Shocking the Nine Heavens With My Sword
Chapter 172 - 167: Disparate Duel (3/5, asking for monthly pass)

Chapter 172: Chapter 167: Disparate Duel (3/5, asking for monthly pass)

Even Fang Heqing was stunned, let alone Fang Xiwen. This overly self-confident woman was left speechless, completely failing to understand why Zhou Heng would enter the arena!

Could it be that the Cold Blue Country knew it had no hope and decided to give up in despair, not even bothering to send a Land Cleaving Realm fighter, and let a mere Initial Separation Realm youth make up the numbers? Wouldn’t that be like being overturned by a single finger?

"This is the representative of Cold Blue Country, Zhou Heng!" Tian Junzi announced loudly, as neither Nangong Changkong nor Liu Qingxuan would introduce Zhou Heng.

"So young?"

"Since when did Cold Blue Country have such an expert?"

"Eh, wasn’t it said that the top talent of Cold Blue Country is the girl from the Nangong Family, an Earth Spirit Body, who at a tender age has reached the Peak Third Layer Heaven of Initial Separation Realm and has already been taken in as a disciple by the Wind Howl Sect? Where did this boy come from?"

"Even if he has outstanding talent like Nangong Yuerong, at most he would have just broken through to the Land Cleaving Realm. How can he dare to enter the battle with such cultivation level?"

"This is a joke!"

Everyone was discussing amongst themselves, even if Zhou Heng was of the Land Cleaving Realm, there was still a massive difference between the First Layer Heaven and the Third Layer Heaven. How could they possibly send someone like him to the stage?

At this time, the last group of martial artists from the other three countries also walked to the center of the arena to draw lots, just so happening to be two Heaven-Opening Realm fighters and one Land Cleaving Realm fighter. If the draw resulted in two matches of Heaven-Opening Realm against Land Cleaving Realm, then the first bout of fighting would end quickly, with the outcome of the final ownership of the Spirit Stone Mine being determined by the two powerful Heaven-Opening Realm experts.

If it turned out to be Heaven-Opening against Heaven-Opening, and Land Cleaving against Land Cleaving, then the winner of the first Heaven-Opening Realm battle would unquestionably win the final confrontation. Heaven-Opening Realm against Land Cleaving Realm constituted an absolute crushing force that no magic artifact could compensate for or bridge the gap.

Zhou Heng and another Land Cleaving Realm fighter were destined to be cannon fodder, an inconspicuous footnote.

The four began to draw lots, and the result was that the two Heaven-Opening Realm experts ended up in one group, while Zhou Heng and the other Land Cleaving Realm fighter formed another group. The two bouts would proceed at the same time.

Fang Heqing had already returned to his own camp, and Fang Xiwen watched her brother with a face full of admiration. This woman had a strong complex of adoration for her brother, her eyes shining brightly as she looked at Fang Heqing.

"Could it be that Zhou Heng really reached the Land Cleaving Realm?" he muttered to himself.

This was too incredible. If it was true, how long did it take Zhou Heng to go from the Initial Separation Realm to the Land Cleaving Realm? That would absolutely be the fastest breakthrough speed in history, leaving any genius speechless!

But if Zhou Heng was still in the Initial Separation Realm, then how could Cold Blue Country send him to fight, unless they knew they would lose and were content with humiliation?

The battle was about to begin, and what was really going on would soon be revealed!

Boom!

A terrifying force surged forth, and the two Heaven-Opening Realm old ancestors had already begun their clash, neither holding back their power, because the winner among them would crush the victorious Land Cleaving Realm competitor with ease, securing their victory.

Thus, this was a battle begun in advance.

"This old man does not wish to bully a junior; you should concede!" Zhou Heng’s opponent was a septuagenarian elder who had already reached the Peak Third Layer Heaven of the Land Cleaving Realm, his aura robust and filled with a commanding presence.

Zhou Heng smiled and said, "I also don’t wish to bully an elder; you should concede!"

Pfft!

Many people burst into laughter. Whether or not Zhou Heng was strong in battle was one thing, but the young man certainly had a sharp tongue, daring to toy with an expert at the Peak Third Layer Heaven of the Land Cleaving Realm.

"You’re asking for it, boy!" the elder snorted, simply stretching out his right hand and said, "The old man will let you use one hand!"

"Thank you! Thank you very much!" Zhou Heng nodded earnestly and with apparent sincerity.

If he had remained silent and just struck out, everyone would think he was taking advantage of the offer, but his exaggerated display of gratitude made it seem fake, as though it were just a play, causing an outburst of laughter from the crowd.

Although the two hadn’t started fighting yet, no one was really paying attention. After all, no matter who won or lost, the final outcome would certainly be them being suppressed by a Heaven-Opening Realm expert within a trivial effort, without a shred of suspense.

"All talk and no action!" said the elder, his face growing angrier. Although he was in the Third Layer Heaven of the Land Cleaving Realm, he had been at the peak for over two hundred years and expected to break through to the Heaven-Opening Realm within fifty years!

Therefore, he was extremely proud and had already compared himself to those in the Heaven-Opening Realm. Naturally, he was full of displeasure at Zhou Heng’s impertinence and saw it as a significant provocation.

He made a bold move, his right hand extended, stirring the nature’s spiritual energy into an ashen grey giant hand that pressed down fiercely towards Zhou Heng.

In this palm strike, he gave it his all. The strength from thrice the normal Dantian Space of an ordinary Third Layer Heaven Land Cleaving Realm fighter made his battle power terrifyingly unparalleled, with a gale roaring and the momentum earth-shattering.

"It’s indeed Lai Xingyun, the strongest Third Layer Heaven Land Cleaving Realm expert in Baidian Country, he could be called the number one within the Land Cleaving Realm!"

"He could win with just one move!"

"Too bad, he’s been constrained in the Land Cleaving Realm for too long. If he could break through to the Heaven-Opening Realm, he would be among the absolute top ranks of the current Heaven-Opening Realm experts!"

Boom!

The ashen grey giant hand thunderously crashed down, covering at least a thirty feet radius.

Zhou Heng let out a long howl, his right fist extended, facing the giant hand in the sky as he met it head-on.

Boom!

A heavy thud echoed as the dark grey hand was instantly shattered, a fearsome wave of power bursting forth, shaking many people back in disarray, where at least those in the Land Cleaving Realm could remain steadfastly in place.

As the dust cleared, Zhou Heng and Lai Xingyun stood ten yards apart. Zhou Heng smiled serenely, while Lai Xingyun’s expression turned much more solemn, his old face darkening, his eyes flickering uncertainly.

What was happening here!

How could Zhou Heng have not been severely injured by a slap? Impossible!

Could it be that this fellow wasn’t in the First Layer Heaven of Land Cleaving but in the Second or even Third Layer Heaven? But that would be too exaggerated. This youngster’s vitality was brimming, clearly very young, certainly no more than fifty years old!

A Land Cleaving Realm expert in the Second or even Third Layer Heaven by the age of fifty?

Hiss, what a monstrous talent!

"He’s not in the Third Layer Heaven of Land Cleaving, just the First Layer Heaven!"

"That’s right, it’s just that this lad’s Dantian Space is far greater than the average person, granting him the strength to contend with those in the Third Layer Heaven of Land Cleaving!"

"You don’t say, Lai Xingyun’s Dantian Space is already three times larger than that of an ordinary practitioner in the Third Layer Heaven of Land Cleaving, and Zhou Heng, being only in the First Layer Heaven, can contend with him? How vast must his Dantian Space be?"

"Truly, a formidable monster has emerged!"

All those present couldn’t help but discuss fervently, deeply shaken, while Fang Heqing finally realized at this moment that Zhou Heng hadn’t lied the day before. He indeed intended to fight, and it was only his own disbelief that had prevented him from accepting it!

He chuckled bitterly to himself; such a monstrous talent as Zhou Heng, what offer could he possibly make to have him follow? His charisma was significant, but no matter how great, it wasn’t enough to have a Land Cleaving Realm expert follow him.

Fang Xiwen’s eyes were wide open, her mouth half-ajar, feeling her pretty face burning hot! She had actually made such an incredibly absurd offer to Zhou Heng the day before. A Land Cleaving Realm expert, that’s someone who could sit on an equal footing with the Fang Family’s Old Ancestor, someone she could only look up to in admiration.

"You’re just pretending!" Lai Xingyun snorted coldly, still keeping his left hand behind his back while extending his right hand once more, slapping towards Zhou Heng again. He had been casual with his previous slap, but now, seeing Zhou Heng possessed nearly equivalent strength, he knew he had to treat him seriously.

For a martial artist, strength is indeed most important, but strength alone doesn’t represent all combat power. Skill and experience are just as vital. Zhou Heng’s vitality was exceedingly robust, clearly very young, so even if his strength matched his, what about his skill or experience?

"Storm Dragon Meeting!" He roared, his broad hand descending once more as his vigorous qi formed both an Azure Dragon and a White Tiger, both roaring ferociously.

With the dragon comes the cloud, with the tiger comes the wind, known as the Storm Dragon Meeting!

This was Lai Xingyun’s strongest martial arts technique, and it was clear he was truly incensed, intent on a swift and decisive victory over Zhou Heng; otherwise, it would be a blow to his pride! No matter how monstrous Zhou Heng was, he was ultimately only in the First Layer Heaven of Land Cleaving, and far too young—Lai Xingyun simply could not accept the fact that the other could stand on par with him!

Zhou Heng smiled indifferently. If this old man wouldn’t accept a friendly gesture, then he’d need to be taught by fists!

Eight-Colored Lotus, appear!

Instantly, an incredibly beautiful lotus flower formed out of thin air in Zhou Heng’s hand. It spun rapidly growing in size, meeting the massive hand encircled by the dragon and tiger head-on.

Bang!

Another massive boom reverberated, leaving everyone below the Land Cleaving Realm temporarily deafened, with only the terrifying roar echoing in their ears, while the ground was undulating like a dance, wave after wave.

And a figure was sent flying by the fearsome force, trailing an arc across the sky before thudding to the ground with a loud crash.

To the incredulity of the onlookers, it was Lai Xingyun, not Zhou Heng, who had been blasted to the ground!

How could this be!

Lai Xingyun had already unleashed his powerful move, going all out, yet he was still sent flying by Zhou Heng! What was going on, was Zhou Heng even human?

"Ahh—" Lai Xingyun roared, springing up from the ground, his form darting like a shadow toward Zhou Heng, his hands whipping out terrifying gusts of wind, all transforming into ferocious tigers and furious dragons, pressing down towards Zhou Heng.

Zhou Heng couldn’t help but laugh heartily, feigning surprise, "Didn’t you say you were going to let me use one hand?"

Screw your ’letting me’!

Enraged and embarrassed, Lai Xingyun had indeed not taken Zhou Heng seriously at first, but who could have guessed that this exceedingly young man possessed such fearsome battle power? If he really ’let’ one hand go, he would not only fail to win, he would be utterly and miserably defeated!

He howled furiously without answering, pushing both hands out in a wild storm.

"You really live up to your name of Lai, might as well call you Shameless Lai," laughed Zhou Heng, his golden right fist thundering out while his left hand summoned another Eight-Colored Lotus, hurtling towards Lai Xingyun.

"Insolent brat!" Lai Xingyun wished he could tear Zhou Heng into a million pieces, as sometimes, enmity comes unexpectedly and without reason.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Their fierce battle surprised Zhou Heng; Lai Xingyun had also mastered form, making it difficult for him to gain an overwhelming advantage. However, in terms of strength, he still had the upper hand and was entirely suppressing Lai Xingyun.

(To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)