Volume Two: The Appearance of the Nine Provinces Atlas, Entering the Spirit Void Chapter 155: Winning Again and Again

At the very first collision, Chen Yu and Xiao Lan were both blasted back.

Having fought for so many days, this was the first time Chen Yu displayed a serious and cautious expression. Although Xiao Lan had prepared herself mentally beforehand, she still found it difficult to mask her shock toward Chen Yu.

"Your strength is truly formidable!" Xiao Lan said in a heavy tone.

"You are as well."

Although Chen Yu's words carried sincerity, they sounded grating to Xiao Lan's ears.

Both of them wore cautious expressions; their initial exchange had already made them understand each other's strength. By unspoken agreement, neither intended to test the waters any further, launching into rapid attacks in a bid to defeat the opponent as quickly as possible.

"Firmament Sword Art."

"Mountain-Shaking, Earth-Shattering, Five-Elements Blazing Fire Sword."

The two collided fiercely, neither willing to yield. The terrifying sword qi caused the disciples watching from below the arena to gasp inwardly, struck with cold dread.

In the blink of an eye, the two had already exchanged over a hundred moves, yet a victor still could not be determined.

"Chen Yu, if this is all you have to offer, then you are bound to lose this battle," Xiao Lan said with confidence.

Chen Yu's expression inevitably turned a shade graver as he replied, "Then I must ask Senior Sister Xiao to grant me some pointers."

Xiao Lan cast a profound look at Chen Yu and no longer held anything back. With a single slash of her sword, the sword qi cleaved through the air as if splitting the firmament itself, incomparably sharp.

Not daring to be negligent, Chen Yu immediately deployed Blossoming in an Instant to defend.

Yet the golden flower had only just materialized when it was shattered by Xiao Lan's sword qi. Chen Yu's eyes narrowed as he quickly stepped back, simultaneously executing a downward slash with his sword to neutralize the incoming momentum. Yet Chen Yu knew that Xiao Lan's offensive would not stop there.

Sure enough, Xiao Lan was already pressing the attack from the flank, her sword momentum sweeping forward like a tempest scattering clouds.

"Mountain-Shaking, Earth-Shattering!" Chen Yu shouted in a deep voice, the power in his hands involuntarily increasing by a fraction.

Once again, the two fought to a standstill and retreated in opposite directions.

Xiao Lan's offensive grew increasingly fierce. No sooner had she steadied her footing than she instantly stimulated a Five-Thunder Talisman. Lightning flashed, instantly permeating the entire arena. Chen Yu gathered his focus, transforming into a streak of golden light as he darted through the thunderbolts.

Yet how could his speed possibly compare to that of lightning? Before long, a bolt of thunder struck right at Chen Yu's feet, blasting him backward. Immediately following, two more bolts of lightning descended. With a darkened expression, Chen Yu gripped his long sword and slashed out with all his might: "Mountain-Shaking, Earth-Shattering!"

The single sword strike caused the air to vibrate. The lightning was partly annihilated and partly thrown off course, striking harmlessly on either side of Chen Yu.

Not only Xiao Lan, but even the surrounding disciples cried out in disbelief, "The Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Arts... How could he possibly have such profound comprehension?"

"It's my turn..." Chen Yu shouted. Having neutralized Xiao Lan's lightning, he took the initiative to launch an offensive. This was also the first true, proactive attack he had initiated since the fight began.

In Xiao Lan's eyes, Chen Yu seemed to have completely transformed at this moment. He was no longer the steady Chen Yu of before, but a berserker, a hedgehog bristling with sharp quills. Even so, Xiao Lan felt no fear. She steadied her mind, wearing an expression of grim readiness.

Suddenly, Chen Yu transformed into a golden streak, charging straight toward Xiao Lan. Thrusting his long sword forward, he executed the Wind and Rain Golden Light technique.

The sword qi morphed into a tempestuous gale and driving rain of sword energy, as swift as a ray of golden light. Before the blink of an eye, it was already right before Xiao Lan.

"Firmament Sword Art!" Surprised, Xiao Lan moved swiftly to defend. Countless sword shadows slashed toward the gale-and-rain sword qi.

Although the attack was neutralized, Xiao Lan was still driven back several steps by the sheer force of the sword energy. Chen Yu rapidly closed the distance, delivering a calm and composed slash: "Dragon-Subduing, Tiger-Crouching, Five-Elements Blazing Fire Sword."

The scorching sword qi was even more ferocious than before. Xiao Lan raised her arms to block, but the immense pressure of the sword force nearly paralyzed her arms with numbness.

Before Xiao Lan could recover, Chen Yu pressed forward relentlessly once more, unleashing a violent wave of sword momentum.

Xiao Lan was utterly astonished; she had not expected Chen Yu's offensive to be so ferocious once unleashed. A momentary lapse in judgment had cost her the opportunity to counterattack.

Terrifying... This was entirely too terrifying! If this continued and she failed to seize back the initiative, her defeat in this battle would be certain.

Though Xiao Lan entertained such thoughts, Chen Yu's attacks were simply too fierce, granting her not the slightest breathing room. With a direct thrust of his sword, Chen Yu unleashed sword qi like a torrential downpour.

"Dragon-Subduing, Tiger-Crouching, Wind and Rain Sword."

Xiao Lan's expression shifted drastically. Despite fighting desperately to defend, she was still knocked backward by several streams of sword qi. The powerful force churned violently within her internal organs, triggering a strong urge to retch.

Before Xiao Lan could regain her footing, Chen Yu had already closed in, delivering a horizontal slash that struck her sword and blasted her flying out of the arena.

This time, Chen Yu had measured his strength with absolute precision, sending Xiao Lan flying without causing her any injury.

Naturally, Xiao Lan understood that Chen Yu had shown mercy. Otherwise, she would not have been able to land "gracefully," avoiding a thoroughly wretched display. Yet this only served to prove just how unfathomable Chen Yu's true strength was.

With a helpless sigh, Xiao Lan said, "I, Xiao Lan, sincerely admire Junior Brother Chen's strength. I imagine that even among us disciples at the Nine Orifices of the One-Yuan Realm, those capable of defeating you could be counted on one hand."

Unimpressed by praise, Chen Yu replied calmly, "Senior Sister flatters me. I still have many shortcomings."

Xiao Lan smiled faintly. "I hope to see Junior Brother's presence in the upcoming Outer Sect Grand Competition."

Chen Yu nodded silently with a smile, secretly longing for it as well.

Through this battle with Xiao Lan, Chen Yu had completely made a name for himself in the outer sect. A disciple at the Six Orifices of the One-Yuan Realm defeating someone at the Nine Orifices—who wouldn't consider such a person a genius?

By now, it was no longer just the disciples paying attention to Chen Yu; the senior elders of the sect were doing the same.

Of course, Chen Yu had no time to dwell on such matters. Shortly after Xiao Lan stepped down from the stage, another disciple stepped forward to challenge him, whose cultivation was likewise at the Nine Orifices of the One-Yuan Realm.

The two engaged in a fierce contest. After battling for over a hundred moves, Chen Yu finally drove his opponent beyond the boundaries of the arena.

It was precisely Chen Yu's consecutive victories that made the others feel threatened, as if their pride had been insulted. After all, Chen Yu was merely at the Six Orifices of the One-Yuan Realm; by what right did he stand on the same level as them?

Consequently, a wave of continuous challenges directed at Chen Yu ensued, and without exception, every challenger was a disciple at the Nine Orifices of the One-Yuan Realm. Fortunately, though each battle grew more perilous than the last, Chen Yu emerged victorious from every single one.

This only served to elevate Chen Yu's reputation even further.

Drawing a long breath, Chen Yu realized that these back-to-back challenges had granted him countless insights, allowing him to rapidly consolidate his cultivation base.

Through half a month of observation and duels, Chen Yu felt a faint, spontaneous urge to break through stirring within him. However, he temporarily suppressed this sensation.

That night, he arrived at the rendezvous point he had agreed upon with Chu Yang.