The calm words exploded like thunder across the vast plaza.
In the next moment, the crowd erupted in uproar.
Everyone turned their gaze to Chen Mo. The female disciples who had harbored resentment toward him after Mo Li's defeat now wore expressions of disdain and mockery.
In their eyes, his victory over Senior Brother Mo Li had been a mere fluke, and now he was overestimating himself by daring to challenge Senior Sister Nalan.
Yun Yun was also filled with shock, muttering to herself, "What are you trying to do?"
Yun Hai, who had been staring at Chen Mo with a fighting spirit, ready to take him on, exclaimed in astonishment, "Are you serious?"
"I think he's gotten carried away after winning a few matches. He's completely lost his sense of self-awareness, actually daring to challenge Senior Sister Nalan," Mo Li sneered, his mockery stemming mostly from jealousy of Chen Mo.
Nalan Yanran's eyes were fixed intently on Chen Mo, lingering on the young man's handsome face.
This sixteen-year-old, already a two-star Dou Master, far surpassed his peers in talent, even exceeding her own achievements at that age.
A strange feeling of inferiority rose within her, causing her heart, which had remained calm for so many years, to beat slightly faster.
"I accept your challenge," Nalan Yanran said, calming her emotions. "However, I won't hold back."
Chen Mo nodded, his fighting spirit blazing. "Let's fight!"
A flash of light from Nalan Yanran's Storage Ring, and a pale green sword appeared in her hand.
As the referee's voice rang out, she raised her delicate hand, the tip of her sword pointing directly at Chen Mo.
Her figure shot forward, taking the initiative to strike.
It seemed she intended to end the fight in a single move, just as she had done with Yun Hai.
The others still on the field quickly retreated to avoid the clash.
At the center of the plaza, Chen Mo slowly closed his eyes. With a sudden whoosh, purple flames enveloped his entire body, the scorching heat causing the air to shimmer.
Then, Chen Mo opened his eyes, his right hand extending slightly. In an instant, the Nethergod Spear materialized in his grasp.
As he swung it at high speed, a black tornado reappeared.
"That shell again! Senior Sister Nalan, break it!" shouted a disciple from the sidelines.
Nalan Yanran, who was already close to Chen Mo, remained calm, as if she had already devised a way to counter the black tornado.
With a sharp tap of her foot on the ground, she leaped into the air. Her sword trembled rapidly, then began to move slowly, leaving behind a trail of sword-shaped afterimages with each movement.
"Wind Spirit Fractal Sword!" Nalan Yanran coldly shouted.
Five sword-shaped afterimages instantly appeared, slamming heavily into the black tornado.
With overwhelming force, the black tornado was obliterated.
The remaining momentum continued to crash toward Chen Mo.
Boom.
A dull thunderous sound echoed across the plaza. In the next moment, a figure was sent flying like a cannonball.
Just as he was about to be flung out of the plaza, a black spear was suddenly hurled from the figure, embedding itself deeply into a massive stone at the edge of the plaza.
Chen Mo grabbed the spear, using its momentum to swing himself back to the center of the plaza.
"Pfft."
The moment he landed, he spat out a mouthful of blood, dropping to one knee.
With just one move, she had shattered the black tornado and forced Chen Mo to cough up blood.
Nalan Yanran's strength far exceeded Chen Mo's expectations.
On the highest stone seat, Yun Yun, witnessing this scene, abruptly stood up.
Just as she was about to persuade Chen Mo to admit defeat, Yun Yun felt the strange gazes from those around her and ultimately held back.
Wait a little longer.
"Senior Brother Mo Li couldn't break through that turtle shell, but Senior Sister Nalan shattered it with a single move."
Below the arena, a disciple exclaimed in surprise. The next moment, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, cheers erupted around the square.
"Senior Sister Nalan is mighty!"
"Senior Sister Nalan is domineering!"
"A mere two-star Dou Master dares to challenge Senior Sister Nalan? Admit defeat already!"
"I admire Chen Mo's courage in challenging Yan Ran, but even though he has the ability to fight above his level, the gap between him and Yan Ran is too vast. The strength he's shown so far can't bridge that gap," Yun Leng, seated on the stone throne, commented as he watched the scene below.
The dozen or so white-robed elders beneath him nodded in agreement.
"Junior Brother, are you alright?" Nalan Yanran asked with a hint of concern.
Having misjudged the ultimate defensive power of the black tornado, Nalan Yanran had struck a bit too hard.
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"I'm not dead yet," Chen Mo slowly stood up, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. He then reached out and summoned the Nethergod Spear from behind him.
The Nethergod Spear, embedded at the edge of the square, dissipated and reformed in Chen Mo's palm.
"As expected of Senior Sister Nalan, your strength is truly extraordinary," Chen Mo said, suddenly smiling at her to encourage her to go all out. "But an attack of this level isn't enough to make me admit defeat."
"So, let's continue."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Purple Flame on Chen Mo's body instantly expanded more than twofold, and the two Particles awakened within his body were ignited one after another.
The strength of two Giant Elephants surged through his body, and a vast energy circulated within him. The addition of 20,000 pounds of force doubled the energy within Chen Mo.
But to the outside world, Chen Mo's cultivation level had directly jumped from a two-star Dou Master to a four-star Dou Master.
Gasps of shock filled the arena.
Fa Ma frowned. As the president of the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemy Master Association, even with his soul strength, he hadn't detected that Chen Mo had been hiding his power.
"This little guy, just how many cards does he have up his sleeve? It's truly astonishing."
Gu He's expression wasn't much different from Fa Ma's. Chen Mo had really given everyone too many surprises.
Glancing at Yun Yun out of the corner of his eye, he seemed to be asking, "Where did you find such a talent?"
"Is this your confidence in challenging Senior Sister Nalan?" Yun Hai murmured to himself as he watched the scene.
"This guy... no, this can't be," Mo Li clenched his teeth tightly, his expression constantly shifting, struggling to accept the reality before him.
In his previous battle with Chen Mo, Mo Li had lost, but he hadn't been convinced, believing that Chen Mo was only strong in defense and Dou Qi storage.
Now, he felt a deep sense of defeat.
"Is this your true strength?" Nalan Yanran's beautiful eyes showed a trace of solemnity. Chen Mo had the talent to fight above his level, having defeated Mo Li, a five-star Dou Master, while only being a two-star Dou Master.
Now, his strength had surged to a four-star Dou Master.
So...
"Perhaps I can also take this seriously."
Feeling the sudden surge in Nalan Yanran's aura and the surging energy within her, Chen Mo looked up and said, "Are you also starting to show your true strength now?"
Nalan Yanran tightly gripped her long sword, her entire body enveloped in a pale green Dou Qi Gauze Armor. Her beautiful eyes fixed on Chen Mo as her red lips parted slightly, "Let's see how you handle this move."
"Pinnacle of Wind, Gale S
wirling Dance."
The space in front of Nalan Yanran trembled as she swung her sword. Several green Wind Blades, each several meters long, materialized out of thin air and tore towards Chen Mo.
(End of Chapter)