Today, Bo Ri Lei Mu, clad in a simple yellow robe, his silver hair at the temples doing nothing to age him, instead adding to his imposing majesty.
He sat cross-legged, eyes closed!
“What’s going on? What time is it? Didn't that demon ‘Alada’ drink the warrior's blood and agree to this fight? Why hasn't he shown up yet?” Seven Divine Generals stood shoulder-to-shoulder, one of the heavier-set men frowning with dissatisfaction.
The Fifth Divine General, ‘E Ri Qi Er,’ beside him chuckled lightly, “Senior Brother, don’t fret! Look at the Eldest Senior Brother; he isn't worried at all!”
The heavier man glanced at the First Divine General, ‘Bo Ri Lei Mu,’ in the arena, and chuckled lowly, “Junior Brother, don't let the Eldest Senior Brother’s complete composure fool you! Who among us doesn't know his obsessive nature regarding martial arts, his fiery temper? I dare bet he is the most anxious of everyone! He’s probably just afraid that fellow named Hu He got scared and fled!”
“Surely not!”
The other Divine Generals also showed some concern.
“That Hu He had a slight edge over Eldest Senior Brother in their previous exchange of open-palm strikes.” This group of Divine Generals was eagerly anticipating a clash between such peak experts.
...
On the Cliff of Life and Death, it wasn't just the Divine Generals debating; the Divine Emissaries, a large contingent of disciples, and several guards were all whispering among themselves.
“That Alada hasn't arrived; he must be too frightened to accept the challenge!”
“Impossible, the Demon Alada fears nothing!”
There were those who supported the Demon Alada, and those who didn't believe in him!
On the great grasslands.
“Rumble~~~” Space trembled, and bursts of shattered, explosive energy erupted everywhere, causing the ground, already reduced to barren earth, to constantly shake.
Through the distorted energy waves, one could faintly make out a cyan figure, slowly demonstrating fist techniques, move by deliberate move!
“The sun is already this high!” Li Jun, hiding beside the White Gale Divine Condor, looked up at the sky, a hint of anxiety in her voice, “Perhaps everyone on the Cliff of Life and Death thinks Brother Teng is scared! Now that Brother Teng has grasped enlightenment and made a breakthrough, if he truly fights the First Divine General, his chances of winning will certainly be significant!”
No matter how anxious Li Jun felt, she chose to endure! The moment of enlightenment must not be missed...
...
At the Heavenly God Mountain, on the Cliff of Life and Death, it was high noon!
From sunrise until the sun reached its zenith—over two hours had passed. This caused considerable anxiety and no small amount of anger among the experts from the Heavenly God Mountain who had been eagerly awaiting the match.
“The Demon ‘Alada’? What a joke, he’s just a coward! A complete wretch! He won't even show up after accepting the Warrior’s Blood Trial—a disgrace to the great grasslands!” Some people were muttering curses under their breath.
“Let’s go, it’s lunchtime! Since he hasn’t appeared, he’s clearly not coming intentionally.” Quite a few among the massive crowd of spectators, who had initially formed rings around the area, were now cursing and leaving the Cliff of Life and Death.
Suddenly, a loud voice rang out—
“Everyone, I just visited the inn where the Demon ‘Alada’ was staying and questioned his handmaiden.” This deep, resonant voice drew the attention of the large assembly on the Cliff of Life and Death, even the First Divine General, ‘Bo Ri Lei Mu,’ who had been sitting in silent meditation for over two hours, turned his gaze over.
The speaker was a tall man clad in silver armor, who spoke with clear anger, “The handmaiden said that the Demon ‘Alada’ and the Divine Maiden left the Heavenly God Mountain together yesterday morning! They haven't returned to the Heavenly God Mountain since!”
Instant pandemonium.
The spectators around the Cliff of Life and Death exchanged disbelieving glances!
“Hmph.” In the crowd, the black-robed Divine Emissary, ‘Wan Tian Yang,’ revealed a cold smirk on his swollen face, thinking to himself, Hu He was so arrogant three days ago, yet today he hides like a turtle! To accept the Warrior’s Blood Trial and then not participate... once this news spreads, the entire grassland will look down on him!
If a challenger doesn't answer a challenge, perhaps some will look down on him, but the impact won't be great. But to accept the fight! And then fail to appear—that makes one a true coward, a villain!
“All of you, shut your mouths!” A sharp reprimand suddenly echoed across the empty space above the Cliff of Life and Death.
Everyone turned toward the First Divine General, ‘Bo Ri Lei Mu,’ in the center of the clearing. Bo Ri Lei Mu’s expression was grim as he swept a cold glance over the crowd, “If you can’t wait, all of you can clear out! I will wait for the battle between myself and Hu He, right until the sun sets. I believe that a powerhouse like Hu He is not that kind of coward!”
Hit in the head by a donkey! Wan Tian Yang cursed internally.
But the surrounding spectators dared not offend the First Divine General; they could only exchange glances. Some quietly departed, while others were too unwilling to leave after waiting so long.
Silence!
The Cliff of Life and Death was steeped in stillness, punctuated only by two or three people leaving every so often. Those unwilling to give up continued to wait. The disciples of the Eight Divine Generals naturally dared not leave easily while their masters remained.
“Screeeech~~”
“Screeeech~~”
Two piercing cries of condors, echoing across the horizon, arrived almost simultaneously. At that moment, everyone on the Cliff of Life and Death, including the meditating ‘Bo Ri Lei Mu,’ turned their heads toward the direction of the cries—
One black and one white, two enormous Gale Divine Condors flew with wings spread, rapidly closing the distance from the far reaches in the blink of an eye!
“Whoosh!”
The powerful downdraft created by the Divine Condors’ extreme speed caused many broken stones on the Cliff of Life and Death to tumble down, and the robes of many onlookers were whipped around them.
“Brother Bo Ri Lei Mu, I’ve kept you waiting!” A hearty burst of laughter rang out!
A figure leaped directly from the back of the black Gale Divine Condor high above, crashing onto the ground with a thud. It was Hu He—the peerless expert rumored to be the Demon ‘Alada’—clad in a green robe, long unbound hair, and a thick beard. As Teng Qingshan landed, his gaze, sharp as a blade’s edge, swept the surroundings. Those who harbored resentment in their hearts shuddered.
Wan Tian Yang, who had been waiting for a spectacle, didn't dare to move!
Because this was the Demon Alada! A truly invincible powerhouse!
“Haha…” Bo Ri Lei Mu also stood up abruptly, his tiger eyes fixed on Teng Qingshan, and he laughed aloud, “I knew it! A warrior like Brother Hu He would never intentionally flee before battle!”
Teng Qingshan, holding the Black Flame Staff, laughed heartily, “Brother Bo Ri Lei Mu, this time, it was my fault! Some unforeseen issues arose, things I hadn't expected at all. I rushed over immediately after taking care of my business. It’s fortunate I had the Gale Divine Condors, otherwise I would have been too late!”
Li Jun, who had already dismounted from the Divine Condor and stood among the crowd, smiled watching the two peerless experts in the central arena. Her gaze lingered more on Teng Qingshan: “Brother Teng initially said he had no chance of winning this fight! But with this major breakthrough, he should be able to win!”
Teng Qingshan gripped the Black Flame Staff, his heart brimming with confidence!
I managed to achieve accidental enlightenment this time, and unlike last time, which was interrupted midway. This time it wasn't! I achieved it in one go, finally mastering the second stage of the 'Fist of Earth Transit'. Teng Qingshan’s emotions surged, Although I didn't have time to slowly integrate the artistic conception of the second stage of the 'Fist of Earth Transit' into the 'Primal Unity Spear Technique'. But even so—I have a solid chance of winning! At least seventy percent!
If the Teng Qingshan who had grasped the first stage of the 'Fist of Earth Transit' could be considered a peak Golden Core expert, Then the Teng Qingshan who now grasped the second stage, if fully prepared, could challenge the number one figure on the 'Heavenly Ranking'!
“Brother Hu He, are you ready?” Bo Ri Lei Mu asked with anticipation.
Teng Qingshan glanced around the crowd and announced loudly, “Esteemed guests, please retreat another twenty zhang! Otherwise, these weapons have no eyes, and it would be unfortunate if I accidentally injured any of you!” These arrogant and domineering words were met not with complaint, but with obedience; the hundreds present immediately retreated another twenty zhang!
The empty arena was right beside a thousand-zhang precipice!
Teng Qingshan and Bo Ri Lei Mu faced each other!
“I’ve heard Brother Bo Ri Lei Mu’s palm techniques are superb! How about we fight bare-handed, without weapons?” Teng Qingshan stated loudly.
Bo Ri Lei Mu was greatly surprised upon hearing this.
His ultimate move, the 'Seven Strikes of Heavenly Thunder,' was fundamentally a palm technique! But because others used weapons, he was at a disadvantage using his palms, so he used a weapon too—a divine pestle! He incorporated the moves of the 'Seven Strikes of Heavenly Thunder' while wielding the heavy pestle weighing over one hundred catties. Conversely, if both were bare-handed, Bo Ri Lei Mu would have the advantage!
Bo Ri Lei Mu felt the blood within him boil with excitement, “Haha… Brother Hu He, you certainly have courage! Then I, Bo Ri Lei Mu, will give it my all! This set of palm techniques is one I created after a hundred years of rigorous practice—seven strikes in total. You must be careful!”
“I’ve long heard of the ‘Seven Strikes of Heavenly Thunder’!”
Teng Qingshan also smiled at Bo Ri Lei Mu, “I shall use these two fists of mine to experience the peerless palm techniques of the Heavenly God Mountain’s First Divine General!”
Their words brought complete stillness to the onlookers; every single person stared intently at the center of the field.
Bo Ri Lei Mu suddenly hurled his divine pestle, which transformed into a streak of light, shooting toward the cliff face on the side.
“Thunk!” The pestle pierced the cliff wall like an arrow.
Teng Qingshan also waved his hand, and his Black Flame Staff transformed into an afterimage, easily embedding itself into the rock face.
“Be careful,” Bo Ri Lei Mu said solemnly.
Immediately, faint green light seemed to flow throughout Bo Ri Lei Mu’s entire body. His earth-yellow robe billowed out sharply, veins subtly bulging. For a moment, the shattered stones around his body subtly trembled. Bo Ri Lei Mu, at this instant, looked like an invincible Thunder God!
Teng Qingshan also took a deep breath. His opponent was a supreme powerhouse ranked among the top three on the 'Heavenly Ranking.' Combined with his previous seclusion with the Heavenly Gods, Bo Ri Lei Mu’s strength, even if it hadn't reached the Void Realm, was at its absolute peak. It was likely not inferior to his master, Zhuge Yuan Hong, and might even surpass him.
“Let’s begin!” Teng Qingshan’s gaze locked entirely onto his opponent.