Liu Ruyan clasped her hands tightly, her beautiful eyes shimmering with strange light.
"Junior Brother Chen is... far too dazzling!"
Qing Yang stared fixedly at the arena, his heart shaken as he secretly marveled:
"Had he really hidden himself so deeply?"
Elder Willow Wood narrowed his eyes slightly and could not help praising:
"Changqing always manages to surprise people at the critical moment!"
At this moment, True Person Tianbo, floating in midair, felt a spark of interest rise within him.
"The limit of Body Refining?"
A trace of surprise flashed through True Person Tianbo's eyes.
As a Nascent Soul-level existence, he naturally saw through Chen Changqing's condition.
"A mere Outer Disciple has actually reached the limit of Body Refining?"
"This boy can indeed be called a genius."
"To use Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivation to forcibly contend against a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Body Cultivator is quite rare."
True Person Tianbo spoke softly, feeling that this Outer Sect Competition had become rather interesting.
Just as everyone stood stunned.
On the arena, Chen Changqing and Shi Tian continued clashing head-on.
"Boom!"
The earth-shaking collision erupted, explosions bursting forth as shockwaves swept outward.
In the aftermath of the exchange, both men retreated more than ten steps at once.
After steadying himself, Shi Tian drew a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the surging blood and qi within him.
"Chen Changqing, you are the first opponent to force me this far."
Shi Tian stared straight at Chen Changqing, seeming to finally take him seriously.
"Likewise."
Chen Changqing answered calmly.
If not for the powerful cultivation technique he practiced, he would never have been able to contend against Shi Tian.
At that moment, Chen Changqing deeply realized something.
Even with the system at his side, the geniuses of this world could never be underestimated.
Hearing Chen Changqing's words, Shi Tian's lips curled slightly into a meaningful smile.
"In that case... let us fight without restraint!"
Shi Tian let out a thunderous roar!
Immediately afterward, his upper garments suddenly burst apart, exposing a lean, iron-hard body.
"Today, I'll let you witness my true strength!"
"Rumble!"
A strange sound rang out as Shi Tian's skin began changing in an eerie fashion, taking on the gray-white texture of stone in the blink of an eye.
"Stone Man Physique!"
An elder cried out in alarm.
Shi Tian now resembled a stone statue brought to life, his entire body radiating a suffocating pressure.
"Rumble, rumble, rumble!"
As Shi Tian's body transformed, the arena trembled and shattered stones flew everywhere!
Chen Changqing frowned slightly, his gaze fixed upon Shi Tian.
Looking closely, he could see that Shi Tian's skin had completely turned into gray-white rock, while dense earth-attributed spiritual power coiled around him.
As Chen Changqing examined Shi Tian's transformation, Shi Tian said coldly:
"Junior Brother!"
"I possess the Stone Spirit Physique. I can absorb all earth-attributed things to cultivate and strengthen myself. So long as I stand upon the earth, I am invincible!"
As Shi Tian's words fell, every elder and disciple present was stunned.
"Stone Spirit Physique?"
"A Special Physique?"
"Who would have thought that Shi Tian was not only a Body Cultivator, but also possessed such a physique!"
"He was merely playing around with Chen Changqing earlier, and now he is getting serious?"
"Chen Changqing is truly in danger now!"
"..."
The crowd discussed fervently, their faces full of disbelief.
One had to know that Special Physiques were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns in the cultivation world, and every one of them possessed heaven-defying abilities!
The Stone Spirit Physique was even a supreme physique hailed as, "So long as the earth remains unbroken, the flesh shall remain undying!"
Seeing this, True Person Tianbo, floating in midair, had a sharp gleam burst from his eyes. He was genuinely moved.
"Good! Good!"
"I never expected to discover such uncut jade in this Outer Sect Competition!"
"This is truly a great harvest!"
True Person Tianbo sighed inwardly.
One had to know that Special Physiques were exceedingly difficult to produce.
Even within the Inner Sect, disciples possessing Special Physiques could be counted on one hand.
Yet one had appeared in this Outer Sect Competition. It made True Person Tianbo's eyes light up, and stirred certain thoughts within him.
In the Seven Courtyards Area.
When the disciples saw Shi Tian reveal his Special Physique, every one of them clenched their hearts tight.
"I never expected Shi Tian to have such a trump card."
"Can Junior Brother still withstand this?"
"..."
Everyone broke out in a cold sweat for Chen Changqing.
On the arena, Chen Changqing looked at Shi Tian, who resembled a stone man, yet his expression showed little fluctuation.
"So what if you have a Special Physique?"
"Today, I want to test it!"
"Are you truly invincible so long as you stand upon the earth?"
With a soft shout, Chen Changqing chose to strike first.
"Thunderclap Divine Fist!"
Lightning flashed around his fists as he shot forward, his fists raining down upon Shi Tian like a violent downpour.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Every punch carried terrifying force, enough to shatter mountain rocks.
Yet what surprised Chen Changqing was this.
His fierce barrage of attacks landed upon Shi Tian's body, but only scattered sparks flew up.
He had not even managed to break through Shi Tian's defenses.
Seeing this, the First Courtyard disciples were all exhilarated.
"Haha!"
"Wonderful, Senior Brother Shi Tian is serious now!"
"Chen Changqing cannot even break Senior Brother's defenses."
"Surrender, brat from the Seven Courtyards!"
"Senior Brother Shi Tian was only toying with you earlier. Did you really think you were his opponent?"
"..."
The First Courtyard disciples cheered jubilantly.
Earlier, when they saw Chen Changqing and Shi Tian fighting on even terms, their hearts had been hanging in their throats.
Now that Shi Tian had unleashed his Special Physique and Chen Changqing immediately fell into a disadvantage, they were naturally overjoyed.
"Useless."
Shi Tian looked indifferently at Chen Changqing and said with smug confidence:
"I told you, so long as I stand upon the earth, I am invincible!"
As soon as his words ended, Shi Tian suddenly stomped his foot.
"Crack!"
The instant his foot came down, the ground beneath him split apart.
In only a few moments, the arena around Shi Tian collapsed with a thunderous crash.
Before anyone could react, the countless broken stones swiftly gathered together like living creatures.
In less than a few breaths, under Shi Tian's control, they formed a Rock Giant dozens of zhang tall!
The instant the Rock Giant appeared, it cast the entire arena beneath its shadow.
Standing beneath it, Chen Changqing's expression grew somewhat grave.
"Junior Brother, you should surrender."
"I have already activated my Stone Spirit Physique. You are no match for me."
"If you insist on continuing this battle, even if you do not die, you will still suffer grievous injuries!"
Shi Tian's voice rang out.
Upon hearing him, the elders and disciples from every courtyard watching the battle all felt their hearts tremble.
They could feel the terrifying pressure radiating from the enormous stone man upon the arena.
In the Seven Courtyards Area.
The disciples all wore ugly expressions. The hope that had only just ignited within them was directly snuffed out by Shi Tian's Stone Spirit Physique.
They had originally imagined that Chen Changqing might defeat Shi Tian and seize first place in this Outer Sect Competition.
But from the looks of things now, that seemed impossible.
Liu Ruyan's heart tightened as she stared straight at Chen Changqing, secretly hoping:
"Perhaps Junior Brother can still create a miracle!"
At this very moment, upon the arena.
Chen Changqing slowly raised a hand and flicked the dust from his clothes, staring directly at Shi Tian and the enormous stone man.
"I have to admit, Shi Tian, you really are strong."
"But unfortunately..."
"First place in this competition is mine!"
As his words ended, Chen Changqing's thoughts stirred.
"Clang!"
A clear sword cry rang throughout heaven and earth.
The moment the Chengying Sword appeared, the surrounding light dimmed.
When they looked again, Chen Changqing had already bent at the waist, assuming a sword-drawing stance!
Before you continue