Chu Huaishan wielded his spear with consummate skill.
In his hands, the spear seemed less like a weapon than an extension of his body.
Thrust, lift, sweep, deflect—every move flowed naturally, yet each concealed a killing stroke.
The glimmering white light at the spear tip was fiercer still. Every surge came with a shrill whistle through the air, leaving trails of afterimages.
Nolan Bach's twin axes were just as ferocious.
His fighting style was wild and direct. Every blow carried the force to open mountains and split stone, and the pale yellow glow on his axe heads flared as he struck with astonishing power.
Yet beneath that savagery lay finesse. His axes served both attack and defense, letting him launch an unbroken offensive or, at a critical moment, seal off Chu Huaishan's spear.
Both men were Innate Realm Martial Artists who had advanced far within that realm.
Projecting True Qi outward had become second nature to them.
Whether it was the light on Chu Huaishan's spear or the glow of Nolan Bach's axes, both had been refined to an extraordinary degree, far beyond the standard of an ordinary Innate Realm Martial Artist.
Their strength was closely matched, and both displayed exceptional mastery of martial arts.
Spear and axes clashed in a fierce exchange, and the battle soon reached a fever pitch.
Amid the intense fighting, both suffered injuries.
Nolan Bach's axe wind grazed Chu Huaishan's shoulder, tearing his martial arts uniform and exposing a shoulder stripped of a broad patch of flesh. Blood poured down his arm.
At the same time, Chu Huaishan struck Nolan Bach beneath the ribs with the butt of his spear. Nolan Bach visibly staggered, and blood instantly stained the side of his uniform red.
That exchange of wounds was only a glimpse of the duel.