"Get lost. Or die!"
The newcomer's voice was frigid, his face impassive, yet his eyes blazed with ferocity.
"If you want this light of the firmament, come and take it!" Li Xuan chuckled at the words.
This person, only one level higher in cultivation, was already so arrogant. With a thought, the spiritual energy in his divine mansion began to surge.
"Seeking death!"
The man's brows furrowed, and with a sudden movement, he lunged forward.
Seeing this, Li Xuan instantly infused his physical body with strength, channeling all his power into his left arm and throwing a punch at the man.
"Overlord's Fist Unrivaled!"
Bang!
They both threw a punch, and in an instant, they collided. The immense recoil sent the man staggering back five steps. Li Xuan, on the other hand, didn't budge an inch.
"So, you rely on physical strength. But this light of the firmament, I, Chen He, am determined to have it!"
As Chen He spoke, a purple light appeared on his hands, like a pair of purple gloves clinging tightly to his palms. He moved again, striking at Li Xuan with an open palm.
Li Xuan's expression remained unchanged. Without a second thought, he threw another punch.
Hiss! Hiss!
This time, as Li Xuan's fist met Chen He's palm, a corrosive force swept towards Li Xuan. Simultaneously, a hissing sound echoed.
Li Xuan frowned, quickly retracting his left hand. He cast a deep glance at the purple gloves in Chen He's grasp, then looked back at Chen He.
"What, scared?" Chen He smirked with satisfaction at Li Xuan's somber expression, a hint of smugness in his eyes.
Li Xuan blinked, then shook his head with a wry smile, "I'm just a little curious about your technique. As for fear, I, Li Xuan, haven't put it in my heart."
Chen He's mouth twitched. Annoyed, he glared at Li Xuan and said, "So, you're the one who just joined the Seventh Peak. I heard you've caused quite a stir this past year."
"If we hadn't been in seclusion, with your meager strength, you wouldn't have made much of a splash. Considering you're a new disciple of the Seventh Peak, leave obediently. Otherwise, don't blame your senior brother for not giving you a chance."
"Is this the result of your seclusion? As for your chance, it seems I never needed it from the start, did I?" Li Xuan smiled. Had this Chen He's brain been addled by cultivation? It was Chen He who had initiated the trouble from the beginning.
A flicker of impatience crossed Chen He's eyes. "Since you're so uncooperative, then don't blame your senior brother for being impolite!"
As Chen He spoke, he formed a hand seal, and a streak of purple light shot from his eyes. The purple light pierced through space itself, hurtling towards Li Xuan.
Li Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly. He quickly formed a hand seal, and his inner spiritual energy surged forth.
"One Technique Suppresses Heaven!"
Li Xuan pointed his hand forward, and a golden light that had condensed above his head descended upon the purple beam.
Rumble!
A thunderous roar erupted. Light scattered everywhere, and the space itself began to collapse. However, the collapsing space quickly repaired itself.
The light of the firmament formed its own space, and within its domain, it was as solid as reality. Li Xuan and Chen He's battle was confined to this area. It had no effect on the other battles happening within the other light pillars.
"Fifth Junior Brother, keep going! Although Chen He's strength doesn't seem extraordinary, his hidden methods are insidious and hard to guard against," said Su Yue Ze, who was also in another light pillar. He watched Li Xuan and Chen He's fight with a hint of worry in his eyes.
All one hundred pillars of light from the firmament were now occupied. Those with formidable strength, who were also among the previous year's top hundred disciples, were not challenged. Instead, the top hundred contestants ranked in the last ten or so positions were facing challenges from new forces.
Su Yue Ze, Chai Jing Yuan, He Xi Dong, and Song Wu Wen, four of them, had also, surprisingly, not been challenged. As a result, all four of them were now looking at the light pillar where Li Xuan was, waiting for the battle between Li Xuan and Chen He to conclude.
On the main square of the Azure Hall.
"Isn't Chen He one of the top hundred virtuous disciples from the previous session? Though his ranking was near the bottom."
"I must say, Chen He is quite clever. Other established top hundred disciples have chosen their own pillars of light and are waiting for challenges. Chen He, however, has done the opposite, seeking out someone as seemingly weak as Li Xuan to challenge."
"Perhaps not. Maybe this was the only pillar of light left, and Li Xuan had occupied it, which is why Chen He approached him. After all, other established top hundred disciples had already claimed their pillars of light, and if Chen He hadn't secured one, it would have been a loss of face."
"I'm quite optimistic about this contestant named Li Xuan. Since they are all disciples of the Azure Hall, they would naturally know these things. And to still dare to occupy a pillar of light and await challenges, knowing these circumstances, indicates Li Xuan has some confidence."
"..."
The leaders of various factions were all discerning individuals. Almost none of the established disciples ranked in the top fifty were being challenged, so their attention was drawn to the established disciples in the bottom fifty.
They were naturally watching the battle between Li Xuan and Chen He.
Within the Firmament Illusion.
Li Xuan and Chen He stood facing each other.
Neither of them had sustained any injuries from the previous exchange. After experiencing Li Xuan's abilities, Chen He's eyes now held a hint of gravity.
"Has my seclusion been too long, causing my strength to decline? This brat is only at the early stage of the Shore Realm, and I can't even crush him head-on," Chen He muttered to himself, glancing around. A glint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes.
"Boy, you asked for this!"
With a thought, Chen He unleashed a terrifying wave of energy that spread rapidly around his body.
"Primordial Spirit Wave!"