After Lu Ge finished saying these words, layers of netherworld qi were swept away by the green Xuan Guang, which roared forward. This Xuan Guang wasn’t gathered into a single mass as usual but scattered across the heavens like countless locusts swarming.
This clearly demonstrated that he had mastered the Xuan Guang to the degree of Big and Small Ruyi, where division and union could be controlled at will. Putting aside his opponent’s identity, this move alone was truly breathtaking.
Zhang Yan had fought numerous opponents in the Xuan Guang Realm, but in terms of the sheer skill in wielding Xuan Guang, this Daoist named Lu Ge was undoubtedly the most proficient—no True Disciple of the Six Rivers and Four Islands could match him.
At this moment, Zhang Yan’s hands were empty, and he didn’t have time to retrieve his sword ball. If it were an ordinary Sword Cultivator, the Qi of Elixir Evil would push their sword ball aside while also forcing them to deal with the Xuan Guang bearing down, splitting their focus and leading them to inevitable failure. However, Zhang Yan’s sword ball had already nurtured True Recognition; with just a single thought, it could operate freely without requiring excessive attention.
As a result, he showed no fear in the face of the overwhelming Xuan Guang. He concentrated his spirit, unleashing an intense brilliance overhead—golden-red rays akin to molten iron and liquid copper—which instantly expanded over thirty yards. Before the green light could strike, his Xuan Guang surged proactively, cracking through the air with sharp bursts, sparks of golden fire blossoming intermittently. Wherever it passed, the Sixth Realm’s netherworld qi melted away like snow under a scorching sun.
As the two radiances collided, the golden fire flared intensely, and with a sharp ripping sound, it tore open the green veil of the heavens, instantly exposing a massive rift.
"What domineering Xuan Guang!"
Upon witnessing the power of the golden fire Xuan Guang, Lu Ge was inwardly shocked. However, he didn’t feel overly concerned; Zhang Yan had made a critical mistake—his sword ball had been thrown off course, allowing Lu Ge to seize the upper hand. As long as he avoided making errors, Zhang Yan would find it near impossible to turn the tide.
Lu Ge chuckled lowly before forming a spell with his hands. The green Xuan Guang in the sky converged once more and pressed down again. This time, under his full exertion, the Mysterious Skill unleashed waves and tides of energy that surged continuously and unrelentingly.
Zhang Yan showed no sign of yielding. Taiyin Xuan Guang burst forth like a golden sun illuminating the sky, brimming with fervent intensity.
Since Zhang Yan began cultivating Taiyin Golden Fire Xuan Guang, he had yet to encounter an individual who could rival him in Xuan Guang techniques. Now that he had met his match, he let his spirit soar free, and his fighting spirit climbed steadily. Even as the green Xuan Guang fell down like a torrential storm, he didn’t retreat a single step. His overwhelming battle intent surged toward Lu Ge like roaring waves. In mere moments, their two radiances clashed and ground against each other well over a hundred times.
Once the chaos settled slightly, Zhang Yan seized the moment, summoning a thought to propel his sword ball back into the fray, launching another offensive toward Lu Ge.
Lu Ge’s brows furrowed slightly; he hadn’t expected Zhang Yan to guide the sword ball while also battling in Xuan Guang techniques. This realization made him feel increasingly pressed, knowing he’d have to deploy alternative measures.
With a sharp cry, he waved his hand, summoning three golden tokens that leapt forward. Within seconds, they transformed into towering Great Steles, about ten feet tall, standing protectively in front of him.
The Great Steles revolved around Lu Ge’s figure, intercepting Zhang Yan’s sword ball in repeated collisions. However, the quality of the steles ultimately fell short compared to the sword ball. After several encounters, their spirit light dimmed and showed signs of faltering.
Each time this happened, Lu Ge would open his mouth and release a stream of spiritual energy to rejuvenate the steles, allowing them to recover their strength. Although the sword ball continued its relentless strikes against the Great Steles, Zhang Yan couldn’t fully concentrate on its manipulation because he was still locked in a fierce Xuan Guang duel with Lu Ge, leaving him unable to use intricate or elaborate sword techniques. As such, he was temporarily unable to break through Lu Ge’s stout defenses; his sword ball served only as a distraction.
While Lu Ge’s mastery of Xuan Guang far exceeded Zhang Yan, he was ultimately a Loose Cultivator, and his Xuan Guang’s inherent quality was slightly inferior. Each time his own Xuan Guang clashed against the sun-like crimson brilliance, it would be completely dispelled.
Once his Xuan Guang was worn down, it couldn’t regenerate spontaneously. He needed to circulate the spiritual energy within his chest to replenish it. Although he had failed to form a full Golden Core, he had a Small Golden Core in his belly, which allowed him to convert Xuan Guang at a rate far beyond that of ordinary Xuan Guang Practitioners. Each time a layer of Xuan Guang was wiped away, another quickly emerged to replace it, seemingly without end.
Lu Ge sneered coldly. Although the Xuan Guang contest appeared locked in a stalemate, he believed in the depth of his foundation after centuries of cultivation—not to mention his already-formed Small Golden Core. Could a mere First Realm Cultivator’s Xuan Guang ever compare? He was confident that as time went on, his expansive, unyielding Xuan Guang would ultimately wear Zhang Yan down and defeat him.
Meanwhile, Mu Hongchen and Hu Jue watched with wide eyes. The duel between these two cultivators, while not earth-shattering, was still awe-inspiring. As the battle grew more intense, sparks danced wildly through the air, and green energy cut across their faces. Lu Ge’s ability to suppress Mu Hongchen with just one scattering of Xuan Guang had originally left her immobilized. However, against Zhang Yan, the countless rays of green light thrown down seemed swallowed by an abyss, vanishing without a trace. Only now did they realize how far they still lagged in the mastery of Mysterious Skills.