Chapter 164: Return

The gap in power between Styx and himself was clearly evident. But the psychological change made him happy.

‘Is this the Human Phase Realm of Nourishing Qi with Vast Righteousness?’

After being injured and confined to bed, although his physical condition declined, this period of quiet rest allowed Jiang Tianzheng’s mental cultivation to rise to another level. The moment he stepped onto the arena, cast aside life and death, honor, and faced the White Asura.

Decades of hard training finally bore fruit. With a body that had not yet reached the Grand Completion of Qi Training, he forcibly elevated his Power of Mind and Spirit to the Human Phase Realm.

In his perception, his mind was like a mirror-like lake, reflecting all of Styx’s hostility and intention to attack.

And it wasn’t just Styx. In his perception, there was a fiercely burning power, like the sun in the sky, watching from afar.

Two hundred meters away, the Crimson Sun Monk put down his teacup. Sensing something, a trace of regret flashed in his eyes: “What a pity.”

Styx looked at Jiang Tianzheng, whose aura had suddenly changed, with appreciation: “You are good. You actually achieved a mental breakthrough while fighting me. You are much stronger than these people.” But the next moment, a hint of regret appeared in his gaze: “A pity. If it weren’t for the matter with the Rakshasa, I would give you enough time to grow.”

“Hearing the Way in the morning, one can die content in the evening,” Jiang Tianzheng said calmly. “Let’s continue.”

“Alright.”

Before the words faded, Styx’s entire body dragged a series of afterimages and suddenly appeared in front of Jiang Tianzheng, hooking his foot towards the other’s knee.

Jiang Tianzheng’s legs twisted and shook, like super-strong rubber, directly deflecting Styx’s kick. Not only did he neutralize the attack, but he also took advantage of Styx’s unstable footing to throw a punch. Like a large spear, it carried the sound of wind and thunder, thrusting towards Styx’s chest.

Styx would not be defeated so easily. He blocked Jiang Tianzheng’s arm with one hand while his other hand descended from above like a guillotine, aiming to sever Jiang Tianzheng’s arm.

A sharp aura burst from Styx’s hands. Jiang Tianzheng’s eyes gleamed brilliantly, knowing he could not block it head-on. Instead of retreating, he moved closer, crashing into Styx’s embrace. The power within his body surged and rebounded continuously, like a rubber ball, countering Styx’s force.

A series of crackling explosive sounds rang out.

In close-quarters combat, within just a few seconds, their fists and palms clashed dozens if not hundreds of times. Jiang Tianzheng’s upper garment was completely torn to shreds. With the final punch, a loud crack sounded under Jiang Tianzheng’s feet, and a large hole split open in the arena. Both men exchanged a punch and retreated.

From start to finish, Styx relied on his superior physical prowess to press Jiang Tianzheng. Yet, Jiang Tianzheng, as if able to predict the attacks, perfectly deflected or countered each assault every time.

Like a piece of rubber, no matter how Styx struck, he could not inflict real damage.

The emptiness, roundness, awareness, and spirituality of Martial Arts were displayed to the fullest in Jiang Tianzheng at this moment.

This was also the boost brought by the Human Phase Realm of Nourishing Qi with Vast Righteousness. It allowed Jiang Tianzheng’s mind to reach a state infinitely close to absolute calm. In this absolute calm, he perceived the enemy’s malice and mindset, and from this tranquility, he anticipated the opponent’s moves.

As they say, wisdom arises from stillness. Jiang Tianzheng’s Power of Mind and Spirit was like a mirror, reflecting everything around him.

It could be said that while Zuo Zhicheng and the Crimson Sun Monk’s Power of Mind and Spirit were primarily for direct harm, what Jiang Tianzheng practiced, Nourishing Qi with Vast Righteousness, was for perceiving others.

At his current level, if he were given enough Spiritual Energy Food, or perhaps even Authentic Transmission Martial Arts that could connect the Innate Primordial Breath throughout his body, in a few months, he might not lose to Styx in a fight, and might even win.

But now, even though his realm had improved, the physical gap remained unavoidable.

Styx looked at Jiang Tianzheng and slowly drew the thin sword at his waist. His face carried a trace of regret, respect, and solemnity: “Your boxing skills and demeanor are sufficient to establish a school. To show my respect for you, I will use my strongest power to defeat you, and then kill you.”

“That is as it should be.”

Boom! As if a barrel of gunpowder had been ignited, Styx’s figure vanished in an instant. Countless silver lights blossomed on the arena like a meteor shower.

Ordinary vision could no longer track Styx’s shadow. Relying on the reflection of his Power of Mind and Spirit, Jiang Tianzheng could perceive Styx’s movements, but the physical disparity made it difficult for him to block all the attacks. Especially since his opponent was now using a weapon, making it harder to deflect and dodge compared to fists.

Shoop shoop shoop shoop! Blooms of blood flowers erupted on Jiang Tianzheng’s body. In moments, he was covered in blood, but his expression remained calm and serene.

The crowd below was stunned. The duel on the arena, Styx’s Martial Arts, far exceeded their imagination. His speed, in their eyes, was demonic, almost unbeatable.

The next moment, a new change occurred on the arena.

“It’s over…”

A sigh, and a burst of silver light blossomed on Jiang Tianzheng’s chest. Styx’s figure had already appeared at the edge of the arena.

In the eyes of the crowd below, there was now only despair and dejection.

“Did he lose?”

“How could anyone beat someone like that?”

“All these years of training Martial Arts, what use are they compared to him?”

On the other side, He Minghai watched the two on the arena with a complex expression. He wondered how many moves he could last under Styx’s full power if it were him.

“Jiang Tianzheng, truly worthy of his reputation,” he muttered to himself after a long thought. “But the Dìyù Gate… this is only a Soul-hooking Envoy. How powerful would the top Dharma King, or even the strongest and most mysterious Yama Holy Son be? What are we in their eyes?

And the Heavenly Dao Palace and Sumeru, who drove the Dìyù Gate to the New Continent… what are they like… Ah…” He let out a deep breath. Those ancient sects were far stronger than he had imagined. An indescribable sense of powerlessness enveloped his heart.

But on the other side, Styx’s eyes showed surprise. Jiang Tianzheng looked at his own chest, also showing a strange expression.

A long sword was floating in the air in front of his chest. It was this sword that blocked Styx’s attack at the last moment.

“A Flying Sword?”

At that moment, he suddenly turned around, looking warily towards the area below the arena. Behind where A Hai and the others stood, a man with an icy expression had appeared unnoticed.

‘What kind of monster is this?’ A murderous aura washed over him, making the air feel cold and thick. Styx even felt his breathing and consciousness beginning to blur: ‘This guy… just how many people has he killed?’

He looked at the four in front of him—A Hai and the others, who looked wary, tense, and fierce-eyed like wolves—and said lightly, “I heard you were looking for me?”

“I just came back.”

“Each of you leave one hand behind, then leave, and I’ll act as if nothing happened.”

“How about it?”

The killing intent was released and then withdrawn. The backs of the five were drenched in cold sweat. Yuwen, who had a gun, was so overwhelmed by the aura that he staggered back three steps and accidentally fell to the ground.