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Chapter 572 A Grain of Light
Chapter 572 A Grain of Light
On the other four dueling platforms, the chief disciples of the four great grotto-heavens—Zhouhua, Yuyu, Chunyang, and Xuanyuan—all looked at Chen Beiwu with solemn expressions.
Having met Chen Beiwu once on the other side of the island and witnessed the defeat of Gu Yong, the chief of Taiyin Cave Heaven, they naturally wouldn't scoff at the recently much-discussed Immortal Alliance Prodigy Ranking like the other sects' prodigies.
On the contrary, the chiefs of the five major grotto heavens all regarded Chen Beiwu as a formidable enemy that they had to take seriously, and even believed that he could become the biggest dark horse in this year's grotto heaven competition and achieve the feat of defeating the chief of the grotto heavens.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have used so many resources to improve their strength in the shortest time, so as not to fail in the Cave Heaven Competition and cause the Cave Heaven behind them to lose face.
"Do you think Chen Beiwu will accept Gu Yong's challenge?" Che Zhengyuan asked telepathically.
"Now that things have come to this, Chen Beiwu cannot back down and refuse Gu Yong's challenge, otherwise he will surely become a disgrace to Yuqing." Shi Wujian pondered.
"That's excellent. With Gu Yong making the first move, it's a good opportunity to test Chen Beiwu's strength." Xuan Yuan Yu's divine sense couldn't hide his relief.
Among the five chief disciples of the Five Great Grotto Heavens, he valued Chen Beiwu the most and even took the initiative to befriend him.
"What, you think Gu Yong will lose?" Zhu Wu's eyes showed considerable surprise.
He acknowledged that Chen Beiwu's talent and wit were unparalleled, enough to transcend the gap of time and defeat the top master of the cave.
However, the reason why Gu Yong lost to Chen Beiwu last time was not due to a difference in aptitude, but rather a difference in their levels of understanding.
A difference of just one region can make all the difference.
Gu Yong, with his mid-Nascent Soul cultivation, was destined to fail against Chen Beiwu, who was in the late-Nascent Soul stage.
At that time, even Shi Wujian, the chief of the Zhouguang team, was not confident of defeating Chen Beiwu.
But the situation is different now. As fellow Nascent Soul Peak True Monarchs, Zhu Wu does not believe that the well-prepared Gu Yong will lose.
"Chen Beiwu is too calm. He couldn't be so composed without sufficient backing," Shi Wujian judged. "Gu Yong might be in for a tough time this time!"
Upon hearing this, Che Zhengyuan and Zhu Wu's eyes narrowed.
Shi Wujian's judgments were rarely wrong, but they also felt that Gu Yong was cautious by nature and had made thorough preparations, so he would definitely not lose to Chen Beiwu in front of everyone.
With this in mind, Che Zhengyuan and Zhu Wu pushed their divine senses to the limit.
They wanted to see just how Chen Beiwu would defeat Gu Yong.
At the same time, under the watchful eyes of the various sects' prodigies, Chen Beiwu let out a soft sigh.
Could it be that Chen Beiwu admits defeat and is about to concede?
Hearing the sigh, some of the top sect's prodigies couldn't help but frown slightly, their thoughts racing.
They knew that Chen Beiwu could not possibly win against the chief of Taiyin Cave Heaven. The reason they frowned was simply because if Chen Beiwu backed down and admitted defeat, they would miss the chance to witness the unparalleled magnificence of a peerless true lord.
"I've never been particularly interested in my subordinates' wasteful spending."
Chen Beiwu looked up at Gu Yong and said casually, "But since you are so eager to be defeated, then I will grant you a defeat."
These words caused an uproar, and discussions arose from all sides.
How dare the chief of Yuqing be so arrogant, treating the chief of Taiyin Cave Heaven as nothing? Could it be that the rumors are true, and Gu Yong really was defeated by Chen Beiwu?
"You?"
Gu Yong's eyes turned cold, and the True Monarch's aura emanating from his body grew even more vast, causing the geniuses present to feel a tightness in their hearts, their breathing to quicken, and to feel an extremely oppressive and terrifying aura.
"tread!"
"tread!"
"tread!"
Faced with the oppressive aura emanating from Gu Yong, Chen Beiwu remained unmoved, standing with his hands behind his back. He slowly stepped forward, his feet landing on the dueling platform, and did not speak again, seemingly disdainful of responding.
"Very well, I'd like to see what you're capable of, daring to display such verbal prowess!"
As soon as the referee announced the start, the Youming Xuanli on Gu Yong's shoulder flashed and transformed into a silver moonlight that melted into the sky above the contracted cultivator, unleashing the Demon King's Natal True Domain.
Gu Yong clasped his hands together and activated the Taiyin Profound Power [Thousand Seals and Myriad Splendors], intending to lock onto Chen Beiwu's aura as soon as possible in order to control the rhythm of the upcoming battle.
boom!
The next second, the world fell silent.
Chen Beiwu stood still, but the special aura emanating from the Three-Phase Mysterious Dragon on his body made Gu Yong's body stiffen, his eyes become dazed, and he instantly lost his six senses.
"With some low-level illusions, you dare to try and manipulate my six senses!"
Gu Yong activated the Taiyin Immortal Technique, causing his nascent soul to radiate light, and his eyes instantly regained their clarity.
However, after successfully breaking free from the illusion, Gu Yong showed no joy in his eyes, but rather felt a chill in his heart.
The reason was simple: under the suppression of a mysterious force, the power of the Dao Fruit within his body trembled continuously, emitting indescribable cries of anguish, and then instantly lost all sensation.
No, it's not just the power of the Dao Fruit!
At this moment, Gu Yong's pupils contracted, and he could vaguely see a world behind Chen Beiwu.
Within the heavens and earth, the sun rises and the moon sets, the Milky Way endures, reflecting a true dragon of primordial chaos, with black horns, nine luminaries hanging down, eyes containing primordial chaos, a belly hanging black and yellow, five claws and toes, and treading on divine thunder.
Under the gaze of this Primordial True Dragon, he was no longer a Nascent Soul Peak True Monarch, nor the Chief of Taiyin Cave Heaven, but a child who had never embarked on the path of cultivation, having lost all sense of true magic power, and could not even perceive the existence of the fellow beast Youming Xuanli.
What kind of mystical power is this?
It can even suppress the power of the Taiyin Fruit!
Gu Yong was able to become the chief of Taiyin Cave Heaven, so his will was naturally firm. Even when he discovered that he had become a mortal and had no magic power in his body, he did not retreat a single step.
"A mere illusion dares to shake my mind!"
Gu Yong roared, and the moonlight behind him surged, condensing into a silver toad. Then the jade toad dissipated, revealing a towering laurel tree, which unleashed the "Toad Palace and Laurel Tree" profound power, attempting to awaken the dormant power of the Dao Fruit within his body.
"tread!"
"tread!"
"tread!"
The next moment, under Gu Yong's gaze, Chen Beiwu slowly stepped forward and walked towards him.
"Even the light of a grain of rice dares to rival the brilliance of the moon!"
Hearing Chen Beiwu's condescending evaluation, Gu Yong's face twisted, and he felt extremely humiliated.
impossible!
He is the chief disciple of Taiyin Cave Heaven, a peerless genius whose rivals are hard to find in this era. How could he possibly lose!
"boom!"
The instant Chen Beiwu and Gu Yong passed each other, the "Toad Palace Steed" mystical power that erupted behind Gu Yong vanished like an illusion.
No, you can forget about it!
Gu Yong's knees trembled, and he gritted his teeth, trying to straighten his back.
But under the gaze of the Primordial Northern Emperor True Dragon, all resistance is futile.
Gu Yong's spine cracked and popped, and his left knee was the first to give way, hitting the ground with a dull thud.
Then his right knee also slammed down, leaving him kneeling on the dueling platform, unable to move.
At that moment, a gentle breeze blew, carrying a faint smell of blood.
Chen Beiwu stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent. His Jade Purity Daoist robe fluttered without wind. A few feet behind him, Gu Yong knelt on the ground, his back to Chen Beiwu, facing the void, his body completely still.
Faced with such a crushing defeat, Gu Yong was in a daze when a stunningly beautiful woman with flowing black hair and fair skin appeared in the void before him.
She wore a snow-white flowing fairy dress, and her appearance was so beautiful that it was beyond words, yet she exuded a transcendent aura that surpassed even that of a Nascent Soul True Monarch.
"How can a mere Chief of the Jade Purity Sect compare to the Holy Maiden of the Moon?" Gu Yong was filled with bewilderment.
There's no way to resist!
Despite having become stronger, he was utterly powerless against Chen Beiwu, and didn't even have a chance to use the Toad Palace Osmanthus Mystic Power to exchange one for one.
This incomparable despair was almost identical to that faced with the saint!
Upon realizing this, Gu Yong, whose Dao heart had collapsed, completely lost consciousness.
Upon seeing this scene, several True Lords watching from the stands stood up in unison, their eyes filled with disbelief.
The difference is so huge!
In front of Zhenwu Zhenjun, Gu Yongping, the chief of Taiyin Cave Heaven, was as weak as an ant. The two were simply not on the same level!
The chief has lost?
The cultivators of Taiyin Cave Heaven looked at each other, as if in a dream, finding it hard to accept the reality before them.
"This is impossible! How could the chief lose!"
A female cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage of the Taiyin Cave Heaven covered her lips, her eyes reddening, but none of her fellow disciples offered words of comfort, for these Taiyin cultivators were all caught in deep doubt.
The other four dueling platforms.
Shi Wujian, Che Zhengyuan, Xuanyuan Yu, and Zhu Wu all wore solemn expressions, their feelings a complex mix of emotions.
They can accept Gu Yong's defeat, but they cannot accept such a crushing defeat!
The reason is simple: the strength of the top masters of the five great grotto heavens is almost identical, with only a slight difference. According to the ranking of strength, Gu Yong could be ranked fourth, but even if Shi Wujian, the strongest, were to make a move, it would be impossible for him to defeat Gu Yong in just four or five breaths.
By the same token, even if the four of them went on stage to face Chen Beiwu, their fate wouldn't be much better than Gu Yong's.
"What kind of profound power is that?" Zhu Wu took a deep breath and looked at Shi Wujian, who had the broadest perspective.
"Having mastered the Primordial Immortal Arts and comprehended the Northern Emperor's Dao Edict, this child possesses remarkable talent."
On the highest level of the stands, Gu Qinghan, the Holy Maiden of Taiyin, sat in the Cloud Seat, a strange light flashing in her eyes.
His voice was not loud, but it was like the bright moonlight, clear and pure. His evaluation made the True Venerables of the Taiyin Cave Heaven on the left and right sides turn their heads slightly.
The middle-aged man to Gu Qinghan's left, with a calm and composed demeanor, seemed unremarkable among the many True Venerables, but in reality, he held a prestigious position and possessed unfathomable cultivation. He was the Vice Sect Master of Taiyin Cave Heaven, the "Moon-Picking True Venerable."
"This boy's talent is indeed remarkable; Gu Yong's defeat was not unjust." True Venerable Zhaiyue nodded slightly.
The "Primordial Cave True Azure Flower Controlling Myriad Calamities and Myriad Spirits Immortal Method" ranks third among the thirty-six Hunyuan Immortal Methods of Yuqing. Its power is unfathomable. Even in the Five Great Grotto Heavens, it is an unparalleled immortal method. It is extremely difficult to cultivate, and only one in ten thousand Immortal Alliance geniuses can comprehend it to the point of entry.
Chen Beiwu is only a little over 160 years old. His ability to comprehend the Primordial Immortal Technique to such a high degree is truly rare and comparable to that of a top-tier innate Daoist genius.
Although Gu Yong was the chief of Taiyin Cave Heaven, his talent was not outstanding among the chiefs of all time, let alone comparable to those with top-tier innate Dao bodies. Therefore, his defeat at the hands of Chen Beiwu was not a disgrace.
As for the issue of the Taiyin Cave Heaven's reputation, True Venerable Zhaiyue did not care too much about it.
There are no invincible geniuses in this world. If Gu Yong's defeat can help the disciples of Taiyin Cave Heaven to shed their arrogance and cultivate steadily, it would be a good thing.
Furthermore, Chen Beiwu was also mindful of appearances and did not make Gu Yong kneel before him, thus lest he humiliate the Taiyin Cave Heaven. Instead, he made Gu Yong kneel towards the void. As a result, True Venerable Zhaiyue, being a Nascent Soul True Venerable, could not make a big deal out of it and intervene.
Because one's cultivation has reached the level of a Nascent Soul True Venerable, every action one takes involves numerous causes and effects, and is constantly watched by the various Nascent Soul powerhouses of the Immortal Alliance.
The outcome of a single grand competition in the grotto-heavens wouldn't be enough to make True Venerable Zhaiyue lose face and become a laughingstock.
After all, no matter how strong Chen Beiwu's aptitude is, can he be stronger than Gu Qinghan, the Holy Maiden of Taiyin?
It should be noted that the Holy Maiden's Dao Fruit, supernatural powers, cultivation level, and foundation have long surpassed the scope of a Nascent Soul True Monarch, and are almost no different from a Divine Transformation True Venerable.
Unfortunately, the two sides were not from the same era. Even though the Holy Maiden defeated Chen Beiwu with the Taiyin Nine Body Technique, it was still bullying the weak and ultimately benefiting the latter.
"This child is suited for the Taiyin Grotto-heaven," Gu Qinghan said.
"The Jade Purity Immortal Sect will never release them." True Venerable Zhaiyue calmly shook his head.
Unless the higher-ups of the Jade Purity Immortal Sect all acted foolishly, how could they possibly allow such a prodigy to transfer to the Taiyin Cave Heaven?
"There's no harm in giving it a try," Gu Qinghan said in a cool voice.
Most of the Immortal Alliance's prodigies are mediocre, and very few cultivators can arouse her interest. Chen Beiwu is one of them.
"Could it be that you, Holy Maiden, intend to subdue him?" True Venerable Zhaiyue raised his eyes slightly, showing interest.
"Well, after the Cave Heaven Competition ends, to be fair, I will only use one of my late-stage Nascent Soul clones to fight him. At that time, he will understand what the right choice is."
Gu Qinghan's eyes reflected Chen Beiwu's figure on the stage, her tone expectant.
fair?"
The True Venerable Zhaiyue remained expressionless, as if he had expected it, while the other two True Venerables of the Nascent Soul stage frowned slightly.
Where is the fairness in this?!
The Holy Maiden's Taiyin Nine Bodies are profound and unpredictable. Even a late-stage Nascent Soul avatar can be empowered by the Taiyin Nine Bodies, making its combat strength no less than that of a half-step Nascent Soul cultivator. It can even briefly exchange blows with a Nascent Soul True Venerable by relying on its immortal techniques.
"No!" The two Nascent Soul cultivators simultaneously advised against it.
If Taiyin Cave Heaven had won this Cave Heaven Competition, that would have been fine, but the Holy Maiden's intervention could be seen as guidance for the younger generation.
Once Chen Beiwu, representing the Jade Purity Immortal Sect, defeats the chief disciples of the five great grotto heavens and wins the championship, it would be suspicious if the Holy Maiden were to intervene again, as it might be seen as the Taiyin Grotto Heaven being unable to accept defeat. At that time, the Nascent Soul stage cultivators of the Jade Purity Immortal Sect would likely intervene directly to stop the Holy Maiden.
Dissuasion failed him, and Gu Qinghan's interest slowly faded: "Fine, then I'll wait a little longer."
On the other side, on the dueling platform, Chen Beiwu stood with his hands behind his back, and the entire arena was silent, with no one stepping up to challenge him.
With Gu Yong's disastrous defeat as a precedent, some of the most talented immortal sects were willing to risk choosing the top experts of the other four great grotto heavens as their opponents rather than directly confront Chen Beiwu.
Upon realizing this, Chen Beiwu was quite puzzled: "How could it be so weak?"
With the sect leader's words of reminder, Chen Beiwu believed that he would definitely win and take first place in the Cave Heaven Grand Competition, but he would still need to put in some effort to defeat the Cave Heaven Chief.
To be on the safe side, he immediately summoned the Northern Emperor's Decree to avoid being too slow and failing to contain the legendary power of the Dao Fruit.
As a result, as soon as the Northern Emperor's decree was issued, Gu Yong immediately knelt down, and the golden egg didn't even have a chance to display its divine power.
Perhaps it wasn't that Gu Yong was too weak, but rather that the Northern Emperor's Dao Edict, who had mastered the immortal arts, was too powerful!
Chen Beiwu's mind stirred slightly, and he looked at Shi Wujian and the other three.