Book 3 Chapter 9: The Duel - Martial God

Chapter 9: The Duel A gentle breeze blew softly around the two of them, but in that moment, it seemed to freeze suddenly and vanish. After Yu Jing Lei spoke, He Yi Ming hesitated only briefly before fully unleashing his inner energy. Facing the enigmatic elder before him, He Yi Ming also felt compelled to make a move and test his prowess. In martial arts training, only by continually challenging stronger opponents can one consistently improve. Even if Yu Jing Lei had not mentioned it, He Yi Ming would have sought an opportunity to ask this person for guidance. Now that the offer was on the table, he could hardly refuse. As his inner energy gathered, He Yi Ming's body began to tremble subtly, with each slight vibration casting a mysterious influence on the surrounding environment. The power of his Water Ripple Technique spread outward, gradually encroaching upon Yu Jing Lei’s vicinity. In Yu Jing Lei's eyes, the esteemed elder from the Hengshan lineage, He Yi Ming had transformed from standing still into a phantom. His form became akin to a cloud, a misty rain, turning elusive and ethereal. A flash of delight brushed through Yu Jing Lei’s gaze once more. Witnessing He Yi Ming’s current display of cloud and mist, he became convinced that He Yi Ming possessed the exceptional prowess to rival any of the sect’s three great elders. At such a young age, achieving this level of skill meant that with the sect's full support, his ultimate growth could be unimaginable. Realizing this, Yu Jing Lei’s expression grew more ardent. Suddenly, He Yi Ming vanished from sight, enveloped in a dense cloud of mist. Yu Jing Lei extended a calm hand, casually patting in a certain direction. With this seemingly effortless pat, as if no strength had been used, the cloud of mist before him instantly dissipated, driven away like mist before the dawn sun. He Yi Ming's figure emerged from the dissipating fog, his eyes brimming with excitement and eager anticipation. Although he had previously used the technique to defeat Cheng Fu, he knew the elder before him was far beyond Cheng Fu’s capabilities. This opponent’s strength exceeded his expectations; with just one effortless palm strike, the elder dispersed his innate fog and accurately located him in the midst of it, leaving him unable to execute any further transformations. Only now did he understand that this elder possessed immense power, far exceeding any innate experts he had previously encountered. Compared to him, Cheng Fu, Shui Xuan Jin, and Yao Dao Ren seemed insignificant. At least in terms of raw strength, it was like the difference between an adult and a child, where no matter how hard the child tried, they could not harm the adult. However, He Yi Ming wasn’t disheartened; rather, he was thrilled. In martial arts cultivation, only such powerful adversaries could push him to breakthrough and ascend to the peak of martial excellence. Moving with lightning speed, He Yi Ming stomped heavily as he retreated, causing the entire herbal garden to tremble slightly with the impact. Though those tending the herbs could not sense what was happening, they paused, seemingly sensing something and turned their attention in that direction. After all, those who tended to the herbs here were elites of Ling Yao Peak. Although there were no innate experts among them, they had often encountered so-called innate masters and naturally sensed something was amiss. Using the momentum, He Yi Ming leaped, but rather than continuing to attack Yu Jing Lei, he dashed away like lightning, a faint voice trailing behind, "Let’s finish this at the foot of the mountain." Yu Jing Lei chuckled softly, and with a swift, graceful movement, pursued him. Turning sharply a few times, He Yi Ming arrived at a courtyard, pausing just long enough to reappear with a long rectangular bundle on his back. Yu Jing Lei’s glance at the bundle brought a knowing smile to his lips, though his delight only deepened inwardly. It seemed this youngster's true pride wasn't in his martial prowess but in the mighty halberd on his back. They moved with such speed that no one could detect their presence, and in an instant, they had reached the mountainside. As they descended the mountain, Yao Dao Ren, who had hurried back, caught up with them. Neither He Yi Ming nor Yu Jing Lei paid him any heed as they passed by him without a word. Startled, Yao Dao Ren watched them disappear over a hundred meters away, a wry smile forming as he recalled his initial confrontation with He Yi Ming. His uncle's encounter was just as tumultuous. Pivoting, Yao Dao Ren adjusted his direction, pursuing their path. Yet, a while later, his eyes widened in shock. He suddenly realized that the gap between him and the other two was widening. Despite exerting every ounce of strength, it was undeniable that he could no longer see or sense the two. The only thing allowing him to continue following them was the innate master’s peculiar ability to perceive the world. Finally, Yao Dao Ren halted, gazing ahead at a dense forest that blocked his view. With a long sigh, a sense of unexplained despondency washed over him so strongly that he hadn’t felt even when losing to He Yi Ming. However, as an accomplished expert who had long stepped into an innate level, he quickly rid himself of this despondency. Though he had lost to He Yi Ming before, it was partly due to the clash of techniques. Moreover, he still hadn’t used his ultimate skill, so he felt some assurance facing He Yi Ming. But now, in a direct contest of agility, he had been completely outpaced. This could only mean one thing: his agility didn’t even measure up to the level of He Yi Ming and Yu Jing Lei. Realizing this, Yao Dao Ren tasted the bitterness of defeat. That Yu Jing Lei possessed such agility was one thing, but for the sixteen-year-old He Yi Ming to also have garnered such superior agility over him was hard to swallow. Yao Dao Ren gazed into the distance, his mind drifting back to the past. He recalled the moment he first achieved the innate realm, and his teacher had silently watched him with an expression he couldn’t then comprehend. That gaze was complex, an impression he would never forget. Only now did Yao Dao Ren begin to understand the true meaning behind it. Times change, and each new generation surpasses the previous one, each having its decade of brilliance. Sighing wistfully, Yao Dao Ren turned and began his journey back toward Ling Yao Peak. ※※※※ He Yi Ming moved faster and faster, feeling distinctly that behind him, Yu Jing Lei was incrementally increasing his speed. If he didn’t accelerate, Yu Jing Lei would catch up. This intense pressure further unleashed his potential. His pace reached unprecedented limits. The more he ran, the more euphoric he felt, as though he could sprint ceaselessly forever. Meanwhile, his inner energy flowed smoothly, seemingly merging ever more harmoniously with the world. Gradually, he felt a sense of awakening, a strong delight akin to an epiphany. Centered in the forest, everything around him came alive. Every massive tree, every blade of grass seemed to exude the essence of life inherent in wood. His body acted like a giant vortex, absorbing this life's force. Though not actively cultivating a technique, the life energy he absorbed at this moment was no less potent than during his innate Dry Wood Art cultivation. The vast energy accumulated within him, ever climbing toward the highest echelons. As Yu Jing Lei pursued from behind, his amazement only grew. He perceived that as they ran, He Yi Ming seemed to become increasingly integrated with the surrounding environment. The abundant life force emanating from the dense forest surged madly toward him. His energy surged and unexpectedly reached the pinnacle of Baixin Tian. At this, Yu Jing Lei found it hard to control his astonishment. A sixteen-year-old boy could genuinely gather his inner energy to such an extent. Just one more step, and he could surpass the Baixin Tian barrier, advancing to the realm of Yixian Tian. His mind echoed with a single thought, “Such a genius, such a genius…” Suddenly, the life force He Yi Ming absorbed reached his body's limit, and his aura climbed to an unprecedented peak. Had he displayed this formidable aura while sparring with Lü Xin Wen or Cheng Fu, they’d have surely lost all will to fight and fled as far as possible. His feet hit the ground again before springing upward. However, this time, his trajectory wasn’t forward but directly towards Yu Jing Lei, who was following closely. He Yi Ming's form vanished mid-air, followed by a series of explosive impacts from his feet striking the ground. His feet stomped the earth countless times, each contact emitting a subtle sound akin to raindrops hitting the ground. Simultaneously, his hands formed the signature Concealed Needle Seal. Each toe-tap launched minute, nearly imperceptible strands of qi, resembling fine needles, at Yu Jing Lei. These needles of qi flew towards Yu Jing Lei like relentless mountain rain, covering every conceivable angle. Engrossed in his technique, He Yi Ming found satisfaction in his mastery of it. Bringing this move to such a peak was undoubtedly its limit. Even if Cheng Fu or Yao Dao Ren were trapped within it, escaping would come at a steep price. Yu Jing Lei's face remained calm, yet his demeanor grew serious, abandoning his initial nonchalance. In the face of the overwhelming needle-shaped qi, a teal hue enveloped his body, and even his cheeks appeared to sink instantly. Every thread of qi that struck him made a series of "puff" sounds, as if sinking needles into wood, and vanished without a trace. He Yi Ming's eyes widened, calling out in surprise, "Withered Wood Art?" Yu Jing Lei let out a hearty laugh, his face returning to normal while the teal hue on his body grew more vibrant. A hint of a wry smile appeared on He Yi Ming's face, his recently bubbling confidence taking a hit. His concealed needle technique seemed simple, but it stemmed from an extensive run and absorbing vast wooden elemental energy from the forest, raising his momentum to its zenith before unleashing the technique. This move's power marked his current limit; aside from the Five Elements Operation and Thirty-Six Cuts, he couldn’t muster anything stronger. Yet, even such a formidable needle attack failed to repel Yu Jing Lei, unable even to breach his protective qi. For He Yi Ming, typically unstoppable, this was a bitter pill to swallow. He instinctively reached for the halberd on his back but halted. This was just a martial exchange, so revealing his ultimate move might be unwise. Noticing He Yi Ming’s hesitation, Yu Jing Lei smiled warmly, saying, “Elder He, show me your skills without holding back. You won’t be able to harm me.” His words were steeped in confidence, a natural, peerless arrogance on his face. Nodding deeply, He Yi Ming replied, “Elder Yu, I have one saber technique left. Although it’s just one move, it’s my trump card. Watch carefully.” With that, he slowly unbound the wrappings and sheath, procuring the great halberd. Despite the unhurried movements devoid of flourish, his actions carried a unique rhythm, seamlessly melding with the world around him. An immense, even stronger confidence welled up inside him, surpassing anything before. As the halberd was fully assembled in his grasp, He Yi Ming's presence transformed, breaking past boundaries to reach an awe-inspiring height. Since first wielding it, empowered by the halberd’s might, He Yi Ming had never faced defeat. Filled with engendered inner strength or qi, the halberd rendered anything before it mere kindling. In grasping this weapon of monumental significance once more, his confidence surged exponentially. The surrounding winds stilled; everything nearby fell within the halberd's formidable aura. He Yi Ming raised the halberd slowly over his head. Within him, the Five Elements qi flowed, shifting smoothly like a river. The unmatched opponent before him ignited his fighting spirit to its peak. In the instant the halberd went over his head, torrents of qi surged madly into it. The vast blade gleamed brightly, illuminating the forest like a small sun. Watching the blinding blade glow, Yu Jing Lei's expression turned more solemn than ever. He clearly sensed an immense, terrifying power within the blade. Before this power, everything seemed insignificant. Even a feeling of extreme danger arose within him. A slight change in his demeanor confirmed that while He Yi Ming still possessed Baixin Tian-level strength, the technique activated carried an equally potent force. A dreadful thought dashed across Yu Jing Lei's mind. Could it be that He Yi Ming mastered a legendary skill enabling him to challenge opponents beyond his level? With a swift rustle, Yu Jing Lei emitted an equally formidable aura, the immense energy surging towards He Yi Ming with the precision of a tiger unleashed. Their two forces clashed violently in mid-air, accompanied by a deafening roar, as He Yi Ming's saber descended like thunder.