Above the attic, Liu Yuntian was full of shock, exclaiming, "How did Xiao Chen evade Ling Zhan's attack? I couldn't even see it, and he's completely unharmed. Is he a man or a ghost?"
Liu Yuntian's astonishment was understandable. As a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, his abilities were extremely powerful, but he had not seen how Xiao Chen avoided Ling Zhan's attack in the previous battle, making it hard for him to believe and leading him to suspect if Xiao Chen was some kind of ghost.
"This kid was clearly trapped by Ling Zhan's earth and ice attributes. How did he escape?" Su Wanlin was equally puzzled. Both being in the Nascent Soul stage, they couldn't figure it out.
Hovering in mid-air, Ling Zhan was shocked for a long time before asking, "Xiao Chen, you were sealed by my earth and ice attributes. How did you escape?"
"Burrowing technique," Xiao Chen replied indifferently.
"Burrowing technique?" Ling Zhan was taken aback. He then recalled Xiao Chen emerging from the ground without causing any damage to the stage floor. It seemed only a burrowing technique could explain it all.
"I see. It makes sense now. Xiao Chen must have used a burrowing technique to escape underground when he was trapped by the earth attribute true essence, thus avoiding Ling Zhan's subsequent attacks," Liu Yuntian realized, secretly admiring Xiao Chen again.
"What a clever Xiao Chen, to remain calm in such a critical situation. There aren't many young people who can stay this composed. Impressive, very impressive!" Ge Xiong praised, almost wishing Xiao Chen were his son.
Ling Zhan slowly floated down, his cold and angry gaze sweeping over Xiao Chen. He said coldly, "Xiao Chen, you indeed have some skills. It seems I underestimated you."
As he spoke, Ling Zhan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his thumb, tasted it with his tongue, and then spat it out.
"Your strength is also formidable, but your character is severely lacking," Xiao Chen sneered. At this moment, Xiao Chen felt no fear, only a determination to defeat Ling Zhan at any cost.
"That's none of your business. It seems I won't be able to defeat you without showing my true strength. Xiao Chen, you shouldn't hold back either. I know you haven't used your full power," Ling Zhan sneered, the murderous intent in his eyes growing even stronger.
"What? True strength? Has Ling Zhan not been using his full strength all along? And Xiao Chen, has he also been holding back? How is this possible? Is the Golden Core stage really that terrifying?" Su Gutian was instantly shocked, unable to believe that even without their true strength, they were already this formidable, leaving the Tian Du youths far behind, let alone their true power.
"Are these guys monsters? Who are they, claiming they haven't used their true strength?" Ge Tianming was once again frightened, his face full of terror, cold sweat running down his back.
"This kid says he's going to use his true strength? How is that possible? The previous power was already terrifying!"
"And Ling Zhan says Xiao Chen hasn't used his full strength either. Is this really true?"
"Did I hear wrong? Ling Zhan actually said he's going to show his true strength. Is he bluffing?" The spectators were all shocked by Ling Zhan's words.
Even Liu Yuntian couldn't help but be amazed, "Are these two really not using their full strength?"
"If this is true, the potential of these two is frightening, far beyond what Tian Du's geniuses can compare to," Su Wanlin said with a heavy expression.
However, Xiao Chen's words were even more surprising. Xiao Chen, unhurried and sneering, said, "I knew you hadn't used your true strength, so I've been waiting!"
"What? Xiao Chen actually knew? Does that mean Ling Zhan wasn't bluffing?" Su Gutian exclaimed in shock.
Mo Yan was also stunned, saying, "How did Xiao Chen know Ling Zhan hadn't used his full strength? And Xiao Chen hasn't either? It's unbelievable."
On the stage, Ling Zhan's face twisted into a sinister smile as he said, "Now I'll show you my true strength. Xiao Chen, you better stand firm!"
As he spoke, Ling Zhan clasped his hands together and then pulled them apart, revealing a dazzling purple light between his palms. A powerful aura spread out, and at that moment, everyone was wide-eyed with shock.
"A top-grade spiritual weapon! It's a top-grade spiritual weapon!" Someone in the crowd suddenly shouted, causing an uproar.
"Heavens! It's actually a top-grade spiritual weapon! What a powerful aura! It's dozens of times stronger than a low-grade spiritual weapon!"
"Ling Zhan has a top-grade spiritual weapon! Tian Du has a top-grade spiritual weapon!"
"A top-grade spiritual weapon blade! This guy has a top-grade spiritual weapon!" Su Gutian was even more shocked, his breathing becoming rapid, and sweat streaming down his forehead.
"Buzz buzz!"
On the stage, holding the large blade emitting a faint purple light, Ling Zhan began to channel his true essence. The extremely powerful true essence caused the stage to tremble. The power this time was much stronger than before.
"Golden Core initial peak! This guy is about to break through to the mid-Golden Core stage! Ouch, ouch, ouch!" At this time, Liu Feng, who was healing in the attic, woke up and was shocked by the overwhelming power. But as soon as he moved, his face changed, and he kept crying out in pain.
"Xiao Chen, this guy is half a step into the mid-Golden Core stage. Be careful. I didn't expect him to hide so deeply," the Ancient White Tiger warned through telepathy.
"I had already guessed!" Xiao Chen replied in a low voice, watching Ling Zhan with a serious expression.
Feeling Ling Zhan's true power, the area below the stage fell silent. Everyone was staring at Ling Zhan in awe.
"Xiao Chen, are you scared? Are you ready? This time I won't give you any chances!" Ling Zhan arrogantly sneered, holding the large blade and posing for an attack.
"Whoosh!"
In a blink, Ling Zhan's eyes flashed with fierce killing intent, and his figure disappeared, moving at twice the speed. When he reappeared, he was behind Xiao Chen, swinging the large blade with a swift whoosh, sending a crescent-shaped purple blade light shooting out like lightning!
"What?" Xiao Chen's face changed.
"Boom!"
"Spurt!"
Ling Zhan's speed suddenly doubled, surpassing Xiao Chen's expectations. Moreover, it was a sneak attack. Xiao Chen couldn't avoid it in time and was hit by the blade light. With a loud explosion, the powerful force made Xiao Chen spit out a mouthful of blood and fly forward.
"Blade light! A blade light only the Golden Core stage can condense! So powerful!" Shi Yu exclaimed in shock, his eyes filled with fear.
"Such a powerful blade light, Xiao Chen was really made to spit blood!" Su Gutian was astonished, unable to describe his terror.
This was the true difference between the Golden Core stage and the Foundation Establishment stage. Without sufficient strength, one couldn't condense sword or blade light.
"Hmph! Xiao Chen, that was for your sneak attack on me earlier," Ling Zhan coldly snorted, a hint of pride on his lips.
"Xiao Chen! Are you okay?" the Ancient White Tiger quickly asked through telepathy.
"Cough cough, don't worry, I'm fine," Xiao Chen replied somewhat weakly, feeling a burning pain on his back, his clothes tattered.
Despite Xiao Chen's strong physique, Ling Zhan's blade light still caused intense pain in his back, showing the great power of Ling Zhan.
"Buzz buzz!"
At this moment, the long sword on Xiao Chen's back emitted a buzzing sound, as if provoked by Ling Zhan's blade, generating a strong hostility, seemingly wanting to break out of its sheath.
Noticing the movement of the divine sword, Xiao Chen slowly stood up, took a deep breath, and smiled slightly, "Don't be anxious, I'll let you out to stretch in a moment."
"Xiao Chen, still reluctant to draw your sword?" Ling Zhan looked at Xiao Chen with a cold smile.
"I was just about to!" Xiao Chen sneered, reaching behind to grab the Chaos Divine Sword.
As soon as the Chaos Divine Sword was drawn, a powerful cold aura spread out, making everyone shiver involuntarily!
Feeling the cold aura, Ling Zhan frowned slightly, thinking to himself, "What kind of sword is this? Such a strange aura."
"What... what kind of sword is that? The aura is too strange! So cold! I can't tell what grade it is," Liu Yuntian frowned, puzzled.
"Xiao Chen's sword is so strange. From the aura, I can't tell what grade it is, but the coldness is terrifying!" Su Wanlin exclaimed in surprise.
"What kind of sword is this? I've never sensed such a strange cold aura before!" Su Gutian wondered, as did everyone else, unable to discern the sword's grade.
"Buzz buzz!"
Drawing the divine sword, Xiao Chen once again channeled the true essence within his body. The violent true essence burst out like an angry beast. Xiao Chen's entire body emitted a faint green light, and the overwhelming power caused the stage to tremble, cracks spreading to the ground below.
"This guy's power is so violent!" Ling Zhan was secretly shocked, his expression becoming serious, having to take Xiao Chen seriously.
"So powerful! His strength isn't weaker than Ling Zhan's! There's still hope. Xiao Chen, go for it! Defeat Ling Zhan and vent our anger!" Su Gutian exclaimed in amazement, his expression becoming excited, filled with confidence in Xiao Chen.
With the powerful true essence channeled, Xiao Chen tightly gripped the divine sword, pointing it diagonally at the ground. With his left hand, he beckoned Ling Zhan, sneering, "Come on, don't hold back."
Hearing this, Ling Zhan's brows furrowed in anger. Xiao Chen was underestimating him. Gritting his teeth, Ling Zhan roared, "Xiao Chen! Don't act like you can beat me. Your attitude irritates me!" With that, he rushed forward.
Xiao Chen also quickly attacked, sneering, "It's not that I can beat you, it's that I must defeat you!"