Chapter 47

After two encounters, neither Hu Changlu nor Gu Xuyao gained any advantage, and the situation could be described as evenly matched. However, Hu Changlu was a cultivator of the Root Birth Realm, with more vigorous primordial energy in his body than Gu Xuyao. If the battle dragged on, it would definitely be to Gu Xuyao's disadvantage.

Gu Xuyao was well aware of this, so he did not continue to hold his ground. Instead, he let out a tiger-like roar, and as lightning covered his entire body, he launched his attack!

Hu Changlu had long dared not to be distracted. Regardless of the situation of Hu Changqing beside him, his eyes never left Gu Xuyao. Seeing Gu Xuyao suddenly attack, his first move was to create distance.

"The dispute between Dao cultivators and Strength cultivators has lasted for countless years, and the unchanging rule is that if a Dao cultivator wants to gain an advantage in battle, they must create distance!"

This was a lesson repeatedly emphasized by the patriarch of Changxu Temple to the new disciples, and Ling Sanshi had also said the same. Therefore, while Hu Changlu quickly retreated to avoid Gu Xuyao's attack, Gu Xuyao was also trying to close the distance between them, looking for an opportunity to deliver a fatal blow.

The small battlefield space isolated by blue primordial energy was quite large, enough for the two to play a game of cat and mouse. Although Gu Xuyao had not yet reached the Root Birth Realm, his cultivation at the boundary between two realms was not to be underestimated. As it was now, the two chased each other, and Gu Xuyao was not left behind by Hu Changlu. A difference in realm was significant, especially in terms of the power of techniques and speed.

Fighting in such a tense environment, Hu Changlu began to feel increasingly anxious, especially after his attempts to increase his speed and distance from Gu Xuyao failed. He finally could not hold back and began his attack.

Hu Changlu muttered incantations and drew strange patterns in the air with his hands. As he did so, small birds made of primordial energy materialized around him. These birds were only the size of a palm, vivid and lifelike, even emitting chirping sounds.

"Spiritual Flying Birds, go!" Hu Changlu pointed at Gu Xuyao, and about a dozen birds flew towards him.

These birds looked harmless, but after a quick mental scan, Gu Xuyao knew that these Spiritual Flying Birds were not to be underestimated.

"One Roar, Fist Movement!" Gu Xuyao's black hair danced wildly, and lightning shot from his body. His fists moved, and just like when he sparred with Wu Chang, he activated Fist Movement using his body as the unit!

After completing Fist Movement on the spot, Gu Xuyao's speed did not decrease but increased. He leaped towards Hu Changlu with a powerful push from the ground!

After launching his attack, Hu Changlu's internal primordial energy became chaotic. Believing that Gu Xuyao would be held back by this attack, he relaxed and remained in place to recover his primordial energy. However, Gu Xuyao's sudden offensive immediately caused panic to spread across his face.

But he was a cultivator carefully selected by Changxu Temple to participate in the competition, and this unexpected event did not throw him off. In his view, he still had the upper hand. Gu Xuyao had rushed into the circle of Spiritual Flying Birds, and his cultivation was lower than Hu Changlu's.

"Ha!" Without hesitation, Hu Changlu let out a fierce cry and consecutively launched three spherical primordial energy attacks. This was the most basic attack for Dao cultivators, the Primordial Energy Ball. It was a simple technique of gathering one's primordial energy into a spherical attack, but due to its ease of use, it was frequently employed.

The Primordial Energy Balls launched by a first-layer Root Birth Realm Dao cultivator, combined with the dozen Spiritual Flying Birds that had already surrounded and were about to collide with him, put Gu Xuyao in great danger. However, he did not slow down, continuing to charge at Hu Changlu like an arrow from a bow!

"Gu Gu, what's wrong with him! He'll die if this continues! Patriarch, you must stop that person's attack! If this continues, Gu Gu will die! Just let us lose this round; you can't play with Gu Gu's life!"

The intensity on the field was matched by the intensity below. Zibi, seeing Gu Xuyao in danger, could no longer bear it. She grabbed Ling Sanshi's sleeve and shouted.

Such behavior would be considered extremely shameful by other sects, and Ling Sanshi could not allow Zibi to act this way. He frowned, gently moved his shoulder, and pushed Zibi to the side.

Zibi was unceremoniously thrown to the ground, and at the same time, Gu Xuyao faced the combined attack of the Spiritual Flying Birds and the Primordial Energy Balls!

"Brother Gu, I'm sorry, but you brought this upon yourself!" Hu Changlu's face was pale, clearly not feeling well, but under his control, Gu Xuyao was in even greater danger!

Gu Xuyao remained silent, continuing to charge at Hu Changlu. His eyes shone with the determination of a lone wolf, a look Hu Changlu had never seen before. To prevent himself from faltering, he quickened his movements, and the Spiritual Flying Birds were now just a foot away from Gu Xuyao!

"Fist Movement!" At this critical moment, Gu Xuyao once again unleashed the Fist Movement accumulated in his body. The explosive lightning first damaged his own body, and then, the uncontrolled lightning burst out, striking the incoming Spiritual Flying Birds and Primordial Energy Balls!

Having reached his current realm, Gu Xuyao's strength had naturally increased. Although not as powerful as a true Root Birth Realm cultivator, the benefits of his breakthrough to the limit from the beginning were evident. First, his physical resistance was now on par with that of a typical Root Birth Realm cultivator. Second, his strength and control over primordial energy had also improved.

Lightning flashed, striking the Spiritual Flying Birds and causing another explosion. The primordial energy explosion stirred up dust in the air, creating a thick smoke. The explosions around Gu Xuyao were far more than a dozen.

The deafening explosions obscured Gu Xuyao's figure, and due to the chaotic primordial energy, Hu Changlu could not use his mental scan to check on Gu Xuyao's condition.

However, he believed that being hit by the Spiritual Flying Birds, even if Gu Xuyao had used some technique to unleash a massive lightning attack before being hit, the damage from the dozen Spiritual Flying Birds would be enough to leave Gu Xuyao unable to continue fighting.

Taking a deep breath, Hu Changlu proudly looked in the direction of his patriarch, who had high hopes for him.

However, he saw no approval in the patriarch's eyes, only blame and tension!

Hu Changlu shuddered, realizing something, and quickly turned to look in the direction of Gu Xuyao. The scene he saw immediately made him break out in a cold sweat!

It was a cultivator like a demon, his body covered in charred marks and blood from the explosions, but his black hair remained intact, flying in the wind!

"Second Roar, Unceasing!" Despite the terrifying injuries, the determination in Gu Xuyao's eyes did not waver. Activating Unceasing, he saw one of his hands growing larger!

This was the result of Gu Xuyao reaching his current unique realm and undergoing a month of special training!

The second technique of the Five Roars of Thunder, Unceasing, was an extremely powerful attack, but it required a long preparation time. However, if only half the power of Unceasing was channeled into one arm, it could be done while moving. This was a unique killing move taught to Gu Xuyao by Ling Sanshi, who, as the patriarch of Taiheng Sect, had a deep understanding of the sect's techniques.

"Where do you think you're going!" Gu Xuyao shouted. Seeing Gu Xuyao's appearance, Hu Changlu tried to use the Soaring Technique to temporarily evade Gu Xuyao's attack. After all, Gu Xuyao was at the end of his strength, and everyone could see it.

But Gu Xuyao would not give him that chance. Before Hu Changlu could soar into the air, Gu Xuyao struck the ground with his enlarged arm, which was covered in scars.

The Blood Arena, which had withstood so much without being shattered, was made of extremely hard material. Gu Xuyao's strength alone could not damage it, but his intention was not to break the ground. Instead, he wanted to transmit the power from his hand through the ground to Hu Changlu's feet!

"The Five Roars of Thunder appear to have only five techniques, but they contain many variations for cultivators to discover. The modified Fist Movement you used is an excellent variation. In this world of cultivation, the techniques you learn are not set in stone; it often depends on how you apply them."

This was something Ling Sanshi had once told Gu Xuyao, and it greatly inspired him. At this moment, a sudden idea struck him, and he came up with this method.

The primordial energy contained in Unceasing was not dead energy; if it were, it could not be stored in Gu Xuyao's arm. Since this energy was alive, it was possible to transmit it from the ground to the target's feet.

Sure enough, Gu Xuyao's attack was effective. The amount of primordial energy transmitted to Hu Changlu's feet was not much, as the ground absorbed most of it, but this small amount was enough to tip the balance of the battle!

"Changlu!" Hu Changqing shouted from the side, completely distracted at this moment!

But it was not his fault. His only brother had been knocked down by Gu Xuyao's Unceasing, and Gu Xuyao was now only ten feet away from Hu Changlu!

"Hmph!" Hu Changqing grunted, but Meng Xiang was not to be underestimated. Seeing Hu Changqing's distraction, he immediately struck, sending Hu Changqing flying.

Like his brother, Hu Changlu hurriedly stood up, only to feel a great force pressing on his throat. It was Gu Xuyao's hand, the hand that was choking him!

At this moment, the smoke from the explosions caused by the Spiritual Flying Birds and Gu Xuyao's Fist Movement had just cleared. The wind had stopped, and Gu Xuyao held Hu Changlu in his hand. If Gu Xuyao wanted to, a slight squeeze would be enough to break Hu Changlu's neck!