Chapter Eighty-Three: Duel, Scorpion Tail Needle!
One against three!
The disciples of the Grand Origin Sect, who had been locked in a day-long struggle with the disciples of the Divine Sun Sect, could scarcely believe their ears when this newcomer, Luo Tian, barely catching his breath, uttered such an audacious challenge with a mere flick of his tongue.
Did he think his face was made of stone and wished for them to help soften it up a bit?
Yet what shocked the leading disciples of the Grand Origin Sect even more was Luo Tian’s final remark—compensation for losses.
This fellow didn’t even know what the three of them might have lost, and yet he dared speak of compensation? There could be only one explanation: Luo Tian had obtained a great fortune and was now in possession of many treasures!
Otherwise, where would he find such confidence to make these claims?
Should he lose the contest and fail to produce what he had promised, even if the disciples of the Grand Origin Sect beat him until he could not care for himself, the Divine Sun Sect would not utter a single word of protest.
Huo Jiang, Ye Lei, and He Yiming exchanged glances, their eyes meeting in silent understanding before they each nodded slightly.
Meanwhile, among the disciples of the Divine Sun Sect, regardless of whether they hailed from the East District and thus knew Luo Tian well, or from the other three districts, all felt a great shock upon hearing his words.
Although the young men of the four great families had to choose a district to reside in once they reached the Qi Condensation stage, that did not mean they had no contact with those from other districts. Competition ran deep, but so too did the exchange of information. Therefore, though only a handful of Divine Sun disciples remained present, all had at least heard Luo Tian’s name.
But none, whether from the East, West, South, or North districts, had imagined Luo Tian would speak so boldly at such a moment.
By status and background, Luo Tian could not compare to the scions of the four great families. By strength, though he had comprehended the true essence of fire, he was certainly no weakling, but that did not mean he ought to stand forth in such a matter.
Even Senior Brother Liu Longfei, the strongest among them, had his combat power halved by those three, and that was when they fought with a playful attitude.
If Senior Brother Luo took the stage, defeat was certain.
The three opponents were all formidable, and whether they had comprehended true essence was uncertain, but one had to prepare for the worst.
Yet knowing all this, Senior Brother Luo still chose to stand forth—such character, such spirit!
“Let’s fight them! Senior Brother Luo earned his fortune through hard work—there’s no reason to hand it over to these bastards!”
“Well said! We of the Divine Sun Sect are not to be trifled with!”
“Senior Brother Luo, your spirit is enough for me! From today on, you are my senior brother! But this matter—you can’t bear it alone!”
Except for Liu Longfei, who felt a bitter resentment at being upstaged by Luo Tian, the other disciples of the Divine Sun Sect all voiced their support and were ready to risk it all.
To be honest, that fortune hadn’t been hard to get—the four were lying there sleeping, and Senior Brother Luo merely took the chance to search them, at most spending some effort deciding what to leave behind for them.
Such a scene left Luo Tian, who had been feeling guilty for implicating everyone, quite unprepared. He already possessed the blazing true essence and robust life force, and though one against three was a challenge, victory still seemed within reach. By relying on his strength to win over his fellow disciples, he could plant a seed that would grow into genuine respect over time.
But to his surprise, a few simple words had won over the hearts of the Divine Sun Sect disciples immediately—a stroke of fortune he had not intended.
Knowing he should strike while the iron was hot, Luo Tian wasted no time and pointed decisively at the Grand Origin Sect group: “If you think three against one isn’t enough, you’re welcome to come at me all together!”
These words were only meant to hurry their decision. The Grand Origin Sect would never attack en masse, not with so many Divine Sun Sect disciples watching.
“One is enough.”
He Yiming, an unremarkable-looking youth of average build—nothing special at first glance—nevertheless held a vague leadership position among the Grand Origin Sect’s expedition. “When you lose, I’ll be taking Liu Longfei’s storage pouch.”
“Deal!” Luo Tian agreed without hesitation—after all, it wasn’t even his own property—then casually pointed in turn: “And if I win, you’ll hand his pouch over to me!”
Nonsense! How could you agree without asking me first?
Liu Longfei nearly coughed up blood in anger; Luo Tian was outrageous, and hadn’t even asked his opinion. But even so, Liu Longfei did not dare protest now, lest Luo Tian refuse to fight and he himself be forced to face He Yiming.
He did not have the confidence to deal with that man.
“Nonsense! On what grounds?”
The disciple who had earlier questioned whether Luo Tian was worthy of befriending the Grand Origin Sect now flew into a rage. Who did this bastard think he was?
“It’s a deal!”
He Yiming answered without hesitation—he had no doubt of his victory. In truth, the Grand Origin Sect disciples could not really rob the Divine Sun Sect clean, for once outside the secret realm, everything would have to be returned. After all, the sect heads stood watch at the entrance.
Hearing the quick exchange that sealed the contest, disciples from both sects tacitly retreated, leaving a space for the duel.
“I truly admire Senior Brother Luo!”
“Yes, even if he loses, I’ll still recognize him as my true senior brother!”
“Look at that bearing, that grandeur—this is how a real senior brother should be! He’s the person I respect most!”
The disciples of the Divine Sun Sect whispered among themselves, fully aware that Luo Tian was sure to lose against the Grand Origin Sect’s elite, yet they deeply admired his character.
To be a senior brother, one must act like a senior brother!
Hearing their murmured praise, Luo Tian’s confidence soared, and he began to calculate when his divine eye would upgrade, a faint smile appearing unconsciously at the corner of his lips.
“Take this!”
Seeing Luo Tian seemingly lost in thought just as their match was about to begin, He Yiming’s anger surged. Did this man think so little of him? With a loud shout to draw his opponent’s attention, he launched a punch aimed at the right side of Luo Tian’s head.
Both were elite disciples of their sects. Though their mastery of body-tempering secret arts varied, none would neglect their cultivation, and unless absolutely necessary, none would draw weapons—they fought with fists and feet.
“Senior Brother He is truly fierce!”
“Of course! The disciples of the Divine Sun Sect are rubbish to begin with, and now this one is daydreaming—he’s just gift-wrapping himself for Senior Brother He!”
“To lose to Senior Brother He is a privilege!”
The Grand Origin Sect disciples were full of confidence in He Yiming. Huo Jiang and Ye Lei exchanged glances and smiled, already picturing the scene of the detestable Liu Longfei, hands trembling, surrendering his storage pouch.
Fire essence as well?
Luo Tian was surprised. Like himself, He Yiming’s body shone with white light; his right arm lifted and bent, meeting the attack with his elbow, the white glow at its tip growing more intense.
Having absorbed Qin Tianyu’s memories, Luo Tian now understood the meridians intimately, and in recent days had made some modifications to the Flame Hand technique—no longer was its power limited to the fists and palms.
It was an unquestionable improvement, and to some extent, even elevated the rank of the martial art.
Recognizing this as a golden opportunity to solidify his standing among his peers, Luo Tian unhesitatingly unleashed his blazing true essence, blending it with the Flame Hand, maximizing its power.
Whether in cultivation, martial technique, or raw strength, Luo Tian had made significant strides since the great contest in the East District.
“Ha! Those Grand Origin Sect fools with their noses in the air are about to have their faces trampled by Senior Brother Luo!”
“And stomped on a few more times besides! The Grand Origin Sect would never send out disciples who had comprehended true essence so lightly. These three would do better to attack together as Senior Brother Luo suggested—they might last a little longer! As it is, if they’re knocked out in a few breaths, how humiliating will that be?”
“Serves them right for looking down on us! Who would have thought we had a Senior Brother Luo who has comprehended true essence among us?”
The disciples of the Divine Sun Sect were full of confidence in Luo Tian.
Though the Grand Origin Sect was somewhat stronger, the difference was not vast. Any disciple who had comprehended true essence at the late Qi Condensation stage was a treasure, kept safe within the sect for careful nurturing.
They did not know what their sect master was thinking, but that Senior Brother Luo possessed the greatest strength among the disciples in the secret realm was beyond doubt. What’s more, he had somehow jumped from the seventh to the ninth level of the Qi Condensation stage—utterly unbelievable!
Even so, the disciples were prepared. After all, Senior Brother Luo had always advanced at a stunning pace, and the secret realm’s superior environment made further leaps possible, if surprising.
Just perhaps a little too fast.
Fist met elbow with a muffled thud, and He Yiming’s face twisted, as if pricked by needles, as he withdrew his fist.
“What happened?”
“Why does Senior Brother He look like that?”
He Yiming’s face flushed red as he channeled all his essence to drive out the searing heat Luo Tian’s energy had left within him. Though they were both at the ninth tier of the Qi Condensation stage, the presence or absence of true essence made all the difference.
Utterly unprepared for Luo Tian’s blazing true essence, He Yiming was shocked, and for a moment, even considered retreating.
How could one possibly contend with such an opponent?
Yet seeing his fellow disciples behind him, He Yiming gritted his teeth. The burning pain, though excruciating, was not unbearable; he would endure, defeat Luo Tian in close combat, and then drive out the heat at leisure.
Through their exchange, He Yiming realized that Luo Tian’s comprehension of the blazing true essence was relatively new—if Luo Tian delved deeper, he could probably incinerate him in the blink of an eye.
Of course, at that level, he would be at least in the late Meridian Flow stage, if not a Core Formation powerhouse.
Luo Tian watched He Yiming’s changing expression with satisfaction. If this fellow admitted defeat now, he wondered what words would most display his senior brotherly grace—should he tell him to train another ten years, or offer a few pointers?
Before Luo Tian could decide, He Yiming let out a great roar, as if to steel himself, and then charged like a mad tiger, fists and feet flying—intent on overwhelming him with a flurry of close attacks.
Usually, when at a disadvantage, cultivators would resort to such tactics—fast, relentless assaults, denying the opponent time to gather strength, thus leveling the playing field as much as possible.
Luo Tian instantly understood He Yiming’s plan, but was unconcerned. His body-tempering arts were among the best in the Divine Sun Sect, and the refining effects of fire essence had only honed them further.
Moreover, with his mastery of the Form-Intent Nine Beast Fist’s form chapter, Luo Tian was not afraid of close combat; indeed, he was only more confident.
You useless fool, He Yiming—why not fight me with the same ferocity you once used to beat me?
Watching Luo Tian gain the upper hand, Liu Longfei felt a complex mix of emotions. He remembered how, upon entering the secret realm, Luo Tian had seemed so indifferent—yet now he had stolen the spotlight and completely replaced him in the eyes of the Divine Sun Sect disciples, leaving Liu Longfei greatly displeased.
He even found himself rooting for He Yiming in his heart, forgetting his earlier resentment and wishes for the three opponents to be crippled for life.
Of course, such thoughts could never be spoken aloud—Liu Longfei could only stew in silence.
“Luo Tian has actually comprehended true essence?”
“What? Impossible! Would the Divine Sun Sect really send such a disciple into the secret realm?”
“He must have comprehended it here. They say to fight a cultivator with true essence, you’d need to wield dual-elemental essence, otherwise you’d stand no chance!”
“Nonsense! Cultivating dual-elemental essence requires nearly identical talent in both elements, plus formidable mental strength—otherwise, the energies would clash before you’d even begun.”
The Grand Origin Sect disciples’ hearts sank.
Could Senior Brother He possibly win?
Fists and feet collided with rapid, thunderous blows, like a string of firecrackers, unbroken and relentless.
Such close combat demanded keen eyes, sharp judgment, quick reflexes, and unwavering momentum—any lapse might be seized upon by the opponent, leading to immediate defeat.
It was perilous, fierce, yet exhilarating.
Luo Tian only grew more excited. Even his body seemed to awaken some hidden bestial nature, relishing the contest.
He realized that after mastering the form chapter of the Nine Beast Fist, he had yet to participate in a proper battle to integrate all its variations—neither routine training nor fighting magical beasts matched the thrill of facing an evenly matched opponent.
It was like a rough iron bar, needing heavy hammer blows to drive out the impurities, so only the essence remained.
He Yiming was a renowned figure in the Grand Origin Sect. Though he lacked true essence and his body-tempering was not the strongest, he could still serve as Luo Tian’s whetstone.
Two white figures exchanged blows at dizzying speed, the rhythm nearly too fast to follow, thrilling disciples from both sects.
Luo Tian fought with increasing vigor, his eyes shining as he tracked He Yiming’s every move, his body instinctively executing a myriad of techniques.
His divine eye was of little use in this situation, and with such rapid close combat, Luo Tian relied entirely on instinct—on the natural reaction of body and spirit.
His muscles trembled, dissipating incoming force; at times, he twisted with boneless suppleness to evade, at others, he clawed mercilessly at He Yiming, mimicking the attacks and defenses of myriad beasts—each maneuver drawn from memory and adapted on the fly.
Imitation was good, but adaptation was better.
He Yiming grew increasingly anxious and astonished.
The burning agony within threatened to make him howl, and what’s more, Luo Tian’s movements became ever more concise, powerful, and unpredictable as the fight wore on—sometimes, He Yiming could not even fathom how Luo Tian would respond to a given attack.
Yet each time Luo Tian blocked or dodged with uncanny effectiveness, the counterattack would leave He Yiming flustered—not because of overwhelming strength, but because the angles were so bizarre.
The battle had not lasted long, but to He Yiming, it felt like an eternity.
His opponent’s mastery of true essence was bad enough, but his close-combat prowess only grew with the fight, becoming ever harder to handle. Exhausted in both energy and spirit, He Yiming began to falter.
He had not noticed that his attacks were losing their former sharpness, but Luo Tian picked up on this shift immediately, seeing He Yiming’s distracted state.
A perfect opportunity!
Intent on leaving a lasting impression on his fellow disciples, Luo Tian seized the moment. Dodging low beneath one of He Yiming’s blows, he planted his left foot firmly, then swung his right leg up from behind, the momentum of his bent torso sending it arcing high—then, bent at the knee, he drove it straight toward He Yiming’s crown!
This move, which Luo Tian had devised after absorbing Qin Tianyu’s memories and recalling his battle with the armored scorpion, mimicked a scorpion’s deadly tail strike—a close-combat killing technique of his own creation.
Scorpion Tail Sting!
Fortunately, Luo Tian’s foundation in the Form-Intent Nine Beast Fist had rendered his bones and sinews supple and obedient, allowing him to perform even the most unorthodox maneuvers.
The angle was unexpected, the speed lightning-fast, the force deadly precise. With the improved Flame Hand, he could channel fire essence into his leg, enhancing its power with blazing true essence.
If this venomous scorpion tail struck an opponent’s skull, death was certain!
Even the hardest part of the human body would be pulverized by such force.
“Surrender!”
At the sight of this bizarre attack, He Yiming instinctively tried to block or dodge, but for some reason, found himself frozen by its uncanny menace—as if no matter how he responded, the sting would adapt.
Cold sweat streamed down his forehead, a chill ran down his spine as his body heat seemed to plummet. Deathly pale, he cried out in surrender and squeezed his eyes shut.