Celestial Human Diagram

On the National Path, the wind had grown a little stronger, kicking up sand and dust, but it also blew away some of the smoke ahead.

After Jian Chengsheng got out of the vehicle, he placed a hand on the Long Blade at his waist and stared ahead with a solemn expression. A moment later, under the gazes of the personnel on his side, he began walking forward step by step.

His hair was tied in a topknot, and he wore the white training uniform of Langtao Hall. The clothes followed the style of a bygone era, their wide sleeves billowing in the wind.

Although drinking White Infant Wine had made him look two or three years younger, as if he were only sixteen or seventeen, his persistent gaze and the resolute aura emanating from him involuntarily made all who saw him turn grave and serious.

The Third Limit Fighter stationed there saw Jian Chengsheng approach and immediately bowed before stepping aside.

Although he had been transferred from another region, he was also a Fighter sponsored by the Ferris Wheel Company, and both the etiquette he had learned and his weapon style were from the Outer Ocean.

Jian Chengsheng gave him a nod, but his steps never faltered.

At this moment, the gunmen on the Ferris Wheel Company’s side all stopped, and both biological weapons and combat personnel quickly withdrew.

Seeing them retreat, Advisor Yao sensed something and also ordered his own men to cease fire, so as not to waste bullets.

He then saw a handsome youth dressed in white slowly walking toward them.

His expression changed, and he stared ahead with a grave look. ’Another Third Limit Fighter?’

Moreover, both the faint sense of threat he felt as the youth approached and the enemy’s current reaction made it obvious that this was no ordinary Third Limit Fighter.

He saw his long-range gunmen raising their weapons and quickly instructed, "Don’t make a move yet." ’Someone like him is extremely sensitive to danger. We’d never be able to hit him. It looks like I’m the only one who can deal with this.’

Jian Chengsheng walked forward as if completely focused, passing a driverless vehicle that had been parked ahead as a barricade. He had only gone two or three meters past it when a tremor ran through the car behind him. The upper half of the vehicle, which belonged to the escort convoy, suddenly slid off and crashed sideways onto the ground.

An Esoteric Buddhism member hiding inside the car and the ritual diagrams within were all sliced in two. Blood instantly covered the seats, yet most people on both sides had not seen when he had drawn his blade.

Even Advisor Yao had only barely caught a flicker of movement from the man’s right hand. By the time he refocused, the blade was already back in its scabbard. His heart sank. ’This enemy is even stronger than I estimated.’

Jian Chengsheng did not stop until he was less than twenty meters from the front of the escort convoy. At the same time, he released his Biological Domain.

It was not just the Domain itself; he could also use a combination of posture, footwork, gaze, and even aura to transmit its effect directly into his opponent’s mind, thereby intimidating them. In the Secret Transmissions of Langtao Hall, this technique was called "Mind Quake."

Advisor Yao’s breathing involuntarily quickened. This was the reaction of the Mutated Organization inside his body, stimulated by the presence of an extremely threatening enemy.

Although they had not yet formally clashed, he knew he didn’t stand a chance.

Chen Chuan had already returned to the convoy, and he immediately felt the Domain the opponent was projecting.

This Domain was different from the ones he had encountered before; it was filled with additional information. It was a display of martial prowess, and at the same time, an invitation to battle.

The opponent was making his intention clear: if Chen Chuan didn’t come out, he would charge in.

He instantly deduced, ’He’s here for me.’

And whether it was out of concern for the convoy’s safety or his own pursuit of martial combat, he would not refuse such a challenge.

He placed a hand on his Realm Token and said, "Advisor Yao, leave this person to me. Just be careful. They should have more people lying in ambush here. The moment I leave, they’ll likely appear."

Advisor Yao said gravely, "I understand. It’s my duty."

He paused, then chose to reveal a little more. "We have contingencies in place. As long as it’s no more than two people and not for too long, we should be able to handle it."

Chen Chuan ended the communication. Holding the Snow Monarch Blade, he walked out from the convoy and onto the wide road. Gusts of wind blew, causing the Esoteric Cloak he wore to sway constantly.

When Jian Chengsheng saw him emerge, his expression became incredibly solemn. With one hand gripping his blade and the other at his waist, he gave a deep, formal bow. "Langtao Hall, Jian Chengsheng. I ask for your guidance, Monarch Chen."

Chen Chuan slowly raised his hands, saluting with his blade. "Mr. Jian Cheng, I ask for your guidance."

It seemed a storm from the sea was affecting the area. The sky took on a grayish-blue hue, and heavy clouds pressed down as the wind grew ever stronger.

Hundreds of combatants faced off on both sides, yet the stretch of road left for the two of them was vast and empty, as if they were the only two people standing beneath the sky.

Jian Chengsheng took a step back, slowly drew his blade from his waist, and held it out in front of him.

Chen Chuan raised his Long Blade horizontally. With a light flick, the Sword Scabbard flew off, revealing the cold, imposing body of the Snow Monarch Blade. He gripped the blade with both hands, turned his body slightly, and held it beside his head, the tip angled down toward the ground.

His blade was much longer than his opponent’s, and he was also taller, giving him an advantage at a distance.

However, the outcome of a Third Limit battle was never decided by weapon length alone. Especially against someone with advanced techniques, a failed attack was an opportunity handed to the opponent.

This was particularly true when the opponent’s Domain was a hazy, indistinct expanse, making it impossible to perceive his true state. He clearly possessed extremely advanced Domain techniques, to the point where even if Chen Chuan fully released his own Domain, it would have little effect.

The men on both sides watched intently, all of them aware that the outcome of this battle would decide the fate of most people present.

After a moment’s standoff, Chen Chuan saw that Jian Chengsheng had no intention of striking first, clearly opting for a defensive counter-attack strategy. So, without ceremony, he took the initiative, striding forward and shifting his center of gravity to press the attack.

Jian Chengsheng focused on Chen Chuan. The latter’s Domain was also well-concealed, preventing him from discerning its true state, which made it impossible to formulate a targeted strategy.

But as a successor of Langtao Hall, he was long accustomed to sparring with his peers without relying on Domain information. And while one’s inner state could be hidden, one’s external actions could not.

The moment he saw Chen Chuan’s center of gravity shift, he immediately retreated. His speed almost perfectly matched Chen Chuan’s advance. In Langtao Hall, this was called the "Measuring Step"—adjusting one’s own movement in response to the opponent’s.

The core of all Langtao Hall techniques lay in "Shen," or spirit. In Dashun terms, the focus was on cultivating the Divine Constant and the Domain. ’Within the Domain, whether the enemy moves or is still, I perceive all.’

Chen Chuan watched him retreat. It looked as if the opponent was merely reacting to his movement, but in reality, he was moving a step ahead, as if he had predicted his actions.

This prediction was not only decisive and direct, but also extremely accurate. It wasn’t just combat experience; it was a technique he had never seen before. He was different from most opponents Chen Chuan had faced; he had never encountered a foe with this style.

He quickened his pace slightly. ’It doesn’t matter how the opponent fights. I just need to control my own rhythm. Even if he can match my pace, he can’t keep retreating forever.’

Besides, a battle ultimately came down to physical strength. A Fighter’s individual attributes were what decided everything.

As he continued to press forward, Jian Chengsheng continued to retreat. But after just a few more steps, Chen Chuan’s speed increased. Jian Chengsheng’s expression turned serious, and with a quick adjustment of his footwork, he actively met the charge.

Chen Chuan’s arm blurred as he thrust his blade forward. Jian Chengsheng swiftly parried it aside with both hands. Upon contact, Power surged from both sides, causing a brief pause before their Sword Stances rapidly changed again. They began to clash continuously, producing a seamless stream of ringing sounds.

Chen Chuan was the main aggressor, but every time he swung his blade, Jian Chengsheng would intercept it with precision. Not only that, but each parry landed perfectly on the easiest point to block.

As Jian Chengsheng performed these actions, he wasn’t consciously judging or analyzing how to strike. Instead, he emptied his mind, allowing the "shen" within to guide him, letting his body follow the blade.

This was the state of "The spirit knows, but I do not."

As long as his opponent showed no openings, all was well. But if they became impatient or their rhythm faltered in the slightest, he could unleash a divine strike at any moment. If the timing was right, he could end the fight instantly.

However, after their blades had clashed more than a dozen times, his mind suddenly tensed. In that instant, the hairs on his arms practically stood on end. He hurriedly executed two swift parries.

CLANG! CLANG! His blade trembling, he retreated while simultaneously channeling the force from the impact into his body, dissipating it as he moved.

The two abruptly separated, once again putting distance between them.

The spectators, however, couldn’t see their movements clearly at all. It felt as if they had only just engaged before immediately separating again.

A glint flashed in Chen Chuan’s eyes. During that last exchange, he had suddenly increased the force of his strike. A blow like that would have been difficult for even an Iron Demon to receive. Yet, Jian Chengsheng had not only intercepted his Sword Stance a step ahead but had also nullified the force through a combination of shifting Saber Techniques and body movement.

He could tell that this was a highly advanced dissipation technique. Not only was his body involved, but his blade was as well; every part of the process was executed to perfection. Setting aside physical strength, in terms of pure mastery and application of technique, Jian Chengsheng was clearly a cut above the Iron Demon in subtle variations.

However, the two of them walked different paths, and combat effectiveness couldn’t be judged so simply. Every fighter needed to play to their strengths while avoiding their weaknesses.

’In that case, the probing ends here.’

He raised his blade once more and took a deep breath. The layers of Mutated Organization in his body activated, his center of gravity dropped slightly, and the Domain around him began to expand. He then snapped his gaze up to Jian Chengsheng. Just as the latter’s expression shifted, the road beneath Chen Chuan’s feet shattered, and he vanished from the spot in an instant.

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