"Brother Eli Shan, let's have a sparring match if you're up for it!"

Eli Shan anticipated that Lin Feng would inevitably propose a sparring match.

This guy was honest and had an unyielding love for combat, how could he not want to fight against a person against whom he lost in the past? Lin Feng wasn't the one to let a defeat dampen his spirit. Instead, he redoubled his efforts in training, preparing himself eagerly for the rematch.

With a resigned nod, Eli Shan said, "Let's do it then."

Lin Feng's excitement was palpable as he jumped up. "Then, let's head to the arena!"

"Wait at the entrance," Eli Shan instructed, "I'll fetch Xie Meng to broaden her horizons."

Lin Feng nodded in agreement and made his way toward the entrance. As he waited, counting ten breaths of time, his gaze fell upon the most elegant couple emerging from the palace. "Please, lead the way, brother," Eli Shan remarked, approaching Lin Feng.

Lin Feng nodded and proceeded to lead them toward the largest arena in the city. "Brother Eli Shan," he began, "in that arena, we'll have the opportunity to engage in combat and place wagers on matches, potentially earning substantial sums of money."

Eli Shan's smirk widened. "Is that so?"

Lin Feng nodded, his expression serious. "Many people try their luck gambling there. Some get rich, while others lose everything they had."

Eli Shan nodded in understanding. In the arena, he could make a significant amount of money. However, unlike many others, he didn't plan to place his bets on others; the person he believed the most was himself. He could wager money on his own abilities and easily amass wealth! That's... until an emperor were to appear. He didn't fully grasp his own strength, but he was certain he couldn't defeat an emperor with his current level of skill. After all, an emperor's power transcended mere cultivation realms; it encompassed a deep understanding of various unique forces that only an emperor could wield.

However, emperors were high and mighty, why would they even bother coming to such a place? For Eli Shan, this place was currently a treasure trove! He was also war-like, he loved fighting against strong people the most. If he could also profit from it, what more could he ask for? This was the perfect environment for him!

As they approached the bustling arena, Eli Shan couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. The arena was teeming with spectators, their eager murmurs filling the air with anticipation. Eli Shan halted in his tracks, turning to Xie Meng with a determined expression.

"Little Meng, you stay here and watch," he instructed, his voice firm but reassuring.

Xie Meng nodded in agreement, her eyes gleaming with curiosity and excitement.

With a nod of acknowledgment, Eli Shan followed Lin Feng into the crowd, navigating through the throngs of spectators with ease.

They soon reached the guard of the arena, who greeted Lin Feng with a respectful bow. "Prince, you are here again today," the guard remarked with a humble tone.

Lin Feng returned the gesture with a nod. "I want to fight with this brother of mine," he said, gesturing towards Eli Shan.

The guard glanced at Eli Shan, assessing him with a discerning gaze, before nodding in agreement. "I will arrange your fight after this ongoing match," he confirmed.

With that settled, Lin Feng and Eli Shan turned their attention to the ongoing fight in the arena. It was a clash between two zun realm cultivators, their movements swift and precise as they exchanged blows with incredible speed and skill.

After observing them for a while, Eli Shan came to the conclusion that these Zun Realm cultivators were indeed stronger than those from other regions.

Their cultivation and technique were many times better than those of others. However, that was all there to it. For him, these cultivator's fight was like the fight between the ants and he soon lost interest in them.

After a while, the guard's voice broke through the din of the crowd, calling out to Lin Feng. "Prince, you may enter now," he announced.

Before, the spectators had been absorbed in the ongoing fight, oblivious to the existence of Lin Feng. But now, as they recognized the Prince, a wave of excitement swept through the crowd.

"Whoa, prince is here to fight today again!"

"Who is the Prince going to fight today?"

"That guy must be unlucky to face him."

"Yeah, the Prince hasn't lost a single fight at the same cultivation realm since he returned!"

"What same cultivation realm? The Prince even toyed with a peak-stage Origin Realm cultivator in his last match!"

Eli Shan couldn't help but overhear the whispers of the crowd and realized that Lin Feng had a remarkably good reputation. But... toying with a peak stage of Origin Realm opponent? Wasn't this guy merely at the half stage of the Origin Realm when they last met? Eli Shan glanced at Lin Feng, who nodded at him with a smile.

Eli Shan nodded in acknowledgment as they both stepped into the arena. Inside, a sudden illumination caught his attention—a protective formation encircling the arena. Noticing Eli Shan's bewilderment, Lin Feng stepped forward, offering an explanation, "This is a formation meant to shield the spectators from harm. It activates from within, so those outside won't see anything blocking their view of the battle. With this setup, we can fight without worrying about any unintended consequences."

Eli Shan nodded in understanding, his curiosity piqued by the mysterious formation. "I would love to learn more about these formations," he whispered to himself.

Meanwhile, the anticipation among the audience reached a fever pitch as Lin Feng prepared to fight. "Let's begin, Brother," Lin Feng exclaimed, his hands tightly clenched into fists as he burst with his cultivation.

"Origin Realm!"

"The Prince is so young, yet so formidable!"

"I pity the poor soul who has to face him. He looks to be the same age as the Prince."

While the audience marveled at Lin Feng's strength, Eli Shan couldn't hide his astonishment. "Brother, you're already at the fifth stage of Origin Realm?"

Indeed, Lin Feng's cultivation had surpassed his expectations. At this moment, he was not merely at the half or first stage of the Origin Realm, but had reached the fifth stage of the Origin Realm!

Lin Feng smiled, his expression bright and open. "Brother, I must apologize," he began, his voice filled with sincerity. "Although I left the Central Plain and didn't cultivate any royal techniques to better understand the world, my father implanted a special technique within me before my departure. It's a technique that continuously consumes the pure qi of the surroundings as long as I work hard. When I returned to the palace, my father bestowed upon me the complete technique, which allows me to increase my cultivation based on the effort I put in."

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Eli Shan gasped in astonishment, his eyes widening in disbelief. "In this world, such a technique exists?" he exclaimed. "With it, you can focus on enhancing not only your cultivation but also your body and soul. And in time, you could even break through to higher realms. Isn't this technique overwhelmingly powerful?"

Lin Feng bitterly shook his head, "Although this technique is effective, it's only usable up to the Origin Realm. Beyond that, it loses its effectiveness. Moreover, directly cultivating is more efficient. That's why I won't be able to rely on this technique in the future."

Eli Shan nodded in understanding. "If you're already this strong, I can't hold back my strength too," he admitted, determination flickering in his eyes. With a deliberate step forward, he too burst out with the cultivation of the Origin Realm.

The audience gasped in astonishment as they felt the pressure of Eli Shan's cultivation. "He's also an Origin Realm cultivator?"

"That's why the Prince chose him as his opponent," speculated a spectator, their voice filled with awe.

Eli Shan didn't reveal his full cultivation at the sixth stage of the Origin Realm because he wanted to fight fair and square.

Observing Eli Shan's formidable cultivation, Lin Feng was even more dumbfounded. "Hahaha, brother, you are truly a monster," he exclaimed, genuine admiration coloring his tone. "When we last met, you hadn't even reached the peak stage of the Zun Realm, and now you're at the fifth stage of the Origin Realm!"

Eli Shan smiled modestly. "How could I call myself your friend if I couldn't keep up with you?"

Shaking his head, Lin Feng countered, "It's me who relied on a special technique to keep pace with you. I'm fortunate to have earned your friendship."

Eli Shan's expression softened as he shook his head. "Let's begin, brother," he said, his voice steady with resolve.

With an evil nod, Lin Feng drew in a deep breath, clenching his fist tightly. In the blink of an eye, he vanished from his position, leaving only a fleeting afterimage in his wake.

On the other side, feeling Lin Feng's strength, which surpassed even the king he had fought before, Eli Shan's body began to tremble. Why? It had been a while since Eli Shan had fought someone stronger, and sensing Lin Feng's power, Eli Shan's body couldn't help but tremble with excitement.

In that fraction of a second, Eli Shan also disappeared from his spot, meeting Lin Feng's punch head-on.

Boom!

As their fists collided, a powerful shockwave erupted from the center of their impact, possessing enough force to reduce the bones of a cultivator below the Zun realm to ashes.

"Brother Eli Shan, you are as formidable as ever," Lin Feng exclaimed, his voice trembling with excitement as he flashed a wide grin, displaying all of his teeth.

"I know how you feel, Brother Lin Feng. It's been a while since I had a good fight!" Eli Shan replied, his eyes widening and an evil smile forming on his face.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

In the blink of an eye, millions of punches clashed, each strike more powerful than the last.

Even those outside the arena could sense the sheer magnitude of their strength.

"That guy is incredibly strong. He's holding his own against the Prince!" observed a spectator, awe evident in his voice.

"You're mistaken. That guy... he's even stronger than the Prince! Just look at him. The Prince is being pushed back slightly, while that 'random' guy doesn't seem to be using even half of his power," remarked an old cultivator at the Origin Realm.

Hearing this, the spectators' expressions turned solemn as they shifted their gaze, realizing the undeniable truth of the situation.

After exchanging tens of millions of punches, Eli Shan and Lin Feng jumped back, creating a gap between them. "Brother, you are truly something. Until now, I used to think my physique was the strongest, but seeing you in action has proven me wrong."

Eli Shan returned the compliment with a modest smile. "You are too kind, Brother."

Shaking his head, Lin Feng grinned, "Shall we get serious now, Brother?"

Without awaiting a response, Lin Feng closed his eyes, drawing a deep breath before exhaling slowly. He clenched his fist, the air crackling with an ominous energy as he took a deliberate step forward. With a resounding boom, the floor beneath him shattered under the sheer force of his presence.

With each subsequent step, the force intensified, leaving even Eli Shan astonished. It seemed to multiply with each movement, growing exponentially stronger with each step.

Two times.

Five times.

Ten times.

Twenty times.

Soon, this force reached fifty times its initial intensity and continued to increase even further.

By the time Lin Feng opened his eyes, the force had become so overwhelming that even Eli Shan, who had always been fighting against stronger cultivators, felt a hint of pressure from it.

Seeing the dumbfounded expression on Eli Shan's face, Lin Feng felt a sense of satisfaction spreading through him as he grinned. "Brother, this power is known as 'the Force.' It's a formidable energy that one can only attain after reaching the pinnacle of the Origin Realm, a crucial step towards breaking through to the Emperor Realm. However, with the techniques passed down in my family, I've managed to grasp it to some extent beforehand."

Eli Shan nodded, understanding the significance of this power. "You are truly a genius, brother."

Lin Feng grinned. "I may not be as monstrous as you, but Brother, if you wish to emerge victorious, you'll need to take me seriously now."

Eli Shan nodded solemnly. "Looks like I have no other choice." With measured steps, he advanced, extending his hands slowly. Suddenly, a surge of dark aura erupted from the depths of Eli Shan's being, swirling around his form and shrouding him in its obsidian embrace.

With a swift motion of Eli Shan's hand, the darkness spilled forth, engulfing the entire arena in its inky depths. Outside observers strained to catch a glimpse through the thick veil but found their vision obscured by the impenetrable darkness.

Gradually, the darkness began to shift and transform, turning into thousands of ethereal swords that danced around Eli Shan in a mesmerizing display of lethal intent. Each blade gleamed with an ominous glow, casting a chilling aura that sent shivers down the spines of all who beheld it.

"Such a magnificent sword intent," whispered onlookers in awe, their voices tinged with reverence as they gazed upon the spectacle unfolding before them.

Looking at Lin Feng's force, which was getting stronger and stronger, Eli Shan's mind raced with thoughts.

After a moment of contemplation, Eli Shan's gaze hardened with determination as he issued a command, "Merge!"

With a single word, the myriad swords suspended in the air behind Eli Shan began to converge, fusing together seamlessly into a single, colossal blade.

Locking eyes with Lin Feng, whose power had surged to a hundredfold, nearly reaching his limits, Eli Shan raised both hands above his head and issued another command.

"Unification!"

The massive sword, forged from the combined might of thousands of sword intents and already exuding a formidable aura, descended swiftly upon Eli Shan's head with an ominous grace.

"Huh? What just happened? Did he just kill himself with his own sword?" gasped a bewildered onlooker.

"No... look at him," another whispered, his voice trembling.

Boom!

Suddenly, a massive force surged throughout the arena, emanating from Eli Shan as its epicenter. The shockwave rippled outward, its sheer intensity causing the once-impenetrable protection array to crack and fracture, a feat previously believed achievable only by an emperor.

Even Lin Feng's hundredfold force paled in comparison to the overwhelming power surging from Eli Shan.

"Monster!"

Lin Feng smiled bitterly. Then, with a determined expression, he dashed toward Eli Shan with lightning speed.

Meanwhile, Eli Shan's body felt sharper than the sharpest blade and stronger than the toughest ore. Empowered by this newfound strength, he remained rooted in place, not even taking a single step. With a tightly clenched fist, he met Lin Feng's onslaught head-on

Boom!

Their movements were a blur, too swift for even the most strongest observer to follow. With a thunderous clash, their fists collided, unleashing a shockwave that shattered the ground beneath them and sent vibrations rippling through the air.

The force of their collision was so exaggerated that even the protective array, that was already hanging by a thread, succumbed to its might. With a resounding crack, it shattered into countless fragments, unable to withstand the sheer power unleashed by them.

Even the spectators, despite standing at a safe distance, found themselves caught in the maelstrom, their bodies sent hurtling through the air as blood sprayed from their mouths. The ferocity of the battle left all who witnessed it in a state of awe and terror.

"Even a half-stage emperor realm cultivator wouldn't stand a chance against these two monsters!" came the shocked murmurs from the crowd.

They had rarely seen a battle of such intensity and ferocity. Even the most strongest fighters among them, at the peak stage of the origin realm, paled in comparison to the sheer strength and skill displayed by Eli Shan and Lin Feng.

They couldn't help but wonder: just how formidable would these two warriors become once they reached the pinnacle of the origin realm?

After the collision of their fists, both Eli Shan and Lin Feng separated, creating a brief moment of stillness in the arena.

Onlookers exchanged bewildered glances, murmuring among themselves, "Who is the victor?"

Just as the spectators were losing their patience, they suddenly saw Lin Feng, with a respectful gesture, cup his fist and sighed, "Thank you for showing mercy, Brother."

Eli Shan shook his head, a wry smile on his lips. "No need for formalities, Brother."

Hearing their exchange, the spectators speculated on the outcome of the intense battle.