Chapter 11: Showdown! Leo vs. Wu Chi

On the continent of Zhongzhou, countless practitioners of Taoist techniques exist, each varying in the essence of their qi based on their individual physiques and the techniques they practice. The amount of true essence (Zhen Yuan) refined during the Qi Refinement stage differs from person to person.

The more true essence one possesses, the stronger the foundation of their dantian's qi sea becomes. Consequently, the probability of achieving the sea of spirit (Ling Qi) in the future increases, along with the potential level of their cultivation.

Conversely, if the quantity of true essence is too low, it essentially means bidding farewell to the path of Taoist cultivation, with one's lifetime peak being the Golden Core stage. This disparity exists not only in quantity but also in attributes: true essence can be of higher or lower quality.

A practitioner can condense up to nine types of true essence, but the vast majority end up with a disordered mishmash known as "Chaotic True Essence," which means their true essence has inconsistent attributes that may even conflict with one another.

In contrast, those prodigies hailing from prominent Taoist cultivation families have their paths to cultivation meticulously designed from infancy, allowing them to refine true essence with homogeneous attributes. This is referred to as "Heavenly Harmony True Essence."

Heavenly Harmony True Essence combines the energies and spirits of heaven and earth, wielding immense power that far surpasses ordinary "Chaotic True Essence"! Anya and the current Leo both possess "Heavenly Harmony True Essence."

In his previous life, Leo only managed to break into the Spirit Gathering Stage with Chaotic True Essence. The refinement of true essence is something one can only encounter by chance; merely advancing doesn't guarantee one will refine true essence. Aside from the unique skill "Heavenly Transformation," this time he's entirely benefiting from the influence of Reina.

Outside the martial arts arena at the Hermit Valley, even though it was morning, the place was already crowded. Many self-taught practitioners of Taoist techniques stood below the stage, with expressions of excitement.

Unbeknownst to who leaked the news, everyone learned that Wu Chi, the renowned disciple of the famous Master Wu Yuan, would be dueling today, and his opponent had only just entered the valley a week ago.

The practitioners in the martial world held Master Wu Yuan in great esteem, as he was a top-tier Taoist cultivation expert who stepped into the immortal realm over three hundred years prior. A century ago, he single-handedly exterminated a demon sect, burying its corpses in the valley, thus earning the title "Wu Yuan" (meaning "Without Abyss").

His esteemed disciple, Anya, truly lived up to her master's reputation, being noble in birth, fast in her cultivation, and exceptionally beautiful, making her the dream of three hundred million men on the Zhongzhou continent.

However, discussing her fellow disciple Wu Chi… was more difficult. He possessed only above-average aptitude, a brash and arrogant personality, leading many to suspect he was given to Master Wu Yuan along with Anya.

The audience eagerly anticipated the duel, with some hoping to see Wu Chi humiliated and others feeling sympathy for his opponent for attracting such a plague.

Leo led Reina to the martial arts arena, finding the elder Xuanji seated beside the platform. He asked him to take care of Reina. The elder had a furrowed brow, looking somewhat regretful.

"Leo, why did you agree to duel against Wu Chi?"

"Duels in the Hermit Valley have no constraints. If you can't withstand his attack within three moves, he can kill you directly!"

Leo waved his hand, not wanting to discuss this in front of Reina. "Thank you for your concern, Elder Xuanji. I won't die."

"Brother… you…"

Reina, who had initially been excited to see so many people, turned pale with fear upon hearing Elder Xuanji's words, clutching Leo's sleeve tightly.

Leo knelt down, gently stroking Reina's chubby face. "Don't be afraid; I promise I won't leave you."

Reina's large, ink-black eyes stared at Leo, filled with anxiety and fear. Leo embraced her tightly for a moment.

"Brat Leo, get out here and die!" A sharp, arrogant shout suddenly rang out from the arena behind them.

"Brother's going up now; I'll be right back. I'll buy you candied haws when I return." Leo offered a warm and reassuring smile, releasing Reina and grasping his long blade as he turned to step onto the stage.

Seeing that someone was truly stepping up to fight, the crowd erupted into a commotion. "Wow, he really came! He's so young!"

"No way… this person seems to… only be at the Qi Refinement stage?"

"Indeed, look at that weapon—it's a steel knife! A weapon meant for mortals!"

"What does a Qi Refinement stage practitioner think he's doing fighting a Golden Core stage opponent? Is he tired of living?!"

Many cultivators quickly recognized Leo's cultivation level, and astonished murmurs swept through the crowd. Many shook their heads helplessly in sorrow for the stubborn youth, while others quietly cursed Wu Chi for lacking martial ethics, bullying someone weaker so brazenly.

The moment Leo stepped onto the stage, the patterns around the arena lit up, and several lines of large characters appeared above the platform.

**[Leo vs. Wu Chi: Three Moves. Bet: One Item from the "Cloud Dueling Array"]**

This was displayed by the martial arts arena in accordance with the wills of both parties and was not fabricated.

Witnessing this spectacle, the crowd below expressed their astonishment once again.

At a distance from the stage, in a seat cloaked in a black robe that obscured his face, a man sat leaned back. Beside him, a woman in a white dress and thin veil was speaking to him.

"Master, Ah Chi must have felt humiliated by this guy, leading him to recklessly agree to a duel. Please don't get angry…"

Though her veil hid her face, her pair of autumn-like eyes remained extraordinarily beautiful, and her figure was tall and graceful, exuding an ethereal presence.

If Leo were to see her, he would instantly recognize her as Anya—his idol in his past life, as well as the enemy responsible for his demise, and the future leader of the alliance!

Hearing Anya's plea, Master Wu Yuan snorted coldly without any response.

The battle on the platform had already commenced.

Facing Leo, who entered the arena with his knife, Wu Chi taunted him boldly.

"A little Qi Refinement is not going to think of using a mortal steel knife to withstand my blows, right?" Wu Chi's expression was mocking.

Clang—

A green long sword shot up from behind Wu Chi, erupting with a towering light of sword energy, hovering behind him.

"Let's see you strike a better pose." Wu Chi waved his hand, seemingly planning to kill Leo with a single move.

Leo, undoing the cloth wrapped around his blade, silently assumed a starting posture. Wu Chi glanced at him, a look of disdain plastered across his face.

Whoosh—

The sound of a sword cutting through the air rang out! Wu Chi's flying sword dived down from above, heading straight for Leo's head!

The entire arena fell silent; everyone awaited the grisly scene. Leo remained still, appearing as if he were frozen in fear, until the blade was less than a meter away from him, then he suddenly sidestepped!

Wu Chi's flying sword couldn't halt its momentum and crashed into the arena floor, issuing a mournful clang.

The audience erupted into commotion! Reina, who had been covering her eyes in fear, hearing the crowd's reaction, uncovered her small hands and was astonished to see her brother still standing unharmed on stage, letting out a sigh of relief.

Even Elder Xuanji and Master Wu Yuan exchanged glances, their eyes widened in disbelief.

This Qi Refinement practitioner's battle experience was impressively rich, and his temperament was exceptionally steady! Most practitioners, faced with such a blow, would instinctively attempt to defend, which played into Wu Chi's hands, as mere mortals could not compete against magical artifacts!

At that moment, Leo's evasion was however a hair's breadth away from being impaled!

Only now did the crowd realize that this Qi Refinement stage practitioner was not as simple as they had initially thought.

Leo shifted his position in a flash, without a moment's hesitation, he turned to counter Wu Chi's flying sword, launching his Ink Blade Technique in a torrential downpour!

Now he was indeed a Qi Refinement stage practitioner, and his technique was infused with spiritual energy, making its power a magnitude more than what it was during that massacre in the slums.

(Clang clang!)

Wu Chi's flying sword hadn't yet adjusted its position when it was once more struck by the Ink Blade Technique, swaying in the air, teetering on the brink of downfall.

Nearby, Wu Chi was also feeling the pressure, as the attack on his artifact affected his spirit as well. At this moment, his spirit felt unbearably prickly and restless, making it difficult to call back his sword, yet he dared not retract his focus.

Not only that, but he felt disheartened; he originally believed this would be a certain kill, yet unexpectedly, he faced such counteraction.

Thinking of how Master and Senior Sister must be watching from below, his face became even redder with shame and anger.

(Boom!)

The flying sword emitted a burst of spiritual energy, sending Leo staggering back. He rolled on the ground, unscathed.

However, his steel knife had accumulated cracks during the process of attacking Wu Chi's flying sword, ultimately shattering into pieces.

This burst was a shockwave Wu Chi emitted to adjust his stance; while it caused no damage, it drained a significant amount of his energy. Leo smiled slightly, having achieved his goal—Wu Chi was beginning to grow anxious.