"Sever your own cultivation? You think you're in any position to talk to me like that? Do you even have the capital to make such a wager with me?" Dugu Aoyun looked at Chu Feng with disdain, as if gazing at an ant he could crush at any moment.
"If you're scared to say it directly, why spout all that nonsense?" Chu Feng spread his hands and shrugged, his face openly mocking.
"Scared? Why would I be afraid of a greenhorn like you? Fine! Sever your cultivation, then! I'll grant your wish today!" Dugu Aoyun let out a cold snort. The pressure of the Xuan Wu Eighth Stage erupted from his body, instantly enveloping Chu Feng.
The invisible pressure crashed down. Chu Feng immediately felt immense strain. The aura Dugu Aoyun exuded was extraordinary, like an invisible mountain bearing down on Chu Feng's shoulders, rendering him unable to move an inch.
"You want to throw away your cultivation? I'll help you. No need to do it yourself," Dugu Aoyun sneered, his released pressure intensifying layer by layer, growing stronger by the second.
"Damn it! This guy's power is actually this terrifying!" Under the relentless onslaught of pressure, sweat poured down Chu Feng's face like rain. His legs began to bend slowly.
Both were at the Xuan Wu Eighth Stage, yet Dugu Aoyun's strength was vastly superior to Lin Ran or Li Changqing's. Facing this Dugu Aoyun, relying solely on his own Yuan Wu Ninth Stage cultivation, Chu Feng truly had no room to contend.
"The gap is simply too vast. Although it's a clash between geniuses, differing by an entire major realm and eight minor stages, there's no way this can be a real fight."
"Chu Feng is being far too reckless! I can understand his desire to avenge Li Changqing, but to make such a wager with Dugu Aoyun when he has absolutely no chance of winning... that's just seeking death!"
Everyone could see Chu Feng being suppressed by Dugu Aoyun's pressure. The disparity in their strength was too great; Chu Feng had no power to fight back at all. Just as everyone expected, this duel was decided before a single blow was exchanged.
"It's over. Now I'll cripple your cultivation." Certain of victory, a glint of killing intent surfaced in Dugu Aoyun's eyes. Then, pressure several times more potent than before surged violently from his body, like an invisible tidal wave crashing down upon Chu Feng.
This pressure was far too strong. If it hit Chu Feng, it would likely crush him into a bloody mess. Dugu Aoyun wasn't just trying to cripple his cultivation—he intended to kill him, to take his life.
At that moment, many sighed inwardly, lamenting the loss of a rare genius like Chu Feng. They felt he shouldn't have acted on impulse, challenging Dugu Aoyun at his current cultivation level and throwing away his bright future and life.
But just when everyone believed Chu Feng was doomed, an even more formidable aura suddenly erupted from within him. This aura soared skyward, sweeping across the heavens as if invincible, dismantling Dugu Aoyun's pressure inch by inch and scattering it completely.
Almost everyone's expression changed drastically at that instant. Shock filled their eyes as they looked at Chu Feng, because what he now emitted was no longer Yuan Force, but Xuan Force. Chu Feng had stepped into the Xuan Wu Realm and possessed the cultivation of the Xuan Wu Third Stage!
"What's going on? How did Chu Feng's cultivation suddenly jump from Yuan Wu Ninth Stage to Xuan Wu Third Stage?"
"I see now! No wonder Chu Feng dared to challenge Dugu Aoyun like this. He must have hidden his strength from the beginning. Yuan Wu Ninth Stage was just a smokescreen; Xuan Wu Third Stage is his true power!"
Facing Chu Feng's sudden change, those unaware of the truth thought he had simply concealed his strength. The realization that Chu Feng, at only sixteen, possessed Xuan Wu Third Stage cultivation—on top of his heaven-defying combat power—left many too stunned to think straight.
"Egg, it looks like I'll need to borrow your strength again to deal with this powerful enemy."
Standing on the combat platform, layers of Xuan Force swirled around Chu Feng, whipping his clothes into a frenzy. His entire presence had grown countless times stronger than before. This was the difference between the Xuan Wu and Yuan Wu realms.
"Chu Feng, don't let your guard down. That Dugu Aoyun isn't simple. Even with my power borrowed to you, victory isn't guaranteed," Egg warned gravely.
"Don't worry, I understand. The Lingyun Sect has many geniuses, and most have powerful hidden cards."
"Just take that Feng Hao from earlier. If he hadn't remembered how I nearly killed him with one move before, filling him with fear and destroying his will to fight, I probably couldn't have defeated him relying only on the Void Flight Technique and the Hundred Transformation Bow."
"As for this Dugu Aoyun—whether it's his mindset, combat power, or hidden methods, he surpasses Feng Hao entirely. He's a formidable enemy. I won't be careless, but no matter what, I must defeat him today. Otherwise, the humiliation to my Azure Dragon Sect cannot be washed away."
Chu Feng possessed keen insight. From the moment Dugu Aoyun had easily defeated Li Changqing, he already knew this opponent was a difficult character to handle.
As for how difficult, perhaps only that purple-robed young woman surpassed him among Chu Feng's peers. Because he still didn't know what unknown methods or life-saving trump cards Dugu Aoyun might possess.
"So you were hiding your cultivation after all? No wonder you dared to challenge me so boldly. But still, only Xuan Wu Third Stage? You think that's enough to beat me? Aren't you being a bit too arrogant?"
Dugu Aoyun's expression remained flat. Unlike the others, he showed no shock at Chu Feng's sudden rise in cultivation. Instead, the fighting intent in his eyes only intensified.
"Who's truly being arrogant will be clear very soon."
Chu Feng's figure blurred. He transformed into a streak of light, instantly arriving before Dugu Aoyun. Simultaneously, his hands gripped two golden greatswords, already swinging down toward Dugu Aoyun's arms.
"Truly infuriating, to be underestimated by a brat like you. Looks like I must show you my true methods!"
Dugu Aoyun snorted coldly. Instead of dodging, he threw a counter-punch at Chu Feng. This punch carried immense power and incredible speed—strong enough to pierce through a mountain peak.
"Swish!"
But Chu Feng's feet flashed with light, his speed multiplying several times over. He vanished instantly, not only evading Dugu Aoyun's attack but appearing behind him. In the same motion, the greatswords in his hands transformed into two streaks of golden light, slashing down toward Dugu Aoyun's back.
"Movement techniques? You're not the only one who has them."
Dugu Aoyun's body suddenly blurred into a phantom, actually reversing to appear behind Chu Feng. And when his true form solidified once more, he held a gleaming blue spear, thrusting it straight at Chu Feng.