Clash

Even before the fight began, Li Yuan knew very well that Chu Han's [Cold Cicada Autumn Speech] was no small matter.

Chu Han kindly reminded him, "Li Yuan, be careful."

"Now, when the autumn waters stretch across the sky... and the cicadas sing their final song!"

Chu Han's reminder sounded poetic and full of artistic conception. Li Yuan was taken aback. He opened his mouth to say something but didn't know what to say.

Then, he exclaimed internally, What the heck?

Is he trying to recite some stabilizing verse or what?

If I wasn't so uncultured, I'd definitely throw a couple of lines back at you!

Before Li Yuan could respond, Chu Han charged forward.

He wielded his palms like blades, unleashing waves of profound blade light towards Li Yuan!

The blade light was like water, the cicada's cry pierced the air, aiming straight for Li Yuan's chest and abdomen!

Li Yuan's eyes narrowed. The dragon shadow behind him let out a mighty roar, his palm techniques flying, striking towards Chu Han.

Their palms met head-on. The surrounding air seemed to freeze for a moment, then exploded outwards!

Waves of True Qi erupted between their palms, and immense palm force pushed them both backward.

Li Yuan's legs plowed through the ground, creating two deep trenches as he retreated over seven zhang.

Chu Han retreated even further, a full ten zhang.

In the first exchange, Chu Han felt his internal organs vibrate, his blood churning uncomfortably.

He was also stunned.

He had retreated further than Li Yuan!

Not only was Li Yuan's True Qi strength no less than his own, but his physical body was far superior!

Li Yuan's physique was formidable, his strength exceeding five thousand jin!

This incredible, unbelievable brute strength alone was difficult for him to withstand!

Chu Han had originally intended to rely on his years of experience in the True Qi Realm to directly suppress Li Yuan with his profound cultivation. But he hadn't expected that in this initial exchange... he was the one being suppressed!?

Chu Han's expression turned serious. His posture became agile, and he closed in on Li Yuan with swift and nimble footwork. Since a direct confrontation yielded no advantage, he would aim for victory through skill.

The Martial Dao True Intent behind both of them circulated continuously, cicada chirps and dragon roars rising and falling. Li Yuan's palm shadows were like lightning, a dense weave of overlapping palm shadows forming before him as he struck towards Chu Han.

Chu Han wielded his palms like blades, a blade shadow flickering in his palm, sharp and radiating cold intent.

Li Yuan's palm was entwined with countless small snake shadows, each a manifestation of Fist Intent. If struck by his palm, it would be no small matter.

Their fists and feet met, snake shadows and blade shadows constantly colliding. The blade shadows in their palms and the small snake shadows continuously shattered and annihilated, only to reform again!

They were locked in a stalemate for the moment.

Both sides possessed incredibly abundant True Qi, and neither would run out of power in a short time.

The constant clash of their Martial Dao True Intent was a test of their mental strength, and Chu Han was not at a disadvantage.

Li Yuan had mastered multiple Martial Dao True Intents, and his spirit had long been tempered to be incredibly resilient. Chu Han found that no matter how he displayed his Martial Dao True Intent, he couldn't shake Li Yuan's spirit!

In Chu Han's perception, Li Yuan's mental strength was as hard as a rock!

Li Yuan, having displayed his Martial Dao True Intent multiple times, also noticed its various peculiar aspects.

Martial Dao True Intent not only amplified techniques, raising the power of his perfected [Poison Dragon Palm] by another level, but it could also be used to suppress opponents!

Martial Dao True Intent was both a martial arts realm and a power derived from the spiritual domain. Once unleashed, it could suppress the opponent in the spiritual domain!

This suppression was extremely difficult to resist and was as insidious and hard to guard against as the illusionary attacks of the Blood Robe Evil Ghost!

If suppressed by Martial Dao True Intent, one's strength would likely not even be half as effective. Ordinary martial artists, facing a martial artist with Martial Dao True Intent, would find it difficult to even retaliate, left to be slaughtered.

However, Chu Han was no ordinary True Qi Realm martial artist. Both sides possessed Martial Dao True Intent, and both were attempting to suppress the other in the spiritual domain. The Martial Dao True Intent behind them grew stronger and stronger!

The dragon shadow behind Li Yuan became increasingly clear, as if it were a real entity, lifelike, with each scale clearly visible!

The cicada shadow behind Chu Han also became increasingly distinct!

This cicada was also incessantly beating its wings and chirping, its emanating cold intent growing stronger!

Watching Li Yuan and Chu Han clash, the residual waves erupting between them became more and more violent. Zong Wencheng and Zong Lin retreated continuously.

To avoid being caught in the crossfire, Zong Wencheng even used a golden light talisman, its light forming a shield that firmly protected them both.

"I truly didn't expect Li Yuan's strength to have grown to this extent!"

Zong Wencheng's eyes widened, almost unable to believe what he was seeing.

He knew how strong Chu Han was. He had sparred with Chu Han many times and was aware of Chu Han's capabilities. But he had never imagined... that the strength Li Yuan was displaying was in no way inferior to Chu Han's!

This was truly terrifying.

How old was Li Yuan?

Not yet twenty!

Zong Lin stood beside him, watching Li Yuan intently, murmuring to herself.

"Li Yuan, is this your true strength?"

Chu Han unleashed a barrage of attacks. Even though he was using seventy percent of his power, he found he still couldn't defeat Li Yuan and could only let out a long sigh.

"That's enough, let's stop here."

Chu Han called a halt, and both parties ceased their exchange, bringing the spar to a close.

He slowly caught his breath, recovering from the exertion, while Li Yuan appeared completely unfazed, as if the recent fight had had no effect on him whatsoever.

"A monster."

Chu Han muttered to himself. After catching his breath, he finally spoke, "I understand your strength now."

"It's no longer appropriate for you to remain a First Class Division Member. Effective immediately, you will be one of the Stewards of the Jiujiang Special Capture Division."

Li Yuan could fight him, the Young Commander, to a standstill, and yet keep him as a mere Division Member? That was absurd.

Chu Han immediately began considering a change in Li Yuan's position.

Upon hearing that he was about to be promoted and receive a raise, Li Yuan smiled faintly. "Thank you, sir."

Chu Han nodded. "I will forward your information to the higher-ranking Special Capture Division. The appointment document will be issued in a few days."

Chu Han didn't have the authority to make appointments at the Steward level within the Special Capture Division; it required review and approval from the higher authorities.

However, Chu Han was confident that Li Yuan would be appointed Steward. The higher-ups weren't foolish enough to keep a True Qi Realm martial artist who had grasped Martial Dao True Intent as a mere Division Member. Therefore, this promotion was almost a certainty.

Seeing that Li Yuan was on the verge of becoming a Steward, Zong Wencheng and Zong Lin stepped forward to offer their congratulations, which Li Yuan accepted with thanks.

Looking at Li Yuan, Chu Han pondered for a moment before speaking.

"There were things I couldn't tell you before, but it seems necessary to inform you now."

Seeing Chu Han's serious expression, Li Yuan also replied earnestly, "Please, go ahead."

Chu Han nodded. "This matter, you actually asked about it before... it's about the Corpse Demon."

Corpse Demon?!

Li Yuan was startled. Although he hadn't mentioned the Corpse Demon to anyone in recent days, it didn't mean he had forgotten about the fellow.

He had personally encountered Evil Warriors during his trip to Meishan, and he had a deep understanding of their ferocity and cunning. As for a top-tier Evil Warrior like the Corpse Demon, Li Yuan couldn't afford to be careless!

"Since you are now a prospective Steward of our Jiujiang Commandery, it's necessary to tell you about the Corpse Demon..."