Chapter 10: Chapter 10
"Gu Xuan!"
As Gu Xuan stepped onto the stage, Zhao Feng's voice boomed with a mix of arrogance and disdain. "My young master is here. He has already entered the inner door, and now he seeks revenge on you. Let's see how you die this time!"
Joy radiated from his words, but Gu Xuan chose to ignore him. Instead, he focused his gaze on Zhao Feng, reading the details that appeared in his mind.
[Name]: Zhao Feng
[Realm]: Seventh Layer of True Spirit Realm
[Fate]: Unremarkable (white)
[Fate]: None
[Life Script]: (Supporting role in "Mortal Cultivation Biography")
...
Zhao Feng's realm was impressive, reaching the seventh level of the True Spirit Realm. However, based on his fate and life script, he was merely an ordinary martial artist.
Even though his realm was higher than Gu Xuan's, his actual ability seemed mediocre. The foundation he built upon entering the True Spirit Realm must also be quite ordinary.
In contrast, Gu Xuan, though only at the fifth level of the True Spirit Realm, had established a top-notch Dao foundation. Coupled with the Pure Yang Sword Art, which he had advanced to the second level, defeating Zhao Feng would be well within his capabilities.
Feeling reassured, Gu Xuan remained calm.
"You are Gu Xuan?" Zhao Feng questioned, scrutinizing him. "You look decent, a dignified appearance! But it's a pity... you've provoked someone you shouldn't have!"
"I'm an inner disciple. After being a student for more than ten years, you should understand the gap between us!"
"As long as you abandon your cultivation and kneel down to beg for mercy, I might let you live!"
His expression was filled with pride.
"If you want to fight, then let's fight! Why waste time with idle chatter?" Gu Xuan replied coolly.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Feng's expression darkened.
He had initially thought to show mercy, but Gu Xuan's ignorance infuriated him.
"You refuse to listen to reason! If that's the case, then we shall meet on the life and death stage!"
The life and death stage was a designated arena within the Holy Land for resolving disputes among disciples.
In the early days of the Holy Land, strict rules prohibited private duels, so any grievances were settled on this stage. Regardless of the outcome, the conflict would be resolved, and the victor could claim the loser's wealth.
As soon as Zhao Feng mentioned the life and death stage, Gu Xuan nodded in agreement. "That's exactly what I had in mind!"
He was determined to eliminate Zhao Feng completely to prevent any future troubles. The fact that Zhao Feng proposed the life and death stage suited his intentions perfectly.
The two made their way to the life and death stage.
By the time they arrived, a match was already taking place. After signing up, they waited for their turn.
Soon, the previous battle concluded, and it was Gu Xuan and Zhao Feng's turn to face off.
The life and death stage was often filled with spectators, and while many disciples fought here daily, the arrival of Gu Xuan and Zhao Feng did not create a significant stir—just a few curious onlookers.
"Once the battle begins, it can only be stopped when one side is dead or victorious!" a referee proclaimed.
"No matter the outcome, the winner claims all the loser's wealth and clears any grievances. Do you understand the rules?" he asked.
Both nodded in affirmation.
"If that's settled... let's begin!" the referee declared.
With that, a bell rang, signaling the official start of the death battle.
On the stage, Zhao Feng brandished his sword, a smirk on his face. "You can still beg for mercy now. Just abandon your cultivation, and I might spare your life. If not..."
"You talk too much!" Gu Xuan interjected, his voice low and firm. "Hurry up and make your move!"
Zhao Feng's fury ignited at Gu Xuan's defiance.
"Stubborn fool! No wonder you're walking to your own death!" he snapped.
With that, he lunged forward, his figure flashing as his palms transformed into claws, aiming directly at Gu Xuan.
At the seventh level of the True Spirit Realm, Zhao Feng's strength was formidable. He believed that, despite Gu Xuan's own cultivation, he was merely a stepping stone for his own triumph.
Just as Zhao Feng was about to seize Gu Xuan, a sudden clang echoed through the air.
The sound of a sword being drawn from its sheath sliced through the air, and in an instant, a cold light surged forward, infused with a sharp edge, aimed directly at Zhao Feng.
The speed was so blindingly fast that Zhao Feng felt a chill run down his spine.
Without a moment to think, he dodged hurriedly, but ultimately, he couldn't escape entirely. The blade nicked his arm, and blood sprayed forth.
"Courting death!" Zhao Feng's expression darkened as he felt the sting of pain.
The previous strike had been as swift as lightning. If he hadn't reacted quickly, that sword could have easily taken his head.
The humiliation of being injured by someone who had just entered the True Spirit Realm—especially a mere fifth-level warrior—filled him with shock and fury.
Despite the injury to his left arm, which slightly diminished his strength, he was still a true spirit warrior. Fueled by anger, his vitality surged like a volcanic eruption, enveloping him in a majestic force as he lunged toward Gu Xuan.
"Pity!" Gu Xuan thought to himself.
He had hoped to catch his opponent off guard and finish him with that strike. Yet, the seventh-level true spirit warrior was no pushover; his instinct had allowed him to evade a fatal blow.
But that was all it was—an evasion.
Though Zhao Feng was at the seventh level, Gu Xuan quickly discerned that his Dao foundation was lacking. After a brief exchange, he recognized that Zhao Feng's true strength was not on par with his own.
With that realization, Gu Xuan did not hold back. He fully channeled his vitality and unleashed the Pure Yang Sword Art.
The sword danced like a dragon, exuding a terrifying edge as it swept through the air.
Clang!
When their weapons clashed, Zhao Feng staggered back, while Gu Xuan remained firmly planted in place.
"This is impossible!" Zhao Feng exclaimed, disbelief etched on his face. "How could you break my Claw technique?"
Gu Xuan ignored his astonishment and continued to unleash the Pure Yang Sword Art with increasing ferocity, the cold light erupting in a torrent of strikes, like a river flowing backward.
Faced with such relentless offense, Zhao Feng found himself unable to mount any effective defense and could only try to parry.
Finally, after a dozen exchanges, Gu Xuan seized an opening and thrust his sword into Zhao Feng's body, causing him to stumble. In a swift motion, the sword light flashed and landed at Zhao Feng's neck.
Pfft!
With a dull thud, Zhao Feng's head flew off, blood spraying like a fountain.
His body crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
"Call..."
After beheading Zhao Feng, Gu Xuan let out a sigh of relief.
This was his first encounter in combat with a true spirit realm warrior, and he had expected it to be a challenging fight. However, the ease with which he had dispatched Zhao Feng surprised him.
Upon reflection, it made sense.
Innate pure yang bone!
The Dao foundation not only dictated a warrior's future growth potential but also determined their current strength.
A warrior with a superior Dao foundation would always have the upper hand over one with an ordinary foundation, even at the same realm.
The quality of their vitality and the very details of their physical bodies would differ significantly.
Gu Xuan's cultivation of the top Dao foundation through the innate pure yang bone made his vitality more refined than that of ordinary warriors. Given the small gap between his realm and Zhao Feng's, it was no wonder he had been able to defeat him so easily.
"In this way, an ordinary seventh-level true spirit realm warrior is powerless against me!"
"And even against eighth-level or ninth-level true spirit warriors, I can hold my own!"
"But this only applies to average warriors. If I encounter seasoned true spirit realm warriors or geniuses, I may find myself at a disadvantage!"
Gu Xuan mused to himself.
"The death battle is concluded, and Gu Xuan wins!" the referee announced, breaking him from his thoughts.
As the words rang out, Gu Xuan's eyes glimmered with anticipation.
In a life-and-death battle, the victor claimed all the wealth of the defeated.
With Zhao Feng now dead, Gu Xuan knew that he would soon acquire all of Zhao Feng's savings.
"It's time to reap the rewards!" he thought, eager to claim what was rightfully his.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone