"Since all of you junior brothers and junior sisters are in such high spirits, it would seem rather ungentlemanly of me to refuse." Zhao Gongming's face softened into a gentle smile, and he nodded slowly. "Very well. I'll await you all at the Training Ground."
Hearing Zhao Gongming agree, Shi Ji and the others brightened with delight. After thanking him repeatedly, they hurried off to the Training Ground to spread the news.
Zhao Gongming, meanwhile, took his time. He straightened his Daoist robe, then stepped out of his cave abode and transformed into a breeze, drifting toward the vast Training Ground at the center of Jin'ao Island.
The Training Ground on Jin'ao Island was a space carved out with immense magical power. It stretched boundlessly, its floor paved with indestructible azure jade immortal stone and covered in Dao Patterns. It could withstand any battle below the level of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
At that moment, several hundred Interception Sect disciples had already gathered around the Training Ground.
"I heard Zhao Gongming Senior Disciple Brother is going to personally take the field and offer us guidance in our cultivation!"
"What? The Zhao Senior Disciple Brother who drew in a vortex of spiritual energy beside the Myriad Laws Return to Origin Pool and broke through to Golden Immortal in one fell swoop?"
"That's him! I heard the Master summoned him because of it and rewarded him with a treasure!"
The discussions rose and fell around the field as gazes converged on its center, filled with anticipation and curiosity.
Before long, a figure drifted down into the middle of the field. In his unassuming blue robe, with his profound aura, he was none other than Zhao Gongming. His expression was calm as he cupped his hands slightly to those around him in greeting.
Right after, the burly disciple from earlier strode into the field and bowed respectfully to Zhao Gongming. "Outer Sect Disciple Xiong Shan, Early Golden Immortal cultivation. I ask Senior Disciple Brother Zhao for guidance!"
His words caused an uproar.
"Senior Brother Xiong Shan is going first? He's mastered body refinement, and his strength is comparable to that of a primordial ferocious beast. Ordinary Early Golden Immortals are no match for him!"
"This is going to be good. I wonder if Senior Disciple Brother Zhao can withstand Senior Brother Xiong Shan's attacks."
Zhao Gongming looked at Xiong Shan, a trace of approval in his eyes. His aura was powerful, his magic power solid, and his foundation exceptionally firm. He was indeed a worthy opponent.
"Junior Brother Xiong Shan, please." Zhao Gongming gestured with an easy composure.
"Senior Brother, forgive me!"
Xiong Shan roared and wasted no more time. He clenched both fists, and immortal light blazed around him. As he drove the Supreme Purity Immortal Method to its limits, his surging magic power coalesced into the phantom of a hundred-zhang-tall black bear behind him. It threw back its head and roared!
"Ten Thousand Swords Art!"
Xiong Shan thrust out both arms. His immense magic power instantly transformed into a vast sea of Sword Qi, densely packed like locusts sweeping across the land. Each blade gleamed with a chilling light and carried a sharp intent that could tear through space as they surged toward Zhao Gongming from every direction!
This was a basic technique of the Supreme Purity Immortal Method, but one that tested the depth of the practitioner's magic power.
When wielded by a Golden Immortal like Xiong Shan, it was terrifyingly powerful. An ordinary immortal would likely be ground to dust in a single exchange.
Yet faced with such an attack, Zhao Gongming merely stood still, without so much as lifting an eyelid.
Only when the countless blades of Sword Qi were about to reach him did he slowly raise one hand.
Hum—!
A soft chime rang out, and a blue, water-like screen of light silently unfurled before him.
On the screen, the shadows of twenty-four stars slowly revolved, linked together to form a flawless circular barrier.
They were the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Countless blades of Sword Qi struck the water screen with the sharp clamor of metal colliding. Then they vanished into it like mud sinking into the sea, dissolved and devoured by the seemingly soft barrier without stirring so much as a ripple.
Effortless and unruffled, as if borne on a gentle breeze!
"What?!"
Xiong Shan's pupils contracted sharply, his face full of disbelief. His all-out attack hadn't even broken through the other man's defense?
The watching disciples fell silent, staring in stunned disbelief.
The corners of Zhao Gongming's mouth lifted slightly. This was the optimized Sea-Calming Divine Pearls. The defensive power of their Water Origin Space was even greater than he'd expected!
"Junior Brother, my turn."
His voice was calm, as if he were merely stating a fact.
Before his words had even faded, he stirred his thoughts.
Of the twenty-four Sea-Calming Divine Pearls circling him, which had been serving as a defense, one suddenly blazed with light!
Whoosh!
There was no earth-shaking display of power, only a streak of deep-blue light cutting through the sky. The pearl seemed to cross the distance between space and time, appearing before Xiong Shan in an instant.
Fast! Blindingly fast!
Xiong Shan felt an unprecedented, terrifying pressure lock onto him. In his eyes, the small pearl seemed to transform into a boundless ocean, bearing the might to suppress the four seas and eight wastelands and overturn an entire world as it crashed down upon him!
He couldn't even summon the thought of resisting. Before that vast, overwhelming pressure, the body he'd always been proud of and his powerful magic seemed so insignificant, so laughable!
"I... I concede!"
Just before the Sea-Calming Divine Pearl touched his forehead, Xiong Shan mustered all his strength and roared out those three words.
Hum.
The pearl, brimming with terrifying power, stopped dead three inches from his brow. It then transformed into a streak of light and flew back to Zhao Gongming, resuming its place as a point of starlight on the water screen as if it had never moved.
The Training Ground fell deathly silent.
Everyone was stunned by the swift, breathtaking turn of events.
In just... one move!
No, it couldn't even be called a move. Zhao Gongming had merely sent out a pearl, and the Early Golden Immortal Xiong Shan had been forced to concede without the slightest power to resist!
What kind of treasure was that? How could it possess such divine might?
Xiong Shan stood there drenched in sweat, his face pale. It took him a long while to recover. Then he bowed deeply to Zhao Gongming, his voice trembling with sincere reverence. "Thank you for showing mercy, Senior Brother! I... am thoroughly convinced!"
Zhao Gongming nodded slightly. He swept his gaze over the crowd before finally resting it on Shi Ji, whose expression was conflicted. In a warm voice, he asked, "Who's next? Which junior brother or junior sister would care to spar with me?"
[System notification: Defeated an Early Golden Immortal cultivator in an overwhelmingly one-sided battle. Earned 50 Primordial Points.]
The system notification in his mind made Zhao Gongming's smile deepen.
The deathly silence at the Training Ground was broken by a chorus of sharp, startled breaths.
Everyone stared fixedly at Zhao Gongming, their emotions a tangle of awe, shock, and fervor—all of it ultimately becoming absolute worship of the strong.
One move! Just one move!
Xiong Shan, an Early Golden Immortal and a prominent figure among the Interception Sect's Outer Sect Disciples, was renowned for his powerful physique. Yet he couldn't withstand even one strike from Zhao Gongming. He hadn't even found the courage to resist before conceding outright!
What a terrifying gulf in strength!
What grade of spiritual treasure were those twenty-four azure pearls circling him? Each one seemed to contain the power of an ocean, its weight so immense that even the soul trembled before it.
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