Chapter 650: Engage in Battle [Third Update]
Everyone's eyes were glued to Li Xiaoyao and Huang Yi, not blinking an instant.
Such epic battles were rare in ordinary times, and now one was playing out right here. If they missed it, it would be a great pity.
On one side was an Elder from the Ancient Sect, the Rakshasa Sect, with near-celestial cultivation level, just a step away from the Nascent Soul Realm.
On the other side was a once-in-a-century genius of the Li Family from Xuan Country, a rare prodigy of the times.
However, no matter how talented, if one's cultivation level had reached the heavens, it was still only at the Golden Core Realm, which was a considerable distance from the peak of the Spirit Condensation Realm.
After all, just now, one Cultivator at the Ninth Rank of Spirit Condensation, and another at the Eighth Rank, had joined hands but were still severely injured by Huang Yi.
"Your cultivation talent is indeed strong, even the disciples of my Rakshasa Sect cannot compare to you," Huang Yi's evaluation was high, but his tone shifted as he spoke, "The Rakshasa Sect has always been open to talented individuals. I'm offering you a chance. If you join the Rakshasa Sect, all the offenses of today can be forgotten."
"Master!" Xia Li couldn't help but cry out anxiously upon hearing this.
"Shut your mouth." Huang Yi glared at her and scolded, "Useless thing, the spells I taught you can't even handle an ordinary cultivator."
Xia Li responded meekly, not daring to speak, her heart filled with fear and anger. Li Xiaoyao was so powerful that not only could they not defeat him, but even the top geniuses of their family might not manage to kill him. And since Elder Liu Mang had been killed, how could they possibly be his match?
But Xia Li dared not say it out loud. Her master was highly volatile, often lashing out during their training. If she dared to contradict him publicly today, she would undoubtedly suffer dire consequences.
"Join your Sect?" Li Xiaoyao regarded him with a strange look, as if he found the idea ludicrous, and chuckled, "You vile and deviant character, also worthy of me joining?"
Huang Yi's expression darkened at that, and he let out a cold snort, extending his right hand from within the wide sleeve, showing long fingers with clearly defined joints.
"It seems you're truly courting death," said Huang Yi. "If you can't serve the Rakshasa Sect, I certainly can't let you continue to grow."
Li Xiaoyao remained silent, shaking his head slightly, he drew out the Seven Star Ancient Sword, swirling it into a flower pattern, the Sword Qi swirling around him as he burst into motion, attacking first.
All the onlookers saw Li Xiaoyao's figure blur momentarily, and then, for about two seconds, his afterimage lingered in the same spot, before gradually fading away.
"This speed..."
"Terrifyingly fast, he's so quick he left behind an afterimage!"
"How exactly did this youngster cultivate?"
Exclamations of amazement rose from all around, and as the crowd gasped in astonishment, Li Xiaoyao's attack finally reached Huang Yi.
"Indeed, very fast," Huang Yi spoke coldly without a trace of warmth, his face showing no sign of life as he let loose, "If that's all you've got, today, you shall not escape death!" Facing Li Xiaoyao's oncoming sword, he slowly raised his right palm, intending to meet it with the flesh of his hand.
"Clang!"
The Ancient Sword struck against the flesh, sounding a clash like that of metal on metal, forcing Li Xiaoyao to retreat explosively, while Huang Yi coldly snorted, "Thinking of fleeing!" and immediately gave chase.
Li Xiaoyao's expression was indifferent; though his strike did not connect, he was not in the least flustered. Facing Huang Yi, who was catching up, the corner of his mouth curled up in a mocking smile.
Huang Yi saw that smile and felt slightly uneasy, but couldn't put his finger on what was wrong.
"Perhaps I'm overthinking it. This youngster's cultivation level is only at the Golden Core Realm; what kind of trump card could he have?" Casting aside the strange thoughts in his mind, Huang Yi bellowed, his right hand clawing towards Li Xiaoyao's neck.
Li Xiaoyao's strike had been a probe.
As the Sect Leader of Rakshasa Sect specialized in spells, the level of his physical cultivation was unknown. Li Xiaoyao's sword strike was meant to test his physical cultivation level.
After probing was over, Li Xiaoyao tossed the Ancient Sword downward, embedding it into the ground, and then, under the incredulous gazes of the crowd, clenched his right fist and charged at Huang Yi.
"Holy shit, has this kid lost his mind?"
"He actually chose to use his physical body's cultivation level to clash with that old guy!"
"What a waste of a genius."
Huang Yi was also stunned for a moment but then felt disconcerted inside. He thought Li Xiaoyao would have some big move up his sleeve but instead chose such a suicidal act.
"This punch of mine will blast you into minced meat!" Huang Yi's voice was filled with powerful confidence.
"Oh, will it?" Li Xiaoyao neither confirmed nor denied, his feet tapped the air, and his figure suddenly sped up. His right fist bore no violent energy, calmly unnerving in its approach.
Finally, their fists and claws collided.
An invisible breath burst forth as they engaged, distorting even the space around them.
A figure was sent flying back under the force of their brutal clash, smashing into the ground and creating a huge crater with dust swirling around.
Everyone's eyes were wide with disbelief as they stared at the figure suspended midair; it was Li Xiaoyao!
Li Xiaoyao had clashed head-on with Huang Yi, and it was Huang Yi who was sent flying?
No one would believe it if they hadn't seen it with their own eyes.
A Fourth Rank Golden Core against a peak Spirit Condensation Realm, such a gap in cultivation levels between them, yet still, Li Xiaoyao managed to dominate the fight.
This unbelievable scene unfolded so vividly before everyone's eyes.
Li Xiaoyao was suspended above, his gaze coldly fixed on the crater below. With his mental perception, he could distinctly sense an incredibly domineering aura from within the crater.
The most recent punch seemed mighty, but Huang Yi's physical cultivation was not weak either. Moreover, when he sensed danger, he promptly erected several spiritual power barriers in front of him, dissipating ninety percent of the punch's force.
Yet the punch still sent him crashing into the ground, and at least superficially, Huang Yi was at a clear disadvantage and suffered great humiliation.
"Bang!" A surge of overwhelming energy suddenly erupted from the crater, smashing towards Li Xiaoyao.
Li Xiaoyao tried to dodge, but the energy orb exploded unexpectedly, the force of the explosion pushing Li Xiaoyao back hundreds of meters.
A figure leaped from the crater into the sky, and everyone saw Huang Yi, his clothes tattered, his grizzled hair in disarray, standing outside the crater, his face full of rage, and eyes seething with killing intent.
"It's been years since I've been injured, you little bastard, I will tear your body into pieces!"
Huang Yi roared repeatedly, his body shooting towards Li Xiaoyao like a lightning bolt.
Li Xiaoyao, sent flying away, felt as if his internal organs had shifted places and couldn't help but be alarmed.
He had still underestimated the old man's strength. He originally thought that without relying on external help and simply using his own physical strength, it would be enough to kill him. Now, it seemed he had been far too overconfident.
If it were purely physical cultivation, Li Xiaoyao could indeed kill him with one punch, but he had neglected Huang Yi's combat consciousness.
The defensive awareness of a peak Spirit Condensation Realm expert is strong; once he sensed a threat, he had already put up the best defense.
Watching Huang Yi rapidly approaching, Li Xiaoyao suddenly closed his eyes strangely, and if one were to look closely, they would notice that his hands were swiftly forming hand seals.