Chapter 1104: Might of the Heavenly Spiritual Body
While in the dark and cold ocean depths, Xiao Chen had honed his mental state further to a horrifying level. It was now much stronger than even that of older-generation cultivators.
He collected his thoughts as he said calmly, “This Xiao also heard of your name long ago. The Heavenly Spiritual Body was the peak physique during the Ancient Era. As one’s cultivation grows, the Heavenly Spiritual Body improves as well, allowing one to fight people above one’s cultivation level.
“Now that Brother Di is a quasi-Emperor, your Heavenly Spiritual Body must have improved further.”
Di Xinhan revealed a proud expression. He neither confirmed nor denied Xiao Chen’s evaluation, merely saying, “All other aspects aside, when it comes to the physical body, I believe that no one in the same generation is better than me, that includes Brother Xiao.
“However, I do not like to play those kinds of petty tricks, using the thing that I am best at to compete with other’s shortcomings, then feeling immeasurably self-satisfied after winning like that.”
Clearly, Di Xinhan’s words were aimed at Young Master Qingshu. He evidently disdained those kinds of petty tricks.
“Today, I know that I am unable to match up to Brother Xiao. I do not ask for much. It would be worth it if I can just force you to draw your saber.”
Di Xinhan seemed rather magnanimous, not arrogant at all. In the earlier battles, Xiao Chen had already proven his strength through his actions.
There was no need to deny it. If one was not comparable to the other, then so be it. Admitting it was nothing embarrassing.
Xiao Chen really liked the way Di Xinhan was. Among the many Holy Scions, Di Xinhan was a true man.
“Actually, in the Kunlun Continent, before my King conferral ceremony, I also relied on the advancement of my physical body. It was that which allowed me to gain some fame among those of the same generation. Now that I see Brother Di today, I have no other wish than to experience the might of the Heavenly Spiritual Body.”
Di Xinhan quickly understood after thinking about Xiao Chen’s words for a bit. “You want to fight a purely physical battle with me?!”
Xiao Chen nodded. “That’s right. Only the physical body and nothing else.”
After saying that, Xiao Chen did not hesitate to circulate the Azure Dragon Body Nourishing Art. He used the pure Dragon Energy to form the Azure Dragon Battle Armor to cover his body.
Azure draconic patterns were carved on the Azure Dragon Battle Armor. It gleamed with light and looked very impressive.
At first, Di Xinhan thought that Xiao Chen was joking. He was the clearest on how horrifying his Heavenly Spiritual Body was.
However, when Di Xinhan saw the azure armor appearing on Xiao Chen’s body, his expression slowly turned grave.
When the Azure Dragon Battle Armor was completely formed, Di Xinhan no longer showed any traces of relaxation. He smiled bitterly and said, “I take back what I said earlier. However, I am still confident. If we are just competing with the physical body, I still have an even chance of victory.”
Xiao Chen smiled and said, “Honestly speaking, if we use Martial Techniques, I am confident in defeating Brother Di in one move. However, I have never competed with anyone in the same generation using just the physical body. The reason is none other than having no opponents. I believe that Brother Di understands my feelings.”
Di Xinhan could not help roaring with laughter. He had truly found a kindred spirit. He also had never competed with anyone else in the same generation using only the physical body. The reason was the same: he could not find an opponent within the Heavenly Starry Ocean.
“Very well. Today, this Di will compete with Brother Xiao with the physical body. Let’s see which is more powerful, your Azure Dragon War Body or my Heavenly Spiritual Body.”
Right after Di Xinhan spoke, he activated his Heavenly Spiritual Body. Sky-blue armor appeared around his body as well, made from the pure Spiritual Energy gathered. It looked very solid and sturdy.
Xiao Chen and Di Xinhan were going to fight with their physical bodies. This stirred up the crowd that had been silent all this time.
Di Xinhan’s physical body was famous in the Heavenly Starry Ocean. He was the top of his generation without a doubt.
Xiao Chen was really stubborn. In an instant, he made his chances of victory unclear, piquing the interest of countless people.
Although they did not say it, many people’s impressions of Xiao Chen changed significantly.
The words that Xiao Chen said upset some people. However, there had never been any arrogance in his words. Instead, he fought hard, showing true strength.
In each victory, Xiao Chen had defeated his opponent with overwhelming strength. Nevertheless, he never became proud or arrogant despite emerging victorious in battle after battle.
On the other hand, several of the Heavenly Starry Ocean’s outstanding talents arrived so arrogantly but ended up making jokes of themselves.
Honestly speaking, such an expert was very easy to accept—especially now, when Xiao Chen was very polite in his conversation with Di Xinhan. From his words, one could tell that he genuinely desired a challenge.
When dealing with a person with the Heavenly Spiritual Body, even a Consummation quasi-Emperor would not dare to say such words about competing with the physical body.
However, Xiao Chen had. He stepped up in the face of difficulty and challenged it head-on.
“Brother Xiao, are you ready?” Di Xinhan asked. His Heavenly Spiritual Body was an innate special physique. Xiao Chen’s Azure Dragon War Body was something cultivated later.
At this moment, the difference between the two was not much. However, in regard to the speed of circulation, Xiao Chen, who cultivated his physique after birth, would be slower than Di Xinhan.
Di Xinhan’s question was to give Xiao Chen a chance, so that the fight would start on an equal footing.
After a while, Xiao Chen finished circulating the Azure Dragon Body Nourishing Art for a cycle. Then, he nodded and said, “I’m ready.”
The two bowed to each other and moved back a kilometer each. The moment they landed, their auras burst forth.
Azure-colored Heavenly Dragons came out of Xiao Chen’s body. This was the mysterious phenomenon created from pure Vital Qi.
A total of ten huge Heavenly Dragons danced behind Xiao Chen, stirring up the winds and clouds, causing lightning to flash and thunder to roar.
Di Xinhan’s aura was no weaker than Xiao Chen’s. Ten light-blue Heavenly Dragons flew out from him, and many hurricanes formed in his surroundings. As the hurricanes moved around and howled, several horrifying bolts of lightning flashed.
The two showed serious expressions as they each shouted a war cry. Then, they dashed quickly towards each other.
Their bodies were like tall mountains. With each step they took, they left a perfect footprint on the floor, shaking the entire arena violently.
The mysterious phenomena were even more horrifying. Before the two got close, the two different auras already clashed and were now hard to differentiate from each other in the air.
The heavy footsteps sounded like thunder, making the hearts of all the cultivators watching pound in tandem.
This was the hardest battle to predict ever since the Azure Dragon King Xiao Chen ascended to the highest arena. Everyone was anxious over who would snatch the final victory.
If one was watching from above, one would discover that the footprints left by the two were of nearly equal depth. However, at the edges, the imprints Xiao Chen left were perfectly round and distinct, while Di Xinhan’s had fine cracks.
As the crowd watched in anticipation, the two in the arena approached each other. The answer to who would gain victory would soon be known.
“Boom!”
The heavy clash happened in an instant.
These two were of the same generation, peak experts of the physical body. One could not find an opponent in the Heavenly Starry Ocean, and one could not find an opponent in the Kunlun Continent.
Who was stronger? Everyone was excited to find out.
The situation turned blurry as a loud sound rang out from the arena. Tiny rifts appeared in space, which looked like it would be torn apart.
Berserk dragons flew about, dancing wildly. In just a mere breath of time, the victory was decided.
Di Xinhan’s figure rebounded rapidly. Cracks appeared in his armor before it shattered and fell to the floor. Then, he skidded back on one knee, reaching the edge of the arena and nearly falling off.
Xiao Chen took ten steps back, blood leaking from a corner of his lips. He coughed and then vomited three mouthfuls of blood. Clearly, he was significantly injured.
A situation where the two clashed head-on with the physical body was akin to dealing a thousand damage to the opponent but eight hundred to one’s self. It was nearly impossible to escape unscathed.
Xiao Chen was well aware that fighting in such a manner would put him at a distinct disadvantage, but he still chose this honorable contest without second thoughts.
Aside from the desire in his heart, he also needed to prove to the Lunar Palace’s judges that he, Xiao Chen, could defeat anyone in the Heavenly Starry Ocean using the thing that they excelled at no matter who they were.
He wanted to leave the Lunar Palace’s judges speechless, to take away the last mountain tablet of the Dragon’s Gate remaining in the world.
Even if Xiao Chen ended up injured, he would not regret it. So what if he was proud and violent this once, challenging all the various Holy Lands?!
Di Xinhan appeared pale, clearly in a much sorrier state than Xiao Chen. He smiled bitterly and said, “My Heavenly Spiritual Body is no weaker than your Azure Dragon War Body. Unfortunately, my control of the strength is quite inferior.”
As Di Xinhan spoke, he vomited a few mouthfuls of blood. However, he did not show much sorrow on his face. Instead, he appeared rather carefree.
Xiao Chen said calmly, “My Azure Dragon War Body is something cultivated while your Heavenly Spiritual Body is something innate. In regard to control, I’ll naturally be stronger.”
The explanation was simple. To cultivate the Azure Dragon War Body, he needed to consistently examine himself, testing many things and tempering himself several times.
As for the innate Heavenly Spiritual Body, it did not take much effort to cultivate. It was already there since birth. All one needed to do was consolidate and raise one’s cultivation continuously.
Xiao Chen did not stop there; he continued, “However, in reality, the innate physique is clearly much more convenient. If you did not give me time to prepare at the start, it would be hard to determine who would win.”
Di Xinhan smiled and said, “The Azure Dragon King is being too humble. Even if I did not give you any time to prepare, my chances of defeating you would still be slim. Your fine control of strength is much better than mine.
“In this battle, I, Di Xinhan, accept my loss wholeheartedly. I have seen the weakness of my Heavenly Spiritual Body. In the future, after I redress it, I will definitely seek you out for a rematch.”
After saying that, Di Xinhan blithely turned and left, flying away.
Defeated. Di Xinhan was defeated as well. Furthermore, he lost in the aspect that he was the strongest at, beaten in one move.
This ending was truly sorrowful. No one could make Xiao Chen draw his saber after all.
Such a scene where the Four Seas Hero Gathering became the stage for an outsider had never happened in the past ten thousand years. The cultivators in Bright Moon Plaza had a sour feeling in their hearts. The bitterness was easy to imagine.
However, although these cultivators were all bitter about the situation, most of them no longer held hatred and envy for Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen observed proper conduct, not playing any tricks. Although his words were arrogant, he fought each battle with true strength, forcing everyone to accept his superiority.
“Whoosh!”
This time, everyone did not have to wait for long. Someone quickly flew out of one of the jade pavilions—the Five Poison Sect’s Tang Xun.
Why was it that after the previous time when Xiao Chen defeated his opponent in one move, there was a long pause before Di Xinhan arrived, and this time, the moment the match ended, Tang Xun charged over?
The reason was simple. Xiao Chen was injured. To be more specific, he was even significantly injured.