Chapter Nineteen: The Duel with Chen Tian

Chen Tian gazed at Nuotian with a cold, impassive expression.

Nuotian glanced around and turned his head to the side. “Junior sister, this guy looks pretty formidable. I’m afraid I can’t beat him. Maybe you should consider someone else,” he said to Qin Yixin, a sunny smile on his face.

For reasons she couldn't explain, looking at his bright, cheerful smile, Qin Yixin found her fear dissolving. It was as if she instinctively knew he wouldn’t hand her over. She edged closer to Nuotian, her eyes fixed on him with resolve.

Nuotian rubbed his forehead. “Senior brother expert, it seems this beautiful junior sister beside me isn’t willing to go with your useless companion.”

Chen Tian remained unmoved by all this and stepped forward. “If you can withstand ten of my moves, I’ll let you go. Otherwise, you die here today. Not just anyone can speak the name of the Hidden Dragon Hall.”

Nuotian curled his lips. “You’re no fun at all. You’re really underestimating me—ten moves?” He felt this was all rather pointless; so much trouble just for a stroll. “Fine, then. Let me experience your renowned skills, senior brother.” He stepped forward, and Qin Yixin’s gaze clung to his figure. She felt less afraid now; having witnessed this mysterious senior brother defeat Chen Po in a single move, holding out against a master of the Soul Essence Realm for ten moves shouldn’t be impossible.

Chen Tian’s lips twisted into a sinister smile. “Do you think defeating a useless peak Human Heroic Realm disciple means you can ignore the elite? Today I’ll show you what it means when a single realm divides heaven from earth.”

Watching the two in the center, Chen Po sneered inwardly. Though he disliked Chen Tian, seeing this upstart beaten or even killed by his hand suited him perfectly. After all, in a fair fight, even killing an inner disciple would only earn a mild reprimand from the disciplinary elders, especially if the victim was a promising elite.

Chen Po never imagined Nuotian could last ten moves against Chen Tian. The Human Heroic Realm was simply no match for the Soul Essence Realm. The former allowed one to harness the elemental energies of heaven and earth, granting strength far surpassing the mundane, but the latter awakened the martial soul within, fusing with it to unleash tremendous power. Even a newly advanced Soul Essence disciple could defeat more than ten Human Heroic Realm peers combined—such was the might of the martial soul.

Chen Tian wasted no more words. “Take my first move. I hope you won’t disappoint me.” A strange beast, forged of elemental energy, lunged straight at Nuotian.

Nuotian eyed the unfamiliar energy beast warily. Though his own talent seemed extraordinary, he dared not be careless facing a Soul Essence Realm disciple. Channeling his Heavenly Dragon footwork, he narrowly evaded the attack. A deafening crash sounded at his ear—the strike landed where he’d stood moments before, shattering the solid rock beneath and gouging a pit several meters deep.

Chen Tian was surprised to see his opponent dodge so easily. “Your footwork is impressive, but if you think you can last ten moves by dodging alone, you’re deluding yourself.” With that, Chen Tian’s figure vanished into the distance. Nuotian tensed and immediately retreated from his spot. Sure enough, a blast of energy swept past his face as soon as he moved.

So the two exchanged nearly seven moves in rapid succession. Throughout, Nuotian kept dodging, sustaining only minor injuries—scrapes on his face, torn clothing—at least on the surface.

“You’ve really surprised me,” Chen Tian said, his tone darkening. “But this is where it ends.” As he spoke, a far more intense aura surged from him. Behind him, a shadow appeared, identical in form to the energy beast he’d summoned earlier: a strange creature with the tail of a flood dragon but the head of an elephant.

Upon seeing Chen Tian reveal his martial soul, the surrounding disciples exclaimed, “Senior Brother Chen has summoned the Dragon-Elephant Martial Soul! The dragon-elephant is an ancient beast—immensely strong and incredibly fast. That guy won’t be able to dodge now.”

Nuotian’s face grew solemn as he beheld the beastly shadow behind Chen Tian. All trace of his earlier levity vanished. The martial soul of the Soul Essence Realm was no trifling matter. Many masters possessed beast-like martial souls due to their cultivation methods, though not all could manifest them in combat—some merged directly with their bodies, depending on their techniques.

But to unleash the martial soul in battle was to increase one’s might by forty percent. Clearly, Chen Tian had not been fighting seriously until now. He intended to finish this in three moves. Nuotian was not afraid. If the dragon-elephant boasted boundless strength, then he would see whose power was greater. Channeling the Way of the Dragon through his body, he focused his energy into his fist and struck hard at the oncoming dust cloud. A thunderous boom resounded; both fighters were forced back. Where their fists met, a deep pit marred the ground, dust billowing.

The spectators could scarce believe their eyes—a Human Heroic Realm disciple trading blows with a Soul Essence master, and not coming off the worse for it.

Chen Tian steadied himself, staring at Nuotian. “You really are astonishing.” Though he’d been forced back, he knew it was likely due to his opponent’s innate strength. Even so, the other must have suffered greatly. The power of a martial soul was not so easily withstood; no matter how monstrous his might, the gulf between realms was insurmountable.

Nuotian shook out his arm lightly. He hadn’t expected this man to be so strong, but if Chen Tian thought he could win in the next two moves, he was mistaken. He said nothing more; after being battered for so long, anyone would be angry. “Senior Brother Chen, two moves left.” With those words, and to everyone’s astonishment, he leapt at Chen Tian to attack.

Chen Tian watched the incoming figure with a hint of surprise—and disdain. Forcing himself to suppress his injuries, he prepared to end it. “Dragon-elephant ascends, all demons retreat!” With a bellow like an elephant’s trumpet, he charged forward.

“Dragon-elephant? Watch my Heavenly Dragon Battle Technique!” With a dragon’s roar, Nuotian met him head-on. The clash was fierce, with dust and shards of stone flying everywhere.

The onlookers were stunned. The ten-move challenge had long been surpassed; the two were still locked in combat. The one fighting Senior Brother Chen was no ordinary man. A Human Heroic Realm disciple battling on equal terms with a Soul Essence master upended everything they thought possible. Some had heard from their masters that a handful of core disciples, armed with the finest techniques and martial arts, could fight above their rank—but never had they believed that this grinning, irrepressible fellow could be one of them.

Qin Yixin stood at a distance, hiding to avoid flying debris, her heart pounding. This senior brother who had suddenly come to her aid might seem easygoing and casual, but his strength was astonishing—he could rival a Soul Essence master.

The two exchanged blows for a long while, until several dull thuds sounded and both figures staggered apart. As the dust settled, the battleground lay in ruins—a hundred yards around had been gouged more than three meters deep.

When the crowd finally saw the fighters’ condition, their jaws nearly hit the ground, and the sound of dropped chins was almost audible.

Chen Tian was in utter disarray. His once-fine robe was reduced to rags, his face bore several wounds, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and he clutched his chest, gasping for breath. He wiped the blood from his lips and glared at his opponent as if he would devour him alive.

Nuotian’s clothes were also in tatters, and his face bore some injuries, but he looked far better than Chen Tian. After straightening his outfit, he took a few steps toward Chen Tian. “Senior brother, do you still wish to fight? The ten moves have long since passed.” There was a mocking smile on his face.

Chen Tian’s expression grew even darker at these words. “Fine, fine, fine. I never imagined you’d be so formidable. But no matter who you are or how strong, if you show disrespect to the Hidden Dragon Hall, you will not be spared. I doubt you are unscathed after this.”

As he finished, the dozen or so disciples who had come with Chen Tian began to close in. All were inner disciples selected directly by the Hidden Dragon Hall to serve it, much as the other three halls had their own chosen followers. Inner disciples vied fiercely for such positions, for even though being an inner disciple granted them much, it was far from enough to access the truly advanced techniques and martial arts, which were tightly controlled by the Four Halls, ensuring their dominance.

To become a disciple of the Four Halls required one to be an elite or to make great contributions to the sect. Thus, serving as an attendant to the halls became a shortcut—perhaps not granting immediate access to the highest techniques, but far better than remaining among the ordinary inner disciples.

The disciples encircling Nuotian were all Human Heroic Realm experts, each drawing their weapons and fixing Nuotian with a steady gaze.

Qin Yixin, standing off to the side, was anxious. She hadn’t expected such shamelessness—that they would force Nuotian to fight two battles in a row, one of them against someone far above his level, and now, without giving him a moment to recover, they planned to attack him as a group. How could people be so despicable?

Nuotian looked at the dozen or so men surrounding him. “I never thought the Hidden Dragon Hall could be so shameless. It seems I wasn’t wrong about you after all.”

Chen Tian ground his teeth. “Shameless or not, you dared insult the Hidden Dragon Hall. Today is your death day.”

At this moment, Chen Tian cared only about eliminating this man, even if he had to stoop to the lowest methods.

Nuotian stood tall. “Since you’re all so despicable, I won’t hold back any longer. Did you really think I was that easy to bully?”