Chapter 258: Chapter 233: The Apex Duel Between Innate Martial Body and Internal God-man_1
By the afternoon, duels among those at the sixth level of Grandmaster had begun.
Lu Yan watched with interest, gaining a deeper understanding of the potential strength of these ’heavenly talents’ within Hidden Dragon Camp.
These individuals, outside in the world, each had the ability to challenge those of higher levels.
Upon reaching the sixth level of Grandmaster, their combat power was astonishing. Unleashing their full potential, they could be compared to humanoid Beasts, a single person was capable of equalling an army.
Challenge after challenge, time flew by and soon nighttime descended.
The combat trials for the day ended and everyone dispersed.
The challenges continued on the second day.
In the blink of an eye, it was already the third day.
By the third day, the number of challengers had gradually reduced.
"What about Wang Tianyu, why hasn’t he been involved? Could it be that this year, he doesn’t intend to act?"
People began to speculate around.
"Wang Tianyu hasn’t made a move in two years. Is he waiting for his second Top Martial Art to reach the Unity of Man and Martial Arts before making a move, to astonish everyone and ascend instantly?"
"It’s very likely. His Cultivation Level has already broken through the sixth level of Grandmaster. As long as his second Top Martial Art breaks through to the Unity of Man and Martial Arts, his Inner Strength will increase and reach over twenty or more. Then he will immediately be able to contend with Mo Wenzhuo and Shang Wuyang, even surpass them and top the Hidden Dragon List."
Clearly, many people were confident in Wang Tianyu.
However, as challenge after challenge took place, even the top ten masters had their fights, but Wang Tianyu didn’t make a move. Thus, people knew that this year, Wang Tianyu won’t be taking part anymore.
Additionally, since Chu Hongye defeated Chu Lingxuan, she also didn’t challenge anyone for the second time.
Naturally, no one will challenge Chu Hongye.
"Is there no one else stepping up to challenge?"
After one skirmish, the elderly man asked loudly.
There was utter silence, and no one else went to the battle platform.
The elderly man inquired several times, but no one took the stage. Apparently, those who meant to challenge had all challenged.
"Mo Wenzhuo is here."
"Shang Wuyang is here, too."
Someone shouted with surprise, immediately revitalizing the audience, their gazes landing on two young men.
One wore a purple robe - the standard attire of a King Ming bodyguard - his figure robust and powerful, moving with the grace of a dragon and the force of a tiger. His aura was like a dragon’s, his eyes strong and piercing, deterring anyone from meeting them.
This man is the number one on the Hidden Dragon List, Mo Wenzhuo.
The other man was tall and slender, sporting a blue robe with poised eyebrows and twinkling eyes. He was extraordinarily handsome, putting him on-par with Feng Yuanyi in terms of appearance.
This man is the second on the Hidden Dragon List, the Internal God-man Shang Wuyang.
Inside the Hidden Dragon Camp, there was no obligation to wear the standard attire of King Ming’s personal guards. One could also put on other clothes. There was no imposed requirement.
"They are here, they are here. They are indeed going to fight."
"In the previous years, they would battle each year. This year is not an exception."
"I wonder if Shang Wuyang has made a significant breakthrough and could dethrone Mo Wenzhuo from his number one position."
"It’s difficult to say, Mo Wenzhuo isn’t just an Innate Martial Body; his comprehension is not bad either. As Shang Wuyang progresses, Mo Wenzhuo is also progressing."
Many people were enthusiastic, even the VIPs from King Ming’s personal guards and Forbidden Guard Army were interested.
Whoosh!
His figure flickered, and Shang Wuyang was the first to step onto the combat platform.
"Mo Wenzhuo, come up and fight."
Shang Wuyang made his call.
Mo Wenzhuo remained silent, stepping onto the battle platform. His aura surged as a baleful force spread around him, making him seem like an extraordinary Beast.
The muscles on his body began to swell, his height suddenly shot up to about two and a half meters, his skin turned to a dark red color. Dark red scales erupted from his skin surface, spreading all over his body. His mighty Inner Strength circulated on his body surface, making Mo Wenzhuo’s aura all the more terrifying.
"Supreme Physical Martial Arts, Tian Gang Red Dragon Body."
Lu Yan thought to himself.
This was one of the eight Top Martial Arts elective courses in the Hidden Dragon Camp, which Lu Yan ardently desired to take at the beginning.
If it weren’t for the ’Thunder Nine Sounds’, a top class Archery Martial Arts, he would have definitely chosen this Supreme Body Refining Martial Arts.
The Tian Gang Red Dragon Body had similarities with Zhao Clan’s Divine Jiao Body, but its power was far beyond the Divine Jiao Body.
Clang!
Shang Wuyang’s face was solemn, and he unsheathed his war sword from his back. The Sword Light rushed straight into the sky.
The dazzling white Sword Light emanated a brilliant glow of ten thousand feet that was intimidating.
Whoosh!
Shang Wuyang appeared to merge with his sword, his brilliant Sword Light slashing at Mo Wenzhuo.
Boom!
Mo Wenzhuo stomped on the ground, and the whole metallic battle platform started to tremble. His figure surged out to meet the dazzling Sword Light.
Boom!
An earth-shattering explosion occurred, the Sword Light was almost dissipated, and countless fine Sword Qi scattered, leaving numerous tiny traces on the metallic combat platform.
With a long howl, Shang Wuyang’s chest flickered with a bright light. It was clearly a shining white sword shadow.
The sword shadow flew out, mingling with Shang Wuyang’s war sword. Shang Wuyang’s aura flared up, the disintegrating sword light stabilizing. The sword aura surged, once again striking down on Mo Wenzhuo.
Mo Wenzhuo’s fists, covered in scales, constantly swung out. The air was continuously compressed forming formidable punch strength, fiercely clashing with Shang Wuyang.
"Top-notch boxing technique, it seems that Mo Wenzhao mainly cultivates body refining martial arts, but also practices boxing techniques."
Lu Yan thought to himself, discerning the fine details.
This was the drawback of body refining martial arts. Although cultivating just one type of body refining martial arts would give one immense strength and tremendous defensive power, it often can’t fully unleash one’s power.
There must be other attacking martial arts to complement it, in order to fully exercise the horrifying power inside the body.
The two of them battled, their energies continuously compressed, then exploded, some of them even bursting out from the stage.
Luckily, there were plenty of experts present, many of whom were at the true body realm. With a swing of their hands, they crushed these energies to prevent any accidental harm.
In the blink of an eye, the two had fought more than a hundred moves and the outcome was still undecided.
"Shang Wuyang’s future achievements may exceed those of Mo Wenzhuo."
Lu Yan thought to himself.
Although his cultivation level was not high, he knew several top martial arts that merged man and martial arts into one. His insights were as good as those who were at the peak of true body realm.
Mo Wenzhuo, focusing on two top martial arts, ultimately dispersed his energy. He was not like Wang Tianyu with his abnormal understanding.
Whereas Shang Wuyang, who only practiced one sword technique, perfectly dovetailed with the inner god-man attribute, making it extremely pure. Over time his martial arts attainments would certainly exceed Mo Wenzhuo’s.
"Can these two fight against a true body realm?"
Someone in the vicinity murmurs.
"That depends on what grade of true body the true body realm possesses. Both Mo Wenzhuo and Shang Wuyang have the potential of king’s true body and are at the cultivation level of sixth-level master peak. If true body realm was only an inferior true body, they could certainly fight, and may even win."
"The difference between master and true body is like heaven and earth. A master-level combatant could fight a true body realm. That is truly terrifying."
Many people discussed, some were envious, some were awed and of course, there were jealous people too.
The two fought a further hundred or so moves.
Roar!
Mo Wenzhuo gave a low roar, like the chant of a dragon. His bodily changes became more intense, his hands turned to dragon claws. Even his head had two protrusions, like dragon horns. His power became even more astounding, forcing Shang Wuyang to continuously retreat. The sword light also trembled, its brightness dimming.
Suddenly, Shang Wuyang let out a long howl, and spouted a dazzling sword light from his mouth, heading straight for Mo Wenzhuo’s forehead.
Mo Wenzhuo remained composed, he clearly understood Shang Wuyang’s techniques. With a sudden forward push of his palms, he grabbed the sword aura, and swung it away.
At the same time, he let off several kicks, blocking Shang Wuyang’s attack, then continued with a barrage of punches.
Further dozens of moves later, Shang Wuyang quickly retreated and raised his hands in surrender: "Stop, I won’t fight anymore, I concede. You’re still the top this year. We’ll continue next edition."
Having said that, he turned around and left, vanishing into the crowd in an instant.
Mo Wenzhuo’s body returned to normal rapidly, he too descended the stage.
After the two had left, no one else challenged.
This year’s Hidden Dragon List challenge thus came to an end.
Soon after, the rankings were announced.
The top ten remained mostly unchanged.
The rest of the forty were somewhat shifted, but not significantly.
"Why didn’t you challenge?"
Lu Yan asked Feng Yuanyi.
"I wasn’t confident. This year, neither martial arts nor cultivation progress was made. Even if I had challenged, a big leap would have been difficult. It’s better to save some strength."
Feng Yuanyi shrugged, then patted Lu Yan on the shoulder, saying, "Keep trying. I look forward to seeing you shine soon."
Lu Yan smiled.
The audience dispersed, and Lu Yan returned to his residence with the images of Mo Wenzhuo and Shang Wuyang’s fierce battle on his mind.
Both represented the pinnacle of their paths respectively - one in the inner god-man, and the other in the innate martial body - and both had significant reference value.
The next day, Lu Yan came to the Merit Hall and exchanged for two pieces of Immortal bones.
From the six speed-related martial arts he had, none had yet reached the unity of man and martial arts. He planned to use the Immortal bones to enhance the remaining speed-related martial arts, and combine them to create a top-level speed martial art.
Based on previous experience, a piece of Immortal bone could enhance four martial arts to the unity of man and martial arts for twenty meritorious points. So, Lu Yan spent thirty meritorious points for the remaining six martial arts. He got one for twenty meritorious points and another for ten.
Thus, Lu Yan still had one hundred and ninety meritorious points left in his account.
Returning to his residence, Lu Yan linked up with the Dao Book, consumed the Immortal bones, and enhanced his martial arts.
Several days later, the remaining six speed-related martial arts all reached the unity of man and martial arts. He merged the nine speed avatars into one, creating a top-level speed martial art.
"This place is too narrow to maneuver, let’s take it outside."
Lu Yan changed into a set of clothes, left Mingwang City, and arrived at a mountain outside the city.
Swish!
With a light tap of his toes, Lu Yan launched himself forward, covering hundreds of meters in the blink of an eye. His body was as light as a feather, moving forwards as if sliding.
He glided over a thousand meters before slowly descending. Lu Yan tapped his toes onto the branch of a large tree, used the branch’s elasticity to launch himself forward again. This time he glided a shorter distance of three hundred meters or so, gracefully landed, then repeated.
Lu Yan ran a distance of a dozen miles in a single breath. Ahead was a lake, Lu Yan maintained his speed and charged onto the lake. His toes tapped the surface of the water, causing ripples to spread around him as he launched himself again.
"Amazing, it feels amazing... Ha ha ha."
As swift as the wind and as swift as lightning, lake winds skimming past his face, Lu Yan laughed heartily.
He leaped over the several-miles-wide lake and landed on the shore.
