Celestial Human Diagram

Chen Chuan raised his hand and unbuttoned his overcoat, one by one. The garment, empowered by a Secret Ceremony, had just boosted his Power, but it had other effects as well. The mental ones, however, clearly had little impact on Jian Chengsheng.

’If it’s useless, I don’t need it.’ After unbuttoning it completely, he tossed the overcoat aside, letting a gust of wind carry it away.

Seeing that Jian Chengsheng was still unwilling to make the first move, Chen Chuan didn’t stand on ceremony. He ignored the renewed sounds of gunfire and combat behind him. Placing the hilt of his blade at his waist, he lowered his stance, shifted his weight forward, and pushed off the ground, lunging ahead.

As he leaped, the white mist rising from his body left a wake of air, an intimidating and powerful sight.

Jian Chengsheng’s expression remained grave. He did not underestimate his opponent just because his own Power had increased. In fact, the pressure emanating from Chen Chuan was still there.

This time, however, he didn’t remain rooted to the spot. Instead, he dodged to the side and began using his movement to parry and block.

When his Power had been insufficient, he could only rush in to disrupt his opponent’s rhythm, relying entirely on technique. But now, with enough Power, he could use more conventional methods to defend himself. Furthermore, after the infusion of Essence Blood, he was now nearly as tall as Chen Chuan, allowing him to act with more composure.

As their blades clashed and parried, Chen Chuan could clearly feel an overall improvement in his opponent. Though Chen Chuan hadn’t lessened his own Power in the slightest, Jian Chengsheng was now able to steadily block his attacks with just one hand. This was a testament not only to his newfound Power, but also to his application of technique.

Unlike the Iron Demon, this sudden surge of Power hadn’t caused him to lose bodily coordination. On the contrary, his body and Power worked together perfectly. Now, he truly had no weaknesses.

After another dozen slashes, Jian Chengsheng’s confidence swelled. He carefully savored the Power coursing through his body—a strength he had never before possessed. Or rather, it was a power he was destined to have in the future. Guided by his advanced Spiritual Techniques, there was no aspect of it he couldn’t master.

’So this is the power I am meant to wield.’

After intercepting another of Chen Chuan’s attacks, they found themselves pressed close together, making it difficult for either to fully execute their techniques. With a shockwave from their clashing blades, the two leaped back again.

Jian Chengsheng felt his mind and body becoming increasingly synchronized. Although this state wouldn’t last, he was certain of one thing. As long as he won this fight, even if he reverted to his former self afterward, this very experience would allow him to improve at an incredible rate and reach heights he’d previously thought unattainable.

In truth, the Essence Blood within the blade could not be absorbed so easily. The overwhelming Power would cause one’s own Mutated Organization to resist it. Only when facing a true rival, when the Mutated Organization sensed an urgent, life-threatening crisis, could this resistance be completely bypassed.

Not since he was fourteen had an enemy made him feel this way. Only Chen Chuan had brought him to the brink of death, which was precisely why he was able to achieve a perfect Fusion with the Essence Blood.

He looked at Chen Chuan and said with great earnestness, "Monarch Chen, thank you." ’When I win this fight, after I kill him, I will be sure to grant him the respect due to a Fighter.’

Chen Chuan replied calmly, "No need to thank me. I should be the one thanking you."

Jian Chengsheng froze for a moment. A faint sense of unease began to stir within him, but he couldn’t pinpoint the source.

Imperceptibly, the white mist rising from Chen Chuan’s body had grown denser. It now rose like a great column of smoke, solid and unyielding against the gales, his figure flickering in and out of view within it.

Since leaving Central City, he had simply been following a routine of medication and cultivation. His Power had been building up, but it hadn’t yet truly integrated with his being. That was because he hadn’t yet crossed blades with a Fighter who could be considered a true powerhouse.

To be precise, no opponent had been able to force him to unleash his full strength.

Back at the academy, he had Hong Fu to spar with every day. In Yangzhi, of course, he had no such luxury. Now, the appearance of an opponent like this was gradually awakening the Power stored within his Mutated Organization, allowing it to begin a true process of adaptation and Fusion with his body.

He slowly raised the Long Blade in his hand, pointing it at Jian Chengsheng.

His opponent’s purely defensive strategy reminded him of a bow being drawn ever tighter. As long as the string didn’t snap, once pulled to its absolute limit, it was bound to release a devastating shot.

’Then let’s see who reaches their limit first.’

Jian Chengsheng’s eyes narrowed. He saw that Chen Chuan’s Domain was expanding outward with no sign of contracting. His aura was climbing ever higher, yet Jian Chengsheng could find no flaw in his stance.

’But what does it matter?’ The Chen Chuan he had perceived before was just an illusion, an unreal phantom. Throughout their ongoing battle, he had been constructing a model of the *real* Chen Chuan in his mind. He firmly believed that when the opportune moment arrived, he would be able to cut his opponent down with a single blow.

Within his Spiritual Sensing, Chen Chuan moved again. Jian Chengsheng let out a great roar and charged forward to meet him. Their battle was no longer confined to one area; they slowly moved off the National Path, a blur of rapid, intersecting charges. Every clash of their blades was like a clap of thunder, unleashing an explosive shockwave of air.

Nearby vehicles began to shake, their already-cracked windows shattering completely from the concussive force.

In Jian Chengsheng’s eyes, with every full-force clash and parry, the phantom image of Chen Chuan in his mind and the real man before him were beginning to overlap. But it wasn’t a perfect match. Not yet.

Meanwhile, his Stacking Void Force was almost ready to be unleashed in a counterattack.

After blocking dozens more strikes, a sudden surge of Power erupted from within Jian Chengsheng’s body. It felt as if it had come from nowhere, but it was in fact a backlash, a rebound from his Mutated Organization being pushed to its absolute limit.

At that very moment, the phantom in his mind merged perfectly with the Chen Chuan before him. He knew his chance had arrived. With a surge of spiritual focus, he swung his blade—his first offensive strike of the entire battle, and his last!

Chen Chuan had been watching for any change in his opponent. Just then, he saw Jian Chengsheng’s Biological Domain seem to vanish completely for an instant. A glint flashed in his eyes. His Second Self suddenly merged with his body. As the opposing blade came slashing down, he met it with a slash of his own!

The two blades met in midair with a sharp CLANG! Jian Chengsheng’s blade shattered, but his expression remained unchanged. The Broken Blade continued on its predetermined path, slashing toward Chen Chuan.

This attack was not about the physical blade, but about the spirit and will concentrated within it!

To sunder the will is to sunder the flesh!

If this strike could annihilate Chen Chuan’s spirit, his physical body would crumble on its own. Such an attack required not only one’s own spirit to be at its absolute peak, but also for the opponent’s spirit to be at its zenith. Only by shattering the enemy at their strongest point could one achieve total victory.

As the Sword Stance fully unfolded, the Broken Blade never made contact with Chen Chuan’s body. However, a tyrannical Sword Intent surged into his Domain and spirit.

In that instant, a faint line appeared on the forehead of the Second Self, extending diagonally down to its torso. The entire construct flickered, turning ethereal for a moment.

At the same time, after his Snow Monarch Blade shattered the other man’s Long Blade, Chen Chuan made a slight adjustment. He dissipated the residual Power from the impact, then put the strength of both arms into a forward thrust.

Both men froze simultaneously. The dusty earth beneath their feet shuddered and billowed outward in rolling clouds.

The broken half of the blade spun a dozen times in the air before plummeting down and stabbing into the desolate ground with a solid THUNK.

Jian Chengsheng remained frozen in his slashing stance, his gaze fixed on Chen Chuan’s placid eyes. He slowly lowered his head. The Snow Monarch Blade had pierced through his heart, the tip protruding from his back.

Crimson blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. Beads of blood began to seep from his skin as well, blooming like flowers on his white clothes.

That final strike had exhausted all of his spiritual energy. If it failed to kill his opponent, his Divine Qi would dissipate on its own. Now, he was nothing more than an empty shell.

He whispered, "I’m sorry, Teacher. This disciple’s journey ends here." With a hint of regret, he slowly closed his eyes and moved no more.

Seeing this, Chen Chuan yanked his blade back. Jian Chengsheng’s body was pulled forward, toppling to the ground. The spreading pool of blood quickly stained the earth red.

He raised his hand, glancing at the Snow Monarch Blade, which seemed to hum with excitement. Then he looked at Jian Chengsheng’s corpse. In just a few moments, the body had gradually shriveled, returning to its original size.

He mulled it over. ’That last strike was truly formidable. Setting aside the physical Power of the blow, it was a type of attack that annihilates the spirit.’

’But it seems he hadn’t fully mastered the technique. The attack lost at least half of its strength after the blade broke. Judging from the damage to my Second Self, my accumulated Divine Constant could have probably withstood it regardless.’

He looked up ahead. Advisor Yao was fighting two opponents by himself. He had sustained numerous injuries and looked battered, but overall, he was still managing to hold his ground.

He was wearing an Esoteric Bureau overcoat, and coupled with the Secret Ceremony set up in the area, it was enough to disorient any intruders. Although his two opponents could resist the effects to some degree, they couldn’t help but be slightly affected.

And sometimes, the slightest misjudgment was all it took for an attack to miss its mark. That was how he was narrowly, and repeatedly, avoiding fatal blows.

However, as Chen Chuan looked over, all three fighters sensed his gaze and glanced his way. A look of delighted surprise washed over Advisor Yao’s face. In contrast, the other two men’s pupils shrank. They had no intention of continuing the fight. After a quick flurry of attacks to force Advisor Yao back, they rapidly retreated, splitting up and fleeing in different directions.

One of them even flicked his wrist, hurling a throwing knife at Chen Chuan from a great distance.

Chen Chuan casually deflected the knife with his blade without even looking at the man who threw it. He turned his attention to the other fugitive, pushed off from the ground, and gave chase.

The Fighter who had thrown the knife was inwardly ecstatic to see that Chen Chuan wasn’t pursuing him and sprinted away. But after just a few steps, he suddenly clutched his stomach. He staggered forward a few more paces before involuntarily dropping to one knee, where he began to vomit mouthfuls of blood.

...

...