Who Else But Me

A person's emotional fluctuations are hard to discern from their expression, but the Spiritual Power within their Sea of Consciousness can change with their emotions. For example, Zhong Yue's Sea of Consciousness was currently turbulent, with waves crashing and tearing through the void, carrying a subtle sense of clashing weapons and marching armies!

This indicated his excitement, his fervor, his eagerness to fight, to clash, to win, and to validate his understanding and cultivation. However, this was difficult to tell from his face.

"Well said!"

Xin Huo praised, "You now bear some resemblance to the Fuxi Divine Clan! Facing difficulties head-on, advancing despite challenges, striving forward, and not being discouraged or fearful when encountering strong enemies, but rather defeating them and crushing them underfoot – this is the Fuxi Divine Clan!"

Zhong Yue took a step forward, standing before Shui Qinghe. The Thunder Totem flickered around his body, condensing into a coiling Flood Dragon. His voice was calm, "Zhongshan Clan's Zhong Yue, I accept your challenge."

"Accept your challenge?"

Shui Qinghe was taken aback. This situation was clearly him stepping up for the Shuitu Clan disciples, intending to condescend and teach this ignorant Zhongshan Clan a lesson. How did it turn into him challenging him?

The counterattack of the weak against the strong was called a challenge; the strong against the weak was called oppression. If he challenged Zhong Yue, wouldn't that make him the weak one?

"Interesting. It's the first time anyone has dared to speak to me like this. You pride yourself on being a body refiner, very well, I shall defeat you with body refining techniques! Three moves, it will take me a maximum of three moves to defeat you!"

Shui Qinghe smiled, and suddenly the waves beneath him surged, lifting his body and moving him with ghost-like speed. Just as the sound of water arose, a large wave surged through the air, carrying him before Zhong Yue and sending a punch towards his face!

As this punch was thrown, the water surged like a torrent. Behind Shui Qinghe's River God Body, it was as if a flood erupted, a hundred zhang high, pressing down!

His punch contained the power of a hundred zhang flood. How terrifying was the momentum of the surging flood?

Zhong Yue's body was entwined with Flood Dragons. The Flood Dragons swirling around his body grew thicker and clearer, their dragon heads ferocious, their bodies a foot thick. The bucket-thick dragon bodies gradually began to merge into Zhong Yue's body. The pure Spiritual Power transformed into the Flood Dragon Totem and the Thunder Pattern Totem, attaching themselves to Zhong Yue's skin, as if his skin had grown layers of dragon scales!

Within his body, muscles bulged, and tendons twanged like the sharp crack of a bowstring being released!

Not only that, but the blood within his body accelerated its flow. His heart instantly transported qi and blood. The sound of blood flow was actually audible to the many Upper Court disciples watching!

Zhong Yue did not dodge Shui Qinghe's attack. He let out a sudden dragon's roar and punched towards Shui Qinghe!

The watching Upper Court disciples' faces changed drastically. A hundred zhang flood, a dragon body coiling around him – the strength of both these individuals had reached a level that others could hardly hope to match!

At this moment, they were like two barbarian gods, clashing head-on. The impact and shock of their muscles colliding were unimaginable!

Bang! Bang!

Both landed their blows. Shui Qinghe's River God Body was incredibly powerful. With a single punch, he shattered the Flood Dragon condensed by Zhong Yue's Spiritual Power. His fist landed on Zhong Yue, and the Thunder Pattern Totem scattered. His punch had actually shattered even the Thunder Pattern Totem that Zhong Yue had visualized, sending it flying!

Zhong Yue's Thunder Pattern Totems were not solely for condensing the Flood Dragon; they were also used to forge Thunderclap Sword Qi. The sharpness of the Thunderclap Sword Qi was used to resist the force of Shui Qinghe's punch.

However, Shui Qinghe's River God Body was too strong. It was like crushing dried weeds against the Thunderclap Sword Qi, shattering it directly and rendering the Thunderclap Sword Qi powerless!

This punch landed on Zhong Yue with a muffled thud. The power of the River God Body vibrated through his limbs, his spirit, his Sea of Consciousness, and his soul!

At the same time, Zhong Yue also punched Shui Qinghe. The power of the River God Body was immediately evident. Zhong Yue's punch was incredibly strong; no core disciple of the Shuitu Clan could withstand its might. However, Shui Qinghe's River God Body, covered in scales, was only cracked, not injured at all.

His body was covered in thick scales, like a god of the water, not only majestic but also possessing a formidable level of combat power and defense!

Unexpectedly, as Zhong Yue's punch landed, he immediately spread his fingers. A roar erupted from his palm, and another Flood Dragon emerged, crashing into Shui Qinghe. The River God Body was instantly pierced with a large hole, revealing Shui Qinghe inside!

His River God Body was not a true transformation into a River God Body, but rather Spiritual Power manifesting as the River God, hiding himself within it.

This was not true body refinement either; it did not increase the body's inherent strength. It merely borrowed Spiritual Power to manifest the River God and wield its power. Once the River God Body dissipated, the River God's power would also dissipate.

Zhong Yue, on the other hand, was refining his body, and his physical strength was constantly increasing. Even without using the Dragon Coiling Technique, his strength was immense.

This was the difference between a body refiner and a Qi refiner.

However, a Qi refiner could also engage in close combat by visualizing a River God Body, and could even become stronger than a body refiner.

Shui Qinghe's second punch arrived. Zhong Yue still did not dodge, and instead punched out, aiming for the real Shui Qinghe through the flaw in the River God Body!

They both took a hit. A trace of blood trickled from Zhong Yue's lips, and he staggered back, retreating more than ten steps before finally dissipating the terrifying power of the River God Body.

Pieces of rock and bluestone slabs exploded beneath his feet, raising clouds of dust.

Shui Qinghe also grunted, his fish tail propelling him back on the waves, blood seeping from his lips.

Zhong Yue had broken through the River God Body between the two punches, still injuring his physical body!

His body did not possess the same powerful toughness and resilience as the River God Body. Being hit directly by Zhong Yue, he was injured, but his body was still much stronger than that of most Upper Court disciples, even significantly so, which was why he was not critically wounded!

"The Zhongshan Clan is indeed strong..."

Shui Qinghe took a deep breath, his expression somewhat solemn. He was a prodigy of the Shuitu Clan, and as one of the Ten Great Clans, they placed great importance on him. From a young age, Shui Qinghe was immersed in vats filled with various medicinal herbs, their properties permeating his body, giving him an astonishing physique.

The clan's witch doctors even painted various totems on his body using the essence blood of fierce beasts and exotic creatures, further strengthening his physique!

Upon arriving at the Sword Gate, Shui Qinghe continued to consume various spiritual medicines to temper his body, his physique practically built from spiritual medicine!

Yet now, he was injured!

Zhong Yue's strength exceeded his expectations, and his Flood Dragon Totem had also reached a very high level. However, with just the Flood Dragon Totem and the Thunderclap Sword Art, he couldn't have injured him. What injured him was Zhong Yue's terrifying explosive power!

The explosive power capable of piercing the River God Body!

Zhong Yue's physical resilience also exceeded his expectations. The power of the River God Body was immense, yet after two consecutive blows, it had only injured his internal organs, and the injuries were not severe.

To refine one's body to such an extent was something only seen in the Qi refiners of the Sword Gate, or among some exotic beasts or members of the Demonic race!

"Two moves have passed, now for the third move!"

Shui Qinghe took a deep breath, his expression grave. His fish tail gently swayed, and water suddenly appeared from nowhere, rising higher and higher, like a small lake, lifting him up.

The lake hung suspended in mid-air, and Shui Qinghe stood upon it, his aura growing stronger and stronger, preparing to descend from above and charge at Zhong Yue!

He was clearly employing his strongest technique, a supreme skill prepared for the year-end Unrestricted Duel, aiming to defeat Zhong Yue in one move and leave him utterly defeated!

Zhong Yue's expression also turned solemn as he prepared himself. Suddenly, Shui Qinghe's gaze swept over a few people. He let out a cold snort, dispelled his River God form, retracted his Spiritual Power, and turned to leave. He said coldly, "We'll let today's matter rest for now, Zhongshan Clan. When the Unrestricted Duel arrives, we will continue this battle!"

Zhong Yue was slightly taken aback. Following Shui Qinghe's gaze, he saw several more figures descending Sword Gate Mountain and heading toward the Upper Court.

The aura of these individuals was also extremely powerful, no less than Shui Qinghe's. They should be Outer Disciples cultivating in the Inner Court, and it was unclear which Clan they belonged to. However, judging by Shui Qinghe's reaction, these people were clearly from the Ten Great Clans as well, possessing immense strength.

Shui Qinghe did not want these people to see his trump cards, lest he lose the advantage in the year-end Unrestricted Duel. This was why he had retreated voluntarily.

"What a powerful fellow..."

Zhong Yue's hands trembled slightly, and a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. His internal organs ached faintly. He thought, The Ten Great Clans each have their unique strengths. The totems passed down from their ancestors are naturally stronger than those of other clans from birth. This Shui Qinghe's strength is indeed profound. He's already this formidable without using Qi refining techniques. I'm not as good as him.

He failed to consider that he had only been cultivating seriously for a little over a month, while Shui Qinghe had been immersed in spiritual medicines since childhood. After entering Sword Gate, he had been directly mentored by Qi Refiners for five to six years to achieve his current accomplishments!

"In the Upper Court, there are many individuals like Shui Qinghe, all elites from the Great Clans! These figures will all make their move in the year-end Unrestricted Duel, blooming in a hundred flowers as they vie for the opportunity to enter the Spirit Void Hall. By then, I fear these people will no longer hide anything and will reveal their most potent techniques!"

Zhong Yue strode towards Ting Lanyue, He Chengchuan, and the others, thinking, Two months, only two months left!

"Two months later, when I clash with the true elites of these Great Clans, who will be able to stand out from the crowd?"

A surge of heroic spirit filled his chest, and he whispered, "Stand out from the crowd? Who else but me?"

"Zhong Yue of the Zhongshan Clan, these are your two Soul Weapons!"

Elder Pu saw Zhong Yue approaching and beckoned him over. He placed two Soul Weapons before Zhong Yue and chuckled, "It took me twenty days to forge these two Soul Weapons, and I'm quite exhausted. What do you think of them?"