Chapter 22: Han Zimo's Existential Crisis
Fang Yuan glanced around, then said, "If you really want to spar, let's head to the practice courtyard."
"Sure!" Han Zimo gave a calm nod.
Fang Yuan let out a sigh and led Han Zimo to the practice courtyard on Treasure Peak.
The practice courtyard here was far more spacious, and a Formation sealed it off from the outside, ensuring that no great disturbance would leak out.
Fang Yuan swiped his identity token, deducting 300 Contribution Points.
This was the usage fee for the practice courtyard. Should a life-threatening situation arise, the courtyard's Formation would automatically generate a shield and activate a healing Formation to protect disciples from mortal danger.
Han Zimo glanced over and said, "In a moment, I'll transfer 1,000 Contribution Points to you — consider the extra a medical fee from me."
There was no arrogance in his words, yet that air of absolute certainty made Fang Yuan shake his head with an amused smile. Han Zimo was already counting on his own victory.
"No need — as the host, I should play the part. I'll cover the Contribution Points!"
Fang Yuan said with a cheerful grin.
Han Zimo raised an eyebrow, sensing that there was something more behind Fang Yuan's words.
The two stepped into the practice courtyard together and took their positions on opposite sides.
Han Zimo rested one hand on the hilt of his sword, his expression radiating absolute confidence. "You go first."
Fang Yuan heard this and nodded. "In that case, I won't hold back!"
Han Zimo smiled calmly. He intended to give this junior brother a proper lesson — to show him that even at the same cultivation level, the gap between two people could be enormous.
He watched Fang Yuan steadily, wondering whether Fang Yuan would use a Technique or wield a Magic Artifact.
Then, suddenly —
He saw Fang Yuan point a single finger at him.
"Fire Breath!"
"What is he doing?" A flicker of confusion crossed Han Zimo's eyes. "No hand seals?"
In the next instant, a ball of flame appeared out of thin air and came hurtling toward him!
"Instant cast?" A flash of shock crossed Han Zimo's eyes.
The flame split apart in midair, transforming into nine fire clouds that rolled forward in overlapping layers, like a blazing sky of burning clouds!
Han Zimo's expression changed drastically.
He immediately drew his sword and slashed hard toward the oncoming clouds.
"Draw-Sword Technique!"
A sword qi erupted from the blade and shot toward the nine fire clouds!
This was an upper-grade sword art Han Zimo had cultivated — one that could condense sword qi to strike enemies, and with the qi stored in advance, it too could be instant-cast in battle!
The sword qi struck one of the fire clouds as though cutting through cotton, easily cleaving it in two.
A hint of satisfaction had just begun to show on Han Zimo's face.
But what happened next made his pupils contract sharply. The fire cloud, split in two, did not dissipate — instead, the two halves rapidly merged back together!
Then it surged toward him again, its power completely undiminished!
As for his sword qi, though it passed through the fire cloud with its force intact, reaching Fang Yuan was now virtually impossible.
Because Fang Yuan had appeared — at some unknown moment — atop a large boulder elsewhere, hands clasped behind his back, watching him calmly.
Han Zimo hurriedly began chanting an incantation, forming hand seals and channeling his Spiritual Power to cast a Technique.
"Flame Ring Technique!"
A burst of firelight erupted from his body, forming a ring of flames that wrapped around him as a shield.
He then moved quickly, trying to dodge the encircling assault of the nine fire clouds.
But the fire clouds were too fast — he simply couldn't evade them.
The fire clouds slammed into the flame ring, shattering it into fragments of fire, which were then swallowed up by the clouds themselves.
His defensive Technique couldn't even stop a single fire cloud before it was broken through.
At the critical moment, Han Zimo tore open several defensive Talismans — among them even a first-tier, upper grade Talisman.
Three layers of golden light shields rose around him, along with a layer of earth-rock barrier!
But the fire clouds remained unstoppable, breaking through layer after layer of defense with overwhelming, crushing force.
After smashing through every defense, four complete fire clouds still remained, their power unspent.
At the last critical moment, the practice courtyard's Formation generated a supreme shield, blocking the remaining four fire clouds.
The fire clouds gradually dissipated.
Han Zimo stood frozen in place, motionless.
He looked around — Fang Yuan was nowhere to be seen.
A voice drifted in from somewhere unknown, entering his ears.
"Senior Brother Han, I attacked first just now, which could be considered a sneak attack — this victory was purely by luck. I just remembered there's a batch of Pills still being refined back in my Cave Dwelling, so I'll be heading off first!"
The voice faded, leaving Han Zimo in silent stillness.
"How does his Spiritual Sense range exceed mine by so much? Didn't he also just break through to the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining? The only explanation is that he's also cultivated a Spiritual Sense technique!"
"What level were those fire clouds just now? Their power far exceeded a mid-grade first-tier Technique! And he was able to simultaneously control nine separate attacks — how on earth did he do that?"
Han Zimo stood rooted to the spot for a full half hour, replaying Fang Yuan's attack sequence in his mind over and over. No matter how he ran the simulation, he could not see a path to victory against Fang Yuan.
"No — his movement speed was too fast, and it didn't seem to be the result of a Technique. It was pure physical agility. Could he have also cultivated Body Tempering arts?"
Han Zimo let out a long, quiet sigh. "There is always someone stronger, always a higher sky. If I can't even be number one in a branch, what right do I have to be proud?"
Then, gradually, his gaze hardened with resolve. "In that case, I'll train twice as hard! I have the talent, the comprehension, and the resources — I just need to put in double the effort! I refuse to believe I can't surpass you — Fang Yuan!"
He walked out of Treasure Peak, mounted his flying bird, and returned to Zhanchun Peak — the fighting spirit in his heart burning fiercer than ever!
The moment he returned to the peak, he threw himself into cultivation with redoubled intensity, swinging his sword thirty thousand times without pause.
The arrogance that had once defined him became more restrained, replaced by a fierce, unyielding drive!
When the Peak Master of Zhanchun Peak swept the mountain with his Spiritual Sense, he noticed Han Zimo's diligent state and gave a satisfied nod. "This kid seems to have settled down a bit. It seems losing the title of first to break through to the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining was actually good for him!"
* * *
On the other side.
Fang Yuan calmly returned to his Cave Dwelling, turning the recent battle over in his mind.
The technique he had used was none other than the Blazing Demon Wolf's innate talent — [Fire-Breathing Innate Talent]!
And it was no longer at the Yellow Grade, Middle Tier.
He had absorbed the Fire-Breathing Innate Talent from nine Blazing Demon Wolves in total, and the talent could now release nine flames in a single use, with its power having grown substantially compared to before.
The nine flames could also merge into one, forming an even greater blaze.
After the flames were released, under the influence of Cloud Momentum, they transformed into fire cloud form — not only increasing their power further, but also gaining the ability to scatter and reform at will, while becoming easier to control.
Thus, with just a single move, he had brought Han Zimo to complete defeat.
"My Fire-Breathing Innate Talent should have reached first-tier, upper grade by now — its power is comparable to a Late Qi Refining Stage Technique, and it's instant-cast on top of that!"
"But the high consumption is a drawback. Even though it costs several tenths less than a standard first-tier, upper grade Technique, the drain is still considerable!"
Fang Yuan recognized that his Spiritual Power level remained the most critical factor limiting his combat potential.
He took out a Supreme Qi-Nurturing Pill and swallowed it.
Just one minute later, all the medicinal energy within the Pill had been fully absorbed — yet when he sensed the changes throughout his body, the improvement was negligible.
"It seems the Supreme Qi-Nurturing Pill is no longer sufficient."
At this point, Fang Yuan finally retrieved the true Mid Qi Refining Stage Pill — the Supreme Qi-Gathering Pill!