Chapter 116: Formidable Opponent

After he finished speaking, Gong Liangyuan’s nearly transparent body soared into the sky and flew away.

“Boom~~~” A drumbeat echoed throughout the Hall of Life and Death, and countless mortals understood—this fourth match had also been won! In truth, many of the mortals watching didn’t quite understand this match, because the Fightqi clone had merely struck a few blows at an extremely rapid pace—so fast that the human eye couldn’t even follow. Even Dongbo Xueying had been sent flying backward, spitting blood, yet he still emerged victorious?

The mortals didn’t dwell on it. They had come only to witness an extraordinary battle beyond the mundane. If they couldn’t understand it, they could only blame their own limited vision.

“He blocked the fifteenth strike of the Wind-Cutting Sword with merely the first stage of the Myriad Realm!”

“That’s interesting!”

“But relying solely on mystery and defense, it’s nearly impossible to win the sixth match.” The mighty observers from the east grew slightly intrigued, for they felt… Dongbo Xueying was likely about to meet his limit!

Through the comprehension of heaven and earth, one attains enlightenment, reaching the ‘Myriad Realm.’

Heaven and earth give rise to all things, boundless in their mysteries! Upon entering the Myriad Realm, as one’s understanding deepens, the power of heaven and earth one can manipulate undergoes qualitative transformations. Based on these transformations, the Myriad Realm is divided into three distinct stages.

These stages reflect the depth of one’s comprehension of heaven and earth!

Among the rare Title-ranked warriors, those who rank within the top three of the Longshan List, there are prodigies who have reached the second stage of the Myriad Realm! Typically, crossing into the second stage of the Myriad Realm allows one to rapidly break through and become an Immortal.

Some, after becoming Immortals and undergoing soul transformation, gain even deeper insights into heaven and earth, reaching the second stage of the Myriad Realm.

In short—

To win the sixth match relying solely on one’s realm, one generally must have reached the second stage of the Myriad Realm!

The higher one’s realm, the harder the breakthrough.

The third stage of the Myriad Realm is rare even among Flying Immortals, and those who reach this level often have the potential to break through to the Saint Realm.

Beyond that lies the refinement of True Intent!

Only those who have refined True Intent can be considered true masters among the Saints!

…

“What pressure!” Dongbo Xueying felt the oppressive weight of battle. “My realm is still too low. During the six years underground, I underwent the trials of fire and water, greatly enhancing my understanding of the mysteries of water and fire. In the half year since arriving at the Xia Capital, I have continuously cultivated my spear techniques, and my realm has improved as well. Yet, I still haven’t achieved a qualitative transformation.”

His comprehension of the Myriad Realm’s mysteries had grown far deeper than when he had slain Xiang Pangyun.

But only a qualitative transformation would signify reaching the second stage!

“Thankfully, the water of the Myriad Realm excels in defense. Otherwise, I would have been in danger during the fourth match.” Yet there was a glimmer of anticipation in Dongbo Xueying’s eyes. “Good. The greater the pressure, the more effective the tempering of my spear techniques.”

In the half year since becoming an Immortal, his cultivation of the spear techniques had yielded many insights—many of which needed to be verified through actual combat!

“Hu!”

Dongbo Xueying looked up, watching as a figure descended from the heavens, landing heavily on a rock with a dull thud.

This was a humanoid giant nearly five meters tall, his skin glowing with a dark red hue, fangs protruding from his mouth. In one hand he held a massive shield, in the other a terrifying great axe! His dark yellow eyes burned with killing intent and hatred. These native Immortals thrown in as opponents were all beings who harbored deep hatred for humanity and refused to submit.

Humans captured them and forced them into hard labor. Sometimes, they were chosen as opponents in Immortal Death Matches! If they lost, they died. But if they won, they would regain their freedom—the freedom these captured native Immortals longed for most. Since the Spark Palace had made the promise, it would not break it.

And if they could kill a newly ascended Immortal while winning their freedom, how exhilarating would that be?

The Spark Palace would not retaliate for killing a new Immortal, for it was the rule of the ‘Immortal Death Match!’

“This Immortal native seems quite formidable.” Dongbo Xueying sensed that this opponent should be far more battle-hardened than the one he had faced in his third match.

Boom~~~

At Dongbo Xueying’s thought, surging waves erupted, forming a vast whirlpool that spread across the battlefield.

Undercurrents churned within the water.

The giant native, holding shield and axe, slightly furrowed his brow, then curled his lips into a sneer before charging forward with heavy steps. Though the undercurrents twisted and shifted with force, the giant native still managed to control his strength with remarkable precision, rushing forward and ignoring the violent whirlpool.

“He has reached the state of Perfect Unity in strength.” Dongbo Xueying immediately judged. “The water has little effect on him.”

“Die, human!”

The giant native turned sideways, his left hand gripping the massive shield, carrying the full force of his charge, and slammed the shield forward with brutal force.

The five-meter-tall native wielded a shield just as massive, like a colossal wall rushing toward Dongbo Xueying. Against ordinary weapons, one might rely on technique, but against sheer, unrelenting force from a shield like this… it was difficult to handle. Dongbo Xueying had no good solution.

“This will test his true strength.”

Dongbo Xueying immediately retreated, while his spear lashed out like a venomous snake, instantly striking the massive shield.

“Boom~~~” The crushing force surged through the spear. Fortunately, this strike was merely a feint. The spear vibrated, dispersing the force in layers, but he was still sent flying backward from the impact.

“What immense power!” Dongbo Xueying was startled.

“You can’t escape!” As Dongbo Xueying flew backward, the giant native swiftly closed in, his massive axe slicing sideways, as if cleaving the heavens themselves.

Dongbo Xueying’s spear moved like flowing water, soft and yielding. At the moment of contact with the axe, it twisted with an eerie force, deflecting the axe’s trajectory.

“Crush!” Yet the native’s shield followed immediately, sweeping in once more.

A massive shield, a massive axe—striking in succession.

Dongbo Xueying was forced into continuous defense. The native’s combat experience was vast, his skill with both shield and axe masterful. His techniques flowed together seamlessly.

“This native possesses immense strength. To wield heavy weapons like a shield and great axe with such speed and ferocity…” Dongbo Xueying defended desperately while thinking. “He attacks with overwhelming force. My spear techniques, rooted in the soft and mysterious nature of water, are rendered useless against him.”

There were many schools of martial arts.

The soft and mysterious spear techniques were helpless against sheer, overwhelming force!

Clearly, the Spark Palace would allow no by luck in selecting opponents for newly ascended Immortals! From the speed-specialist native in the third match, to this ‘Shield Master’ and ‘Axe Master’ in the fifth match—each was a crushing, direct force! They were testing every aspect of the new Immortal’s abilities. If he failed in any one, he would fall.

That terrifying axe howled through the air. If struck, he would likely die instantly!

“If I keep struggling like this, I’ll eventually fall. I must counterattack!”

At the moment Dongbo Xueying landed from his backward flight, he suddenly surged forward. His spear rose high, as if cleaving the heavens with boundless might, crashing down like a falling meteor! As he struck, flames erupted along the spear, like a falling meteor.

The fire of the Myriad Realm—fierce and violent, overwhelming in direct force!

In terms of sheer power, it had increased dramatically compared to the water-based spear techniques—nearly doubling! And as his realm advanced, the differences between the two styles would grow even greater. The fire techniques would become increasingly ferocious, while the water techniques would grow ever more elusive and unpredictable.

“Come on!” The giant native roared with excitement. He swung his massive axe forward, aiming to crush the spear and kill the human!

“Boom~~~”

A thunderous explosion.

Dongbo Xueying was sent flying backward from the impact, while the giant native felt the shockwave reverberate through his body, staggering slightly and failing to pursue immediately.

“Spit!” Blood filled Dongbo Xueying’s mouth, yet his eyes burned with excitement. In all the Immortal Death Matches he had fought so far, only this battle had given him the same sense of life-and-death pressure he had felt when battling Xiang Pangyun! That same tension, that same feeling of impending doom! Although the final strike of the Wind-Cutting Fifteen had also made him feel mortal danger, it had only lasted an instant.

“The Immortal Death Match is getting more exciting!” Dongbo Xueying was thrilled. Only through such battles could he truly temper himself. The sensation of walking the edge of life and death, the thrill of mortal danger, awakened his primal instincts, bringing him into his perfect state.