Chapter 238 - 236: The Sky of Da Han Is Unsuitable for Martial Artist Cultivation
Nan Wuji tilted his head to look at Su Yaoguang who was beside him, her inner qi fluctuating strongly, not surprised.
"Indeed, after years of secluded cultivation, you’ve broken through to the eighth layer of Qi Refining!"
"Compared to the Sword Venerable, I’m still far behind." Su Yaoguang shook her head and said, with a gentle tone, speaking frankly.
Nan Wuji was noncommittal to this.
"The Sword Venerable has come here especially, surely not just to congratulate me on my advancement in cultivation?" Su Yaoguang saw Nan Wuji had nothing more to say, so she couldn’t help but ask.
"Why not?" Nan Wuji took a sip of gourd wine and raised his eyes.
Su Yaoguang merely smiled, waiting for Nan Wuji to continue.
He understood her, knowing that the inwardly proud Nan Wuji would not visit without a reason.
"After breaking through to the eighth layer of Qi Refining, you must have noticed something as well." Nan Wuji suddenly said.
Su Yaoguang’s smile slightly waned, vaguely anticipating what Nan Wuji was going to say, she nodded slightly.
"In this Da Han, trying to advance further in Qi Refining, reaching Ninth Layer Perfection, is too difficult..." Nan Wuji continued.
"The environment constrains you and me, we should leave!"
Upon hearing this, Su Yaoguang sighed lightly, she understood what Nan Wuji was saying.
Since reaching the eighth layer of Qi Refining, she also clearly noticed that absorbing the qi from the external world into her body for refinement results in merely a small amount of inner qi.
Firstly, after the convergence of eight qi vortices within the body, there’s very little space left for a ninth vortex, thus every tiny bit of inner qi accumulation becomes far more difficult than before.
Secondly, the natural qi in the environment is too thin, even on Wangyue Peak where the natural qi is denser than the outside world, it’s still unable to meet her daily cultivation needs.
Since ancient times, across the millennia of the Da Han Dynasty, countless martial arts prodigies have been born.
Among them, martial artists who have achieved the eighth layer in Qi Refining are not few!
Almost every generation produces a few such as Nan Wuji and herself, and in the future, other martial artists will follow.
But ultimately, those who achieve Qi Refining Perfection, over the millennia, are rare and can be counted on one hand.
Now, Su Yaoguang knows the reason.
Nan Wuji gazed upwards at the bright clear sky, suddenly saying, "The skies of the Da Han Dynasty are not suited for martial artists to cultivate."
"Are you thinking of going to the Ancient Abyss Country?" Su Yaoguang, her thoughts stirred, asked.
"Yes, staying in Da Han, at most I can only achieve Qi Refining Perfection, and then the path ends; only by going to the Ancient Abyss Country can I touch upon the Innate." Nan Wuji confessed.
For what he wants to do, he neither needs nor deems it worthwhile to conceal.
Su Yaoguang listened in silence, although she did not immediately agree to Nan Wuji’s invitation, a direction took shape in her heart.
At this moment, the duel between Nan Chen Guang and Song Changming in the mountains began.
"In five years’ time, I set you as my target, now don’t disappoint me!" Nan Chen Guang unsheathed his longsword, his sword intent surged, seemingly ready to soar into the heavens!
"Chen Guang’s sword dao artistry already carries traces of your essence, perhaps in the future, he will become the next Sword Venerable." Su Yaoguang watched the soaring sword intent, expressing praise.
"I only hope he can carve out his own martial path, rather than becoming a second me." Nan Wuji shook his head.
Regarding Nan Chen Guang’s performance, he didn’t offer excessive praise; instead, he looked at the unobtrusive Song Changming, his eyes gleaming.
"Perhaps we could take him along."
"What?" Su Yaoguang was startled, looking at Song Changming.
Initially, she had been focused on the motion of Nan Chen Guang below, with no impression of the unfamiliar Song Changming.
Now, following Nan Wuji’s gaze, she looked carefully, showing a bit of surprise.
"Such a strong aura! What’s with this qi blood of his?!"
"Do you remember the Ghost-faced Vajra under the Ghost Blade Sect from years ago?" Nan Wuji said.
"Are you saying?"
"It should be."
Su Yaoguang suddenly understood.
"Unlike that Ghost-faced Vajra, this person’s physical aptitude and potential are higher, and he’s likely refining a set of excellent Contemplation Techniques that suppresses the beast-blood fierceness.
His body refinement strength now possibly surpasses that of the Ghost-faced Vajra from back then!"
Nan Wuji’s insight was incredibly sharp, in just a moment, he discerned many details about Song Changming.
"Moreover, he’s also refining inner qi, which was something that the Ghost-faced Vajra did not have."
His words had barely fallen when Nan Chen Guang already moved.
The longsword emitted dazzling azure light, crossing tens of meters, sweeping toward Song Changming.
Song Changming was suddenly enveloped in thunder light and vanished on the spot, leaving behind only a faint arc, struck by the blue sword qi.
Nan Chen Guang was indeed remarkable; after five years of arduous cultivation at Sword Cliff, upon descending the mountain, his body had already gathered five qi vortices, reaching the Fifth Layer Qi Refining!
His ranking on the Celestial List still remains at eighty-three, which clearly does not match his true strength.
This can’t really be blamed on the Zhuji Pavilion’s amateurism, after all, Nan Chen Guang hasn’t left Sword Cliff for the past five years and lacks adequate achievements to show.
They can only make a conservative assessment based on some rumors heard from Sword Cliff.
In fact, Song Changming is the same, he is also an underestimated presence on the Celestial List.
Over the past five years, he had victories, but no one has ever pushed him to exert his full strength.
Nan Chen Guang swung his sword into the air, his pupils quickly shifting within their sockets, trying to catch the trail of that swift electric light.
The next moment, he became alert, almost without thinking further, he executed a Martial Technique, burst his Inner Qi, and instantly left his original position.
At the same time, Song Changming’s fist struck.
The terrifying fist force caused layers of explosions, directly penetrating the ground.
Thanks to his quick thinking, Nan Chen Guang narrowly avoided disaster!
Song Changming looked up, just in time to meet Nan Chen Guang’s gaze in mid-air, and couldn’t help but grin.
He originally thought the battle could end with one punch, but Nan Chen Guang’s strength was beyond his expectations.
A Qi Refining Fifth Layer cultivation, not even thirty years old, which was the level Song Changming reached only at forty-three.
In terms of Inner Qi cultivation, the two are evenly matched!
But, what truly makes Song Changming incredibly powerful is not his Inner Qi cultivation!
Seeing Song Changming’s smile, a chill suddenly rose in Nan Chen Guang’s heart.
The next moment, Song Changming erupted with speed again, stomping a large crater in the ground with sheer force.
In the blink of an eye, Song Changming caught up with Nan Chen Guang.
Nan Chen Guang was both shocked and angry, unleashing all his Inner Qi without reservation, fully executing the Sword Formulas.
Around him, a surge of azure brilliance formed, coalescing into ninety-nine strands of sword energy, stabbing towards Song Changming from all directions, completely engulfing him!
This move was already his ultimate killing technique.
From the very beginning of the duel, Song Changming brought him an unimaginable pressure, making him feel as if he could lose, or even die, at any moment.
Therefore, Nan Chen Guang dared not hold back in the slightest.
No probing, no trading blows, no conserving strength, he couldn’t afford any of that!
Win or lose, under this immense pressure, he didn’t have time to dwell on it!
If not going all out, unleashing his full strength, he feared he might not even survive for another round!
"Great sword!" Song Changming’s eyes lit up.
In terms of mere skill, Nan Chen Guang’s sword was worthy of admiration.
The dazzling ninety-nine strands of sword energy, like countless arrows piercing the heart, bombarded his body; even mastering the Flying Thunder Technique, he found it difficult to dodge.
This sword form was stunning enough, its sword might could severely wound most Martial Artists, but against Song Changming’s Vajra Indestructible Body, it barely left a scratch!
Song Changming’s Qi Blood surged around him, his intense aura roared, not faltering in the slightest.
With a casual tear, he removed the tattered rags of his upper garment, standing like a Demon God, stepping towards Nan Chen Guang.
"Do you want to continue?"
Every step closer increased the pressure on Nan Chen Guang, as if he were being crushed under a massive mountain.
The ninety-nine strands of sword energy had failed to harm Song Changming in the slightest, leaving Nan Chen Guang disheartened.
Song Changming’s strength was beyond imagination, he originally thought that this descent from the mountain would be enough to overpower Song Changming and emerge victorious.
Now it seems he was wholly mistaken.
While he accelerated his strength, Song Changming was also elevating, and at a faster pace, which was the most despairing fact!
Song Changming had no intention of competing with him in Inner Qi or Martial Technique styles.
Instead, he completed an absolute domination over him in another field!
Every piece of his flesh seemed to have undergone exhaustive refinement; its toughness surpassed that of Divine Weapons!
The energy he could erupt was enough to topple mountains and overturn seas!
"The last sword!" Nan Chen Guang gritted his teeth and said.
Despite seeing the vast gap in strength between them, he was still unwilling to concede defeat just like that.
Once more, he channeled all his Inner Qi into the longsword, merging the ninety-nine strands of sword intent he had previously released, mastering heart and spirit.
At this moment, man and sword were one, his eyes emitted a fierce azure glow, mustering his most powerful strike!
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