"To think this kid could actually force Senior Nangong to lower his cultivation realm to fight him—this is truly unprecedented and unmatched!"
An elderly cultivator exclaimed in amazement, his eyes brimming with shock.
"This is what a true duel looks like. Senior Nangong is showing the world that even at an equal realm, he can look down upon all rivals!" another young female cultivator said, her eyes shining with admiration as she countered the old man's thought.
In the crowd, Long Hou's expression grew increasingly solemn. He murmured in a low voice, "This isn't merely a contest of swordsmanship, but a battle of will and wits. Li Guanqi's choice is undoubtedly the ultimate way to tap into his own potential."
"This kid... every step he takes is calculated to give him the greatest advantage."
"If this continues... the one he challenges next..."
As he spoke, Long Hou's gaze involuntarily drifted toward Xiang Huaizhi, who stood atop the mountain peak with his hands clasped behind his back!
Up on the peak, Xiang Huaizhi was completely stripped of his usual casual, cynical demeanor. He watched the battle with absolute focus, terrified of missing the slightest detail.
Seeing Xiang Huaizhi's grave expression, Long Hou felt a subtle shift within his own heart.
Perhaps...
Li Guanqi's challenge to the Eight Generals was not a bad thing after all.
Hong Zhi furrowed her brow, quietly pondering Nangong Xuandu's true intentions. After a moment, the corners of her lips curved slightly, and she murmured with a complex gaze, "Nangong lowering his realm isn't just for fairness; it's also to reclaim the driven, enterprising self he once was."
Long Hou turned his head to look at her in surprise. His gaze softened considerably, and when he turned back toward the Dao platform, he murmured, "Indeed. Numb slaughter has worn down many people's striving spirit."
"It isn't that they don't wish to advance, but that there was no one behind them..."
"Only when there is someone pursuing them do they find the drive to run with everything they have!"
"Every one of them was the supreme talent of an era. To have an opportunity like this now is a good thing for them as well!"
Hong Zhi smiled faintly and whispered, "I'm already eager for Guanqi to challenge me!"
With those words, Hong Zhi actually turned and walked away—she was going into secluded cultivation!
"When he comes to challenge me, remember to call me out."
By now, Hong Zhi no longer cared about the outcome of the battle between Li Guanqi and Nangong Xuandu. She understood that a person like Li Guanqi would not halt his steps even if he failed against Nangong Xuandu!
Thus, Li Guanqi challenging her was merely a matter of time.
***
Atop the Dao platform, deafening booms reverberated endlessly.
Nangong Xuandu's form was ethereal. The instant he was forced back, a furious roar tore from his lips. Qingxiao in his grip had long assumed its Apocalypse form, enveloped in verdant radiance that rent the void.
Qingxiao surged forward like a flood dragon breaching the sea, terrifyingly imposing. The longsword thrust straight toward Li Guanqi, its sword qi overflowing as terrifying wind primal energy threatened to cleave the very heavens and earth apart.
"Wrath of Wind!"
Li Guanqi narrowed his eyes, retreated a step to build momentum, and slashed out with all his might!
Purple lightning coiled around Red Lotus's blade as it cleaved horizontally with blistering speed!
"Sword Wuji!"
Sword light erupted; neither gave ground in the slightest. As sword cultivators, what they sought was an indomitable, relentless advance!
In an instant, the space around them was ensnared by colliding auras, surging lightning, and raging astral winds!
Two silhouettes burst from the detonating gale and lightning in a flash. Both had sustained minor wounds, yet neither paused for a fraction of a heartbeat before rocketing back into the fray!
"Why aren't they dodging? Wouldn't evading to counterattack be far more effective?" a man asked, knitting his brows in bewilderment.
An elder beside him immediately answered, "It's not that they won't dodge, but that they can't..."
"Both strike far too fast; close-quarters combat within inches is extraordinarily perilous."
"Rather than racking their brains trying to evade, meeting each other head-on is actually safer."
The surrounding cultivators nodded in agreement. They had all experienced such moments in their own battles. When one was completely certain of dodging, one would certainly dodge. But in a clash like the one before them, the optimal solution was an immediate frontal counterattack!
The two figures skimmed almost parallel to the ground as they streaked forward, gravity weighing heavy on both their hearts. Soon, they tangled together once more, and Nangong Xuandu began baring his vicious fangs.
As the acknowledged foremost sword cultivator below the Tribulation Transcendence realm, Nangong Xuandu displayed immense dominance. For a time, Li Guanqi fell onto the back foot, his offensive rhythm thrown entirely into disarray.
Nangong Xuandu knew full well that once he fell into Li Guanqi's tempo, he would be constrained at every turn. From the very beginning, he had stayed constantly on guard against Li Guanqi deploying his other powers.
Every time Li Guanqi's divine sense expanded even slightly, Nangong Xuandu severed it instantly! Whenever Li Guanqi attempted to divert his focus to channel primal energy while striking, Nangong Xuandu would abruptly accelerate his offensive pace.
After several exchanges, Li Guanqi realized that against Nangong Xuandu, he had no opportunity whatsoever to employ any other means!
Li Guanqi narrowed his eyes, his sword blurring into a cascade of afterimages.
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
The deafening clash of metal rang out continuously as everyone's eyes tracked the two figures with bated breath.
Li Guanqi murmured inwardly, *What terrifying pressure! What immense dominance!*
Little did he know that his performance had stirred monstrous waves in Nangong Xuandu's heart as well.
Li Guanqi grew far too fast... So fast that before Nangong Xuandu could even fully process it, Li Guanqi was already standing shoulder-to-shoulder with them. Now, he was even qualified to challenge the Eight Generals, and had already defeated Chan Kongzi.
Had Chan Kongzi not been defeated, Nangong Xuandu would never have taken this duel so seriously as to enter seclusion.
Now, Nangong Xuandu felt as though he had reclaimed the wanton, unbridled self he once was!
Violent power vented wildly across the platform. Yet no matter what assault he unleashed, Li Guanqi managed to withstand it steadily. Though it looked arduous at times, the young man remained as unyielding as a boulder.
Just then, a flash of inspiration struck Li Guanqi's mind!
In an instant, a subtle change came over Li Guanqi's aura, as if he had grown far more ethereal.
The moment Nangong Xuandu realized this, he abruptly broke away and retreated violently!
He wasn't sure what kind of power Li Guanqi had tapped into, but he was certain the current Li Guanqi was different from before, even if he couldn't perceive what had actually happened. Moreover, this aura had not been present at all during Li Guanqi's battle with Chan Kongzi!
*What terrifying perception!* Li Guanqi thought in surprise. He had only just released the power of his Ethereal Dao Body, yet Nangong Xuandu's senses were sharp enough to detect it instantly!
Nangong Xuandu stood thirty paces away from Li Guanqi, holding his sword across his chest with one hand, eyeing him warily.
Li Guanqi had just been pondering...
Since he was relying on the ability of the Ethereal Dao Body to review and absorb insights after a battle, why couldn't he directly absorb his opponent's strengths right in the middle of combat?
Chapter 1250