Chapter 274 - 233: This Body? ’Fierce’ Is an Understatement

Chapter 274: Chapter 233: This Body? ’Fierce’ Is an Understatement

The competition arena was also a Magical Artifact, and a top-tier Myth-grade one at that.

It contained a small world within it.

In some respects, it was no worse than Zhang Ji’s "Ship of Hope."

For the competition, the Qingcang Sect had specifically designated different zones for contestants based on their cultivation levels.

After entering the arena, Zhang Ji cut himself off from all external information.

He was teleported to a mountain valley. His luck wasn’t great; he was surrounded by a massive lake and towering mountains that blocked his path. He could even spot the figures of some Profound Tier Wild Beasts in the mountain forests.

In terms of power, these Wild Beasts were equivalent to cultivators at the Divine Acupoint Realm.

At that moment, many in the audience thought Zhang Ji was in trouble.

Feng Chen and the others, in particular, couldn’t help but sigh.

They hadn’t expected Zhang Ji to be so unlucky upon entering the arena.

Xiao Mingyu and the recently healed Wan Lan were also watching the match. Seeing Zhang Ji’s situation, Xiao Mingyu frowned and said, "Junior Brother Li’s luck is poor. In a place like this, just getting out will take a huge amount of effort, let alone fighting other opponents."

Wan Lan thought the same.

She was still quite curious about Zhang Ji, this personal disciple of a Celestial Monarch.

She really wanted to know what was so outstanding about him that he had managed to attract the attention of a Celestial Monarch.

But so far, Wan Lan hadn’t discovered any particularly prominent aspect of Zhang Ji.

His combat power was strong, to be sure, but compared to other true disciples of the same rank, it was nothing special.

Just then, Zhang Ji made his move.

He headed straight for the lake.

"What’s he doing?"

"Crossing the water directly? Isn’t that a waste of stamina?"

Amid the doubtful murmurs, the Wind Element flowed beneath Zhang Ji, drawing the heat from the lake water and instantly freezing it.

With each stride, Zhang Ji effortlessly slid dozens of meters, gliding across the lake in a specific direction.

"It’s some kind of technique for controlling the world’s Yuan Qi! Such exquisite execution! That level of Control Power has probably reached the Micro Realm!"

"He’s making it look so easy."

"Wait, look at the direction he’s heading. It seems to be the location of another contestant. Does he know where the others are? Could he be cheating?"

Under countless questioning gazes, Zhang Ji crossed the lake and walked onto the plains ahead.

His speed didn’t slow. Soon, at the junction between two high mountains, he met his first opponent.

He was also a cultivator from the Human Race, carrying a short sword on his back.

Upon seeing Zhang Ji, his expression turned grim, and he drew his sword.

"I know you. Li Long, personal disciple of Celestial Monarch Qin. You’re very strong, but if we fight to the death here, even if you win, you won’t necessarily have an advantage against the others later!"

Jiang Shuyuan tried to talk Zhang Ji down. The competition had just begun, and he really didn’t want to fight him.

It would be too much of a waste of his stamina.

"If you lack the strength and confidence to dominate your peers, can you even call yourself a prodigy?" Zhang Ji said, shaking his head slightly.

Hearing Zhang Ji’s words, Jiang Shuyuan became a little displeased.

’Isn’t he just calling me a coward?’

"In that case, I’ll have you experience the subtlety of my Purple Cloud Peak’s Sword Formulas!" Jiang Shuyuan said.

Their conversation was captured by the Magical Artifact, amplified, and broadcast throughout the viewing area.

This tense exchange was exactly what the audience wanted to see.

Everyone hiding and not fighting, waiting for the ring to close, all hoping to be the fisherman who reaps the rewards—they were sick of that playstyle.

Zhang Ji’s intention to settle things the moment they met was what they loved most.

"Even for a Celestial Monarch’s personal disciple, this boy is far too arrogant," said Master Shi Meng, the Peak Master of Purple Cloud Peak.

"Arrogance comes from strength," Ji Ziyang replied nonchalantly.

Although he, too, felt Zhang Ji might be a bit reckless.

But Zhang Ji was representing their Divine Peak in the competition, so naturally, he had to defend him.

Master Shi Meng remained noncommittal, simply waiting for the outcome.

Back in the arena, Zhang Ji didn’t draw his sword. He just looked at Jiang Shuyuan and said, "I’ll give you the first move."

"You’re not using a Magical Artifact?" Jiang Shuyuan asked, confused.

"I don’t need one," Zhang Ji stated plainly.

Jiang Shuyuan laughed in anger. "Fine, fine! A ’don’t need one,’ is it? I’d like to see just how skilled you are, Brother Li! Take this!"

In the next instant, a purple sword light flashed. In his fury, Jiang Shuyuan unleashed a Sword Skill that surpassed his usual level.

The speed and finesse of this sword strike had already reached the level of the instructors who had taught him.

He himself was stunned by his own attack, believing Zhang Ji would be instantly eliminated, completely unable to block it.

However, Zhang Ji simply extended two fingers and struck. As his Qi and Blood surged, a red glow condensed at his fingertips.

The next moment, his fingertips collided with the tip of the sword.

CLANG!

It sounded like metal striking metal.

Jiang Shuyuan’s Sword Momentum was halted, unable to advance another inch. No matter how he tried to channel his Yuan Power, it was useless.

"You’ve got something, but just a little."

Zhang Ji had used less than a tenth of the energy of Jiang Shuyuan’s Sword Skill, and without employing any higher-realm techniques, he had broken his move.

It was a complete and total technical domination.

CLINK!

Zhang Ji flicked his finger, knocking Jiang Shuyuan’s blade aside. The next instant, before Jiang Shuyuan’s shocked eyes, Zhang Ji executed the Purple Cloud Peak Swordsmanship he had just witnessed.

Although he had never practiced Purple Cloud Peak’s corresponding Cultivation Technique, the moves were correct, and the artistic conception was correct.

An ethereal aura emanated from Zhang Ji, and a faint purple light could be seen.

His sword finger swept out. As it neared Jiang Shuyuan, he was instantly teleported out of the arena.

This was because the Magical Artifact had determined that if Jiang Shuyuan were to take that sword finger attack, he would undoubtedly die.

Therefore, Jiang Shuyuan was eliminated directly.

Master Shi Meng’s expression changed, though it was barely perceptible.

The audience was in an uproar.

"Purple Cloud Peak’s Misty Sword Skill! He learned it just by watching his opponent use it once? And from the looks of it, he even grasped the Sword Intent!"

"What kind of comprehension is that? So this is a Celestial Monarch’s personal disciple!"

"He doesn’t need a weapon at all. He has no use for one! That’s right, he really does have the strength to dominate his peers!!!"

Wan Lan and Xiao Mingyu’s expressions were also somewhat dazed.

Now they were finally beginning to understand why Zhang Ji was a Celestial Monarch’s personal disciple.

His heaven-defying aptitude was being displayed in such a straightforward manner.

Even the Peak Masters of the main peaks probably couldn’t have accomplished such a feat when they were at Zhang Ji’s level... No, even now, they couldn’t do it. Although it was only a Profound Tier Sword Formula, it was still something that required at least several hours of study to fully comprehend. How could someone master it completely after just a single glance?

As for the theory that Zhang Ji had learned it in advance, no one brought it up.

How long had he even been in the Sect?

He had never once been to Purple Cloud Peak, and records were kept of all the techniques he had viewed and the people he had met. A conspiracy theory simply wouldn’t hold up.

At this moment, a peculiar look appeared on Ding Zhuoran’s face.

’I wonder if I could do that,’ he thought.

After a moment of thought, he decided that he could do it now!

But if he were at the same rank as Zhang Ji, he couldn’t.

In terms of comprehension, Zhang Ji was a cut above him.

"As I thought..." Ding Zhuoran smiled.

He was becoming more and more interested in Zhang Ji.

...

Back in the arena, Zhang Ji subtly observed the flow of information, deducing and searching for the tracks of the other disciples. He soon encountered his second opponent.

It was a burly man from the Barbarian Race, wielding a long-handled, round-headed warhammer that weighed at least a thousand catties. One look was enough to tell he was incredibly strong.

This must be the expert from Six Clouds Peak that Xiao Mingyu had warned Zhang Ji about.

"Wanna fight?" Yi Xu asked Zhang Ji.

Zhang Ji beckoned slightly and said, "You can have the first move."

"No one’s ever said that to me! You’re the first!" Yi Xu grinned.

His smile, combined with his fleshy, fierce-looking face, appeared somewhat savage, but in truth, he was just genuinely happy.

The appearance of a man from the Barbarian Race was not exactly approachable.

In battle, however, their appearance was very intimidating.

Those with a weaker disposition would break out in a cold sweat just from seeing his physique and savage expression.

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!

Swinging the hammer, Yi Xu performed a circular wind-up, leaped high into the air, and smashed down violently.

Zhang Ji also did not draw a weapon. He simply clenched his fist and punched out abruptly.

He used a technique from the Eight Extremes Fighting Skill. Zhang Ji had already fully mastered the mysteries of its Fist Rune Skill.

In an instant, power was continuously accumulated and stacked, unleashing ten parts of strength from just one part of force!

CLANG! BOOM! BANG!

The enormous refined steel warhammer was punched straight through by Zhang Ji’s fist. With a slight shake of his arm, he shattered it completely.

The force of the impact sent the hammer-wielding Yi Xu flying. He crashed to the ground dozens of meters away, rolled twice, and then scrambled to his feet in a sorry state.

His eyes were now filled with shock and disbelief.

For the first time, someone of the same rank had surpassed him in a contest of pure strength.

And they had done it with their bare body, without a Magical Artifact, defeating him while he was using one.

The toughness of that physical body was beyond his comprehension.

But Zhang Ji gave him no time to think. Before he knew it, Zhang Ji was right in front of him.

The key aspect of the Tunneling Rune Skill from the Eight Extremes Fighting Skill was pure speed.

Wind resistance was nearly nonexistent while moving, and various terrains could be used to one’s advantage. It even included a method for passing through emptiness. At its highest level, it allowed for direct spatial teleportation, sharing similarities with the [Divine Footsteps Buddha Kingdom Inner Scenery].

Then, Zhang Ji pointed his index finger.

The mystery of the Finger Rune Skill.

This technique was all about condensation, and more condensation!

His Qi and Blood condensed into a single point of contained red light, which Zhang Ji then unleashed.

SHING! PFFT!

The protective light from Yi Xu’s Magical Artifact flashed for a moment before being instantly shattered. Then, his figure vanished, teleported away.

The condensed red light from Zhang Ji pierced the ground, creating an extremely deep, narrow hole.

It was over five hundred meters deep!

The penetrating power of this condensed finger strike was something even the Super Spirit Indication couldn’t match. Only Cyril’s current Divine Intent-infused finger power could compare.

By eliminating two people in a row, Zhang Ji’s displayed skills sent the entire crowd into a frenzy. His techniques were extraordinary, but his physical body was also strong, domineering, and powerful!

He took a direct hit from a Profound Tier Magical Artifact and then destroyed it. How could his physical body be described with a single word like ’fierce’?