As Hai Shi unleashed his technique, the air around him turned chaotic, swirling like a stormy sea before erupting into violent turbulence. Within a radius of three steps, the air exploded with thunderous bursts, resembling the roars of a raging ocean.
This technique's true terror lay in its mastery. At its peak, it could distort the air itself, creating a force field within ten steps. The powerful wind and energy blasts alone could shatter weapons and tear bodies apart. However, reaching this level of mastery was nearly impossible without the strength of a Dao-tier expert.
Fortunately, Gu Chen Sha possessed extraordinary strength. While he couldn't expand the energy waves of Hai Shi's technique to a ten-step radius, he could achieve a formidable range of two to three steps. His body spun like a whirlwind, disrupting the balance of six Man Tribe generals. Their attack formation wavered, exposing an opening.
"Kill!" Gu Chen Sha roared, pouncing on one of the disoriented Man Tribe generals.
The targeted general should have retreated, but his bloodshot eyes glowed with madness. Roaring like a beast, he inhaled deeply, his body swelling in size like a colossal bear. Muscles bulged to the point of tearing, and blood dripped from his overstrained skin. Clearly, he was using a forbidden technique to enhance his combat power at the cost of his body. Ignoring the damage, he managed to block Gu Chen Sha's assault and even tried to force him back into their encirclement.
"This is insane," Gu Chen Sha muttered, recognizing the desperation. Forbidden techniques like this one could double a person's strength for a short time, but the aftereffects were severe—lifespan shortened, meridians shattered, and in many cases, permanent crippling.
The Man Tribe general lunged with claw-like hands, summoning a vortex of air that pulled Gu Chen Sha toward him. Feeling the pull and sensing danger, Gu Chen Sha knew that retreating would mean certain death within the encirclement.
In a split second, Gu Chen Sha's body shrank dramatically, his bones compressing until he became the size of a three-foot child. He slipped through the gaps in the general's claw strikes with ease.
"This... this is the Ju Ling Jie Zi Fa?" exclaimed Lou Zhong Xiao, watching from a distance. He had been closely monitoring Gu Chen Sha's movements and was stunned to see this technique in action.
The Ju Ling Jie Zi Fa was a secret art within the Ju Ling Divine Technique. It allowed the practitioner to shrink from a towering giant to a minuscule form, reaching a state of Yin from extreme Yang. Mastering it typically required a Dao-tier cultivator, yet Gu Chen Sha had managed to activate it in a moment of life-or-death desperation. Though imperfect, it allowed him to survive.
Emerging from the encirclement, Gu Chen Sha wasted no time. With his newfound freedom, he crouched low like a snake, darting forward with his hands curved into claws. He unleashed the Ju Ling Claw's move called Teng She, which mimicked a serpent striking from the shadows.
The Man Tribe general, weakened by his forbidden technique, had both legs shattered by Gu Chen Sha's attack. The formation instantly collapsed.
The remaining five Man Tribe generals, caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, attacked recklessly. Their chaotic strikes clashed with each other, destabilizing their stances further.
"A golden opportunity!" Gu Chen Sha's instincts sharpened. With clarity in his heart, he struck swiftly and decisively. His movements were precise, as if the entire battlefield were illuminated in his mind. He switched from claw techniques to finger strikes, his hand moving like shooting stars piercing through the mist.
Each finger strike landed perfectly on a vital point.
Pfft, pfft, pfft!
In mere moments, five Man Tribe generals collapsed lifelessly to the ground. Not a single wound could be seen on their bodies.
This was the power of the Ju Ling Finger technique, also known as the Blooming of Five Petals.
The Ju Ling Divine Technique was a complete martial art system encompassing palm strikes, footwork, grapples, finger techniques, and more. It was the cornerstone martial art of the Xian Dynasty, requiring decades of rigorous training to master. Yet Gu Chen Sha, with the aid of the Heavenly Prince Wind God Technique, had grasped its essence in just six months. This divine technique had unlocked his potential, enabling him to see through the secrets of nearly any martial art.
With the six Man Tribe generals slain, Gu Chen Sha now had seven heads to his name.
"Breaking through this formation... it's only in moments of life and death that martial skills truly evolve," he thought, surveying the battlefield. He felt his cultivation had improved subtly, as if his mind and body had been tempered like steel.
Relaxing slightly, Gu Chen Sha glanced around. "Now, where's my chance to seize first place and claim the Hundred Tribulations Golden Pill?"
Of course, Gu Chen Sha knew his chances of winning first place were slim. Even if he gave it his all, it was unlikely he could succeed. After all, how could a novice martial artist surpass so many princes and seize the top spot? Such an achievement would only attract unnecessary trouble. Today's goal was to demonstrate his potential, gain the emperor's favor, and secure some recognition. That alone was enough for now—he could focus on building his reputation step by step.
"It looks like Lou Bai Yue will take first place," he murmured as he assessed the battlefield.
Lou Bai Yue was indeed like a spirit possessed by gods and demons. She moved gracefully, her strikes precise yet unpredictable, landing from angles no one could anticipate. Whether facing a single Man Tribe general or several attacking together, none could stop her advance.
Gu Chen Sha noticed that every time she struck, her entire body vibrated with a spiraling force, creating a subtle but powerful wind around her. This amplified the destructive power of her blows. At the same time, the Man Tribe generals she faced seemed sluggish, as if her aura had overwhelmed their spirits, reducing their strength to a mere fraction of its potential.
"I wonder what kind of martial aura Lou Bai Yue possesses. Only by fighting her directly could one truly experience it," Gu Chen Sha thought. As someone who had reached a master's level of understanding, he deeply appreciated the importance of martial auras. His training with Long Wu Yun over the past three days had taught him that advanced martial arts relied heavily on aura. A strong enough aura could make an opponent feel as if they were facing ferocious beasts, towering mountains, raging storms, or even divine thunder.
Such auras could disrupt an enemy's focus and leave them defenseless.
Though Lou Bai Yue had not yet reached the Dao-tier, her skills and aura were on par with Long Wu Yun's. Her graceful yet commanding movements placed her far above most of the princes. This made her the subject of envy among the other royals, as they all knew the emperor held her in high regard. None dared offend her.
Suddenly, a figure burst from the forest—a Man Tribe general lunged directly at Gu Chen Sha.
Without hesitation, Gu Chen Sha flicked his hand. The hidden force from his strike penetrated the general's chest, shattering his heart into pieces. The lifeless body collapsed to the ground like a ragdoll.
"Bold of you!"
A thunderous roar rang out, shaking Gu Chen Sha to his core. From behind the slain general, another figure emerged—it was none other than the Tenth Prince, Gu Zhen Sha.
"Gu Chen Sha! How dare you steal the kill of the Man Tribe general I had already injured? Do you think learning a bit of martial arts makes you invincible? Earlier, I only used 30% of my strength. Now, taste my Thunderstrike of the Nine Heavens!"
Gu Zhen Sha's body crackled with thunderous energy, the Lightning Severing Mirror Technique pushed to its limit. As he charged forward, the air around him erupted with explosions, and his movements became as elusive as a ghost's. His footwork, derived from the Phantom Shadow of the Ghost King, combined with his lightning-based attacks to create an unrelenting assault.
The technique merged the destructive power of lightning with spectral movement, making it a dangerous combination. Few dared practice it due to the risk of losing control and harming themselves. However, Gu Zhen Sha had mastered its balance, fusing Yin and Yang to create a seamless blend of power and precision.
After his earlier humiliation, Gu Zhen Sha was determined to reclaim his dignity. He needed to prove his strength before the nobles and officials.
As he attacked, Gu Chen Sha momentarily felt as though the world had changed. Thunder rumbled, lightning flashed, and an enormous figure made of pure lightning appeared before him, seemingly aiming to crush his very spirit. For a brief moment, his mind spun, and he nearly blacked out.
"This is the power of martial aura," Gu Chen Sha realized, quickly regaining his composure. Thanks to the Heavenly Prince Wind God Technique, his mind became clear once more. Within the depths of his consciousness, he visualized a blazing sun and a luminous moon, each transforming into the other in an endless cycle. This mental state shielded him from any external aura.
No martial aura, no matter how overwhelming, could penetrate his spirit.
While Gu Chen Sha had yet to fully grasp the principles of the Heavenly Prince Technique, its residual power was enough to protect him. Otherwise, his own martial aura would have already forced Gu Zhen Sha to kneel in submission.
Recovering instantly, Gu Chen Sha didn't retreat but instead confronted the attack head-on, using his strength to counter strength.
He activated the Sun and Moon Transformation within the Heavenly Prince Technique, channeling it through the Ju Ling Divine Technique. His hands struck forward, generating a wave of force that felt like a tsunami crashing ashore.
This was the essence of the Ju Ling Divine Technique's three foundational moves: Climbing the Mountain, Turning the River, and Overturning the Sea.
Boom!
The two forces collided. Gu Chen Sha's blood surged, and his bones felt like they might shatter under the impact of the lightning-infused counterforce. However, Gu Zhen Sha didn't fare much better. With a groan, he staggered backward, crashing into a massive tree, shattering its trunk into splinters.
"Even with his full strength, the Tenth Prince only managed a draw?"
Lou Zhong Xiao, observing from a distance, had intended to intervene. However, seeing the emperor's calm expression, he decided against it. He hadn't expected that the supposedly "foolish prince" Gu Chen Sha could hold his own against Gu Zhen Sha's all-out assault.
From this day forward, who would dare call Gu Chen Sha a fool?
"Your Majesty, the Tenth and Nineteenth Princes are fighting. Should I…" Lou Zhong Xiao began.
The Heavenly Emperor cut him off. "What do you think of Little Nineteen's martial arts?"
He continued, "As for the Tenth Prince, his temper remains as brash as ever. Attacking his own brother in front of nobles and ministers? Has he learned nothing of propriety? How can he accomplish great things without discipline? Even in warfare, diplomacy must come before combat."