Yang Chen Battles Gui Xing

"Since you all don't believe me, how about we have a fight?"

Yang Chen's calm voice echoed throughout the room. Even Chen Tianxin couldn't help but take a few extra looks at Yang Chen, his expression filled with doubt.

That Gui Xing was a genuine Grandmaster-level powerhouse! Not to mention Yang Chen claiming to be a half-step Grandmaster, even a true Grandmaster might not necessarily gain the upper hand against Gui Xing.

After all, Gui Xing was ranked quite highly among Grandmasters.

Could Yang Chen be so angry that he had lost his mind?

Elder Wang also had a look of suspicion in his eyes.

Logically speaking, no one should be so irrational; could it be that this kid really had some tricks up his sleeve?

But a Grandmaster was an insurmountable realm. Even an S-rank peak esper, or someone just entering the Grandmaster realm, couldn't last a single move against a Grandmaster!

Shan Shou merely glanced at Yang Chen, then continued to stare at the floor, as if none of this had anything to do with him.

"Hehe, little brother is quite confident!" Meng Yao covered her mouth and giggled softly.

She swayed her waist, radiating infinite allure.

"Hehe, there are always people who want to challenge the might of a Grandmaster. Today, I'll let you get a good look at the strength of a Grandmaster!"

Gui Xing let out a strange laugh, and his entire figure instantly became hazy, as if he had merged into the shadows. To the naked eye, it was difficult to even perceive his presence.

In an instant, a chilling aura permeated from Gui Xing's body, and the surrounding temperature plummeted to the extreme!

Wang Teng, who was standing beside Yang Chen, began to shiver uncontrollably. Unable to withstand the temperature, he began to circulate his cultivation energy.

Only then did he feel slightly better.

Yang Chen narrowed his eyes slightly, then flicked his fingers.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!!!!

Endless flames surged up, filling the space around Yang Chen. Suddenly, that cold aura was forced back, and whatever remained was burned away completely by the scorching heat.

Chen Tianxin smiled slightly, then waved his hand, pulling Wild Wolf and Wang Teng out of the way. He then cast several streams of spiritual energy to trap Gui Xing and Yang Chen inside a barrier.

"You two, this isn't the outdoors. If you break anything, you'll have to pay for it, so just play around inside the barrier!"

Chen Tianxin's voice echoed within the barrier.

"Hehe, dealing with a mere child doesn't require Grandmaster Chen's barrier. It will be over in a single breath!"

Gui Xing smiled faintly, and a green light flickered within his hollow eye sockets. Immediately after, the phantom of a fierce ghost manifested behind him.

The moment the ghost appeared, a terrifying pressure erupted, as if the weight of a mountain had emerged from the void.

Gui Xing looked at Yang Chen with a sneer in his eyes.

Did he think he could rival him just by relying on an A-rank ability? How delusional!

But the next moment, Gui Xing's expression changed.

As time passed, Yang Chen stood calmly amidst the flames, looking like a monarch of fire, with all flames bowing to him!

"Is that it?"

Yang Chen's eyes darkened slightly, and a terrifying fluctuation erupted from his lean frame.

Boom! Boom!!

His blood energy surged, resembling blood-colored dragons hovering around his body, radiating a formidable aura!

"This is..."

Elder Wang, who had been looking down, suddenly raised his head, his cloudy eyes filled with astonishment and flickering light.

"A Grandmaster's Body!"

For espers below the S-rank, they grew their physique and enhanced their abilities by channeling spiritual energy into their dantian.

But upon reaching the Grandmaster realm, the physique underwent a qualitative leap. Although it was still a mortal body, it had developed to the absolute limit.

It could be said that a Grandmaster-level powerhouse, even without using spiritual energy, could instantly kill anyone below the Grandmaster realm!

And the physical power Yang Chen was currently unleashing had clearly reached the Grandmaster realm!

Terrifying!

If anyone still questioned whether Yang Chen had the strength of a half-step Grandmaster, then these Grandmasters must be blind.

If someone possessing a Grandmaster's Body couldn't be considered a Grandmaster, then no one could.

However, Yang Chen's situation was rather strange.

His spiritual cultivation, or rather his ability level, was only A-rank—just reaching the level of Wild Wolf—but his physical body had already reached the Grandmaster realm!

Such a freak of nature was the first of his kind seen among all the espers on Earth!

Gui Xing's expression gradually turned grave, and cold light flickered in his skull-like pupils.

Yang Chen's strength had now earned his recognition, but he didn't want to let go just yet. After all, Yang Chen could be considered his junior, and he found himself wanting to test the true extent of this junior's strength.

Gui Xing licked his lips. "Come on, let me see exactly what level your Grandmaster's Body has reached!"

"As you wish!"

Yang Chen smiled faintly, then his body suddenly flickered, leaving behind a trail of afterimages. In just a moment, he flashed directly in front of Gui Xing, his fist covered in thick flames that erupted with intense, scorching heat.

"Fire, rise!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Orange-red flames suddenly burst forth from Yang Chen's fist, shimmering with intense brilliance as they descended toward Gui Xing's face.

However, just as a faint smile was about to grace Yang Chen's lips, he suddenly stiffened.

His hand felt as if it had been shackled by something, and the flames were instantly extinguished, emitting thick smoke.

Yang Chen looked closely and realized that a phantom of a malicious ghost had emerged from nowhere, extending an arm like a white bone to seize him. The waves of chill radiating from it had forcibly snuffed out his fire.

"How is this possible!"

Yang Chen's pupils contracted sharply. His power had always been invincible, but at this moment, the opponent's strength seemed to far exceed his own, rendering his power insignificant.

At this moment, Gui Xing slowly stepped out from the shadows. His skeletal frame radiated a deep chill, and he parted his mouth to smile.

To Yang Chen, however, this smile was filled with a coldness that made his skin crawl.

"Not bad, kid. You have the strength of a half-step Grandmaster, or perhaps you could be called the strongest person below the Grandmaster level. But compared to a true Grandmaster, your strength is still lacking. If your ability could reach the S-rank level, even some newly ascended Grandmasters might not be able to take you down!"

"But as for now..."

Gui Xing let out a strange laugh. "I am no ordinary Grandmaster!"

As he spoke, the malicious ghost gripping Yang Chen's arm seemed to go berserk. Endless white vapor billowed from its body, as if freezing the very air itself.

Yang Chen breathed heavily, his chest heaving as he struggled to draw air, yet a defiant will erupted within his eyes.

"So what if you're a Grandmaster!"

Yang Chen gritted his teeth, and flames erupted once more. Within the orange-red fire, a faint purple hue flickered, and the temperature became incredibly scorching.

"Break for me!"

Whoosh!

"Oh? You still have strength? Then let me suppress you!"

Gui Xing raised an eyebrow, a look of appreciation appearing in his eyes. However, he felt that young people needed to be tempered, especially a genius like Yang Chen who possessed such strength at his age.

With some polishing, he would soon be able to step into the Grandmaster realm, and after a few more years of cultivation, he might even reach the level of Chen Tianxin!

But for now, he was merely a genius who had yet to fully develop.

Kekeke!

The malicious ghost let out a hiss, and a pair of bone-white fingers struck out, jabbing directly into Yang Chen's pressure points. A wave of weakness instantly flooded Yang Chen's body.

Gui Xing's technique was masterful; by striking those points, he caused no lasting injury while temporarily stripping Yang Chen of his ability to fight.

The flames on Yang Chen's body dissipated instantly, and he collapsed to the ground like a heap of dead weight, though a trace of unwillingness remained in his eyes.

Even as the sensation of weakness rose in his body, his spirit remained fiercely agitated.

But without the strength to move his body, it was all in vain.

At this moment, Gui Xing walked slowly over to Yang Chen and leaned in close.

"Kid, you're quite good. Perhaps you could be my apprentice!"

"Gui Xing, what do you think you're doing! This is someone I've already set my sights on. Are you trying to snatch an apprentice right out of my hands?"

A voice filled with displeasure rang out—it was none other than Meng Yao!

Meng Yao's beautiful eyes were fixed on Gui Xing with deep vigilance, a faint aura of spiritual energy shimmering around her.

She looked ready to fight at the slightest provocation!

Gui Xing's expression changed instantly, and he said in a deep voice, "I'm saying, you all stayed silent the whole time, but now you speak up? Isn't that going a bit too far! I've been alone for most of my life; what, is it a crime for me to want my first apprentice now?"

Gui Xing also erupted with a brilliant, icy light, staring straight at Meng Yao!

To be continued!