Translator: AnubisTL
As the aftershocks of the explosion gradually dissipated, Gui Fan emerged from the smoke.
He remained enveloped by the Ten Thousand Ghosts Dharma Body, but now looked utterly disheveled. The skull heads originally embedded in his body had been blasted into pieces, leaving him looking severely damaged.
Enveloped by the Ten Thousand Ghosts Dharma Body, Gui Fan gasped for breath and spoke in a low, menacing tone:
"Impressive. Truly impressive. I've never used this divine ability since mastering it. I had originally prepared it as a surprise for Zhang Xiao, but you've forced me to reveal it."
To be honest, though Gui Fan had blocked Li Qing's terrifying great fire seal, he still felt a lingering sense of dread.
If not for the Ten Thousand Ghosts Dharma Body's immense power, he would have been either killed or severely injured.
Since achieving core formation, this was the first time he had been pushed into such a desperate situation.
Seeing that Gui Fan had managed to withstand his shattered origin great fire seal, Li Qing's expression turned grave.
He's even more formidable than I imagined, Li Qing thought. As expected of the young master of the Ghost Sword Sect—his methods are beyond ordinary comprehension!
"Now then, show me what else you've got! After all, my Ten Thousand Ghosts Dharma Body isn't something you can handle so easily!"
Gui Fan's voice turned chillingly sinister as his colossal, ghost-possessed form suddenly surged into motion.
With a violent tremor of his arm, a massive ghost sword materialized in the Dharma Body's hand!
This black behemoth was a perfect, scaled-up replica of Gui Fan's personal weapon, identical in every detail except for its gargantuan size.
It was a testament to the Ghost Sword Sect's truly mystical cultivation manual, which allowed practitioners to manifest a colossal ghost sword as an extension of their own divine abilities, wielding it with the same ease as their own limbs.
Staring at Gui Fan's oppressively massive form, the cultivators still lingering in Li Qing's cave abode panicked. No one dared remain to witness the impending clash.
One after another, they bolted from Li Qing's cave abode, fleeing with desperate speed.
Their cowardice was understandable. The aftershocks of the earlier explosion had been terrifying enough; now, an even more violent collision was imminent.
To stay would be to court death.
"This is terrifying... Is this the true power of a core formation realm True Lord?"
"Just watching from the sidelines makes my heart race. I can't even imagine how terrifying it would be to face such a powerful opponent directly."
"Without core formation, you're nothing but an ant! I've learned that lesson well!"
"..."
Ignoring the onlookers, Li Qing focused intently on Gui Fan's movements.
Even Li Qing himself felt a considerable pressure, let alone the foundation establishment realm rogue cultivators.
It was clear that Gui Fan had now revealed his trump cards.
Realizing this, Li Qing knew he could no longer hold back.
"Hah! Then let's do this!"
As his words faded, a crisp sound suddenly rang out:
Clap!
Li Qing's hands snapped together in a prayer-like gesture before slowly parting.
Two clusters of white-flamed Netherworld Cold Fire appeared in the palms of his hands.
Boom! Boom!
The white flames surged violently, spreading rapidly across Li Qing's entire body.
Since reaching the core formation realm, Li Qing had discovered his control over the Netherworld Cold Fire had greatly improved. He could now accomplish feats previously impossible, such as enveloping his entire body in the flames to forge a layer of fiery armor—something he had never been able to achieve before.
"Kill!"
Fueled by overwhelming battle intent, Gui Fan strode through the void, his colossal form wielding the black ghost sword as he slashed directly at Li Qing.
This strike could easily cleave a mountain in two, plunging the surrounding world into near-total darkness.
Undaunted, Li Qing brazenly prepared to meet this earth-shattering blow head-on with his Netherworld Cold Fire.
"Condense Fire!"
Li Qing frantically channeled his source fire seed, gathering wave after wave of Netherworld Cold Fire into his palm.
In mere moments, a massive concentration of heavenly spirit fire had coalesced in his hand.
As the sword descended in a diagonal arc, Li Qing unleashed the condensed cold flames with explosive force.
Boom!
The terrifying flames erupted instantly. This was no ordinary fire; it was heavenly spirit fire, one of the rarest and most precious treasures in the world.
Since arriving in the Great Wilderness Domain, Li Qing had deliberately concealed his possession of heavenly spirit fire, fearing it would make him a target.
But now, having achieved core formation, he no longer needed to hide his power. He could openly display the heavenly spirit fire!
The air, which had been scorching hot just moments before, suddenly turned bone-chillingly cold.
The greatsword surged forward, instantly colliding with the Netherworld Cold Fire that erupted from the front.
Gui Fan, who had expected to cleave through the flames effortlessly, was suddenly jolted by a chilling realization: the ghostly qi he had painstakingly cultivated was rapidly dissipating and disintegrating.
As he watched the icy, searing white flames crawl swiftly up the greatsword, Gui Fan finally understood what he was facing.
"Netherworld Cold Fire?! You've mastered a heavenly spirit fire?!"
Gui Fan's heart trembled violently. He never imagined that this seemingly ordinary rogue cultivator possessed methods far surpassing his own.
And the man had only just reached core formation!
Undaunted by the Ten Thousand Ghosts Dharma Body, the Netherworld Cold Fire swiftly climbed its surface before surging toward Gui Fan's physical form with terrifying speed.
"Hmph! Disperse!" Gui Fan roared, forcibly dismantling the Ten Thousand Ghosts Dharma Body he had conjured.
One by one, black skull heads plummeted to the ground as the Dharma Body rapidly disintegrated, finally separating the clinging Netherworld Cold Fire from him.
Enlarged to colossal size and completely engulfed in flames, Li Qing watched this unfold and instinctively began gathering fire once more.
Li Qing looked like he was gathering momentum for another devastating strike against Gui Fan.
"Enough! No need to fight any further. I acknowledge your strength."
"From now on, you may choose any mountain peak here as your cultivation ground."
Gui Fan gasped for breath, a hint of wariness in his eyes.
Hearing this, Li Qing smiled and withdrew his stance. "Brother Gui Fan, you've shown great restraint!"
"I never imagined you could subdue a heavenly spirit fire. When did such a figure emerge in the Great Wilderness Domain?"
"But don't get complacent. Once my natal ghost sword is refined, the Ten Thousand Ghosts Dharma Body won't be so easily countered."
Gui Fan calmed his breathing, his gaze toward Li Qing now serious rather than dismissive.
He had always valued strength above all else. Initially, he had underestimated Li Qing, but after their clash, he realized this man was no mere reclusive cultivator who only knew how to meditate in seclusion!
Li Qing had no reason to doubt these words.
Upon reaching the core formation realm, one's natal magic treasure became their greatest weapon.
Their earlier exchange might have seemed earth-shattering, but against a cultivator wielding a natal magic treasure, they would be at a significant disadvantage.
A core formation realm cultivator with a natal magic treasure was on an entirely different level from one without. This understanding was absolutely correct!
Although Gui Fan had seemed slightly inferior in their earlier exchange, Li Qing knew it was merely a friendly spar, not a true battle. If they were fighting to the death, the outcome would be far from certain.
"Heh, Brother Gui Fan, you flatter me," Li Qing said modestly. "I only managed to catch you off guard by relying on the power of my spirit fire. If you had been prepared, the result would have been quite different."
Gui Fan, however, wasn't buying into the polite banter. A strange glint suddenly flashed in his eyes.
"Wait, is that spirit fire you possess truly the Netherworld Cold Fire?"
Caught off guard by the sudden question, Li Qing paused for a moment before answering truthfully:
"Indeed, it is! Brother Gui Fan, do you have any advice?"
As Li Qing finished speaking, a satisfied smile spread across Gui Fan's effeminate and unnaturally handsome face.
"In that case, perhaps we could collaborate on something."
(End of the Chapter)
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