Chapter 812: How Could It Be So Big

"Are you an eighth-rank?" Shi Tong asked, looking at him with a hint of apprehension. With his cultivation, if the opponent were below eighth-rank, he wouldn't suffer any harm even if he stood still and let them strike him.

But the immense force just now nearly knocked his brains out. Such power was impossible unless it was an eighth-rank cultivator borrowing the power of heaven and earth.

As for the opponent being a ninth-rank, he didn't even consider it. This young man, according to intelligence reports, was merely a street ruffian who hadn't entered the cultivation world a year or two ago. Had the current facts not been before him, he wouldn't have believed the other party was already an eighth-rank, let alone a ninth-rank, which was a realm even he couldn't reach.

Zu An smiled slightly, "Guess?"

Shi Tong snorted, "I was merely careless just now, which led to my disadvantage. It's typical for a small-minded person to gloat like this after a minor victory."

He wasn't particularly worried. His setback was mainly due to his carelessness and the opponent's extreme speed, which must have involved some unique movement technique.

However, as an eighth-rank expert, he knew such a movement technique couldn't be used continuously. He just needed to be careful.

Zu An sighed, "Losing is losing. Making excuses is the act of a weakling."

Shi Tong was enraged. "Then let's see just how strong you truly are!"

Rage points from Shi Tong +444+444+444...

The moment he finished speaking, he transformed into a cannonball and charged towards Zu An.

Feeling the immense pressure, the Gu brothers finally breathed a sigh of relief. General Shi was finally serious. He had been at the peak of the eighth-rank for a long time and was definitely much stronger than Zu An, who had just entered the eighth-rank.

Nevertheless, a bitter feeling lingered in their hearts. How could Zu An, whom they had always looked down upon, have reached the eighth-rank?

It would be best if, after Shi Tong captured him, they could interrogate him about his cultivation secrets. If they could also reach the eighth-rank...

At this thought, their eyes instantly gleamed with fervor, and they cheered for Shi Tong from the bottom of their hearts.

Of course, the best outcome would be for both of them to be severely injured. They hadn't forgotten Shi Tong's earlier intention to 'play' with Bi Linglong first. Since they both liked her so much, they naturally didn't want that to happen.

While their minds wandered, the two combatants were already clashing with resounding blows.

They exchanged blows, their fists and feet meeting in a straightforward, unadorned manner.

Gao Ying and Pei You also watched with wide eyes. Seeing Zu An hold his own against Shi Tong in a direct confrontation, they finally understood that his victory over the Crown Prince of Qi was due to genuine cultivation, not some mysterious expert hidden in the shadows.

Initially, they could keep up with the movements, but as the fight progressed, both combatants' speeds increased rapidly, completely surpassing their visual perception. They could only vaguely discern two shadows darting back and forth, followed by bursts of residual energy spreading out from their clashing palms.

Bi Linglong's crimson lips were agape. She had tried her best to overestimate him, but she still hadn't estimated him highly enough.

To be an eighth-rank at such a young age was simply unprecedented.

The crucial point was that he didn't seem to have cultivated for very long...

Lost in thought, a blush slowly crept across her face.

"Nothing more than this!" At that moment, Shi Tong's disdainful laughter suddenly echoed from the battle. He had been cautious at first, but after several exchanges, he found that while the opponent's strength was considerable, it was still within his expectations, and the use of techniques wasn't particularly refined. "I'm done playing with you. Prepare to die!"

Hearing his words, Bi Linglong's pretty face turned pale. Was Zu An about to lose?

Just then, with a loud bang, a figure was sent flying backward and crashed heavily onto the ground.

"Ah Zu..." Bi Linglong, frantic with worry, was about to rush forward, but she froze after taking only a step. The person who had fallen to the ground wasn't Zu An, but Shi Tong.

What was happening?

Not just her, even the Gu brothers, who were about to cheer, were dumbfounded. Shi Tong himself wore a look of disbelief. "How is this possible!"

Zu An slowly emerged from the dust. "You fell before I even put in any effort. Who's playing whom now?"

He was now a ninth-rank cultivator, and with various divine arts, his actual combat strength far surpassed others at the same level, let alone an opponent who was merely at the peak of the eighth-rank.

The reason for their seemingly evenly matched fight earlier was that Zu An, having jumped two ranks, felt his foundation was slightly unstable and wanted to seize the opportunity to solidify it.

After all, sparring partners at the peak of the eighth-rank were hard to find. Since Shi Tong had presented himself, it was only natural to make the most of the opportunity.

Their close-quarters combat just now had deepened his understanding of the power of heaven and earth and the higher cultivation realms.

Now that he was done, there was no need to keep up the act.

Who knew Shi Tong would take it seriously? Since he had spouted such arrogant words, it was the perfect chance to show him why the flowers were so red.

"Brat, why do you possess such high cultivation!" Shi Tong slowly picked himself up from the ground. It had to be said that the physical resilience of a peak eighth-rank expert was indeed extraordinary.

This was also the question on everyone else's minds. Why did Zu An, at such a young age, possess such high cultivation? And judging by the situation, his vital energy seemed to be even stronger than Shi Tong, who was at the peak of the eighth-rank.

"Want to know? Beg me," Zu An said with a smile.

Shi Tong: "..."

Everyone: "..."

Why was this guy such a jerk?

Rage points from everyone +666+666+666...

Shi Tong said coldly, "Hmph, what good is mere brute strength? I'll show you what an eighth-rank cultivator is truly capable of!"

Having just suffered a setback, he decided to abandon close-quarters combat and switch to elemental abilities. Although the opponent had reached the eighth-rank at a young age, their mastery of elemental combat techniques surely couldn't compare to his.

The moment he finished speaking, a wind blade materialized before him, shooting towards Zu An with incredible speed, almost instantaneously.

The power of this wind blade was far greater than what Shi Kun had unleashed earlier. Half a year ago, Zu An would have had quite a headache dealing with it.

But now...

He simply took a slight step to the side and effortlessly dodged it.

Shi Tong said coldly, "You can dodge one, but can you dodge thousands?"

The moment he finished speaking, countless wind blades shot towards him in a dense barrage, sealing off all possible escape routes.

A slight smirk played on Shi Tong's lips. These wind blades were formed by borrowing the power of heaven and earth, which didn't consume much vital energy for him. Conversely, the opponent would need to expend a large amount of vital energy to block them.

With this attrition, he could exhaust Zu An to death.

Facing the myriad wind blades, Zu An didn't dodge. Instead, he extended his hand and drew a circle. A black hole seemed to appear in his palm, drawing in all the wind blades, which ultimately vanished within it.

He used the Gluttonous Devourer Art to absorb the vital energy attached to the wind blades, then, using his understanding of the power of heaven and earth, he transformed the wind blades back into peaceful wind elements.

If the opponent continued to launch such attacks, they would simply be gifting him vital energy.

"What kind of combat technique is that?" Shi Tong was so shocked his jaw nearly dropped to the ground.

"Want to know? Beg me," Zu An replied with the same answer.

"Insolent!" Shi Tong roared, rapidly spinning his body like a spiral drill and charging towards Zu An.

Zu An raised his hand to block. With a bang, he was forced back several steps.

He frowned. The opponent's spiral thrust, utilizing wind elemental abilities, increased the impact force by an unknown multiple. It had to be said that peak eighth-rank experts still had something to teach regarding the application of power.

As the opponent attacked again, he lightly tapped his foot, activated the Sunflower Phantoms, and effortlessly dodged.

"Let's see how long you can keep dodging!" Shi Tong spun rapidly, quickly conjuring small tornadoes around him. The immense wind pressure ripped the tent into shreds.

Bi Linglong hastily grabbed Gao Ying and Pei You by their collars and pulled them far away. The Gu brothers also scrambled to get out of the way.

In truth, Zu An had wanted to take the opportunity to experience the opponent's ultimate move head-on. However, there were still many people unconscious in the camp. If he allowed the terrifying hurricane to fully form, countless lives would be lost.

He sighed, "Let's end this."

Shi Tong sneered inwardly. Whether it ended now was not up to Zu An. Once his hurricane formed, it could leave an area of ten li or more completely barren.

However, his expression suddenly stiffened, because he realized he seemed to have lost his connection with the wind elements, and he felt incredibly cold.

Why were there snowflakes?

Seeing the falling snowflakes, Shi Tong was momentarily stunned. How could it be snowing in the secret realm at this time of year?

But the next second, his face drastically changed, and he instantly reacted: "Divine Snowflake Sword!"

Unfortunately, it was too late. The small tornadoes in front of him froze solid as if solidified, and a layer of frost coated his body.

Immediately after, a cold gleam flashed, and he heard a *crack*, as if something had shattered. He then saw a headless body standing nearby, like an ice sculpture.

Huh, why did those clothes look familiar?

He quickly realized, and then his consciousness plunged into endless darkness. His last thought was: "How could the Divine Snowflake Sword be so powerful..."