"Pop!"
The next moment!
A sharp dagger plunged deep into Bai Zihe's throat.
However...
Something unexpected happened!
The dagger went in unimpeded.
No blood was seen!
The shadow's fatal blow had missed its mark!
"Whoosh..."
A figure stood a foot away, it was Bai Zihe!
Bai Zihe stared at the shadow, a smile on his face.
Although...
His white robes were already stained with blood.
But...
His eyes still shone like stars!
The Bai Zihe, usually graceful and peerless, had returned!
Just now.
At the shadow's critical strike, Bai Zihe had sensed it.
The gap between him and the shadow was not in their cultivation realms, but in the shift of focus after entering the Core Formation realm, as Lin Yan had once told him.
Before the Core Formation realm...
Cultivation primarily focused on realm, with techniques secondary.
Thus, Grandmasters held an overwhelming advantage over Grandmaster realm cultivators, leaving no room for surprises.
This was a very basic, simplistic combat style.
Like...
An adult bullying a child.
A man bullying a woman.
Devoid of skill, devoid of flashiness.
But upon entering the Core Formation realm, martial artists stepped into a new world.
However.
Bai Zihe had lost contact with his master and grand-aunt long ago.
Therefore, Bai Zihe's cultivation had been methodical, immersing himself in the enhancement of his past realms.
This allowed him to ascend to the Soul Transformation realm so quickly.
And herein lay the problem.
Indeed, Bai Zihe's cultivation realm was high.
But the combat power he could unleash from his realm was unsatisfactory, leading to him being toyed with and battered by this Nascent Soul realm shadow on Dragon Island today.
Bai Zihe had seen it from the start.
If this shadow was determined to kill him, it would have succeeded long ago.
It was from that moment that Bai Zihe began to observe, to perceive every movement of the shadow.
Simultaneously, he recalled Lin Yan's words from that day.
After the Core Formation realm.
Cultivation was no longer about the physical body, but about the Dharma of Heaven and Earth!
What is the Dharma of Heaven and Earth?
"Having its being before heaven and earth, silent and void, standing alone and unchanging, going everywhere and never exhausted!"
This is... the Way of Nature!
No one had taught Bai Zihe these things.
The last time, Lin Yan had merely mentioned it in passing, then exhausted his own lifespan to forcibly activate a barrier, and subsequently passed away.
So, even if Bai Zihe wanted to, he didn't know how to proceed.
But today.
This shadow had clearly practiced it.
He relied on his own understanding of the Way to achieve greater speed.
With each attack, he suppressed Bai Zihe,
Rendering him unable to defend.
It was only after suffering several losses that Bai Zihe gradually detected something amiss.
He had the advantage in realm over the shadow, so with careful contemplation, he finally made some breakthroughs at the crucial moment.
He could barely keep up with the shadow's attacks.
Therefore, he was able to dodge at the last critical juncture.
"Not bad."
The shadow's eyes showed no surprise, but rather a hint of... approval!
"Whoosh!"
However, approval notwithstanding, his hand movements did not pause.
The moment his words fell, he attacked Bai Zihe again, without the slightest hesitation due to the recent exchange.
His moves were still vicious, his dagger still sharp!
Giving Bai Zihe no chance to breathe, no possibility of turning the tables.
But Bai Zihe's response became more adept.
Having a higher realm always offered an advantage.
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"
The shadow's attacks missed several times, failing to harm Bai Zihe.
Bai Zihe did not counterattack.
Instead, he used this opportunity to constantly engage with the shadow.
On one hand, he observed the shadow's other strengths that surpassed his own.
On the other hand, he carefully pondered the shadow's understanding of the Way.
Thus...
The battle entered a fiercely intense phase.
The shadow attacked with singular focus, his moves continuous, like surging waves, one after another.
Bai Zihe, with a clear mind, observed intently. Although he was constantly at a disadvantage and defending, his defense was flawless, and gradually...
He became at ease.
Time flowed slowly.
Until...
Bai Zihe felt he had learned enough.
He had grasped all the shadow's strengths and weaknesses, and there was nothing more for him to learn.
"Whoosh!"
As the shadow attacked again.
Bai Zihe suddenly struck.
Fast, accurate, ruthless!
Yet it was as natural as flowing water.
Precise and elegant, he caught the shadow's dagger with two fingers.
Normally...
He would fight with the advantage of his realm.
But this time...
It was entirely out of his understanding of the Way, sensing where his dagger would appear and striking without hesitation.
A direct hit!
"Hmm?"
The shadow had not expected Bai Zihe to improve so quickly.
In less than an hour, from having little understanding of the Way to being able to overwhelm a Nascent Soul realm cultivator.
"Bai Zihe, you are indeed extraordinary!"
A glint flashed in the shadow's eyes. Suddenly, he threw a punch with his right hand.
He had actually abandoned his consistently vicious dagger attacks.
"Hmm?"
For a brief moment, Bai Zihe was momentarily stunned.
The shadow...
Was not limited to using a dagger!
Because...
As he unleashed this punch, a vast palm force instantly cascaded forward.
Although the shadow only possessed Nascent Soul realm strength, this punch was more formidable and brutal than Bai Zihe's full power at the Soul Transformation realm!
It was as if...
This punch carried the might of heaven and earth!
Infused with wind, rain, thunder, lightning, mountains, rivers, and the blessings of all things in the world.
"Bang..."
The next second, this punch landed undeniably on Bai Zihe's chest.
In an instant.
Bai Zihe was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string, his speed and the ferocity of his trajectory leaving onlookers astounded.
Until...
Bai Zihe finally crashed heavily against the wall behind him.
"Pfft..."
He spat out a mouthful of blood, and his internal organs felt a searing pain that almost made him unable to breathe!
This punch...
Was terrifyingly potent, instantly leaving Bai Zihe severely injured.
"Bai Zihe..."
The shadow's face still held that smile as he said indifferently, "How do you like my punch?"
"Very strong!"
Bai Zihe, with blood on his lips and a smile on his face.
Yes.
A hearty laugh.
He understood the shadow's intention.
The shadow was not trying to kill him, but to teach him!
Using his Nascent Soul realm strength to teach a Soul Transformation realm expert, solely through the understanding of the Way.
If,
Previously, the shadow had integrated the Way into his movement techniques, allowing him to be one step ahead of Bai Zihe each time and injure him,
Then,
The current shadow had integrated the Way into his boxing techniques.
As a result, with a single punch, he seemed divinely aided.
All things in heaven and earth were empowering it.
Therefore,
He could heavily injure Bai Zihe with one punch.
"Again!"
Bai Zihe wiped the blood from his lips, leaped up from the ground, his eyes also shining with brilliance!
This Dragon Island...
Was truly a treasure trove.