Chapter 885 - 883: Yv Feng’s Challenge

Chapter 885: Chapter 883: Yv Feng’s Challenge

After the first challenger failed, a second quickly took the stage. Allowing up to three successful challenges per guard was a rather reasonable limit.

As the challenges progressed, Xu Yang noticed a major flaw in the Grotto Heaven Guards: their lack of endurance. Although their attacks were incredibly powerful and their methods bizarre thanks to the Grotto Heaven fragments, anyone who could withstand their initial torrential assaults and hold their ground could force them into a battle of attrition. Moreover, cultivators with unique techniques could also find an alternative approach to victory, provided the power gap wasn’t too immense.

Xu Yang analyzed, "The energy they consume to control the Grotto Heaven fragments is far greater than what ordinary cultivators use to cast Divine Techniques. However, against standard cultivators, the Grotto Heaven Guards still hold a massive advantage. Few peers at the same level can easily withstand their early blitz. Furthermore, the Grotto Heaven Guards can form groups and employ a combined Battle Array Skill."

In truth, this weakness was virtually negligible compared to their overwhelming strengths. After all, not everyone possessed a twelfth-grade immortal foundation like he did, which granted a terrifyingly solid base of power.

When it was the second-tier Grotto Heaven Guards’ turn, prodigies like Liou Xueyan, Situ Ke, and Jiang Yue Long could no longer sit still. They took the stage one after another, each displaying their Divine Techniques. The performances of the top ten prodigies on the Dragon and Tiger List were naturally spectacular, and their strength was beyond unquestionable.

The second-tier Grotto Heaven Guards were at the Middle Stage of Golden Immortal. Though formidable, all the prodigies managed to secure victories against single opponents. However, when facing groups of three or six, the difficulty skyrocketed. As soon as the combined tactics were deployed and the Grotto Heaven fragments merged, the first to fall was an unfamiliar cultivator ranked ninth on the Dragon and Tiger List. Situ Ke followed, defeated by six mid-tier Grotto Heaven Guards. Although Liou Xueyan and Jiang Yue Long emerged victorious, they were left in a wretched state, having survived a series of perilous encounters. Ultimately, it took Yu Fengtai, ranked fourth, to barely suppress a full formation of nine second-tier Grotto Heaven Guards.

This level of combat prowess alone left the major factions secretly clicking their tongues in awe. The sheer shock the Grotto Heaven Guards of Hongtian Prefecture brought to the crowd was truly staggering.

When the third-tier Grotto Heaven Guards finally appeared, Xu Yang could no longer hold back. These guards were at the Late Stage of Golden Immortal. He was the first to step forward, intending to test their waters.

"It’s Xu Yang.

"He finally couldn’t sit still.

"These Grotto Heaven Guards are simply absurd. Even if there are only a hundred of them, it’s still a terrifying force. Anyone looking to start a war with them would have to think twice.

"Who knows exactly how many guards Hongtian Prefecture has? They’re just flexing their muscles right now.

"Still, a single third-tier Grotto Heaven Guard shouldn’t be a match for Xu Yang. I just wonder how far he can push it?

"Xu Yang and Yv Feng are definitely aiming for the top-tier supreme treasure."

The crowd buzzed with discussions.

As Xu Yang took the stage, the myriad experts focused their attention on him. The various army commanders under Hongtian Prefecture, and even Hong Yichuan himself, wore solemn expressions. Their eyes flickered, making it impossible to discern their true thoughts.

Xu Yang sized up the third-tier Grotto Heaven Guard before him. He cared little for the standard rewards; his sole focus was the top-tier supreme treasure. The guard wore the same pitch-black armor, its aura perfectly concealed. Though it was difficult to probe, he could sense an incredibly solid foundation of power beneath the surface.

SWISH!

An ancient sword materialized in the Grotto Heaven Guard’s hand.

"A third-tier, high-grade ancient sword.

"Hiss!

"This... this defies all reason, right?"

The onlookers stared in dumbfounded disbelief.

A third-tier, high-grade ancient sword. Although it looked far inferior to the ancient swords of Celestial Sword Mountain and wasn’t considered top-tier among weapons of its rank, it was still a third-tier, high-grade Divine Weapon. It was utterly absurd. The resources invested into these Grotto Heaven Guards were simply unimaginable. Furthermore, resources alone were not enough; it also took vast amounts of time to cultivate them. For a moment, the crowd cast peculiar glances at the experts of Hongtian Prefecture. They usually kept a low profile and stayed under the radar, but sure enough, they had been hiding their true strength all along, only to drop a bombshell when they finally made a move.

A ripple of surprise stirred in Xu Yang’s heart. He thought, "How ruthless. They’re already this strong, yet they’re even equipped with a third-tier, high-grade Divine Weapon." He stared intently at the ancient sword in the guard’s hand, silently sensing its aura, and concluded that the sword was unrelated to the Grotto Heaven fragments.

SWISH!

The Grotto Heaven Guard launched forward like a bolt of lightning, closing the distance in an instant, and brought his sword slashing down with a sweep of his sleeve. The move was straightforward and brutal, completely devoid of any flashy flair. Yet, it carried immense momentum and a staggering sword aura. While naturally incomparable to Yv Feng, the sheer ferocity of the strike was still enough to make one’s heart palpitate.

CLANG!

Xu Yang blocked the strike with his saber, sending the Grotto Heaven Guard staggering backward repeatedly. It was instantly clear who was superior. The strength of the third-tier Grotto Heaven Guard was merely relative. Facing Xu Yang alone, it was undoubtedly outmatched.

Xu Yang closed in with lightning speed, his saber gleam sweeping across the air. The Grotto Heaven Guard showed no fear, continuously swinging his sword to meet the attacks.

SWISH, SWISH, SWISH.

BANG, BANG, BANG!

Ear-piercing sounds of collisions rang out incessantly.

However, due to the sheer disparity in strength, the Grotto Heaven Guard was firmly suppressed. Capitalizing on his advantage, Xu Yang wielded his Daluo Saber with airtight precision, leaving the guard no opening to counterattack. Within moments, the guard was forced back several yards once more.

CLANG!

The guard’s armor and ancient sword rang out simultaneously. He stomped his foot, and his aura surged like a raging tide. It blazed like a roaring inferno, the scorching heat violently warping the surrounding air.

"He’s going to use the Grotto Heaven fragment," someone noted, the crowd’s expressions turning grim.

Yv Feng stared unblinking. He was equally interested in that top-tier supreme treasure. Understanding the true capabilities and methods of the Grotto Heaven Guards would undoubtedly aid him in defeating a full formation of nine third-tier guards later.

Xu Yang stood motionless, watching as the Grotto Heaven Guard gathered momentum. In an instant, a blazing fire crest shot from the guard’s glabella and sank into the ancient sword in a flash. The fire crest was astonishing, though it appeared somewhat incomplete. The moment it merged with the blade, the ancient sword ignited with a WHOOSH, erupting into a roaring blaze. Streams of fire darted about, flickering like snake tongues as an ancient, boundless presence gushed forth.

CLANG!

The Grotto Heaven Guard swung his sword down, dyeing half the sky a deep crimson. It felt as if a sky full of fiery clouds was pressing down on them, terrifying and oppressive. Enhanced by the Grotto Heaven fragment, the might of this sword strike was at least fifty percent stronger than before.

"This is the absolute strongest strike he can unleash," Xu Yang thought, his expression unchanging. He took a step forward as his Daluo Saber hummed vibrantly. Unleashing half of his full strength, he swung his blade to meet the attack.

BOOM!

CLANG, CLANG!

Tongues of fire scattered in all directions as the ancient sword vibrated violently. The Grotto Heaven Guard looked as though he had been struck by lightning, crashing down in a wretched state. The flames on his sword shattered and extinguished at a visible rate, and the Grotto Heaven fragment retracted into his glabella. The guard let out a muffled groan, his arm trembling uncontrollably.

"I’ve lost," the guard admitted.

"You let me win," Xu Yang replied, offering a respectful fist-and-palm salute before turning and stepping down.

He thought to himself, "If a formation of nine third-tier Grotto Heaven Guards is only at this level, then even with their Battle Array Skill and combined Grotto Heaven fragments, victory isn’t impossible." His mind was somewhat set at ease. He didn’t make another move during the subsequent challenges. Instead, several other experts at the Late Stage of Golden Immortal couldn’t hold back and stepped up. Three guards, six guards... until finally, nine third-tier guards joined forces.

BOOM!

The entire plaza trembled. Nine Black Armored Grotto Heaven Guards stepped forward, their auras soaring and astonishingly potent. Some were bare-handed, some wielded sabers, and others held swords. All their bladed Divine Weapons were of the third-tier, high-grade variety. Furthermore, the black armor they wore boasted exceptional defensive capabilities. Their nine auras surged and climbed higher, distinct from one another yet echoing in perfect harmony. Everyone’s expression shifted drastically.

"This is way too strong.

"Just their auras alone are sending shivers down my spine.

"Who could possibly withstand nine of them at once?

"I think even Xu Yang and Yv Feng might not be their match."

Murmurs swept through the crowd.

The prodigies and cultivators felt a chilling dread, overwhelmed by the terrifying pressure. The combined aura of these nine guards was absolutely stronger than when the same-tier guards had appeared individually. The thought of them joining forces was unimaginable. Like a massive, unstoppable army, they slowly marched toward the center of the plaza. Still in shock, the prodigies slowly turned their gazes toward Xu Yang and Yv Feng. Yv Feng’s expression was grave, yet he darted down into the arena without hesitation.

"I’ll take you on."