Chapter 879 - 96: Body Cultivation

Chapter 879: Chapter 96: Body Cultivation

In an instant, both men almost simultaneously initiated their moves, arriving at the center. Meng Kuo threw a punch, extremely slow, a stark contrast to the swiftness of the prior match, akin to a snail’s crawl. However, Li Xin’s movements were not fast either, with their fists and legs intertwined, each strike solid yet silent, as though the surrounding space was slightly blurred.

The entire audience watched their offense and defense with curiosity, each move well-defined and cohesive. Meng Kuo employed the signature technique of the Vajra Institute, the Mountain-Shattering Eighteen Hands, a fundamental practice for each disciple, while the Loose Cultivator mostly focused on defense, lacking the sharpness of the previous bout and seemingly caught in Meng Kuo’s rhythm.

It seemed more like a performance than a life-and-death duel.

Xiao Yan watched, perplexed, wondering what was happening. Was Brother Ren exhausted? Why couldn’t he surpass the basic Eighteen Hands of the Vajra Institute?

Turning his head, Xiao Yan saw Liu Zhongyang and Ku Chan with solemn expressions. They had been casually bantering in the previous match but now appeared to feel the pressure.

In the guest seats, Tang Feng and Kui Ma also found it strange. Was this a performance? Both sides were exerting force but the rhythm seemed odd. They glanced at Wang Zhigao, usually with an air of superiority, now left speechless.

On the stage, Meng Kuo remained expressionless, one punch, one kick, each move steady and unhurried, his stance as stable as mountain ridges. With fists and palms intersecting, Meng Kuo transformed the punch into a claw, gripping towards Li Xin’s face, but Li Xin’s head spun away. Meng Kuo seized the opportunity, aiming for Li Xin’s throat with a downward grab, utilizing the second clasp of the Crane Hand Breaching Throat technique from the Mountain-Shattering Eighteen Hands. Li Xin swiftly dodged, causing the lethal strike to miss, with a tearing sound in space, a gray beam cutting through emptiness. But Meng Kuo had already closed in, slapping towards Li Xin’s face. Even before the palm arrived, Li Xin’s face seemed distorted by pressure as he retreated, yet Meng Kuo pursued, his hand disappearing, and the next second it was directed at Li Xin’s throat. Li Xin blocked with his palm, but Meng Kuo’s left hand, ghostly and elusive, emerged with a lethal move targeting Li Xin’s eyes, unleashing Spiritual Ability simultaneously.

Great Vajra Finger.

Smack...

Li Xin’s index finger intercepted at the center.

Both men parted almost simultaneously.

Most cultivators on the scene were puzzled. What were these two doing? Slow one moment, suddenly fast the next, and then they separated.

At that moment, the ground where they stood emitted a series of cracking sounds, with the Martial Arts Arena, the pride of Jiuxiao Building, instantly cracking, with fissures spreading all around.

The Martial Arts Arena is not indestructible but very hard to damage.

"Old Tang, the quality of your Ten Thousand Rooster Hall is deteriorating. Seems like our Gang Refining Hall will have to take over in the future." Kui Ma chuckled.

"Screw you!" Tang Feng cursed, glancing at the silent Wang Zhigao beside him, who ignored them.

"Impressive Yama’s Three Clasping Hands, body cultivation at this level is indeed formidable!" Ku Chan praised.

"Has this kid already reached this level?" Liu Zhongyang was also surprised, "This ranks him in the top three among body cultivators in the Divine Land."

Xiao Yan was shocked. What were they talking about? If it weren’t Ku Chan and Liu Zhongyang speaking, he would have burst into laughter.

"Isn’t it a performance?" Xiao Yan instinctively asked.

"Why would Brother Xiao think so?" Ku Chan curiously inquired.

"It’s not just me; they were striking softly. Isn’t that Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill? It’s understood this is a spar, not a life-and-death fight." Xiao Yan responded.

Liu Zhongyang chuckled, "Brother Xiao, this is a showdown between top body cultivators. Their movements were slow because their bodies carried the Gang Condensation Array inherent in body cultivation, with each move deadly. Any hit wouldn’t injure but kill directly."

"The move just now was Yama’s Three Clasping Hands, Heaven-Supporting Palm, Wind-Embracing Sky-Crushing Throat-Slicing Kill, followed by Great Strength Vajra Finger Eye-Piercing Skull Penetration; even I’d find it hard to withstand head-on." Liu Zhongyang said with a smile.

Outsiders see the spectacle, insiders see the technique.

Though most cultivators didn’t quite understand, seeing the state of the Martial Arts Arena revealed something unknown had transpired.

In the recent collision devoid of smoke or fire, both men discharged their power into the ground. How could the Martial Arts Arena withstand?

Meng Kuo looked at Li Xin, cupped his fists, "Brother Ren, you’re truly formidable, I can’t win without lethal moves."

Li Xin smiled, "No need for courtesy, let me see what the Vajra Institute is made of."

Meng Kuo took a deep breath, as Spiritual Energy around him surged, transforming him into a vortex, Spiritual Ability gathered, his eyes bursting with golden light, fingers suddenly pointed.

Great Vajra Spiritual Flint Finger!

Swoosh.

At that moment, Meng Kuo’s figure vanished; the two Great Vajra Spiritual Flint Fingers were merely to seal angles. His strength far exceeded the previous entry-level Vajra skill; the Great Vajra Finger was mastered expertly, stylistically. The real lethal strike was frontal; Meng Kuo’s figure appeared, slowing once more, slicing towards Li Xin’s throat with a hand blade. At this, Li Xin neither dodged nor evaded, abruptly closing the distance, accompanied by a loud bang, directly launching Meng Kuo skyward, swiftly clap clap clap...

Three strikes of the Great Vajra Spiritual Flint Finger unleashed, as his figure vanished. The next moment he was behind Meng Kuo, but as Meng Kuo turned with a sweeping motion, Li Xin’s figure flickered and disappeared, reappearing at the side, reaching for Meng Kuo, yet Meng Kuo performed a feigned move, turning to grab Li Xin; they clashed a strike.

Boom boom boom boom boom...

Six consecutive straightforward clashes, Energy ripples erupted but weren’t strong, with both hands locked in confrontation, caught in a standoff as Spiritual Ability surged within their bodies.

Spiritual Power Contest!

The vortex of Spiritual Ability arose around them without wind, spiraling within a three-meter radius, yet not fully unleashed.

Bang...

Both exerted force, suddenly pushing apart once more.

Boom...

The ground split completely, the massive rupture triggering the defense array. Meng Kuo appeared as though possessing infinite strength, advancing again, facing Li Xin’s Heaven-Piercing Palm, which made Meng Kuo instinctively lean back while Li Xin’s fingertips chased promptly, cutting his throat even faster and more viciously, swoosh...

An invisible dark light swept across Meng Kuo’s throat, emitting a sound akin to tearing steel. Meng Kuo’s pupils shrunk, his Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill thwarting the lethal throat slice, yet this was merely the prelude to attack, the surrounding space seemed to compress his movements entirely. Despite this, Meng Kuo forced a turn, aware of what lurked behind, evading the deadly spatial tear.

Yet the chain attack arrived, Eye-Piercing Skull Penetration!

Li Xin unleashed the Great Vajra Finger as Meng Kuo’s body agilely contracted, executing a close-quarter waist-hold kill, eluding the attack while simultaneously drawing perilously near Li Xin’s vital point. In this instant, Meng Kuo’s body emitted violent golden light, striking towards his chest with a heavy elbow.

At this moment, everything surrounding seemed frozen, Jiuxiao Building felt a colossal gravitational pull, and this unadorned blow could utterly shatter any opponent.

Boom...