Chapter 236 - 140: Advancing to the Semifinals
The silence was so absolute, you could hear a pin drop.
It was as if the entire world had fallen silent in that moment...
"S-Senior Brother Gu won!!"
Suddenly, a voice shattered the silence.
The crowd in the stands immediately erupted with the force of a volcano.
"Gu Yun is a War God!
From now on, he’s my idol!
He’s just too Heaven-Defying!"
An Inner Sect Disciple in a white robe shouted in reverence, his eyes filled with admiration.
"Even the renowned Wu Wuji, tenth on the Profound Celestial List, was defeated.
I ask you, who in the entire Inner Sect can possibly stop Senior Brother Gu’s advance?
I ask you, who else is there?!"
A disciple roared himself hoarse, his eyes filled with veneration.
"Gu Yun is a dark horse that can fly..."
"And Xiao Chen is a charging wild boar..."
So an old Inner Sect Disciple mused, comparing the two most prominent rising stars of the Inner Sect.
...
Gu Yun stood in mid-air above the arena, a corner of his robes fluttering though there was no wind. His black hair danced freely as his gaze swept across the scene below. The stage was a complete wreck—shattered and torn to pieces. Finally, his eyes settled on Wu Wuji, lying in the crater.
’This battle was far from easy.’
’I couldn’t even finish him in a single move.’
’It gives me no sense of security.’
’As I thought, I’m still too weak...’
’Looks like I’ll have to cultivate even harder when I get back.’
At that moment, dust and smoke filled the air.
Wu Wuji, with his tall and sturdy frame, lay at the bottom of the crater.
His body was covered in wounds, and his robes were tattered beyond recognition.
Soaked in his own blood from head to toe, he looked like a man sculpted from gore.
"COUGH, COUGH!"
’Pain.’
’Excruciating pain!’
’A wave of pain, far beyond what any normal person could endure, surged from within. The agony was so intense it felt like my head was about to explode.’
Wu Wuji could feel that most of his bones were shattered. His back, in particular, was completely caved in.
’It’s been a long time.’
’A very long time since I’ve been this badly injured.’
’This feels amazing!!’
’I want to do it all over again.’
’When I get back this time and my body recovers, my strength is bound to increase.’
’That’s right.’
’I possess the Fighting Spirit Body.’
’The more I fight, the stronger I get.’
’After every battle, my strength undergoes a surge of growth.’
’And this time especially... I was so thoroughly defeated, my injuries are so grievous... The pain is so intense it feels like it could shatter my mind!’
’But the pain is worth it. With my Physique, my strength should improve significantly once I recover.’
’Then I’ll beat that guy to a pulp.’
’And skewer him with my halberd.’
At the thought, Wu Wuji felt a whole lot better...
At the same time, in a packed section of the stands, stood a figure in a wide, black robe, his face a mask of shock.
Xin Shikui stared intently at the brilliant figure hovering above the arena.
His hands were clenched into fists so tight it seemed his nails would draw blood from his palms.
’That guy... he’s actually this powerful!’
’He even defeated Wu Wuji.’
’Do I even have a chance anymore?’
’Ever since our clash on Celestial Wood Dao Peak, not only did he snatch away that precious opportunity, he even left me seriously wounded.’
’From that moment on, I swore an oath.’
’I will!’
’I absolutely must!’
’Tear him limb from limb!!’
’This is on the verge of becoming my Heart Demon. If I don’t eliminate him, my will shall be flawed, and I’ll probably never be able to break through to the Tongxuan Realm!’
’But now, his strength far surpasses my imagination.’
’He easily defeated Wu Wuji, who’s ranked tenth on the Profound Celestial List.’
’His power is practically at the very pinnacle of the Inner Sect!’
’How can I possibly be his match?’
’Do I... do I still have a chance?’
’No!!’
’I have to make it possible!!’
’If worse comes to worst, I’ll just stop being human!!’
Xin Shikui roared in his heart like a cornered beast, filled with bitter resentment.
At the same time, a terrifying, pitch-black, bloody light flashed across his eyes!!
Then, his figure abruptly vanished, and he left Vast Square.
...
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, more than ten days had passed.
During this time, Gu Yun competed in the fourth round of the tournament.
His opponent was an Armor Disciple from Water Dao Peak, at the Seventh Layer of the True Martial Realm.
Gu Yun defeated him with ease.
And successfully advanced to the semifinals!
Meanwhile, the fourth round of the tournament was still in full swing.
Generally, those who made it to the fourth round had won three consecutive matches and possessed formidable strength.
Because of this, the fourth round matches were quite lengthy.
The disciples on stage unleashed all their trump cards, from Techniques and Martial Techniques to Secret Techniques.
The resulting battles were absolutely spectacular, with an intensity that surpassed the previous three rounds combined.
It was a true eye-opener for the Cultivators from the various major and minor Sects and families of the Eastern Profound Domain, who had all come to watch and were now gasping in admiration.
The whole of Vast Square was abuzz with a clamorous din.
Many spectators gazed at the dazzling Cultivators on stage with envy, wishing they could take their place and bask in the attention of the hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of fellow Cultivators gathered there.
In stark contrast to the lively scene at Vast Square, Gu Yun was inside a cave-dwelling on Celestial Thunder Dao Peak, where the Spiritual Qi was exceptionally dense.
Gu Yun sat cross-legged on a mat, a mysterious, Ancient Jade Pendant hanging from his waist.
His mind was calm and his spirit focused, his eyes shut tight. The muscles and bones throughout his body rippled like waves, and each tremor seemed to produce the sound of a rushing torrent.
At the same time, Thunder Arcs flickered in and out of existence in the void around him. They danced like lightning serpents, exuding a tyrannical Momentum that was utterly terrifying to witness.
Clearly, Gu Yun was cultivating the Thunder Gang Body for Body Tempering. His vast Spiritual Sense allowed him to perceive the change in every inch of his muscles. His majestic True Yuan and the dense Spiritual Qi continuously tempered his flesh, causing his aura to grow stronger by the day.
Terrifying Thunder Arcs flickered around his body, threatening to rip the very space of the cave-dwelling apart.
Faintly, one could see invisible, pitch-black rifts to the void abyss, from which a horrifying aura escaped.
[You have diligently cultivated the Thunder Gang Body. Thunder Gang Body Skill Level +3%. Your Physique’s defense, strength, and speed have been slightly enhanced.]
[Thunder Gang Body (Extraordinary and Unworldly 15%)]
[Description: A Thunderous Physique that can annihilate heaven and earth.]
Gu Yun glanced at his own chiseled, well-defined body, which seemed to be cast from Gold, and couldn’t help but feel a hint of satisfaction.
Phew!
’Good. At least I don’t look like some freak with muscles bulging like overinflated airbags...’
After defeating that Armor Disciple in the fourth round, Gu Yun had immediately returned to his cave-dwelling to cultivate.
’The fourth round is probably still going on right now.’
’Come to think of it, after defeating Wu Wuji in the third round, I felt a thick sense of malice from the crowd. But there were too many people, so I couldn’t pinpoint the source. But I didn’t pay it too much mind.’
’As long as I become strong enough, it won’t matter what dangers or schemes come my way. I’ll shatter them all with absolute power.’
Phew!
’The path ahead is an iron pass.’
’Time to keep cultivating!’
With that thought, Gu Yun once again focused his mind and resumed his diligent Cultivation.
[You have painstakingly cultivated the Nine Tribulations Thunder Gang Decision fifty times. Thunder extinguishes the firmament and shatters the nine heavens. Nine Tribulations Thunder Gang Decision Skill Level +5%.]
[You have tirelessly cultivated the Wind and Thunder Annihilation Saber sixty times. Where Wind and Thunder rise, the void is extinguished. Wind and Thunder Annihilation Saber Skill Level +6%.]
[You have assiduously cultivated the Eight Desolates Star Slash thirty times. A single slash fells the stars. Eight Desolates Star Slash Skill Level +6%.]
...
「Half a month later.」
Gu Yun’s eyes snapped open. A flash of lightning flickered within them, like a bolt tearing through a dark sky, shining with an unprecedented brilliance!
BOOM!
Immediately following,
a terrifying Momentum surged outwards in all directions.
The surrounding space shuddered violently as if struck by a boundless flood,
trembling violently for a moment!
"A slight improvement. Not bad."
Gu Yun opened his eyes.
He could feel the ocean of True Yuan roiling within him and the immense power of his physique.
He felt as if a single punch contained enough power to shatter the heavens!
During this half-month,
the fourth round of the Inner Sect Grand Competition had also concluded.
Furthermore, the Sect had postponed the semifinals by half a month to give the disciples who had successfully passed the fourth round time to rest and recover.
Therefore,
if Gu Yun’s calculations were correct,
there were still about ten days until the semifinals began.
However, Gu Yun had no intention of continuing his seclusion in the cave-dwelling.
’To train my Physique,’
’I need to use the celestial Thunder of heaven and earth for Body Tempering!’
An idea seemed to form in Gu Yun’s mind.
He then rose from his mat and strode out of the cave-dwelling.
Gazing at the white clouds drifting across the sky,
Gu Yun’s figure abruptly vanished,
transforming into a streak of lightning that shot toward the horizon.
...