"Shen Yunshen, there’s no need to be so eager to die. What? Afraid you won’t get a spot on the road to the underworld?"
Shen Yunshen’s face was red and blue, his breathing heavy, yet he looked at Jingping Saint without backing down, trying to calm his breath.
"Yun Shen!" Guo Luming called out worriedly.
Only then did Shen Yunshen exhale the stifling air from his chest and spoke softly.
"I’m fine."
Saying this, he sneered at the opponent.
"Jingping Saint, I originally thought that after twenty years of seclusion, your strength would reach the level of Divinity, but it seems it’s not much after all."
Back then, Guan Xuejiang gave clear instructions for Shen Yunshen to team up with Guo Luming to deal with this Jingping Saint.
But Jingping Saint’s actions were incredibly swift.
Almost as soon as the two of them descended the mountain, Jingping Saint sensed it.
Then he rushed over, said nothing upon meeting them, and first exchanged a palm strike with Guo Luming, causing a mound of earth to collapse.
At the time, Shen Yunshen was watching from behind, unable to intervene, so he had to endure silently.
Until Guo Luming’s persuasion failed, and Jingping Saint fiercely struck with his fist.
Only then did Shen Yunshen seize the opportunity and, with all his might, exchanged a punch with Jingping Saint.
The result, although expected, put him at a disadvantage, but it greatly boosted his confidence.
After all, there was a gap between him and Jingping Saint back then. Now, twenty years later, Jingping Saint had just broken from seclusion, and Shen Yunshen could withstand a punch from him without being severely injured, which was already a victory.
Unexpectedly, after hearing Shen Yunshen’s words, Jingping Saint not only wasn’t angry but also laughed.
"Such arrogance! But since you’re so eager to die, fine, I’ll reluctantly send you on your way first."
With that, Jingping Saint’s aura suddenly began to surge.
If earlier, Jingping Saint’s aura felt like a deep, unfathomable pool of water, now this pool was gushing out under immense force.
Moreover, this aura kept changing.
At one moment, it was as fierce as flames; the next, it was cool like icy water.
The people watching from a distance exclaimed in shock.
"That’s the aura of those Divine Sect members from the Wilderness Land."
"No wonder those Barbarian Sect members joined this time; it turns out the Divine Spirit they worship has been devoured by Jingping Saint."
At this moment, Shen Yunshen’s expression also grew extremely serious.
Yet even so, he still showed no fear of battle; in fact, he was full of heroic spirit, his fighting intent blazing.
As a participant in that splinter war years ago, the main reason he became dejected over the years was his inability to resolve his inner turmoil.
Because, in that great war, many senior and junior brothers he was close with died.
And they died at the hands of their fellow disciples.
This once made him utterly disgusted with Martial Dao.
Until later, Guan Xuejiang enlightened him, telling him the chief culprit was the obstinate Jingping Saint and those who aided and abetted him.
It had nothing to do with him, nor should he blame himself for it.
Thus, Shen Yunshen gradually emerged from the quagmire.
But it also sowed seeds of hatred in his heart, constantly thinking of seeking justice for those who died tragically back then.
At this moment, Jingping Saint’s aura had reached a terrifying height.
The True Power emanating from his body distorted the surrounding air.
Then, Jingping Saint sneered.
"Shen Yunshen, I know you’ve never accepted me. Ever since we studied martial arts together, you were like this, and even more so now."
"Since that’s the case, I’ll give you an explanation. Next, I’ll use martial arts from the temple to kill you, as a token of our long-standing friendship."
With that, Jingping Saint slowly raised his hand and clenched it into a fist.
Bang.
A crisp sound like a firecracker erupted.
That was the air being violently compressed and bursting.
Then, Jingping Saint leaped up, instantly soaring above Shen Yunshen, and struck down with a fist.
If Zhao Ya were present, he would be shocked upon seeing this punch from Jingping Saint.
Because the punch Jingping Saint used was none other than the pure Great Vajra Fist.
But this Great Vajra Fist, in Jingping Saint’s hands, conveyed a completely different mood than when used by Lu Dingtai or Zhao Ya.
Lu Dingtai’s Great Vajra Fist was grand and dignified, just like his character, always disdainful of petty affairs.
Zhao Ya’s Great Vajra Fist was aggressive, full of youthful vitality, and even after evolving into the Immovable Ming King Fist, that fist intent remained unchanged.
But Jingping Saint’s Great Vajra Fist was full of bizarre and eerie doom.
When this punch struck down, it didn’t resemble a demon-subduing vajra; instead, it looked more like a blue-faced fanged Ghost King.
Yet its might was even more terrifying.
Though the fist hadn’t reached him, the overwhelming pressure was already upon Shen Yunshen, causing his hair and clothes to flutter wildly.
Nevertheless, Shen Yunshen remained unafraid, instead letting out an angry roar, and also punched upwards.
It was also the Great Vajra Fist.
As if amid the ghostly aura, a vajra was burning itself with all its might, lifting a piece of light.
This punch was filled with a tragic determination to advance courageously.
Guo Luming’s expression changed drastically upon seeing this, but he swallowed back the words on his lips.
Because he knew.
This was Shen Yunshen’s inner turmoil.
If this punch couldn’t be delivered satisfyingly, not only would his future in Martial Dao be completely severed, but his cultivation might also be entirely destroyed.
So he could only stare at the scene, ready to intervene at any moment.
And upon seeing Shen Yunshen’s desperate counterattack, even Jingping Saint’s eyes showed a hint of admiration.
Not everyone has this courage.
But it didn’t stop him from striking with his fist.
Thunk.
After a dull thud, the shockwave instantly shattered the branches and leaves of several trees nearby.
Shen Yunshen was like a cannonball, slammed hard into the ground.
"Yun Shen!" Guo Luming shouted, rushing forward immediately.
Shen Yunshen’s face was deathly pale, his aura weak, with blood continuously trickling from the corners of his mouth.
But fortunately, his eyes were still open, and there was still spirit in them.
Seeing this, Guo Luming finally felt relieved.
Though the injuries were serious, it seemed there was no threat to his life.
"How are you?" Guo Luming asked.
Shen Yunshen nodded, "I’m not dying."
Then he looked up at Jingping Saint, who was not far away, spat out bloody saliva, and said with disdain.
"In terms of strength, I’m inferior to you, but that’s because you devoured numerous Wish Powers, so I’m not convinced."
"As for the Fist Technique, I didn’t lose to you with this punch."
Even though he had received a punch from Shen Yunshen, Jingping Saint’s face wasn’t even flushed. Upon hearing the words, he chuckled softly.
"Say what you want. Anyway, you are my defeated opponent, and I’ll send you on your way later."
With this, he looked at Guo Luming with a stern expression.
"Guo, you’ve seen enough, rested enough, are you going to fight or not? If not, I’ll head to Azure Dragon Temple first."
Guo Luming certainly couldn’t let him leave.
He slowly exhaled.
In an instant, he seemed like a sharp sword unsheathed, brimming with a sharp edge.
"For nearly thirty years, I haven’t had any intention to kill anyone; I never expected that at the last minute, I’d have to kill again."
Saying this, Guo Luming looked at Jingping Saint.
"Come on, let’s see if you’re stronger, or if my old bones are tougher!"
A hint of caution appeared in Jingping Saint’s eyes.
"Alright!"
As the words fell, he instantly appeared in front of Guo Luming, raising his hand to strike.
Guo Luming responded unhurriedly, catching the palm lightly.
No momentum, no turbulent airflow.
It looked just like two ordinary people, unfamiliar with martial arts, in a fight.
Yet seeing this, the distant onlookers became even more somber than before.
Because they knew, this was truly a life-and-death struggle.
Even the slightest mistake could lead to death and disappearance.
Nan Liangyu was watching intently, afraid of missing any detail.
Meanwhile, as Jingping Saint and Guo Luming fought, in Azure Dragon Temple, Guan Xuejiang, who had been sitting in meditation in the main hall, suddenly opened his eyes.