In the crowd, Huo Tongtian, Lyu Chan, Diao Lingluo, and Li Mushen stood together, as fellow villagers they stood a bit closer.
Lyu Chan muttered, "Have you all noticed, this Xia Luo speaks with a very familiar feeling."
"A familiar feeling?" Huo Tongtian repeated softly, "Now that you mention it, it does feel somewhat familiar."
Diao Lingluo's gaze was peculiar as she stared in Xia Luo's direction.
Li Mushen said, "I feel that the way Li Zhenyue speaks, it's very similar to when we attended the martial arts examination in the Great Capital Province..."
Huo Tongtian furrowed his brows and said, "I think that Li Zhenyue is terrifying, I can sense an aura on him that is quite out of the ordinary, definitely not like the ancient spirits within common mortals. I last felt this with Luoshenzi."
"Let's see, I think this Xia Luo is quite the dark horse, but his ancient spirit is an old farmer, too ordinary." Li Mushen responded.
On the platform, Li Zhenyue flexed his wrists and mobilized his shoulders and neck.
He said coldly, "During my participation in the Great Su Province's martial examination, I became the Martial Champion without summoning my ancient spirit. Today, I feel that you have some strength, so this time in battle, I plan to give you full respect and summon my ancient spirit."
"As for your old farmer ancient spirit, even if there's something hidden, it couldn't possibly have a higher status than my ancient spirit."
Luo Yu stretched out his index finger and wiggled it from side to side.
"Cut the crap."
"Let's speak with strength."
Behind him, silently, the hunched figure of an old farmer appeared, his dark skin glowing, holding a plant that resembled a bunch of rice ears.
It seemed as if he was about to taste it or as if he was about to transplant seedlings in a field.
It was very down-to-earth, which in another angle, made it seem exceptionally unremarkable.
Li Zhenyue shook his head.
"The only thing I admire about you is your physical skills and the talent for replicating abilities. As for comparing ancient spirits, you're not up to par."
"Come out, Li Tianwang!"
"Rustling——"
The surroundings fell completely silent, everyone closed their mouths, watching the pinnacle of confrontation.
A whirlwind spontaneously kicked up on the stage.
"Clink clink."
A figure as if stepping out from the ancient times, wearing heavy armor that resonated with a chilling clang of gold and iron.
A middle-aged man, with a heroic countenance, heavy brows, and a face chiseled like it had been cut by a knife and an axe.
One of the top ten scholars of the Martial Temple, the General of Chen Tang Pass, Li Jing!
The greatest marshal of the Tang Dynasty.
As Li Jing appeared, Li Zhenyue's aura soared to the extreme; people like Lyu Chan below all felt a strong sense of oppression.
Huo Tongtian's face took on a serious look.
"This Li Zhenyue, his strength is definitely unfathomable."
Lyu Chan said, "Before I came down the mountain, my master said that from ancient times to the present, none born with divine power are simple."
Diao Lingluo wondered, "Weird, by rights, Li Jing's ancient spirit shouldn't be giving me a greater sense of pressure than Huo Tongtian's Marquis of the Champion."
Li Mushen said, "This Li Jing, even if we don't mention the mythological aspect of the ancient legends and only talk about his accomplishments in the Tang Dynasty, he was invincible."
"Huo Qubing also swept across the world." Diao Lingluo added, "Could it be that Huo Tongtian is just weaker? Tarnishing the reputation of the Marquis of the Champion."
Huo Tongtian's face turned green on the side, "Sis, have some respect, I'm right here, you're not exactly polite."
Li Mushen analyzed, "Every era has its top figure, but some eras are overall weaker, making the first rank less valuable; however, in eras where talents are rife, taking the lead means one's strength is really exaggerated."
"Are you implying that the era Li Jing was in was full of formidable people?" Lyu Chan was somewhat unconvinced.
"It's hard to say." Li Mushen shook his head and continued, "The most terrifying thing about Li Jing is that he strangled his enemies in the cradle before they could grow, and never fought an uphill battle in his life. Although he doesn't have the record of the Marquis of the Champion, he seems even more formidable."
"Of course, it's difficult to measure their combat power against each other, and there could also be a gap between the hosts."
Huo Tongtian glared, "I think you could have left off that last part."
"That being said, I find this Li Jing somewhat scary." Diao Lingluo couldn't help but say.
Li Mushen continued, "The legend goes that Xue Rengui, the number one marshal of the Later Tang Dynasty's armed forces, was trained by Li Jing in seclusion in the mountains."
"Unbeatable himself, and he also trained another unbeatable?" Lyu Chan was also shocked.
In the few moments they talked, the fight on the platform had already begun.
War God Li Zhenyue's body techniques were multifaceted; his fundamentals were exceptionally solid with every move lethal, ferocious as a tiger.
Yet, what drew the most attention was Luo Yu.
Because no matter what Li Zhenyue used, Luo Yu could replicate it exactly in the next move, which made everyone almost drop their jaws in amazement.
Cries of it being so masterful filled the air.
What kind of monstrous talent was this, even more terrifying than being born with divine power.
No, facing the naturally Divine Powered War God Li Zhenyue, Xia Luo seemed never to fall into a disadvantage in the wrestling.
This...
Those observing the battle seem even more excited than those on the stage, all holding their breath.
"Bang Bang Bang!"
Li Zhenyue, in the midst of combat, couldn't help but silently curse at the monster before him.
His physical techniques had been honed by renowned teachers and tempered in the crucible of blood and fire on the battlefield.
Yet this guy could steal the moves during the fight and cleverly use them.
And he didn't just learn the postures, but also mastered the essence of the techniques.
"Bajibeng!"
"Throw Tablet Hand, Grasping Dragon Fist, Xingyi Fist..."
Li Zhenyue, as if unwilling to accept the reality, unleashed a variety of physical martial arts, but Luo Yu took them in stride, not missing a single one.
Right away, he returned fire with the other's techniques, without any reward.
"Enough!"
Li Zhenyue couldn't stand it any longer; this uncontrollable style of fighting frustrated him deeply.
He roared loudly, his voice resounding powerfully.
Without a second word, he went for Human-Spirit Fusion, not planning to rely on his own strength, directly aiming to crush Luo Yu with the power of Ancient Spirits.
"Boom!"
The moment Li Zhenyue achieved Human-Spirit Fusion, his body was covered in thick armor, and the Sovereign's Sword appeared in his hands.
Hs stature soared, as if he had cast the Law of Heaven and Earth, and although not as exaggerated as the Great Divine Power, he also grew to a towering height of four meters, his physique reaching the pinnacle of majestic, making everyone around him seem miniaturized and dwarfed.
"Holy crap!"
"He's cheating, Li Zhenyue is cheating."
"Can't win in a contest of physical skills, so he's bullying someone else's peasant Heroic Spirit?"
A punch from Li Zhenyue blasted out like a cannonball, his massive form enhancing both speed and strength severalfold.
His huge fist instantly sealed off Luo Yu's routes of evasion.
"Tsk."
"No more moves to use?"
Luo Yu seemed somewhat disappointed, considering he was just getting charged up on body techniques from Li Zhenyue, but the other was not up for it anymore.
"I will crush you fair and square!" Li Zhenyue roared, "The essence of a Spirit Martialist still relies on Ancient Spirits. When your Ancient Spirit is weaker, you are destined to suffer a crushing defeat, don't expect sympathy or leniency from others."
"Oh?"
Luo Yu's lips curled into a smile, and in an instant, he also chose spirit possession while throwing his punch.
"Bang——"
The punches collided, but the one being pushed back was the gigantic Li Zhenyue, to the shock of the surrounding spectators.
"This..."
"Is this the kind of power that a peasant Heroic Spirit could augment?"
"This makes no sense, what's happening?"
Li Zhenyue too suddenly felt a bit insecure. After all, he had natural Divine Power and the support of Li Jing, so why hadn't he won the wrestling match?
Could the strength produced from tilling the land be greater than that of a grand marshal?
"Mere brute strength is worthless,"
Still concerned with his dignity, Li Zhenyue said, "Watch my Divine Power, beasts descend!"
"Roar——"
The stench of blood spread throughout the arena instantly, as ten giant souls of apes, birds of prey, pythons, and other ferocious beasts appeared, draped in bloody fur or Scales.
"Isn't this cheating?"
"He can't win alone, so he resorts to a gang fight?"
"Holy crap, these abilities are outrageous."
The others could feel the terror of the ten ferocious beasts.
Li Zhenyue said coldly and arrogantly, "These ten beasts were those I hosted and killed on the battlefield within the military formations, later enslaved by refining their ferocious souls with Li Jing's power to serve me. How could you possibly counter them?"
But as soon as his words ended, he and everyone else saw Luo Yu lift that wheat-like green plant and swing it forward.
A green radiance burst forth, directly annihilating the ten ferocious beasts, leaving only their pitiful screams and a blood mist in the air...