My Informative Cultivation Life

"Jian Yuanzi, you've finally returned,"

a sinister voice came from the opposite side shortly after Jian Yuanzi and his companions had landed.

Yang Ji looked over and saw six figures on the opposite side, with the speaking one being the old crone standing at the front.

She was hunched over, her skin a dull yellow; wrinkles crossed her face like ravines, and her murky eyes were narrowed, exuding a cold, sinister air.

Given that she dared to address Jian Yuanzi as "lad," one could guess without a doubt that she was Granny Tianshang, the oldest Nascent Soul True Monarch of the Changqing Gate.

Yang Ji saw the [Countdown to Lifespan: 5 years] floating above her head and knew her lifespan of more than a thousand years was nearly at its end.

She was unlike Luo Xiong; his Spiritual Root had been destroyed, his body had aged, but his soul was still youthful, and he had time left, so he could seize another body and cultivate anew.

But for Granny Tianshang, even seizing a body would lead to death, because both her body and soul had become too decrepit; unless her soul could break through to another level, even if she were to take an Immortal Body, she would still die.

The body is the vessel, the soul is the person inside; if the soul ages, no matter how great the vessel is bestowed, it's only a lifeless shell.

"Granny Tianshang, I have brought my disciple, and I hope you can grant him a fair fight, a duel at equal level with your disciples and grandchildren," Jian Yuanzi said indifferently.

"Grant him a duel at equal level?" Granny Tianshang narrowed her eyes and stared sharply at Yang Ji, as if she wanted to see through him, scrutinizing him from top to bottom.

"This disciple of yours is quite young, yet at such an age, he is only at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. I fear his Spiritual Root isn't much to speak of either. I thought you brought someone remarkable, and yet you've brought such an unremarkable lad? Has the Canglan Sect no one else besides Chang Xiao?"

Granny Tianshang laughed coldly. She was not tall and appeared even smaller with her stooped figure, but she was a Nascent Soul True Monarch, after all. Standing there with her hands behind her back and her eyes gleaming coldly, her presence was formidable.

Hearing these sarcastic words, Jian Yuanzi simply smiled: "As you mentioned, I can only bring a disciple from my sect; I dare not break the agreement."

"Humph! Dare not?" Granny Tianshang snorted disdainfully, skeptical of his "nonsense," and after glancing twice at Yang Ji, she cautiously asked, "How do you prove that he is your disciple?"

Jian Yuanzi glanced at Yang Ji, signaling him.

Yang Ji replied with a faint smile; sharpness gathered in his palm, and the air around swiftly turned into several tiny Flying Swords that whistled back and forth.

"Is this... the Separation Fire Sword Intent?" Granny Tianshang's eyes squinted instantly recognizing the sword intent.

"The Separation Fire Sword Dao is one of the Eight Swords of Gui Cang, and with Granny Tianshang's discerning eyes, you should be able to recognize it at a glance. It's not a deceit," Jian Yuanzi said with a light smile.

"Humph! Then let's proceed with a duel at equal level so that no one can accuse me of fear," Granny Tianshang snorted coldly, casting a sideways glance behind her.

There were five people behind her; one Nascent Soul True Monarch, one Golden Core True Person, and three at the peak of Foundation Establishment. They had come fully prepared for the fight.

To win this duel, it seemed she had summoned the finest of her disciples and grandchildren.

"Who will fight?" she demanded coldly.

"I will!"

A booming voice like thunder rose, and from behind Granny Tianshang, a colossal figure leaped out and landed in the center area with a thud, the ground trembling and dust flying.

He was a gigantic man, nearly ten feet tall, with bushy eyebrows, wide cheekbones, and a square jaw. His skin was covered in blood-colored veins, his arms were bulging with muscle, and he held a fearsome giant axe.

"A barbarian?" said Li Changxiao in surprise.

"This is my disciple Man Kuai; he is of the Human Race, but he was raised on beast blood since childhood, causing his body to undergo a mutation, resulting in the rare beastly berserk physique," Granny Tianshang said with a narrowed smile, clearly very pleased with this grand-disciple of hers.

"A Beast Frenzy Body? This fellow must be capable of unleashing some sort of beastly power within him, able to burst forth with strength surpassing that of a peak Foundation Establishment, junior brother, you should be careful," Li Changxiao whispered a reminder.

Yang Ji nodded his head, having already seen most of the information about the giant man: [Peak Foundation Establishment],[Beast Frenzy Body, capable of activating the beast blood within to explode with a strength three times his own.]

"Mountain Collapse Style!"

Man Kuai didn't waste words, and with a leap, he launched his move.

The blue axe glow surged wildly from the heavy axe, enveloping an unparalleled force as it slashed down with a booming force.

This axe was incredibly oppressive, tearing through the air, with a fierce energy running rampant.

"Junior Brother Man Kuai's move is his trump card technique, and clearly, he wants to make it a swift battle," said the Golden Core True Person behind Granny Tianshang.

"Changqing Gate's top-notch technique, the Earth-shattering Five Styles! This first move, 'Mountain Collapse Style,' coming from this guy's hand, is several times more powerful than what's normal," marveled Li Changxiao.

On the opposing side, Yang Ji's expression didn't change at all, not dodging in the slightest. As he raised his hand, a flying sword swirling with spiritual light was already clenched in his grip.

"Junior Brother Man Kuai utilizes strength as his forte, and the 'Earth-shattering Five Styles' he's cultivating are fiercely domineering. This man doesn't know the height of the sky nor the depth of the earth, even trying to face him head-on. It seems he'll be defeated by this one move."

"Brother Man Kuai has an extraordinary talent and was born with immense strength. With this axe coming down, the Qi machine oppresses all directions, making people feel as if they're in a swamp. This person won't even be able to escape, looks like the two Heavenly Spirit Fruits will soon be in our hands,"

The people behind Granny Tianshang discussed in low voices, their faces involuntarily revealing a hint of a smile.

Li Changxiao and Jian Yuanzi, seeing this scene, remained completely calm and undisturbed as they watched.

As the giant axe neared, Yang Ji's eyes flicked upwards, and a sharp aura spread out from within him. Meanwhile, the flying sword in his hand suddenly moved, slashing upwards like lightning, instantly unleashing the Shocking Sword Dao.

The sword struck with the force of thunder, filled with a concentrated Sword Intent, clashing with Man Kuai's heavy axe.

The reason Yang Ji didn't dodge was precisely to use the Shocking Sword Dao in this almost non-existent moment of opportunity to resist, honing his ability to adapt in dangerous situations.

Clearly, the Shocking Sword Dao was suitable for such scenarios, for the sword technique took only a moment to execute, making it perfect for counterattacks in times of crisis.

Boom!

The heavy axe and the flying sword collided in an instant with an explosive sound.

The blue axe glow and the sharp Sword Qi burst like a storm, sending spirals of visible energy in all directions.

Just when the people behind Granny Tianshang thought the battle was decided, they heard Yang Ji's faint voice in their ears.

"Your strength is indeed quite formidable!"

The onlookers saw Yang Ji's body being rocked backwards by a massive force, stepping back once and then bracing himself, his figure immediately stabilized.

At the same time, a great force was dissipated through his back foot, causing the blue stone pavement where he stood to suddenly crack extensively.

In contrast, Man Kuai was sent flying by the sword strike, stumbling back several steps with his feet going "thud thud thud" before he awkwardly steadied himself.

The crowd turned to the ground and saw that every step he took while retreating had left footprints inches deep in the blue stone floor.

In that moment, the superiority was clear.