Immortal Path Space

Wang Hong stepped onto the Life and Death Platform, a platform raised a yard high, built from stacked earth and stones, reinforced with formations. A Light Screen-like Spiritual Energy shield enveloped it, preventing the dispersion of Spiritual Energy during combat, thus protecting the innocent.

In the audience below, there were about thirty to forty scattered seats, with only a handful of spectators.

Wang Hong leaped onto the high platform, where another cultivator, likely in their thirties or forties with mediocre talent, was already waiting. After exchanging names, Wang Hong, without hesitation, slapped two Gold Light Talismans on himself. He didn't summon any Magical Weapons but instead lifted a Long Spear, activated the Wind Control Technique, and charged towards Lin Dong.

Lin Dong, in response, slapped a defensive Talisman on himself while infusing power into his Flying Sword, preparing to unleash it.

Wang Hong thrust his spear urgently towards Lin Dong, who, in a moment of desperation, added another layer of Gold Light Talisman.

Lin Dong stood his ground against the spear thrust, simultaneously releasing his Flying Sword towards Wang Hong's face.

Wang Hong tilted his head, and the Flying Sword grazed past the Gold Light Talisman.

The Flying Sword changed direction, aiming for Wang Hong's back. While dodging the Flying Sword, Wang Hong thrust his Long Spear towards Lin Dong.

In typical Immortal Cultivator battles, opponents stood about a yard or more apart, using Magical Arts, Magical Weapons, and Talismans to attack from a distance.

Facing close-quarters combat was rare. Wang Hong, with years of battlefield experience, was already a master in this regard. This was the strategic plan he had formulated before stepping onto the stage, leveraging his strengths and avoiding weaknesses.

"Close-quarters combat? Is this guy a body cultivator?" a young man in the audience wondered.

An old man beside him shook his head, saying, "Doesn't seem like it. He's using ordinary mortal combat techniques, and his strength is only a few thousand kilograms. Body cultivators specialize in refining their physical bodies, boasting immense strength in close combat. Some powerful ones can even withstand magical treasures with their physical bodies."

"If body cultivators are so formidable, why are there so few of them? I've never seen one," the young man asked again.

"The path of body cultivation is extremely difficult, progress is slow, and body cultivators need to consume large quantities of spiritual treasures, demonic beast flesh, and blood to supplement their bodies; otherwise, progress is exceedingly slow," the old man explained slowly.

As the old man spoke, the two sides had already exchanged blows more than ten times. Lin Dong unleashed his Flying Sword repeatedly, and Wang Hong circled around Lin Dong, seizing opportunities to thrust his spear.

Lin Dong's face gradually paled because his Spiritual Energy was running out. Several attempts to consume Spirit Wine to replenish his energy were interrupted by Wang Hong.

Finally, with a loud "clang," the Flying Sword fell to the ground.

Without the distraction of the Flying Sword, Wang Hong's Long Spear thrust urgently, breaking through several layers of Gold Light Talismans. Then, with a sweeping motion, he sent Lin Dong's head flying a yard away.

Wang Hong collected the fallen Magical Weapon, the Flying Sword, and the Storage Bag left by Lin Dong before leaving triumphantly.

The next day, Lin Family sent another cultivator, a fourth-level Qi Cultivator, to challenge Wang Hong. Wang Hong layered defensive symbols on himself and faced the opponent's attacks with Magical Weapons and Talismans, engaging in close combat. In the end, he killed the challenger.

After a few quiet days, on the fifth day, Lin Family sent a cultivator named Hu Qing to challenge him.

Hu Qing, a burly man in his thirties with a dark complexion, casually declared from the platform, "Kid, blame your bad luck. Lin Family paid five hundred Spirit Stones to bring me here to take your head."

A cultivator in the audience sighed, "Lin Family is quite generous. My annual earnings are just a little over a hundred Spirit Stones."

Another cultivator said, "I guess this Hu Qing must be skilled to warrant such a price from Lin Family."

Wang Hong didn't expect his bounty to be so low. He thought, "If I offer more Spirit Stones, can you help me kill another Lin Family cultivator?"

"Hahaha! No need, once I kill you, all your Spirit Stones will be mine! Let me show you true close-quarters combat before you die." Saying this, Hu Qing put on a pair of gloves and strode confidently toward Wang Hong.

Seeing the menacing opponent, Wang Hong slapped several layers of Gold Light Talismans on himself. Then, he thrust his spear towards Hu Qing.

Hu Qing neither dodged nor avoided, slamming his left fist onto the spear shaft. Wang Hong felt a tremendous force, causing the spear to shake violently, nearly slipping from his grasp.

A right fist followed, targeting Wang Hong's chest and abdomen. Wang Hong hastily blocked with the spear, but another surge of force sent him flying.

Wang Hong struggled to stabilize himself, feeling soreness in his arms and turmoil in his chest.

Adding two more layers of defense, he attacked Hu Qing again. However, after just three moves, he was once again sent flying.

Hu Qing remained calm, looking smug as he waited for Wang Hong to get up before attacking again. After a few exchanges, Wang Hong was thrown back.

This time, Wang Hong managed to stab Hu Qing, but it was like stabbing a metal plate—no damage was done.

"See that? This is a true body cultivator, with strength reaching tens of thousands of kilograms, capable of resisting Magical Weapon attacks with their physical body. Invincible in close combat," an old man in the audience told a nearby youth.

"So, isn't a body cultivator invincible at the same level?" the youth asked, somewhat envious.

"More or less, but they also have their drawbacks. Generally, body cultivators don't cultivate Magical Arts and can only engage in close combat. If the opponent doesn't give them a chance to get close, no matter how powerful they are, they become useless, just a target for attacks," the old man explained.

"If they also cultivated Spiritual Energy and Magical Arts, wouldn't that be better?" the youth asked.

The old man knocked the youth on the head and said, "It's not that easy. Body cultivators already progress very slowly, and it requires a substantial amount of resources. If they also cultivate Spiritual Energy and Magical Arts, who can bear the time and resource consumption?"

Meanwhile, Hu Qing's fists shattered two layers of Gold Light Talismans, causing Wang Hong to spit out blood.

Struggling to get up, Wang Hong added two more layers of defense and attacked again.

Once again, he was sent flying, the Long Spear slipping from his hand, and he coughed up more blood.

At this point, Wang Hong felt pain all over his body, his limbs trembling slightly from exhaustion.

He persisted not only to assess the gap in strength but also because of a new discovery. Due to prolonged consumption of Elixirs, there was a significant amount of residual medicinal power in his body that he couldn't absorb. Under the continuous heavy blows, these remnants gradually permeated into his muscles and bones, strengthening his physical body.

Wang Hong slowly got up, swallowed a White Jade Life-Extending Pill, picked up the Long Spear, added two layers of Gold Light Talismans, and limped towards Hu Qing.

After being sent flying once again, Wang Hong sat on the ground, wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, and said, "The fact is, no matter what, I gain no advantage in close combat against you."

"Aren't you playing anymore, kid? In recognition of your long-suffering, I won't torment you anymore. I'll give you a quick death," Hu Qing said with a cruel expression, approaching Wang Hong.

Wang Hong chuckled, "Well, I give up. I can't defeat you in a fight. Looks like I can only use Spirit Stones to kill you again!" At the same time, he produced a handful of Talismans, at least dozens, and threw them at Hu Qing.

Wang Hong truly disliked the feeling of having to resort to Spirit Stones to deal with opponents. However, besides Spirit Stones, he seemed to have no other notable skills.

Hu Qing was shocked, witnessing countless Talismans flying toward him, covering the area within a radius of two yards. Unable to escape, he watched as he was engulfed in a sea of flames.

A moment later, Wang Hong retrieved a Storage Bag and a pair of gloves from the ashes.

Jumping down from the Life and Death Platform, Zhang Chunfeng and others hurriedly came over to support him.

In this battle, Wang Hong suffered multiple muscle ruptures, over a dozen fractures, and internal injuries. It took him a whole month to recover.

The White Jade Life-Extending Pill was just a worldly sacred medicine, with a relatively crude production method that was no longer suitable for cultivators at this level. He would need to acquire better healing medicines in the future.

During this month, Lin Family did not issue another challenge. Wang Hong enjoyed the peace, spending each day in his Space reading and studying various skills. He believed that once he fully recovered, he could start making talismans.

On the other hand, Lin Family's legitimate son, Lin Yun, was furious. The title of Lin Family's legitimate son was not unique to him alone. The death of two Lin Family members would undoubtedly attract criticism.

The five hundred Spirit Stones paid to Hu Qing were almost Lin Yun's annual savings.

Wang Hong was despicable; he talked big but refused to accept challenges from opponents slightly stronger than him.

Helplessly, Lin Yun arranged for someone to keep an eye on Wang Hong. As soon as Wang Hong left the city, they were to hunt him down. Lin Yun didn't believe Wang Hong could hide in Azure Void City forever.

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