Chapter 61

"Hey!" Gu Fei let out a roar like a fierce beast, exhaling a puff of white vapor. Immediately after, with a tremendous "Boom!" the entire platform collapsed, and amidst the flying debris, Gu Fei landed on the ground.

A raging energy storm swept out, and everyone nearby scrambled to avoid the splintering wooden fragments. The platform was built of wood and enchanted with magic to protect it from the power unleashed during battles.

But now, the platform had collapsed, unable to withstand the immense destructive power displayed by Gu Fei and Zi Yu. Even the magic protection could not prevent its destruction.

After clashing with the treasure tree formed from the Seven-Leaf Treasure Branch, Gu Fei immediately felt a sharp pain in his arms, as if countless needles were piercing his flesh. He could hardly bear it.

He quickly looked down and saw that the sleeves of his arms were already gone. Blood beads were seeping from his fists and forearms, and his skin, like dry land, had cracked into a web of fine lines.

In that strike, he had used the combined power of the Metal and Wood elements to blast away the treasure tree formed from the Seven-Leaf Treasure Branch. However, his arms also suffered an extremely intense impact, and his flesh was torn by the explosive power of the Seven-Leaf Treasure Tree.

Standing amidst the shattered platform, Gu Fei channeled the energy within his body to flow into his arms. As the flesh on his arms trembled, the cracks immediately contracted, preventing blood from seeping out.

Gu Fei's control over his flesh and bones had reached a level where he could manipulate them with ease.

"Just a flesh wound, no damage to the bones, no big problem." Upon internal inspection, Gu Fei immediately relaxed. His hand and arm bones were as clear and lustrous as jade, emitting a faint white glow, like exquisite works of art, completely undamaged from the direct clash with the magical treasure.

Gu Fei's undefeated legend, which had remained unbroken since the Nine-Pulse Examination, was about to continue. Today, even Zi Yu, who wielded the Seven-Leaf Treasure Branch, the treasure of the Tai Xuan Peak lineage, would be defeated by Gu Fei's fists, leaving the young disciples in awe.

Especially Wang Yuanzhi, who had a grudge against Gu Fei, seeing Zi Yu's defeat, immediately left, filled with anger.

"Gu Fei... I want to see how long you can keep up this arrogance!" Wang Yuanzhi muttered as he walked away, heading towards the gathering place of his lineage's disciples.

The disciples of the Tai Xuan Peak lineage, seeing Zi Yu defeated by Gu Fei, felt disappointed and also somewhat dissatisfied. Gu Fei had made Zi Yu spit blood, which was considered too harsh.

A cultivator's magical treasure is connected to their mind and spirit, akin to a part of their body. Some intelligent treasures can return to their owner's hand instantly, even from a distance of thousands of miles, with just a thought.

When the Seven-Leaf Treasure Branch was blasted away by Gu Fei, Zi Yu also suffered a significant impact. The essence, energy, and spirit he had infused into the treasure were scattered, causing him internal injuries.

However, the Seven-Leaf Treasure Branch had absorbed most of the combined power of the two elements, and only a small part affected Zi Yu, so his injuries were not severe.

The battle between these two young strongmen, which had collapsed the platform, was unprecedented. The senior figures of Tai Xuan Sect all looked at the two with renewed respect, especially Gu Fei.

Although his disciple had been defeated, Daoist Xuan Tian did not seem displeased. Instead, his eyes flashed with interest, as if he found Gu Fei particularly intriguing.

The head of the Seven Lineages, after being surprised, also became somewhat solemn. This sole disciple of the Cui Ling Peak lineage seemed to be far from ordinary.

At this moment, Gu Fei walked out from the shattered wooden debris, and the gazes of the surrounding disciples were filled with a mix of emotions.

"Senior Brother, you've won again, congratulations!" Zhao Zirou approached with a smile, seemingly more delighted by Gu Fei's victory than her own.

Gu Fei smiled but said nothing, then walked to the side.

Zhao Zirou quickly followed. Seeing the blood on Gu Fei's arms, she frowned and took out a small jade box from her bosom, hurrying forward.

"Senior Brother, wait!" Zhao Zirou called out, running in front of Gu Fei and extending her hand, "Here, this is the Jade Toad Ointment, specifically for external injuries."

By this time, they had reached the shade of an old pine tree at the edge of the square.

"Jade Toad Ointment? The Jade Toad Ointment from Lingzhu Peak, how did you get this?" Gu Fei was taken aback, looking at the small jade box in Zhao Zirou's palm, then raising his eyes to meet hers.

Zhao Zirou smiled and said, "Not long ago, I helped Uncle Alchemist with a small favor, and he gave it to me." Seeing that Gu Fei did not seem to want to accept it, she urged, "Please take it, your injuries..."

Gu Fei looked at Zhao Zirou, then at the small jade box in her hand, and slowly said, "Thank you for your kindness, but the injuries on my hands are just flesh wounds, nothing serious. This Jade Toad Ointment might be very useful to you in the future, so you should keep it."

Gu Fei knew about the Jade Toad Ointment from Lingzhu Peak. It was a miraculous medicine made from snow mountain ice toads and over a dozen rare herbs. With this medicine, even severe external injuries, such as a severed arm, could be reattached and healed perfectly, with no difference from before the injury.

Although a cultivator's cultivation does not rely on the physical body, if the body is injured, it is like a damaged cauldron, leaking the essence and energy within, affecting their Daoist path.

Before reaching the stage of forming the Dao infant, any injury to a cultivator's body would affect their cultivation. Especially for cultivators at the Awakening stage, they are as vulnerable as ordinary people and can die from fatal injuries.

Only after breaking through to the Transcendent stage and forming the Dao infant, nourished by essence, energy, and spirit, and merging it with the Dao infant, do cultivators gain a second life. Even if their physical body is destroyed, as long as the Dao infant remains intact, the spirit can temporarily reside in the Dao infant. With the right opportunity, they can even take over a new body and continue their cultivation.

"But your hands..." Zhao Zirou said anxiously, her beautiful eyes filled with worry as she looked at Gu Fei.

"I appreciate your concern, but I practice a body-strengthening technique, and my body's healing ability is stronger than that of ordinary people. These minor injuries will heal in less than three days. Using the Jade Toad Ointment for such a small injury would be a waste," Gu Fei said with a smile.

"This..." Zhao Zirou, seeing that Gu Fei was unwilling to accept the jade box, was at a loss for words.

"Alright! If there's nothing else, I want to find a place to rest. There should be another fierce battle this afternoon," Gu Fei said.

"Then... alright, Senior Brother, be very careful during the competition!" Zhao Zirou said, putting away the small jade box. Her tone was filled with deep concern, which made Gu Fei feel a warm sensation in his heart. This Zhao Zirou... even if Gu Fei were stupid, he could now understand her feelings.

However, a person in the distance saw this scene and frowned. It was a middle-aged Daoist nun with a hairpin on her head, wearing a green Daoist robe, standing tall and graceful. This Daoist nun was none other than Zhao Zirou's master, the third-generation disciple of Purple Bamboo Peak, who had already formed the Dao infant, Yan Xingyun.