Chapter 225: Cultivating Both Physical and Magical Forms

The single character "Battle," signifying an unwavering resolve, made many in the audience tremble slightly.

"Could it be that he truly has the confidence to challenge Senior Brother Hua?""Senior Brother Hua is a Core Formation realm martial artist!""His strength is second only to Xia Chaoge.""Does he believe he's qualified to confront Senior Brother Hua, simply because he unexpectedly defeated Wang Yunge and Li Shiqian by surprise?"

Yan Yuqing could no longer remain seated. She had already risen, anxiously exclaiming, "How could Junior Uncle be a match for Senior Brother Hua?"She wasn't familiar with Wang Yunge and Li Shiqian, but she knew Hua Xiangchen, with whom she frequently interacted, very well. He had not only reached the first level of the Core Formation realm, but he also practiced a sophisticated, high-grade Xuan-level sword art.She'd heard he intended to challenge the Gold Ranking and break into the top ten, making the Taishang Sect the only one with two disciples in the top ten simultaneously.

Jiang Fan's physical combat skills were already pushed to their limit against Li Shiqian. How could he possibly contend with Hua Xiangchen?"Xiao Leng, quickly go to Shenyi Peak and ask my master to emerge from seclusion," she urged. "I fear Senior Brother Hua might seriously injure Junior Uncle Jiang."After considering all options, she realized only her master could resolve the situation.

Knowing the urgency, Cheng Xiaoleng nodded and swiftly departed for Shenyi Peak.

Upon witnessing Jiang Fan accept the challenge, the Taishang Sect Master and the assembled elders finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"For this young man to warrant my disciple's personal intervention is cause enough for him to feel proud," the Taishang Sect Master remarked, taking a relaxed sip of tea. "Soon, his name will be known across the Nine Sects."

The elders, too, relaxed, chatting and laughing."He won't last more than a few moves against Hua Xiangchen," one commented."While his physical combat skills are formidable, against someone far superior, he'll be limited to defense with no means of offense," another added."With this imbalance, even the most robust physique can't endure continuous assaults. His defeat is inevitable."

Hua Xiangchen, observing Jiang Fan's grip on the sword, subtly furrowed his brow. As a practitioner whose primary cultivation focused on swordsmanship, he could discern Jiang Fan's adept handling of the blade; it was clearly not being treated as a mere prop.

"Do you also know swordsmanship?" Hua Xiangchen inquired, his thoughts questioning whether mastery of swordsmanship wasn't exclusive to those who cultivated related techniques.Jiang Fan calmly replied, "Just a little. May we begin?"

Hua Xiangchen scoffed inwardly, finding Jiang Fan's confidence rather amusing. "So eager to be defeated?" he mused. Outwardly, he calmly stated, "We can begin whenever you're ready."The referee, observing their readiness, nodded and exited the arena.

With the call to "Begin," Hua Xiangchen decisively launched his preemptive strike: "Proud Moon Soaring!"His high-grade Xuan-level sword art, amplified by his Core Formation realm cultivation, unleashed immense power. Anyone below the Core Formation realm would be utterly defenseless. Even Wang Yunge and Li Shiqian, peak Foundation Establishment realm experts observing from below the stage, felt the immense pressure.Feeling the ferocity of this sword, a sudden heavy sensation gripped their hearts. Though Hua Xiangchen was usually gentle and courteous, his full power brought an overwhelming, tempestuous pressure.

Yan Yuqing's heart leaped into her throat. Hua Xiangchen's initial move was delivered with full force, decisive and without the arrogance displayed by Wang Yunge. It was clear he intended a swift victory, striking down Jiang Fan with the force of a thunderbolt. The Taishang Sect Master nodded in satisfaction, and the elders offered continuous praise.

The Elder of Green Bamboo Peak offered a comparative compliment: "He truly is the chief disciple personally nurtured by the Sect Master. Beyond his strength, he treats every opponent with serious caution, giving his full effort. Not like my two proud and arrogant disciples, who, due to a moment of carelessness, suffered a great humiliation."

Several elders inwardly scoffed, understanding that the Green Bamboo Peak elder was attempting to save face for his two disciples. Was their defeat truly due to carelessness, or was it not, in fact, a clear disparity in absolute strength?Nonetheless, they approved of Hua Xiangchen's full-force assault. The quicker Jiang Fan was defeated, the more it would underscore Hua Xiangchen's power and restore the Taishang Sect's reputation.But just then, everything changed!

Jiang Fan moved! With a flick of his wrist, his longsword hummed. Spiritual energy, gushing like a spring from his perfected Seventh-level Foundation Establishment cultivation, coursed into the black sword."Splitting Light Sword!"As a flash of sword light swept forth, the oppressive sword qi transformed into a deafening, thunderous explosion!

Caught off guard, Hua Xiangchen's ears immediately rang. The powerful explosion's shockwave even knocked his sword thrust off course! His expression shifted dramatically as he exclaimed, "You know swordsmanship? You possess cultivation?"

The disciples on the stage were utterly astonished."My heavens! He's not just a body refiner; he actually cultivates a realm!""And his cultivation isn't low; it's perfected Seventh-level Foundation Establishment!""What's more, his swordsmanship is exceptionally refined, even superior to Senior Brother Hua's!"

Chai Yingrong was dumbfounded. "Yuqing, is your Junior Uncle a dual cultivator of both magic and body?"

Yan Yuqing was equally stunned. Each encounter revealed a new facet of Jiang Fan, as if he were a bottomless well of unexpected power.

The previously relaxed Taishang Sect Master and the elders were now all wide-eyed with shock."This child... he's a dual cultivator of both magic and body!""And both his cultivations are incredibly formidable!""He can't be a disciple of the Giant Sect; they foolishly focus only on physical techniques and don't cultivate spells!""Quick, investigate immediately! Who is this person? Which sect could possibly produce such a disciple?"

An invincible physique below the Core Formation realm, advanced cultivation at the Seventh-level Foundation Establishment, and immensely powerful, possibly Earth-grade, swordsmanship — when had such a disciple ever appeared in the lands of the Nine Sects?

Unaware of the stir he was causing, Jiang Fan seized the moment Hua Xiangchen's sword thrust went astray. His own sword swirled, unleashing another strike: "Sunrise Over the Vast Sea!"

Hua Xiangchen's eyelids twitched, and he presciently retreated, creating distance. The next instant, an even more explosive thunderclap detonated almost against his ear, making his eardrums throb with pain. Had he been any closer, he would have been deafened.

The thought that he, the esteemed chief disciple of the Taishang Sect, had been forced to retreat by someone supposedly without a spirit root filled him with shame and fury. He resolved to hold nothing back.

"Eagle Strikes the Sky!" Hua Xiangchen roared.Jiang Fan, utterly fearless, actively met the charge.

"Stars Falling from Heaven and Earth!" Jiang Fan countered.Both unleashed their most powerful sword arts, clashing fiercely in the arena. One held the advantage in cultivation, while the other's swordsmanship was superior.

In mere moments, they exchanged over a dozen blows, with neither gaining a decisive advantage. However, as Jiang Fan's spiritual energy steadily depleted, the drawback of his lower cultivation began to surface. The power of his swordsmanship gradually became harder to maintain. After more than a hundred exchanges, Hua Xiangchen seized his chance. As Jiang Fan's sword art weakened, he struck Jiang Fan's blade with his own.

Jiang Fan's hand instantly flared with burning pain. Not to be outdone, he instantly activated his Phoenix Blood Treasure Body, using its formidable strength to resist. The result was that both longswords flew from their grasp, landing on opposite sides of the arena.

This outcome left everyone dumbfounded. The Taishang Sect's chief disciple, renowned for his swordsmanship, had actually been matched in his proudest skill?

Hua Xiangchen, momentarily dazed, quickly fixed his gaze on Jiang Fan. At this point, any thought of a swift victory had vanished; all that mattered was winning against Jiang Fan.

Feeling the difficulty of Jiang Fan, he took a deep breath, his gaze sharpening."I had intended this as a trump card, to be saved for when I challenged the Gold Ranking," he declared. "Now, I have no choice but to use it!"His hands formed into palms, and he adopted a stance for palm techniques.

"Actually, my strongest skill isn't swordsmanship!" he announced. "My swordsmanship was merely a smokescreen I presented to outsiders! What I truly excel at are palm techniques! To have forced me to reveal my true abilities, you are truly honored, even in defeat!"He fully expected Jiang Fan, now disarmed, to show fear when confronted with his most powerful secret art.

To his surprise, however, Jiang Fan merely offered a calm smile."What a coincidence," Jiang Fan said. "Me too!"

As Hua Xiangchen's pupils slightly constricted, Jiang Fan, too, adopted a stance for palm techniques!