When Nie Li spoke, Chen Linjian and other onlookers couldn't help but burst into laughter.
If Chu Yuan had taken Nie Li seriously as an opponent from the beginning, he wouldn't have ended up in such a sorry state.
Chu Yuan was so arrogant that he kept his hands behind his back, allowing Nie Li three moves, yet he didn't even make it through one before he got knocked to the ground.
It was a painful lesson in humility.
Ye Ziyun glanced at Nie Li's harmless expression and couldn't help but giggle.
Nie Li was truly mischievous.
It took a while before Chu Yuan finally got up.
His face was ashen, muscles twitching with barely contained pain as the mocking laughter rang in his ears.
His eyes burned with cold, lethal intent.
"You asked for it. I'll kill you!"
Chu Yuan suddenly leaped up, launching a whipping kick toward Nie Li.
Normally, only after reaching Silver rank and taming a demon spirit could one cultivate martial arts techniques.
However, as a member of a prestigious family, Chu Yuan had learned a few martial arts basics, including this whip kick derived from the Chu family's Wind Whirl Kick.
The wind howled with the force of Chu Yuan's kick.
Nie Li, of course, wouldn't try to counter Chu Yuan with mere physical strength.
He shifted slightly, letting Chu Yuan's kick whistle past his face, then swiftly aimed a high kick at Chu Yuan's chin.
Although Nie Li's strength was inferior to Chu Yuan's, his precision in martial techniques and timing were superior, with his attacks strategically targeting blind spots.
Witnessing the scene, Chen Linjian raised an eyebrow.
This kid, Nie Li, was indeed a prodigy.
At just thirteen, he had grasped so much about runes and martial arts, executing moves that appeared simple yet were remarkably fierce and domineering.
If he were in Chu Yuan's place, he might not have reacted in time either.
Imagining how formidable Nie Li would become after reaching the Silver rank and merging with a demon spirit was beyond comprehension.
Chu Yuan suddenly lost sight of Nie Li, a chill running down his spine.
The next moment, a sharp pain exploded in his chin, sending him flying several meters before he crashed to the ground.
Silence blanketed the area; one could hear a pin drop.
"What just happened?"
Earlier, when Nie Li had taken down Chu Yuan with an elbow strike, everyone thought Chu Yuan had been too careless, allowing Nie Li to seize the advantage.
Surely, they believed if Chu Yuan focused, Nie Li wouldn't be his match.
Yet, against all expectations, even when Chu Yuan attacked, Nie Li floored him with a single move again.
If the first time could be chalked up to luck, two consecutive victories surely weren't mere coincidences.
Everyone stared in stunned disbelief at the youthful, slightly innocent face of Nie Li, who exuded an aura of sharpness and dominance unbefitting a mere thirteen-year-old.
Hu Yanruolan watched Nie Li's retreating figure, her bright eyes twinkling with an unusual brilliance.
"Seems I underestimated you, little brother!" Her enticing red lips parted slightly, teasingly.
Nie Li harbored too many secrets waiting to be uncovered.
Ye Ziyun was taken aback but quickly came to terms with it.
The Nine Transformations Ice Phoenix Art Nie Li taught her was far superior to any technique she'd seen.
Surely, Nie Li himself must have mastered even stronger techniques, making it seem plausible for him to challenge beyond his level.
Seeing Chu Yuan knocked back, Shen Yue clenched his fists so tight his nails dug into his flesh.
Nie Li was proving to be far more challenging than expected!
Being knocked down twice consecutively, Chu Yuan felt deeply humiliated.
A Bronze three-star demon spirit master, even his physical strength was at the Bronze one-star level, yet Nie Li hadn't even reached Bronze one-star!
He could sense Nie Li's strength was far weaker than his own.
Still, he lost, inexplicably and shamefully!
Chu Yuan glared at Nie Li, eyes bloodshot, as his Soul Realm surged and soul force burst forth.
Without merging with a demon spirit, soul force lacked substantial offensive means.
It could only be used to bombard an opponent's Soul Realm.
Chu Yuan's soul force had reached 376, not far from Bronze four-star.
Forcing all his soul force into Nie Li's Soul Realm could potentially blow it apart.
A shattered Soul Realm would forever sever Nie Li's ties with becoming a demon spirit master! Without a Soul Realm, soul force cannot be cultivated!
With Glory City always under demon beast threats, demon spirit masters generally stayed united, avoiding deadly conflict even in duels.
But Chu Yuan cared little for that now!
"Die!" Chu Yuan's eyes glowed with malice, a sinister smile spreading as he unleashed his soul force like a tidal wave toward Nie Li's Soul Realm.
"Chu Yuan, stop!" Hu Yanruolan's anxious voice rang out, aghast.
Chu Yuan meant to do serious harm.
If Nie Li's Soul Realm shattered, he'd be crippled!
Ye Ziyun also turned pale.
Despite her jesting words about letting Nie Li get beaten up, she was truly worried when he faced real danger, purely from a place of friendship.
Given Chu Yuan’s formidable soul force, crushing Nie Li should be easy!
Chen Linjian kept a steady gaze on Nie Li.
What would Nie Li do next? After all, Nie Li initiated the challenge with Chu Yuan; surely, he had some hidden trump card?
Everyone held their breath, eyes fixed on Nie Li.
Feeling the surging wave of soul force, Nie Li's eyes flashed coldly.
Previously, he'd overcome Shen Yue's soul force by using the point-to-break-the-surface technique, but against Chu Yuan, whose soul force was four times stronger, it might not work.
A Bronze three-star demon spirit master’s control over soul force was well beyond Shen Yue’s.
"If you want to blow apart my Soul Realm, then bring it on!" Nie Li snorted.
Opportunities often come disguised as crises.
As Chu Yuan's soul force battered against Nie Li's Soul Realm, he employed the Heavenly Dao Divine Technique, fervently mending the tears to prevent a catastrophic collapse.
Despite having past life experiences, Nie Li was only beginning his journey with soul force, his Soul Realm still too small to handle such torrents, fracturing under the strain.
The searing pain nearly drained the color from Nie Li's face.
The agony of a fractured Soul Realm isn't something ordinary people endure.
Nie Li continuously chanted the Heavenly Dao Divine Technique, mobilizing soul force to repair every fissure, averting a devastating explosion.
Seeing Nie Li’s pale face, beads of sweat pouring down, Chu Yuan reveled in joy, confident he’d found Nie Li’s weakness – his soul force was too feeble! Once more, Chu Yuan sent wave after wave of soul force into Nie Li's Soul Realm!
Explode!
Once Nie Li's Soul Realm exploded, he would be rendered useless!
Wave upon wave of soul force crashed into Nie Li's Soul Realm, inflating it amidst immense pain.
Each time it seemed on the brink of bursting, the Heavenly Dao Divine Technique allowed Nie Li to barely manage, enduring.
Fractured and mended, over and over.
Under this horror of torment, Nie Li's soul force gathered like streams, increasingly powerful.
"What's going on?" Chu Yuan frowned, noticing every time his soul force nearly burst Nie Li's Soul Realm, Nie Li somehow held on, compelling Chu Yuan to unleash more soul force.
Just a bit more, just a tiny bit more…
Yet, Chu Yuan reluctantly discovered his soul force nearing depletion, while Nie Li's Soul Realm didn't explode.
How could this be?
Why, after all his efforts, Nie Li's Soul Realm still refused to explode?
Though Nie Li remained in severe pain, clarity returned to his gaze.
As his Soul Realm expanded and strengthened, the intense pain slightly diminished.
Soul force, an elusive, invisible power, yet undeniably perceptible once cultivation began.
Legend says, soul force is a deity's gift!
Possessing mighty soul force lets one transcend human limits, advancing onto the path of ultimate strength.
Within everyone lies a Soul Realm, deep in the mind, growing vast through soul force cultivation.
When soul force far exceeds the Soul Realm's capacity, it risks bursting.
Yet this also presented an opportunity.
Instead of bursting, Chu Yuan's efforts helped expand Nie Li's Soul Realm, which now accommodated significantly more soul force.
"Now that you’re here, don’t think you’re leaving!" Nie Li’s eyes gleamed with divine light as his Soul Realm slowly sealed shut.
"Oh no!" Chu Yuan felt a tug on his soul force, face pale with fright as he quickly retracted his soul force.
What kind of genius was this guy? Generally, demon spirit masters learn to seal their Soul Realm starting from Silver or even Gold rank, enabling them to accommodate demon spirits.
Yet Nie Li, not even at Bronze rank, already knew how to seal his Soul Realm!
Once sealed, Chu Yuan’s soul force would be trapped within Nie Li, eventually absorbed and owned by Nie Li!
To see painstakingly cultivated soul force become another's was terrifying, leaving Chu Yuan petrified.
~~Dear siblings, the new book needs your support!!! (End of Chapter)