The other core disciples erupted into conversation, excitedly discussing the hot-blooded clash between their peer and the demon. The atmosphere was bustling and lively; they seemed to care very little about the danger their comrade had just faced, choosing instead to relish the savage beauty of the battle.
Inside the fighting ring, the valiant youth continued to fight courageously against the maddened retaliation of the demon.
Thunderclap.
A deafening sound shook the air as the youth was finally hurled away into the sea of clouds. The projection followed him, allowing the audience to observe his current state. He bore scorch marks all over his body, his robes had been shredded into ruined fabric, and deep, bone-marring wounds marred his valiant physique.
Nevertheless, he never let go of his ax, wearing a broad smile of satisfaction. Senior Brother Sun Luo stood up and flicked his fingers, instantly plucking the wounded youth out of the ring.
As soon as he returned, cheers greeted him. Calum watched, feeling a mixture of puzzlement and curiosity at their relaxed reactions.
"He managed to hold his own against a far more powerful opponent, so he certainly deserves praise. His name is Devan Brute; he is only at the Completion level of the 5th state, yet he can still duke it out with a rank 6 demon. Do you understand now what an incredible feat that is?" Yan King explained, as if reading his mind.
"My gratitude, Senior. I understand." Calum was truly grateful for the clarification. Indeed, this combat transcended anything he had ever witnessed. It made him realize even more clearly just how weak he was amid these giants. Yet he did not falter; it was merely a question of time before he reached their level and ultimately surpassed them.
Yan King nodded approvingly upon seeing Calum's introspective expression.
The Core Banquet was not just a celebration and an exchange; it also allowed participants to deepen their comprehension of heaven and earth by observing these bouts. After all, watching a cultivator fight offered a direct window into their mastery of cultivation laws. Among all those in attendance, Calum was undeniably the luckiest.
Having just embarked on his path, the banquet allowed him to experience high-level cultivation concepts firsthand. Naturally, the long-term benefits for his future journey were immeasurable.
"Who is next?" Sun Luo asked the gathered disciples.
"Allow me to test myself against this bull, Senior," a bald, simple-featured man of towering stature spoke up.
"Very well, Junior Miolir. Have at it." Sun Luo nodded.
The bald man leaped into the ring without a moment's hesitation. He soon materialized in the same sea of clouds as the previous disciple, casually searching for a short while before locating the demon.
The beast was sitting cross-legged, seemingly lost in deep thought.
"Greetings. I've come to send you to your maker," Miolir stated plainly. There was not an ounce of arrogance in his voice, only the solemn weight of a fated inevitability.
"Another human who overestimates himself!" The demon spoke for the first time. The fury and savagery it had previously exhibited had vanished, replaced by a tone of profound dejection. It had finally realized it could never escape this place—it simply wasn't powerful enough.
"Still, I am powerful enough to crush a measly human!" The demon suddenly bellowed, springing to its feet to dwarf even the tall Miolir.
Crackle!
Lightning bloomed across its body as the demon dissolved into a blur of afterimages, crossing the distance between them in a single blink. It threw a casual punch forward. The momentum of the strike was unmatched, sending violent ripples and arcs of electricity radiating outward with the moving fist.
Senior Miolir showed no sign of wariness. He simply reached out with an open palm and intercepted the punch. A brief silence hung in the air before an explosion rocked the atmosphere, powerful currents dispersing the surrounding clouds.
When the projection cleared, the audience drew in a sharp, collective breath of astonishment. Senior Miolir stood planted in the exact same spot, while the demon's fist looked thoroughly battered—its bones fractured and its skin split into gashes gushing blood.
The demon's expression morphed into one of comic disbelief before deep fury reclaimed its features. It quickly retracted its fist and leaped backward.
Calum's eyes widened in sheer shock. He hadn't seen a single defensive spell cast; this senior had outright blocked a demon's charge with his bare palm.
How tyrannical!
"Truly, the progress of my peers leaves me in awe every single year. To think Miolir has already reached the Initial level of the 6th state..." Yan King murmured.
"Even so, Senior, how is his physical body so intrepid?" Calum asked curiously. Although cultivation could slightly enhance physical conditioning, it shouldn't reach such an exaggerated degree. Of course, Calum was an outlier; as a practitioner of the Treasure Assimilation Scripture, he treated his own body as an artifact absorbing other treasures to grow stronger, placing him in a completely unique category. Even the Saint who created the method could not predict his ceiling.
"This brother practices one of the most powerful scriptures in the sect—also created by the Saint, of course, since nearly all our core methods are his designs. It's called the Titanic Transformation Scripture. Although Miolir is still a Qi refiner, this method allows him to channel various types of external Qi to forge his physique before ultimately refining them into the spiritual Qi stored in his consciousness sea," Yan King explained, pausing to let the concept sink in.
Calum marveled at the sheer ingenuity of his fellow disciples' methods. The Treasure Assimilation Scripture was clearly not the Saint's only masterpiece, making the sect founder seem increasingly unfathomable in his eyes.
"As a result, his physical vessel holds immense power—power even superior to that of ordinary demons. His combat style is wonderfully simple: pure strength and extreme speed. Simple as it sounds, it's an exceptionally difficult path to master," Yan King continued.
Pure power and extreme speed!
A strange light flickered in Calum's irises. An idea seemed to spark in his mind, though it remained blurry and difficult to grasp for now.
Meanwhile, inside the ring, the demon had recovered from its injuries. Despite the rage blazing in its heart, it was no longer rash, finally abandoning its underestimation of the opponent.
Senior Miolir cracked his neck and rolled his shoulder blades, melodious popping sounds echoing from his joints.
"That was mediocre. Come at me seriously, or you won't last long in this world," Miolir stated calmly.
"Don't get cocky just because you possess a slightly sturdy body, human!" the demon snarled. Despite its disdainful retort, it immediately began mobilizing every ounce of its demonic power.
Crackles!
Like a replay from the previous battle, the gigantic lightning horn manifested once more. The terrifying energy fluctuations made most of the disciples shift to the edge of their seats, their attention entirely riveted to the clash.
Miolir's eyes lit up. "Now you're talking!"
"Go to hell, human!"
The demon lunged forward, weaponizing the lightning horn. The void itself was torn to shreds in the wake of the strike.
Miolir's muscles bulged violently as he expanded into a ten-meter-tall giant. Now, the demon looked like a mere toddler standing before him, yet it remained entirely undaunted.
The gigantic horn descended menacingly. Miolir did not flinch; he simply closed his hand into a fist and drove it straight against the incoming threat.
Bang!
Strands of lightning erupted in all directions as the horn shattered. The demon was sent hurtling backward through the air, blood gushing freely from its orifices.
"Disappointing," Miolir remarked flatly as he surveyed his beaten opponent.
Outside the ring, the audience erupted. Discussions regarding the fight and Senior Miolir's terrifying display of prowess filled the hall.
"He's getting closer..." Jerran, the stern half of the Devil Duo, murmured quietly.
All six of the premier powerhouses understood what he meant.
He is getting closer to our level.