At that moment, a low murmur arose on the stage.
Some were excited, some were worried, and some were gloating.
A battle of geniuses never lacks an audience.
In the world of cultivation, the victor reigns supreme.
No matter how renowned or talented Han Xuanji was before, if she lost, it would all be a joke.
He really agreed!
"Nonsense, what can we do if we don't agree? We've already come all this way, are we going to back down now?"
" Zhou Lie is not someone to be trifled with. That guy has killed a True Master- level ferocious beast single-handedly, and his combat strength far surpasses that of others of the same level."
Although Han Xuanji is famous, his actual battle record... doesn't seem to be anything special.
"Don't forget, he climbed to the top of the Five Elements Heavenly Stairway and suppressed Baili Qianchi at the Shallow Dream Pavilion; these are all genuine skills."
"Climbing the Heavenly Ladder relies on comprehension, while fighting with willpower relies on mentality. Real combat is another matter entirely. Zhou Lie has been hunting outside the city for many years, fighting against ferocious beasts. His combat experience is far richer than Han Xuanji's."
"That's true..."
The murmurs rose and fell, but Han Xuanji paid no heed.
He looked up and glanced at the other side of the stands, where he met Zhou Lie's gaze.
Their eyes met in mid-air, sparks flying.
Zhou Lie slowly stood up, lowered his arms which were crossed over his chest, and a slight smile curved his lips.
He had been waiting for this day for a long time.
From the day Han Xuanji ascended the Five Elements Heavenly Stairway, he knew that this person would eventually stand in his way.
It wasn't because he was narrow-minded, but because he Taiqing of the weight of the word "reputation."
The Zhou Household is not a prominent Lineage. He earned his position in the Tiger and Panther Legion through hard work and battles.
His reputation was earned with his life.
How could Han Xuanji, an outsider, have trampled him underfoot in just a few decades?
"Since you've agreed, don't blame me for being impolite."
Zhou Lie sneered inwardly and strode towards the training ground.
His steps were steady and powerful, each step firmly planted on solid ground, his Qi and Blood surging like a tiger poised to pounce.
While both are Dao of Principle cultivation, Zhou Lie has spent years fighting ferocious beasts, resulting in an extremely strong physical body and proficiency in combat-related Divine Ability and secret techniques.
He has a reason not to lose this battle.
The two stood facing each other in the center of the training ground.
Zhou Lie was half a head taller than Han Xuanji and much more robust. Standing in front of Han Xuanji, he looked like a small mountain.
He looked down at Han Xuanji, his gaze filled with scrutiny and disdain.
" Han Xuanji, I've long admired you."
Zhou Lie cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, his tone neither warm nor cold.
Han Xuanji nodded slightly:
"You're too kind, Brother Zhou."
Zhou Lie curled his lip and turned to look at He Guanshan in the stands:
"Commander, may we begin?"
Zhou Lie was getting impatient.
He Guanshan put down his teacup and slowly stood up.
He glanced at the two people in the room, his gaze lingering on Zhou Lie for a moment before settling on Han Xuanji, and said calmly:
"The rules are simple: the arena is the only place to practice, and it's protected by a barrier. Just go all out and don't worry about anything else."
He paused, then added:
"However, I do not wish to see anyone seriously injured; let's stop here."
He naturally knew that Han Xuanji was the Soul Household's precious darling, and Zhou Lie was also someone he was focusing on cultivating.
He suffers whenever something happens to anyone.
As he spoke, he also secretly communicated with Hun Qianxue, indicating that if the situation got out of control, he would personally intervene to stop it.
Hun Qianxue nodded slightly, pleased with this gesture.
Indeed, none of those who reach this position are mediocre!
"Clear."
Zhou Lie nodded.
"Clear."
Han Xuanji nodded as well.
He Guanshan sat back in his chair, raised his hand, and said:
"Start!"
The instant the sound hit the ground.
In the arena, the two men's auras erupted almost simultaneously.
Zhou Lie had no intention of testing the waters; he went all out.
He knew that Han Xuanji was no ordinary opponent, and those rumors about him being "only good at comprehending the Dao but not good at actual combat" were spread by him himself.
He knew in his heart that the person who could climb to the top of the Five Elements Heavenly Stairway could not possibly be a mere scholar who only knew how to talk about military strategy on paper.
Therefore, he strikes with deadly moves, giving his opponent no time to adjust.
Creation Divine Fist.
This is his most skilled boxing style, based on the principles of Dao of Creation, evolving the changes of birth and death of all things.
The punches were like dragons, and the wind from them distorted the void, even tearing the air apart with a sharp whistling sound.
This punch, which he had once used to shatter the head of a True Master- level ferocious beast, was now being hurled at Han Xuanji without any mercy.
In the stands, the soldiers of the Tiger and Panther Legion stared wide-eyed.
" The Creation Divine Fist! Zhou Lie actually used this move right from the start?"
"It seems Han Xuanji is putting a lot of pressure on him."
"Nonsense, the opponent is at least S-Rank Heaven's Chosen from the Soul Household. If Zhou Lie underestimates him, he might suffer a great loss himself."
On the other side.
Wang Ping stood up nervously, staring intently at the field.
Li Tiantong's gaze darkened. He too cultivated the Dao of Principle and had extensive practical experience.
He could sense that the power of creation contained in Zhou Lie's punch was extremely pure. If he were to receive it, he would probably be seriously injured in one move.
In the arena, Han Xuanji looked calmly at the fist that came crashing down like a meteor.
He did not retreat or dodge, but instead raised his right hand, spread his five fingers, and made a loose clenching motion.
The Five Elements Great Grappling Hand.
This is what he got from signing in at the Five Elements Altar, one of the ultimate inheritances of the Five Elements Pavilion.
By manipulating the power of the five elements, one can capture all things.
Han Xuanji had never used it in actual combat since he mastered it; today was the first time.
Five-colored light gathered in his palm, the five colors of blue, red, yellow, white and black intertwining and transforming into a semi-transparent hand that met Zhou Lie's fist.
boom!
Their fists and palms collided, unleashing a deafening roar.
Visible shockwaves radiated outwards from the center of the collision, impacting the barrier at the edge of the training ground and creating ripples.
The stone slabs in the field were cracked by the aftershocks, and rubble flew everywhere.
Zhou Lie's Creation Divine Fist was steadily caught by the Five Elements Great Grappling Hand.
It's not about blocking, it's about "catching".
The five-colored hand seemed to have a life of its own, its five fingers closing together to firmly grasp Zhou Lie's fist in its palm.
Although this punch was incredibly fierce, carrying boundless vitality and seemingly capable of generating everything, it could not break free from the shackles of the Five Elements. It was like a beast trapped in a cage, possessing brute force but having nowhere to unleash it.
Zhou Lie's pupils contracted.
He hadn't expected that Han Xuanji's Five Elements Great Grappling Hand technique would be so exquisite.
This is not a simple contest of strength, but a battle at the level of Principle.
His power of creation attempts to evolve all things and break free from constraints, while the power of the five elements, through the principles of mutual generation and restraint, decomposes and digests his power layer by layer.
"How is that possible...?"
Zhou Lie's resolve wavered.