Volume Three: Rising Fame Chapter Eight: Another Victory

"Are you imitating me?" Qing Pengcheng asked.

He could clearly sense the flow of spiritual energy from his opponent, as if the other was simulating his own circulation of blood and energy. As their contest continued, he became even more certain: the other was mimicking the surging and circulating of his own vitality!

He was somewhat astonished—how was this possible?

Wasn’t there a fundamental difference between spiritual energy and blood energy?

"I'm just giving it a try. It feels quite interesting," Li Yu didn’t deny it. In fact, he had discovered that spiritual energy and blood energy, despite their differences, held subtle similarities. With just a rough imitation, he felt a tremendous increase in his strength and agility.

"How are you doing that?" Qing Pengcheng was amazed. "How can you directly simulate the operation?"

Blood energy differed from spiritual energy. Though their flows were sometimes alike and both used meridians, blood energy often didn't require the opening of every minor meridian; many could be used directly. Yet in the Divine Path, wasn’t opening the meridians a prerequisite for spiritual energy to flow?

"Is that what you mean? I usually open up meridians for fun when I’m bored. After all, there’s no harm in it," Li Yu replied with a broad smile.

Qing Pengcheng was at a loss for words. Just how many meridians must one open to perfectly imitate another’s technique?

The two referees were equally surprised, but for a different reason.

"Can he really simulate it just by watching once?" The thought flashed through both their minds.

The operation of martial and divine paths followed certain patterns, but to discern and imitate an opponent’s route merely by observation—what a terrifying talent.

They exchanged a glance, each seeing astonishment in the other’s eyes.

"Alright, let’s try again!" Li Yu showed none of their hesitation. He had just used a few proficiency cards from the system, allowing him to perform the technique now; otherwise, it might have taken him a few days to figure it out on his own.

As soon as he finished speaking, he charged at Qing Pengcheng.

Each footfall thudded against the ground, cracks appearing where he stepped.

"I’ve never feared anyone when it comes to strength!" Qing Pengcheng grinned with excitement.

His opponent was choosing to fight him at his own strength’s peak—he couldn’t ask for more!

He strode forward, colliding fiercely with Li Yu at the center of the arena.

This time, instead of immediately sending his opponent flying, the two became locked in a stalemate at the center.

"My god, is this for real? Since when could those following the Divine Path match martial artists in raw strength?"

"Did the martial artist’s cultivation all go to the dogs?"

"Don’t talk nonsense! I saw Qing Pengcheng’s last match—he was like a beast. Anyone he rammed into was sent flying seven or eight meters, landing on the ground and coughing blood!"

In the ring, the situation finally shifted. Qing Pengcheng managed to overpower Li Yu, sending him aside.

Yet instead of feeling elated, his expression turned grim. After the imitation, the difference in their strength was negligible.

But Li Yu was a Divine Path cultivator—he’d already been at a disadvantage. If his opponent could now match him in strength, what else was left?

If his own spear couldn’t pierce the opponent, did he really think his shield could withstand him?

And when it came to endurance, what martial artist dared claim they could outlast a Divine Path cultivator?

The higher the realm, the greater the disparity would become; as cultivation deepened, the martial path would inevitably grow weaker.

"You shouldn’t be this weak," Li Yu stood up quickly. After a moment’s silence, he spoke.

He had only imitated the form, without touching the deeper intent, yet his power had already increased dramatically. There was no reason the original owner should be only marginally stronger.

"You’re right," Qing Pengcheng pointed to his heavy armor. "Many believe I wear this to defend against attacks from Divine Path opponents. That’s a mistake! The real purpose of this armor is to burden me, to temper myself!"

Li Yu glanced at the armor, considering for a moment. "Would you be willing to remove it for our fight? If not, perhaps you should consider conceding now."

He was correct, and Qing Pengcheng knew it.

"I was just thinking about how it would feel to go all out," Qing Pengcheng nodded, removed the armor, and tossed it aside. The moment it hit the ground, it made a loud bang.

Li Yu’s gaze was drawn to it, and in the next instant, he was sent flying across the arena. If not for grabbing hold at the last moment, he would have tumbled right off the platform and lost.

"Such speed," Li Yu wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, awestruck.

He hadn’t even had time to react—he hadn’t even seen Qing Pengcheng’s movement before being struck.

At least he had managed to protect his vital areas at the last second.

"My armor weighs six thousand jin. Normally, I not only have to bear the weight but also move as if I carried nothing. Otherwise, I would become sluggish and ineffective."

No wonder he was so fast!

Li Yu nodded. Such a training method could not be seen in Divine Path cultivation.

He guided spiritual energy into his eyes, enhancing his vision, so he no longer had to fear his opponent’s speed.

The two closed in again, clashing at close quarters!

Spiritual energy surged around Li Yu, forming a protective barrier and even helping to dissipate force.

Qing Pengcheng’s blood energy boiled, almost as if a ferocious beast had manifested, stirring the air with every movement, the rush of wind howling.

"This is a real man’s duel! If the projection hadn’t magnified the scene, I probably wouldn’t be able to see a thing!"

"Seriously, girls, look at Li Yu’s abs—so defined, I’m in love!"

"Don’t forget, Li Yu is a Divine Path cultivator—and he hasn’t even used any skills yet!"

"Now that you mention it, it’s terrifying. If you hadn’t pointed it out, I would have thought this was a duel between two martial artists!"

The light curtain around the stage blocked out all external interference. The two exchanged blows for quite some time before finally separating.

Li Yu tore off his shirt, revealing a body transformed by repeated cleansing with marrow-washing pills—muscles well-defined, yet not exaggerated.

He rolled his neck, "That was invigorating!"

Across from him, Qing Pengcheng’s gaze was grim. Even with his blood energy as protection, his body now showed several burn marks, and his limbs still tingled from the numbness.

All were inflicted by Li Yu’s lightning.

This was the martial path’s universal weakness: lacking ranged attacks, with nothing but strength and speed to rely on. In terms of defense, whether against fire, ice, or other common elemental affinities, their barriers could be easily broken.

If the opponent wielded fire, for example, spiritual energy released would make fighting feel like battling in an inferno—every touch brought burning pain. How could a martial artist contend with that?

"I concede," Qing Pengcheng said reluctantly, realizing he had no chance.

"Li Yu, victory!" the referee announced in a loud voice, and the light curtain slowly descended.