457: Chapter 457 I, Jiang, am not very talented, and I humbly request your guidance, Brother Wang!

These words perfectly matched everyone's desires.

The secret rivalry between the new and old Disciples had been surging like an undercurrent; everyone wanted to use these spars to test each other's depth and, more importantly, to prove themselves on this top-tier stage.

"Good!"

Qin Wuye was the first to respond, his Battle Intent instantly skyrocketing as blood-colored smoke nearly condensed into a physical form.

"I've long wanted to see what makes the Prodigies nurtured by the Dao Repository Academy so extraordinary!"

Before his voice had even faded, a local Prodigy had already stood up, his Aura as heavy and solid as a mountain.

"Since Junior Brother Qin is in the mood, I shall come and seek some guidance."

The two figures blurred as they rushed to the center of the Sea of Clouds Terrace, and their very first clash erupted with an earth-shattering roar.

This person was experienced and his Divine Abilities were well-rounded, while Qin Wuye's Battle Intent was peerless and his offensive was fierce. For a time, they fought to a standstill, drawing waves of cheers from the banquet.

Ultimately, Qin Wuye won decisively, defending the peerless combat power of an Ancient Freak!

Just as the fierce battle between Qin Wuye and this person concluded, the atmosphere at the banquet was at its peak.

A local Prodigy named Zhao Qian, whose Aura had already reached the Mid-stage Saint Realm, rose to his feet.

His face was resolute and his gaze steady as he looked toward the seat where Jiang Ruofeng was located, his voice booming like a great bell:

"Junior Brother Jiang! The reputation of the Divine King Body is like thunder to my ears. I am Zhao Qian, and I have some slight insights into the path of Body Refining.

Seeing this grand gathering today, I find myself itching for a fight. I wish to use this brute strength of mine to ask for a few pointers from you, Junior Brother, to verify what I have learned. I hope you will not withhold your guidance!"

Everyone's spirits were lifted. Zhao Qian possessed the Earthen Spirit Body and a powerful Physical Body; he was the perfect person to measure the quality of the Divine King Body.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ruofeng's expression remained calm, but a flicker of interest flashed in his eyes.

He slowly stood up and cupped his fists toward Zhao Qian. "Senior Brother Zhao overpraises me. If Senior Brother is willing to guide me, it is something I, Ruofeng, could only hope for."

With a flash of their bodies, the two appeared in the center of the field, standing opposite each other.

"Junior Brother Jiang, watch out!"

Zhao Qian said no more and let out a low roar. An earthy-yellow divine light suddenly exploded around him, and it seemed as if the ley lines of the earth were coursing and flickering beneath his skin.

His entire Aura instantly became faintly connected to the Sea of Clouds Terrace beneath his feet and even the distant Dao Yuan Mountain Range!

He threw out a simple, unadorned punch, yet it carried a peerless will capable of crushing mountains and shaking the earth!

"Heaven Shaker!"

As the punch went out, the wind and thunder moved! The earthy-yellow fist energy condensed into a solid form.

This single punch combined strength and Aura to the absolute limit.

Facing this mountain-shaking strike, the divine light in Jiang Ruofeng's eyes blazed. He did not retreat at all, instead taking a step forward and throwing out a simple punch of his own!

The moment he threw the punch, a vague, towering phantom of a God King appeared behind him, its movements synchronized with his!

"Divine King Fist!"

RUMBLE—!!!

The collision of the two fists created a deafening roar that made the eardrums of many with weaker cultivation ache.

The violent, peerless energy exploded outward in a visible ring, slamming into the protective Formation at the edge of the Sea of Clouds Terrace and triggering ripples across the sky!

Zhao Qian's body shook violently. He felt an unimaginable force and a higher-level suppressing will surging through his fist.

He let out an angry shout and stomped heavily on the ground. The earthy-yellow light grew even brighter as he forcibly withstood the first wave of impact; his body only swayed slightly, and he did not retreat!

"Good!" Cheers erupted from the banquet. Zhao Qian's solid Foundation was fully displayed.

However, Jiang Ruofeng's expression remained unchanged, and the divine light on his fist grew even stronger!

The God King phantom seemed to become a bit clearer, and the will of judgment and suppression within the fist momentum suddenly intensified several times over!

"Break for me!"

Zhao Qian's hair and beard stood on end. The earthy-yellow light nearly transformed into a physical suit of rock armor. His fists blurred as he threw out dozens, then hundreds of punches in an instant.

Every punch was as heavy as ten thousand tons, forming a dense shadow of fist energy like a mountain range, intending to completely drown and suppress Jiang Ruofeng's divine light!

"Boom boom boom boom boom—!"

The sounds of collision, as dense as rain hitting banana leaves, merged into one. In the center of the field, only the earthy-yellow divine light and the brilliant golden radiance could be seen frantically entangling, annihilating, and regenerating!

Airwaves surged and spiritual energy turbulence hissed; the scene was incredibly intense for a time.

However, after ten breaths, the situation began to change.

"The God King descends, all laws submit!"

Jiang Ruofeng suddenly let out a clear cry, and his fist momentum abruptly changed. The God King phantom behind him became momentarily clear and completely merged with his fist seal!

"Break!"

A divine radiance of the utmost brilliance erupted, instantly crushing the last of the earthy-yellow fist energy!

Zhao Qian groaned. He felt his Saint Qi and will momentarily stagnate and collapse under this punch!

He could no longer stabilize his form; his entire body felt as if it had been struck by a giant hammer, and he was sent flying backward!

But he was, after all, a battle-hardened Core Disciple. While in mid-air, he forcibly twisted his body, his feet carving two deep furrows into the white jade ground as he slid back for over ten feet before barely coming to a stop.

His face flushed, and his throat moved as he forcibly swallowed a mouthful of blood.

Meanwhile, Jiang Ruofeng slowly withdrew his fist. The divine light around him retracted; his breathing was only slightly hurried, and while a few fine cracks had appeared in the white jade ground beneath his feet, his posture remained as upright as a pine tree.

The winner was clear!

"Incredible! The Divine King Body is indeed overbearing, crushing both strength and will!"

"Senior Brother Zhao is also extraordinary, being able to force Jiang Ruofeng to use a stronger Fist Intent. There is no shame in this defeat!"

Jiang Ruofeng cupped his hands toward Zhao Qian, whose expression was complex but held no resentment. "Senior Brother Zhao's Foundation is profound; I, Ruofeng, am impressed."

Zhao Qian let out a long breath of turbid air, suppressing his surging blood and Qi. He said with a bitter smile, "Junior Brother Jiang possesses god-given talent. The Divine King Body truly lives up to its name. This Senior Brother is convinced of his defeat!"

Having said that, he candidly stepped down. In this battle, he had given his all and clearly saw the gap between them.

Through this battle, Jiang Ruofeng had powerfully established his prestige, and the might of his Divine King Body was deeply impressed upon everyone's hearts.

His gaze swept across the entire venue before finally locking onto that azure-colored figure in the corner who had remained calm and was drinking alone: Wang Zhan.

He turned to face Wang Zhan, cupped his hands, and spoke loudly, his voice firm and no longer holding anything back:

"Brother Wang! On the Heavenly Ladder, you came from behind with peerless elegance!

This Jiang is unworthy, I ask Brother Wang for guidance!"

In an instant, everyone's eyes focused on a single point once more.

The atmosphere suddenly became even more heavy and filled with anticipation.

One was the Divine King Body and the other was the Heavenly Azure Sacred Body. Exactly who was stronger and who was weaker had completely piqued everyone's curiosity!

Wang Zhan put down his wine cup and slowly raised his head.

There was no look of surprise on his face, as if he had long expected this.

He stood up and, without any extra movements, simply began walking toward the center of the field.

His steps were steady. Every time a foot landed, it seemed to step on the rhythm of everyone's heartbeats. A heavy, vast Aura that seemed capable of carrying all things naturally spread out.

The Heavenly Azure Sacred Body did not need to be deliberately activated; its very existence seemed to resonate with this world.

The two stood still in the field, ten feet apart.

Jiang Ruofeng's body was filled with internal divine light, and the God King phantom flickered behind him.

Wang Zhan's Aura was heavy and solid, his azure blood and Qi lying in wait like a deep abyss or a towering mountain.

No words were needed; their Battle Intent had already soared into the heavens.

"Please."

Wang Zhan spoke, his voice indifferent.

"Fight!"

Jiang Ruofeng was the first to strike. He knew well that when facing a powerful enemy like Wang Zhan, seizing the initiative was crucial.