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Chapter 108: First Flight

Pouring a cup of tea for Nan Batian, Zhong Shan sighed softly. The battlefield was merciless; he himself had experienced it. Watching comrades fall one by one, constantly being killed, it felt like being cut with a knife in the heart.

"It's good to be alive. We must live on for our fallen brothers and carry their memories," Zhong Shan said.

"Indeed," Nan Batian looked at Zhong Shan in surprise, not expecting him to understand his thoughts.

"What about the eastern region?" Zhong Shan asked.

"The east? East, southeast, northeast are all called the 'Wolf Domain,' which is where you'll be heading in ten days. This island is called 'Tianlang Island,' meaning it's a world dominated by wolves. We're relatively better off here, located to the west of Tianlang Island, where there are some immortal sects. However, going east, it's all wolves. Except for a few hermits, no sect dares to establish themselves there. Even the previously mentioned Yin Yue Imperial Dynasty doesn't dare to invade because it's the wolves' territory. Inside, there are the fiercest wolves in this world. Even if they were placed in the Divine Land, they would still be the most formidable wolves," Nan Batian explained earnestly.

"Oh?" Zhong Shan was surprised.

"Anyway, it's just hearsay, and I'm not very clear about it. I just know that it's best to avoid going east. The wolves there are very powerful. Even wolves with cultivation levels comparable to our sect master can be found in abundance," Nan Batian added after a moment of thought.

"Abundance?" Zhong Shan listened in horror. The sect master was at the Yuan Ying stage. Were the wolves in the east really that powerful?

"Let's not dwell on that. Your cultivation speed has been impressive these past two years. You've even reached the Sixth Heavenly Layer of Innate. Master said you might be able to help me break through. It's been a while since I've wielded my blade. Shall we give it a try?" Nan Batian suddenly suggested.

"Give it a try? What's your current cultivation level?" Zhong Shan asked.

"I'm at the peak of the Ninth Heavenly Layer of Innate, just one step away from the Tenth Layer," Nan Batian said confidently.

"Okay," Zhong Shan agreed promptly. He needed the fight.

"Tomorrow at noon, below Kaiyang Peak," Nan Batian said.

"I'll be there on time," Zhong Shan nodded.

After a while, Nan Batian left. He didn't dare to underestimate Zhong Shan. Although there was a threefold difference in their strengths, more than a year ago, Nan Batian had been defeated due to carelessness. At that time, he had underestimated Zhong Shan, despite only mentioning two layers of power.

Nan Batian knew that Zhong Shan had a secret method to rapidly increase his strength. He would stop when the time was right.

Once Nan Batian had left, Zhong Shan slowly took out the 'Essence of Clouds' that Tian Xingzi had given him. The Essence of Clouds was a rare treasure of heaven and earth, but it was only valuable to those below the Yuanying stage. For those at the Yuanying stage, it was worthless.

The reason Tian Ling'er's red ribbon could fly was that it had absorbed the Essence of Clouds. On the other hand, Zhao Suo Xiang's Chang spear couldn't fly because it didn't contain the Essence of Clouds.

Only cultivators at the Yuanying stage could soar through the heavens and earth. Those below the Yuanying stage, including those at the Golden Core stage, couldn't.

Golden Core stage cultivators could control swords to kill enemies, but in order to fly with a sword, they had to reach the later stages of the Golden Core stage. Even then, they couldn't fly too far. Only by infusing the Essence of Clouds into a flying sword could they fly freely.

Previously, most of the Golden Core stage cultivators Zhong Shan had seen flying on swords had infused their swords with the Essence of Clouds.

The Essence of Clouds was extremely rare. Even ten thousand spirit stones couldn't buy one. It was very precious and also a consumable. A single cloud could only maintain flight for a hundred years. After that, it would dissipate into nothingness.

Carefully taking out the large blade 'Nightmare,' Zhong Shan gently placed the Essence of Clouds on it. As the Essence of Clouds melted into the blade, Zhong Shan, who had a bloodline connection with the blade, felt a strange energy filling it. It was under his control.

Gently releasing the handle, Zhong Shan controlled the blade with his mind. Surprisingly, the blade floated in the air, motionless.

This feeling was so peculiar, as if it was what Master had once described as Divine Sense, locking onto an object and controlling it. Just like the old man they had encountered at the volcano's mouth, who controlled Zhong Shan and Ling'er with his Divine Sense. Now, this Essence of Clouds seemed to have replicated Divine Sense, controlling the blade. However, it could only control this blade and nothing else.

Moreover, the strength of this Divine Sense-like control was at least at the level of the Yuanying stage or higher.

The world was truly full of wonders. The Essence of Clouds was indeed miraculous.

Gently stepping onto the blade, Zhong Shan floated into the air. He was flying! As he soared higher, Zhong Shan carefully controlled his body to prevent himself from falling. At the same time, he felt an indescribable excitement at the sensation of soaring.

"Wooohooo!"

Flying, a miraculous dream— who hasn't dreamt of it? Who wouldn't want to fly? Zhong Shan could fly now, even at the age of eighty-two, and he couldn't help but let out a loud shout of excitement. But it was just one shout.

Filled with intense excitement, Zhong Shan swiftly soared around the Kaiyang Sect, mastering various difficult flying techniques in no time. After an hour, Zhong Shan had mastered multiple high-difficulty maneuvers such as diving, arching, large loops, and bungee-like movements. He tried them all and mastered them completely.

After flying for nearly two hours, Zhong Shan finally calmed down from his excitement. He slowly landed at the Ting Water Pavilion, ready to digest this excitement and prepare for tomorrow's battle.

Zhong Shan's flying within the Kaiyang Sect also attracted a lot of attention.

Tian Xingzi stood on the Kaiyang Peak, watching Zhong Shan's powerful understanding with a heart full of sighs. He stroked his beard, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

This was Zhong Shan's first time flying, and he had performed so many maneuvers unexpectedly. His intelligence was truly different from others.

In the Snow Bamboo Peak, Bei Qingsi stood behind the Lonely Widow, also watching Zhong Shan flying in the distance, her eyes filled with tenderness.

In a secluded valley, Nie Qingqing looked up and saw Zhong Shan flying in the sky. Anger flashed in her eyes as she clenched a pine seed in her hand, several times she wanted to throw it towards the sky, but in the end, she held back.

Tian Sha and the other junior disciples also saw Zhong Shan flying in the sky. Surprise and killing intent flashed in their eyes.

Back at the Ting Water Pavilion, Zhong Shan closed his eyes and meditated to recover. He knew he had been too ostentatious before, but who could resist the urge to show off when they could fly? Besides, with his intelligence, status, and current position in the Kaiyang Sect, what couldn't he handle?

The next day, somehow the news spread that Zhong Shan and Nan Batian would have a martial arts competition below the Kaiyang Peak. It quickly spread among the third-generation disciples. The second-generation Golden Core disciples might not be interested, but the third generation was excited. Nan Batian, a senior third-generation disciple, was known for his strength, and being at the Yuanying stage, but this time, he was going to spar with a person at the sixth layer of the Elemental Infant stage. What was going on?

The third-generation disciples, who had joined just two years ago, were even more excited. The sixth layer of the Elemental Infant stage? In just two years? Of course, there were also a few who had reached the sixth layer of the Elemental Infant stage. Those four Elemental Infant stage cultivators who contended for the Spiritual Bead last time had also smoothly reached the sixth layer of the Elemental Infant stage.

However, the further they went, the clearer it became to everyone how difficult each layer of the Elemental Infant stage would be. Zhong Shan challenging his senior brother at the ninth layer of the Elemental Infant stage with his cultivation at the sixth layer?

Therefore, a large number of third-generation disciples were already waiting below the Kaiyang Peak, standing in all directions, awaiting the arrival of Zhong Shan and Nan Batian.

It seemed that Tian Xingzi also got wind of this news. He and Xuan Xinzi stood on the Kaiyang Peak, overlooking the area below. After all, their disciples were the ones participating in the martial arts competition.

"Senior brother, how long do you think Batian will take to win?" Xuan Xinzi smiled slightly.

"It's hard to say who will win. How can you be sure that Batian will win? Can't Zhong Shan win?" Tian Xingzi shook his head and smiled.

"Judging from Zhong Shan's performance in the last competition, he should have a secret method to stimulate his true essence. But after all, there is a three-layer difference between them. Batian also has his own secret techniques," Xuan Xinzi said.

"Nan Batian didn't seek out those at the ninth layer of the Elemental Infant stage or even the tenth layer. Instead, he chose Zhong Shan at the sixth layer. This shows how highly he regards Zhong Shan. And I think Batian wants to break through with this battle, so he probably won't use any secret methods or his bloodline inheritance. Therefore, today's outcome is unpredictable," Tian Xingzi said with a slight smile.

"Besides his innate talent, Zhong Shan's comprehension is extremely strong. He's the most outstanding person I've seen. Since Batian chose him, it's definitely going to be a fierce battle. I've also discreetly informed some of the third-generation disciples to come and observe and learn. After all, they are the future of the Kaiyang Sect," Xuan Xinzi nodded.

"Let's wait and see," Tian Xingzi nodded.

Today's martial arts competition was not attended by Tian Sha because he simply looked down on those at the Elemental Infant stage. Bei Qingsi stood in a corner silently, and even Nie Qingqing stood in another secluded area, observing Zhong Shan with a mysterious feeling. She wanted to see what was so special about him that made Ling'er so infatuated with him.

It was almost noon.

Zhong Shan appeared first in front of everyone.

He walked slowly to the square below the Kaiyang Peak, glancing around at the third-generation disciples surrounding the square. Zhong Shan frowned slightly but didn't say anything. Instead, he walked to the center of the square, leaned his sword against the ground, closed his eyes, and waited calmly.