Chapter 13: Defeating a Golden Core Cultivator with Qi Refinement Level Taoist Techniques!

The turbulent blue true energy began to surge around Wu Chi, creating waves of shock that even slightly impeded Leo's steps. With Wu Chi summoning the origin sword, this true energy formed a massive, powerful tsunami!

Wu Chi was not mistaken; if he played it safe and gradually pulled back, with the might of this true energy, he could certainly defeat Leo. However, he was too arrogant. After failing in his first two attacks, his frustration mounted, pushing him into using his final technique. Such a person clearly had never experienced life-and-death battles and lacked adequate understanding of the hardships of Taoist cultivation, resulting in a deficiency in character.

In his previous life, Leo had cultivated for five hundred years, endowing him with far superior mindset and battle experience, allowing him to bridge the gap in sheer combat power. But at this moment, Wu Chi had reached desperation, ready to unleash his strongest strike!

The origin sword crazily absorbed the surrounding blue spiritual energy, blossoming with a brilliance close to pure white light.

As the stars within Leo's hands dissipated, the Starry Disarray leaned toward defense, lacking overwhelming power. He operated his "Heavenly Transformation" technique at full power, bringing his hands together in front of his chest as an image of a radiant sun slowly emerged.

"That's—The Sun!" Elder Xuanji stared at the sun before Leo in stunned silence, forgetting his own decorum in his age.

The previously indifferent Master Wu Yuan was also taken aback, his previously calm demeanor replaced by focus as his eyes riveted on Leo.

Rumors in the martial world claimed that the famous prodigy Anya was the true inheritor of Master Wu Yuan, while her brother Wu Chi was merely a bonus. In truth, this was accurate. Master Wu Yuan had always been dissatisfied with his mediocre disciple, fearing that Wu Chi would mar his reputation. If he had dedicated one hundred percent of his effort to Anya's cultivation, he would have given Wu Chi barely ten percent. After all, he had chosen Anya from the start, and he only came this time because Anya pleaded with him to ensure Wu Chi wasn't killed… and now he found Wu Chi dueling against a Qi Refinement stage practitioner, which further embarrassed him.

However, now witnessing the strength erupting from this Qi Refinement stage cultivator, even he couldn't help but be taken aback, his eyes shimmering with appreciation.

This child was no less than Anya!

The rest of the audience held their breath in anticipation. Who could have imagined that a seemingly straightforward battle could become so brilliant? A Golden Core cultivator was forced to unleash his origin flying sword, while a Qi Refinement practitioner could exert such powerful divine abilities!

On stage, Wu Chi watched as the sun before Leo solidified with increasing intensity, a new wave of fear swelling within him.

This guy was truly remarkable; heaven knows what bizarre technique this was!

Before the origin sword could fully mobilize its spiritual energy, Wu Chi clasped his palms together and pushed them forward. As his palm opened, it was like a mountain gate swinging wide.

"Gate of Swords, Open!"

The originally vertically suspended blue origin sword instantly expanded several times, its blue hue intensifying as it churned with thick true energy.

The colossal origin sword tilted down like a falling peak, accelerating towards Leo's head with immense force!

Leo raised his hands high, lifting the radiant sun above his head. 

As the shadow of the origin sword loomed over him, Leo felt the eight strands of seven-colored true essence in his dantian begin to spin faster! 

Not only that, but each strand of true essence seemed to come alive, pulsating wildly! 

The eight interlinked seven-colored true essences quivered in his dantian, reminiscent of soaring dragons in the water, continuously oscillating. 

In contrast, Leo felt his spiritual energy inside him erupt like a volcano!

Seven-colored dawn light burst from his dantian, filling every inch of true energy in his body, which was also instantly enhanced, causing the operational power of "Heavenly Transformation" to soar! 

In an instant, the brilliance of the sun Leo held soared, almost manifesting physically, surrounded by a shifting kaleidoscope of colors.

Wu Chi's pupils constricted sharply, but it was already too late to withdraw. 

The blue origin sword cleaved toward the golden sun. 

( Boom—) 

The tremendous shock caused the century-old arena to tremble slightly, colorful lights shooting out and obscuring the view. 

"Is… is this really a Qi Refinement level?!?" someone gasped from the crowd. "No, it's impossible! If this is a Qi Refinement level, I'll eat this arena!"

At a distance, Anya sat in the stands, watching the stage and involuntarily sweating in nervousness. 

"No, he'll be fine… the opponent is just a Qi Refinement level…" 

She glanced at Master Wu Yuan, hoping he would speak and confirm her thoughts. 

But Master Wu Yuan merely sighed softly.

Anya felt her heart sink as she looked back to the stage, where the lights began to dissipate, revealing the outcome.

Leo and Wu Chi lay on the stage, each having been propelled over a yard from their previous positions at the moment of impact. 

"Is it a draw?" the crowd began to speculate. 

"Brother!" Reina saw Leo collapsed on the ground, her little face turned pale, and she immediately rushed toward the stage, only to be quickly caught back by Elder Xuanji. 

The duel had actually concluded; Leo was the victor, having secured the wager, the Absolute Cloud Dueling Array, regardless. 

However, no one expected that a Qi Refinement level practitioner could not only endure three strikes but also continue to fight against a Golden Core level cultivator.

This fact exhilarated and tensed every cultivator present, making their hearts race. 

To survive a full-force blow from a Golden Core cultivator was nothing short of a miracle.

If it ended as a draw, it would shock every cultivator across Zhongzhou. 

On the arena, the two figures that had just been blasted away lay quietly on the ground. 

Everyone anticipated who had achieved the upper hand.

In the midst of an electrifying silence, Leo's limbs suddenly twitched. 

He supported his forehead, gradually sitting up, and the first thing he did was turn to see Reina's direction below the stage.

( Wow—) countless voices of shock and disbelief erupted. No one had expected, or rather no one dared to believe, that the final victor would indeed be this Qi Refinement level Leo! 

He had endured three attacks from a Golden Core cultivator with Qi Refinement techniques! 

Moreover, in the final clash of full force, he had taken the upper hand! 

Even if it was a narrow victory, it was still glorious! 

Defeating an opponent of such a vastly different level was something only legendary emperors in history had the stature to achieve.

And Leo had achieved something even more astonishing—he had defeated an opponent of a higher realm while still at the Qi Refinement level, equivalent to an infant who had just embarked on the path of cultivation crushing an adult! 

Could it be that after over ten thousand years, humanity would finally give birth to another emperor? 

"He really won…" someone murmured in shock. "I have reasonable doubt that he must have some kind of celestial talent! Just think of the divine abilities he unleashed!"

"Leo, I bet within fifty years, this name will overshadow Anya!" 

The crowd buzzed with excitement, some already pulling out transmission talismans to inform friends far away. 

"My brother won…" Reina felt a weight lift from her suspended heart, tears welling up in her eyes.

Just now, she almost thought Leo would leave her the same way their grandfather had. 

She rushed to the edge of the stage, clutching the edge with both small hands, eagerly looking for Leo to come over. 

Leo noticed her and desperately wanted to embrace Reina, but in that moment, he was stunned by something else and had no time to consider Reina. Within him, his dantian felt completely empty. 

The eight strands of seven-colored true essence had actually vanished!