Chapter 1973: Wang Changsheng vs. Shen Tianhong, Wang Changsheng vs. Zhao Gang

Zhao Gang's face registered disbelief. He couldn't believe he had lost so quickly, having expected a drawn-out battle of three hundred rounds with Shen Tianhong.

"Thank you for the match, Fellow Daoist Zhao," Shen Tianhong said politely, cupping his fist at Zhao Gang.

Zhao Gang frowned, then looked towards Wang Changsheng and the others. They, in turn, all looked at Shen Tianhong, their faces filled with admiration.

"I've lost," Zhao Gang said, his voice tinged with bitterness and reluctance.

"Since Fellow Daoist Zhao has conceded, this spar concludes," Shen Tianhong's voice reached Zhao Gang's ears.

His vision blurred, and he found himself back on the bluestone plaza, completely unscathed. He looked at Wang Changsheng and the others, noticing their expressions of surprise, and it dawned on Zhao Gang.

He had been caught in an illusion, one that made him mistakenly believe he had lost to Shen Tianhong. In truth, Zhao Gang had not been defeated; he had simply been ensnared by a powerful illusion. Had this been a fight to the death, Zhao Gang would have already perished.

"Fellow Daoist Shen's techniques are profound; I am impressed," Zhao Gang said, cupping his fist in a respectful bow before stepping aside.

Wang Changsheng's face showed a thoughtful expression. It was his first time witnessing such a potent illusion. Throughout the entire spar, Shen Tianhong had effortlessly trapped Zhao Gang in an illusion. Shen Tianhong likely possessed some special treasure capable of subtly ensnaring cultivators of the same rank in an illusion. This was indeed a tricky ability.

Shen Tianhong turned, looking at Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan; his intention was clear.

"I'd like to spar with Fellow Daoist Shen," Wang Changsheng said, leaping and flying to stand before Shen Tianhong, his gaze calm.

Shen Tianhong nodded. His figure shimmered, splitting into ten, and ten replicas of Shen Tianhong rushed towards Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng flicked his sleeve, and nine Sea-Calming Orbs shot out, swirling around him, shrouded in mist. He changed his incantation, and each Sea-Calming Orb erupted with dazzling spiritual light. With a spin, a vast amount of seawater surged forth, rapidly forming an expansive azure ocean.

The azure ocean churned violently, forming a colossal whirlpool. This immense vortex spun rapidly, generating a powerful airflow that caused the floor tiles to tremble faintly and runes to flash. His strategy was simple: if he couldn't counter Shen Tianhong's illusions, he would resort to indiscriminate attacks.

Shen Tianhong's robes fluttered, and his hair danced in the wind. Frowning, he quickly summoned a snow-white orb. He struck it with an incantation, and the orb immediately glowed brightly. After a swift spin, countless white frigid currents surged forth.

The azure seawater instantly froze upon contact with the white frigid currents, becoming encased in ice. However, the ice quickly shattered, and a blue tornado, tens of thousands of feet in diameter, surged towards him.

Shen Tianhong changed his incantation again. The white orb transformed into a streak of white light and vanished into the blue tornado. The blue tornado visibly froze, transforming into a massive ice sculpture. With a deafening roar, the ice sculpture shattered into fragments, and the blue tornado engulfed Shen Tianhong's figure.

Wang Changsheng closed his eyes, using his divine sense to observe everything. He wasn't targeting Shen Tianhong specifically, but rather employing indiscriminate attacks.

"That's a good move, Fellow Daoist Wang, indiscriminate attack," Li Rufeng remarked.

"It's only effective within a certain range here. In a true life-or-death battle, there would be no such limitations," Zhao Gang countered. "Even so, it won't be easy for Fellow Daoist Wang to defeat Fellow Daoist Shen. The illusions Shen Tianhong wields are far from ordinary."

Wang Ruyan smiled faintly. "Is that so? I, for one, believe my husband can defeat Fellow Daoist Shen. Let us wait and see!" While others might not have known, she was well aware of the power of Wang Changsheng's divine sense. A strong divine sense was certainly helpful in resisting illusions, and on top of that, Wang Changsheng was also wearing a spiritual treasure that countered divine sense attacks.

The entire bluestone plaza began to tremble faintly, and the ground shifted. The array disk in Li Rufeng's hand emitted continuous shrill screeches, flashing with spiritual light. Within the azure light barrier, the surging seawater had completely engulfed the bluestone plaza. No figures were visible amidst the towering waves and constant roar of the 'tsunami.' The water repeatedly slammed against the azure barrier, producing dull thuds.

Less than a quarter of an hour later, with a deafening roar, the array disk in Li Rufeng's hand shattered. The azure light barrier fragmented, and a colossal blue tornado shot skyward, piercing straight into the clouds. Two figures emerged from the blue tornado. Shen Tianhong had a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth and a slightly pale face, while Wang Changsheng was completely unharmed.

Shen Tianhong had attempted to use illusions on him, but Wang Changsheng, aided by the Dragon Lock on his person and his strong divine sense, had not fallen into the illusion. The confined space of the plaza had also worked to Wang Changsheng's advantage; in a true life-or-death battle without spatial limitations, Shen Tianhong might not have been in such a predicament.

"Thank you for the match, Fellow Daoist Shen," Wang Changsheng said, cupping his fist and surveying the bluestone plaza, which had been reduced to ruins.

This was a training ground established by the Li family, and Li Rufeng had already given strict orders for no one to approach. As a result, no cultivators came to disturb them.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, your divine sense cultivation is impressive. No wonder you were able to eliminate two Spirit Transformation Stage cultivators from the Multi-Eyed Tribe," Shen Tianhong said. A hint of apprehension flickered in Shen Tianhong's eyes. Wang Changsheng had mastered divine sense attacks, and whenever Shen Tianhong attempted to cast high-level illusions, he was interrupted. Otherwise, he might not have lost to Wang Changsheng.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, you flatter me. It was merely a fortunate victory," Wang Changsheng replied modestly.

Zhao Gang stepped forward. "Let's stop being modest, all of you," he said. "A win is a win, a loss is a loss. There's no need for arrogance in victory, nor shame in defeat. It's just a spar, not a life-or-death struggle. If it were a true battle to the death, who knows who would emerge victorious! Fellow Daoist Wang, how about we spar, and settle it with one punch?"

"Alright, one punch it is," Wang Changsheng readily agreed. With a single wave of his hand, the nine Sea-Calming Orbs flew towards him and disappeared into his sleeve. Zhao Gang was a body cultivator meticulously trained by the Divine Weapon Sect, and Wang Changsheng was eager to gauge the difference in their physical prowess.

Both formed hand seals simultaneously, and spiritual light radiated brightly from their bodies. Zhao Gang's right fist erupted with a blinding fiery glow, carrying an astonishing heatwave as it smashed towards Wang Changsheng. Wang Changsheng showed no fear, his own right fist glowing with a dazzling blue light as he met the attack.

With a "bang," the two fists collided, instantly unleashing a powerful concussive blast. The ground shattered from the force, a massive crack appearing beneath them. Wang Changsheng and Zhao Gang both recoiled. Zhao Gang took two steps back, while Wang Changsheng took four. Clearly, Wang Changsheng had lost.

This outcome didn't surprise Wang Changsheng. As a body cultivator meticulously nurtured by the Divine Weapon Sect, Zhao Gang had undoubtedly consumed countless spirit pills and wondrous medicines for body tempering. While Wang Changsheng had also taken some body-tempering elixirs, they paled in comparison to what Zhao Gang had access to, given that Xuanyang Realm's cultivation resources far surpassed those of Dongli Realm.

They had only used their physical strength. In a life-or-death battle, Wang Changsheng might not necessarily lose to Zhao Gang, unless Zhao Gang's natal magic treasure proved superior to his own. Just as the Five Elements balance and counter each other, so too do cultivators; there is no absolutely invincible one.

"Thank you for the match, Fellow Daoist Wang," Zhao Gang said, cupping his fist, his spirits noticeably high.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao, have you consumed some special body-tempering elixirs?" Wang Changsheng asked. "Or do you possess some unique body-tempering methods? Perhaps you could offer me some pointers."

"Heh heh, I recently consumed some Blood Dragon Rice, and my physical strength has increased significantly," Zhao Gang replied, a hint of pride in his voice.

"Blood Dragon Rice? Isn't that a specialty of the Bat Tribe?" Chen Xin interjected, his tone betraying a hint of envy. "They say Blood Dragon Rice is incredibly difficult to cultivate, and even the Bat Tribe doesn't possess much. Fellow Daoist Zhao, you are truly fortunate!"