"However, being able to face Zhang Xingyun's full-force strike head-on suggests that his strength is not weak."

Some martial artists disagreed with the grey-clad blade master's conclusion and refuted.

"Stop arguing. Anyway, those energy crystal stones are out of our reach now. Just watch carefully."

An elderly man with white hair chastised, and everyone lowered their heads in contemplation, finding it logical. Just one Chu Ming alone wasn't something they could handle, and now with Zhang Xingyun, the three energy crystal stones were certainly beyond their grasp.

In midair, Zhang Xingyun narrowed his eyes slightly, emanating a dangerous aura. He said casually, "Your strength is indeed decent, to withstand eighty percent of my strike."

"What?! Zhang Xingyun's previous strike was only eighty percent of his strength?"

"Hahaha, I said it before, Zhang Xingyun in full force, how could that young man in white be a match?"

"It's a pity, those three energy crystal stones are now Zhang Xingyun's. We ended up empty-handed."

On the other side, Chu Ming remained expressionless, speaking calmly, "You're not bad either, managing to gain the upper hand with a sneak attack."

As Chu Ming's words fell, Zhang Xingyun's expression froze, and the other martial artists were also taken aback.

Arrogance, this was the unanimous sentiment of all martial artists present. Zhang Xingyun was one of the six top prodigies in the Central Divine Domain. The number of Great Powers of Transcendence that had died at his hands exceeded double digits.

Now, this young man in white robe actually claimed Zhang Xingyun's strength was merely passable. This truly sounded absurd.

"Hehehe, you are the first to dare speak to me this way."

A sharp flash appeared in Zhang Xingyun's eyes. Even the other five among the six giants dared not be so arrogant in his presence.

"But today, I won't settle this with you. Let's meet at the center of the Ancient Battlefield."

To everyone's surprise, Zhang Xingyun didn't attack directly but chose to retreat. The grey-clad blade master's face turned blank, and many others lowered their heads in thought, deep in contemplation.

If one were to say that Zhang Xingyun feared Chu Ming, it was impossible. The six giants were all proud individuals and wouldn't easily back down. There had to be pressing matters involved, likely related to the center of the Ancient Battlefield.

Whoosh!

Zhang Xingyun transformed into a blurred yellow figure and sped away into the distance, disappearing without a trace in an instant.

"Let's go too!"

Chu Ming said to Feng Yuyan, sweeping his gaze across the crowd. Everyone his gaze fell upon felt a chill inwardly and dared not meet his eyes directly.

Whoosh!

Chu Ming and Feng Yuyan casually chose a tunnel and swiftly flew into it. They didn't fly far, stopping after three to four miles.

After clashing with Zhang Xingyun, Chu Ming gained a clearer understanding of his own strength.

Currently, his strength was still somewhat inferior to the six giants. Each of these giants had incredible fortune and backgrounds, likely possessing hidden trump cards.

However, in a true fight, Zhang Xingyun defeating him without three to four hundred moves would be impossible; as for killing him, that was out of the question.

"Here you go."

Chu Ming took out the three energy crystal stones from his storage ring and placed them in Feng Yuyan's hands. Feng Yuyan didn't refuse, as her strength was somewhat lacking. Traveling with Chu Ming, she was more a burden than an asset, and he often had to look after her.

As Feng Yuyan sat down to refine the energy crystal stones, Chu Ming took out a soul crystal from his storage ring and silently sensed the soul power within.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh...

Green light emanated from the soul crystal, enveloping Chu Ming's entire body, merging into his Sea of Souls bit by bit, enhancing his soul.

Crack!

An hour later, the soul crystal in Chu Ming's hand shattered suddenly, its soul power completely dissipating. At this moment, the green vortex in the air gradually faded, and Chu Ming exhaled lightly.

His soul power was indeed too strong. For an ordinary Guiyuan Realm martial artist, absorbing the soul power from a soul crystal would take at least half a month, but in his hands, a soul crystal only lasted an hour.

Chu Ming looked towards Feng Yuyan. At this moment, her aura was gradually rising, and the momentum within her was becoming increasingly magnificent.

Energy crystal stones were equivalent to highly concentrated upper-grade spirit stones. In terms of purity and storage of spiritual power, they surpassed top-grade spirit stones. The spiritual power within was far more docile than that in top-grade spirit stones, even Guiyuan Realm martial artists could easily absorb it.

Chu Ming set up a soul barrier around them and took out another soul crystal to continue absorbing its soul power.

Over and over again, Chu Ming absorbed thirteen soul crystals in total. By now, compared to the beginning, his soul power had increased by about ten percent. Although ten percent might not sound like much, Chu Ming's soul power was already comparable to that of an invincible transcendent. This ten percent was equivalent to the soul power of an ordinary transcendent.

Boom!

A violent wave of spiritual power emanated from Feng Yuyan, rapidly expanding towards the surroundings. The surrounding spiritual power surged toward Feng Yuyan like water into a whale, and in a short moment, her momentum soared.

Buzz buzz buzz!

"She should be breaking through soon."

Chu Ming muttered to himself. This was Feng Yuyan's second breakthrough. Feng Yuyan had been on the verge of breaking through to Guiyuan Realm Sixth Layer, and now, after refining three energy crystal stones in succession, she directly broke through to Guiyuan Realm Seventh Layer.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

The surrounding roaring spiritual power gradually calmed. At the center, Feng Yuyan's face remained tense, but as the last wisp of spiritual power merged into her body, her aura surged, seemingly breaking through some kind of shackle.

Guiyuan Realm Seventh Layer!

Boom!

A thread of fiery red energy burst from Feng Yuyan's body, the scorching heat blackening the ground. Chu Ming's eyes narrowed. Although the red energy was weak, for some reason, he felt a deadly threat from it, a sensation even Zhang Xingyun didn't evoke.

Moreover, Feng Yuyan had always cultivated Ice Attribute Techniques, this sudden appearance of fiery red energy was completely out of nowhere.

"Huh? This girl's physique is somewhat special!"

Within Chu Ming's dantian, the remnant soul of the Ancient Sword Emperor emerged from the Sword Scripture, staring at Feng Yuyan with an uncertain expression.

"Senior Sword Emperor, can you discern her physique?"

Chu Ming's heart stirred. If Feng Yuyan had a special physique, he would naturally be happy for her.

"Don't be too quick to rejoice. Her physique is not particularly favorable. It should be the legendary Nine Phoenix Nirvana Body. For specific details, you should ask her yourself."

The Ancient Sword Emperor seemed to know Chu Ming's thoughts and responded faintly.

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