When the âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâ revealed the aura of a Half-step Bodhisattva Realm, the entire Qianren Mountain fell silent. The cultivators in the sky retreated from five miles to ten miles, finally escaping the influence of the âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâs Half-step Bodhisattva aura.
The Phoenix Palace Master felt a sinking in her heart; she hadnât expected Da Leiyin Temple to send the âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâ, a formidable presence at the Half-step Bodhisattva Realm.
Though Li Yuanba has a record of killing half-step great powers, such achievements donât necessarily come from direct combat.
She could hardly imagine a peak great cultivator defeating a half-step Bodhisattva in direct battle.
Before the battle even began, Li Yuanba could feel the suppression of the realm from the opponent.
The aura from the âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâ surged towards him like tidal waves.
He waved his hand to summon the Duke of Thunder, without worrying much about revealing his combat strength.
He hailed from Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion, backed by the mighty Sword Elder.
Once the Duke of Thunder appeared, he stood right before him, facing the âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâ.
The Duke of Thunderâs figure, merely 1.2 meters, seemed notably smaller compared to the âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâ, who was over 2 meters tall.
Yet the Duke of Thunderâs imposing presence was not diminished against the âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâ, both auras of half-step great power level clashing in the air.
"Another half-step great power level expert, are half-step great powers so common?" exclaimed cultivators at the perimeter.
All the observers were in an unusually excited state; experts of half-step great power level were often beyond their lifetime reach.
Today, they got to witness two half-step great power level experts engage in a fierce battle.
This experience would be enough for them to brag for the next hundred years.
Neither the Phoenix Palace Master nor Master Ren Mu was surprised, having seen the Duke of Thunder before.
Great Master Ming Feng activated a secret technique, striving to resist the realm suppression from the Duke of Thunder.
He felt extremely bewildered that Li Yuanba had such a half-step great power beside him.
In the cultivation world, most large forces donât have half-step great power level experts to deploy for battle.
The presence of the âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâ in Da Leiyin Temple was a special case; when a half-step Bodhisattva falls, they offer their body to the Buddha.
Da Leiyin Temple, under the name of the Buddha, refines the body into the âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâ.
In other large forces, even if a half-step great power falls, they would not refine the corpse into Corpse Refining. Even in death, a half-step great powerâs body should not be desecrated.
"Time is up," reminded the Phoenix Palace Master from the outside.
Upon her voice, the âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâ transformed into a golden light, charging towards the Duke of Thunder.
The Duke of Thunderâs figure vanished, causing the âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâ to halt its charge. Then the Duke of Thunder appeared beside the âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâ.
The Duke of Thunderâs fist, surrounded by lightning, struck towards the âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâ, which showed no fear, meeting the punch with a counterstrike.
With a loud âboomâ, the âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâ staggered back several steps.
The Duke of Thunder disappeared again and reappeared by the side of the âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâ, launching another punch.
The âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâ reacted by deepening the golden light, spreading it outward, causing the Duke of Thunderâs punch to stop midair.
A cracking sound echoed from the void struck by the Duke of Thunderâs fist.
The âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâs hand advanced towards the Duke of Thunder, as Buddha Seals manifested on its hand. As the Duke of Thunder attacked, the Buddha Seal transformed into a massive Buddha Seal over three meters wide, pressing down on the Duke of Thunder.
Simultaneously, within the range affected by this enormous Buddha Seal, space movement abilities were sealed.
The intent was to prohibit the Duke of Thunderâs best space movement ability, allowing the âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâ to launch further attacks on him.
Unexpectedly for the âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâ, the Duke of Thunder flickered, causing the attack to miss.
Even though the âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâ had confined the space, the Duke of Thunderâs mastery of spatial ability was instinctual, allowing space movement even within restricted areas.
The Duke of Thunder appeared behind the âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâ.
Following up, he struck the âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâs back with a fist; the protector merely wobbled, showing no severe injuries.
Between the Duke of Thunder and the âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâ, thereâs a sense of exchanging hits without causing much harm, one hitting without finding a foothold.
The Duke of Thunder and the âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâ continuously exchanged blows, occasionally manifesting clearly, sometimes obscured.
Through the Duke of Thunderâs contract, Li Yuanba sensed the unfavorable state of the Duke of Thunderâs body.
"Ming Feng, it seems itâs time for us to battle!" Li Yuanba challenged Great Master Ming Feng across, noting his hesitation.
Great Master Ming Feng jumped in fright, moving closer to the âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâ, seeking it as a shield.
The âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâ had no spare time to protect Great Master Ming Feng; its fight with the Duke of Thunder had reached a stalemate.
"Slash!" Li Yuanba lightly commanded.
Xingyi Sword transformed into a light imperceptible to the naked eye, appearing before Great Master Ming Feng.
The movement was incredibly fast; the sword strike did not conceal the treasure-grade of Xingyi Sword.
With the Duke of Thunder exposed, another primordial master-bound Xingyi Sword in play wouldnât matter.
Great Master Ming Fengâs kasaya rose, blocking the Xingyi Sword.
Xingyi Sword, reinforced with Chaos Sword Intent, collided with the kasaya, injecting the Chaos Sword Intent into it.
"Rip!" A tearing sound erupted as the kasaya on Great Master Ming Feng was slashed.
Great Master Ming Feng disregarded his dignity, rolling on the ground to evade the Xingyi Swordâs attack.
He looked sadly at his kasaya; this precious garment eventually could not escape doom.
Suddenly, his hair stood on end, sensing imminent danger.
Li Yuanba appeared behind Great Master Ming Feng with Xingyi Sword, its presence distracting him.
In Li Yuanbaâs hand emerged the Fourth-Grade Sword Foundation, thrusting close-range towards Great Master Ming Feng.
Great Master Ming Feng tried to dodge, yet the Fourth-Grade Sword Foundation grazed his shoulder.
He felt a terrifying energy surge into his shoulder, instantly sluggish upon its entry.
He intended to retrieve his life-preserving artifact but saw Li Yuanbaâs Fourth-Grade Sword Foundation strike again.
Li Yuanbaâs attack commenced without pause, determined not to let Great Master Ming Feng escape.
Great Master Ming Feng was struck by another unseen sword attack, one he couldnât perceive its origin.
In close proximity, Li Yuanba missed hardly any strikes, Great Master Ming Fengâs struggles yielding futility.
With the latest strike hitting Great Master Ming Fengâs leg, his already slow movement decelerated to a crawl.
"Slash, slash, slash!" Li Yuanba refused to relent, each strike suppressing the possibility of Great Master Ming Feng countering.
Great Master Ming Feng called for the âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâ, but repeated strikes, especially Xingyi Swordâs final slash, depleted his life force.
Until the moment he fell, he couldnât summon the âGolden Bodhisattva Protectorâ to his defense.