Chapter 85

Hearing Hu Gao's almost affirmative response, everyone was greatly surprised. This was a powerhouse whose strength did not fall short of Yun Feng in the slightest. Hu Gao was merely at the peak of the Seventh Stage of the Condensation Shadow Realm. Could he dare to accept the challenge? Was he joking?

However, upon carefully reflecting on Hu Gao's words, they immediately understood. It turned out he wanted a stake.

What a greedy guy, weren't you afraid of suffering because of your greed?

Everyone shook their heads, thinking Hu Gao was courting his own suffering, truly foolish.

Yun Feng's eyes flickered slightly, but he no longer spoke. Now, he had some understanding of Hu Gao, knowing that the latter would never do anything without being sure.

"Stake?"

Han Chong was taken aback for a moment, then he understood. How could he have forgotten this? Hu Gao had been emphasizing from the beginning that the martial artists must put up a stake for Yun Feng to accept the challenge. He had been so focused on challenging Yun Feng that he had forgotten about the stake.

Just as he was about to take out a treasure as a stake, Han Chong noticed Hu Gao's gaze, which seemed somewhat malicious, and his expression immediately turned unpleasant.

He could see through it; Hu Gao's eyes were conveying a message to him. If the stake he put up did not satisfy Hu Gao, it would be hard for him to accept the challenge. After all, Hu Gao had plenty of reasons to refuse.

"Damn..."

At that moment, even with Han Chong's temperament, he couldn't help but curse.

He was a genius at the peak of the Seventh Stage of the Condensation Shadow Realm, capable of rivaling a Body Integration Realm martial artist. Challenging Hu Gao could be considered an honor for the latter. Yet, Hu Gao not only didn't eagerly accept the challenge but also wanted to gain something from him, as if he was begging for a fight...

Although, Han Chong had to admit, he really wanted to fight him.

Seeing the pile of treasures in front of Hu Gao, which was about a meter high, Han Chong's eyelids couldn't help but twitch. He already had all the treasures he needed, and the treasures he had on him were not necessarily better than those in front of Hu Gao.

Suddenly, his fingers trembled slightly, as if he had thought of something. He clenched his teeth and raised his hand to take off a silver ring from his finger.

"Brother Chong, no, this spatial ring is... a gift from Uncle for your fifteenth birthday. How can you use it as a stake?"

Just as Han Chong took off the spatial ring, Han Ning's face changed drastically, and he hurriedly stepped forward to speak.

Seeing the spatial ring on Han Chong's hand, everyone's faces showed shock.

A spatial ring, any one of them was worth millions of gold coins, but no one thought Hu Gao could win it. Han Chong's strength was too great, even Yun Feng might not be able to defeat him, and Hu Gao was just a peak Seventh Stage Condensation Shadow Realm martial artist. How could he win?

"These things are just external objects to me. I have made up my mind, no need to say more."

Han Chong waved his hand to stop Han Ning from continuing, then looked at Hu Gao, "I will use this spatial ring as the stake. If you defeat me, not only will this spatial ring belong to you, but all the treasures inside will also be yours."

"Spatial ring? The things inside?" Hu Gao was already excited beyond measure, almost jumping up. It was as if he was getting exactly what he needed. Just as he was about to fall asleep, someone brought him a pillow.

"That's right, although I haven't specifically collected various treasures, I believe the treasures inside will not be less than the ones in front of you..."

Han Chong smiled casually, showing that he didn't care much about these things.

He had long seen through this. External objects were just that. His strength could improve so quickly because of the accumulation of essence energy over time, and he never used external objects to enhance his strength.

"Alright, I accept your challenge."

Hu Gao didn't hesitate any longer and agreed readily, "But I want to know, why do you want to challenge me, and why are you willing to put up a spatial ring for the challenge?"

"There's no need for so many whys. I want to challenge you because I find you special. Although Yun Feng is very strong, I have a clear understanding of his strength. Defeating him might be difficult, but the probability is not low. However, you..."

Han Chong looked at Hu Gao, his brows slightly furrowed, and a fighting spirit burst forth from him, "For some reason, although your apparent cultivation is weak, I feel you are very dangerous, even more dangerous than Yun Feng. So... I want to challenge you."

Han Chong recalled everything Hu Gao had done since entering the valley: his keen eye to block the fire poison, his luck to jump over the wind tunnel, his strategy to set up a bet with Yun Feng, and his decisive move to seal the bald king with one sword...

Each action seemed to highlight Hu Gao's keen insight and ruthlessness. If these actions were done by the old man with the pipe, they wouldn't be special, but for a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old boy like Hu Gao, it was different. Han Chong, who considered himself a genius, couldn't help but feel the urge to compete.

Of course, Han Chong's thoughts weren't that complicated. His cultivation was high, but his mind was relatively simple, and he clearly didn't think as deeply as Han Ning.

"Is that it?"

Hu Gao couldn't help but roll his eyes. Eccentric people were common, but this year seemed to have more than usual. He didn't expect Han Chong to want to challenge him just because he felt dangerous.

What a boring person.

"Alright, I know why you want to challenge me. Let's get started, young man."

Hu Gao nodded, stopped talking, and stepped forward, drawing the Shadowless Sword. A faint aura naturally emanated from his body.

At this moment, he had mobilized all the energy in his body. His true strength was only enough to match a peak Ninth Stage Condensation Shadow Realm martial artist. Facing Han Chong, a genius who could rival a Body Integration Realm martial artist, even if he used all his means, he might not be able to defeat him.

But Hu Gao wasn't very worried because he had a sure-kill move...

The Wind and Thunder Pearl.

This Wind and Thunder Pearl was not an ordinary treasure. If it were detonated, an ordinary Body Integration Realm martial artist wouldn't be able to resist it. Even Han Chong might not be able to resist it.

"You're straightforward. I hope you won't disappoint me."

Feeling the aura emanating from Hu Gao, Han Chong shook his head slightly. With just these, Hu Gao was far from being his match.

As he spoke, a terrifying essence energy fluctuation burst forth from Han Chong. Green essence energy suddenly flashed, covering his entire body. A strong wind sound rose, and he charged at Hu Gao, his long spear like a raging dragon, stabbing at him.

"Rumble..."

A simple attack, but it carried the force of rolling waves, shaking the space.

Seeing this, everyone's faces changed drastically. Even Yun Feng, who had retreated to the back, became serious.

Han Chong's strength was truly formidable, not a bit weaker than his own. If they really fought, he had no confidence in defeating Han Chong.

"I wonder if Hu Gao can withstand Han Chong's attack." The old man with the pipe stopped smoking, his weathered face showing concern.

"Can a peak Seventh Stage Condensation Shadow Realm martial artist withstand it?"

Seeing the red essence energy slowly emanating from Hu Gao, everyone shook their heads. This fight, with a spatial ring as the stake, would likely end in disappointment for everyone.

After all, Hu Gao was only at the peak of the Seventh Stage Condensation Shadow Realm, and there was no way he could withstand this attack.

"The power is really strong, but to defeat me, you need to show your true skills."

However, just as everyone thought Hu Gao couldn't withstand it and was about to retreat, his figure slightly moved, and he casually slashed his long sword. The wave-like essence energy attack was shattered, not even hurting a single finger.

The "Sword of Nine Dukes" technique, Hu Gao was somewhat relieved that Han Chong, like Guo De Yun, used a spear. Although the current power of the "Sword of Nine Dukes" was somewhat imagined and not as strong as he hoped, he still had the skills.

Fighting Guo De Yun had honed his sword, and watching Yun Feng had enlightened him. With his own foundation, this sword technique to counter the spear came naturally. Hu Gao even thought that if he defeated Han Chong this way, his "Sword of Nine Dukes" technique would be complete.

Everyone was shocked, realizing they had underestimated him. This small martial artist, who appeared to be only at the peak of the Seventh Stage Condensation Shadow Realm, must be hiding a great secret. Otherwise, how could he withstand Han Chong?

"Good, you have some skills. You can even control the essence energy I attack with. Try this move, 'Clouds and Rain'!"

Han Chong loudly praised, his eyes shining fiercely, and his fighting spirit even more intense. Hu Gao indeed did not disappoint him.

"Whistling..."

"Boom, boom, boom!"

Han Chong closed in on Hu Gao, his long spear continuously waving, creating a dense and impenetrable barrier. The terrifying essence energy fluctuations directly brought a strong wind, sweeping in all directions. All the paths around Hu Gao were sealed, leaving him almost no chance to retreat.

This set of essence techniques looked very simple, and its power was not particularly great, probably just at the lower rank of human-grade techniques. However, the flawless and seamless moves, as well as the mobilization of the natural aura, made all the martial artists around widen their eyes.

This was definitely not an ordinary lower rank human-grade essence technique.

Or rather, Han Chong had not cultivated this lower rank human-grade essence technique to an ordinary level.

If he was not mistaken, Han Chong had cultivated "Clouds and Rain" to the transformation level.

A lower rank human-grade essence technique at the transformation level might not be as powerful as a higher rank human-grade essence technique at the small success level, but during a battle, the attacks of a transformation-level essence technique were the most troublesome, as it was hard to find a way to counter it.

"Although Hu Gao has some skills, looking at his current state, the battle is almost over."

After the initial shock, everyone shook their heads and smiled bitterly. They didn't expect Han Chong to quickly use a transformation-level essence technique. Such a technique was even troublesome for ordinary Body Integration Realm martial artists. How could Hu Gao counter it? He would definitely have to admit defeat.

"Your spear technique is good, at the transformation level. Try the subtlety of my sword."

Hu Gao lightly shouted, his sword's edge suddenly changing, piercing through the dense spear shadows at an extremely strange angle. His body followed, and although a bit of blood was drawn, his spirit and energy were not affected. Under the astonished gazes of the surrounding people, he counterattacked Han Chong.

"Take another sword!"

Hu Gao's entire body glowed red, and he directly combined two energies, transmitting them into the Shadowless Sword.

Wind rises! Wind gathers! Clear and pure! Break the stone! Point the mountain!