Chapter Twenty-Six: The Wu Clan's Immortal Bodies, and the Pure-Hearted Zhu Rong

It was just then that he noticed something about Zhu Rong. Although Zhu Rong had been badly injured, things weren't quite as he'd imagined.

Back when he was only at the early stage of Mythical Heavenly Immortal, he could already cut down Kunpeng, a Late Grand Unity, with a single strike. Now that he had advanced to the middle stage of Mythical Heavenly Immortal, this finger strike had used only seventy percent of his strength, so Zhu Rong should have been gravely wounded and on the brink of death.

But the instant his finger had landed, Ao Chen realized that it hadn't hurt Zhu Rong nearly as much as he'd expected.

And indeed, after only a few breaths, Zhu Rong sprang off the cliff face and charged at him again.

"Again!"

Zhu Rong roared, his surging blood and qi shooting skyward. His tremendous baleful aura intertwined with his vital energy, making him look like an Ancient Demon God.

"Interesting. There's actually a trace of an Indestructible Trait in your body—and that recovery..."

Ao Chen murmured in surprise, instantly intrigued.

Then he stopped circulating his magical power and strode forward instead.

He formed a fist seal and threw a punch of his own.

Chapter Twenty-Six: The Wu Clan's Immortal Bodies, and the Pure-Hearted Zhu Rong

This time, Ao Chen didn't use a divine ability or circulate his magical power. He threw a punch using only the strength of his body.

The Mythical Grand Unity Method didn't place much emphasis on tempering the body, but since he had opened up a Starry River World within himself, his physical strength had naturally increased.

At a glance, this seemed like a punch from a Heavenly Immortal's body. In truth, it was an entire world crashing toward Zhu Rong.

Zhu Rong's extraordinary physique had piqued Ao Chen's interest, so he wanted to test it for himself.

An Immortal Body was a quality that a Mythical True Immortal ought to possess. Ao Chen had sensed a trace of something similar in Zhu Rong and wanted to examine it firsthand.

After all, he had already crossed the most crucial step in the Mythical Heavenly Immortal realm. All that remained was to build up his magical power, a slow, painstaking process that didn't warrant much of his attention. He might as well lay some groundwork for what came next.

Boom—

Their fists collided.

A terrifying crash, like the thunderclap of Chaos's beginning, burst through the hidden valley!

The collision of pure physical strength unleashed a destructive storm of energy far more devastating than an ordinary clash of divine abilities!

Within Ao Chen's seemingly unremarkable frame lay the boundless might of the Starry River World turning inside him. Now, all of it gathered at his fist!

As an Ancestor Witch formed from Pangu's blood essence, Zhu Rong embodied strength and resilience in the Primordial Wilderness. His fist seemed capable of punching a hole through the heavens!

There were no dazzling divine arts, no profound clashes of law—only fists meeting flesh!

Every collision erupted with a terrifying boom like shattering stars, sending destructive shockwaves in every direction!

The more Ao Chen fought, the more excited he became. Every clash sparked countless insights, and his understanding of the Wu Clan's bodies grew increasingly clear.

Zhu Rong's body was practically a perfect fortress of strength. Its resilience was beyond imagination, and its recovery was downright monstrous!

Even when Ao Chen's fists, infused with World Power, struck him head-on, Zhu Rong only suffered a surge of blood and qi before recovering in an instant!

What's more, Ao Chen could clearly sense an almost immortal quality deep within Zhu Rong's body, as if it were connected by some mysterious bond to the Primordial Wilderness, and to Buzhou Mountain itself!

"So this is the source of the Wu Clan's powerful bodies? Resonating with the heavens and earth, nearly immortal... It seems similar to the idea of an 'Immortal Body' in my True Immortal Chapter, yet it follows a different path..."

As he fought, Ao Chen used his Heaven-Defying Comprehension to rapidly analyze the mysteries of Zhu Rong's body.

He gradually drew out the principles governing its use of strength, its structure, its circulation of energy, and even that hint of "immortality," absorbing and verifying them in his Mythical True Immortal Chapter!

Just as Ao Chen and Zhu Rong fought without pause in the depths of Buzhou Mountain,

at the other end of the Primordial Wilderness, beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, Zixiao Palace opened once more.

A vast, ethereal Dao sound, transcending all things, spread across the entire Primordial World like silent ripples. It rang clearly in the hearts of every Grand Unity Golden Immortal.

—Dao Ancestor Hongjun had begun his second sermon!

In an instant, the whole Primordial Wilderness was shaken!

On Kunlun Mountain, the Three Pure Ones opened their eyes almost simultaneously. They exchanged glances, then shot upward as three streams of Pure Qi.

Atop Western Mount Sumeru, Jieyin and Zhunti wore expressions of suffering. Golden lotuses appeared beneath their feet, and they transformed into streaks of light and sped away.

In Wuzhuang Temple, Zhen Yuanzi put down his Book of Earth and called to his friend Hong Yun. The two rode a cloud toward the heavens beyond.

In the depths of Northern Darkness, a flash of light crossed Kunpeng's eyes. His enormous Kun Fish form transformed into a Roc that hung beneath the sky, and he soared away with a beat of his wings.

In the Blood Sea, Ancestor Minghe put away his twin swords, Yuantu and Abi, mounted a Blood Cloud, and headed toward Zixiao Palace.

In Wa Huang Palace, the siblings Nuwa and Fuxi exchanged a nod and set out together...

For a time, throughout the Primordial World, everyone—from reclusive old-timers to rising young talents—set aside what they were doing and rushed toward Zixiao Palace, beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens!

A Sage preaching the Dao—and the second sermon, at that—was an opportunity too great for anyone to miss!

Zixiao Palace opened, and Ten Thousand Immortals Pay Homage.

At that very moment, however, in a hidden valley on Buzhou Mountain,

Ao Chen and Zhu Rong's "sparring match" seemed forgotten by time, carrying on as before.

The years rolled by, and the clouds changed.

For beings of their stature, the passage of time had long since lost its meaning.

This pure contest of physical strength continued on and off for hundreds of years!

The valley had long since vanished, reduced to a desolate ruin. The shockwaves from their battle had flattened the surrounding millions of miles!

After hundreds of years, Ao Chen had gained a profound understanding of the Wu Clan's physical immortality and how to incorporate it into his True Immortal Chapter.

His gains were immense!

But Zhu Rong, the dignified Flame Ancestor Witch, was now bruised and panting. His gaze had gone from eager for battle, to wary and uncertain, and finally to deep fear and exasperation.

For hundreds of years, he had felt as if he were helping some lunatic practice his punches!

His opponent's strength seemed endless, and his body grew stronger at an inconceivable rate!

What drove him to despair was that Ao Chen didn't care about winning or losing. He was treating Zhu Rong as a living punching bag, a subject for study!

The curiosity and hunger for battle in Ao Chen's eyes made him seem even more like a battle maniac than Zhu Rong himself!

Zhu Rong swore that in all his life, after countless fights, he had never been in one so frustrating, so exhausting, or so utterly draining!

"I'm done! I'm done!"

Finally, after Ao Chen sent him flying once more and he crashed into half a mountain, Zhu Rong sprang up and waved both hands. He looked in terror at Ao Chen, who was charging toward him again, eager for battle.

"Stop! Stop! Stop! I concede! I'm scared of you, all right?"

Ao Chen's brows twitched almost imperceptibly. He still wasn't quite satisfied.

He had learned a great deal from Zhu Rong, but there were still things he hadn't figured out.

He wanted to capture Zhu Rong and study him directly, but then he considered that they were in Wu Clan territory. There were plenty of gentler ways to get what he wanted.

After thinking it over, Ao Chen decided to let him go.

"Didn't you want to spar? Why stop after a mere few hundred years?"

Ao Chen smiled, deliberately provoking him.

At that, Zhu Rong's expression stiffened, and his face filled with embarrassment.

Looking at Zhu Rong now, Ao Chen couldn't help realizing that once you got to know the Wu Clan, they weren't so bad after all.

"If you want to fight, fellow Daoist, you can come to my tribe with me."

"Let me tell you..."

For the rest of their time together, Zhu Rong seemed to think of something and launched into a nonstop stream of chatter.

Much of what he said left Ao Chen caught between laughter and tears.

After listening, though, Ao Chen more or less understood what Zhu Rong meant: he wanted to invite him to the tribe.

The reason was simple—there wasn't one.

That was right. No reason at all.

The Wu Clan was straightforward. Or rather, ordinary Ancestor Witches were quite simple-minded when their interests weren't at stake.

Zhu Rong had seen Ao Chen fight him without using magical power, relying only on physical strength, and assumed that Ao Chen was an honorable man. That suited him perfectly.

On top of that, Ao Chen's exceptional body had earned his respect, so he wanted to invite him to the tribe for a visit.

Ao Chen naturally wouldn't refuse.

He had already been wondering how to get to a Wu Clan tribe and continue studying the Wu Clan's physical immortality. Zhu Rong's offer was exactly what he needed.

"I would gladly do so. I simply didn't dare ask."

Ao Chen smiled and gestured for Zhu Rong to lead the way.

Zhu Rong was delighted and quickly gestured for him to follow.

"After you, fellow Daoist."