Chen Heng VS Luo Yuyan

"The final match is Chen Heng of the Chen Family against Luo Yuyan of the Luo Family!"

Steward Li's announcement immediately sparked heated discussion among the cultivators present. They hadn't expected the Chen Family to field a concubine-born cultivator for the match.

The concubine-born cultivator who had previously represented the Luo Family had certainly made a stunning debut.

Many cultivators began to feel a growing interest in Chen Heng.

Especially those who had bet on the Chen Family to win the final match; their gazes towards Chen Heng were practically glowing green.

The Chen and Luo Families were among the six Foundation Establishment families under the Azure Profound Sect, each boasting hundreds, if not thousands, of years of heritage.

The two families had nearly identical rules regarding concubine-born children within their collateral branches who possessed spiritual roots.

If a concubine-born child possessed a high-grade spiritual root, they would undoubtedly be directly recorded in the cultivator family registry.

Otherwise, they would either have to reach the late Qi Refining stage or make significant contributions to the family to be added to the cultivator family registry.

This practice was intended to balance the distribution of cultivation resources.

It wasn't just the Chen and Luo Families; most families, given cultivators of equal talent, prioritized nurturing those born into the main lineage.

This was a common understanding in the Southern Profound Domain's cultivation world.

Furthermore, cultivation families that had endured for many years were naturally not rigid or stubborn. If a concubine-born disciple demonstrated talent in areas such as the hundred arts of cultivation, the family would allocate resources for their development.

The Chen Family was no exception.

However, Chen Heng was still young, having only cultivated for six years, and had not displayed any particular talent.

Naturally, he had not garnered the attention of the Chen Family.

At this moment.

Chen Heng, carrying his low-grade first-tier magic artifact, the Water-Fire Cudgel, casually walked towards the designated combat area.

The Chen Family had not provided him with a storage bag, so he had to carry his artifact with him, and his talismans were tucked into his pockets or sleeves.

As for the Water-Fire Cudgel, it was cast from ebony wood. Its head was as deep blue as profound water, and its tail was as red as a hot iron. It possessed no remarkable features.

Yet, Chen Heng couldn't help but tighten his grip on this ordinary-looking Water-Fire Cudgel.

To outsiders, he might have appeared nervous and awkward.

But only he knew that the cudgel's shaft concealed a hidden mechanism.

In comparison, Chen Heng, who would at most receive a polite compliment, paled in comparison to Luo Yuyan opposite him.

She was only twelve years old, but cultivators generally developed faster than mortals, and her figure was already gracefully poised.

Her physique perfectly fit the description of "a young lotus just revealing its tip."

She wore a simple white dress without any makeup, exuding a fresh and natural aura, like a lotus emerging from the water. She appeared vibrant and full of youthful energy.

Her features were exquisite. Her large, watery eyes were like a spring pool, and her eyelashes were long and dark.

Her nose was high and delicate, and her cherry-like lips were full and alluring.

Especially the dimples on her cheeks, which were deep and incredibly charming.

Countless cultivators in the arena were captivated by her outstanding appearance, some even becoming entranced.

Of course, in Chen Heng's opinion, these cultivators were likely deceived by her outward appearance.

Although the intelligence jade slip he had received was brief, it clearly detailed how this young and beautiful woman had, with each swing of her sword, sliced that unfortunate Gale Demonic Wolf into pieces.

Her attacks were described as extraordinarily sharp and ruthless.

Chen Heng knew that if he were deceived by her appearance and showed any mercy, his fate would be no better than that of Chen Mingyun, who had lost an arm.

Moreover, Luo Yuyan possessed a high-grade wind spiritual root. With equivalent cultivation levels, the power of her spells should surpass his.

He had absolutely no room to hold back.

With this thought, Chen Heng let out a long breath. Gripping the Water-Fire Cudgel, he cupped his hands towards Luo Yuyan and said calmly, "Fellow Daoist Luo, I await your move."

Hearing him utter the same words as Chen Xingyuan, who had fought in the first match, Luo Yuyan smiled brightly. With a flick of her elegant hand, she performed a sword flourish and replied with words almost identical to Luo Rufeng's, "You are too kind. Yuyan shall send Brother Dao on his way now!"

The next moment.

Azure winds swirled around her, followed by several sword strikes so swift that most cultivators couldn't even discern how the sword was drawn.

Instantly, Chen Heng felt a surging gale rush towards him from all directions.

These were sword qi capable of easily slicing through metal and jade.

If he couldn't dodge or block them, his fate was predictable.

However, before stepping onto the arena, Chen Heng had already activated the Lu Qi skill [Force Piercing Thousand Jin] and simultaneously used the Fiery Eyes Water Ape Transformation.

Ten Divine Ape Spirit Marks appeared on his upper body, greatly enhancing both his strength and agility.

He swung his cudgel in a circle, defending himself.

Water spiritual energy flowed with the movements of the cudgel, forming a continuously rotating water-air barrier.

This is the third move of the Water Fire Heaven-Reaching Staff Technique—Water Curtain Cloud Roll!

It not only blocked all the sword energy attacking from all directions but also deflected several streams of sword energy back.

Luo Yuyan possessed a high-grade wind spiritual root, and her movement technique was naturally agile and graceful.

She not only easily dodged the sword energy Chen Heng deflected back.

The next moment.

Her figure darted towards Chen Heng like a flying sparrow, and the long sword in her hand suddenly slashed upward.

A flash of cyan light seemed to pass, and with extreme speed, it pierced through the gaps in the flowing staff momentum, stabbing towards Chen Heng's chest.

"It truly is the Luo Family's Foundation Establishment cultivation technique, the Wind Origin Sword Canon!"

Someone outside the arena exclaimed. Luo Yuyan's sword strike was like a phantom, a flash of cyan light, fast and fierce.

Moreover, it precisely exploited the flaws in the staff technique Chen Heng was performing.

The timing was impeccable, and even Steward Li at the side showed a hint of admiration for this sword strike.

Seeing the sword shadow hurtling towards him, Chen Heng's body was enveloped in a flash of golden light. He twisted his body backward strangely, and with that momentum, he retracted his staff and chopped downward, striking Luo Yuyan's sword edge directly.

Clang!

The sound of metal striking metal instantly spread in all directions.

Crimson firelight and emerald cyan light collided fiercely, emitting continuous reverberations.

"Interesting!"

Luo Yuyan whispered and drew her sword repeatedly. In an instant, over a hundred sword shadows enveloped Chen Heng.

Not far away.

Steward Chen Fu, who had been managing Chen Heng's affairs for many days, instantly showed a look of unbearable sight.

He slightly turned his body and looked away, not daring to watch further.

With his mid-Qi Refining cultivation, he couldn't confidently say he could withstand this fierce offensive.

The pressure from over a hundred sword shadows felt like being trapped in a tornado.

Each sword strike came like a gale, smashing down directly.

Chen Heng's expression remained unchanged, his heart as calm as a tranquil lake.

He held the staff with both hands, using his waist to generate force, and retreated with the momentum. The staff body, however, slanted upward from below, like a river surging suddenly.

The staff wind, carrying water spiritual energy, formed a swift water wave.

This was the first move of the Water Fire Heaven-Reaching Staff Technique—Rivers First Boil!

The water wave attached to the staff surged continuously, barely holding back the sky full of sword shadows.

After several exchanges.

Chen Heng had already understood the gap between himself and Luo Yuyan.

The fundamental reason was the disparity in the quality of their cultivation techniques, leading to a significant difference in the quality and even quantity of their condensed true essence.

The mana surging from the true essence was even more lacking.

Furthermore, wind-based mana was more agile and powerful.

Therefore, at the same realm, Luo Yuyan's true essence was more abundant, and the mana surging from it was of higher quality.

Her destructive power was naturally greater and more profound.

At this moment.

Luo Yuyan's Wind Origin Sword Canon unleashed resembled an approaching storm, intending to tear Chen Heng apart completely.

However, the two had entered a stalemate, with one attacking and the other defending.

Luo Yuyan's fierce storm-like offensive was always easily resolved and neutralized by Chen Heng.

He would either block with his staff, use talismans to respond, or even take the hits directly with his body.

After failing to achieve a breakthrough with another attack, Luo Yuyan retreated several steps. She narrowed her eyes and scrutinized Chen Heng.

Immediately, she said calmly, "I didn't expect Daoist brother to have such considerable attainments in body refinement techniques."

In other words, Chen Heng had relied on the combined power of his mana and physical strength to withstand her fierce offensive.

Opposite her, Chen Heng stood with his staff, saying casually, "It's just some minor skills that aren't worth mentioning. Miss Luo has seen through my humble abilities."