Chapter 207

Chapter 207: Younger Female Fellow Practitioner, What Do You Think? (4000 words, two-in-one)

“Chen Yun, ranked second on the Azurecloud List? So that’s who he is.”

When Yue mentioned this name, Xu Ming finally had some recollection.

Yue sighed, “Master Xu, you’ve finally realized.”

Xu Ming shook his head, “Not really. I just know there’s such a person. Hmm, I learned about him from the Azurecloud List. After all, this guy is a regular on the list.”

It was normal for Xu Ming to not know much about Chen Yun since the Azurecloud List only showed names. Information would only appear during rankings changes.

Moreover, the name ‘Chen Yun’ was incredibly common, so who would have thought this Chen Yun from Heavenly Profound Gate was the same one on the Azurecloud List?

Yue rolled her eyes at Xu Ming, “Master Xu, let me tell you, our Brother Chen started cultivation at five years old, entered the Enlightenment stage at six, the Incineration stage at seven, the Qi Refinement stage at eight, the Crucible stage at nine, and reached the Cavern Realm at ten.

Before the Sea Observing Realm, it was like advancing a realm every day.

Even after the Cavern Realm, our Brother Chen broke through realms quickly.

At fourteen, Brother Chen entered the Sea Observating Realm.

At twenty-one, he reached the Golden Core Realm.

At twenty-eight, Brother Chen encountered a bottleneck and went alone to the Northern Wilderness for trials. In the Northern Wilderness, he killed over fifteen Golden Core cultivators and defeated the long-famous Demon Blade King across realms.

It was during that life-and-death battle that Brother Chen broke through the bottleneck, attracting the White River Celestial Tribulation and thus entering the Nascent Soul Stage! The reason Brother Chen returned this time is because he was summoned by the master to participate in the Purple Mist Grand Ceremony; otherwise, Brother Chen would still be wandering outside.”

Listening to Yue’s introduction, Xu Ming gained a certain understanding of this Chen Yun.

Advancing a realm each year—truly impressive.

Though Chen Yun’s speed of advancement might not match someone like Xu Snow or Qin Qingwan, who entered the Cavern Realm immediately upon starting cultivation, looking at the world as a whole, this was indeed rare.

And the speed of realm advancement couldn’t explain everything.

Your ability to ascend quickly can indicate talent to a degree, but it cannot fully represent your talent.

There are countless geniuses who advanced rapidly at first but ended up becoming ordinary later.

However, a cultivator like Chen Yun, who entered the Nascent Soul Stage within ten years of reaching the Cavern Realm, was truly exceptional.

Especially since Chen Yun attained enlightenment between life and death to reach the Nascent Soul Stage—the quality of his realm was undoubtedly top-notch.

It could only be said that sects like Heavenly Profound Gate were vast, with many different kinds of people.

There were cultivators who acted like foolish villains.

There were also excited young people used as pawns.

But they certainly wouldn’t lack disciples who could hold up the sect’s reputation.

“There’s another thing!” Yue added hastily, fearing Xu Ming wouldn’t listen to advice. “Rumors say our Brother Chen often loses control when competing with others, easily killing them accidentally. Therefore, before any duel, Brother Chen usually signs a life-or-death contract with his opponents.”

“Alright, thank you, Miss Yue. I basically understand the situation now,” Xu Ming smiled, glancing at Yue’s hand which had been gripping his clothes, “But Miss Yue, could you please let go?”

“You mustn’t act rashly.” Yue reluctantly released Xu Ming’s clothes, “You’ve already proven your strength, no one will say anything more to you. There’s absolutely no need to compete with Brother Chen. What if something happens to you…”

Yue hadn’t finished speaking when Xu Ming suddenly turned and flew into the sky.

“Hey! Master Xu! Master Xu! I told you not to rush! If something happens to you, how am I supposed to face Uncle Qin?”

Yue shouted on the ground, thinking to herself that things were really screwed now. Why was Master Xu so stubborn? Like an ox.

“This humble one is Xu Ming, I have long heard of Brother Chen’s great name.”

Xu Ming stood respectfully in front of Chen Yun, bowing deeply.

Previously, Xu Ming’s greetings to other disciples of Heavenly Profound Gate were merely out of courtesy.

But Xu Ming felt differently about Chen Yun. Perhaps it was due to his years spent in Blood Floating Pagoda, where Xu Ming genuinely admired geniuses who fought their way through realms with real combat.

Most importantly, Xu Ming sensed a sense of chivalry in Chen Yun, a unique romanticism belonging to men.

Especially after leaving Wudu and experiencing so many despicable affairs in the cultivation world, Xu Ming found this kind of chivalry particularly precious.

“Chen Yun, Nascent Soul Stage,” Chen Yun spoke slowly, looking at Xu Ming with respect, “You do have some guts, quite commendable.”

“How about we both go to the Northern Wilderness?” Xu Ming smiled.

“The Northern Wilderness? That place is a bit desolate, just barren wastelands and nothing else. But the wine is pretty good, the people are hearty, and the girls… well, they’re pretty smooth.” Chen Yun commented.

Xu Ming and the crowd: “…”

Xu Ming didn’t know what to say for a moment.

I was just asking casually, and you’re telling me the girls in the Northern Wilderness are smooth?

Isn’t that a bit inappropriate?

There are plenty of female cultivators here too… but secretly in Xu Ming’s heart, he made a decision: he must visit the Northern Wilderness someday.

Whether the girls are smooth or not is one thing, but most importantly, he wanted to see the world and experience different customs.

Chen Yun, however, seemed completely unfazed by others’ gazes: “Your blood qi is robust, your Martial True Qi carries a killing intent. Did you train in the military?”

Xu Ming nodded, “Indeed, I trained for several years in the military.”

“No wonder.” Chen Yun nodded, “If you compete with me, there won’t be much talking. I might lose control and you’ll die. Are you sure you want to compete?”

Xu Ming smiled, “Since I’ve come to Heavenly Profound Gate and met Brother Chen, not having a fight would be like coming for nothing.”

“Good!” Chen Yun looked at Xu Ming with increasing admiration, “You’re a real man, much better than those effeminate cultivators. You’re at Heroic Soul and Sea Observing Realms, right? Then I’ll compete with you at the same realm.”

Xu Ming: “Let Brother Chen handle it as you see fit.”

“Hahaha, you seem quite confident,” Chen Yun looked at Xu Ming, “Then come on, make your move, let me see this famed martial artist of the Wu Kingdom!”

“I apologize for offending you.”

As Xu Ming’s words faded, the spiritual energy beneath his feet shattered with a deep explosion.

“Boom!”

No one saw Xu Ming’s punch clearly.

By the time they reacted, Xu Ming had already thrown a punch towards Chen Yun’s head.

Chen Yun drew his massive sword.

The punch collided with the sword.

Spiritual energy and Martial True Qi exploded.

Both retreated seven steps.

Xu Ming loosened and then clenched his fist, shaking it.

Chen Yun also gripped his giant sword tightly.

Xu Ming focused his mind.

From Chen Yun’s spiritual energy earlier, he had suppressed his realm to the Sea Observing Realm.

Even if Chen Yun, at the Golden Core Realm, suppressed his realm to the Sea Observing Realm, it was still a full Sea Observing Realm, surpassing the average Sea Observing Realm by far. After all, Chen Yun had reached greater heights and understood the Dao more deeply.

Xu Ming had somewhat expected this.

But Xu Ming didn’t expect that Chen Yun’s Sea Observing Realm would be much stronger than he anticipated.

Chen Yun’s Sea Observing Realm quality was extremely high! It was the strongest Sea Observing Realm Xu Ming had ever encountered.

On the other side, Chen Yun also found it interesting.

This guy is good.

Just judging from that single punch, if he said he was a Golden Body Realm martial artist, Chen Yun would believe it.

Is this the force a Heroic Soul Realm martial artist should have?

Chen Yun straightened his back, “Come on, continue!” Xu Ming didn’t hesitate, channeling spiritual energy and using the Cloud Treading Step to close in quickly, then striking with the Heaven Opening Fist.

Chen Yun raised his giant sword, slashing downward with each swing.

Xu Ming’s fists enveloped in Martial True Qi clashed directly with the blade.

Chen Yun’s wave of sword energy spread out, cutting into the various peaks of Heavenly Profound Gate, forcing the sect’s magic array to activate and absorb the sword energy.

“Boom Boom Boom Boom!”

Xu Ming’s punches thundered like lightning, each punch heavier than the last. Chen Yun grew fiercer in battle, gripping his giant sword as if fully immersed, each strike wild and untamed.

Xu Ming’s eyes gradually changed, Dao patterns appearing in his pupils.

Xu Ming had long wanted to test his newly evolved Dao Pattern Eye, and Chen Yun was an excellent opponent!

“Hmm?”

Feeling the change in Xu Ming’s eyes, Chen Yun was startled.

Chen Yun had never experienced this feeling before.

It was as if his entire being was seen through by the other party.

Chen Yun swung his sword, and Xu Ming critically spotted the weak point of the sword, striking three inches below the hilt.

The massive sword trembled, vibrating until Chen Yun’s tiger mouth became numb.

In that instant, Xu Ming unleashed a Mountain Shaking Punch towards Chen Yun’s chest.

A protective formation appeared on Chen Yun’s chest, blocking the punch.

Chen Yun was hurled thirty meters away.

Before Chen Yun could steady himself, he wielded his giant sword and charged forward again.

Chen Yun’s sword struck Xu Ming’s shoulder, but unexpectedly, the large talisman sword exploded.

Xu Ming blocked with his sword, but the heat wave from the explosion sent him flying.

Before Xu Ming could regain his footing, the talisman sword in Chen Yun’s hand dispersed, transforming into hundreds of talismans.

“What the hell kind of sword is this?” Xu Ming felt he had broadened his horizons.

The talismans instantly surrounded Xu Ming.

“Boom!!!”

Another loud explosion, the talismans all detonated.

Waves of spiritual energy rippled outward like ripples on a lake.

As the dust settled, Xu Ming emerged from the smoke, wielding the Nine Heavens Cloud Lightning Sword, encircled by sharp sword qi.

Xu Ming’s shirt was completely torn, revealing solid pectoral and abdominal muscles, causing many female disciples to blush. Some shyly looked away but couldn’t help sneaking glances occasionally.

“Is Brother Chen a sword cultivator or a Dharma practitioner?” Xu Ming asked.

The other party’s sword qi was genuine, highly skilled, but within each slash, there were traces of his spells.

Chen Yun laughed and countered, “Is Little Brother Xu a sword cultivator or a martial artist?”

Xu Ming smirked and stopped asking.

Taking a step forward, Xu Ming held nothing back.

Blood Qi Berserk Xu Ming was like a ferocious beast, startling Chen Yun.

He was surprised.

Surprised that he actually felt fear.

“Clang!”

Xu Ming arrived in front of Chen Yun, thrusting his sword upward.

Chen Yun dared not meet it head-on and dodged. The sword qi surged upward, slicing a large hole in the clouds above.

Chen Yun cast a spell, unleashing palms filled with thunderous might.

Xu Ming attempted to block with a punch, palm meeting fist, sending waves of spiritual energy and Martial True Qi exploding outward.

Xu Ming kicked Chen Yun in the face, but Chen Yun blocked with his arm.

With a sound of bone cracking, Chen Yun was hurled down like a cannonball.

Dust rose several meters high.

Suddenly, the dust parted, and a streak of sword light slashed toward Xu Ming.

Xu Ming casually flicked his long sword, shattering the sword light.

Xu Ming decided not to continue. Using the Dao Pattern Eye and Blood Qi Berserk consumed considerable stamina.

Xu Ming didn’t want to exhaust himself on someone else’s turf.

Raising his long sword, Xu Ming’s sword qi surged like a tumultuous sea, spreading and condensing repeatedly.

Finally, the sword qi formed gravity-defying substantial waves.

Xu Ming’s sword qi and sword intent continuously ascended! Surrounding Heavenly Profound Gate disciples had to quickly step back, fearing accidental injury. They knew Xu Ming was about to unleash his strongest attack to decide the outcome.

Meanwhile, Chen Yun held nothing back either.

Behind Chen Yun, a Dharma Heaven and Earth Technique appeared. The Dharma Heaven and Earth Technique opened its eyes, holding a giant sword. Behind it was a Yin-Yang Eight Trigram Diagram.

Sensing the change in Chen Yun’s surrounding spiritual energy, the Heavenly Profound Gate disciples were all shocked.

Brother Chen had suppressed his realm to the Dragon Gate Realm!

Previously, Brother Chen and Xu Ming’s competition had always kept his realm suppressed at the Sea Observing Realm.

But now, Brother Chen had voluntarily enhanced his realm! A Sea Observing Realm versus a Sea Observing Realm, even with Xu Ming having the additional Heroic Soul Realm of a martial artist, would be considered an unfair victory. Meanwhile, they also gained a new perspective on Xu Ming. In their hearts, they already regarded Xu Ming as a once-in-a-lifetime genius, whose power was terrifying enough to instill fear.

It turned out that earlier, when Xu Ming competed with them, he hadn’t unleashed his full potential at all.

Xu Ming swung his sword.

The sword wave swept towards Chen Yun.

Chen Yun swung his sword upward, attempting to shatter the wave and cut Xu Ming in half!

“Whoosh…”

The strongest moves from both sides clashed, fierce winds swept through, and the Heavenly Profound Gate’s Sect Protection Magic Array resonated.

At the same time,

Ten miles away from Heavenly Profound Gate, six people arrived.

Among these six, one was an elderly elder, while the other five were young disciples.

They all wore sword robes with long swords hanging at their waists.

On the other side of their waists, a wooden plaque covered them.

On the plaque were only two words—

“Sword Sect.”

As they walked, the six people suddenly stopped simultaneously and almost simultaneously lifted their heads.

“What sharp sword qi.” The elder stroked his chin, evaluating, “Unfortunately, it lacks refinement.”

The elder turned around and asked the disciple beside him, “Younger Female Fellow Practitioner, what do you think?”

The young woman addressed as Younger Female Fellow Practitioner replied indifferently, “Average.”