Chapter 98: Battle with the Peak of the First Innate Realm

“There’s no turning back once the work has begun! Now that I've made my move, there’s nothing left to negotiate. As long as he dies in the Evil Wind Cave, no matter what powerful force cultivated him, they won’t be able to trace it back to me.” Jia Cheng made up his mind, his thoughts shifting rapidly.

The strength Lu Han had just displayed was by no means something from a minor clan. How could any small family produce a talent at the ninth level of the Postnatal realm who could contend with the Prenatal stage and not fall behind?

But Jia Cheng was no fool. Even if he were to withdraw now, he doubted the people behind Lu Han would let him off easily. It was just as Lu Han had said: only one of them could leave this Evil Wind Cave alive.

“I refuse to believe that, having one foot already in the second level of the Prenatal stage, I’d lose to a brat who just broke through to the ninth level of the Postnatal realm!”

A thunderous roar erupted as Jia Cheng unleashed all his Prenatal energy without reservation, the mighty force stirring up dust from the ground.

Lu Han’s eyes narrowed; he could see intense murderous intent in Jia Cheng’s gaze.

“Finally, I’ve broken through to the ninth level of the Postnatal realm and was just looking for a Prenatal opponent to test my skills!” Lu Han declared.

Back when he was at the eighth level of the Postnatal realm, his mastery of “Celestial Garment” had already allowed him to contend with ordinary practitioners at the first level of the Prenatal stage. Now, though his breakthrough was recent, he was several times stronger than before. Such was the benefit brought by “Celestial Garment,” no wonder Old Man Ling had praised the technique so highly.

“Bold words!” Jia Cheng’s eyes reddened, as if they might burst into flames. Lu Han’s claim that he was merely using Jia Cheng for practice filled him with rage.

Brandishing his Golden Light Mace, Jia Cheng charged at Lu Han, swinging it toward his forehead with murderous intent.

Lu Han shouted fiercely and struck back.

He released “Celestial Frost Chill” without reservation, a layer of frosty energy enveloping his Biluo Sword.

Clang!

Their weapons collided with a piercing sound.

Hiss!

Both were forced back several steps by the recoil of their clash.

Lu Han stomped forward, charging again, giving Jia Cheng no chance to catch his breath.

Jia Cheng’s gaze sharpened.

“This kid’s physical strength is greater than mine! He wasn’t using his full power earlier!”

At first, Lu Han had only used seventy percent of his strength, probing Jia Cheng lightly. Now he unleashed his full force. Having absorbed the power of a complete Scarlet Flame Lingzhi, his physical strength was leagues beyond ordinary ninth-level Postnatal practitioners—surpassing even Jia Cheng.

Such was the advantage bestowed by the high-level martial art “Celestial Garment.”

“Hmph.” Lu Han’s lips curled into a slight smile.

Now he was confident that he could face any typical second-level Prenatal opponent without fear.

He activated “Celestial Garment,” a faint energy veil cloaking his upper body.

“Now, let me show you true despair!” Lu Han roared.

Once more, they clashed.

Bang bang bang!

In the blink of an eye, they exchanged over a dozen blows. The aura was overwhelming; every strike was nearly fatal, each move intended to kill.

Jia Cheng felt stifled; from start to finish, he had been suppressed by Lu Han. Though it seemed they were evenly matched, his right hand gripping the Golden Light Mace was already growing numb.

Lu Han’s uncanny strength, combined with the Biluo Sword in his hand, sent a chilling cold through Jia Cheng’s hand each time their weapons collided.

Even Old Man Ling was unsure of the Biluo Sword’s origin, but the frosty aura emanating from the blade spoke to its extraordinary nature.

“This won’t do. I must finish him quickly. I have no advantage in strength, and who knows when other adventurers might arrive. I need to end this fast,” Jia Cheng thought to himself.

If the fight dragged on, their internal power would be depleted, and should someone suddenly appear, both would be easy prey for a third party.

With that in mind, Jia Cheng split Lu Han’s Biluo Sword aside with his mace and instantly retreated more than ten meters.

He spun the Golden Light Mace and flung it into the ground. At the same time, his Prenatal energy surged, golden light blossomed in his hand, and he swiftly formed hand seals.

Lu Han watched Jia Cheng calmly. “So, you’re finally going to use your martial arts?”

With Lu Han’s current mastery of the Star-Shattering Palm, he could complete the seal almost instantly.

Soon, his entire palm was enveloped in white Celestial Frost energy.

Jia Cheng’s lips twisted in mockery as he watched Lu Han’s movements.

Though he might not have the advantage in strength, he was still at the Prenatal stage. The same martial technique, when executed at Prenatal versus Postnatal realms, was worlds apart—the difference immeasurable.

“Advanced Yellow-grade Martial Technique: Thousand Rock Shatter!”

Jia Cheng finished his seals, murmured under his breath, and charged at Lu Han, palm aimed to strike.

A giant golden palm, several meters across, flew toward Lu Han.

Lu Han faced the incoming golden palm head-on.

“Celestial Frost—Star-Shattering Palm!”

The fusion of Celestial Frost energy with the intermediate Yellow-grade martial technique was approaching the strength of a beginner Profound-grade technique.

Lu Han’s palm struck the golden giant palm.

Boom!

The collision produced a thunderous shock.

Lu Han was forced back several steps!

Jia Cheng’s expression changed, then turned to delight.

“Profound-grade martial technique! Ha, I must learn that Profound-grade technique!” Jia Cheng exclaimed in joy.

With Lu Han only at the Postnatal realm, only a Profound-grade technique could withstand his advanced Yellow-grade “Thousand Rock Shatter.”

“I knew this kid had a powerful background. How else could he use a Profound-grade martial technique right away? If I obtain that technique and the method to capture the Soul-Stealing Mink, being hunted by his sect would be worth it,” Jia Cheng thought feverishly.

Across the entire Ancient Lin Basin, scattered cultivators like them usually only possessed advanced Yellow-grade techniques. The lucky ones, or those from small clans who inherited certain legacies, might have beginner Profound-grade martial arts or techniques. Intermediate Profound-grade arts were reserved for the great clans and those with established territory.

Jia Cheng was like most, only proficient in two advanced Yellow-grade techniques.

This was another reason many came to the Chaos Soul Plains: the legacy of the ten greatest experts of the Grand Xia Empire, whose weakest arts were intermediate Profound-grade, and some perhaps even advanced Profound-grade.

“This kid has fought me for so long, unleashed a Profound-grade martial technique, and yet he’s neither flushed nor out of breath. That means his internal power hasn’t been greatly depleted—he must be practicing a Profound-grade cultivation method. If only I could obtain it… Ha, the heavens are finally smiling on Jia Cheng!” His heart burned with ambition.

If he could acquire Lu Han’s Profound-grade cultivation method and martial arts, he could not only advance to the second level of the Prenatal stage, but his power would soar. Apart from those in great sects and clans, who else in Chaos Soul Plains could threaten him? He would become the next Scorpion Demon Leng Zhuang!

Lu Han observed Jia Cheng’s shifting emotions and guessed his intentions.

Jia Cheng likely no longer cared merely about the method to capture the Soul-Stealing Mink.

“You’ll need your life to claim it!” Lu Han sneered inwardly.

Though he’d just been bested in that clash, Lu Han was hardly intimidated—his only disadvantage lay in their difference in realms.

“Haha, brat, I’ve taken a liking to your cultivation methods and martial arts!” Jia Cheng laughed boisterously.

“Come and get them if you dare!” Lu Han retorted coldly.

…

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