: Elite Duel

Li Ruyue altered her incantation, and the two massive blue waves blurred, instantly transforming into two colossal blue hands. These hands clapped towards Chen Xin from both sides, threatening to crush him into a pulp.

Chen Xin, already prepared, swung the golden giant staff in his hand forcefully around him. The staff's formidable sweep generated a thunderous wind and an overwhelming momentum, unleashing a dense flurry of staff shadows.

A tremendous roar erupted as the two blue hands suddenly burst apart.

Chen Xin's body flickered, becoming an afterimage as he sped directly towards Li Ruyue.

Li Ruyue frowned, her elegant hand flipping. A blue light shimmered, and a small, misty blue mirror appeared in her grasp. Its surface was uneven, and its edges were adorned with delicate patterns.

With a flash of spiritual light, countless blue runes emerged from the mirror's surface, and a hazy blue mist flew out, enveloping Chen Xin.

The void in front of Li Ruyue emitted a peculiar buzzing sound.

As Chen Xin closed in within a hundred *zhang* of Li Ruyue, his speed abruptly decreased. Enveloped by the blue mist, he immediately came to a halt, as if frozen in place.

Chen Xin's eyes darted around, and a brilliant golden light erupted from his body. His arms significantly broadened, and the golden giant staff, like a sharp sword, tore through the blue mist, freeing him from its hold.

His form flickered, and he suddenly appeared before Li Ruyue, raising the golden giant staff high and bringing it down upon her.

Li Ruyue's expression shifted slightly. Her hands swiftly moved through the air, causing a light blue barrier to materialize, enveloping her entire body.

With a muffled thud, the golden giant staff struck the light blue barrier, which immediately caved in and distorted.

Chen Xin let out a soft snort as the golden giant staff glowed intensely. The light blue barrier shattered like foam, and Li Ruyue was obliterated by the golden staff, dissolving into specks of blue light.

He frowned, extending his divine sense to search for any trace of Li Ruyue.

A blue light illuminated a section of the void a thousand *zhang* away, and Li Ruyue reappeared, holding a misty, water-element command banner.

Just as Chen Xin was about to employ other techniques, a blue light shone above his head, and a small, exquisite blue bell materialized. It shimmered with spiritual light, clearly a low-grade Sky-Penetrating Spirit Treasure.

"Not good."

As Chen Xin prepared to dodge, the small blue bell suddenly emitted a resonant chime, causing the void to vibrate and warp.

He felt his head buzz, making him dizzy and disoriented.

Countless blue runes illuminated the surface of the blue bell, and its size rapidly expanded, descending to cover him.

Chen Xin grunted, a trickle of blood escaping the corner of his mouth. He then forcefully swept the golden giant staff, unleashing a flurry of heavy staff shadows to meet the colossal blue bell.

With a resounding crash, the colossal blue bell collided with the dense staff shadows and was immediately sent flying backward.

Chen Xin once again transformed into an afterimage, rushing directly towards Li Ruyue.

Just as Li Ruyue was about to evade, a thunderous shout roared in her ear: "Hmph!"

Li Ruyue felt dizzy and disoriented, losing her bearings.

Seizing this opportune moment, Chen Xin suddenly appeared before Li Ruyue, bringing the golden giant staff down squarely upon her.

With a muffled thud, Li Ruyue was utterly shattered by the golden giant staff, dissolving into specks of blue light and vanishing.

A flash of surprise appeared in Wang Changsheng's eyes; Li Ruyue's innate magical treasure must be exceptional, allowing her to employ such a bizarre evasion technique.

Several hundred *zhang* away, a dazzling blue light flared, and Li Ruyue reappeared. The spiritual glow of the blue command banner in her hand had noticeably dimmed.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, your cultivation is profound. I am truly impressed, and I concede."

Li Ruyue announced her concession. This was not a life-and-death battle, and many powerful treasures were restricted to avoid damaging goodwill between participants.

As Chen Xin was a body cultivator, ordinary treasures were ineffective against him, leaving Li Ruyue no choice but to concede.

"Fairy Li, you were gracious. What you employed must be your Li family's exclusive secret technique, the Profound Light Spirit Escape Grand Art, correct?" Chen Xin asked, puzzled.

Li Ruyue shook her head and replied, "Fellow Daoist Chen, you jest. This is not the Profound Light Spirit Escape Grand Art; it's merely a secret technique I performed using my innate magical treasure, the Sky Sea Banner. The Profound Light Spirit Escape Grand Art is far more formidable than this technique; the difference between them is like heaven and earth."

Chen Xin realized and nodded.

The cyan barrier dissipated, and Li Ruyue gracefully flew to the side.

"I, Zhao, will contend with Fellow Daoist Chen."

Zhao Gang transformed into a streak of light, landing opposite Chen Xin, his eyes gleaming with fervent excitement.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao is one of the Eighteen Elite of Divine Weapon, and I fear Fellow Daoist Chen will find this opponent challenging," Li Rufeng commented, noting that all major sects have key disciples they groom, and both Zhao Gang and Shen Tianhong were among those specially cultivated by their respective factions.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao, since we are both body cultivators, let's test our strength! How about we decide the victor with a single punch?" Chen Xin narrowed his eyes and proposed.

"Very well, one punch it is."

Zhao Gang readily agreed. Countless red runes illuminated his body, and a crimson flame suddenly erupted from his right fist. With a whooshing sound, he charged directly towards Chen Xin.

Chen Xin showed no fear. His right fist, enveloped in a layer of dazzling golden light, met his opponent's attack.

The two fists collided, immediately unleashing a powerful shockwave that made the stone bricks on the ground tremble, causing their runes to flash.

Chen Xin and Zhao Gang both roared simultaneously, and the spiritual light on their bodies flared. They both instinctively retreated backward.

Chen Xin staggered back four steps, while Zhao Gang only retreated two. This clearly indicated Zhao Gang's superiority over Chen Xin.

This was not surprising, as Zhao Gang, being a prime cultivation target of the Divine Weapon Sect, had received far more cultivation resources than Chen Xin.

The overt internal strife between Zhenhai Palace's two major factions somewhat hindered the cultivation of their disciples.

"You were gracious, Fellow Daoist Chen." Zhao Gang cupped his fists and said, then looked towards Shen Tianhong and the others, asking, "Which fellow Daoist is willing to offer me guidance?"

"I shall come to experience Fellow Daoist Shen's divine abilities."

Shen Tianhong leaped and flew to face Zhao Gang, his expression composed.

"Heh heh, I, Zhao, have long wanted to spar with Fellow Daoist Shen. Fellow Daoist Shen, you must be careful, for I will not hold back." Zhao Gang chuckled, his expression zealous.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao, unleash whatever divine abilities you possess!" Shen Tianhong stated calmly, appearing supremely confident.

Zhao Gang unclipped the two small red axes from his waist. The spiritual light on his spirit boots flared, and he vanished into an afterimage, instantly reappearing before Shen Tianhong, his red axes sweeping down towards him.

Before the red axes could descend, a fierce gust of wind enveloped Shen Tianhong.

Shen Tianhong's form flickered, and he instantly split into ten identical figures, each with the same aura and appearance.

"An illusion!"

Zhao Gang snorted lightly, and the two small red axes in his hands blazed with spiritual light as he swept them horizontally around him.

A flash of red light, and hundreds of red axe blades swept forth, hacking towards the ten Shen Tianhongs.

A tremendous boom echoed as the ten Shen Tianhongs were shattered by the hundreds of red axe blades, dissolving into specks of spiritual light and vanishing.

Zhao Gang frowned, extending his divine sense.

"Is Fellow Daoist Zhao looking for me?"

A gentle male voice suddenly emanated from behind him.

Zhao Gang instinctively swung his axes behind him, sending dozens of red axe blades flying, but there was no one there.

He inwardly cursed, "This is bad," as a massive force struck him. He was sent flying backward, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood.