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Chapter 109: Zhong Shan vs. Nan Batian

"But it takes a lot of courage to do that. Would you dare?"

"I don't need to. He's bringing humiliation upon himself."

In a corner, the disciple who was defeated by Zhong Shan last time was conversing with two other disciples who joined the Kaiyang Sect two years ago. Around them stood about fifty third-generation disciples, chatting in small groups, but almost all were skeptical about Zhong Shan's chances.

Zhong Shan stood in the center of the square with his eyes closed, indifferent to the cold stares and whispers around him. He was waiting for his opponent, Nan Batian.

Finally, after the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, just before noon, Nan Batian, with a face full of scars, slowly walked over from another area.

Nan Batian paid no attention to the others, knowing they were informed by the master. His focus was solely on Zhong Shan.

Wielding a large guandao, he walked steadily to face Zhong Shan.

"Clang~~~~" The guandao struck the ground, and Nan Batian fixed his gaze on Zhong Shan.

"Whoosh~~~~" Zhong Shan opened his eyes and slowly lifted his large saber from the ground.

"Zhong Shan, I hope you will give it your all in this fight," Nan Batian said in a deep voice.

Looking at Nan Batian, Zhong Shan solemnly replied, "I will do my best. Be careful."

Hearing Zhong Shan's words, the onlookers were taken aback. Shouldn't Nan Batian be the one saying that? Yet, it came from Zhong Shan.

"Good," Nan Batian laughed heartily.

After speaking, Nan Batian held his guandao vertically with one hand, grasping the end of the handle. With a single-handed motion, he swung the guandao downwards. The blade's edge glowed fiercely, and a strong, murderous aura surged towards Zhong Shan.

"Celestial Demon Refinement Technique, second level!"

Zhong Shan's eyes widened, revealing his mastery of the second level of the Celestial Demon Refinement Technique, which tripled his strength, emanating immense power.

Sidestepping swiftly, Zhong Shan's large saber collided with the guandao.

"Boom~~~~"

A tremendous explosion echoed as a ripple spread from their feet, cracking the ground beneath them. The spectators were startled, some even gasped in surprise.

Nan Batian's strength was expected, but Zhong Shan, at the sixth level of Innate Stage? How could he match up?

Even those who had mocked Zhong Shan earlier were now stunned into silence.

Nan Batian, taking the duel seriously, exerted all his strength. When his first strike didn't succeed, he quickly retracted his guandao, creating a blinding arc of blade light as he struck again towards Zhong Shan.

At the ninth level of Innate Stage, Nan Batian's speed and power were significantly superior.

From the outset, Zhong Shan wielded triple his normal strength. He knew that if he had only doubled his power, he would have already lost to Nan Batian's initial strike.

With triple the strength, Zhong Shan met the blow, eyes wide with intensity. His horizontal saber struck back at Nan Batian with incredible speed. Malevolent energy surged from his blade, creating a massive slash that shot towards Nan Batian. As the dark energy quickly refilled his saber, another wave of power surged forth, forming yet another deadly slash.

Again and again, Zhong Shan unleashed his strikes, three consecutive waves of blade energy rushed towards Nan Batian. The crowd gasped as four terrifying slashes aimed straight at Nan Batian. Strangely, each of the three blade energies seemed to target Nan Batian's weak points. He could dodge them, but the only way to avoid all three left him open to Zhong Shan's final strike.

The spectators held their breath in disbelief. Was this truly the power of someone who had just reached the sixth level of the Innate Stage?

"Roar~~~~"

With a thunderous shout, Nan Batian's massive guandao radiated golden light, cleaving downwards with overwhelming force. The unique shape and size of his weapon meant that, when swung with both hands, it carried far more power and momentum than a regular saber.

Under the ferocity of Nan Batian's strike, the enormous blade energy seemed to form a cleaving canyon, capable of obliterating the three incoming slashes.

Zhong Shan's pupils contracted as he withdrew his saber, recognizing the overwhelming force of Nan Batian's attack.

"Boom~~~~"

The clash obliterated Zhong Shan's three slashes, yet Nan Batian's strike was far from over. The remaining energy crashed into the ground where Zhong Shan had been standing.

"Boom~~~~"

The impact left a ten-meter-long, two-meter-deep crater in the earth. Zhong Shan, having leaped aside, now descended from above in a powerful side slash.

Intent on ending the battle, he unleashed all his malevolent energy, aiming to cut down Nan Batian.

Nan Batian, unable to parry in time, dodged Zhong Shan's blade. His guandao swung to the side, countering with a powerful slash of its own.

"Boom~~~~"

Zhong Shan's saber struck the ground where Nan Batian had stood, creating a deep and jagged ten-meter-long crater, comparable to the one Nan Batian had made earlier. However, Zhong Shan knew his strength was still inferior; Nan Batian had weakened his strike after cleaving through three waves of blade energy.

The battle intensified, each strike faster and stronger than the last. The plaza became a chaotic scene of flashing blades and flying energy. The once stone-paved ground was now devastated, and ancient trees at the edges of the battlefield were felled in an instant.

The spectators were wide-eyed in astonishment. The ferocity of the battle was beyond belief, and Zhong Shan's relentless aggression left a deep impression on everyone.

"Is that really someone who just advanced to the sixth level of the Innate Stage?"

"Hong Niu, do you still want to challenge Zhong Shan?" a third-generation disciple asked the one who had previously lost to Zhong Shan.

Hong Niu remained silent, stunned by the display.

On the peak of the mountain, Tian Xingzi watched with immense satisfaction, stroking his beard continuously. Beside him, Xuan Xinzi's eyes widened in amazement. "Senior Brother, when you said Zhong Shan could contend with someone at the ninth level of the Innate Stage, I was skeptical. But now, I see you were absolutely right."

"I didn't expect this either. From what Ling'er told me, Zhong Shan had already faced a mid-stage Jindan expert and a severely injured peak Innate stage master when he was only at the fourth level of the Innate Stage. I suspected he could challenge higher levels. Recalling his rapid increase in strength during the competition for the Kong Ling Pearl, I guessed he had some secret technique. But seeing it firsthand is still astonishing," Tian Xingzi said, shaking his head in amazement.

"Yes, although Batian is at the ninth level of the Innate Stage, his blade carries a murderous intent that even ordinary tenth-level Innate masters cannot withstand. Yet Zhong Shan not only holds his own but matches Batian strike for strike. It seems I underestimated him back then," Xuan Xinzi admitted, shaking his head in admiration.

"He is currently only my nominal disciple. If you wish, you can formally take him under your wing," Tian Xingzi said suddenly, his tone serious.

"Senior Brother..." Xuan Xinzi immediately frowned.

"Hehe, if I am no longer around, please take good care of him for me," Tian Xingzi said mysteriously, his expression becoming inexplicably solemn.

However, Xuan Xinzi seemed to recall something and immediately frowned, saying, "Senior Brother, you promised Nie Wuyou that you would live well."

"Ling'er has grown up now. But let's not discuss this further for now; we can talk about it later," Tian Xingzi quickly changed the subject.

"Very well," Xuan Xinzi responded, still frowning, but he nodded after looking at Tian Xingzi.

The battle between Zhong Shan and Nan Batian raged on, both fighters narrowly escaping peril with each strike. In the shadows, Bei Qingsi watched with furrowed brows, a trace of worry in her eyes.

Elsewhere, Nie Qingqing squinted her eyes, continuously praying for Nan Batian to strike Zhong Shan down. If that happened, Ling'er would be freed. However, Zhong Shan's extraordinary ability to triple his strength was baffling. Even with this power, he should not have been a match for Nan Batian, yet he held his ground, fighting on equal terms.

"Roar~~~~"

Three incense sticks' time later, both Zhong Shan and Nan Batian let out a thunderous roar as their blades clashed.

"Boom~~~~"

The already ruined ground suffered further destruction from the massive impact. Both fighters were forced to retreat.

Nan Batian staggered back two steps, stabilizing himself by planting his guandao into the ground. Zhong Shan, on the other hand, was pushed back about ten steps, only managing to stop himself by crushing a boulder behind him.

This clash was intentional on Zhong Shan's part. He knew the effect of his Celestial Demon Refinement Technique would end in the time it takes one incense stick to burn. If he couldn't gain the upper hand in this time, continuing to fight would only lead to defeat.

As he steadied himself and was about to declare the end of the duel, Nan Batian suddenly sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes, entering a state of deep meditation. No, he was breaking through!

Nan Batian had finally reached a breakthrough?

The fight was over, but the waves of astonishment in the hearts of the spectators had not subsided. Could Zhong Shan really have only entered the Kaiyang Sect two years ago?

Tian Xingzi and Xuan Xinzi exchanged glances, looking at the devastated plaza below. They slowly descended from Kaiyang Peak, landing in front of Nan Batian and Zhong Shan.

"Greetings, Master. Greetings, Martial Uncle," Zhong Shan immediately said.

Tian Xingzi nodded at Zhong Shan and said, "You may return now."

Tian Xingzi knew Zhong Shan had used a secret technique, which likely had side effects, so he wanted Zhong Shan to go and recuperate as soon as possible.

"Yes, Master," Zhong Shan nodded and quickly headed towards Ting Shui Pavilion. With Xuan Xinzi watching over Nan Batian, there was no need to worry.

Seeing Zhong Shan leave, Bei Qingsi also turned and left. Nie Qingqing, however, glared hatefully at Zhong Shan's departing figure but did not follow him.

The third-generation disciples around them watched Zhong Shan leave, their expressions now filled with respect and awe. This was a true strongman, and strongmen always deserved respect.