Chapter 108: Awe

Outside Zhang Mingshi, a tortoise and a snake coiled together, yin and yang interacted. Its presence was towering, its aura imposing, lofty and unattainable—it was the Black Tortoise!

“Profound Darkness, that is the Black Tortoise! This ‘Profound Darkness Heart’ means—the heart of the Black Tortoise!”

“Indeed, it is the Black Tortoise! No wonder it could trigger the superior phenomenon of ‘the sky falling and the earth splitting’! Such a phenomenon is extremely rare…” Someone exclaimed in admiration, their face filled with utter astonishment.

“The form of the Black Tortoise? No wonder I felt an impulse to prostrate myself in worship… this is the likeness of a deity!” Someone realized, endlessly amazed.

“This conception is truly unique, a masterpiece of divine skill!” A knowledgeable person clapped and praised generously. “Ordinary Dao Transformation Armaments, with synchronized attributes and harmonious auras, are already rare top-tier items. But this Armed Equipment is exceptional. It intertwined the seemingly unrelated serpent-form Armed Equipment with the Whirl Turtle bloodline, harmonizing yin and yang to manifest the true martial visage!”

The speaker was elderly and seemed to be a person of high status and keen insight. His words drew agreement from the others.

“Not only that!” The old man’s eyes shone like torches as he continued. “Can you see? What this Profound Darkness Heart incites is the even rarer Bloodline Resonance, not Battle Aura enhancement. In terms of effect, the Conceptual Realm of ‘Bloodline Resonance’ is a hundred times higher than that of ‘Battle Aura enhancement’!”

With this reminder, everyone’s expressions turned fervent!

It was well known that Bloodline Resonance Armed Equipment had a special effect: subtly tempering the bloodline. Wearing such equipment meant earlier awakening and faster growth of Bloodline Abilities, even potential derivation of entirely new Bloodline Abilities!

“Young Nephew Zhang did not boast,” the old man declared decisively. “This ‘Profound Darkness Heart’ was indeed tailor-made for the Zhang Family bloodline!”

“Elder Zhu’s words hit the mark!”

“I wonder, which master’s masterpiece is this ‘Profound Darkness Heart’?”

“Patriarch Zhang, hiding and concealing isn’t a good habit…”

Some probed indirectly, others applied subtle pressure. Countless greedy eyeballs swiveled towards Yan He, their ravenous looks as if they wanted to devour him whole.

It must be understood, Bloodline Resonance Armed Equipment might not appear for years, even over a decade!

Although it was only a first-tier Armed Equipment, which scion wouldn’t dream of having one?

“Fortunately, I wasn’t the one to step forward as a target!” Li Yi thought to himself, sweating for Yan He.

Zhang Mingshi pretended to be calm, while Zhang Zhen didn’t bother to hide it, grinning so widely his mouth couldn’t close.

Zhang Zhen’s peripheral gaze seemed to drift casually over the crowd, but Li Yi felt it lingered on him a bit longer, faintly conveying encouragement and approval.

“It seems Zhang Zhen knows I designed this Armed Equipment,” Li Yi pretended to notice nothing, thinking to himself.

The crowd below clamored with excitement. Only Zhou Xun and his group looked ashen-faced, appearing isolated and alone.

Also looking grim were Li Jucheng and his son, Li Heng.

Especially Li Heng. Moments ago, he was in the limelight, but now, the sensation caused by the Profound Darkness Heart was more than tenfold his!

“The phenomenon is certainly miraculous, but it’s not actual combat strength…” Li Jucheng’s eyes shifted. Stroking his chin, he suggested, “Seeing everyone’s high spirits, why not let the two youngsters exchange a few moves? It would let everyone see clearly…”

Below the stage, many wore mocking expressions, sighing inwardly that the “scheming” Li Family truly had thick skin, refusing to admit defeat.

Even without other effects, just the Bloodline Resonance alone made this Armed Equipment stronger than his “Soul-Shaking Brand” by who knew how many times!

Bloodline Ability was the peak attribute, also the hardest to grow, and the cornerstone of a strong individual.

“Mingshi, what do you say?” Zhang Zhen’s eyes turned cold as he turned to ask.

“Since Uncle Li is in such a mood, then Mingshi naturally is happy to oblige!” Zhang Mingshi smiled faintly, his words carrying a sharp edge.

“Good, worthy of being my son!” Zhang Zhen laughed heartily.

Two tall, straight figures stood facing each other from a distance.

On one side was Li Heng with a venomous expression.

On the other was Zhang Mingshi, calm and composed.

“Putting on a false front. Let’s see how I tear off your mask!”

With a vicious laugh, Li Heng strode forward like the wind, dragging his sword. On the blade faintly appeared countless twisted spectral skulls. The sound of resentment, mixed with wails, caused sand and stones to fly and the heavens and earth to shake!

“Take this—Dirge Slash!”

The sword circled and whirled, its strike fierce and violent. Countless skeletal heads roared and surged along the blade’s surface, their spiteful sound enough to disorder one’s heartbeat and reverse the flow of blood and qi!

Simultaneously, a river of vengeful spirits flowed along the sword’s momentum, winding and twisting. The deathly aura of the Yellow Springs pressed forward step by step!

“Impressive…” Li Yi sighed inwardly.

The Resentful River Battle Aura, the Soul-Shaking Brand, combined with this battle skill “Dirge Slash”—it formed a tight, interlocking sequence, each enhancing the other, its power growing again and again!

“Well met! Crescent Moon Arc Slash!”

Zhang Mingshi roared. Battle Aura surged from his entire body, a clear, beautiful moon arc shining, faintly tinged with a deep, mountain-like duskiness.

“Hmm? What’s going on?” Someone noticed something amiss. “Water-element Battle Aura is known for its flowing flexibility, clever changes, and lightness. But why is Zhang Mingshi’s Battle Aura so sluggish and stagnant, even seeming aged?”

“Could it be that while it fits his bloodline, it doesn’t harmonize with his Battle Aura? If that’s the case, then it’s somewhat…”

The expressions of the crowd turned doubtful.

“As expected, just an impressive facade after all!” With the turn of events, Li Jucheng’s long eyebrows lifted slightly, his face full of smugness.

The two battle skills collided. Air waves formed vortices, gales surged forth. What unfolded next left everyone dumbfounded.

Logically, Zhang Mingshi lost the initiative, and his Battle Aura flow was a step slower, so he should be at a disadvantage.

But the scene before them showed Li Heng’s figure staggering back, while Zhang Mingshi stood firm in his place. The superior one was clear at a glance.

Li Heng looked shocked. Zhang Mingshi looked down at his own sword tip, lost in thought.

Suddenly, he revealed a fox-like smile.

“I think I understand a little…”

Waves seemed to form under his feet. Zhang Mingshi moved with wind at each step. A horizontal sweep, carrying raging winds and monstrous waves, surged forth—it was a sweep, not a slash!

Then, his moves left everyone completely stunned.

Abandoning the Zhang Family’s usual delicate flexibility, his fighting style became heavy chopping and hacking, crude and violent! That curved longsword in his hand was actually wielded like a mountain-splitting heavy axe, rampant and unhindered!

Bam!

And this seemingly disorderly method actually forced Li Heng to retreat step by step, utterly routed!

Now the crowd could see. Zhang Mingshi’s Battle Aura was exceptionally heavy and fierce, making Li Heng unable to meet it head-on.

“Huh? When did Zhang Mingshi take the path of using strength to overcome skill? This runs counter to the Zhang Family’s Moon River Battle Aura…”

Everyone was a bit slow to react.

At this moment, the old man called Elder Zhu had a flash of purple lightning pass through his eyes as he scrutinized carefully.

He actually also knew pupil techniques!

“Wait, within his Moon River Battle Aura, there’s a trace of ‘Heavy Water’ effect! Yes, absolutely no mistake! It’s Heavy Water!”

“Heavy Water?”

Hearing this, everyone was struck dumb with amazement.

Heavy Water was water condensed tenfold. In short, one strand of Battle Aura could have ten times the power!

Clearly, Zhang Mingshi’s cultivation was insufficient. That gratuitously added trace of “Heavy Water” attribute made it difficult for him to control, preventing agility and versatility. So he simply used overwhelming force to defeat ten skillful moves, using clumsiness to overcome skill.

One could imagine, if one day he mastered it fully, he would certainly combine “heaviness” and “agile change,” and his strength would increase dramatically!

“With this trace of ‘Heavy Water’ attribute, his Moon River Battle Aura is no longer of mid-grade quality, but of peerless quality! This Dao Transformation Armament can both achieve Bloodline Resonance and strengthen Battle Aura?”

This single sentence turned everyone, everyone, into greedy wolves!

Scalding gazes converged on Yan He once more. This time, it was with drawn swords and bent bows, with no pretense of noble manners left.

Some were already rolling up their sleeves, exposing their arms, walking straight forward.

“This unworthy one is Zhu Wen, once occupying the position of Imperial Minister of Revenue. Would this master be willing to visit my residence?”

The first to make a move was that old man surnamed Zhu. He was actually the Empire’s former Minister of Revenue!

“I am the Patriarch of the ‘Lone Star’ Qian Family. Could this master disclose your name?” Another person hurried forward.

Yan He hadn’t reacted yet, looking utterly bewildered and at a loss.

“Wait,” Zhang Zhen quickly intervened, putting a hand in front to shield Yan He. “This Yan He is the chief disciple of Master Wu Yi, and is already a guest elder of my Zhang Family!”

“Master Wu Yi has such a genius under him?”

“Patriarch Zhang, a guest elder can also hold multiple positions!”

The others wouldn’t agree, pressing relentlessly.

Everyone stared at Zhang Zhen with red-rimmed eyes. Even the two fighting fiercely couldn’t draw the slightest attention.

This “Profound Darkness Heart” was simply too astonishing!

Amid the Chaos, a fair-skinned, red-lipped youth grabbed Li Yi and whispered, “I’m Zhang Mingshi’s younger brother Zhang Tianjing. Hurry, come with me!”

“Zhang Tianjing?”