Yuan's Ascension

Chapter 157: The Terror Of The Unity Level (1)

Faced with Wu Yuan's question, The Rain Hierarch and The Sword Hierarch exchanged knowing smiles.

"Wu Yuan, as martial artists, there is no use comparing strengths through discussion. Would you be willing to engage in a sparring match with The Sword Hierarch?" The Rain Hierarch chuckled, "Without weapons."

"Spar with The Sword Hierarch?" A glint of battle intent flashed through Wu Yuan's eyes, "I would be more than willing. But, will The Sword Hierarch be amenable to it?"

"Senior Sister, you know where I stand." The Sword Hierarch glanced at The Rain Hierarch, a hint of displeasure creasing his face.

"Wu Yuan is about to leave the mountain. Let this be a moment of mentorship to show him how large the world truly is, so he doesn't behave too arrogantly when roaming outside." The Rain Hierarch said with a smile.

The Sword Hierarch contemplated for a moment, then nodded, "Very well, but remember, do not go too far."

"Mm." Wu Yuan's eyes sparked with anticipation.

Though unclear whether The Sword Hierarch had truly reached the Unity level of the Harmony of Man and Nature, Wu Yuan could tell that the hierarch’s martial skill level was far higher than his own.

On the peak of the Cloud Hall, aside from the main hall and ancestral shrine, there stood a colossal training ground, spanning over 50 zhangs. Although not quite suitable for a battle to the death between Grandmasters, it was more than sufficient for a simple spar.

Soon, Wu Yuan and the Sword Hierarch took their positions at opposite ends of the training ground, 30 zhangs apart, facing each other from a distance. The only spectator was The Rain Hierarch. As for the other disciples? On regular days, without explicit permission from the hierarchs, no disciple would dare visit the Cloud Hall. Therefore, they were unaware of the imminent duel.

"Wu Yuan," Sword Hierarch said. "I understand that you wish to get a glimpse of what lies ahead on the path of martial skill. So, feel free to attack me however you wish. I do not relish participating in battles, but my strength lies in defense."

Wu Yuan's eyes flickered as he grasped the implications of Sword Hierarch's words: he could unleash his full power, there was no need to hold back.

Taking a deep breath, Wu Yuan steeled his resolve. As battle fervor coursed through his body, he spoke in a low voice, "In that case, I will not hold back. I will fight barehanded as my strength lies in palm techniques. Please guide me, Hierarch."

Wu Yuan was proficient with the saber and poleaxe, which had some correlation with palm techniques. In his previous life, Wu Yuan was particularly fond of palm techniques.

"Hahaha, palm techniques?" Sword Hierarch laughed. "Good, palm techniques happen to be my expertise as well. Come."

The Sword Hierarch was not a fan of fighting, and his life pursuit was immortality. But as a Land Ranker, he had been through countless battles. When the time came for combat, he showed no fear.

"Wu Yuan, come." The Sword Hierarch beckoned, standing nonchalantly. He looked like an ordinary middle-aged man who knew nothing about martial arts, almost as if he was belittling Wu Yuan.

But from Wu Yuan's perspective, it could not have been further from the truth. Merely standing there, Sword Hierarch emanated an air of impenetrable defense.

Whoosh! Wu Yuan's figure transformed into an afterimage as he dashed ten zhangs across, seemingly preparing to launch an attack from an unexpected angle.

The Sword Hierarch, unperturbed, took a single step.

This? Wu Yuan paused, his gaze locked onto the hierarch, an indescribable shock filling his eyes. Inconceivable!

In terms of martial skill, Wu Yuan had already perfected the Integration level. It could be said that among the Grandmasters he had faced before, none could compare to his current abilities. Though Wu Yuan felt a certain wariness towards The Rain Hierarch, a majority of the fear was directed to the Moontide Sword. However, The Sword Hierarch was different. Every glance, every move he made, seemed to exert immense pressure on Wu Yuan, as if the entire world was bearing down on him with endless killing intent.

Wu Yuan is no longer hiding the fact that he's Shadow Blade. His steps are very refined, and the environment imposes no restrictions on him. He's not at all inferior to me. The Rain Hierarch observed the battle quietly.

Neither side mentioned Wu Yuan’s identity, but they each revealed their knowledge of it in their own way.

However, to win against Huan Jian? The Rain Hierarch shook her head slightly. I wonder how far he can push Huan Jian.

She was well aware of Huan Jian’s strength. Getting a glimpse through the gate of immortality was not just empty talk!

...

This is Unity? The final level of Harmony of Man and Nature? As Wu Yuan's figure continually flickered around The Sword Hierarch, he could tell that his opponent's skill level was far too profound and fundamentally different from his own.

No more probing. It's time to go in for the kill. A flicker of resolve passed through Wu Yuan's eyes. Without reservation, he unified his musculoskeletal system, causing his speed to skyrocket beyond the limits of sound. He was going all out! Since he had already been seen through, and he also trusted the two Hierarchs completely, there was naturally no need to continue hiding his strength.

So fast!

Grandmaster!

Both The Rain Hierarch and The Sword Hierarch's eyes flashed with surprise. They'd anticipated it, yet witnessing this scene sent shockwaves through their hearts. A seventeen-year-old Great Grandmaster!

At the moment, they were only twenty zhangs apart. It would only take an instant for the two to collide.

What? Wu Yuan, who had just advanced ten zhangs, saw the Sword Hierarch suddenly swing his arm, sending a palm strike toward him.

In an instant, Wu Yuan felt a drastic change in his surroundings. The once unobstructed environment was suddenly suffused with an overwhelming pressure.

Boom! A sharp, piercing sound echoed through the air as Wu Yuan's speed sharply decreased.

Bang! Their palms collided, generating a visible shockwave in the air that rippled in all directions. Though Wu Yuan exerted an immense force of 600,000 catties, he was sent stumbling back, leaving deep imprints on the sturdy ground. Debris soared through the air, propelled by the magnitude of the shockwave. Meanwhile, the Sword Hierarch stood firm, merely taking a single step back. The strength disparity was astonishing.

How...how is this possible? Wu Yuan gaped at the Sword Hierarch, filled with disbelief.

One million catties of force! Wu Yuan was certain that in their head-on collision, the Sword Hierarch had exerted a force of one million catties! It was inconceivable! How could a Grandmaster unleash such force?

No, it's more than just physical strength. It felt as though the entire weight of heaven and earth was oppressing me. Wu Yuan realized with sudden clarity.

Human strength had its limits, but heaven and earth were boundless!

Let's try it again! Wu Yuan was not one to yield easily.

"Hierarch, be careful!" With a roar, he charged in once again.

With every step Wu Yuan took, air resistance dulled his speed, causing an eruption of sonic booms. It was as though he was in a different realm, where Integration held no sway.

Charge! Wu Yuan gritted his teeth. Surprisingly, his speed did not drop but increased instead. Secret art: Ghostwalk!

"Ha!" His palms morphed into sabers, and his biceps swelled, resembling steel as he braved the terrifying air resistance and hurtled towards the Hierarch.

Yet, in the next heartbeat, Wu Yuan felt the environment around him abruptly shift. Instead of resisting him, an invisible force suddenly augmented his movements, granting him an unexpected burst of speed. This split-second alteration caught Wu Yuan off guard, contorting his posture awkwardly.

Bang! Bang! The two combatants passed by each other in a flash, clashing twice. The hierarch easily blocked Wu Yuan’s distorted palm strike. Then, he struck again, slipping through Wu Yuan’s defenses with supernatural precision and sending him flying through the air. However, the second palm strike was slightly weaker. Wu Yuan only flew a dozen zhangs before crashing heavily to the ground. Though his qi was sent into turmoil, he wasn't seriously injured.

This... this power? Wu Yuan stared at the Sword Hierarch incredulously, sensing the ever-changing, mystical energy surrounding him. How terrifying! With just a thought, The Sword Hierarch could either obstruct his opponent's attacks or distort their techniques. In a duel between experts, life and death were decided in a blink! Based on their previous exchange, Wu Yuan knew that if both sides were armed, he could have lost his life.

"Wu Yuan, would you like to try again?" The Sword Hierarch smiled, "I can withdraw my control over heaven and earth's power."

"No need!" Wu Yuan clenched his teeth and stood up, his eyes still brimming with determination. "Hierarch, I want to try again."

With those words, Wu Yuan's figure darted forward once more.

Boom! His speed increased, but was still restricted by that mysterious force. Then, his hands turned as sharp as sabers, slashing toward The Sword Hierarch.

Hum~ The terrifying force that previously suppressed Wu Yuan suddenly dissipated slightly. This change alone would be enough to make even a Savant-level expert struggle. But this time, Wu Yuan's stance barely wavered. Overall, he was hardly affected! This was the mark of an Integration-level expert, someone who had perfectly mastered their body. The previous encounter had caught him off guard, being his first time facing such an opponent. But now that he was prepared, Wu Yuan swiftly adjusted his state of integration with the world.

Boom! Boom! In an instant, the two of them clashed in an intense exchange. Wu Yuan couldn't help but be taken aback by The Sword Hierarch's immovable stance, relying solely on the power from his waist and abdomen to unleash palm strikes with the force of a million catties each. It was nothing short of astonishing!

The most remarkable thing, however, was the seamless flow of The Sword Hierarch's palm strikes. It was like an unending tide, with no pause between attacks, as if he required no adjustments whatsoever. Each palm strike sent Wu Yuan flying backward. Again and again, Wu Yuan charged forward, colliding over and over. The terrifying shockwaves turned the training ground into a chaotic mess, the azure stones under their feet completely reduced to fragments.

Wu Yuan's assault was a roaring storm, yet it couldn't even rattle Sword Hierarch. He stood like an unyielding mountain, indifferent to techniques and attacks. All he needed was the power of his palms.

Is this Wu Yuan's strength? Or should I say, Shadow Blade's strength? The Rain Hierarch observed in awe from the sidelines. The explosive burst of power, the dazzling execution of skill and technique, the unwavering endurance! It made her truly realize that Wu Yuan indeed possessed the strength of a Great Grandmaster.

However, she was a little disheartened to see that despite the dust and debris swirling around The Sword Hierarch, not even a single speck of dust landed on him. Wu Yuan's offensive was certainly fierce. If it were her, she would have probably been forced to retreat long ago, or perhaps even resorted to using the Moontide Sword. But The Sword Hierarch only occasionally stepped back to dissipate the force from their clashes.

Unknowingly, the gap between me and Huan Jian has grown this large? The Rain Hierarch sighed inwardly.

In the past, she had been the most talented individual of their generation in the sect!

So, this is the Unity level! Sensing heaven and earth, channeling the power as your own. Admiration flashed through The Rain Hierarch's eyes. This was the true path to transcendence.