"Someone ahead?" Li Xuan, who was on the move, suddenly felt a spiritual energy fluctuation not far ahead. Moreover, the aura seemed somewhat disordered.
Although it was not entirely honorable to take advantage of someone’s vulnerability, there was no rule against vying for something while another was injured. If Li Xuan were the one injured at this moment, others would likely seize the opportunity.
With this thought, Li Xuan's figure moved, and he swiftly shot towards the location he had sensed.
"It seems they've discovered me." As Li Xuan approached, he sensed the aura clearly begin to move, and he smiled slightly.
Since he had chosen to act, how could he let his target escape? Li Xuan then employed the Carefree Steps and instantly vanished from his original spot.
"It’s you!"
Upon seeing Li Xuan suddenly appear before him, Yu Hong's heart jolted with surprise. Not only could he not defeat Li Xuan even at his peak, but he had also been ambushed and severely wounded upon entering the Azure Sky Illusion Realm.
"Someone from the Third Peak? I had originally thought I would show mercy if it were someone from our Seventh Peak. But it seems that’s no longer necessary." Li Xuan glanced at the emblem on Yu Hong’s attire and immediately recognized his identity.
"Damn it!" Yu Hong cursed under his breath. Then, with a thought, he instantly shot away into the distance. Clearly, upon seeing it was Li Xuan, Yu Hong had lost the courage to face him.
"Trying to run at a time like this? Do you think I don't exist?" Seeing Yu Hong flee again, Li Xuan was initially stunned, then a slight smile curved his lips. His figure moved, and he vanished from his original spot once more.
"I... I concede!" Feeling an extremely terrifying pressure bearing down on him, Yu Hong's expression changed drastically.
Li Xuan pouted and then directly extended his hand, saying, "Hand it over."
Yu Hong's expression relaxed somewhat upon seeing this. Then, with a reluctant wave of his large hand, a token instantly floated towards Li Xuan.
Yu Hong knew very well that if he hadn't reacted quickly just now, he would already be dead. Although Yu Hong's strength was inferior to Li Xuan's, his keen senses would not be mistaken. Moreover, within the Azure Sky Illusion Realm, the Qing Hall would not intervene in the internecine struggles between disciples.
Although handing over the token would result in his immediate elimination from the competition, it paled in comparison to his life. At this moment, Yu Hong felt immense helplessness. If he hadn't been ambushed as soon as he entered the Azure Sky Illusion Realm, he wouldn't have been forced to surrender the token so helplessly.
*Humph.*
As the token was received by Li Xuan, a spiritual light flickered in the space around Yu Hong. Then, under Li Xuan's gaze, he instantly vanished from his original spot.
"Hmm, I've obtained a token like this without much effort," Li Xuan mused. Just as he was about to continue forward, he sensed a powerful aura rapidly approaching his location.
"This aura… it feels somewhat familiar…" Li Xuan frowned as he felt the unreserved aura approaching.
"Li Xuan, you've made me search quite hard."
Just as Li Xuan was lost in thought, the aura he had sensed stopped its rapid approach. Then, a voice tinged with a bit of arrogance and excitement reached Li Xuan's ears.
Li Xuan slowly raised his head and saw the arrival. A flicker of surprise passed through him as he understood, and then he smiled, "Qiu Shaolong. It looks like you've been looking for me for a while."
"Li Xuan, after all this time, it's time to settle our old scores."
Qiu Shaolong looked at Li Xuan, a clear trace of anger in his eyes. The once incredibly weak individual now surpassed him by far, both in status and position.
Even though his strength was not yet formidable, Qiu Shaolong understood that if Li Xuan were given more time, with the resources he now had due to his position, his future strength would undoubtedly far surpass his own.
Furthermore, with the reopening of the Seventh Peak's mountain gate, its resources far exceeded those of the other six peaks. If not for this, how could Li Xuan have achieved his current strength? If not for this Seven Sages Ten Virtues Grand Gathering, Qiu Shaolong might not have even had the opportunity to seek out Li Xuan to fight.
Li Xuan's expression also became slightly more solemn. He had to admit that Qiu Shaolong had chosen his timing incredibly shrewdly. At this juncture, unless he chose to withdraw, he would have to face Qiu Shaolong head-on.
Li Xuan also understood that with just one more year, he would be able to surpass Qiu Shaolong. At that point, it wouldn't be Qiu Shaolong initiating trouble with Li Xuan. However, since Qiu Shaolong had appeared now, Li Xuan had no choice but to make a decision.
Li Xuan's thoughts raced, and he then took a slow, deep breath and said, "Since that is the case, then let us fight!"
Li Xuan had also considered fleeing. With the speed of his Carefree Steps, he should be able to escape from Qiu Shaolong's grasp. However, Li Xuan understood that if he fled this time, not only would he be unable to continue with the rest of the competition, but a flaw would also form within his own heart.
This flaw could be fatal to Li Xuan's future cultivation. Moreover, Li Xuan also wanted to test how much of a gap there truly was between his current strength and Qiu Shaolong's.
Although Qiu Shaolong was one level higher than Li Xuan, Li Xuan was not without his trump cards. It was better to completely resolve this troublesome issue than to let Qiu Shaolong continue to harbor resentment towards him.
As soon as Li Xuan finished speaking, a golden light radiated from his body. The aura of the True Self Realm instantly erupted.
"Heh heh, soon you will know what despair is!" Seeing Li Xuan's movements, Qiu Shaolong licked his lips and revealed a cruel expression, as if he had already foreseen the outcome.
"Defeat me first, then we'll talk." Li Xuan paid no heed to Qiu Shaolong's words. His figure moved, and he was the first to launch an attack on Qiu Shaolong.
Seeing Li Xuan charging towards him, a scarlet light flashed in Qiu Shaolong's eyes. "I've heard your physical body is very strong. I'd like to see just how strong!"
As the words fell, Qiu Shaolong's figure also moved, lunging towards the charging Li Xuan.
*Bang!*
The two met in mid-air and immediately separated. The immense recoil forced both of them back more than ten paces.
"Indeed, you are strong. But if this is all you have, you will be nothing but a joke today!" Qiu Shaolong's gaze narrowed slightly but quickly relaxed, as if he felt a sense of relief.
"Oh? Is that so? In that case, as you wish." Li Xuan smiled at this, but his expression was somewhat grave. The previous clash could be considered a test, but it had already involved seventy percent of his physical strength. Yet, Qiu Shaolong's physical body was able to match his equally, indicating that his physical strength was not inferior.
With a thought, Li Xuan unleashed the full extent of his physical strength. He knew that the subsequent battle would not allow for even the slightest carelessness.
"Putting on a show!" Seeing Li Xuan's aura change once more, Qiu Shaolong let out a dismissive snort and his figure moved again, shooting towards Li Xuan.
*Bang bang bang!*
This time, the two immediately engaged in a fierce struggle. In just ten breaths, they had exchanged dozens of blows. The surrounding trees and plants in their vicinity were instantly destroyed by the aftermath of their battle.
As far as the eye could see, within a radius of ten miles around them, not a blade of grass remained. Even the space itself was vibrating slightly. Cracks instantly appeared, shattering like glass. Fortunately, the Azure Sky Illusion Realm was incredibly powerful, and it repaired itself within moments.
With each collision, the mindset of both individuals gradually shifted. Li Xuan's physical body grew progressively stronger as the battle progressed. Each strike was delivered with full force.
The power and momentum of each attack were stronger than the last. In contrast, Qiu Shaolong’s expression became solemn, and the slight furrow in his brow was enough to indicate that he was beginning to waver internally.
"Damn it! How can this kid's physical strength be so terrifying!" Qiu Shaolong thought in shock as he withstood Li Xuan's attack.
Qiu Shaolong discovered that although his clashes with Li Xuan were becoming stronger with each exchange, the power erupting from Li Xuan's fists was growing even more potent. Li Xuan was actually becoming more and more invigorated as the battle wore on. This physical strength had now instilled a sense of crisis in Qiu Shaolong's heart.
"I must eliminate this brat today, or he will be an endless source of trouble in the future!" Seeing Li Xuan, whose expression was still calm, unleash another punch, Qiu Shaolong made up his mind. He then channeled all his physical strength and met the punch with one of his own.
*Bang!*
The immense recoil instantly pushed both of them back. Li Xuan showed no signs of discomfort. It was Qiu Shaolong, however, whose expression became increasingly grim.
In this final exchange of blows, Qiu Shaolong had fallen into a disadvantage. Furthermore, Qiu Shaolong felt a numbness in his right arm.
"I must admit, your physical body is indeed formidable. However, even so, today will undoubtedly be the day of your demise!"
Qiu Shaolong gazed at Li Xuan, his expression exceedingly ferocious. As the words left his lips, he rapidly formed hand seals, his advanced Beyond the Shore Realm aura revealing itself completely.
Li Xuan's expression grew more solemn upon seeing this. It was clear that Qiu Shaolong had abandoned the idea of competing with him in terms of physical strength. However, recalling his own fortuitous encounters and his abundant spiritual energy, Li Xuan’s gaze gradually relaxed.
"Try my Spiritual Light Burst!"
As soon as Qiu Shaolong finished speaking, the hand seal in his hand was formed, and he pointed it at Li Xuan.
A white light instantly shot from Qiu Shaolong's fingertip, resembling a rainbow, incredibly swift. Where it passed, space itself tore open into a dark rift in an instant.
Li Xuan's eyes narrowed as he saw this. With a thought, he also pointed a finger.
"One Technique Suppresses Heaven!"
As Li Xuan's voice fell, a sphere condensed from spiritual energy shot from his fingertip. It then violently collided with the white light that Qiu Shaolong had shot towards him.
*Rumble!*
A massive shockwave instantly shook the heavens and earth. As the shockwave dispersed, their eyes met once more.
The first strike: a draw!