Chapter 129: Saint-Tier Martial Skill

“Very well!” Huangfu Huijing agreed without hesitation, for she had never entertained the thought of defeat, nor did she believe it possible. Moreover, with Shangguan Ningyu involved, Huangfu Huijing lost her usual composure.

Xin Lang and Huangfu Huijing ascended the main stage of the nineteenth duel arena together. Shangguan Ningyu temporarily assumed the roles of referee and witness, as well as a supporter of Huangfu Huijing.

Xin Lang too had a supporter: the little cat Rou Rou.

Standing on opposite sides of the arena, Xin Lang and Huangfu Huijing faced each other. At Shangguan Ningyu’s signal, the duel began, with Huangfu Huijing launching the first attack against Xin Lang.

Aware that Xin Lang had defeated Ling Tian and overcome Long Zhan Yi, Huangfu Huijing did not waste time testing her opponent. She immediately unleashed the top-tier Heavenly Technique, “Eight Desolation Fist.”

Huangfu Huijing cultivated the royal secret art of the Great Xia Dynasty—the advanced Heavenly-level technique “Imperial Supreme Mirror.” Not only did it accelerate cultivation at an astonishing rate, but the refined energy she produced far exceeded that of ordinary techniques. Coupled with the formidable “Eight Desolation Fist,” her power was unmatched.

“Heavenly Step Technique, Phantom Maze Steps!”

Though Huangfu Huijing’s “Eight Desolation Fist” was fierce, Xin Lang evaded it effortlessly using “Phantom Maze Steps.”

Yet inwardly, Xin Lang was alarmed. “Huangfu Huijing’s opening move is a top-tier Heavenly Technique. Her cultivation must be terrifying—likely at the ninth-level Grandmaster realm! Damn, this young girl is formidable; to have reached such a level at her age is terrifying. If nothing unexpected occurs, advancing to Martial Saint within a few years is entirely possible!”

“Heavenly-level advanced technique, ** Palm!” Huangfu Huijing shifted tactics as the “Eight Desolation Fist” failed to subdue Xin Lang. Her left hand transformed from a fist to a palm strike, unleashing “** Palm.” One hand wielded the “Eight Desolation Fist,” the other the “** Palm,” both striking at Xin Lang anew.

“Seal the Eight Desolations, Lock the **! Let’s see how you dodge this!”

Xin Lang’s “Phantom Maze Steps” were too elusive for ordinary martial arts to land a hit. Yet Huangfu Huijing quickly devised a counter, using both “Eight Desolation Fist” and “** Palm” to seal all escape routes from Xin Lang’s “Phantom Maze Steps.”

“Heavenly-level advanced technique, Seven Shadow Fists!”

With nowhere left to retreat or dodge, Xin Lang had no choice but to respond with his own Heavenly-level advanced skill.

His body flickered, instantly multiplying into seven images. They attacked from all sides, clashing fiercely with Huangfu Huijing.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

In the blink of an eye, countless exchanges had passed between Xin Lang and Huangfu Huijing.

Xin Lang possessed the “Heaven-defying Meridian,” and with the daily cultivation tasks from his upgrade device, though only a first-level Grandmaster, the power behind each punch was astonishing.

Huangfu Huijing, lacking Xin Lang’s “Heaven-defying Meridian,” was nevertheless a ninth-level Grandmaster, having cultivated to the ninth layer of the Qi Transformation stage. She could refine the essences of water, fire, earth, wood, and moon, converting them into a continuous flow of vital energy, allowing her to wield Heavenly-level advanced techniques without depletion.

In contrast, while Xin Lang could absorb all essences of heaven and earth into vital energy through the supreme martial art “Heavenly Halberd,” his absorption speed lagged behind Huangfu Huijing’s ninth-level proficiency.

After a brief skirmish with Huangfu Huijing, Xin Lang had already used a dozen Heavenly-level advanced techniques, his vital energy waning.

“Upgrade! Continuous upgrade!” Xin Lang suddenly issued commands to his upgrade device.

Huangfu Huijing was Xin Lang’s first formidable opponent since his rebirth.

She wielded two Heavenly-level advanced techniques simultaneously, “Seal Eight Desolations, Lock **,” fully suppressing Xin Lang’s “Seven Shadow Fists.”

After exhausting numerous Heavenly-level techniques, Xin Lang’s vital energy was increasingly depleted. Though not defeated yet, if the battle continued, defeat was inevitable for him.

Huangfu Huijing’s speed of refining vital energy was not only rapid but her reserves far exceeded Xin Lang’s.

Under the pressure of Huangfu Huijing’s two powerful techniques, Xin Lang was forced to elevate his rank.

“Upgrade! Upgrade! Continuous upgrade!” Xin Lang repeatedly commanded his upgrade device.

In the Grandmaster realm, the Qi Transformation stage’s first layer is Body Refining Essence, the second Blood Refining Essence, the third Yuan Refining Essence, the fourth Water Refining Essence, the fifth Wood Refining Essence, the sixth Fire Refining Essence, and the seventh Earth Refining Essence.

Xin Lang had initially been at the first layer, Body Refining Essence. Besides refining his own innate essence, he relied on the supreme martial art “Heavenly Halberd” to absorb more vital energy.

He felt little change upon reaching the third layer, but upon ascending to the fourth, Water Refining Essence, he sensed the abundant water essence in the air surging toward him, rapidly converted into vital energy for his use.

Xin Lang was elated. For just 3,000 experience points, he had advanced to a fourth-level Grandmaster. His upgrade device still held 3,500 experience points.

“Upgrade! Continue upgrading!”

Though now able to refine water essence from the air, the absorption rate still couldn’t offset the vital energy consumed by his Heavenly-level advanced techniques. So he upgraded again.

Spending another 3,000 experience points, Xin Lang advanced from fourth to seventh-level Grandmaster.

At the fifth layer, Wood Refining Essence; sixth, Fire Refining Essence; seventh, Earth Refining Essence! Upon reaching the seventh layer, he felt the wood and earth essences from all directions flowing toward him.

“Hmm?” Huangfu Huijing’s brow furrowed slightly; she too sensed the shift in surrounding vital essence.

At this moment, Xin Lang’s “Heaven-defying Meridian” revealed unparalleled power. His absorption and refining speed of vital energy surpassed that of ninth-level Grandmaster Huangfu Huijing.

“What’s happening? How can this be?” Huangfu Huijing felt as if Xin Lang had suddenly transformed. His vital energy was unceasing, even drawing away the essence she had intended to absorb.

Amid the fierce battle on the arena, none noticed the strange transformation in the little cat Rou Rou’s body as Xin Lang advanced to seventh-level Grandmaster.

With the tide turning, Xin Lang’s strength now exceeded that of ninth-level Grandmaster Huangfu Huijing.

The fight grew easier for Xin Lang, while Huangfu Huijing’s heart filled with dread. Should the battle persist, her situation would grow dire.

“Heavenly-level transcendent technique, Imperial Return Qi!”

Huangfu Huijing suddenly retracted all her vital energy, absorbing it fully into her body. Then, she unleashed a punch, releasing a torrent of energy that surged toward Xin Lang.

This punch, having transformed vital energy into a forceful qi blast, though not quite at the level of a Saint-grade technique like blade or sword qi, possessed some of their power and undeniably wielded the might of a Heavenly-level transcendent technique.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

One after another, the illusions spawned by Xin Lang’s “Seven Shadow Fists” were shattered by Huangfu Huijing’s “Imperial Return Qi” and vanished, leaving only Xin Lang’s true form.

Xin Lang’s “Seven Shadow Fists” had been broken.

Bang!

Xin Lang’s true body was solidly struck by Huangfu Huijing’s “Imperial Return Qi,” sending him hurtling through the air. Fortunately, he wore a sixth-grade Heavenly-tier “Golden Silkworm Inner Armor.” Without it, this blow would have seriously injured him.

Tumbling through the air, Xin Lang suddenly waved his hands. Two streams of energy, resembling blades yet formed of qi, shot forth from his palms, flying straight toward Huangfu Huijing below.

“Saint-grade technique, Vital Energy Blades!” Xin Lang shouted midair.

“Saint-grade technique!”

Not only was Shangguan Ningyu astonished nearby, but even Huangfu Huijing on the arena was startled. Saint-grade techniques were the domain of Martial Saints alone.

PS: Thank you all for your generous rewards and the support of my brothers. Even in my bare-bones state, I've managed to climb the overall rankings!