Jiang Yan's Sparring Request, Qin Wangchuan's True Strength

"I think you've misunderstood something," Qin Wangchuan said calmly. "Not everyone is qualified to fight me."

His gaze shifted to Jiang Yan.

"However, since you call me elder Eldest Brother, we'll part ways tomorrow, and you'll have your own path to follow."

"Today, I can spar with you a few times."

"This isn't just a few exchanges; it's a fight to the death, until one side is completely immobilized." Jiang Yan lowered his body, assuming a fighting stance. "I will give it my all!"

"I hope you'll give it your all, Eldest Brother, so I can see the gap between myself and a true Prodigy."

"Don't release the water!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a flash of Lightning Light appeared in Jiang Yan's eyes, and his aura suddenly surged.

"Wanjie Thunder Furnace —Open!"

A violent burst of lightning erupted, and silver electric snakes snaked across his body, illuminating the alley as if it were daytime.

His speed and power increased several times over at that moment, leaving only a blurry afterimage in his wake.

"Qianqiu Hegemony Fist!"

The fist, accompanied by a deafening sonic boom and surging Lightning Light, aimed straight for Qin Wangchuan's face.

This punch far exceeded the strength he displayed in the arena during the day.

However--

"Clang!"

A cold, metallic figure suddenly appeared, and the Soldier Puppet caught the ferocious punch with a single palm.

Where fists and palms collided, Lightning Light flashed, but it couldn't leave the slightest mark on the dark metal.

Jiang Yan's pupils contracted, Borrowing Strength to flip himself onto the ground.

On the other side, scorching heat waves were already surging.

"Me too!"

"The Great Sun Burning Heaven —Open!"

Gu Tianye shouted in a deep voice, his body seemingly transforming into a human-shaped blazing sun, the bluestone bricks beneath his feet instantly melting into glass due to the terrifying heat.

His palms were crimson red as he struck out from mid-air:

"Burning Heaven Palm!"

The scorching flames transformed into a giant hand, slamming into the Soldier Puppet from the side and sealing off all his escape routes.

Faced with a full-scale attack from both sides, the Soldier Puppet advanced instead of retreating.

With its left hand outstretched, an invisible barrier instantly dissolved the Burning Heaven Palm; its right hand remained as steady as a rock, unmoved by Jiang Yan's thunderous fist.

Seeing this, a resolute glint flashed in Jiang Yan's eyes. He clasped his hands together abruptly and roared to the sky:

"Lei Shi —help me!"

Before he finished speaking, the Lightning Light around him suddenly turned deep purple, and his violent pressure surged again, causing his hair to stand on end, as if Thunder God had descended to earth.

"Qianqiu Hegemony Fist!" With the blessing of Lei Shi's possession, he decisively unleashed a punch.

Feeling the surging power within him, Jiang Yan's confidence soared—at this moment, both his strength and speed had surpassed those of Gu Tianye beside him.

He refused to believe that this wouldn't force his Eldest Brother to reveal his true abilities!

On the other side, Gu Tianye also let out a long roar, raising both palms to the sky:

"Heavenly Fire Meteor Fall!"

In an instant, several house-sized, blazing fireballs condensed in the night sky, trailing long flames like meteorites, and crashed down fiercely towards where Qin Wangchuan was!

Gu Tianye's gaze was intense. This move seemed to target the Soldier Puppet, but its real target was the manipulator behind it! He wanted to see how this unfathomable Qing Wangchuan would deal with the power to scorch the heavens and boil the seas.

However, Jiang Yan's punch, crackling with Purple Electric Light, was blocked by the Soldier Puppet's single palm.

Deep purple lightning crackled violently across the metal palm, yet it couldn't penetrate even an inch.

Faced with Gu Tianye's overwhelming offensive, Qin Wangchuan, who had remained standing still, finally made a move.

He didn't even look at the fiery meteors hurtling down; with just a few casual sidesteps and half-steps, those incredibly powerful fireballs grazed his clothes and crashed to the ground.

A burst of flames erupted, yet not even a single hem of his clothing was touched.

Just as Jiang Yan and Gu Tianye had exhausted their old strength and had not yet generated new strength, the Soldier Puppet suddenly separated his arms, pointing his left hand at Jiang Yan and his right hand at Gu Tianye.

The light at its fingertips rapidly condensed, transforming into two chilling points of eerie blue light, and the destructive energy fluctuations instantly locked onto the two of them.

Although the spiritual light had not yet been emitted, the chilling murderous intent had already gripped their throats as if it were a tangible reality.

The two had no doubt that if this attack were launched, they would have no chance of survival!

At this critical moment...

Qin Wangchuan snapped his fingers, and the destructive aura at the Soldier Puppet's fingertips quietly dissipated. The metal body also turned into a stream of light and returned to his sleeve.

He looked at the two of them with a tone that sounded like he was coaxing a child:

"Okay, I won."

The more they fought, the more they felt their Eldest Brother's strength.

Even a Sacred Body's cannot break through the Soldier Puppet's defenses.

But Jiang Yan knew, and the seniors in the Little Pagoda within his body also knew, that Qin Wangchuan was not Talisman Cultivator at all.

If all Talisman Cultivator are this strong, how strong would they be if they used their true abilities?

"Eldest Brother!" Jiang Yan finally couldn't hold back any longer and roared at Qin Wangchuan, who had been standing silently at the back, "Stop trying to fool me with this lump of iron! I know you're not Talisman Cultivator at all!"

"Have you forgotten what we said at the beginning? Go all out, fight to the death until one side can no longer move!"

Qin Wangchuan stood still, his gaze sweeping over the two men who seemed so powerless in front of the Soldier Puppet, his eyes thoughtful.

'Gu Tianye is one thing, but Jiang Yan's death would be a waste of medicine...'

"All right."

The moment he finished speaking, Jiang Yan and Gu Tianye both felt a tightness around their bodies.

The two quickly got into fighting stances.

Seeing Qin Wangchuan's serious expression, Jiang Yan excitedly said:

"Yes, Eldest Brother, that's it. Go all out, don't hold back—"

The word "water" stuck in his throat.

It wasn't silence; I suddenly couldn't move!

Even the act of blinking froze in mid-air.

Time seemed to stand still at this moment, only thoughts continued to turn with difficulty.

They didn't even see Qin Wangchuan make any move before they were completely imprisoned by an invisible force.

The next moment, they saw the gap between themselves and the vast sky.

"Dragon Scale."

A soft call was made, and a faint dragon's roar resounded.

A solid, Dragon Form phantom coiled around his left arm, its head drooping to the back of his hand, its body coiling around his forearm, eventually solidifying into a lifelike Golden Dragon Pattern Armguard.

Although only a corner was revealed, the immense power fluctuations already caused the surrounding space to tremble slightly.

"Wanjie Thunder Furnace, Third Gear"

An even more violent bolt of Lightning Light shot into the sky, completely different from the one Jiang Yan used; it was Chaos Lightning imbued with an aura of destruction.

"The Extreme Dao Sacred Technique? Jie Jin Jian Wo."

As the Immortal Bone awakened, an overwhelming pressure descended upon all living beings.

At this moment, Qin Wangchuan seemed to have transformed into the master of heaven and earth.

He raised his hand and made a grasping motion, and a Dao Sword engraved with several characters slowly appeared— the Ten Directions Profound Sword.

Without any fancy moves, he simply flicked his wrist lightly in the direction the two were.

"Buzz--"

Jiang Yan and Gu Tianye's pupils suddenly contracted.

Time seemed to stretch out infinitely. They could clearly "see" the invisible Sword Qi sweep past their bodies, yet they couldn't even move a finger.

That was absolute, irresistible destruction.

The Sword Qi swept past.

There was no pain, no impact.

But when they regained control of their bodies, their backs were soaked with cold sweat.

The two stood frozen in place—for a fleeting moment, their consciousness had "died" once.

Qin Wangchuan had already concealed all his aura, appearing as if he were just an ordinary passerby.

He walked up, patted the two men on the shoulder, then turned and walked out of the alley, his tone casual:

"My little maid went outside the city and caught a delicious-looking Demon Beast to roast. Would you like some?"

Jiang Yan nodded blankly. "... Okay."

He subconsciously turned around, only to see Gu Tianye standing there, stunned.

The Prodigy with the Sacred Body was staring behind him, his face filled with disbelief.

Following his gaze, one could see a huge, smooth, mirror-like cut that had appeared on the distant Tongtian City at some unknown time.

When Jiang Yan was in the Lower Realm, he believed that the people in the Upper Realm were unapproachable, and that they were all Great Power of moving mountains and filling seas.

But after arriving in Middle Thousand Provinces, that idea changed.

The people of Middle Thousand Provinces, whom they had previously regarded as Great Power, were now merely even more powerful individuals.

Despite their immense power, Jiang Yan was certain.

As long as you're human, you'll definitely catch up someday.

But there is one exception.

My gaze followed the huge cut in the city wall forward.

A bottomless ravine stretched from the foot of the city wall to the horizon, dividing the entire land in two.

Jiang Yan's breathing suddenly stopped.

'Is this truly within human capability? If he continues to grow stronger, how will he differ from an immortal? If that sword strike had been slightly off target...'

He dared not think any further, only feeling a chill run down his spine.

The moonlight shone down, illuminating the "sword mark" that stretched across the earth, silently proclaiming the power of that casual sword strike.

Jiang Yan was absolutely certain.

He knew he could never catch up with his Eldest Brother Qing Wangchuan.

That chasm cannot be crossed by effort alone; rather, it is like the difference between humans and immortals, fundamentally different.

Gu Tianye slowly turned his head, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly, his voice dry:

"Can I... go to the barbecue you guys mentioned?"