Clash of the Strongest

Clash of the Strongest . . .

The collision was a spectacle of overwhelming power against indomitable swordsmanship. When these forces clashed, the entire battle platform was engulfed in a terrifying light. It was as if the heavens themselves held their breath, waiting to witness the outcome.

Spectators watched in awe as a multitude of suppression figures surged toward Li Yu, while Qin Wentian's fist delivered an earth-shaking blow. The heavens seemed to tremble, and the air crackled with anticipation.

Seven stars danced around the sword diagram hovering above Li Yu, his figure riding on the sword diagram below. He unleashed a series of strikes, each sword strike pulsating with supreme might. The melodic hum of his blades sent shivers down the spines of onlookers.

"This is an incredible clash! These two warriors have thrown caution to the wind," the crowd murmured, their eyes glued to the epic confrontation. Qin Wentian advanced step by step, his own suppression energy intensifying under the weight of Li Yu's sword technique. He was determined to use this overwhelming power to subdue his opponent's relentless swordplay.

With a wave of his hand, Qin Wentian conjured a formidable 300-meter-long astral spear. As it surged forward, divine radiance enveloped it, and a formless pressure permeated the surrounding space. The sheer force of his suppression seemed to challenge the very fabric of the universe.

The swordlight disintegrated piece by piece; Qin Wentian's suppression was relentless, disrupting Li Yu's sword technique.

"BOOM!"

Advancing even closer to Li Yu, Qin Wentian's spear shimmered with resplendent brilliance, drawing astral power from his constellation. A subtle hint of law energy coursed through the weapon.

"BANG!"

Another spear strike lanced forth, carrying the weight of two years' worth of combat region palace insights. Energy converged at the spear's tip, magnifying its power exponentially. The space itself seemed to yield to the unstoppable force of the spear. Li Yu's swords were obliterated upon contact, and blinding spearlight bore down on him. Despite his efforts to wield the seven-star sword art to its limits, his sword diagrams were shattered by Qin Wentian's spear.

Though the spear itself wasn't imposing in size, its tip contained the combined might of Qin Wentian's astral soul and constellation energies. Together with his formidable physique, it packed a devastating punch.

"BANG BANG BANG BANG!" His spear strikes cleaved through everything like a force of nature, leaving destruction in their wake. After Li Yu's sword diagrams were shattered, he desperately retreated. His sword flailed through the air, an attempt to buy himself time, but it too met its demise.

"Chi!" A sharp, piercing sound rang out as the spear's radiance pierced Li Yu's chest, halting his movements. With a roar of anger, Qin Wentian's 170,000-meter battle halo initiated its plunder, siphoning away Li Yu's battle qi. In an instant, the oppressive atmosphere lifted. Qin Wentian stood with his spear, eyes fixed on Li Yu, and declared, "You've lost."

Li Yu gazed at the spear embedded in his chest, a symbol of his defeat. Qin Wentian, however, hadn't released the spear's energy, sparing his life. It was clear that Qin Wentian had shown mercy; this level of injury wouldn't prove fatal to a stellar martial cultivator.

With a profound look at Qin Wentian, Li Yu turned and descended from the battle platform. This defeat left him speechless.

"Even a sixth-level heaven-chosen has been vanquished by his hand. His power knows no bounds," the crowd marveled. At that moment, Qin Wentian's battle halo had reached 180,000 meters, radiating with a resplendent violet-golden light.

Yet, in the midst of the spectacle, Qin Wentian was not the sole shining star. While locked in combat with Li Yu, Gu Zhantian had consecutively defeated two formidable opponents. His battle halo had grown to an impressive 200,000 meters in size. However, keen observers noted a distinction in the hues of their respective halos. Qin Wentian's halo radiated with a richer violet-gold hue, a testament to his victory over an opponent two levels above him. Furthermore, the augmentation bestowed upon him by this feat appeared to outshine Gu Zhantian's achievement.

All eyes were drawn to Gu Zhantian as he fixed his gaze on the battle platform where Qin Wentian stood. His comment cut through the air like a blade, "How regrettable, your cultivation level falls short."

His words reverberated, capturing the attention of the entire arena.

It seemed that the two formidable fighters were on the brink of a confrontation. Even if Qin Wentian had no intention of provoking Gu Zhantian, his previous actions had inadvertently challenged him. He had achieved the most dazzling and radiant battle halo. But now, Gu Zhantian's words were a declaration, asserting his position as the unrivaled number one fighter, a title he was unwilling to surrender.

A voice, laced with confidence, drifted across the arena. All eyes shifted toward another platform where a strikingly handsome young man stood. A faint smile played upon his lips as he locked eyes with Gu Zhantian. The unmistakable arrogance in his gaze implied that he held Gu Zhantian in low regard, despite Gu Zhantian's impressive battle halo.

"Your halo may be the largest, but it's only because you've been lurking below, emerging only to siphon off battle qi from those whose halos reached a certain size," the young man remarked casually. "My senior brother, on the other hand, has remained on his platform, accepting all challenges. Only in the recent battles did he reveal his true strength, and he's already nearly surpassed you. If we followed your cowardly method of plundering battle qi, whether it's my senior brother or me, our halos would have easily exceeded 200,000 meters."

Jun Mengchen spoke with a hint of disdain. Gu Zhantian turned his gaze toward him, a playful smile gracing his lips. "Is that so? Well, if you're confident, why don't you try my method now? Let's see if your battle halo can surpass mine."

Jun Mengchen's expression darkened as he stepped forward, poised to accept the challenge. However, Qin Wentian intervened, his voice calm but resolute, "Mengchen."

Jun Mengchen shifted his gaze to Qin Wentian. "Senior."

"What purpose does this battle qi serve for us? This is merely the Cloud Prefecture's selection test. It's not our ultimate goal," Qin Wentian replied.

A flicker of realization crossed Jun Mengchen's face, and a determined light gleamed in his eyes. He nodded in agreement. "Senior brother is absolutely right. This is nothing more than a selection test within a single prefecture. Our true objective lies within the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect."

Gu Zhantian chuckled softly, his tone tinged with amusement. "Such bold and boastful words."

"Though a larger battle halo may dazzle the eyes, one's own strength should always be the top priority," Qin Wentian responded in a measured tone. Jun Mengchen smiled and nodded, saying, "You're absolutely right, senior brother. I'll take your advice to heart."

"That's just my perspective. But Mengcheng, you have your unique way of looking at things; just follow your heart," Qin Wentian remarked, nodding to Jun Mengchen. He held a deep fondness for his junior brother's personality. Jun Mengchen was a complex blend of qualities – gentle and unassuming at times, yet a powerhouse of arrogance and invincibility in battle. His respect towards Qin Wentian and Zi Qingxuan was evident, indicating his inherently kind nature.

Qin Wentian had offered this gentle reminder because he recognized Jun Mengchen's tendency to be overly concerned about how others perceived him. While Jun Mengchen's character needed some fine-tuning, Qin Wentian believed in letting his junior brother learn and grow at his own pace. The Heavenly Talisman Realm comprised individuals with diverse personalities, and not all had to be close friends; mutual respect was often sufficient.

Qin Wentian genuinely cared for Jun Mengchen and considered him a good friend. It was this fondness that prompted him to offer guidance.

"Understood," Jun Mengchen replied, his head nodding in acknowledgment. Yet, he couldn't help but wonder if Qin Wentian's relentless battles were part of a broader strategy to enhance his strength.

Gu Zhantian interjected with a mocking tone, "Your words suggest that my method of selecting battles aimed solely to accumulate the largest battle halo, rather than improving my strength. Let me clarify – I'm here on the Cloudheaven Arena to both strengthen myself and attain the most prominent and radiant halo. There's no contradiction. Your words reek of hypocrisy."

Qin Wentian turned his gaze towards Gu Zhantian. Gu Zhantian's lanky figure and imposing aura commanded attention. Even in a casual stance, he exuded an air of supremacy. His arrogance was palpable; he conveyed that in his presence, no one could surpass him. He reiterated that his sole objective on the Cloudheaven Arena was to gather enough battle qi to acquire the grandest and most radiant battle halo.

With a graceful leap, Qin Wentian stepped onto the air and, in one sweeping stride, landed on the battle platform where Gu Zhantian stood. This audacious move left the crowd below the Cloudheaven Arena speechless. Mouths hung open in astonishment, and spectators were frozen in shock.

Even the powerful figures surrounding Idlecloud King couldn't hide their surprise, their eyes wide and uncomprehending.

Qin Wentian, had he really just... chosen to step onto Gu Zhantian's battle platform?

This wasn't an act of recklessness; it was a daredevil move bordering on self-destruction!

In the awe-inspiring realm of cultivation, where power and glory intertwined like an eternal dance, the question on everyone's lips echoed through the air like a whisper on the wind: What level of cultivation did Gu Zhantian have? He was none other than a seventh-level ascendant, a radiant star in the celestial firmament. And if that wasn't enough to steal the spotlight, Gu Zhantian boasted the largest and most resplendent battle halo ever witnessed in the realm.

But then, there was Qin Wentian, a character of supreme demon-level prowess, a force to be reckoned with. Yet, there lay a gaping chasm, a three-level disparity, separating him from Gu Zhantian in the hierarchy of cultivation. The mere thought of challenging such a monumental gap in strength seemed like a flirtation with death itself.

Ah, if only Qin Wentian had chosen a run-of-the-mill ascendant as his opponent, the spectators might have still harbored a glimmer of hope for his victory. But fate had different plans; it had placed him against Gu Zhantian, a formidable figure whose battle halo stretched an astounding 200,000 meters. Who, in their right mind, could hope to contend against such an awe-inspiring force of nature?

Even Gu Zhantian himself found his senses bewildered by the audacity of Qin Wentian's sudden challenge. Despite the heated exchange of words that had transpired between them, he could never have fathomed that Qin Wentian would dare to set foot on his hallowed battleground. This territory was Gu Zhantian's dominion, his sanctuary, and within the Cloud Prefecture, no one had ever dared to challenge him on his home turf.

With a hint of determination, Qin Wentian spoke in a hushed tone, "Let me have a taste of your strength." His battle qi surged like a tempest, his grip on the spear tightened, and his violet-gold astral soul flickered, while his constellation materialized majestically in the heavens.

A grin crept across Gu Zhantian's face, soon turning into a maniacal laugh that reverberated through the arena. He stepped forward with unwavering confidence, his imposing figure still towering over Qin Wentian. Behind him, a colossal violet-gold flood dragon, brimming with boundless power, materialized with awe-inspiring might. In the sky, a constellation in the shape of countless flood dragons emerged, as though hungry to consume the very fabric of the space around them. The sheer pressure they exuded caused the arena itself to tremble under their indomitable presence.

"Behold, Gu Zhantian possesses a violet-gold astral soul as well!"

"These two are truly geniuses of the highest order. Yet, it's a cruel twist of fate that Qin Wentian's cultivation base is simply too weak, too distant from Gu Zhantian's. One can't help but imagine the spectacle if Qin Wentian were a seventh-level Celestial Phenomenon cultivator too. Then, and only then, could they truly vie for supremacy atop the highest peaks."

The moment arrived like a cataclysmic explosion as Gu Zhantian unleashed a devastating punch, accompanied by a legion of violet-gold flood dragons spiraling around his fist. Their ferocity was palpable, their intentions sinister, and all they desired was to consume Qin Wentian.

Though Qin Wentian's stature loomed at an impressive 1,500 meters, Gu Zhantian's single punch contained enough destructive force to make even such a colossal figure quiver in trepidation. The stage was set, and the battle of titans was about to begin with the universe itself as their witness.