165: Against Tang Zhiqiu

A thin man in a brown robe, looking quite refined, flashed to the doorway.

Seeing his limbs slightly stiff, as if adjusting to his body, he had most likely just emerged from a cultivation state.

When Tang Zhiqiu saw Nangong Jing, his face lit up with surprise, so much so that he instantly forgot her rude act of breaking through the door:

"Miss Jing? What brings you to me?"

Nangong Jing was not very pleased with this address, but being in the sect, she naturally could not assert her princess identity to pressure him:

"Senior Brother Tang, I know you are dissatisfied with Yu Jingshen occupying the combat slot, so I specifically called you to have a match with him!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Zhiqiu's face first showed joy, then he feigned a reluctant posture, shaking his head and sighing, "Miss Jing, you don't know, I, an unworthy one, have just broken through…"

"Break through what? If you don't fight, I'll never see you again!" Nangong Jing directly threatened.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Tang Zhiqiu's expression changed drastically, and he rolled up his sleeves and walked away:

"Where is that Yu Jingshen? I'll fight him right now!"

He had originally thought that since he had just broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, he was no longer in the same world as a mere Golden Core cultivator, and he had intended to give Yu Jingshen a break.

But he never expected this.

Just when he was sleepy, a pillow was delivered.

Yu Jingshen, is it? Just watch him, Tang Zhiqiu, today he will beat you into Yu Jingshen!

Tang Zhiqiu stepped out, his fighting spirit soaring.

The combat power of Nascent Soul and Golden Core differed by dozens of times, far more than that. With a dragon on his face, how could he lose this round?!

How could he lose!

Oh right, who will tell him what Yu Jingshen looks like, where he is, and where they will fight later?

The invincible him was lost again!

...

Heaven Sword Pavilion Proving Ground.

This was a massive plaza located in front of the main hall, spanning a full thousand meters in circumference.

Don't think it's big.

Measured by a cultivator's foot speed, crossing this plaza, even for a Qi Refining stage cultivator, would not exceed ten Kun seconds.

For a Golden Core stage cultivator, one Kun second would be enough.

The proving ground was entirely constructed from extraterrestrial white jade, rumored to be carved from a single piece of extraterrestrial meteorite, with countless spirit stones and spirit arrays embedded within it.

Heaven Sword Pavilion, backed by the imperial family, truly demonstrated the wealth of a nouveau riche.

At this moment, on one side of the plaza, countless white jade grandstands ascended directly into the air after people took their seats.

The grandstands, enhanced with levitation arrays, allowed spectators to appreciate the real-time situation in the proving ground from all angles, without blind spots.

This far-leading Hua Wei technology proving ground would serve as the main arena for the surrounding several dynasties to conduct their Dynasty Ranking Competitions.

This current match between Meng Yun and Tang Zhiqiu could also be considered an early test of the proving ground's reliability.

At this moment, the proving ground was already packed with people, their figures indistinct.

Some disciples, dressed in the Heaven Sword Pavilion's standard silver uniforms, were gathered in small groups, eagerly gossiping:

"Have you heard? His Royal Highness the Princess's personal bodyguard, Yu Jingshen, is going to declare war on Tang Zhiqiu!"

"Have you heard? His Royal Highness the Princess's male favorite, Yu Jingshen, is going to make it official with Tang Zhiqiu!"

"Have you heard? His Royal Highness the Princess's adopted male entertainer, Yu Jingshen, is going to get it on with Tang Zhiqiu!"

Studying journalism.

...

...

Amidst the rampant rumors, the news of Meng Yun and Tang Zhiqiu spread like wildfire, with countless versions rapidly iterating.

Regardless, the popularity this time was certainly maximized!

Never underestimate the use of communication studies in the cultivation world!

Meng Yun, led by Nangong Jing, arrived at the proving ground unimpeded.

The only thing that made him slightly concerned was that many gazes along the way were meaningful, staring at him and Nangong Jing with ambiguous expressions.

?

What's going on?

They were just pure male-female friends.

"Yu Jingshen, although I don't think you're inferior to him, Tang Zhiqiu is also the top Golden Core cultivator in my Heaven Sword Pavilion. Even I might not easily win," Nangong Jing earnestly instructed Meng Yun.

Meng Yun nodded humbly, remembering his friend's concern, and at the same time, he couldn't help but recall an old acquaintance.

The number one below Golden Core?

Was Qian Lai, who was terribly scammed by his younger brother, also the number one below Golden Core?

This title didn't seem very auspicious.

"Then I'm off. Wish me a triumphant return," Meng Yun smiled faintly at Nangong Jing, his face composed.

He turned and gracefully departed.

This calm and unhurried demeanor, combined with the young man's handsome and tall appearance, momentarily made the young girl Nangong Jing feel a sense of trance.

After all.

Which girl doesn't have a crush?

"Then, I wish you a triumphant return..." Nangong Jing, for the first time, put away her arrogant and overbearing demeanor, and softly murmured in a voice only she could hear.

As faint as a mosquito's buzz.

One above, one below, Meng Yun walked towards the proving ground, while Nangong Jing floated up to the royal exclusive grandstand.

Countless spectators, seeing someone entering the arena, all cast their gazes downwards.

"Look quickly, this guy must be Yu Jingshen, right?"

"Yu Jingshen? Could he be a descendant of General Yu, the Champion Marquis?"

"Take my General Yu's flying kick!"

"Old matters from the previous dynasty, be careful what you say, be careful!"

"Gotta say, this guy's quite handsome, though slightly less charming than me..."

Many gazes projected towards Meng Yun, conveying various expressions.

Some were expectant and envious, some were indifferent, and some were hoping for him to make a fool of himself.

Meng Yun stood on the stage, and facing him was Tang Zhiqiu, in a brown robe, looking extremely refined.

He had somehow acquired a folding fan, and he casually tapped it against his palm as he slowly approached.

"You are, Yu Jingshen?"

Tang Zhiqiu's self-restraint was extraordinary; even facing Meng Yun, who had suddenly appeared and taken his combat qualification, he still wore a faint smile.

Meng Yun looked at the man's calm demeanor, noncommittal.

With a slight perception, Meng Yun sensed the other party's hastily broken through and extremely unstable Nascent Soul strength.

If this was Tang Zhiqiu's confidence in daring to fight, it might not be enough.

However, since he had taken the other person's spot, he should still show him his true capabilities.

He was definitely not some mediocre lecher!

But an extraordinarily powerful lecher!

Meng Yun smiled and nodded: "I don't change my name when I walk, nor my surname when I sit; I am Yu Jingshen."

"Tell me, how do we fight?" Tang Zhiqiu looked around, immediately receiving cheers and applause from many fellow disciples.

Amidst the cheers, he smiled faintly, "As you can see, this is my home ground. Don't say I'm bullying you; you set the rules."

"Quite arrogant."

Meng Yun didn't decline either: "Two out of three rounds, I'll draw a circle on the ground, and whoever steps out of bounds loses."

"That's it?"

"That's it."

"Quite arrogant." Tang Zhiqiu was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then smiled in understanding.

Geniuses, where are they not arrogant?

It's just a pity, he fights geniuses!

Meng Yun flicked his finger, creating a Spirit Gathering Array with a diameter of a hundred meters on the ground, using the area within the array as the duel circle.

The most basic Spirit Gathering Array was Level Three.

Meng Yun could casually set up a Level Three Spirit Gathering Array, meaning his array master level had to be at least Level Four Spirit Array Master or higher!

This single move made Tang Zhiqiu's eyes narrow slightly, secretly raising his guard against Meng Yun once again.

A Level Four Spirit Array Master, huh…

Although somewhat unexpected, it was also reasonable.

The two faced each other, stepping into the Spirit Gathering Array one after another.

The speed of spiritual energy circulation instantly increased!

Five times!

A two-fold increase was a Level Three Spirit Gathering Array.

A five-fold increase, only a Level Four Spirit Gathering Array could achieve that!

One must know, the difficulty of setting up a Level Four Spirit Gathering Array increased by more than ten times!

Casually setting up a Level Four array with a raise of his hand, just how high was Yu Jingshen's array mastery?!

A hint of shock finally appeared in Tang Zhiqiu's eyes!

"What are you spacing out for? Waiting for me to make the first move? Do you think you're like that Qian Lai!" As Meng Yun spoke, spiritual energy fluctuations gathered in his hand, and a simple, unadorned punch surged towards Tang Zhiqiu.

A normal punch!