Chapter 87

"Clash!"

Zhang Ruochen took three steps forward, piercing through layers of sword shadows with a single thrust, piercing through Luo Xu's forehead.

Luo Xu's body froze, a sword wound appearing on his forehead.

Zhang Ruochen retracted the Flash Soul Sword and stepped back three paces.

"Remarkable, you've won. Your talent surpasses mine!" Luo Xu smiled.

Then, his body became increasingly ethereal, dispersing into wisps of spiritual energy and vanishing.

"Luo Xu's cultivation is truly formidable. Among those of the same realm, he could withstand ninety-three of my moves. He truly is the strongest Mid-Stage Profound Apex Realm martial artist in the Western Academy in four hundred and sixty years."

"Of course, if I had used the power of the spatial domain, I estimate I could have defeated Luo Xu in about ten moves."

Zhang Ruochen turned his arm, sheathing the Flash Soul Sword, opened the metal door, and walked directly to the second level of the Martial Tower.

Having defeated Luo Xu, Zhang Ruochen no longer needed to challenge the second and third stages of the first level, and could directly enter the second level.

Duanmu Xingling and Huang Yanchen let out long breaths, exchanging glances, and could see the shock in each other's eyes.

"He actually defeated Luo Xu within a hundred moves!" Duanmu Xingling still found it hard to believe.

Huang Yanchen said, "Not just defeated, but killed. Within a hundred moves, he killed Luo Xu, who was at the same realm as him. Truly terrifying."

"I want to see how far he can go, to which level and which stage," Duanmu Xingling's eyes narrowed, showing great interest in Zhang Ruochen.

Zhang Ruochen entered the first stage of the second level of the Martial Tower.

It was still a sealed training ground, very similar to the first stage of the first level.

"Clash!"

A spirit body martial artist walked out from the stone wall.

It was Luo Xu again.

Luo Xu looked at Zhang Ruochen and smiled, "We meet again!"

Zhang Ruochen was slightly surprised and said, "The guardian of the first stage of the second level is still you?"

Luo Xu nodded, "That's right! Now, if you can withstand one of my moves, you will pass the first stage of the second level. I need to remind you, I am now at the Late-Stage Profound Apex Realm, and I am the strongest Late-Stage Profound Apex Realm martial artist."

"The strongest Late-Stage Profound Apex Realm martial artist?" Zhang Ruochen's expression became serious, not daring to underestimate Luo Xu.

At the Mid-Stage Profound Apex Realm, Luo Xu was the strongest in the same realm. At the Late-Stage Profound Apex Realm, Luo Xu was also the strongest in the same realm.

With Luo Xu's current Late-Stage Profound Apex Realm cultivation, defeating a Lesser Profound Apex Realm martial artist would not be difficult.

Even with his strength, he could match a Middle Profound Apex Realm martial artist.

For a Mid-Stage Profound Apex Realm martial artist to withstand a move from a Middle Profound Apex Realm martial artist was almost impossible.

However, Zhang Ruochen was not an ordinary Mid-Stage Profound Apex Realm martial artist. Facing Luo Xu, he had no fear in his heart and said, "What if I defeat you?"

Luo Xu smiled, "If you can defeat me, you won't need to challenge the other two stages of the second level, or even the first stage of the third level."

"Aren't you going to use a weapon?" Zhang Ruochen drew the Flash Soul Sword, pointing it at Luo Xu.

Luo Xu said, "If I used a weapon, very few people could pass the first stage of the second level."

In fact, when other martial artists challenged the first stage of the second level, as long as they could withstand one of Luo Xu's moves and still stand up, they would pass.

"Alright! Let's fight!" Zhang Ruochen said.

"First move, Luo Water Out to Sea!"

Luo Xu clenched his fingers into a fist, his steps swift, transforming into a gust of wind, reaching a speed of forty-two meters per second, slightly faster than an ordinary Middle Profound Apex Realm martial artist.

An ordinary Mid-Stage Profound Apex Realm martial artist probably couldn't even see Luo Xu's shadow, let alone withstand one of his moves.

Zhang Ruochen did not use the power of the spatial domain, channeling spiritual energy into his eye and ear meridians, using his eyesight and hearing to judge Luo Xu's moves.

Zhang Ruochen's body moved to the left, dodging Luo Xu's punch. At the same time, he swung his sword, slashing towards Luo Xu's waist.

"Second move, Luo Water Returns to Sorrow!"

Luo Xu's body leaped like a flying fish, forming an arc, punching towards Zhang Ruochen's chest, the power exploding, seemingly stronger than before.

His fist appeared in front of Zhang Ruochen in an instant.

If Zhang Ruochen were hit by the punch, he would surely be severely injured.

"Heavenly Heart Sword Bell!"

Zhang Ruochen blocked horizontally with his sword, the powerful sword qi condensing into the shadow of a large bell.

"Bang!"

Luo Xu's fist struck the surface of the bell shadow. The bell shadow immediately dented and shattered, the powerful punch force sending Zhang Ruochen flying backward.

Luo Xu did not give Zhang Ruochen a chance to catch his breath, immediately attacking again with his third punch.

"Third move, Luo Water Transforms into Sword!"

The fist force Luo Xu unleashed was like a sword qi, piercing towards Zhang Ruochen.

Fist force transforming into a sword.

Only by cultivating fist techniques to an extremely high level could one produce a sword-like fist force.

"Such a formidable Luo Xu. If I hadn't cultivated to the Supreme Extreme of the Yellow Apex Realm, I would probably be on par with him in the same realm."

Zhang Ruochen, having successfully cultivated to the Supreme Extreme of the Yellow Apex Realm, had cultivated one more realm than Luo Xu, which allowed him to defeat Luo Xu in the same realm.

Now, Luo Xu was one realm higher than Zhang Ruochen, making it almost impossible for Zhang Ruochen to defeat him.

"Heavenly Heart Points the Way!"

Zhang Ruochen swung his sword, breaking through Luo Xu's fist force. Then, he advanced instead of retreating, taking the initiative to attack Luo Xu.

In the center of the Martial Tower, in the inner chamber.

Huang Yanchen stared at the scene on the spiritual energy mirror and said, "Luo Xu is using the Lower Rank Spirit Technique 'Thirty-Six Punches of Luo Water.'"

Duanmu Xingling asked, "Sister Chen, how many punches of the 'Thirty-Six Punches of Luo Water' did Luo Xu cultivate to at the Late-Stage Profound Apex Realm?"

"Nine punches," Huang Yanchen said.

Duanmu Xingling nodded, "Do you think Zhang Ruochen can withstand how many of Luo Xu's punches?"

"Can't say for sure."

Huang Yanchen shook her head lightly, "Zhang Ruochen's talent is quite heaven-defying. If he can withstand nine of Luo Xu's punches, he will have the strength to fight Luo Xu to a draw."

Duanmu Xingling said, "Impossible! Luo Xu is a formidable figure. In the same realm, few can match him. How could anyone challenge him across realms?"

"Let's see! Zhang Ruochen has already withstood six of Luo Xu's punches." Huang Yanchen also found it unbelievable, hardly daring to believe her eyes.

Luo Xu was an invincible strongman two hundred years ago, a legend in the Western Academy.

Zhang Ruochen defeating Luo Xu in the same realm was already quite remarkable. If the news spread, it would cause a huge stir.

If Zhang Ruochen could defeat Luo Xu across realms, the impact would be unimaginable.

"Eighteenth move, Luo Water Transforms into Dragon!"

Luo Xu's aura grew stronger, surging true qi forming ripples around his body.

It was as if he were standing on a great river, the air filled with the sound of flowing water.

"Roar!"

The great river transformed into a water dragon over ten meters long, surging towards Zhang Ruochen.

"Heavenly Heart Breaks Plum!"

Zhang Ruochen thrust his sword, striking the water dragon's forehead.

However, Zhang Ruochen's sword did not pierce the water dragon's forehead, as if hitting an iron wall, producing a metallic clanging sound.

"Boom!"

The powerful force almost sent Zhang Ruochen's Flash Soul Sword flying out of his hand, his right arm becoming numb, unable to exert any strength.

At this moment, Luo Xu's ninth punch was unleashed.

"Nineteenth move, Luo Water Cuts Off Flow!"

Zhang Ruochen gritted his teeth, not conceding, raising his left arm, all the true qi in his body surging towards his left arm, roaring, "Dragon Elephant Returns to the Fields!"

The Dragon Elephant Bodhi Palm, the third palm.

"Boom!"

Palm and fist collided.

The two powerful forces clashed, producing a deafening sound.

Zhang Ruochen spat out a mouthful of blood, flying backward. He forced himself to stabilize his body, taking several steps back. Although he looked quite disheveled, he did not fall to the ground, still managing to stand.

Zhang Ruochen's two arms ached as if they were about to split. If Luo Xu were to punch again at this moment, he would surely lose.

Zhang Ruochen stared at Luo Xu standing opposite him and said, "You win!"

Luo Xu shook his head, "You win! I only cultivated nine punches of the 'Thirty-Six Punches of Luo Water' at the Late-Stage Profound Apex Realm. Now, after nine punches, I still couldn't bring you down."

Zhang Ruochen said, "Your first punch used only two-tenths of your strength, your second punch used three-tenths, and each subsequent punch added one-tenth of your strength. Only your ninth punch used full strength. If you had used full strength from the first punch, I wouldn't have been able to withstand nine punches."

Luo Xu smiled, "But you should know, other Mid-Stage Profound Apex Realm martial artists only need to withstand my first punch with two-tenths of my strength to pass this stage."

Zhang Ruochen nodded, not feeling discouraged in his heart. After all, the opponent was the strongest in the Western Academy in four hundred and sixty years. Losing to him at a lower realm was not shameful.

Moreover, Zhang Ruochen had not used the spatial domain.

If he had used the spatial domain, the outcome would be uncertain.

Of course, the Luo Xu Zhang Ruochen faced was just a spirit body formed by the Martial Tower's spiritual energy, not a real person. The combat power of this spirit body did not represent Luo Xu's true strength!

Excessively pursuing victory had no real meaning.

After resting for a while, when Zhang Ruochen felt his body had recovered to about eighty percent, he walked through the metal door to challenge the second stage of the second level.

Since Zhang Ruochen had not defeated Luo Xu, he naturally had to challenge the second and third stages of the second level.

The second stage of the second level was a thirty-meter-long corridor, only three meters wide, with circular holes on both sides of the iron walls.

"Whoosh, whoosh!"

Walking into the corridor, short arrows about the length of a palm shot out from the holes on both sides of the iron walls.

Zhang Ruochen did not draw his sword, only swinging the sword sheath to knock down all the arrows.

He walked step by step through the thirty-meter-long corridor, his steps unhindered, appearing very relaxed.

Of course, this was only easy for him.

If it were another Mid-Stage Profound Apex Realm martial artist, dodging the dense rain of arrows would not be an easy task!