Chapter 115: Tit for Tat

"Your strength is formidable. To deal with you, I must unleash my full potential." The cold words fell from Tie Muqing's lips; his opponent's skill had left him no choice but to resort to his most powerful methods.

Having exchanged several blows, Tie Muqing held this opponent in high regard. He had spent three years struggling on the battlefield, forging his combat techniques on the blades of his enemies. Yet, he found that these very techniques were becoming increasingly ineffective against the man before him. He feared that without giving his all, he might truly be unable to defeat him. Though Tie Muqing's robes were tattered, he remained uninjured.

Ye Cheng was in a similar state, though his own clothes were far more shredded. Tie Muqing's close-quarters combat was exceptional; it was only Ye Cheng’s unique constitution—the Devouring Body, which refined his physical form far beyond that of ordinary men as it absorbed essence energy—that allowed him to withstand Tie Muqing’s strikes without suffering any substantial harm.

"To think you could escape the lock of my 'Blood Rush'—I am truly surprised. I must admit, you are the most formidable opponent I have encountered since leaving the military and returning to Yongle City." A cruel smile curled upon Tie Muqing’s cold face as he pointed his halberd at Ye Cheng. "I can feel my halberd humming with excitement. I hope you can make this battle just as exhilarating."

"Tie Muqing has drawn his halberd. That is a high-grade spirit weapon; it boosts combat power by fifty percent. I fear the young man in black is doomed. Tie Muqing once used that very halberd to cleave a warrior who offended him in two. How could that skinny frame possibly withstand it?"

"I am not so sure. Tie Muqing has yet to unleash his full strength, and perhaps the youth invited by the Nangong family is also holding back. Look, he was fighting barehanded just a moment ago. Besides, that 'Blood Rush' technique is a top-tier art of the Blood Fiend Gang, yet the boy dodged it so easily. I think the outcome of this match is still hard to call."

The crowd erupted into a clamor at Tie Muqing's move. Everyone had their own opinion. While most had initially doubted Ye Cheng, his ability to trade blows with Tie Muqing with such ease had caused many to reconsider.

"Your strength also exceeds my expectations. You are just qualified enough for me to use a weapon," Ye Cheng said, a slight arc forming at the corner of his mouth. With a tap of his storage bag, a silver spear appeared in his hand. He would show no mercy to a man as blindly confident as Tie Muqing. Against such people, one could not show weakness; one had to suppress them with overwhelming force.

"Damn! I never expected Brother Ye Cheng to have such an imposing side," Nangong Lin exclaimed excitedly from the sidelines. His face was deathly pale, a clear sign of the injuries he had sustained in the earlier conflict. He turned his head and caught Nangong Xue, standing beside him, rolling her eyes, which made him chuckle sheepishly.

"Hmph, words require the strength to back them up. To speak like that without the ability is merely arrogance," Tie Muqing barked. He swung his halberd, and blood essence surged forth, transforming into a blade of energy that detached from the weapon. This was the power of a high-grade spirit weapon: it contained a self-sustaining cycle of essence energy, allowing the wielder to unleash attacks beyond the physical reach of the weapon itself.

"Take this strike and see just how delusional your words were!" Tie Muqing lunged with his halberd, moving like a sharp, unstoppable blade.

A powerful force of blood essence, laced with malevolent intent, radiated from Tie Muqing, causing the spectators to tremble. Those with weaker cultivation felt their own blood roil, their faces draining of color.

"Whether I am delusional or not is not for you to decide," Ye Cheng said firmly. Without further waste of breath, he tightened his grip on his long spear. While it was only a mid-grade spirit weapon, capable of boosting his strength by only twenty to thirty percent, he understood the soul of the spear.

Just as swords possess intent, spears possess a soul. The so-called spirit of a sword or spear is condensed upon this foundation. Once a spirit awakens, the item transcends the category of a spirit weapon and becomes a spiritual treasure. A single spiritual treasure is enough to make masters of the Ancient Dan Realm red with envy and drive them to bloodshed.

Feeling the pulse of the silver spear in his hand, Ye Cheng swept it across, instantly shattering the incoming energy blade. Although supported by a high-grade spirit weapon, the blood essence had lost some of its potency, and the attack posed little threat to Ye Cheng.

"Crescent Moon Slash!"

Tie Muqing roared. Massive amounts of blood essence poured into his halberd. With a swipe of his palm, a crescent-shaped blood-red arc of energy tore through the air, appearing instantly above Ye Cheng’s head. Had it connected, it would have surely split him in two.

"Tie Muqing was hiding this much strength... this attack actually makes my heart flutter with fear." Nangong Xue’s brows furrowed, her beautiful eyes filled with worry as she watched the youth in black on the stage. Her slender fingers gripped the edge of her sleeve tightly.

Too focused on the battle, she did not notice that her every movement was being watched by the chubby Nangong Lin. He looked at his cousin’s worried expression, then back at Ye Cheng, a sly, knowing grin forming on his face. "Truly impressive. Even an iceberg like my cousin can be melted."

Of course, Nangong Lin dared not say this aloud. In the little fatty's eyes, Ye Cheng had instantly ascended to the status of a god—not only talented and powerful, but a master at winning over hearts.

Ye Cheng, however, was unaware of the little fatty's thoughts. The attack had set his blood boiling, and his battle intent rose in tandem. There was no doubt that Tie Muqing was a cut above the average peak Blood Essence Realm warrior; this attack possessed the power of a strike from an early-stage Essence Realm master.

But it was not enough. Even a month ago, before he had compressed blood crystals in his body, Ye Cheng could already resist the force of an early-stage Essence Realm master. Now, with his strength greatly increased and four blood crystals condensed in his dantian, his blood essence was like a rainbow. To others, the attack might have been formidable, but to Ye Cheng, it was still far from enough.

Ye Cheng remained motionless, holding his silver spear against the ground, watching Tie Muqing’s attack with cold, steady eyes.