Atlas of Heaven and Man

San Cheng Huang straightened his posture, his aura rising sharply, like a tide surging upwards. But after only a moment, this aura receded like the ebbing tide, its presence almost vanishing into nothingness.

It was as if his field and all his spirit had disappeared completely.

If one couldn't see him standing there, they might not be sure if there was anyone there at all.

He said, "Mr. Chen, this technique is called 'Return to Life Concealment'. I have only just mastered it. It requires constant spiritual energy to drive it during offense and defense. It cannot be sustained for too long, so please be careful, Mr. Chen."

As he spoke, he raised his blade. Almost as soon as the wind swept across the mountaintop, he was upon Chen Chuan, as if having moved from thin air, the blade falling silently.

This time, he was no longer afraid of the collision of blades.

This was because he had determined from the previous exchange that Chen Chuan would not kill him. The apprehension in his heart was gone, allowing him to fight with complete abandon.

Chen Chuan sensed his seriousness, which was exactly what he needed. Although, in his perception, the opponent's presence seemed to have become elusive and unpredictable, it was impossible to completely eliminate his existence.

He raised his blade, blocking the opponent's with a clang.

San Cheng Huang's words were more timid than anyone else's, but the power in his blade was genuinely formidable. At this moment, he felt no weaker than the Iron Demon after its burst, and at the moment of contact, a spiritual force also infiltrated.

This feeling was unlike anything he had experienced when sparring with Jian Cheng Sheng or any previous opponent. After so many days of sparring with Hong Fu, he instinctively used the 'Empty Heart Seal' to face the enemy. If the spiritual force entered, he could immediately counterattack.

San Cheng Huang was clearly experienced. The spiritual force retreated as soon as it made contact, without delving deeper. Missing with the first strike, the second came again. His blade seemed to possess a unique technique, borrowing strength from the previous strike. The blade movements seemed to have no pause between them, becoming faster and faster, more and more rapid, surging like a raging tide.

After receiving several blows, Chen Chuan knew that this blade seemed to have an ability to accumulate power, not only the force of the blade but also the spiritual energy, holding it back without releasing it. When it was pushed to a certain level, it would erupt together, so he could not let him continue to develop it.

When the next blade made contact, driven by the Alienation Organization, the power on the blade increased explosively. At the same time, the power of the Soul Shaking Hammer naturally amplified the blade. Upon this contact, San Cheng Huang immediately unleashed his hidden spiritual force.

The spiritual energies of the two sides collided fiercely. Chen Chuan only felt a burst of light erupt from his Heart Jade, while San Cheng Huang's eyes shone brightly.

He could feel that the opponent's spiritual power was undoubtedly stronger than his own, after all, he had not been on this path for long. However, the Heart Jade he had forged through sparring with Hong Fu remained firm and unshaken.

Moreover, this move was not only a contest of spiritual power but also a confrontation of physical strength. The power of his blade was clearly superior to the opponent's, sealing off his original tide-like blade momentum.

San Cheng Huang inevitably faltered, and the Alienation Organization within his body had to dissolve the incoming force. Then, he saw a flash of blade light before his eyes. Chen Chuan's blade momentum unfolded without being affected in the slightest.

He could not block in time at this moment, but a force suddenly burst out from his body, driving him to retreat and steadily blocking all the subsequent strikes from Chen Chuan without missing a single one.

What he used just now was the Wave Pavilion's secret 'Tide Viewing Form', which could accumulate power during offense and defense. Each move could accumulate a little force, and after accumulating to the highest point, it would burst out like a raging tide. However, if it was difficult to launch an attack, it could also be used for defense.

Now, after blocking seven strikes in a row, the previously accumulated power gradually dissipated, and his momentum and strength began to decline. But he also took this opportunity to gradually adjust himself.

However, at this time, he discovered that Chen Chuan's blade had actually accelerated once again on the basis of the original offensive, almost arriving in an instant.

He was shocked. The essence blood in his body surged out, accelerating his speed and strength to counter the opponent's blade momentum.

If this were a battle to the death, this approach would be a great disadvantage if he couldn't quickly find a fighting opportunity afterward, but this was just a spar, not seeking victory or defeat, so he didn't care about this point. As long as he could block for a while and continue the battle, it would be enough.

The two sides engaged in continuous and intense offense and defense within a few minutes. Both sides were extremely tacit, and neither pushed the battle to a dead end, but maintained it within a reasonable limit.

While the two sides exchanged blows in terms of strength, they also needed to conduct spiritual probes and collisions at any time and anywhere.

This kind of observation of the battle situation and the processing and analysis of information required both sides to maintain a high degree of concentration, which was definitely not something that ordinary fighters could withstand.

Chen Chuan clearly felt at this moment that people who had cultivated spiritual power did indeed have a great advantage in this kind of offense and defense. People who had not taken this step could not normally withstand a single blow containing pure spiritual power.

If used properly, it was like relying on physical fitness to overwhelm people, almost defeating the enemy in one move.

San Cheng Huang's use of spiritual power not only had a solid foundation but also possessed profound skills, especially the realm of 'As I Know My God'. There was no need to think between advances and retreats, just follow the guidance of the god in his heart to deal with the enemy.

He had tried several times to empty himself, trying to use the 'Empty Heart Seal' to lure him in, but the opponent had never been fooled, probably not because he knew he would use this technique, but purely because he had sensed the danger in advance, so he never invaded inward.

Unless he encountered an opponent like him with higher physical fitness than the other party, he would almost be invincible before his spiritual power was exhausted.

After the two had sparred for half an hour, San Cheng Huang suddenly took a step back, put down his blade, and said loudly, "Mr. Chen, please stop. My spiritual essence blood is almost exhausted. I can't hold on any longer if we continue to fight."

Chen Chuan smiled. Although San Cheng Huang said that he couldn't hold on any longer, just looking at his full-bodied voice, he knew that he still had some leeway. However, after sparring to this point, if they didn't fight to the death, continuing to fight would be purely a matter of exhausting their foundations, and there was indeed no need to continue.

He withdrew his blade, nodded, and said, "Thank you for your instruction, Mr. San Cheng. I have benefited greatly."

San Cheng Huang bowed slightly, "Mr. Chen is too kind. Mr. Chen's magnanimity is truly the only one I have ever seen in my life. To be able to fight with Mr. Chen is truly my honor."

At this time, he caught sight of the Snow Monarch Blade's scabbard falling at his feet. His expression became solemn, and he bent down to pick it up. Then, he solemnly stepped forward and handed it back to Chen Chuan.

Chen Chuan reached out and took it, nodding and saying, "Thank you, Mr. San Cheng."

San Cheng Huang bowed again.

Chen Chuan returned the blade to its sheath. He looked around. The two of them couldn't care too much during the fight just now, but there wasn't too much damage here.

Although they didn't use all their strength, the solidity of the Stranger God Temple was evident.

Just demolishing this kind of place would probably be a large expense, and it was also far away from the city center, almost reaching the edge. No wonder no one has reused it to this day.

However, it would be nice to use this place to build a fighting hall specifically for internal communication and sparring.

San Cheng Huang was also tidying up his clothes and weapons at this moment. He walked over and looked down the mountain, saying, "My grandmother's mother used to live here.

According to them, people came here to worship every day. In fact, they didn't really believe in this god, but for the sake of their family, they were willing to do this day after day, even after going overseas, they didn't change this habit. Although the gods they worshipped were different, their intentions were the same."

Chen Chuan nodded, but he heard something different in San Cheng Huang's tone, and said, "Mr. San Cheng, have you seen gods overseas?"

"I have seen some things that seemed to be miraculous," San Cheng Huang revealed a look of reminiscence, and said, "Later I learned that it might be some kind of mutated creature, which seemed to be affected by something on the other side, and had to sacrifice a pair of children every month.

I remember when I was six or seven years old, I followed the villagers to participate in the sacrificial ceremony. I once saw that thing crawling up from the beach. It was like a pool of wet mud, covering the entire beach. At that time, I heard and saw many illusions…"

Then he saw a flash of blade light, as if tearing apart those illusory worlds. When he opened his eyes again, he saw an unusually tall and upright figure standing there with his back to them, holding an amazingly long blade, and the thing in front of him had already turned into a pool of melted, rotten water.

San Cheng Huang said truthfully, "Teacher has already crossed the realm of 'God and I as One', and is the Sword Sect who inherited the name of 'Pavilion Guardian'."

"God and I as One"?

San Cheng Huang explained, "This is a higher realm than 'As I Know My God'. God is me, and I am God. Body and spirit are unimpeded, doing whatever one pleases. And once you reach it, you step onto the path of breaking the limit.

The secret teachings behind this are the true essence of the Wave Pavilion, but unfortunately, only the successive Pavilion Masters are qualified to practice it. I'm afraid I have no chance to see it."

Chen Chuan listened to his statement and felt that "God and I as One" should be the true perfect integration of spirit and body, and that Wind Crane Pavilion Master even surpassed this realm. That so-called "Sword Sect" probably refers to a martial artist, after all, many places overseas still maintain the old-age titles.

And only such an identity can support a powerful fighting hall.

He said, "I have gained a lot today, Mr. San Cheng. I will find you another day to ask for advice."

San Cheng Huang bowed slightly, "I will stay in Jibei Dao for a while. It was very beneficial to spar with Mr. Chen. If Mr. Chen has any advice, I will be waiting at any time."

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