Xiao Xuan's astonishment

"Heaven Tier Dou Techniques?

But if you can't find the array's core, even the strongest attack is futile."

Within the spatial realm.

The Spiritual Seals in Xiao Tian Ce's hands shifted, and the runes within the two eighth-tier Spiritual Arrays flashed simultaneously.

"Heaven Tier Dou Technique-Firmament Palm!"

Inside the Spiritual Arrays, Xiao Xuan growled and thrust out his palm.

In an instant, an enormous, terrifying palm imprint radiated horrifying energy and slammed forward.

Such was the terror of a Heaven Tier Dou Technique!

The moment they touched the palm imprint, the longswords shattered one after another, dissolving into showers of light.

When the palm imprint struck the Spiritual Array, a tremendous explosion rang out and fierce winds roared. Had they not been inside the spatial realm, that palm strike could probably have shattered a mountain a hundred thousand feet tall.

Soon, the explosion subsided. Unexpectedly, the Spiritual Array remained unchanged, standing in the spatial realm as though it had suffered no effect whatsoever.

"You've got to be kidding! An attack that powerful couldn't even break this Spiritual Array?" Xiao Xuan exclaimed, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Above him, Xiao Tian Ce was thoroughly satisfied. He had known from the outset that, apart from himself, a Spiritual Array Master, no one on the entire Dou Qi Continent knew how to break a Spiritual Array.

Now, it seemed the results were even better than expected.

"Well, Brother Xuan? Ready to admit defeat? There are two eighth-tier Spiritual Arrays now. If you still want to keep going, I can activate a few more to play with you!" Xiao Tian Ce teased.

Indeed, he was delighted by the astonishment on Xiao Xuan's face.

After all, this was Xiao Xuan, the strongest expert on the Dou Qi Continent. There were probably very few people who could make him eat humble pie.

Inside the Spiritual Arrays, Xiao Xuan smiled at those smug words, though his smile carried an overwhelming air of dominance.

"Tian Ce, you've forgotten something," Xiao Xuan declared.

"Oh? What have I forgotten?" Xiao Tian Ce asked in confusion.

"You've forgotten that I'm Xiao Xuan, the acknowledged strongest expert on the Dou Qi Continent. How could someone like me ever utter the words 'I surrender'?" Xiao Xuan laughed heartily, and his incomparably domineering aura surged once more.

Xiao Tian Ce nodded in acknowledgment, then smiled. "In that case, I won't keep anything tucked away anymore. Brother Xuan, try my methods again."

As his words fell, Xiao Xuan's aura inside the Spiritual Arrays had already reached its peak.

Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Spiritual Seals began appearing once more around Xiao Tian Ce, who stood at the core of the Immortal-Slaying Sword Array.

"Eighth-tier Spiritual Array-Nine-Bend Yellow River, rise!"

"Eighth-tier Spiritual Array-Ten Thousand Layered Mountains, rise!"

Two more eighth-tier Spiritual Arrays enveloped Xiao Xuan. In an instant, glowing runes filled his entire field of vision.

"As expected of you, Tian Ce. You astonish me every time. But these so-called eighth-tier Spiritual Arrays aren't enough to deal with me, Xiao Xuan."

Xiao Xuan formed hand seals again, then unleashed an advanced Heaven Tier Dou Technique.

"Heaven Tier Dou Technique-Heaven and Earth Shattering Demon Palm!"

Xiao Xuan growled, and in an instant, a giant palm of energy, even more powerful than the last, appeared directly above his head.

"The place I attacked before probably wasn't the key. In that case, I'll try another direction!"

As his words fell, Xiao Xuan thrust out his palm.

A flicker of alarm flashed through Xiao Tian Ce's eyes, and his figure swiftly vanished from the core of the Immortal-Slaying Sword Array.

The next moment, he appeared elsewhere, the Spiritual Seals in his hands flashing continuously.

He clapped his hands together, and all four eighth-tier Spiritual Arrays attacked at once.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The Spiritual Arrays' attacks collided with Xiao Xuan's giant energy palm, unleashing another violent clash.

Explosions powerful enough to destroy heaven and earth canceled one another out in an instant.

An enormous shock wave swept through the entire interior of the Spiritual Arrays, sending Xiao Xuan flying several thousand meters.

After the explosions, silence returned to the Spiritual Arrays.

"Cough, cough!"

Xiao Xuan coughed twice, and a trickle of blood ran from the corner of his mouth. He had been struck by the attacks just now and suffered a minor injury.

"Impressive indeed!"

Xiao Xuan offered his heartfelt praise. He genuinely admired Xiao Tian Ce. These so-called Spiritual Arrays truly had unique strengths; they had even managed to injure an expert like him.

Meanwhile, outside the Spiritual Arrays, Xiao Tian Ce gave a rueful smile. "You really are strong, Brother Xuan. I lost!"

The moment his words fell, cracks spread across the light barriers of the Spiritual Arrays. Within just a few breaths, all four eighth-tier Spiritual Arrays shattered with a bang.

As the Spiritual Arrays dissipated, Xiao Xuan nodded in satisfaction. If he had failed to break these arrays again, he would have lost a great deal of face.

He quickly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, then stood where he was and smiled at Xiao Tian Ce. "Hahaha! Finally broke them.

Now that your performance is over, it's my turn!"

Xiao Tian Ce rolled his eyes and scolded him with a laugh. "Have you no shame, Brother Xuan? You're a Peak Nine-Star Dou Saint. I'd have to be mad to fight you head-on.

All right, you've seen my methods. Let's leave it there. I'm off!"

With that, Xiao Tian Ce waved, left the spatial realm, and returned to his Heavenly Strategy Manor.

Inside the spatial realm, Xiao Xuan was dumbfounded. He had been planning to teach Xiao Tian Ce a lesson, only for the fellow to leave without hesitation the moment he said he was done fighting.

Only after a long while did Xiao Xuan recover. He laughed and cursed, "That little rascal Tian Ce really won't give me any face. Still, this is good. Even if I die after failing to break through to Dou Di, the Xiao Clan can survive with Tian Ce around!"

With that, his figure swiftly vanished. A moment later, he appeared on the Ninth Floor of the Heavenly Strategy Manor.

As soon as they met, Xiao Xuan scolded him with a laugh. "You just decided you were done fighting and left?"

"Hahaha! Didn't I already say it? I'd have to be mad to take on a Peak Nine-Star Dou Saint like you head-on.

I'm not looking for a beating, and I'm not some fool who insists on battering his head against a wall. I'd definitely be the one suffering in a head-on fight!

Besides, Brother Xuan, didn't you just want to see my new methods? Well? Pretty decent, weren't they?" Xiao Tian Ce laughed heartily, feeling no shame whatsoever.

Xiao Xuan slapped his forehead and gave a helpless, wry smile. "You really won't accept even the slightest loss, will you?

Still, the Spiritual Arrays you used today were truly formidable.

Honestly, given enough time to set them up, you could make it difficult for even a nine-star Dou Sheng to escape. You could wear someone down to death inside."

At this point, Xiao Xuan sighed with emotion. "To think that in just a few short years, you've gained a way of fighting like this, Tian Ce.

And from what I observed, your Dou Qi doesn't seem to have diminished at all. Does that mean these so-called Spiritual Arrays aren't powered by Dou Qi?"

Xiao Tian Ce was slightly startled. Xiao Xuan's eye was sharp indeed. Just before leaving, he had deliberately circulated his Dou Qi, and Xiao Xuan had noticed.

"You're right, Brother Xuan. Spiritual Arrays aren't powered by Dou Qi, but by spiritual energy!" Xiao Tian Ce replied with a smile and a nod.

"Spiritual energy? I think I've seen that term in some ancient text," Xiao Xuan murmured thoughtfully.

"Brother Xuan, there's no need to dwell on it. Just know that Spiritual Arrays aren't an offensive art from the Dou Qi Continent. And barring any surprises, I should be the only Spiritual Array Master on the entire Dou Qi Continent!" Xiao Tian Ce waved a hand, interrupting Xiao Xuan's thoughts.

"A Spiritual Array Master? Just as I thought. I noticed a few unusual things during our fight.

Using formations like these Spiritual Arrays to attack, to trap people, and to kill them, with a single person able to form an array in moments-methods like these could only have come from another world."

Second update. Please show your support. There wasn't enough time for a third chapter today; check again after midnight.