104: Chapter 104 Shocking the Entire Audience

In the city, all the Sword Cultivators who had cast their gazes toward the square witnessed this soul-stirring scene, and without exception, their expressions changed drastically, their mouths hanging open in astonishment.

"Has this guy gone mad? He actually dares to take a strike from Xu Tianqi head-on!"

"He's simply seeking his own death!"

"This time, he's probably going to be smashed to pieces..."

The crowd discussed fervently, all finding Chen Zhiwen's actions unbelievable.

However, just as everyone thought Chen Zhiwen was certain to die, Xu Tianqi sneered inwardly: 'Hmph, ignorant fool, let's see how you withstand this strike of mine!'

In his view, given his own strength, even if this strike didn't kill Chen Zhiwen directly, it would definitely leave him heavily injured, and might even directly cripple his cultivation.

However, something unexpected happened.

When Xu Tianqi's massive force bombarded Chen Zhiwen like an overwhelming mountain wave, it was as if it had encountered an indestructible city wall; not only did it fail to send Chen Zhiwen flying, it didn't even stir a single ripple.

That seemingly invincible massive force, the moment it touched Chen Zhiwen's body, shattered abruptly like a punctured soap bubble and then quickly dissipated without a trace.

As for Chen Zhiwen himself, he stood firmly in place like a mountain, completely unharmed, with not even a corner of his clothes being rustled.

This bizarre scene left everyone present dumbfounded, completely unable to comprehend what had just happened.

"How is this possible!" Xu Tianqi, Yuan Hua, and the others were filled with shock, staring at the scene before them in disbelief, their pupils constricting violently as if they were about to burst from an invisible force.

Just moments ago, Xu Tianqi had delivered a full-strength blow—though it didn't utilize his absolute maximum power, the might contained within was still terrifyingly formidable. Even an average Grandmaster Realm expert would never dare to take such an attack lightly, let alone have full confidence in blocking it.

To everyone's surprise, Chen Zhiwen had actually neutralized this strike so effortlessly!

One had to remember that Chen Zhiwen was merely a newly emerging Prodigy of the younger generation.

Only a few days ago, news from the Great Xuan Dynasty claimed that Chen Zhiwen had single-handedly slain several prodigies of the Yao Race, thereby shocking the entire field and successfully ascending to the top of the hidden dragon ranking.

In that soul-stirring battle, Chen Zhiwen had indeed displayed quite remarkable combat power as a Body Cultivator.

But according to what everyone knew, the Body Refining strength he displayed in that battle was at most at the Innate Realm, with an unreachable gap still remaining before the Grandmaster Realm.

Why was he now able to withstand such a fierce attack from Xu Tianqi?!

Could it be that he has a protective Magical Artifact bestowed by an Old Ancestor hidden on his person?

The moment this thought flashed through the minds of Yuan Hua and the others, they immediately dismissed it themselves.

Because if Chen Zhiwen truly relied on a Magical Artifact to withstand the attack, then with the eyesight and experience of Yuan Hua and the others, it would be absolutely impossible for them not to see it.

After all, Cultivators of their Realm were very familiar with the auras and characteristics of various Magical Artifacts.

Yuan Hua and the others could say with absolute certainty that at the moment Chen Zhiwen suffered the attack, they did not sense even a single shred of Spiritual Qi fluctuation around him.

This meant that Chen Zhiwen had not activated any Magical Artifact to resist this strike at all, and had not even utilized any Body Refining methods.

This discovery made Yuan Hua and the others feel somewhat dazed.

Could it be that this boy had held back during the battle of prodigies many days ago and hadn't shown his true strength?!

This thought kept circling in the hearts of Yuan Hua and the others, causing them to develop deep suspicion and wariness toward Chen Zhiwen's true strength.

At this moment, Xu Tianqi also seemed to sense that something was wrong. He stopped his advance to continue the attack and stood before Chen Zhiwen, his Face full of wariness, staring intently at the other party as if trying to see through his body to the true strength he was hiding.

Xu Tianqi's voice seemed to be lowered by an invisible force, revealing traces of chilliness. His brow furrowed slightly, and his eyes stared sharply at Chen Zhiwen like a hawk as he spoke slowly: "Fifth Prince, though you are of noble imperial blood, you are ultimately not a person of my Great Yu Dynasty, and you presumably have no connection with this Duanmu Yang."

"Why must you insist on involving yourself in this dispute? It brings you no benefit and may instead invite a world of trouble."

Chen Zhiwen looked at Xu Tianqi expressionlessly, his gaze as calm as water, like a bottomless pool that made it difficult for anyone to peer into his true inner thoughts.

Seeing this, Xu Tianqi felt somewhat displeased, but he still maintained his patience and continued: "Why don't you step aside now? Everyone in my Xiantian Sword Sect will remember this kindness. In the future, should there be a need, my Xiantian Sword Sect will certainly assist with all our strength."

However, Chen Zhiwen had no interest in Xu Tianqi's proposal. He didn't even lift an eyelid, merely responding indifferently: "What kind of thing is your Xiantian Sword Sect? Why would I need you to give me Face?"

Xu Tianqi's Face instantly became extremely unsightly. He widened his eyes, his Face full of fury, and the aura on his body became increasingly cold due to his anger.

He stared fixedly at Chen Zhiwen, the murderous light in his eyes burning like fire, and said through gritted teeth: "Are you certain you must interfere in this matter?"

The corners of Chen Zhiwen's mouth curled up slightly, forming a faint smile. "If you want to fight, then fight. Why be so wordy!"

Before his voice had even faded, his figure suddenly moved, darting out like a bolt of lightning straight toward Xu Tianqi.

This speed was startlingly fast, like a teleportation, leaving everyone present dumbfounded and completely unable to keep up with his figure.

In the blink of an eye, Chen Zhiwen appeared before Xu Tianqi like a ghost.

His movements were not at all sluggish, and there wasn't even a hint of flashy posturing; it was entirely the most direct and simplest method of attack.

He didn't even use any Cultivation Techniques or Spiritual Qi; he simply extended his right arm, clenched his five fingers into a fist, and then ruthlessly smashed it toward Xu Tianqi without mercy.

This punch seemed plain and unadorned, with no technique to speak of, but in Xu Tianqi's eyes, it was like a mountain pressing down, causing a strong sense of unease to well up from deep within his heart.

Xu Tianqi couldn't help but widen his eyes, staring fixedly at Chen Zhiwen's fist, trying to see some clue within it.

However, this fist was like an ordinary punch, with nothing special about it.

But Xu Tianqi was no ordinary person after all; as a Cultivator, he had an extremely high level of trust in his own intuition.

This intuition had saved his life countless times in moments of life and death.

At this moment, this intuition told him that this seemingly ordinary punch absolutely contained immense power, and once hit, the consequences would likely be unimaginable.

Xu Tianqi's expression instantly became extremely terrified. He didn't even have time to think and immediately, without hesitation, manifested his Life-bound Sword, holding it horizontally before him.

His hands rapidly formed hand seals, and the Spiritual Qi within his body, which was already as vast as a sea, surged toward the Life-bound Sword like an ignited powder keg.

With the continuous injection of Spiritual Qi, a layer of transparent light gradually appeared around the sword blade. This light grew brighter and brighter, finally forming a solid barrier that protected Xu Tianqi tightly within.

However, all of this happened too fast—so fast that Xu Tianqi simply didn't have time to react.

Just at the moment he had set up this barrier, Chen Zhiwen's thunder-like fist had already smashed over, following him like a shadow.

The power of this punch was terrifyingly extreme, carrying an unparalleled impact as it slammed ruthlessly into that layer of transparent barrier.

In an instant, the entire Ten Thousand Swords City seemed to be shaken by this force. The ground trembled violently, letting out an earth-shattering boom.

At the same time, a powerful astral wind gushed out from between the barrier and Chen Zhiwen's fist, like a ferocious beast roaring with its claws and fangs bared.

The power of this astral wind was incredibly startling; wherever it passed, the air was torn apart, letting out a piercing whistle.

Before this terrifying astral wind, Xu Tianqi's eyes bulged, his Face filled with an expression of disbelief.

He watched helplessly as the barrier before him shattered instantly under Chen Zhiwen's fist like a piece of fragile glass.

Dense cracks spread rapidly from the center of Chen Zhiwen's fist like a spiderweb.

In the blink of an eye, the entire barrier had completely collapsed, turning into countless fragments that flew in all directions.

And Chen Zhiwen's fist did not pause for a moment, still carrying the momentum of a thunderbolt as it smashed ruthlessly onto Xu Tianqi's Life-bound Sword.

In the very next instant, Xu Tianqi's Life-bound Sword suddenly let out a low and mournful cry, as if it were groaning in pain.

The sword blade seemed to be twisted by an irresistible force, instantly becoming bent and mangled.

Simultaneously, the original light of the sword blade dimmed at a startling speed, as if its vitality were being rapidly drained away.

At this very moment, a terrifyingly extreme force gushed out from the Life-bound Sword like a surging torrent and rapidly transmitted along the blade into Xu Tianqi's body.

This power was like an overwhelming mountain wave, unstoppable, and Xu Tianqi's body shook violently under the impact of this massive force.

In an instant, the internal organs within Xu Tianqi's body felt as if they had been struck hard by a heavy hammer, suffering severe trauma simultaneously.

A surge of blood sprayed uncontrollably from his mouth, shooting out like an arrow and forming a scarlet mist in the air.

Not only that, the Life-bound Sword held tightly in Xu Tianqi's hand was also sent flying along with him under the effect of this massive force.

His body was like a kite with its string cut, flying straight back for several hundred meters before slamming ruthlessly into the ground with a dull, massive thud.

Under the impact of Xu Tianqi, the ground was forcibly smashed into a large pit a hundred meters deep.

At the bottom of the pit, Xu Tianqi's Face was as pale as paper, completely devoid of color, and his entire person appeared listless and dejected.

His body lay limp in the mud, the bones all over his body seemed to have shattered, and his aura of life had become extremely weak, like a candle in the wind that could be extinguished at any moment.

However, facing this scene of misery, Chen Zhiwen appeared exceptionally calm, his expression showing not a single ripple, as if all of this were within his expectations.

He paced unhurriedly to the edge of the deep pit, looking down from above at Xu Tianqi at the bottom, his eyes containing only cold indifference.

"I have said it: today, no one can take Duanmu Yang's life." Chen Zhiwen's voice echoed across the square, calm and steady, as if what he said was an inviolable truth.

The Disciples of the Xiantian Sword Sect stopped their movements. They looked toward Chen Zhiwen in terror, their eyes filled with disbelief and fear.

Duanmu Yang, and even Zheng Chen, Yuan Hua, and the others nearby, all showed expressions of shock, staring fixedly at Chen Zhiwen as if they had seen something inconceivable.

Especially for young generation prodigies like Zheng Chen and Duanmu Yang, the shock in their hearts was beyond words.

Crippling an established Peak Grandmaster with a single punch? This was simply a fantasy!

If he hadn't known Chen Zhiwen for several days, Zheng Chen would probably have suspected whether the Chen Zhiwen before him was some great master in disguise.

After all, such strength had already exceeded the scope of their understanding.

"No wonder he said just to leave Xu Tianqi to him to handle; he's actually this strong!" Zheng Chen marveled inwardly.

"To be so young yet able to Cultivate the Body Refining Realm to such a profound level, there's likely not a second person to be found on this Huang Province."

"I wonder how he compares to that Grandmaster Realm Old Ancestor of the Blazing Body Sect in the Great Yan Dynasty; who would actually be superior?" Zheng Chen muttered to himself, his heart full of curiosity and anticipation.

At this moment, Zheng Chen had already placed Chen Zhiwen on the same level as those established Grandmaster Realm great masters in his heart.

Undoubtedly, with the strength Chen Zhiwen had displayed, there was absolutely no existence among the younger generation of both the Human Race and the Yao Race in the entire Huang Province who could compare with him.

While everyone was still in shock, Chen Zhiwen turned around to look at Duanmu Yang and smiled slightly: "This person is left for you to handle."

Duanmu Yang's mind shook upon hearing this, and then he walked over step by step, staring at Chen Zhiwen with a solemn expression.

After hesitating for a moment, Duanmu Yang said with a serious expression: "Thank you. Once I have avenged the blood feud of the several hundred people of Cangling Sword Manor, this life of mine, Zhou Qi, will be yours!"

Chen Zhiwen patted his shoulder, "I helped you with no other purpose than simply finding you pleasing to the eye."

"As for this life of yours, you'd better keep it for yourself; it's useless to me."

After saying that, Chen Zhiwen laughed loudly and walked to the side.

Duanmu Yang gazed at Chen Zhiwen's departing back for a moment, then withdrew his gaze, took a deep breath, and jumped into the deep pit.

Duanmu Yang looked calmly at the heavily injured Xu Tianqi on the ground, his mind filled with a thousand thoughts at this moment.

He had hidden his name for over twenty years, putting in several or even over ten times the effort of ordinary people to Cultivate diligently.

The hardships involved were something no one could truly appreciate, but now he finally had the chance for revenge.

Without the imagined excitement and frenzy, Duanmu Yang was exceptionally calm at this time.