The impact between Chen Tian and Xie Yuan directly caused the surrounding environment to turn to sand, indicating the ferocity of their battle. Their figures vanished into the void, reappearing in an even deeper expanse where their clashes continued. Chen Tian's fists flew out, attacking Xie Yuan's sides. Xie Yuan, observing Chen Tian's offensive, slowly raised his arms and caught Chen Tian's fists, gripping them tightly. Chen Tian spun sideways, forcing Xie Yuan to release his hold. Chen Tian's legs then swept upwards, aiming for Xie Yuan.
Xie Yuan saw Chen Tian's legs approaching and slowly lifted his left knee. The knee met Chen Tian's leg with a tremendous sound. Chen Tian stumbled back a step, while Xie Yuan retreated a little further. Though Xie Yuan had the higher ground, it didn't translate to a decisive advantage. Both Chen Tian and Xie Yuan were still testing each other's strength and abilities; neither had unleashed their full power. Suddenly, Xie Yuan appeared beside Chen Tian and threw a punch. Xie Yuan's current form was almost human-like, his hands resembling those of a human. Chen Tian opened his palm, energy gathering within it, and easily caught the earth-shattering punch.
This scene mirrored Xie Yuan gripping Chen Tian's hand earlier. A smirk touched Xie Yuan's lips as his left leg shot out, aiming for Chen Tian's neck. Chen Tian lifted his legs, crossing them to collide with Xie Yuan's. The resulting shockwave expanded outwards from the two figures. Chen Tian instantly changed his move, his legs following his body as he spun, transforming his limbs into a drill and lunging at Xie Yuan. Seeing Chen Tian's maneuver, Xie Yuan dared not confront it directly, realizing he couldn't withstand such an attack.
Xie Yuan was once again at a disadvantage in this exchange. He became intrigued by Chen Tian, whose combat awareness seemed even sharper than his own. This was unexpected, as Xie Yuan was a great general of the Xie Ling tribe, a veteran of countless battles who led his army to conquer the myriad realms. His experience and strength, combined with being one of the seven great cosmic races, made Chen Tian's ability to fight him to a standstill quite surprising.
However, that was the extent of it. Xie Yuan had not yet used his full power. In his estimation, Chen Tian must have expended considerable effort to contend with him. Yet, unbeknownst to Xie Yuan, Chen Tian was also holding back. Their eyes met, and they moved simultaneously, transforming into streaks of light. Chen Tian's fist flew out, and Xie Yuan's palm extended. They collided. Chen Tian's right fist struck out, and Xie Yuan's arm rotated, directly blocking Chen Tian's punch with his forearm.
The fist hit Xie Yuan's arm without causing any damage, not even a sound. How could an arm be so resilient? Chen Tian's hand throbbed slightly. He hadn't expected Xie Yuan's physical strength to be this formidable. Even with thirty percent of his power, Chen Tian couldn't inflict any harm. Fortunately, it was within Chen Tian's tolerance. Xie Yuan's dual fists descended upon Chen Tian, who defended by crossing his arms. The punches landed on Chen Tian's arms, causing him to retreat a few steps.
Xie Yuan withdrew his hands and said calmly, "Not bad. Your physique is comparable to mine. Kid, it seems this fight will be quite interesting!"
"Perhaps."
Chen Tian's expression shifted slightly. It appeared this battle would indeed be as exciting as Xie Yuan predicted. Their physical strengths were nearly equal. How they would injure each other was their own concern. Chen Tian's mind raced, replaying scenarios. If Chen Tian's true body were present, he would notice that this clone was performing calculations, possessing the exact same computational ability as Chen Tian himself.
This body was not originally capable of such feats. However, it was no longer a mere clone but an independent entity. Chen Tian couldn't even fully control this body. It exhibited an intense capacity for thought, and calculations unfolded before his eyes. Countless scenarios flashed through his mind, though only a second passed externally. Chen Tian struck first, his figure becoming an afterimage, a blur of light and shadow that vanished into the void.
Xie Yuan watched his surroundings vigilantly, unable to sense Chen Tian's presence. What kind of technique was this? It was impossible for even the Xie Ling tribe to possess such undetectable skills. Xie Yuan calmed himself, surveying his surroundings, determined not to let Chen Tian succeed.
Suddenly, Chen Tian appeared to Xie Yuan's upper left, three figures simultaneously unleashing hundreds of palm strikes. The palm shadows enveloped the area, making Xie Yuan appear to be trapped within them. Faced with the myriad palm strikes, Xie Yuan knew he could no longer hold back his strength. Chen Tian's power far exceeded his expectations. To continue underestimating him would be fatal. Xie Yuan unleashed a surge of power that dispelled all of Chen Tian's palm shadows, blasting Chen Tian backward.
Sensing Xie Yuan's true strength, Chen Tian's own aura intensified. Their probing had ended; the real battle was about to begin. Chen Tian clenched his fists, assuming a fighting stance, his left fist forward and his right fist back. A vortex of energy swirled around his right fist, indicating condensed power. A faint, shadowy vortex was visible on Chen Tian's fist.
The power contained within his fists was terrifying. These were fists imbued with seventy percent of Chen Tian's strength, still gathering power. Xie Yuan, standing opposite Chen Tian, observed his movements and felt his aura. Xie Yuan knew Chen Tian had entered a serious state. In this battle, underestimating the opponent would lead to severe injury. Facing Chen Tian's incoming punch, Xie Yuan clapped his palms together, spreading them to the sides. A ripple of Xie Ling energy connected his palms, pulsing between them.
Chen Tian's fist swung out, his right fist leading, his left fist trailing. A colossal fist shadow shot from Chen Tian's right fist, hurtling towards Xie Yuan. Xie Yuan was still gathering his power, his charge taking considerably longer than Chen Tian's. Chen Tian didn't expect this punch to defeat Xie Yuan. Xie Yuan's formidable strength was evident, and Chen Tian knew victory would not come easily. This punch was an act of respect for Xie Yuan. The first rule in a duel between powerhouses was to respect the opponent and fight with all one's might.
Chen Tian's punch contained seventy percent of his strength. If this punch were to land in any ordinary world, it could shatter it or even restore it. Yet, Xie Yuan remained unperturbed. As the fist neared him, Xie Yuan instantly brought his palms together. With a resounding clap, he struck outwards symmetrically, two phantom images colliding. The resulting shockwave caused both Chen Tian and Xie Yuan to retreat.
Chen Tian blocked with his arms, an energy shield forming. The shockwave struck the shield, causing cracks to appear. Such fierce energy. Chen Tian's defense almost shattered. Xie Yuan fared similarly, enveloped in Xie Ling energy that slowly dissipated under the impact of the energy wave. The violent clash of two immense energies created a powerful reaction. If Chen Tian and Xie Yuan had been any weaker, they might have been swept away by this blast.
The shockwave persisted for a full hundred seconds before dissipating. Chen Tian and Xie Yuan looked at each other. This outcome was a draw. Their previous confrontation had reached a stalemate.
"Not bad."
"You're not bad yourself."
Chen Tian and Xie Yuan exchanged compliments. Chen Tian clenched his fist, and armor materialized around him, encasing him in a silvery-white shell that pulsed with a mysterious, profound energy. Xie Yuan couldn't immediately identify its source. Chen Tian felt the power of the armor, marveling at its nature.
Chen Tian marveled at the latent power within him, realizing its immensity, though it was still beyond his complete control. He could only harness a fraction of it.
Even this small fraction boosted his strength by fifty percent. While his appearance and aura hadn't changed, the quality of his power had. When Chen Tian stepped forward, the void beneath his feet formed a crater. The void, devoid of energy, should have been impervious to damage, but Chen Tian's action astounded Xie Yuan. He had shattered the void with a single step. What power was this?
"Good heavens, you weren't using your full strength before?"
Xie Yuan murmured, his gaze shifting to Chen Tian, his expression changing from contempt and disdain to solemnity and respect. Chen Tian was worthy of being his opponent. Xie Yuan had implicitly acknowledged this. Xie Yuan was no longer the same as before; there was no opponent in this world that had earned his attention, not even the twin-form of Pigeon and Number had warranted such seriousness. Facing Chen Tian, Xie Yuan finally showed such an expression.
Chen Tian lunged at Xie Yuan, his speed now significantly faster. Before Xie Yuan could react, Chen Tian's palm landed on his abdomen. With a thunderous impact, Xie Yuan was sent flying. Before Xie Yuan could regain his balance, Chen Tian appeared at his landing spot. His left leg rose, striking quickly, precisely, and ruthlessly, giving Xie Yuan no chance. Seeing Chen Tian's power undergo a qualitative transformation, Xie Yuan realized he couldn't contend at this level.
Facing Chen Tian's leg, Xie Yuan flashed, dodging the attack. Chen Tian's left leg struck the void, creating a fissure. He lifted his leg, turning to look back at Xie Yuan. Xie Yuan observed Chen Tian's sudden surge of power, as if he had taken a potent elixir. He was outmatched.
"Could it be that I have to use that method here? But I still have a mission to complete."
Xie Yuan wrestled with his thoughts. He had a mission and couldn't reveal that power here. But he also needed to survive to complete it! Chen Tian's assault was imminent. Reluctantly, Xie Yuan made a choice. Without life, how could he complete his mission? Whether the mission succeeded or failed, Xie Yuan's life was at stake. Why hesitate? He would fight!
A rune on Xie Yuan's brow flickered, emitting a strange aura from his forehead. This aura forced Chen Tian's movements to a halt. Chen Tian found himself unable to control his body. Xie Yuan's form was enveloped by the aura, and his physique began to change.
In Chen Tian's eyes, Xie Yuan was transforming into something neither human nor ghost. Xie Yuan reveled in the power coursing through him, finding it intoxicating. "More, just a little more power."
Xie Yuan's body became increasingly grotesque. A colossal being loomed over Chen Tian's head. Xie Yuan transformed from a humanoid into a massive beast – a whale. A gigantic, black-scaled whale.
As its massive tail swayed, the void collapsed. This power surpassed Chen Tian's.
Chen Tian looked at the creature before him, questioning if it was still Xie Yuan. It now had to be regarded as a beast.
Chen Tian stared at the whale, unsure how to attack. He shot light projectiles from his palm, but they ricocheted off the whale's body. The scales' sheer hardness deflected his attacks. Such defense! Breaking through it would require a specific method. Chen Tian was certain that a single strike, even with his full strength, would be insufficient to breach its defenses.
For some reason, he felt this with absolute certainty. As Chen Tian was lost in thought, the colossal tail descended, sweeping across an area of several thousand miles around Chen Tian. The tail, which seemed small from a distance, grew exponentially as it fell, covering Chen Tian's entire evasion zone. Chen Tian had no choice but to withstand the blow head-on.
Steel himself, Chen Tian could only endure. His armor blazed, and an energy shield formed, surging towards the tail. The black tail collided with Chen Tian's diminutive figure, akin to an elephant and an ant. Chen Tian appeared minuscule before the colossal body.
Chen Tian was struck and sent plummeting into the void below. He unfurled wings behind him to stabilize his descent. Black spots appeared on the whale's back. Chen Tian sensed a grave danger and quickly drew his wings together, enveloping himself. The whale's body unleashed beams of black light, raining down like a torrential downpour. Chen Tian's wings began to develop small holes under the barrage, numerous tiny punctures appearing even with his formidable defense.
This entity before him did not belong to this world but was a cosmic being. Chen Tian's power, amplified by the Heavenly Dao, was ineffective against it.
"What should I do? Cosmic beings can only be countered by cosmic energy. But where can I find cosmic energy now?"
Chen Tian's mind raced for a solution, but where could he find cosmic energy? If Chen Tian's true body were here, it could resolve the situation. His true body possessed cosmic energy, acquired previously. However, his true body was currently in the contract space and couldn't intervene.
As Chen Tian pondered, the colossal whale's attack swept towards him. A waterspout erupted from the whale's head, seemingly imbued with consciousness as it surged towards Chen Tian. Chen Tian's legs coiled with energy, rotating alternately, drawing in surrounding energy to form a vortex. The two waterspouts collided, one counter-clockwise and the other clockwise, canceling each other out. Chen Tian was blown away.
Resisting a single attack had proven this strenuous. How could he face the ensuing battle?
This was what Chen Tian now had to consider.