NOVEL NEXT Chapter 233: Competition_1
About the Sun Flame Stone, Gu Chen naturally inquired within the internal records of the Jing Tian Department and knew its specific appearance.
And at this moment, this wonder that Gu Chen had been yearning for finally appeared before him.
Gu Chen couldn't help but be excited, because it related to whether he could cultivate a unique type of Gang Qi!
At the same time, Gu Chen also saw Zhuo Siyuan and others, at this moment, Zhuo Siyuan and his group were also staring at Gu Chen.
This was their first encounter with each other.
Zhuo Siyuan smiled slightly, with bursts of light radiating from around him, and said, "Is this the widely known Lord Gu Chen?"
Wu Changyun also spoke, "Brother Gu, we meet again."
Ning Tian glanced indifferently at Gu Chen and did not acknowledge him.
Qiu Zhen, his eyes cold, assessed Gu Chen up and down like a venomous snake.
Tang Xiao stood in the back, his face complex as he looked at Gu Chen, during the gathering at Yao Platform he could still be considered as Gu Chen's opponent, but now, Gu Chen had left him far behind.
After being defeated by Gu Chen, Tang Xiao returned to the Da Guangming Sect in Yan State and, after a period of seclusion, successfully broke through to the Gang Qi Stage; he now possessed the cultivation of the mid-Gang Qi Stage.
This rate of progress was undoubtedly fast, and Tang Xiao was worthy of the name of genius.
But Gu Chen was even more terrifying; back then, Gu Chen's cultivation was not as good as his, but now, he had been left far, far behind.
This feeling, Yu Qiushi of the Canghai Sect had also experienced, and truly, it was not at all pleasant.
"It seems, Brother Gu is also very interested in the Sun Flame Stone?" Zhuo Siyuan instantly saw through Gu Chen's desire for the Sun Flame Stone.
"This item is mine," Gu Chen said indifferently.
The importance of the Sun Flame Stone for him went without saying; Gu Chen could not possibly cede the Sun Flame Stone to others, and hence, as the words fell, he strode forward.
"Arrogant!"
Qiu Zhen sneered coldly. Ning Tian of the Xuantian Sect also looked at Gu Chen and slightly frowned.
In this world, there were not many who dared to ignore them so.
Hum!
Gu Chen raised his palm, and a strong suction force emanated from his palm. The Sun Flame Stone nearby trembled slightly and rose into the air, about to fly toward Gu Chen.
"You're still unworthy of this item!"
Qiu Zhen's face darkened, and he lashed out with his palm. A crimson Gang Qi took the form of a large python, baring its fangs and claws as it rushed towards Gu Chen.
Fiery Fire Divine Skill!
The reason why Qiu Zhen so desperately desired the Sun Flame Stone was simply that the Qiu family's martial arts also centered around yang and firmness.
The Fiery Fire Divine Skill was a top-tier Super Product Inner Strength Mind Skill from within the Qiu family; if he obtained the Sun Flame Stone and absorbed the trace of the sun's true fire within it, Qiu Zhen's cultivation would surely advance further.
Perhaps, by using the sun's true fire to temper his body, he could successfully undergo a blood exchange and step into the Returning to True Stage, becoming a martial arts grandmaster known throughout the world!
The fiercely intense True Gang that formed the great python was incredibly intimidating. With Qiu Zhen's talent and the Fiery Fire Divine Skill, a martial arts heritage that had been passed down through generations, providing the experience of predecessors, Qiu Zhen had managed to master the Fiery Fire Divine Skill, cultivating a unique type of Gang Qi—the Fiery Fire True Gang.
Qiu Zhen's attack had not yet arrived, but the scorching heatwave had already invaded the space in front of Gu Chen. At that moment, Gu Chen's skin emitted a faint golden light, completely insulating him from the heat, not letting it harm him in the slightest.
Bang!
Facing the approaching crimson python, Gu Chen remained calm, his lustrous hair swaying slightly. He punched out, and a fire dragon ablaze with raging flames shot forth, colliding with the great python in mid-air. They exploded into countless sparks, simultaneously dissipating in the air.
"Hmm?"
Witnessing this scene, Zhuo Siyuan and the others were slightly surprised, not expecting Gu Chen's martial prowess to have reached this level.
It was rumored throughout the lands that Gu Chen had attained the indestructibility of a vajra, his physique strong enough to rival an Ancient Savage Dragon; however, to their surprise, Gu Chen's cultivation had also reached a level nearly comparable to theirs.
"No wonder; turns out you too have cultivated yang aspected martial arts," Qiu Zhen sneered coldly, realizing why Gu Chen cared so much about the Sun Flame Stone.
The Qiu family had deep grievances with the Jing Tian Department; twenty-three years ago, when the Emperor of Da Xia ascended to the throne and suppressed the world, the former family head of the Qiu family, Qiu Zhen's grandfather, died at the hand of the Grand Commander of the Jing Tian Department.
Their vendetta began at that time, but over the years, Da Xia had been too powerful, and the Qiu family dared not make any rash movements.
But now, the Emperor of Da Xia had disappeared, as had the Grand Commander of the Jing Tian Department and the Head of the Mingjing Department; the power of the Jing Tian Department in Yan State had fallen to its lowest, so naturally, Qiu Zhen was unafraid of the Jing Tian Department and also unafraid of Gu Chen.
"Hand over your martial arts as well!"
Qiu Zhen stepped forward, discerning the extraordinariness of the martial arts Gu Chen had practiced. That Gu Chen, a martial artist of the Gang Qi Stage, could trade a blow with him and remain unharmed suggested that it might be even more powerful than the Fiery Fire Divine Skill he cultivated.
Upon hearing this, Gu Chen's expression turned icy, and he swiftly turned to look at Qiu Zhen, saying, "You also dare to demand the Jing Tian Department's martial arts?"
Qiu Zhen smiled lightly, "Why not? Do you still think Da Xia remains as it used to be? Now, the world has changed!"
Meanwhile, Zhuo Siyuan and Ning Tian stood there, watching the two of them quietly, showing no intention of intervening.
Of course, Gu Chen knew that if he really defeated Qiu Zhen and got the Sun Flame Stone, Zhuo Siyuan and Ning Tian would certainly not stand by as they were doing now.
The Sun Flame Stone, such a wonder, was great use to anyone. Zhuo Siyuan and Ning Tian were about to step into the Returning to True Stage; they needed a great medicine, or rather a treasure, to help them undergo a blood exchange.
"Then let me test what you're made of!"
Qiu Li's clothes fluttered as he chose not to close in on his opponent, for he knew very well that although Gu Chen had reached an indestructible state and his cultivation was not as advanced as Qiu Li's, his physical body was unquestionably stronger.
Thus, he stood at a distance, his inner Gangqi gathering within him, desiring to suppress Gu Chen with his cultivation that was a whole realm higher.
Qiu Zhen let out a cold shout, "Sun Blazing Palm!"
With a boom, Qiu Zhen thrust out his palm, the fierce fire Gangqi converging into a massive palm imprint several tens of feet in size, emitting a shocking heat like a miniature sun, awe-inspiring to behold.
Gu Chen's expression remained calm, without any hesitation, all of the 620 years of energy within his body surged, strands of flame Gangqi condensing together, as Gu Chen exerted his full strength.
"Roar!"
A high-pitched dragon's roar resounded, and in the blink of an eye, three enormous azure dragon shadows rose behind Gu Chen.
Eight Desolate Azure Dragon Strength!
Gu Chen clenched his fist, raised his hand, and threw a punch. The three azure dragon shadows followed the motion of his fist, immediately rushing towards Qiu Zhen.
Boom!
An explosive sound rang out, the valley trembled, and the air within a radius of dozens of feet burst open in an instant, dazzling streaks of light shooting in all directions.
Using this opportunity, Gu Chen's figure flashed, his feet stepping on Controlling Wind Step Shadows as he rushed towards the Sun Flame Stone.
"Don't you even think about it!"
Seeing this, Qiu Zhen's face turned fierce. He let out a loud roar, and from within him surged wave after wave of robust Gangqi, with blazing flames igniting on the surface of his body, rapidly escalating the temperature around him.
"Divine Fire Fist!"
Qiu Zhen punched out, endless flames gathering together, transforming into a gigantic fist imprint in mid-air, striking at Gu Chen.
This punch was also Qiu Zhen's full-force blow. He believed that Gu Chen, being merely a martial artist at the Gang Qi Stage, would either die or be severely injured from this punch!
The great gap between the Returning to True Stage at its peak and the Gang Qi Stage was truly too vast, not to mention that he had cultivated a special type of Gangqi.
Thankfully, prior to this, by consuming Dragon Origin, Gu Chen had improved the quality of the Gangqi in his body; otherwise, his disadvantage in cultivation would have been extremely evident.
With Qiu Zhen blocking him, and Zhuo Siyuan and Ning Tian watching closely, under the watchful eyes of everyone, it was indeed difficult for Gu Chen to seize the Sun Flame Stone.
And to defeat Qiu Zhen, he must fully exploit his advantage to the extreme!
At this moment, Gu Chen's feet treaded on Controlling Wind Step Shadows, his movements as if casting shadows, his aura locked onto Qiu Zhen. In an instant, his figure blurred, and in the next, he had already reached Qiu Zhen's side.
"You!"
Qiu Zhen was shocked to see Gu Chen suddenly appear before him. It was widely known that Gu Chen's physical strength was unmatched in Yan State. Even in close combat, Qiu Zhen, despite being at the peak of the Returning to True Stage, was no match for Gu Chen.
Zhuo Siyuan and Ning Tian, observing from the side and seeing Gu Chen's incredible speed, also had their gazes sharpen, watching the scene without blinking an eye.
Boom!
At this moment, Gu Chen was like a mighty furnace, his vigorous pale-golden blood energy bursting out through his pores. Majestic like a heavenly deity, accompanied by vigorous blood qi, he lifted his hand and punched directly at Qiu Zhen.
"Coalesce!"
In a critical moment, Qiu Zhen shouted loudly, and the fierce fire Gangqi in front of him converged into a wall of qi, its surface still glowing with fiery flames.
Boom!
Qiu Zhen's pupils reflexively contracted as Gu Chen's golden fist, unstoppable as a bamboo splitter, held firm only for a moment before completely blowing the wall of fiery qi apart, his fierce punch landing solidly on Qiu Zhen's body.
"Pugh!"
Qiu Zhen immediately spat out blood, his body sent flying backward.
"So it is indeed indestructible!" Zhuo Siyuan and Ning Tian's faces grew solemn.
After inflicting heavy damage on Qiu Zhen, Gu Chen once again executed Controlling Wind Step Shadows, his form flickering as he dashed towards the Sun Flame Stone, now shimmering with an extraordinary light.
"Stop him!"
Qiu Zhen, flustered and exasperated, shouted loudly. He couldn't fathom how Gu Chen had suddenly moved behind him.
Swish!
Ning Tian was the first to react. As the direct disciple of the Xuantian Sect listed fifth on the Leaderboard of Heroes and at the peak of the Returning to True Stage, he naturally possessed a unique type of Gangqi, much like Qiu Zhen.
"Celestial Mysterious Finger!"
Having witnessed Qiu Zhen's dismal state, Ning Tian, of course, would not engage Gu Chen in close-quarters combat. Floating in mid-air, he pointed a finger, and a thick finger Gangqi aimed at Gu Chen.
The unique Gangqi cultivated by Ning Tian was called the Purple Heaven True Gang. With his finger pointing out, a purple beam, solid as a pillar, smashed towards Gu Chen.
Just as Gu Chen was about to make a move, aiming to use the Controlling Wind Step Shadows to appear behind Ning Tian, he suddenly felt an intense pain in his head, his consciousness nearly being pulled from his body.
It was the Superior Martial Skills of the Da Guangming Sect, the Great Enchantment Skill!
Bang!
In that moment of distraction, Ning Tian's attack arrived, the heavy finger Gangqi striking Gu Chen without any frills, sending him flying backward upon impact.