Chapter 545: Will Fellow Daoist Deem My Cultivation Worthy?
Chapter 545: Will Fellow Daoist Deem My Cultivation Worthy?
Such a teleportation secret art was undoubtedly top-notch among escape techniques.
What surprised Yuan Lang immensely was that as he appeared beside Chu Ning using the teleportation technique, Chu Ning's figure flickered and vanished as well.
The slight spatial force fluctuation left in the wake of his departure was also incredibly familiar to him.
"Teleportation technique! I've only read about it in ancient texts. There was a mention of a Mid Nascent Soul cultivator with a perfected physical body who learned this technique. I never expected to witness it today.
This young man's divine abilities are indeed far beyond those of his peers, and he does possess the strength to contend with a Late Nascent Soul cultivator."
As this thought flashed through Yuan Lang's mind, his spiritual sense immediately spread out.
At the level of a Late Nascent Soul cultivator like himself, when facing another of the same level, one would often encounter the use of teleportation techniques.
He was exceptionally adept at handling such situations. As long as Chu Ning's figure appeared, he could instantly lock on and launch an attack with his spiritual sense.
However, to Yuan Lang's astonishment, he couldn't detect Chu Ning's presence through his spiritual sense.
Instead, he sensed a powerful aura of a treasure approaching from behind.
Chu Ning had used the Void Escape to circle behind Yuan Lang and then employed the Spirit Concealment technique to block his spiritual sense scrutiny. At the same time, he summoned the Five Elements Spirit Sword to strike.
This move undoubtedly caught Yuan Lang off guard once more.
At this moment, Yuan Lang's best course of action was to use the teleportation technique to evade.
However, not knowing Chu Ning's current location, Yuan Lang couldn't launch an immediate attack. Evading now would make it seem like he was being forced back by Chu Ning once again, which was unacceptable to him, given that he had already been pushed back once.
As a Late Nascent Soul cultivator, Yuan Lang possessed the pride befitting his level.
His expression turned uncertain, and as he manipulated his technique, a golden radiance burst forth from his body, and a golden longsword flew out to meet the Five Elements Spirit Sword.
In the next moment, the golden longsword and the Five Elements Spirit Sword clashed in midair, their multicolored radiance intertwining to illuminate the entire sky.
Yet, for a time, neither could gain the upper hand.
This sight caused the onlookers to exchange glances once more.
"This Chu Daoist is truly formidable. He's already forced Brother Yuan Lang to use the Golden Scale Sword so soon."
"Moreover, it seems Brother Yuan Lang doesn't have the upper hand despite using his signature treasure. That's quite unexpected!"
As the spectators discussed the battle, Yuan Lang, who had turned around, finally caught sight of Chu Ning's figure.
Seeing Chu Ning's calm demeanor, he furrowed his brows slightly.
The next moment, he pinched a technique with his fingers, and two beams of golden light shot out from his hands, landing on the Golden Scale Sword.
The sword's radiance intensified, threatening to overwhelm the light of Chu Ning's Five Elements Spirit Sword.
Chu Ning also manipulated his technique at this moment.
However, instead of intensifying the radiance of the Five Elements Spirit Sword, it scattered into five-colored lights that dispersed in all directions.
It seemed as if the Golden Scale Sword had broken through the aura of the Five Elements Spirit Sword.
Seeing this, Yuan Lang hummed coldly in his mind and was about to drive the Golden Scale Sword to attack Chu Ning directly.
But at that moment, he suddenly felt that something was amiss.
"Sword formation?"
Chu Ning had transformed the Five Elements Spirit Sword into a Five Elements Sword Formation.
What Yuan Lang had thought was breaking through the aura of the Five Elements Spirit Sword was actually the light piercing into the sword formation.
As the five-colored sword lights shot out from the formation and landed on the Golden Scale Sword, its golden radiance began to gradually dim.
At the same time, Yuan Lang felt a powerful restraining force that weakened his connection with the Golden Scale Sword.
"This sword formation is not to be underestimated!"
It was only now that Yuan Lang was truly startled.
He understood that if he didn't quickly regain control of his signature treasure, the power of the Golden Scale Sword would continue to weaken, and it might eventually sever its connection with him, making it difficult to wield again.
"I was too careless just now. I shouldn't have let him trap the Golden Scale Sword in his sword formation."
Yuan Lang was inwardly regretful and felt that he had put himself in a difficult position.
"If this were a life-or-death battle, I would have immediately used my ancient treasure to break his sword formation.
But in this kind of spar, if I use more treasures than my opponent, it would seem like I'm admitting that I'm at a disadvantage.
It seems I can only attack him with other methods first, distracting him so that I can retrieve the Golden Scale Sword."
Yuan Lang tried his best to control the Golden Scale Sword with his powerful spiritual sense and profound cultivation, but he still couldn't free it from the Five Elements Sword Formation.
After formulating a plan, he shifted his body and once again used the teleportation technique to close the distance with Chu Ning.
This time, he didn't appear directly beside Chu Ning but maintained a certain distance. Before Chu Ning could use an escape technique to create space between them, Yuan Lang uttered an incantation and unleashed a blinding light from his eyes, as dazzling as the sun.
"Yet, their eyes were irresistibly drawn, as if there were some force pulling them towards the golden light."
"A spiritual sense attack!"
A chill ran down Chu Ning's spine as he immediately activated the True Spirit Technique, optimizing his spiritual sense and even improving it slightly beyond its previous state.
With the True Spirit Technique in motion, he only needed a glance to shift his gaze away.
As his eyes moved, the Forbidden God Technique was unleashed, creating a spiritual sense barrier in front of him.
At that moment, Yuan Lang's heart filled with disdain as he witnessed Chu Ning glance and then shift his gaze away.
His secret spiritual sense art was already in motion, and that single glance from Chu Ning was enough for his spiritual sense to lock on and launch a powerful attack.
But to his astonishment, even as Chu Ning's gaze shifted, it was too late to avoid the attack.
Yuan Lang focused his spiritual sense, gathering it into a sharp strike directed at Chu Ning.
However, the next moment, a searing pain lanced through Yuan Lang's mind.
"Spiritual sense backlash? How is this possible? He's only at the Mid Nascent Soul stage; how could his spiritual sense be so powerful?"
Yuan Lang was shocked to his core. The intensity of this spiritual sense backlash indicated that the caster's spiritual sense far surpassed his own.
Otherwise, with his own formidable spiritual sense, combined with the secret technique, even a Late Nascent Soul cultivator who let their guard down for a moment would be directly injured.
"No, he must also have a spiritual sense secret art!"
Yuan Lang quickly realized the truth. A Mid Nascent Soul cultivator, no matter how talented, could not possibly have a spiritual sense stronger than his by such a large margin.
With that, the answer became clear.
However, Yuan Lang didn't have time to think further as he was already at a disadvantage. The intense backlash pain lasted only a moment, but Yuan Lang knew that it would be more than enough for Chu Ning to launch a threatening attack.
So, as soon as Yuan Lang's mind cleared, he immediately activated a defensive treasure and used a teleportation technique to create some distance.
But, as he stabilized his position, he was surprised once more.
He saw that Chu Ning had also teleported away and was now standing at a distance, holding a yellow talisman flag but not making any aggressive moves.
At the same time, the sword formation that had trapped the Golden Scale Sword was now released, and the five spirit swords had merged back into one, floating not far away.
"Fellow Daoist Yuan Lang, your cultivation and abilities are truly astonishing. Although I managed to withstand your previous attack, I'm afraid I won't be your match if we continue.
We haven't reached the agreed-upon time limit, but we've already exchanged multiple moves. I wonder if my cultivation is worthy of your recognition?"
Upon hearing Chu Ning's words, Yuan Lang's eyes narrowed as he pieced together what had just transpired.
The Mid Nascent Soul cultivator before him had not taken advantage of his momentary weakness during the spiritual sense backlash.
Instead, he had teleported away, brandished a treasure as if to attack, and then released the sword formation.
Although Yuan Lang had also retrieved his defensive treasure and teleported away, it now appeared as if he had been forced back by Chu Ning's earlier spiritual sense attack.
Yuan Lang was well aware that only those present would be able to discern what had truly happened.
After all, spiritual sense attacks were invisible, and he hadn't shown any signs of pain on his face during the backlash.
Realizing this, Yuan Lang understood that Chu Ning had intentionally provided him with a way to save face.
Although Yuan Lang was proud and unwilling to admit defeat, he had to acknowledge that he had been caught off guard and was at a disadvantage.
While he hadn't unleashed his full array of powerful techniques, it was clear that Chu Ning had also held back, as evidenced by the talisman flag he held.
If they continued fighting, even if he won, there would be little glory in his victory.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Yuan Lang stared deeply at Chu Ning.
He then recalled his Golden Scale Sword and put away the defensive treasure he had just used.
"Fellow Daoist Chu, your cultivation and abilities have indeed impressed me. As you suggested, let us end this spar here.
I will make sure to find and deliver the Refining Origin Stone to you."
Yuan Lang chose to be gracious in defeat, and Chu Ning offered a faint smile before putting away his treasures as well.
He hadn't come here to fight a life-or-death battle with this powerful cultivator.
Since Yuan Lang was willing to concede the Refining Origin Stone, there was no need to continue the fight.
With the stone, he was one step closer to forging the Primordial Turtle Shield.
Moreover, Yuan Lang's words indicated that he had understood Chu Ning's intentions during their exchange.
From his tone, it was clear that Chu Ning's performance had earned his respect, and he no longer viewed him as a trivial opponent.
(End of Chapter)
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