Ye Tianming was a Transformation Dao cultivator. Even during the preparations, he had already set his spirit essence circulating through his body. As spirit runes appeared, a strand of silvery light extended outward.
Like a vicious wolf thrusting out its claws, he launched a fierce strike at Kong Chongshan opposite him, intending to finish his opponent in an instant.
But Kong Chongshan also possessed a cultivation level of seven transformations or above, and his Manifestation Dao techniques were refined, practiced, and effortlessly controlled.
He did not immediately summon his spirit creature. Instead, he circulated his power internally, gathering momentum and waiting to strike.
Only when the gong sounded and Ye Tianming thrust out his claws did he finally act.
With a flash of silvery light, a Silver-Armored Blade Mantis covered in silver carapace appeared out of thin air.
Riding the momentum of its sudden arrival, he actually struck first, raising his enormous mantis arms and slashing at Ye Tianming!
"Ah!"
Some of the novice disciples watching could almost see the gruesome sight of Ye Tianming being cut in half at the waist, and they could not help screaming.
Kong Chongshan was different from ordinary disciples. He was an elite disciple who had undergone repeated demon-extermination trials in the Demon Suppression Cavern, and had even accepted Training Institute assignments to venture out and fight rogue cultivators.
His attack displayed ruthless ferocity. Even a disciple with the same cultivation level would immediately fall behind without that imposing force.
Everyone felt blade-sharp killing intent sweeping toward them. Some of those facing the arena even involuntarily narrowed their eyes, unable to look directly at its cutting edge.
Clang!
But a collision like metal striking metal quickly rang out. Ye Tianming had actually condensed his energy into gang qi to protect his hands, blocking the Blade Mantis's arms with his claw gang.
Those arms were sharp as blades, but in essence, they were still spirit essence condensed through a secret art.
And his hands, too, had already been enhanced with wolf claws through a secret art, giving them the same substance.
This was precisely the essence of the Transformation Dao!
Fang Qianyuan's pupils contracted slightly at the sight.
Both of them wield their techniques with remarkable proficiency!
Although Fang Qianyuan was no seasoned veteran of a hundred battles, his own strength was considerable. After continually sparring and competing over this period, he had begun to understand combat.
He could tell that both men were extremely confident in their strength and techniques. They also dared to strike ruthlessly, giving them greater presence than ordinary disciples.
That was a crucial point.
It probably also has to do with their backgrounds or experiences. Ye Tianming comes from an aristocratic clan and has never known what it means to worry about consequences. He strikes ruthlessly against his enemies, which accords with the way of combat.
But someone from a grassroots background faces consequences whether they injure or kill someone else, or suffer harm themselves. That leaves hesitation in their heart.
Setting everything else aside, ordinary disciples have already lost the contest of fighting will.
Fang Qianyuan pondered this silently.
Kong Chongshan, on the other hand, seemed to have overcome the instinctive timidity and misgivings of grassroots disciples through repeated real combat, and was fighting Ye Tianming with vigor.
The spirit creature he primarily cultivated was the Silver-Armored Blade Mantis on the platform.
He was an insect beast spirit creature over five feet tall, resembling an enormous mantis. His carapace shone like silver armor, reflecting a cold cutting gleam. His bladed arms, where spirit essence gathered, radiated a particularly chilling sharpness.
He was like a treasured saber that could slice through iron as though it were mud, attacking enemies with powerful swings and killing slashes.
Ye Tianming, meanwhile, primarily cultivated a Moon-Howling Gray Wolf. Through the Transformation Dao, he refined the wolf spirit, extracted its divine intent and spirit soul, and drove his spirit essence to enhance himself.
Using his own body as a weapon and fighting at close quarters put him at an inherent disadvantage.
But Ye Tianming was fearless. After several all-out attacks, it was the Silver-Armored Blade Mantis whose body first acquired several deep claw marks, with spirit essence spilling out like blood.
A keen light flickered in Kong Chongshan's eyes, but he remained unhurried. He continued directing the Silver-Armored Blade Mantis with his mind to resist Ye Tianming's attacks, while forming the Hand Seal of Presence behind him.
"Gray wolves, manifest!"
With a bang, four gray wolves appeared in the arena, wreathed in dense spirit essence.
The moment they appeared, they pounced on Ye Tianming, their targets none other than his four limbs.
"Excellent! Holding back the strike and waiting for the right moment-Senior Brother Kong is getting better and better at seizing opportunities!"
"As expected of Senior Brother Kong! Let's see how Ye Tianming dodges this!"
Many disciples burst into cheers.
After the gray wolves appeared, Ye Tianming did indeed begin to look somewhat flustered.
Although these gray wolves only possessed spirit essence strength around the third transformation, Kong Chongshan's regular nurturing had made them alert, agile, and well trained. Their strength was no less than that of some fourth- or fifth-transformation demons. With several pouncing at once in seamless coordination, they were even harder to handle.
Watching this, Fang Qianyuan could not help pondering what he should do if he encountered such a situation.
No, I wouldn't be in such a sorry state at all. I could simply use Shadow Step to open up the distance and keep fighting on the move.
I shouldn't have gone up to fight the Silver-Armored Blade Mantis at close range in the first place!
At this thought, inspiration flashed through his mind, and he suddenly grew suspicious. Ye Tianming has an extraordinary family background, and his spirit creatures and inscribed talismans are better than mine. Although he lacks the physical talent granted by that Treasure Pill, doing this shouldn't be difficult for him...
He's deliberately feigning weakness to lure Senior Brother Kong into attacking!
With that realization, Fang Qianyuan seemed to grasp Ye Tianming's intentions directly through his appraisal of the battle.
Meanwhile, beside the arena, many disciples still believed Kong Chongshan had gained the upper hand, and were cheering him on.
The differences in their talents and comprehension were clear from this alone.
On the platform, Kong Chongshan gradually sensed something was wrong after his prolonged assault failed to prevail. But he was already riding a tiger and could not dismount. He could only keep directing his spirit creatures to launch wave after wave of attacks at Ye Tianming.
He hoped to seize the initiative and force Ye Tianming into a desperate position.
Suddenly, a streak of silvery light appeared before everyone's eyes without warning.
Amid the crowd's startled cries, an enormous crescent-shaped blade swept across a gray wolf, cutting him in half at the waist.
The gray wolf manifestation let out a pained wail and dispersed on the spot, while the crescent-shaped blade continued flying forward, reaching Kong Chongshan.
What a fast attack! Fang Qianyuan was startled.
This Crescent Slash had been unleashed almost as though no circulation of power was needed at all. Either he had practiced extensively and mastered it to the point of perfect refinement, or he had used a high-grade inscribed talisman specifically to strengthen this spell.
Ye Tianming had been plotting this for a long time. He either held his hand, or struck to achieve results.
Kong Chongshan hurriedly turned sideways to dodge. Yet, for some reason, although he clearly avoided the crescent, his clothes still split open and blood sprayed out.
"It's force energy!"
"The gang qi has become an invisible blade! It's actually larger than the visible outline!"
The crowd realized with a start.
When spirit essence took form, it had color. Generally speaking, at the human rank realm, it appeared blue-green.
But because the absorbed Heaven and Earth Essence and the nature of the spirit creatures cultivated in union with one's life differed, some cultivators' spirit essence, or the gang qi they released, would take on corresponding colors. It was extremely difficult to make sweeping generalizations.
Ye Tianming's Crescent Slash was an attack formed by condensing spirit essence into gang qi. Clearly, however, it concealed murderous intent within, its silvery color verging on transparency. One careless moment was enough to be wounded by it.