"How can she be so fast?" Niu Dazhuang’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. ’Is she really just an Early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator?’

"Senior Brother!"

Yinn Shang’s black hair streamed behind him, his eyes blazing like torches. He suddenly accelerated and declared in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist Xia, stay!"

As Yinn Shang dove toward her, Xia Qingxue’s expression remained unchanged. She slowly raised her hands. At some point, she had donned a pair of white gloves, as thin as a cicada’s wings.

The gloves emitted a silvery-white light. In that instant, Xia Qingxue’s aura changed drastically. The surrounding temperature plummeted, and snowflakes began to materialize out of thin air, drifting down from the sky.

"An Ice Spirit Root and a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact!" Yinn Shang’s expression flickered. ’She’s only at the Early-stage of Foundation Establishment, yet she can fully activate a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact? Does she really have that much Spiritual Power?’

Song Changsheng, observing from a short distance, was also stunned. He knew Xia Qingxue was formidable, but he hadn’t expected her to be this monstrous. ’To fully wield a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact with only an Early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivation... Is she even human?’

He recalled that back when he was at the Early-stage of Foundation Establishment, he had found it extremely difficult to fully activate his High-Grade Spiritual Artifact, the Luwu Bell, let alone a Top-Grade one. The two were on completely different levels.

"Senior Brother, keep her occupied!" Niu Dazhuang roared, then lunged toward the plant in the valley.

Song Changsheng had no intention of giving up. He summoned the Celestial Measuring Ruler and brought it down on Niu Dazhuang’s back.

BANG!

"Kid, you trying to stop me?" Niu Dazhuang dodged the attack and glared menacingly at Song Changsheng.

"With an opportunity like this on the line, I’m afraid I must test my skills against yours, Fellow Daoist Niu," Song Changsheng said calmly, flickering in front of Niu Dazhuang to block his path. "Please, enlighten me."

Niu Dazhuang was so furious he laughed. "Good, good, good! You stinking brat, I’ve been itching to teach you a lesson! Today, I’ll show you some real power!"

As he spoke, a ten-foot-long, pitch-black great halberd appeared in his hand. A dense wave of Evil Qi instantly washed over Song Changsheng, forcing him to focus with utmost concentration.

’A Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact.’ Song Changsheng’s gaze darkened as he stared at the great halberd. ’As expected of someone from a major power. Their resources are on a completely different level. To think he can just casually bring out a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact... The entire Song Clan only has two artifacts of this caliber.’

Facing such an opponent, Song Changsheng felt immense pressure. This was the most powerful adversary he had encountered to date. Yet, he felt no fear, nor did he have any thought of retreating. On the contrary, his battle intent surged.

He wanted to test his own limits!

"Kid, if you can beat me, this Exotic Treasure is yours!" Niu Dazhuang declared, brandishing his great halberd and exuding the bloodthirsty aura of a wild beast.

"Hahaha! You said it, not me! Let’s fight!"

Song Changsheng’s qi and blood churned. He held the Celestial Measuring Ruler, the Luwu Bell hovered over his head, and the Yin Yang Spirit-Slaying Gourd hung at his waist. Except for his final trump card, the Godslaying Flying Knife, Song Changsheng had brought out every Spiritual Artifact he owned.

Only then could he hope to close the gap between him and Niu Dazhuang. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"Flashy tricks!"

Niu Dazhuang’s eyes bulged with rage, muscles swelling across his body. He raised his great halberd and brought it cleaving down toward Song Changsheng. The thick Evil Qi was so intense it made Song Changsheng’s breath catch.

CLANG—

The ruler and the great halberd clashed. Song Changsheng was instantly sent flying backward, but Niu Dazhuang didn’t get away unscathed. The arm he used to hold the great halberd trembled so violently he almost dropped it.

Niu Dazhuang’s expression shifted. ’Such immense Physical Power.’ He himself was a Body Refining Cultivator, capable of taking on Magical Artifacts with his bare body, yet he had barely gained an advantage in that clash.

Song Changsheng righted himself in mid-air, his expression grave. The webbing between his thumb and forefinger had been torn open by the impact. His opponent’s physical constitution was even more formidable than his.

’If I’d cultivated the Five Beasts Body Refining Technique to the Great Success Realm, my Physical Body would be strong enough to crush him,’ Song Changsheng thought. ’But I’m still a long way off. I can’t meet him with brute force.’

Song Changsheng’s mind raced, and he quickly decided to change tactics.

He flicked his hand, and the Celestial Measuring Ruler transformed into a streak of black light, shooting toward Niu Dazhuang.

Without even looking, Niu Dazhuang swatted it away with his halberd, sending it flying. He then charged at Song Changsheng, completely unaware that he was falling right into a trap.

"Earth Core Cold Flame!"

The black-and-white gourd spun rapidly in front of Song Changsheng, spitting out a thin line of azure fire.

This was the first time Song Changsheng had used the Earth Core Cold Flame in a real battle, and he was quite eager to see its performance.

Seeing the thumb-sized line of fire, alarm bells screamed in Niu Dazhuang’s head. He might be reckless, but he wasn’t an idiot. The flame felt incredibly dangerous, and he hastily retreated.

But Song Changsheng wasn’t about to let him. He formed several spell seals with his hands, and the line of fire instantly exploded, erupting into a sea of azure flames in mid-air that completely enveloped Niu Dazhuang.

"Defense!"

Niu Dazhuang swiftly activated his Spiritual Gang Body Protection. But to his shock, the moment the flame touched his Spiritual Gang, a small hole was instantly burned through it. The hole rapidly expanded, quickly turning into a series of large gaps.

Niu Dazhuang’s expression turned grim. ’Is this Qian Ming’s Spiritual Fire?’ Qian Ming was quite famous in Bian Province, and his possession of a Spiritual Fire was no secret. Niu Dazhuang knew of it, of course, but he never expected it to be so troublesome.

’This stinking brat actually has some skill,’ he thought. ’I can’t hold back anymore.’

BOOM—

Niu Dazhuang’s expression turned serious. The Spiritual Power within him erupted, stirring up a violent gale that completely scattered the Spiritual Qi in a radius of hundreds of feet around him.

Deprived of Spiritual Qi, the Earth Core Cold Flame had no fuel and was instantly extinguished.