Duel Approaches

"Junior Brother, you actually didn't break through by cultivating with the Solar True Essence?" Zhou Zhirou said incredulously.

She had expected Lu Changsheng to at least step into the Divine Palace Realm after refining it, as the Solar True Essence was an ancestral treasure of the Zhou Family.

Therefore, a hint of disappointment was subtly present on her face.

"Senior Sister, sometimes breakthroughs in realm don't necessarily mean anything. Perhaps not breaking through in realm is even more beneficial," Lu Changsheng said with a slight smile.

Although Lu Changsheng hadn't broken through in realm during his three days of cultivation, his entire being seemed to have undergone a transformation from the inside out, and even his aura had changed.

This change was naturally due to refining the Solar True Essence!

Logically, with a treasure like the Solar True Essence, Lu Changsheng's realm should have seen a breakthrough.

However, in reality, Lu Changsheng had deliberately suppressed his realm breakthrough during the cultivation process, and he had his own reasons for doing so.

"Young Friend Lu is right, breakthroughs in realm don't mean everything. However, Young Friend Lu's strength is much greater than it was three days ago," Zhou Qingtian said, clapping his hands.

At this moment, even he, a powerhouse at the fifth level of the Divine Palace Realm, could faintly sense a trace of danger emanating from Lu Changsheng.

Therefore, he surmised that after refining the Nine Yang True Essence, Lu Changsheng's strength had improved by at least several levels, even without a realm breakthrough!

"Hmph! With Young Friend Lu fighting for our Zhou Family this time, we will definitely shatter the Qin Family's dreams. They probably still think our Zhou Family is powerless. It's still uncertain who will win this match!" the First Elder sneered.

"Indeed, although Qin Lie of the Qin Family is a proud son of heaven, our Zhou Family is not without a chance!" the other elders echoed in agreement.

They were clearly filled with confidence for this match, especially after Lu Changsheng had refined the Nine Yang True Essence, giving him an unfathomable aura.

After all, Lu Changsheng had previously defeated Chen Ziyu, who was at the Half-step Divine Palace Realm, relying solely on his eighth level of the Core Condensation Realm. Now, after refining the Nine Yang True Essence, his strength had improved by at least several levels.

"Patriarch Zhou, since that's the case, what are we waiting for? Isn't today the day of the duel between our two families?" Lu Changsheng said with a smile.

"Young Friend Lu, please! We have already prepared a carriage for you!" Zhou Qingtian said with a smile.

With that, Lu Changsheng and the others left the Zhou Family in a carriage.

Tianyang Plaza.

This was the largest martial arts arena in all of Tianyang City. Paved with bluestone and spanning a thousand zhang in area, it could accommodate tens of thousands of people.

Currently, the plaza was packed with people, and the roar of the crowd was deafening.

Forces of all sizes from Tianyang City and its surrounding areas, as well as countless rogue cultivators, had gathered here.

This was because everyone knew that today would be a battle that would determine the future landscape of Tianyang City—the final showdown between the Zhou Family and the Qin Family!

In the center of the plaza stood a massive battle stage, ten zhang high, inscribed with powerful defensive formations, exuding a cold and unyielding aura.

Today, this battle stage would be the venue for the decisive battle between the two great families!

"The Qin Family is here!"

A commotion suddenly rippled through the crowd. On the east side of the plaza, a group of people was approaching with imposing strides.

Leading them was Qin Tianba, the Patriarch of the Qin Family. He was burly with a sinister expression, and his body exuded powerful spiritual energy fluctuations. Walking beside him on his right was a young man dressed in a fiery red uniform.

The young man was in his early twenties, with a cold and sinister demeanor, his eyes sharp as a falcon's. His steps were steady, and faint crimson spiritual energy halos flowed around him, like a volcano brimming with power.

Just standing there, a powerful pressure far exceeding the Core Condensation Realm naturally permeated the air, instantly making it difficult for nearby cultivators to breathe.

This person was Qin Lie!

First level of the Divine Palace Realm!

As expected, this prodigy, second only to Qin Wentian and groomed by the Qin Family as their successor, had indeed stepped into the Divine Palace Realm!

The Qin Family's procession exuded an imposing aura of victory and arrogance as they strode onto the high platform on the south side of the plaza, looking down upon the entire venue.

"The Zhou Family is here too!"

On the west side, the Zhou Family's procession entered, led by Zhou Qingtian. Compared to the Qin Family's ostentatiousness, the Zhou Family members appeared solemn, and the atmosphere was somewhat subdued.

However, when everyone's gaze fell upon the young man in the blue robe beside Zhou Qingtian, the atmosphere became subtle, filled with curiosity, doubt, and anticipation... all sorts of gazes intertwined.

Lu Changsheng's expression was calm, his steps unhurried, as if the surrounding roaring crowd and the Qin Family's oppressive aura had nothing to do with him.

His gaze swept across the battle stage, finally settling on the glaring crimson figure on the opposite high platform—Qin Lie.

The two sides faced each other across the high platform, and it felt as if sparks were flying in the air. The invisible pressure silenced the boisterous plaza for a moment.

"Hmph!"

Qin Tianba broke the silence first, his voice booming and filled with undisguised mockery, echoing throughout the entire plaza.

"Zhou Qingtian, is this the last resort of your Zhou Family? Some snot-nosed brat? And you call him a good son-in-law? Desperate times call for desperate measures, how laughable!"

Patriarch Zhou's expression darkened. Before he could speak, Qin Lie's cold, contemptuous voice rang out. His gaze was like a blade, and he looked at Lu Changsheng with utter mockery, saying, "Is the Zhou Family so devoid of talent that they'd send a mere eighth-level Core Condensation Realm nobody to his death?"

A cruel curve formed on Qin Lie's lips. He then looked at Zhou Zhirou again, and his voice, clear and cutting through all the surrounding noise, continued, "Zhou Zhirou, your taste is truly unique, finding such a good-for-nothing pretty boy. Later, I will break every single bone in his body in front of the entire city, so you can get a good look at how the man you chose begs for mercy like a dog at my feet!"

Qin Lie's gaze was filled with disdain. A mere eighth-level Core Condensation Realm cultivator was no different from an ant before him; he could easily crush it with a single gesture!

Upon hearing this, the entire plaza erupted in shock!

"So arrogant!"

"But a Divine Palace Realm versus an eighth-level Core Condensation Realm... the gap in power is truly like a chasm..."

"I thought the Zhou Family's son-in-law would be someone formidable. I didn't expect him to be this kind of trash. It looks like the Zhou Family is in trouble this time..."

Countless martial artists discussed amongst themselves.

The faces of the Zhou Family members turned ashen. Zhou Zhirou trembled with rage, her beautiful eyes burning with fury.

Countless gazes instantly focused on Lu Changsheng, eager to see how he would respond to such blatant humiliation.

Lu Changsheng slowly raised his head, his calm gaze meeting Qin Lie's killing intent-filled and mocking eyes.

There was no sign of anger on his face. Instead, he lightly pulled at the corners of his mouth, revealing a faint, yet seemingly endless cold smile.

"Don't boast too soon..."

He spoke, his voice not loud, but possessing a peculiar penetrating quality, clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"Lest you end up slapping yourself in the face, and it's you who ends up begging for mercy."

As his words fell, Lu Changsheng stopped looking at Qin Lie's face, which had instantly turned extremely grim. He took a step forward, his figure blurring into an indistinct green shadow, appearing in the center of the massive battle stage as if he had teleported.

In a flowing green robe, he stood with his hands behind his back!

His calm gaze swept across the crowd swiftly, finally settling on Qin Lie again. He spoke indifferently, "Qin Lie of the Qin Family, get up here and die!"