Chapter 61

Beitang Wan'er was taken aback. Initially, upon hearing the words "cannot be used," she thought that Zhuang Wudao's life-bound mystic art required too much true essence, and his current cultivation level was too low to sustain it. However, when he finished speaking, she realized that Zhuang Wudao was worried she wouldn't be able to withstand it.

Her eyebrows shot up, and her eyes, clear and distinct, almost spewed fire, feeling deeply humiliated. Even though she knew Zhuang Wudao had no ill intentions, she still felt angry.

She was also more curious than ever. What kind of mystic art could make Zhuang Wudao so confident?

Beitang Wan'er's tone remained calm, and she giggled, "You can use it. If you really hurt me, I won't blame you."

Zhuang Wudao shivered all over but still firmly shook his head. "No! Even if you kill me, I won't use it. You'll know what kind of mystic art it is during the grand competition."

During the 'Bull Demon Dance,' he indeed couldn't control the 81 strikes. Once he used it, he would continue until he was exhausted. The name 'Dance' had its reasons.

With his Invincible Body, Zhuang Wudao didn't consider conserving his strength or protecting himself. He only sought to maximize the power of this mystic art. So even if he reached the Spirit Essence realm one day, he still wouldn't be able to control it.

Beitang Wan'er's face grew colder, but she was helpless. She knew Zhuang Wudao was a desperate man. Though he feared her status and power, he had his own principles. At this moment, he even showed a stubborn face. Even if it were Beitang Cangjue, he might not be able to change Zhuang Wudao's mind.

Suddenly, a firm voice came from the side, "If Miss can't, why don't I give it a try?"

Zhuang Wudao looked in the direction of the voice and saw the middle-aged man in green standing beside Beitang Qin. He was already walking over, standing next to Beitang Wan'er.

This man's true essence was concealed, and Zhuang Wudao couldn't discern his exact cultivation level. However, both Beitang Wan'er and Beitang Qin treated him with great respect, indicating his high status in the Beitang family.

Zhuang Wudao had been curious about this man's identity. If his guess was correct, Beitang Wan'er had invited him here not only to practice boxing but also to introduce him to this man.

Beitang Wan'er was slightly surprised and then introduced Zhuang Wudao, "This is our family's external elder, Gu Yu. He has come back from the Imperial City on my uncle's orders to protect you before the grand competition. Elder Gu is a cultivator at the Ninth Level of Qi Condensation. Even my uncle wouldn't dare to claim he could definitely defeat him. With his protection, you will be safe for the next two months."

Zhuang Wudao was greatly impressed. He knew the Beitang family had two heroes and four dogs. The two heroes naturally referred to Beitang Cangjue and Beitang Wan'er's father.

And this Gu Yu was one of the four dogs. Five years ago, he was notorious in the city, with countless lives on his hands. In recent years, he had disappeared from Yuecheng.

Zhuang Wudao had thought the guard Beitang Wan'er promised him would be a cultivator at the Eighth Level of Qi Condensation, but he didn't expect it to be Gu Yu himself.

The difference between the Eighth and Ninth Levels of Qi Condensation was significant, marking the gap between the middle and late stages of Qi Condensation.

Zhuang Wudao didn't dare to be disrespectful and greeted him respectfully. However, he still showed some hesitation and doubt in his eyes.

Gu Yu could indeed withstand his 'Bull Demon Dance,' but even if their relationship was good, he didn't need to reveal all his cards.

Gu Yu smiled, "To truly understand the practicality of a mystic art, its flaws, and how to improve it, one must use it in actual combat. I have seen Gu Yueming's sword techniques and might be able to give you some advice."

Zhuang Wudao pondered for a moment and realized Gu Yu was right. He decided and bowed to Gu Yu, "Then I'll trouble you, Brother Gu! Please be careful."

Seeing that Gu Yu didn't make any move, still standing like a pine tree with his hands behind his back, Zhuang Wudao raised an eyebrow and directly attacked.

Since they were only testing the mystic art, he didn't use any other boxing techniques. He immediately used 'Dragon Seizing Tiger,' extending his palm to capture from a distance.

Gu Yu immediately raised an eyebrow. He was prepared and wasn't surprised, but he was amazed by the strength of the capturing force, which almost made him, a Ninth Level cultivator, lose his balance. He hadn't realized how difficult it was for Beitang Wan'er to maintain her composure when he saw her do it.

This mystic art was clearly a Fourth Rank Supreme!

He instinctively wanted to resist but suppressed the impulse. Gu Yu allowed the capturing force to pull him to Zhuang Wudao.

Then he saw the punch coming, fierce and powerful, like a charging tiger. Gu Yu casually flicked his sleeve, which acted like an iron fan, forcefully deflecting Zhuang Wudao's punch.

Twelve consecutive strikes, each with surging and overwhelming power, shook the surroundings. Gu Yu was slightly moved. The solid wooden floor beneath their feet was already showing cracks, and his sleeves were torn and damaged.

It was evident how domineering Zhuang Wudao's punches were!

A cultivator at the Eighth Level of Qi Condensation might be able to withstand it, but they wouldn't be able to do so as easily as Gu Yu.

For cultivators below the Fifth Level of Qi Condensation, unless they had a high-ranking mystic art, they would likely be seriously injured.

However, the key was Zhuang Wudao's next move, his recently condensed life-bound mystic art.

When the twelve punches ended, the magnetic force around Gu Yu didn't dissipate, and he couldn't retreat. At this moment, Zhuang Wudao's aura changed.

Gathering his true essence, the magnetic barrier thickened, and his body shimmered with a golden glow.

Gu Yu's eyes immediately lit up.

—Could this be Zhuang Wudao's life-bound mystic art? The Invincible Body of the Bull Demon?

He understood but felt something was off. If it was just an invincible body that could withstand any attack, why would Zhuang Wudao worry that Beitang Wan'er couldn't withstand it?

He saw Zhuang Wudao's palms also emit a powerful force, and Gu Yu became even more cautious.

In the next moment, Gu Yu's figure was completely engulfed by Zhuang Wudao's overwhelming palm strikes.

Ninety-nine consecutive strikes, each with the force of eighty bulls, were unleashed in a chaotic and relentless manner!

Even Gu Yu was startled. His sleeves were torn apart by the first strike, and by the tenth strike, his palms were already sore.

Gu Yu wasn't afraid of Zhuang Wudao's strength, but the continuous strikes, like waves crashing one after another, were overwhelming. The force seemed to accumulate, entering his body. The first strike was eighty bulls, the second was eighty-one bulls, the third was eighty-three bulls. By the twentieth strike, it was the force of ten elephants!

With each strike, he had to take a step back. His chest felt like it was being churned, and he couldn't imagine what would happen to someone with lower cultivation if they tried to withstand it.

Sighing, Gu Yu didn't hesitate. He recited a series of incantations and threw several human-shaped talismans in quick succession.

Then his figure split into seven, appearing around Zhuang Wudao. Each of the seven figures drew their swords, and seven sword shadows slashed at Zhuang Wudao simultaneously.

In the corner of the spirit room, Beitang Qin was speechless, staring in shock.

Beitang Wan'er raised an eyebrow, her expression grave.

Third Rank Extraordinary!

Zhuang Wudao's move was definitely a Third Rank Extraordinary life-bound mystic art, and it was the best of the Third Rank.

It wasn't limited to a single technique but combined various methods, integrating them into a comprehensive and versatile approach.

Based on the Invincible Body, combined with the 'Great Boulder Strike,' it indicated that Zhuang Wudao's life-bound spirit aperture was far wider than that of ordinary people!

Beitang Wan'er recognized the move where Gu Yu's figure split into seven. It was called 'Seven Shadow Sword,' combining sword techniques with the 'Substitute Body' technique. One person split into seven, making it hard to distinguish the real from the fake. Each of the seven sword shadows had seventy percent of the original's power!

Though it could only last for a moment, it was extremely extraordinary. It was a Fifth Rank 'Superior' mystic art, and over the years, countless cultivators had fallen to Gu Yu's Seven Shadow Sword.

With his Ninth Level of Qi Condensation, the power of his move was no less than Zhuang Wudao's.

Zhuang Wudao ignored the sword shadows. The remaining strikes scattered, and sixty-one palms struck the seven Gu Yu figures from different directions.

The seven sword shadows simultaneously struck Zhuang Wudao, causing a burst of blue-white aura. The magnetic true essence only wavered for a moment before stabilizing, leaving Zhuang Wudao unharmed. Instead, the seven sword shadows collapsed.

The seven figures were shattered by Zhuang Wudao's strikes, turning into fragments of talismans that scattered on the ground.

Gu Yu's figure appeared twenty feet away, his face pale and his expression complex. Though he had no injuries, his sleeves were torn, and his arms were exposed, looking rather disheveled.

Zhuang Wudao didn't pursue further. The ninety-nine strikes had also exhausted him, and he was sweating. Once he finished the strikes, he immediately gathered his strength and ended the boxing technique.

The floor within twenty feet around him was completely shattered by their movements.

The spirit room fell silent, and after a long while, Beitang Qin sighed.

"Too bad, only Fifth Rank!"

Beitang Wan'er immediately understood his meaning. She knew that Beitang Qin was referring to Zhuang Wudao's Fifth Rank cultivation talent.

In the Tianyi countries, those with Lower Three Ranks talent could only practice martial arts. To enter the cultivation path, one needed at least Middle Three Ranks talent.

However, to achieve success in cultivation, to form a foundation and reach the Spirit Essence realm, one needed Upper Three Ranks talent.

Before the Qi Condensation realm, the difference in talent wasn't significant, and the progress in cultivation was similar. However, once one reached the Qi Condensation realm, the differences began to show.

If she entered the Qi Condensation realm, with her previous accumulation, she would only need two to three years to reach the Fifth Level of Qi Condensation. Zhuang Wudao, however, would need many more years to reach the middle stage of Qi Condensation.