Zhang Quanyi did not expect that the other party would still be able to continue after just achieving a breakthrough. Furthermore, the other party was even able to grab his neck in a single move. Zhang Quanyi struggled with all his might, as if he was a fish that had landed on the shore.
He had just boasted in front of Zhang Linqing, and to think that such an outcome would happen.
Was he really a side branch disciple?
Even the most powerful core members didn't have such a terrifying ability to break through!
"Two consecutive breakthroughs?"
Zhang Linqing, who was watching from below the stage, swayed again. His vision went dark, and he almost fainted.
Zhang Xuan had thought that he had already reached his limit when he fought with Zhang Xuan, but who could have thought that he would be able to achieve a breakthrough while fighting... and already possess strength equal to his!
In order to push for a breakthrough to Grand Dominion realm pinnacle, he had spent two whole years and paid a heavy price, but the other party had done it within an hour.
Was he still human?
The audience fell silent. Even the host, Elder Fengchen, felt his throat go dry.
Having been in the Zhang Clan for so many years, he had seen quite a few talented geniuses, and there were quite a few who managed to achieve a breakthrough in the midst of battle. But... this was the first time that he had seen someone achieve a breakthrough so quickly!
This was no longer talent, it was monstrous!
"That fool! According to the guidance I gave him, he should have reached the Phantasmal Space realm by now, but he's only at Grand Dominion realm pinnacle. How in the world did he manage to groom such a fool?"
Unlike everyone else who was shocked, Zhang Xuan continued to curse. He was full of resentment towards Zhang Xuan for failing to meet his expectations.
Zhang Jiuxiao's bloodline had become incomparably pure, and it had been stimulated by the Blood Reservoir. On top of that, he had also imparted the simplified Heaven's Path Divine Art to Zhang Jiuxiao. As long as he cultivated, he would surely be able to achieve breakthroughs. Yet, it had already been an hour, and he had only advanced three cultivation stages. Wasn't this too slow?
If only he had known that this fellow was so foolish, he wouldn't have accepted him as his direct disciple.
Shameful, shameful!
…
On the high platform, the Great Elder was stroking his beard. An old man hurriedly came to him and whispered something.
"You're saying that … a member of the side family is winning consecutively?"
"Yes!" The elder nodded. "This offspring of the side family goes by the name of Zhang Jiuxiao. His first opponent was Zhang Linqing. The latter's cultivation was at Grand Dominion realm pinnacle whereas he was only at Grand Dominion realm primary stage. However, in the midst of the battle, he suddenly made a breakthrough and defeated the latter in a single move."
"To be able to achieve a breakthrough in the midst of battle, it shows that his mental fortitude is exceptional. There are quite a few geniuses who are capable of such a feat. It seems like even though Zhang Jiuxiao is from the side family, he's still a formidable genius …"
The First Elder nodded in satisfaction.
The excellence of his clansmen was also a form of comfort to him.
"In the second match, against Zhang Quanyi, I managed to make another breakthrough to Grand Dominion realm advanced stage, forcing Zhang Quanyi to use the Saint high-tier battle technique, Revolving Dragon Movement Art …"
The old man continued.
"Even among Saint high-tier battle techniques, the Revolving Dragon Body Art can be considered as one of the stronger ones. I have met Zhang Quanyi before, and the fact that he was able to cultivate it to such an extent shows that he possesses exceptional talent …"
The First Elder nodded in agreement. Then, he looked at Zhang Xuan doubtfully and said, "This battle technique utilizes the power of one's bloodline to increase one's speed. While its offensive prowess is slightly weaker, if executed well, it will grant one the ability to challenge opponents beyond one's cultivation realm. He's only at Grand Dominion realm advanced stage, so how can he possibly defeat it? If I didn't see wrongly, Zhang Quanyi should already be a Half-step Void Realm expert! "
"This … Zhang Jiuxiao felt that it was impossible for him to defeat Zhang Xuan, so he made a breakthrough to Grand Dominion realm pinnacle."
The old man smiled bitterly.
"Another breakthrough?" The First Elder's body stiffened upon hearing those words. "You mean to say that Zhang Jiuxiao of the side family made three consecutive breakthroughs from Grand Dominion realm primary stage to Grand Dominion realm pinnacle?"
"Not only so … Based on the news I received from his clan members, he was only at Leaving Aperture realm pinnacle as well …"
The old man said.
"To make a breakthrough from Leaving Aperture realm pinnacle to Grand Dominion realm pinnacle in less than an afternoon … Where is he?"
Unable to hold himself back any longer, the First Elder hurriedly turned his gaze over.
He was currently sparring with Zhang Ningxin, a core disciple, on the D stage.
"Zhang Ningxin? That genius grandson of Elder Wuxiao? He seems to have reached Phantasmal Space realm primary stage, right? "
Turning to look at Dueling Ring D, the First Elder recognized one of the fighters on the dueling ring.
"That's right. His opponent is Zhang Jiuxiao, "the old man explained.
"Un."
The First Elder turned his gaze over, and he saw a young man in his late twenties fighting with Zhang Ningxin.
The young man's cultivation was only at Grand Dominion realm pinnacle, and it seemed like he had never practiced any powerful battle techniques before. As such, his offensive prowess was slightly lacking. However, his understanding of combat and adaptability were extremely profound. Had it been anyone else, they would have already succumbed to Zhang Ningxin's ferocious attacks. Yet, the young man was still able to dodge his attacks at the crucial moment. It was truly unbelievable.
"No, judging from how he dodged Zhang Ningxin's attacks, he should have seen through Zhang Ningxin's attack trajectory in advance. But why didn't he counterattack in advance?"
The First Elder asked with a deep frown.
The two of them had already exchanged more than a dozen blows, and while Zhang Ningxin's cultivation was two cultivation stages higher than Zhang Ningxin's, he didn't seem to be able to gain the upper hand at all. Every time he made a move, the other party would be able to see through it, forcing him to dodge in advance. But … since he could dodge, why didn't he counterattack?
The only way to salvage the situation was to counterattack. If he kept dodging, it would only be a matter of time before a problem arose.
"It's probably because he's unable to counterattack. After all, he's much stronger than him …"
The old man pondered for a moment before replying.
"He's unable to counterattack?" the First Elder was taken aback for a moment before a thought suddenly came to his mind. "No, it's not that he's unable to counterattack, but … but …"
At this point, his lips began quivering uncontrollably, as if he couldn't believe what he had just heard.
"What?"
The old man asked doubtfully.
"Instead … he's trying to accumulate his strength so that he can push for a breakthrough to Half-Phantasmal Space realm!" the First Elder said with clenched fists.
"Accumulate his strength?"
The old man was stunned. "Didn't he just achieve a breakthrough to Grand Dominion realm pinnacle?"
"It's precisely because he has just achieved a breakthrough that he's been avoiding the battle to reduce the exhaustion of his strength. There's only one goal in mind — to push for a breakthrough to Half-Phantasmal Space realm!"
The First Elder said as he pointed forward. "Look at his left hand. From the very start of the battle, he hasn't loosened his grip at all!"
"Un."
The old man nodded.
Even though Zhang Jiuxiao had encountered several dangerous situations earlier, his left hand had been tightly clenched all this time.
He had thought that it was some kind of trump card, but after seeing that the other party hadn't loosened his grip at all, he didn't think too much of it.
"There's a pinnacle spirit stone in his palm," the First Elder said.
The old man was taken aback for a moment before he hurriedly spread his Spiritual Perception outward. Just as he had expected, he 'saw' the object in Zhang Jiuxiao's palm, and his throat turned dry. "First Elder, are you saying that he has been absorbing the energy of the pinnacle spirit stone while fighting?"
"That's right."
The First Elder nodded.
He had seen many formidable geniuses, but he had never seen one as bizarre and confident as Zhang Jiuxiao.
To be able to cultivate even when fighting against opponents stronger than him … Was he not afraid of death, or was he really that confident in himself?
"You're courting death! I was still thinking of hiding my strength, but you forced my hand!"
While the First Elder was still in shock, Zhang Ningxin suddenly bellowed furiously, and his aura began surging.
"Zhang Ningxin is going to make a breakthrough as well?"
The old man asked with a hoarse voice.
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