From the fake emperor to the concubine

Zhang Yunfan's heavy, broad sword, imbued with the force of wind and thunder, slammed fiercely into the remaining lower half of the yin-yang cultivator's body.

The target had completely lost its life force and was powerless to resist.

The unprotected mangled body, struck by the greatsword infused with Zhang Yunfan's full power, was like a fragile husk filled with blood plasma. It was instantly flattened and shattered, turning into a pool of sticky, scarlet flesh that was deeply embedded in the ground!

On the surface, Zhang Yunfan's subsequent attack seemed to be nothing more than a lucky break, landing on a corpse that had already lost its life.

The moment Di Hu swung his sword to attack, the effeminate cultivator had already been completely annihilated by Zhuo Liqun's halberd, which contained the true meaning of the "No Thought Strike" technique, with the force of thunder!

However, in that fleeting, almost impossible-to-capture moment of intersection.

All the skilled and discerning experts could see it clearly.

Just as the sinister wind from the yin cultivator was about to reach him, Zhang Yunfan's sword strike, which also contained the true essence of the martial arts of "Strike Without Thought," actually managed to block the insidious attack from the Foundation Establishment cultivator for a moment.

Although it was extremely brief, it did indeed block the light!

After Zhuo Liqun swiftly killed the Yin-Yang cultivator, Zhang Yunfan's attack followed closely, ultimately striking only a lifeless, mangled corpse.

Even so, that brief moment of obstruction was enough to send shockwaves through the hearts of all the experts who witnessed it, leaving them utterly astonished.

Although the strength of the Yin-Yang cultivators was not very good in their eyes, they could even be considered to be at the bottom level of the Foundation Establishment stage.

But he was, after all, a genuine Foundation Establishment cultivator.

The Qi Refining stage and the Foundation Establishment stage may seem to differ by only one realm, but the gap between them is like an insurmountable chasm, a qualitative change in the level of life.

Although cultivators in the Qi Refining stage can utilize spiritual power, they have not yet undergone a complete transformation in essence, and are only roughly stronger than top martial arts masters in the secular world.

Strictly speaking, he has not yet truly stepped into the core threshold of the cultivation world.

Even the weakest Foundation Establishment stage cultivator has completed a life leap, condensed and liquefied spiritual energy, and truly stepped into the hall of cultivation!

The two sides are fundamentally different in terms of their levels of power.

This distance is like a gifted, strong child facing a powerful adult strongman in his prime.

Even if this toddler possesses astonishing potential, his little fist, thrown with all his might, cannot truly shake the strongman in the slightest.

The strongman only needs to throw a punch casually, and the power contained within is enough to send that child to meet the King of Hell.

No matter how much a young child struggles and resists, it is all in vain in the face of an absolute power imbalance.

But what is the situation now?
Zhang Yunfan, a Qi Refining cultivator who looked like a child, actually managed to block the angry attack of the Yin-Yang cultivator, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, in an instant, relying solely on his own strength and the martial arts essence he had imitated!
Even if it's just for a fleeting moment.

This is equivalent to an ordinary person using their flesh and blood to move a mountain thousands of feet high by just a few inches.

In the common knowledge of the cultivation world, this is almost an impossible miracle that defies understanding!
After the yin-yang cultivator was instantly killed by the two, turning into a shocking pile of minced meat on the ground.

The entire scene fell into a deathly silence.

Immediately afterwards, a chorus of gasps and gasps arose.

Those true masters were shocked by Zhang Yunfan's heaven-defying martial arts comprehension and the terrifying potential he displayed that transcended his realm!
Meanwhile, the weaker cultivators finally realized, belatedly, the unfathomable power of Zhuo Liqun!

Even the weakest Foundation Establishment cultivator couldn't withstand a single attack from Zhuo Liqun after he suppressed his cultivation level, and was instantly killed!

In this light, those astonishing legends about Zhuo Liqun single-handedly fighting twenty evil cultivators of the same level... are probably... very likely true.

After killing that foolish, effeminate cultivator, Zhang Yunfan and Zhuo Liqun didn't even exchange a glance.

Their attention instantly refocused on each other, as if the previous incident had never happened, and they immediately resumed their fierce battle.

To them, killing a Foundation Establishment cultivator who launched a sneak attack was as easy as swatting a buzzing mosquito; it was not worth mentioning and had no impact on their duel whatsoever.

As soon as they started fighting again, Zhuo Liqun was astonished to find that Zhang Yunfan had become even more formidable.

Before killing that effeminate cultivator, this kid was almost completely suppressed by him, like dough that he could be molded and kneaded at will, giving him absolute control over the battle.

However, after being interrupted by the yin-yang cultivator and pausing for a short while, Zhang Yunfan's martial arts level and understanding of combat immediately reached a new level.

This kid actually learned the vortex deflection technique he used to defend and distract Zhang Yunfan's attacks.

Similarly, he tried to use the trajectory of sword moves and the subtle operation of spiritual power to form a small, somewhat clumsy defensive vortex in front of himself.

Although compared to Zhuo Liqun's smooth, unfathomable vortex, Zhang Yunfan's hastily learned skills seemed very stiff, with obvious sluggishness in their operation.

However, it was very effective in allowing him to stabilize his center of gravity and rhythm, so that he would not be completely trapped in the attack net woven by Zhuo Liqun as before.

"Good lad!" Zhuo Liqun's eyes flashed with undisguised amazement: "You've actually learned my moves again. It seems I'll have to be extra careful and attentive when I fight you in the future!"

"Otherwise, you'd probably have to learn all my hidden skills!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yunfan could only awkwardly twitch the corners of his mouth and reveal a simple, honest smile.

Zhang Yunfan himself didn't know how to explain this ability; it seemed as if he was born with it.

Indeed, he benefited greatly from this special ability in his past experiences and resolved many crises.

Zhang Yunfan had originally hoped that with his unique talent, diligent practice, and mastery of various schools of thought, he could easily soar to the top and become one of the top experts in the cultivation world.

Unfortunately, ideals are often grand, but reality is often harsh.

No matter how many exquisite moves and spells he can remember, or how hard he tries to integrate that knowledge.

For some reason, it was as if a terrifying monster that was never satisfied lived inside him, a bottomless pit with no end in sight.

No matter how hard he cultivated, how much spiritual energy he absorbed, or how many elixirs he took, the spiritual power he painstakingly acquired seemed unable to be effectively accumulated and used to improve his core cultivation level.

If Zhang Yunfan hadn't possessed an innately open-minded and optimistic attitude, he might have long since given up on cultivation due to this bizarre predicament. Although his martial arts comprehension and talent were nothing short of monstrous, Zhang Yunfan's actual cultivation level was only at the Qi Refining stage, and his raw strength was what it was.

No matter how hard he tried, he gradually felt powerless under Zhuo Liqun's relentless offensive, which was like an endless tide.

At the beginning, we managed to resist with great effort and cope.

Later on, things became increasingly difficult, but they persevered.

Tiny cuts from the halberd wind began to appear on his body, and these cuts increased and deepened as his physical strength and spiritual energy were severely depleted.

With the balance shifting, Zhang Yunfan's situation became increasingly difficult and perilous, like a small boat that could capsize at any moment in a storm.

Now that things have come to this, even those onlookers with average eyesight can see it clearly.

This time, Zhang Yunfan is probably really about to give up.

Even if Zhuo Liqun intentionally held back and showed mercy, Zhang Yunfan, with his Qi Refining stage cultivation, was able to persist in fighting under such immense martial arts pressure until now.

Its performance has far exceeded many people's expectations.

Many people hid in the crowd, secretly gloating, with all sorts of thoughts swirling within them.

"Hmph, so what if your talent and comprehension are frighteningly high? If you lack luck and destiny, you will never truly grow. You'll just be a flash in the pan."

"That's good too, it saves me the trouble of having to figure it out myself later."

"This kid has such extraordinary talent, it's a real shame he's going to die here today..."

As for Zhang Yunfan, who was at the center of the storm, his mind was already in a state of chaos, unable to hold any distracting thoughts, and even the pain was blurred.

He mechanically dodged and desperately resisted Zhuo Liqun's relentless attacks, which were like a persistent thorn in his side, relying only on his most primal instincts!

With each block and each dodge, he could feel with absolute clarity that he had reached his absolute physical and mental limits!

His physical strength was completely exhausted, and there was not a drop of spiritual energy left in his meridians. Every movement was a desperate attempt to squeeze out the last bit of potential deep in his body, accompanied by the pain of torn muscles and dried-up veins.

Many times, during those brief moments of respite between attacks, Zhang Yunfan himself felt that this time he really couldn't go on and couldn't hold on any longer.

But when Zhuo Liqun's attack, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, struck again, it was too late.

Despite his utter exhaustion, his body seemed to always be able to squeeze out a tiny bit of strength from some unknown corner, supporting him to persevere one more time, to dodge or block that fatal blow.

At this moment, Zhang Yunfan's mind was already filled with endless fatigue and fighting instincts, leaving only one thought that was deeply imprinted on his mind, flashing wildly.

Block this attack!
Block another attack!
He seemed to have completely transformed into a programmed, emotionless machine that would continue to operate tirelessly and relentlessly until its last bit of energy was burned out, before its parts completely broke down and fell apart.

All of his almost self-torturing persistence and effort was seen by Zheng Yi, who resided deep within his sea of ​​consciousness.

Previously, Zheng Yi might have just thought that this kid had a decent temperament and aptitude, and was a promising talent.

But now that I have witnessed his performance in dire straits, Zhang Yunfan is absolutely an outstanding and rare individual, regardless of his tenacious mind, extraordinary talent, or unwavering will.

With Zhang Yunfan's temperament and perseverance.

If he were to enter politics, in a peaceful and prosperous era, he would definitely have the potential to become a pillar of the nation, second only to the emperor.

If one were born in a chaotic era, it would not be impossible to establish a new dynasty!
If he were to join the military, with his comprehension and resilience displayed in battle, he would surely become a renowned general who would go down in history and be awe-inspiring throughout the world!

No matter which path he chooses, he will surely surpass his peers and reach the top!
"This disciple... I'll take him!"

Zheng Yi's initial plan was simply to have Zhang Yunfan join the Zheng family, thus providing some support for his adopted descendants.

After all, based on what he had observed before, he couldn't find a single one among his adopted descendants who was more outstanding than Zhang Yunfan.

Not to mention, after a thorough observation and testing, the boy's excellence far exceeded his expectations in every aspect.

Zhang Yunfan's stubbornness and potential reminded Zheng Yi of his other nominal apprentice, Bai Zhirui.

Whether in terms of temperament, comprehension, or the potential to erupt in dire straits, Bai Zhirui is probably far inferior to this young man in front of her.

"Boy!" Zheng Yi's voice, carrying the majesty of an emperor, suddenly rang out in Zhang Yunfan's nearly exhausted sea of ​​consciousness, crystal clear: "Become my disciple! I can help you overcome your current predicament!"

Zhang Yunfan, who was struggling to withstand another wave of Zhuo Liqun's fierce attacks, suddenly felt a surge of energy.

However, a bitter feeling welled up in his heart immediately, and he replied with a wry smile in his mind: "Senior, I appreciate your kindness, and I am very grateful."

"I believe that with your extraordinary cultivation, as long as you are willing to lend a helping hand, Brother Zhuo will definitely be no match for you."

“However,” Zhang Yunfan’s tone became extremely firm, with an undeniable resolve, “the battle between Brother Zhuo and me is a fair and square gentleman’s fight!”

"Even if I, Zhang Yunfan, die in battle today, I will never rely on your help to tarnish this fair fight!"

"However, it will be difficult for you, senior, to find another body to which my consciousness can reside after I die and my soul dissipates."

The two communicated telepathically within Zhang Yunfan's sea of ​​consciousness, at a speed as fast as lightning.

Although he seemed to have said a lot, in reality, only a moment had passed, and Zhuo Liqun's halberd still slashed down with the force of wind and thunder!

Instead of being annoyed by Zhang Yunfan's refusal, Zheng Yi burst into hearty laughter: "Hahaha! Do you think I don't know how stubborn you are? Don't worry, I will never interfere in your battle."

His tone was firm, with a hint of arrogance: "I will let you use your own strength to defeat that stubborn fool who is just as inflexible as you!"

Although Zheng Yi didn't dislike straightforward people like Zhang Yunfan and Zhuo Liqun, in his eyes, the so-called morality these two guys upheld seemed somewhat foolish and inflexible.

As a cultivator, to be completely incapable of assessing the situation—what is that if not stupidity? (End of Chapter)