Chapter 185
"How is that possible?!" Luke's voice trembled with disbelief as he stared, incredulous at the overwhelming power radiating from Ethan.
The sheer force bore down on him like a mountain crushing bones, far beyond anything he had anticipated.
For an ordinary cultivator entering the Mahayana realm, the physical strength and endurance at this stage should only reach so far—yet here stood an unknown kid turning the tide of battle with a single punch.
One punch—that was all it took for Luke to find himself at a glaring disadvantage.
Ethan's calm gaze fixed unwaveringly on Luke. Despite Luke's own accomplishments—the Celestial Jade Physique Scripture combined with the Divine Flame body-building technique—his strength paled in comparison.
The fight had started as a trivial contest, almost a game, but now the ramifications deepened with every exchange.
The gathered crowd was stunned. They had seen Luke and Ethan trade blows evenly during the first round, yet the second round left no doubt.
Reeling back more than ten meters after a single blow—the reality of superiority was undeniable. The field's atmosphere thickened with tension. Everyone could see clearly: Ethan had the upper hand.
Luke clenched his teeth, a fierce fire sparking in his eyes despite the bruising his pride had suffered. The contemptuous calm in Ethan's gaze was like a dagger, piercing through his resolve.
"The battle has just begun!" Luke roared, his voice swelling with renewed vigor. The blood in his veins surged, boiling as his momentum exploded outward. The shadow of his Dharma body rose behind him, taking form into a towering, solid figure.
Ethan's eyelids narrowed. Dharma body or not, such power was meaningless. His own fists would shatter such a weak Dharma body.
He didn't even need to summon this own Dharma body; his physical strength alone was more than enough to defeat Luke.
"Enough!" Oswin's command cut sharply through the escalating tension.
At Oswin's rising stance, the aura encasing Luke receded, and the shadow giant dissolved back into nothingness. The arena fell into whispered murmurs.
"It's just an arena challenge. No need to fight to the death. What do you think?" Oswin's eyes held steely resolve as he turned to Ethan.
He intended to intervene, to protect the reputation of the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets; better a graceful concession than a public defeat to this unknown youth.
"No, he hasn't said that he admitting defeat." Ethan's voice was calm, but edged with warning.
Luke's jaw clenched in silent refusal—admitting defeat was inconceivable.
Oswin's lips tightened before sending a terse message. "Junior, give me some face. That will be enough for today. The slot is still yours."
Ethan chuckled with a cold edge. So what if Oswin was a formidable Mahayana realm cultivator of the eighth turn? Did he think Ethan could be bullied so easily?
In the next breath, Ethan vanished.
Before anyone could react, he was suddenly in front of Luke—an apparition borne at blinding speed.
"Presumptuous!" Oswin's voice snapped, but he held back his assault.
He trusted that Luke could withstand this onslaught without requiring further interference. The Pavilion could not afford to be embarrassed by excessive intervention.
Luke's expression turned grave, but defiance flared brightly.
"The Dharma Body of the Wind!" he shouted, summoning the essence of his cultivation.
Instantly, a three-meter-tall blue giant appeared, and an explosive gale followed—a swirling tempest sharp as blades.
Trees bent and quaked beneath its assault. Even distant spectators could feel the cut of invisible blades against their skin, forcing them to retreat with palms raised in spiritual defense.
Ethan's voice dropped in a murmur. "Inheritance Technique, Emperor's Seal Technique."
Suddenly, golden light burst forth, condensing raw, endless power in his palm. The very earth beneath the stone platform groaned as cracks spread like spiderwebs radiating outward. The heart of Sun Moon City trembled, and the ground sank slightly in various places. Birds fled in chaotic flocks like a dark omen.
People in the city were gripped with dread.
"What in the world is happening? my house!" a citizen gasped.
"Mom, save me!" cried a child, tears mingling with panic.
"No—it's an inheritance technique… no, something even stronger!" Edwin, knowledgeable and quick to discern, recognized the magnitude of this move.
"Defensive formation, now!" Seraphina commanded, rallying the crowd's spiritual energy into a protective shield—a shimmering circular fortress formed by their collective power.
Her brow furrowed deeply in shock.
This was no ordinary technique—Aether's physical cultivation had reached a level that could rival the Mahayana realm itself. The aura pressing down from him was nearly as intense as Ethan's. She reconsidered her earlier doubts. This Aether would only grow stronger, perhaps surpassing even Ethan.
The Emperor's Seal Technique condensed in Ethan's palm, crackling between lightning and flint.
He drew on the essence and blood coursing within his body as golden light flared brilliantly, his palm striking forward in a fierce slap.
A golden circular formation spun rapidly, blossoming into a colossal palm shadow that eclipsed the sky and sun. The sheer power radiating from this attack staggered the crowd.
The heads of the three great aristocratic families felt their hearts skip, the palpable threat enough to unsettle even them.
"Is this a supreme inheritance technique, such power!"
At that moment, Oswin quietly braced himself to take action if Luke faltered. Should Luke's body break under this onslaught, Oswin would leap into the fray without hesitation.
"Dare to wield the Wind Dharma Body against me? This is the true might of body cultivation!" Ethan's cold snort filled the tension-soaked air as he pressed forward, his palms radiating unstoppable force.
The fabric of space tore apart with a deafening roar, explosions echoing across the sky. The very spiritual energy of heaven and earth stirred in chaotic frenzy.
Then, with the weight of divine judgment, the golden giant's colossal palm descended, bearing the force of divine retribution, destined to obliterate all in its path.
Luke's blue Dharma Body surged with fierce winds, fully unleashing its tempestuous power.
A/N:
Extra chapters
100 power stones - 1 Extra chapters
200 power stones - 2 Extra chapters
Capsule - 1 Extra chapters
Massage Chair - 3 Extra chapters
Luxury Car - 5 Extra Chapters
Magic Castle - 15 Extra Chapters
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