Chen Tian's body is not composed of cosmic energy, but rather uses cosmic energy to protect himself. Facing the moves of Xie Lingzi, Chen Tian could withstand them head-on, though it would injure him. Against the storm of attacks, Chen Tian found himself unable to wield cosmic energy. In his hands, cosmic energy was merely brute force. The martial arts techniques Chen Tian possessed were incapable of channeling this energy, leaving him at a disadvantage. With immense power but unable to unleash his full strength, Chen Tian faced the onslaught, his fists constantly flying.
One force breaks ten thousand methods. Each punch was imbued with ultimate strength. The clash of power against power generated explosions that engulfed Chen Tian. He emerged from the blast unscathed. Witnessing Chen Tian's strength, Xie Lingzi's arrogance waned, and he dared not underestimate his opponent. Though he didn't understand the source of Chen Tian's cosmic energy, he knew he had to defeat Chen Tian before he mastered it, lest the outcome be his own demise. The cosmic energy had already caused him harm, and Xie Lingzi's current colossal form made him a huge target.
If Chen Tian were to unleash his full power, Xie Lingzi wouldn't be able to evade. Chen Tian's fists rained down continuously, his speed erupting as he struck Xie Lingzi. His punches landed, causing Xie Lingzi to cry out in pain. Scales peeled from Xie Lingzi's body. Chen Tian had finally inflicted tangible damage. Even without breaking through the defenses, he knew that by persisting, he would eventually wear down Xie Lingzi's defenses. Xie Lingzi's massive body swayed, causing the surrounding void to tremble.
The void space could not withstand the might of the cosmic energy and was collapsing in fear. Above Chen Tian and Xie Lingzi, a vortex appeared, like a gaping maw that swallowed them both. After engulfing them, the vortex slowly vanished. This was a cosmic vortex, linking to the cosmic space, an act of the cosmic consciousness. Sensing the battle, the cosmic consciousness intervened to prevent further disruption, relocating their battlefield.
Chen Tian and Xie Lingzi were both bewildered. They found themselves in an unknown space without understanding how they got there. In this strange space, they faced each other. Chen Tian's aura remained undiminished, even growing stronger. Suddenly, Chen Tian sensed something amiss as a voice echoed in his mind.
"Chen Tian, I will temporarily help you increase the upper limit of your cosmic energy. Try to resolve this, as this entity has surpassed the limits of cosmic beings, and I cannot restrain it."
The voice of the cosmic consciousness brought instant clarity to Chen Tian. With its assistance, he felt a greater certainty of victory. The power within Chen Tian was immense, and his mind was filled with knowledge and memories imparted by the cosmic consciousness, including cosmic techniques capable of channeling energy. This solved Chen Tian's immediate predicament. Without martial arts that could channel cosmic energy, killing Xie Lingzi would have been difficult. But now, things were different.
With martial arts that could channel energy, Chen Tian was confident he could slay Xie Lingzi on the spot. Chen Tian's figure flickered, evading left and right, his form splitting into two streaks of light, charging like sharp swords. Their speed was astonishing, too fast for Xie Lingzi's massive body to react. The light swords pierced Xie Lingzi directly, leaving its left side severely damaged. However, its formidable regenerative speed allowed it to recover instantly.
This recovery ability even caused Chen Tian a headache. It seemed this would still be a tough fight.
Just as Chen Tian prepared to attack again, Xie Lingzi struck first. Numerous black spines grew from its massive back, shooting out like countless missiles, engulfing Chen Tian's vision and threatening to drown him. Chen Tian spread his palms, energy flowing over them. Cosmic energy frictionally gathered in his palms as he extended his arms, forming a circular barrier before him. This barrier resisted all attacks.
Seeing Chen Tian effortlessly counter his attack, Xie Lingzi opened its mouth and began to charge cosmic energy. Chen Tian, of course, would not allow Xie Lingzi to complete its charge. He was not worried about Xie Lingzi's charging attack. Chen Tian's hands, previously open, formed a Taiji symbol. The Taiji rotated in his palm, its power condensing. Chen Tian combined the yin and yang forces of cosmic energy to form a new power, a technique that even the cosmic consciousness viewed with apprehension.
Chen Tian's strength had undoubtedly surpassed his previous life. The cosmic consciousness sensed danger, but this universe could not exist without Chen Tian. Both Chen Tian and the cosmic consciousness had their own plans, neither aware of the other's true intentions, both hiding them exceptionally well. As Chen Tian clapped his palms together, the Taiji symbol in his hand unfolded, revealing a black and white orb of light. Almost simultaneously, they both unleashed beams of energy.
Chen Tian projected a black and white beam, while Xie Lingzi unleashed a cosmic energy blast from its mouth. Chen Tian stood on the left, Xie Lingzi on the right. They faced off, advancing and retreating in a fierce contest. Initially, they were evenly matched, but gradually, Chen Tian's beam gained momentum, crushing the energy blast. Xie Lingzi found this outcome unacceptable, increasing its power and momentarily pushing back Chen Tian's beam. Chen Tian, unwilling to yield, amplified his energy, and the two became locked in a stalemate.
Both Chen Tian and Xie Lingzi knew the destructive power of this strike could not be withstood head-on. They were channeling all their internal energy. An explosion roared as Chen Tian's beam and Xie Lingzi's blast vanished. The shockwave swept Chen Tian back several hundred meters. Xie Lingzi's scales were blown off by the blast. Chen Tian and Xie Lingzi regarded each other; neither was in good shape. This had become a difficult situation. Chen Tian's energy transformed into a long sword, cosmic energy becoming a weapon.
Xie Lingzi exclaimed in disbelief, "Impossible, how can you, having just grasped cosmic energy, forge it into a physical form?"
"This is absolutely impossible."
"There is much you do not know."
Chen Tian possessed the ability to control energy. The memories imparted by the cosmic will included methods of channeling cosmic energy, coupled with a temporary two-level boost to his energy control, allowing him to manipulate cosmic energy freely. By all logic, fully mastering cosmic energy would require considerable time and refinement, even for cosmic cultivators. Chen Tian was different. This display left Xie Lingzi utterly bewildered, unless Chen Tian was not human.
Chen Tian swung his longsword, releasing a blade of energy. This blade was vastly different from any before, radiating immense power and sharpness. It instilled a sense of danger in Xie Lingzi, which hastily defended itself, daring not to be careless. Chen Tian's current mastery of this energy was astounding. Xie Lingzi did not wish to die at Chen Tian's hands again. Having just been reborn, it still sought revenge. It could not die here; only Chen Tian could.
As Chen Tian's sword blade approached Xie Lingzi, the latter erupted in black light, its dark aura intertwining with the cosmic energy. Chen Tian's sword strike was absorbed into Xie Lingzi's body, vanishing without a trace. Xie Lingzi had learned from Chen Tian, merging the two energies. The influence of Xie Lingzi's demonic energy, combined with cosmic energy, perfectly neutralized the attack. This tactic was also learned from Chen Tian. Chen Tian, witnessing Xie Lingzi employ his own strategy, praised, "Not bad, your talent is indeed formidable. You've managed to merge two energies just by observing."
"It's a pity you are not me. To fuse two energies is a foolish dream for you."
Chen Tian mocked. He could fuse energies because he possessed the 'Energy Mastery' ability, whereas Xie Lingzi lacked this capability, only managing to intersect them. Even ordinary cultivators would not achieve this so easily, having learned it by merely observing Chen Tian's movements once. Xie Lingzi's talent was undoubtedly monstrous, even surpassing the monstrous. Chen Tian advanced, his sword a blur in his hand. Xie Lingzi understood Chen Tian's intent and would not allow him to get close.
Chen Tian charged forward at high speed. The key to victory lay in close-quarters combat, a decisive blow to find Xie Lingzi's weakness. Chen Tian's ranged attacks were inferior to Xie Lingzi's recovery speed. Chen Tian's form split into hundreds of figures, all composed of cosmic energy, possessing the same strength as Chen Tian himself. This was equivalent to a hundred Chen Tians attacking a single Xie Lingzi. Xie Lingzi was perplexed by the origin of Chen Tian's techniques, wondering where he acquired these strange moves and martial arts.
Without these martial arts, he would not have been put on the defensive. Before this, Chen Tian had possessed great power but couldn't channel it. Now, he could unleash his strength one hundred percent. Xie Lingzi certainly feared Chen Tian. Facing hundreds of Chen Tians, Xie Lingzi's wings unfurled, flapping rapidly, conjuring a black whirlwind that swept through the air. The gale obstructed Chen Tian's advance, scattering some of his illusory forms.
Chen Tian's clones possessed the same strength as his true body, but Xie Lingzi was no less formidable. With equal strength, these clones inflicted little damage on Xie Lingzi, merely proving troublesome. Chen Tian's own wings spread behind him, pure white wings radiating a sacred, inviolable will. This will directly affected Xie Lingzi's consciousness, causing a moment of stupor.
In that brief lapse, Chen Tian had advanced considerably. By the time Xie Lingzi recovered, Chen Tian was before it. Xie Lingzi opened its mouth, about to charge, when Chen Tian's sword pierced its body with a *'pu chi'* sound.
Chen Tian's longsword plunged directly into Xie Lingzi's body. Xie Lingzi cried out in pain. This pain was unlike anything it had experienced in its human form; it was thirty times more intense, a level of agony no one could withstand, let alone Xie Lingzi. Xie Lingzi's body began to change. Chen Tian promptly released his sword and retreated, fearing for his own safety if he lingered.
Indeed, before Chen Tian had retreated far, Xie Lingzi's body exploded, engulfing Chen Tian in the blast. Chen Tian had reacted in time and was not at the epicenter. When the explosion subsided, Chen Tian was in poor condition. The blast had injured him; his left arm had vanished and was slowly regenerating. Xie Lingzi was in far better condition. Its body appeared to have shrunk by a circle. The previous explosion was the result of it compressing its injured body and detonating it, effectively a self-destruction to grow a new body. This method eliminated the pain, as even Xie Lingzi race could not endure thirty times the normal pain.
Chen Tian's left arm was regenerating and growing back. Xie Lingzi roared, "I will kill you!"
It opened its mouth and unleashed a beam of energy towards Chen Tian. Chen Tian raised his hand, forming a barrier. The energy beam's power had increased significantly. Chen Tian's barrier cracked after only a few seconds. Chen Tian knew this approach was unsustainable. His left arm needed to fully recover before he could attack. The loss of his arm had a profound impact; otherwise, Chen Tian would have already launched his counter-attack.
Just as Chen Tian's barrier was about to shatter, a figure appeared before him, extending its hand. The energy beam vanished. This figure stood between the two combatants. The cosmic consciousness spoke, "You no longer belong to this universe. Leave this place immediately."
"Who are you? Anyone who dares to stop me from killing Chen Tian today will die."
Xie Lingzi was completely unaware of the cosmic consciousness's existence. In its eyes, anyone who obstructed it was an enemy. Chen Tian was still recovering. The cosmic consciousness offered a grateful nod, "Thank you."
The cosmic consciousness said meaningfully, "If you die here, I will be greatly troubled. I will distract this entity for a while. You should recover first. I cannot defeat it, but I can delay it. As long as you are not bound by this universe's limitations, you can kill it."
"Alright."
The cosmic consciousness's body materialized, taking on a human form. It directly collided with Xie Lingzi's body. Xie Lingzi was no longer a native of this universe. It was impossible for the cosmic consciousness to erase it unless the cosmic consciousness of its own universe intervened. It was currently unknown which universe Xie Lingzi's cosmic consciousness belonged to. However, the cosmic consciousness knew one thing: its counterpart belonged to the "War faction." There were many universes, and thus, wars between them were inevitable. Different universes devoured others to strengthen themselves; this was the nature of the War faction.
In simpler terms, they were bandits, only concerned with plundering the power and essence of other universes. Chen Tian's universe, on the other hand, belonged to the "Peace faction." Its sole aim was to maintain the current state of the universe, with no concept of initiating cosmic warfare. As long as the beings of this universe lived peacefully, it was considered the Peace faction.
The cosmic consciousness instantly appeared above Xie Lingzi's body and struck with a palm. This palm carried the oppressive might of the universe. In normal circumstances, any cultivator would have been crushed by this pressure. Unfortunately, Xie Lingzi was unaffected by the pressure and directly withstood the cosmic consciousness's palm strike. The palm hit Xie Lingzi's body, causing it to emit light and blast the cosmic consciousness away.
"Come out. It seems you are here. Are your War faction and our Peace faction truly going to turn against each other?"
The cosmic consciousness's expression turned cold. That power, that feeling – only an entity of equal standing could have sent it flying.
This meant that the cosmic consciousness of the opposing universe was also within Xie Lingzi. The cosmic consciousness's voice fell, and black energy flowed from Xie Lingzi's body, forming a human shape. This was the cosmic consciousness behind Xie Lingzi.