The battle in the sky had reached a fever pitch. Although He Long’s attacks were still ferocious, he was sent flying by Mu Chen’s terrifying strength every time they clashed. Furthermore, the attack range of Mu Chen’s Shattered Star Lock Chain was so vast that he had no need to close in for melee combat. This meant Mu Chen didn’t have to expend large amounts of Primordial Power on Walking on Air.

Of course, He Long wouldn’t consume much Primordial Power no matter how much he used Walking on Air, as he was already a Martial Artist in the Martial King Realm. From the moment his Elemental Wings manifested, a Primordial Energy Vortex had formed on his back, one that could autonomously absorb Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi to power his flight.

However, being constantly knocked back by Mu Chen infuriated him. For some reason, no matter how cunning his attacks were, his opponent always seemed to predict them, reacting a step ahead and catching him completely off guard. This feeling of being utterly controlled was something he had never experienced before.

BOOM!

Another head-on collision. A massive shockwave of Primordial Power erupted from between them, sweeping across the entire challenge arena and kicking up a fierce gale.

Without exception, He Long was once again blasted away by the force of Mu Chen’s blow. Utterly helpless, and humiliated that he couldn’t defeat an opponent a Great Realm beneath him after all this time, he finally erupted.

However, He Long’s eruption was different from others who would fly into a blind rage. He stood far off, retracting all of his Primordial Power, appearing as if he had given up.

Mu Chen looked at He Long with some confusion, but he didn’t retract his Shattered Star Lock Chain. Instead, he let it continue to circle around him. He had been probing his opponent. ’After fighting for so long, it’ll be hard to defeat He Long quickly without using a Secret Technique. My only path to victory is a battle of attrition.’

’It seems there’s a huge difference between the Guardians in the Tower of Calamity and the Martial Artists of the Outer Realm. The biggest one is that the Guardians have no weapons, while Martial Artists from the outside world have Divine Weapons.’ Mu Chen sighed to himself. ’Do I really have to use a Secret Skill?’

Only Mu Chen heard his own thoughts, but across from him, He Long suddenly spoke. His expression was placid as he held his spear’s shaft horizontally with both hands. "Mu Chen," he said lightly, "I have to admit, you are very strong, and you possess an uncanny Tier Jumping Ability. But now, you will experience true fear. Either call for your Dean to protect you, or die!"

After he spoke, He Long suddenly pointed a finger at the sky. Thunder Light surged from his fingertip. Through the perception of his Purple Sky Demon Pupils, Mu Chen was stunned to see all of He Long’s Primordial Power rapidly converging on that single point. The once-sunny sky darkened again, but this time, the gloom was completely different. It was an extremely oppressive sensation.

CRACKLE... POP...

As arcs of lightning flickered and danced on He Long’s fingertip, the sky seemed to answer him. Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed, causing the world to flicker between light and dark. Anyone could tell a powerful Combat Skill was brewing, for it had already stirred a phenomenon in the heavens.

Startled by this, Mu Chen immediately pushed his Taotie Secret Technique to its limit. His wrist was instantly enveloped in a crimson glow. With a flick from Mu Chen, the Shattered Star Lock Chain lashed out toward He Long as fast as lightning. The immense power faintly tore a tiny rift in space. Although the rift was incredibly small and existed for only the briefest of moments—sealing itself in the blink of an eye—it was still caught by a keen observer: Di Cang.

He Long, of course, noticed Mu Chen’s move. But within his silver-glowing eyes, there wasn’t a hint of concern. It was as if he was completely ignoring Mu Chen’s attack.

But that was merely how it seemed; truly ignoring it was impossible. He Long had his own way of handling it. The frequency of thunder and lightning in the sky intensified. Streaks of silver lightning wove through the clouds, punctuated by peals of thunder that sounded like the roars of an enraged Thunder Dragon.

Just as the chain Mu Chen had flung was about to strike He Long, the sky flashed. A bolt of lightning as thick as a bowl slammed directly into the Shattered Star Lock Chain, knocking it completely off course. It grazed past He Long without doing him any harm.

Mu Chen’s expression changed at the sight. He muttered, "A Secret Technique that harnesses the Power of Nature."

Mu Chen’s judgment was spot on. The Secret Technique He Long was using did indeed contain a trace of Thunder Power, but the amount was extremely limited. Compared to Mu Chen’s Meteor Fall, He Long’s technique was rather crude. He Long was merely using a Secret Technique to borrow a sliver of the Power of Nature to boost his might. In contrast, Mu Chen’s Meteor Fall was a Secret Battle Skill created entirely from the Power of Nature itself. Fundamentally, the two were on completely different levels.

’Even so, this is enough to give me a headache,’ Mu Chen thought. ’Do I have to use a Secret Technique as well? But both Ice Prison Cold Mist and Meteor Fall are terrifying, wide-area Secret Techniques. I can’t fully control either of them yet. If I use one, He Long will likely be killed, and there will be nothing anyone can do to stop it.’

The lightning in the sky seemed to have finished brewing and was now rapidly converging above He Long. It felt similar to when he had summoned his Thunder Dragon Spear, but that wasn’t the case. This time, mixed within the gathering blue lightning was a single thread of purple. The appearance of that tiny sliver of purple lightning made everyone’s hair stand on end.

That was Purple Thunder, the ultimate thunder power a human could command. To think that He Long’s Secret Technique could summon even a sliver of it. Mu Chen was still hesitating. ’If I use my Secret Technique, He Long will almost certainly die, which would trigger unnecessary conflict with the Empire. But if I don’t, I will definitely lose. And if I lose, not only will the Outer Circle lose face, but more importantly, Mu Bingling will lose her only chance to ever leave the Holy Hall.’

’I’ve already used my one and only chance to issue a challenge.’ For a moment, his rational mind took over. He needed to think, needed time to weigh his options. But with He Long’s Secret Technique on the verge of completion, he simply couldn’t settle his thoughts.

Just then, the voice of the Shattered Star Lock Chain suddenly echoed in Mu Chen’s mind. "Master, don’t worry. I can block this Combat Skill even without you using Meteor Fall or Ice Prison Cold Mist. However, his Thunder Dragon Spear will be damaged by the skill I’m about to release... When that happens..."

Mu Chen froze, a look of delight instantly spreading across his face. It was the first time he had ever shown such an expression in the middle of a real battle. Upon seeing it, Di Cang, Lingyun, and all the Outer Circle Students felt their hearts settle. They knew that Mu Chen had a plan.

’I almost forgot! Little Spirit, you’ve already undergone the Second Transition. So your Second Transition Combat Skill is an offensive type?’

"Yes... It’s an offensive Combat Skill. Master only needs to pour Primordial Power into my Second Transition Immortal Ring to release it."

After it finished speaking, the Shattered Star Lock Chain immediately spiraled up from around Mu Chen and into the sky. Pulled along by the chain, Mu Chen levitated as well, rising to the same altitude as He Long. His purple pupils continued to spin rapidly. He could see He Long’s Primordial Power draining away at an alarming rate. ’If this attack doesn’t defeat me,’ he concluded, ’He Long will be completely spent.’

’Looks like he’s putting everything on the line. In that case, I can’t worry about his Thunder Dragon Spear. Destroying his weapon is better than destroying him...’

As the thought crossed his mind, Mu Chen’s left arm gave a sudden jerk. The Shattered Star Lock Chain instantly unfurled, coiling in the air and undulating like a dragon’s spine. Mu Chen knew it was ready. He immediately did as the chain instructed, rapidly releasing the Primordial Power from his body and channeling it into the weapon. Without any need for guidance from Mu Chen, the moment his Primordial Power touched the chain, it was drawn directly into the second Immortal Ring and began to converge.

The process was incredibly brief, finishing in just five breaths. But Mu Chen was secretly stunned. ’The Shattered Star Lock Chain absorbed a third of my Primordial Power in just five breaths! What kind of consumption is that? My nine Dantians hold nine times the Primordial Power of a Five-Ring Martial Spirit, and it’s exceptionally pure. Even Ice Prison Cold Mist and Meteor Fall only require about this much, don’t they? Could it be that the might of Broken Star’s Second Transition Combat Skill is on par with those two Secret Techniques?’

While Mu Chen was still reeling in astonishment, he suddenly felt his wrist lighten. The Shattered Star Lock Chain had completely detached from his body and, with a WHOOSH, shot into the sky. It soared through the air like a giant dragon. Once airborne, the Shattered Star Lock Chain suddenly reared up its sharp Spiral Blade and let out a silent roar.

It was described as a soundless roar because, in the instant Broken Star raised its Spiral Blade, a massive shockwave erupted from it, spreading rapidly for several thousand meters. Immediately afterward, all the Ice and Fire Attribute Primordial Power in the air answered, as if summoned by their King, and surged toward the Shattered Star Lock Chain. In a flash, the two sides of the chain were once again engulfed in red and blue light, which radiated for dozens of meters.

Moreover, the light became so dense that within a few breaths, the Shattered Star Lock Chain itself was completely obscured. All that was visible was the constantly growing red-and-blue radiance and the Primordial Power that was becoming progressively more violent.

Both sides were charging up a devastating move. The most anxious ones in this situation were the students watching from below. Di Cang and Qin Garden both sensed that the Secret Techniques being prepared were far too tyrannical and would likely endanger the surrounding students. Therefore, before the skills could be unleashed, the two of them worked together to erect a solid Defense Barrier around the perimeter of the arena.

Di Cang frowned. "These two kids are being too reckless. If two attacks of this magnitude collide, the entire arena will be completely destroyed."

Lingyun nodded but said nothing, her gaze fixed entirely on the two figures in the sky. She knew that after this exchange, the battle would be decided.