https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-543-I-Hope-I-Didn-t-Disturb-Anyone/12628361/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-545-Will-Fellow-Daoist-Deem-My-Cultivation-Worthy-/12628366/
Chapter 544: Are You Challenging Me?
Chapter 544: Are You Challenging Me?
Chu Ning naturally noticed the expressions on their faces, but he didn't show much emotion at the moment.
The formation of Yuanlang Mountain was not renowned for its defensive capabilities but mainly for its ability to trap enemies. Indeed, it had its unique strengths.
However, Chu Ning, with his innate talent for formations and knowledge of various sect formation legacies, had an even deeper understanding of the formations of Tianmu Continent due to the formation legacy he had obtained from Di Yan.
Although it took him some time to enter the formation, it was impossible for it to trap him.
Yuanlang Shangren was, after all, a late-stage Yuan Ying cultivator. Seeing Chu Ning's calm demeanor, his eyes flickered slightly before he resumed his seat.
"To be able to escape from the formation of Yuanlang Mountain within the time it takes an incense stick to burn, despite only being at the mid-Yuan Ying stage, shows that you have quite a profound understanding of formations. I seem to have underestimated you, Chu Ning. Come, let's talk."
Hearing Yuanlang Shangren's words, Chu Ning smiled faintly.
In the cultivation world, strength was revered, especially for a reclusive cultivator like Yuanlang, who, despite his aloofness, would definitely give him due respect if he displayed strength worthy of his attention.
And it seemed that he had achieved the first step.
Chu Ning looked up, flew up, and with a few flashes, landed on the stone pavilion.
He intentionally displayed the Thunder Escape Technique, which he had inherited from Tianle Shangren.
The speed of his escape technique caused the cultivators in the pavilion, including Yuanlang Shangren, to flicker their eyes slightly in surprise.
After Chu Ning sat down in the stone pavilion, Yuanlang Shangren looked up at his young face and asked, "You mentioned in the jade slip that you wanted to make a deal with me?"
Chu Ning nodded and said straightforwardly, "I heard that Fellow Daoist Yuanlang possesses a Returning Origin Stone, and I would like to purchase it from you."
"Returning Origin Stone?" Yuanlang Shangren seemed to ponder for a moment before continuing, "I vaguely remember obtaining one in the past, but I can't recall if I still have it or where I put it. If that's all you came for, then please leave."
Hearing this, Chu Ning knew that he was making excuses.
This late-stage Yuan Ying cultivator was probably still furious about his reckless arrival, but with so many people present and Chu Ning having exited his formation, he didn't want to make a move directly.
If they were alone, he probably would have attacked already.
However, Chu Ning was determined to obtain the Returning Origin Stone and naturally wouldn't leave just yet.
"Fellow Daoist Yuanlang, this item is of great importance to me. I wonder if you could take the trouble to search for it?"
"Search for it?" Yuanlang Shangren snorted. "You're not worthy."
Chu Ning remained unfazed and smiled, "Is that so? I've heard of Fellow Daoist Yuanlang's remarkable abilities, so it seems I have no choice but to seek instruction from you."
"Are you challenging me?" Yuanlang Shangren's face showed a trace of astonishment at these words.
As for the other Yuan Ying cultivators, they all wore expressions as if they had just seen a ghost.
Even though Chu Ning had just broken through their formation, his proficiency in formations was indeed surprising to everyone present.
However, this only proved his talent in formations, which was entirely different from cultivation realm.
If a cultivator was obsessed with the path of formations, it was possible for their proficiency to surpass that of higher-stage cultivators.
But the gap between mid and late Yuan Ying stages was something they, as mid-stage Yuan Ying cultivators, understood very well.
This gap was almost insurmountable.
Chu Ning naturally noticed the expressions on their faces.
Facing Yuanlang Shangren's astonished and slightly contemptuous gaze, Chu Ning remained solemn.
"Fellow Daoist Yuanlang, your reputation precedes you, and I would not wish to engage you if it weren't necessary. However, I came specifically for the Returning Origin Stone, and I am loath to leave empty-handed."
"Very well, a mid-Yuan Ying cultivator dares to challenge me? Then let me witness your abilities." Yuanlang Shangren said coldly. "If you can hold out for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, I'll give you the Returning Origin Stone."
Hearing this, Chu Ning's eyes shone brightly.
Without further ado, he scanned his surroundings.
"Fellow Daoist Yuanlang, let's move outside the mountain for more space to maneuver?"
Yuanlang Shangren didn't say much but took out a restriction jade plaque and flew out of the formation.
Obviously, he was holding the control artifact for the formation, so when the others followed, they encountered no obstacles.
The six of them flew out, and after they were twenty miles away from Yuanlang Mountain, Yuanlang Shangren stopped and turned to Chu Ning.
"Here will do!"
"Good!"
Chu Ning stopped ten zhang away from Yuanlang Shangren, responded, and then his spiritual power surged as he activated the Five Elements Chaos Technique, immediately activating his protective spiritual light.
Even though he had faced multiple late-stage Yuan Ying cultivators before, this was not a life-or-death battle, so he didn't dare to be careless. Artifacts like the Magic Shadow Spear and the Chaos Fire Lotus were not suitable for this situation.
When Chu Ning activated his protective spiritual light, whether it was Yuanlang Shangren ten zhang away or the old Daoist and the plump elder a hundred zhang away, they all showed surprise.
"This seems like a Five Elements cultivation technique, but he just used a Thunder Escape Technique earlier. It's quite rare to see someone cultivating both."
Just as everyone was surprised by Chu Ning's display, he spoke up, "Fellow Daoist Yuanlang, please forgive me for any offense."
As he spoke, Chu Ning waved his hands continuously.
Suddenly, his left hand flickered with scarlet light, and flames erupted from it, forming a blazing inferno that attacked Yuanlang Shangren.
Silver arcs danced in his right hand, summoning thunderclouds above Yuanlang Shangren's head, from which lightning bolts struck down!
Chu Ning's first move was a combination of secret techniques inherited from the two masters of the Thunderfire Sect: Blazing Inferno and Thunderous Desolation.
Moreover, both techniques were large-scale spells.
At that moment, they covered a radius of several dozen zhang, and even though Yuanlang Shangren was a late-stage Yuan Ying cultivator capable of instant movement, he couldn't escape the attack's range.
This unexpected turn of events caused Yuanlang Shangren's expression to turn serious.
"Although he's only at the mid-Yuan Ying stage, the power of his spells is quite remarkable. No wonder he dared to challenge me."
With that thought, Yuanlang Shangren's body glowed with golden light, and a layer of golden radiance extended outward, forming a massive golden globe that confronted the raging flames and thunderous lightning.
Since he couldn't escape with his movement technique, Yuanlang Shangren chose to stand his ground and meet the attack head-on.
This late-stage Yuan Ying cultivator cultivated metallic-attribute techniques and spells.
"This Chu Ning's spells are indeed powerful," the plump elder commented. "However, large-scale spells like these are more effective for trapping opponents. But inevitably, their power is dispersed, and against a late-stage Yuan Ying cultivator like Yuanlang, they may not be effective."
A hundred zhang away, the old Daoist who was observing the battle cast a barrier to block the sounds of the fight and then spoke.
Hearing this, the white-haired elder nodded slightly.
"That's true, but the fact that Chu Ning dared to make a move suggests that he has more tricks up his sleeve."
As he finished speaking, they saw Chu Ning's hands move in intricate gestures, and he pointed forward.
The next moment, the silver arcs in the sky converged into a silver thunderball that plummeted downward.
Yuanlang Shangren's golden protective globe was instantly pierced by the thunderball.
Undeterred, the silver thunderball continued its descent, aiming for Yuanlang Shangren's head.
Yuanlang Shangren's expression turned grim as he prepared to face the attack.
Without hesitation, he threw a punch, and a massive golden fist appeared above him, colliding with the thunderball.
The golden and silver lights exploded in the air, illuminating the entire sky with their radiance.
However, Chu Ning paid no attention to the thunderball.
When Yuanlang Shangren threw his punch, Chu Ning sensed the power of his technique and knew that the spell wouldn't inflict any damage.
Taking advantage of the moment when the golden light shield was pierced by the silver thunderball, Chu Ning performed a series of intricate hand seals.
Wind-Fire Conflagration!
This top-tier wind-attribute spell, which could enhance fire-attribute techniques, caused the raging flames to transform into a blazing inferno.
The next moment, the inferno condensed into two crimson sword beams that shot towards Yuanlang Shangren.
At this critical juncture, Chu Ning unleashed the Celestial Fire Sword Technique.
Yuanlang Shangren, who had just countered the silver thunderball, threw two more punches, aiming at the sword beams.
However, Chu Ning's current attack incorporated not only the Celestial Fire Sword Technique and Wind-Fire Conflagration but also the power of the Earth Vein Spirit Fire, making it even more potent than Thunderous Desolation.
Although Yuanlang Shangren's punches diminished the power of the sword beams significantly, he couldn't completely destroy them.
The two sword beams merged into one and continued their relentless assault on Yuanlang Shangren.
"Hmph!"
Seeing that his attack failed to overcome Chu Ning's, Yuanlang Shangren's face darkened with displeasure.
He threw another punch, and a more powerful golden fist emerged.
"Hmm?"
But at that moment, Yuanlang Shangren sensed something amiss.
A figure had suddenly appeared in front of him, and it was none other than Chu Ning.
Chu Ning's fists lashed out, and although Yuanlang Shangren didn't sense a significant surge of spiritual power from them, he instinctively activated his protective spiritual light.
A formidable force penetrated his defense and impacted his body.
"A body cultivator?"
Yuanlang Shangren finally realized what was happening and quickly channeled his spiritual power to expel the invading force.
His body moved reflexively, and he closed the distance between them, a typical reaction of a high-level spiritual cultivator when facing a body cultivator.
This exchange didn't escape the eyes of the old Daoist and the plump elder who were observing from a hundred zhang away.
The Yuan Ying cultivators present couldn't hide their astonishment.
"This Chu Ning's attacks are so varied that he's able to force Yuanlang to retreat?" The old Daoist commented, and the others remained silent, still shocked by the turn of events.
Yuanlang Shangren's face twisted with annoyance.
In front of so many people, he, a late-stage Yuan Ying cultivator, was unable to gain the upper hand against Chu Ning, who was only at the mid-Yuan Ying stage. It was a blow to his pride.
His aura surged, and he vanished, using his instant movement technique to close the distance with Chu Ning.
(End of Chapter)
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