8: Chapter 8 already stated that the battle had begun.

"A new battle character?"

Chen Xing was both surprised and delighted, immediately understanding what was happening.

"Just now, the teacher told me to attack him. I used two Moves, and although I was insta-killed by a single finger, it still met the System's rule for judgment—challenging a target."

Regardless of winning or losing, he had technically "challenged" Ye Jianxing, so it was recorded in the battle mode.

He clicked on the opponent's attributes and immediately obtained Ye Jianxing's relevant status panel.

[Name: Ye Jianxing]

[Age: 91]

[Ability: star sword (S-Rank)]

[Cultivation: Tribulation Transformation Realm, Eighth Tribulation]

[Divine Abilities: Sword Qi Great Wall, Starry Phantom Sea, Star Sword Heaven-Cleaver, Sword Transformation Unity, Reversing Star River]

[Cultivation Battle Techniques: Star Sword Dao Manual (S-Rank), Star River Body Forging Manual (S-Rank)...]

"Holy crap, doesn't everyone say Huajie experts are usually around six or seven hundred years old? The teacher isn't even a hundred yet?" Chen Xing clicked his tongue in secret amazement.

Chen Xing selected the battle, and several options immediately popped up.

[Option 1: Same Realm Battle.]

[Option 2: Lower Opponent's Realm.]

[Option 3: Seal Opponent's Divine Abilities.]

[Option 4: Seal all Battle Techniques and Divine Abilities; pure Physical Body clash.]

[Option 5: Puppet (Opponent only defends, does not attack)]

"Not bad. Let's try a same Realm battle first." Chen Xing clicked the first option.

"Opponent generated. Detected host cultivation is only at the sixth stage of the Light Opening Realm. Opponent has been suppressed to the sixth stage of the Light Opening Realm."

"Would you like to change the scene?"

A System box popped up, informing him that a new scene had been unlocked.

Chen Xing clicked to look; it was [Starry Sky], corresponding to the place where he had just been attacked. Backed by thousands of stars, it was mysterious and ethereal, yet possessed an indescribable beauty.

He didn't hesitate and successfully changed the scene.

Whoosh!

The screen flashed by, and Chen Xing arrived in the starry sky. The ground beneath his feet was like a moon, vast and grey.

At the same time, Ye Jianxing's image appeared opposite him, only a hundred meters away.

"Battle... start." The System's synthesized mechanical voice echoed around them.

"He really looks exactly like the teacher. Let me see just how strong the teacher is at the same Realm!" Chen Xing rubbed his hands together, unable to help feeling a bit excited.

The scene from earlier still echoed in his mind. Both being Tribulation Transformation Realm experts, Ye Jianxing had slain two powerful enemies with a single Move—how amazing was that?

Chen Xing stared unblinkingly at Ye Jianxing. Energy flowed to his limbs as he prepared to activate the Secret Tome of Light.

Puchi—!

In the next second, an invisible strand of Sword Qi slashed across. Before Chen Xing could even react, his head was separated from his body, and blood splattered on the spot.

"Battle ended. Time elapsed: 1.5 seconds. Combat level evaluation: F-Rank. Keep trying."

It wasn't until the System's voice sounded again that Chen Xing snapped out of it. He stared forward, but the large words on the panel made him lose focus again.

1.5 seconds? I was insta-killed?

Chen Xing's scalp tingled. "Is this a joke, System? We're at the same Realm, is the gap really this big?"

System popup: "Battle mode only suppresses the Realm; it does not erase the opponent's combat experience, martial arts, or Sword Dao Concept."

Chen Xing pursed his lips. "No wonder. Indeed, few can withstand the Sword Intent of a Tribulation Transformation Realm Ability User. But System, could you tell me this kind of thing in advance so I can be prepared?"

System: "I said the battle begins. Are you deaf?"

Chen Xing: "..."

He was silent for a moment, then couldn't help but touch his neck. Even though it wasn't a real death, he still felt a bone-chilling coldness.

In that instant just now, he had died so fast that the pain came and went quickly, but that sensation was truly unforgettable and left him with lingering palpitations.

"Fine, let's go again!"

Chen Xing chose to fight another round, still in the same Realm battle.

This time, he used his full strength from the start. The crown sat on his head, the cloak fluttered in the wind, and he then turned into a streak of light charging at his opponent.

Whoosh!

Ye Jianxing lunged with a sword, his speed so fast it actually kept up with Chen Xing, a Light Element Ability User.

Chen Xing unleashed his Light-Speed Punch, light enveloping both hands. With the enhancement from the cloak, his fists were comparable to weapons.

Clang!

The two collided, erupting with a metallic clashing sound. Sword Qi and the power of the Light Element surged wildly, exceptionally intense.

Chen Xing gritted his teeth. Several points of light actually flickered on the crown, granting him a secondary buff.

Hum!

At this moment, the powers of the crown and cloak connected and combined, actually boosting his cultivation to the ninth stage of the Light Opening Realm at this instant!

Boosting his cultivation by two stages in a heartbeat—this was also the first time Chen Xing experienced the power brought by an S-Rank talent ability. This was an experience other Ranks didn't have.

With the sudden rise in Realm came a powerful force that forced Ye Jianxing back.

Chen Xing followed up immediately with a flurry of punches and kicks, his movements smooth and fluid.

Clang!

Just then, another Flying Sword appeared out of thin air in Ye Jianxing's other hand, blocking both his punches and kicks.

This Flying Sword seemed to come alive, locking onto Chen Xing's aura and rushing toward him with a whoosh.

"Is this a battle technique, or what?" Chen Xing pondered while retreating.

"The System's records won't be wrong, but this Flying Sword wasn't listed on the panel. So what is it that isn't listed on the panel?"

Ye Jianxing charged with his sword. Having cultivated the Star River Body Forging Manual, his physique was powerful. He arrived in an instant, forming a pincer attack with the Flying Sword.

Chen Xing's expression was grave. He once again felt that bone-chilling intent of death. His intuition told him he wouldn't be able to block this.

"Perfect, let's try this!"

Whoosh!

The moment the two sword blades drew near, several golden chains flew out from within Chen Xing's body, firmly binding the sword hilts.

Ye Jianxing was clearly encountering this for the first time. He struggled with force, only to find that these golden shackles were unusual—they were actually suppressing the power within his body.

He even felt as if his will was being met by a giant hand, about to be pressed down into eternal sleep.

Heavens Chain!

This was one of the two great talent divine abilities Chen Xing had awakened. It was also his first time using it, and he hadn't expected it to have such a wonderful use.

"Pure light power... wrapping it around myself can even provide a buff?" Chen Xing wrapped an extra golden shackle around his right hand and found it to be incredibly powerful.

"This is more like it. As expected, none of the awakened things are useless!" He smiled, his clenched fist booming toward his opponent.

Bang!

At the critical moment, Ye Jianxing actually kicked him away with a backhand, his power and speed skyrocketing.

Sword Transformation Unity!

This was Ye Jianxing's talent Divine Ability, allowing him to reach a state of oneness with the star sword and gain an all-around boost in combat power.

Boom!

Ye Jianxing's aura exploded. Holding the star sword in one hand with the Flying Sword floating beside him, his cultivation also reached the ninth stage of the Light Opening Realm, matching Chen Xing's.

But it wasn't over yet. Ye Jianxing raised his left hand, and a Purple-Gold Gourd appeared out of thin air, emitting a sharp Sword Intent that rippled through the surroundings like waves on water.

The Purple-Gold Gourd shook twice, and various large and small Flying Swords flew out of its mouth, swarming toward him.

"A sword-nurturing gourd?"

Chen Xing immediately understood that these Flying Swords were accessories to the Purple-Gold Gourd. They were treasures unique to S-Rank and A-Rank Ability Users.

Just like his crown and cloak, they were innate items that came with the Awakening of his ability.

Except the combination of his two items could boost his cultivation. Ye Jianxing had only shown one so far; he wondered what the second one was and if it could also boost cultivation.