Chapter 99

Beitang Wan'er's master is a cultivator at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm in the Lichen Sect. Zhuang Wudao had learned this from Beitang Wan'er several months ago.

In the Tianyi nations, the highest cultivation level is merely the Primordial Spirit realm. Among the top ten sects and the smaller sects and wandering cultivators, there are only about two hundred people in total.

And those at the Golden Core realm number only about four thousand. Although it seems like a large number, when distributed across the eighteen thousand miles of the Tianyi nations, it is insignificant, and it is rare to encounter one.

Cultivators at the Primordial Spirit realm rarely take action, so those at the Golden Core realm are the backbone of the major sects. Once a cultivator reaches this level, they can dominate a region, become a king or patriarch, and establish a nation or sect. Many royal families in the southeastern nations are descendants of Golden Core realm cultivators.

Beitang Wan'er's master is named Chilingzi. Even within the Lichen Sect, which is full of strong cultivators, he is renowned for his formidable combat strength. He once fought two late-stage third-rank demonic beasts and defeated them both, a feat that shook the southeastern nations.

Facing such a person, even Zhuang Wudao felt a bit nervous. Yun'er also fell silent, seemingly afraid to reveal her presence before a Golden Core cultivator.

The place for the duel was chosen by Beitang Wan'er to be a training ground in the eastern garden of the Beitang family. It is over a hundred zhang wide from north to south, extremely spacious, and is where the Beitang family's descendants practice martial arts daily.

However, when Zhuang Wudao and Beitang Wan'er arrived, they found the place unusually quiet. There were no Beitang family descendants or even servants around; they had all been cleared out.

In the training ground, there were only three people. A young man with red hair and a red robe sat high up. On either side were Beitang Cangjue and Beitang Cangkong.

Chilingzi had a lazy demeanor, and apart from his tall and slender figure, there was nothing unusual about him. However, Beitang Cangjue and Beitang Cangkong were both extremely respectful, as if they dared not even breathe loudly.

After Beitang Wan'er and Zhuang Wudao paid their respects, Chilingzi stared at Zhuang Wudao, examining him from head to toe.

"You are Zhuang Wudao? The top disciple of Yuecheng this year? Interesting. You are at the fifth level of the Qi Condensation realm. Even the top three in my Lichen Sect are at this level. Unfortunately, your spirit root is a bit lacking. Only a fifth-grade spirit root, even the gatekeepers on Lichen Mountain are better than you!"

At this point, Chilingzi smiled. "However, there are many in the world who, despite having weak spirit roots, have achieved great success. One of the top ten wandering cultivators, Yuandaozi, also had a fifth-grade spirit root in the past, but now he is a great cultivator at the peak of the Primordial Spirit realm. Yun'er said that apart from your spirit root, you can be compared to her in every other aspect, and she went to great lengths to invite me to see you. So don't disappoint me."

Zhuang Wudao lowered his head and bowed deeply, pretending not to notice the disdain in Beitang Cangjue and Beitang Cangkong's eyes.

Although they had treated him with great importance, they only saw him as a tool to suppress the Gu Yue family. They did not believe that Zhuang Wudao would one day achieve the same level as Yuandaozi.

Even if his comprehension was a bit stronger, with his fifth-grade spirit root, without special opportunities, he could only cultivate to the Foundation Establishment realm and would turn to dust at the age of two hundred.

Even when Chilingzi said this, he probably did not truly believe it.

The two stood sixty zhang apart in the training ground. Beitang Wan'er's small face was tense, and her eyes burned with a fierce red flame.

"Wudao, your cultivation level is a bit higher than mine. For a fair duel, you need to suppress half of your true essence first!"

Zhuang Wudao was indifferent, but he was surprised that Beitang Wan'er would show weakness. Just as he was about to respond, Beitang Wan'er's figure suddenly darted forward like a ghost, moving with incredible agility and appearing in front of him in an instant.

"Armor-Piercing Sharp Spear!"

The fierce finger force had not even reached him when it had already broken through the protective aura around Zhuang Wudao.

Zhuang Wudao's pupils constricted, and without hesitation, he stomped the ground with great force. The shockwave made the surrounding mud and stones fly, and Beitang Wan'er's lower body wobbled.

In that instant, Zhuang Wudao's figure successfully retreated three zhang away. Beitang Wan'er, however, followed closely, like a shadow.

A thousand finger shadows, each sharp and piercing, made it impossible to discern the true source of the force. Just as Zhuang Wudao was becoming confused, the thousand finger shadows suddenly dissipated, and a jade foot, carrying a fierce aura, was already in front of his face.

"Is it the 'Immortal Shadow Floating Light'?"

Zhuang Wudao's heart raced, and at the last moment, he dodged to the side. "Immortal Shadow Floating Light" is one of the thirty-six supreme techniques of the Lichen Sect, surpassing the "Armor-Piercing Sharp Spear." It is both a superior movement technique and a powerful leg technique. The "Immortal Shadow Floating Light" has seventy-three moon blades, known for its ferocity. At the Golden Core realm, it can also be used as an advanced escape technique.

No wonder Beitang Wan'er, who had such excellent lower body skills, had never used them before. "Immortal Shadow Floating Light" is a secret technique of the Lichen Sect, and only disciples of a certain status are eligible to practice it.

Beitang Wan'er's early practice of this technique was a violation of the sect's rules, so she never used it in front of outsiders.

Now that Beitang Wan'er is officially a disciple of the Lichen Sect, she can use this leg technique without any qualms.

In other words, during the battle on the ferry, Beitang Wan'er had only used about fifty percent of her strength!

Beitang Wan'er giggled, "It is indeed the 'Immortal Shadow Floating Light' of the Lichen Sect. Brother Wudao actually recognizes it? I haven't mastered it yet, please guide me, Brother."

However, she did not let up, and the leg wind swept by, the aura cutting like a blade, the arc like a knife, and the kicks came in rapid succession. The "Seventy-Three Moon Blades" of the "Immortal Shadow Floating Light" are the most famous killing moves, capable of continuous and powerful strikes.

Zhuang Wudao, having lost the initiative, was forced into a difficult position. If it were three months ago, he would have already conceded defeat.

However, after three months of guidance from the sword spirit Yun'er in the dream, he was no longer the same.

He retreated step by step, avoiding the sharp edge, gradually stabilizing his stance, and using the Dragon Seizing technique to continuously interfere.

Beitang Wan'er's "Seventy-Three Moon Blades" indeed broke off at the twenty-fourth kick, unable to continue. She had to stop halfway and attack again with the sword finger.

Without using leg techniques, Beitang Wan'er's movement became even faster, with countless changes and unpredictable movements. The finger force contained a spiral force, which even Zhuang Wudao's powerful Great Boulder Hand could not resist, forcing him to retreat step by step.

Zhuang Wudao's heart sank again. Beitang Wan'er was both an external and internal cultivator. The "Armor-Piercing Sharp Spear" is known for its "armor-piercing" and "sharpness," but it does not have a spiral force. This strange and difficult force must come from her internal cultivation technique, but he did not know what kind of internal technique it was.

At this moment, Beitang Cangkong and Beitang Cangjue both had a smile on their faces. Even Gu Yue Ming, who was at the fourth level of the Qi Condensation realm, had not forced Zhuang Wudao into such a difficult position.

Beitang Wan'er, who was two levels lower than Gu Yue Ming, could easily do so.

Chilingzi's expression also became more serious, and his eyes never left Zhuang Wudao's stable lower body. He seemed to be thinking, and he paid little attention to the Dragon Seizing technique and the Great Boulder Hand that Zhuang Wudao used.

Zhuang Wudao was forced to the corner, almost backed against the wall, with no way to retreat, seemingly in a desperate situation.

Just as Beitang Cangjue's expression became serious and Beitang Cangkong's face showed a smile, Zhuang Wudao suddenly moved, stepping on the plum blossom stakes of the Six Harmonies Form Intention Boxing, and advanced forward. He easily avoided Beitang Wan'er's finger shadows and closed the distance to within three feet of the girl.

With a light palm, he used the Great Boulder Hand, striking forward with the force of a mountain. Beitang Wan'er's eyes finally showed a look of helplessness, and she reluctantly retreated.

However, Zhuang Wudao, despite his heavy steps, could continue to stick to her, accurately hitting her every time. Each step he took seemed to see through her intentions. The palm contained a capturing force, making it impossible for Beitang Wan'er's "Immortal Shadow Floating Light" to be effective.

He continuously used the Great Boulder Hand, forty-seven times in a row, not only reclaiming lost ground but also forcing Beitang Wan'er into a position where she could not avoid.

"Pseudo-Invincible, Thousand Cuts!"

A thousand finger shadows, carrying countless wind blades, instantly swept across a hundred zhang of space. Beitang Wan'er's expression was serious and regretful.

This pseudo-mystical technique was used out of necessity. Zhuang Wudao was sticking to her, almost predicting her every move. If he could not force her back and regroup, he would surely lose within three more strikes.

Zhuang Wudao, however, smiled and did not let Beitang Wan'er have her way.

Dragon Seizing, Tiger Shaking!

The capturing force exploded, forcibly dragging Beitang Wan'er into the fierce storm caused by the Thousand Cuts. The twelve Tiger Shaking strikes dispersed the most threatening finger shadows and wind blades.

He still struck with a palm, unhurriedly, towards Beitang Wan'er's chest. Beitang Wan'er, noticing the smile in Zhuang Wudao's eyes, was extremely angry.

"Don't be so smug, Shadow Floating Waterweed!"

Her delicate foot kicked from an impossible angle, seemingly a weak move but carrying a hint of death.

Zhuang Wudao, without hesitation, changed his fist technique, and his right palm swelled nearly double.

Pseudo-Invincible, Great Rock Splitting!

With a loud explosion, mud and dust flew in a hundred zhang of space. A deep pit, about ten feet wide, appeared between them due to the shockwave.

Beitang Wan'er finally broke free from Zhuang Wudao's pressure, retreating twenty zhang away and standing steadily. She was not injured, but her right pant leg was torn, revealing her porcelain-like, slender leg.

Beitang