Celestial Human Diagram

Pan Xiaode and Qi Huixin both wielded thrusting swords. The lengths of their weapons differed to match their respective heights, and their fighting styles were also distinct.

Pan Xiaode’s style was direct and head-on, while Qi Huixin’s was quick and unorthodox. When they fought together, one would launch a frontal assault to pin down their opponent while the other circled around for a surprise attack. Their orthodox and unorthodox styles complemented each other perfectly, making them an exceptionally well-matched pair.

No matter how much he suppressed it, Chen Chuan’s current physical condition couldn’t possibly be reduced to the level of the Second Limit.

However, he had discovered that by using Spiritual Power as a guide, he could precisely coordinate his body, keeping his power output at whatever level he desired.

He could even consciously dampen his senses to a certain degree.

’He had always wondered about those who possessed immense power. The stronger they became, the greater their daily energy consumption must be. Just maintaining their basic physiological functions would likely require a huge intake of energy and nutrients, to say nothing of combat.’

’He had his Second Self to suppress his power, but how did others manage it?’

’Now he understood. Someone who knew how to wield Spiritual Power could set their own limits, maintaining their body at a specific tier of strength.’

But under these conditions, he wasn’t using his advantages in strength and speed. The only thing he could rely on now was his fighting skills.

’But even with his body adjusted to the same level as Pan and Qi, his experience remained. His fighting skills remained. His ability to read a battle hadn’t weakened in the slightest. Those things couldn’t be suppressed. Then again, when was a fight ever truly fair? In fact, this was probably the norm.’

With a casual flick of his hand, he parried Pan Xiaode’s incoming thrusting sword. Seizing the opportunity, the other fighter lunged forward with her own blade.

But at the very instant Pan made his move, Chen Chuan’s center of gravity had already shifted. It looked like he was about to retreat, but in a flash, he instead charged forward, dodging the incoming blade and closing the distance.

Qi Huixin, who was circling to his side, was thrown off by his feint. Her planned thrust was already halfway through its motion; if she continued, she would surely miss. She had no choice but to adjust and follow up, a maneuver that left her feeling awkward.

Once inside their guard, Chen Chuan reached out as if to grab Pan Xiaode’s wrist. Pan Xiaode retreated decisively, simultaneously flicking his sword upward in an attempt to slice Chen Chuan’s arm.

But as if he had predicted this, Chen Chuan suddenly slapped his palm sideways, striking the flat of the blade a step ahead. At the same time, he slightly raised his other elbow. Pan Xiaode, startled and sensing an attack aimed at his face, immediately leaned back to dodge.

Chen Chuan, however, ducked and charged through the opening Pan Xiaode had created. He used Pan Xiaode’s body to block Qi Huixin, who was circling behind him, preventing her from delivering her well-adjusted thrust.

For the rest of the fight, no matter what they tried, he always managed to face just one of them at a time, preventing them from surrounding him.

In truth, if either of them faced him alone—even with their physical abilities matched—he could defeat them bare-handed in just two or three moves. But armed with weapons and coordinating with each other, they were able to hold their own against his current self.

The two of them seemed to share one mind, their coordination was so seamless. They were performing at the absolute peak of their abilities.

Tan Zhi had left the first-floor hall to them and was watching from the second-floor balcony. From his vantage point, all three fighters were in constant motion.

Pan and Qi desperately tried to gain an advantageous position, either to surround Chen Chuan or force him into a corner, but he always managed to slip out of their encirclement before it could close.

If the pair tried to retreat and regroup, Chen Chuan would immediately press his attack on one of them. This forced the other to come to their partner’s rescue, making them lose the initiative. This scenario repeated itself over and over, as Chen Chuan masterfully controlled the flow of the battle.

It wasn’t that Pan and Qi hadn’t thought of using this to bait Chen Chuan into a trap, but after he saw through their attempts several times, they had no choice but to go back to earnestly fighting for the initiative and looking for a real opening.

Tan Zhi could follow the fight clearly. He couldn’t help but wonder, ’If I had joined them just now, what would have been different? Would we have had a chance to win?’

He immediately shook his head. ’Better not. I know my own limits. I have no coordination with those two. If I jumped in, I’d just get in the way. I’d probably be the weak link they break through.’

’Watching like this is much better. I can learn a lot and save my energy.’

The fight continued for over an hour before finally stopping when Pan and Qi voluntarily conceded.

Although it wasn’t a long time, they felt utterly drained. The greatest toll wasn’t on their stamina, but on their minds. They had to constantly focus on their coordination and think one, even two steps ahead. In that short sparring session, they felt a weariness they hadn’t experienced in a long time.

They had initially thought that if their physical abilities were matched, they’d have at least some chance of winning. But Chen Chuan exploited their openings and flaws with every move. It made them realize the gap between them and him wasn’t just physical—it was a comprehensive difference in perception, judgment, and experience.

Fortunately, the exchanges were all within their ability to comprehend. They felt they had learned more in that one hour of sparring than in the entire past year. Once they returned, reviewed the fight, and properly digested the lessons, they were sure to make significant progress.

Pan Xiaode was thrilled. He thanked him sincerely, "Chen, thank you so much." Qi Huixin nodded in agreement.

Chen Chuan smiled. "It was nothing."

Tan Zhi applauded from the balcony. "Alright, alright, everyone take a break. Have something to drink." He came down with a few sports drinks and handed them to the three fighters.

After the three of them settled back onto the sofa, he brought out a deck of cards. "The opera starts at three this afternoon, but we need to get there early. You can all have lunch here. After we eat, we’ll play a few hands and then head to the theater."

Pan Xiaode asked, "What’s the name of this opera again?"

"The original name is foreign and hard to remember. It translates to *Desolate Domain Divine Song*."

"Right, that’s the one. I’ve heard about it so many times but have never seen it. What’s the story about?"

Tan Zhi said, "It’s supposedly a true story of love and revenge from Nordland."

He went on to explain the plot. It was set in the era of the Nordland Kingdom, where a down-and-out knight, resting in a wilderness cave, discovered an ancient, handed-down divine poem.

The Knight immediately recognized that it concealed the fighting techniques of an ancient hero. Overjoyed, he returned and presented his findings to the King.

However, the Court Sword Master and several high-ranking nobles saw nothing of the sort. To them, it was just an ordinary scroll of poetry, so they declared the Knight a fraud.

The King was furious. He had the Down-and-out Knight’s limbs broken with stones and had him abandoned in the wilderness. But he was found and nursed back to health by a kind, mute Shepherdess.

The Down-and-out Knight refused to give up. Through great effort, he set the divine poem to music and sang it by the roadside every day, hoping that passing nobles and merchants might understand its true meaning.

But no one understood. They mocked him. Then, after days and days of singing, his song was heard by the passing daughter of a minor noble, and she was able to discern the heroic fighting techniques hidden within the music.

The noblewoman then approached the Down-and-out Knight. Moved by his spirit, she promised she would fulfill his long-cherished wish for him.

After learning all the stanzas she could decipher from him, the noblewoman went to the Royal Court alone. With her martial prowess, she earned herself a title and brought great glory to her family.

But once her power was established, the noblewoman’s heart changed. She no longer wanted anyone else to possess such skills, so she dispatched assassins to kill the Down-and-out Knight.

What she didn’t know, however, was that the Shepherdess who had been caring for the Knight, though unable to sing, had silently learned all the stanzas. When the assassins came, she captured them and forced them to reveal their purpose. The Knight, filled with rage and gratitude for the Shepherdess, sang the final stanza for her.

The Shepherdess then donned the tattered knight’s armor, took up a rusty spear, and charged into the King’s palace. There, the two women engaged in a ferocious battle that nearly tore the Royal Court asunder.

*Desolate Domain Divine Song* is considered a classic. Furthermore, when it’s performed, the roles of the hero and villain are played by actual Fighters who have been selected from a pool of thousands of competitors.

To be honest, the opera itself wasn’t the main draw for them. What they were truly looking forward to was the combat between the Fighters. The opera’s real selling point was the claim that its songs were the very same ones from the original story—a score bestowed by the gods.

The entire opera consists of thirteen stanzas, each featuring a Divine Song. It’s said that throughout history, more than a few masters have glimpsed secrets within the music and gained great inspiration.

To this day, however, no one has ever managed to decipher the complete, true meaning of the songs. But this mystery only makes it more alluring, not just to Fighters, but to ordinary people as well. After all, everyone harbors a secret dream—’What if I’m the one who can finally understand it?’

"A lot of government officials and corporate executives will be there this time," Tan Zhi said, playing a card. "We should head over early. If we’re late, we’ll definitely get stuck in traffic."

Pan Xiaode played a card to follow. "I hope it’s as amazing as they say."

Chen Chuan glanced at his hand, played a card, and said, "According to the program, both leads are Third Limit Fighters. That alone makes it worth seeing."

The others nodded in agreement. That was certainly true.

After a sumptuous lunch prepared by Tan Zhi, the four of them left and drove straight for Weiguang District.

This performance of the opera was being held at the Xi Hui Opera House, a venue that could seat three thousand people. It frequently hosted concerts and dance recitals, and its excellent acoustics also made it a popular choice for recording large-scale radio programs.

On the way there, the traffic was much heavier than usual. Advertisements on the surrounding skyscrapers all played promotions for *Desolate Domain Divine Song*, including musical excerpts that showcased the performers’ captivating voices.

Even with their early departure, the group didn’t arrive until nearly two o’clock.

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