The turmoil between the Upper Realm's Jiang Family and Bright Moon Sect was like a stone cast into a lake. Though it once stirred up shocking waves, before the absolute power of Immortal Venerable Chen Chang An, it quickly settled, becoming an episode in the Heavenly Alliance Grand Competition that people loved to discuss yet dared not delve deeply into.
After this incident, the prestige of the Immortal Spirit Holy Land and the value of the Heavenly Alliance Grand Competition were elevated to infinite heights.
That Immortal Venerable Ancestor, who existed only in legends and had single-handedly suppressed two Holy Venerables, became the supreme myth in the hearts of all young cultivators! Countless young talents and various prodigies were working up their strength, eager to give their all in the upcoming trials, hoping for a chance to show their faces before that contemporary Immortal Venerable, even if only to receive a moment of his gaze.
However, no one knew that the contemporary Immortal Venerable they longed to perform before had not only already participated personally, but had also successfully met his wife in the ranks of Bing-grade cultivators...
When the light screen on the martial stage displayed the names of the next duel's opponents—Chen Er vs. A Li—there wasn't much commotion in the spectator stands. The battles of Bing-grade cultivators were certainly exciting, but after the earth-shattering scenes of Holy Venerables confronting each other and an Immortal Venerable appearing, they seemed somewhat lackluster.
Everyone just assumed it was another match between two lucky Gui Yuan Realm rogue cultivators.
Only on the high platform, the people from Ping An Fang watched those two names with the corners of their mouths twitching involuntarily, their expressions becoming extremely peculiar.
And at this moment, in the contestant preparation area, "Chen Er"—Chen Chang An—looked at the two names side by side on the light screen, then glanced at his wife "A Li"—Ji Hong Li—who had transformed into the appearance of an ordinary female cultivator but still couldn't hide her stunning beauty. She stood beside him with a clever smile, and he couldn't help but laugh wryly.
"Wife, does this count as... domestic violence?" Chen Chang An touched his nose, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
Ji Hong Li rolled her eyes at him, smiling beautifully: "Why? Is my husband afraid of losing to me in front of everyone?"
These words instantly poked at some "unbearable memories" in Chen Chang An's mind.
If he counted carefully, he and his wife Ji Hong Li had only properly sparred three times.
The first time was when he had just left the valley where he lived in seclusion and ignorantly barged into the world, meeting Ji Hong Li who had also just unsealed. As a result, he was chased and hacked by an extremely displeased Ji Hong Li wielding the Heaven's Cloud Sword until he fled in utter disgrace, nearly suffering a collapse of his dao heart and falling into depression. From then on, he developed a massive psychological shadow regarding snakes.
The second time was a contest through a chess game, with rather high stakes.
He thought his cultivation was profound and wouldn't lose to her, but in the end, he was still forced back step by step by Ji Hong Li, ultimately losing by a narrow margin.
This third time, on this martial stage watched by thousands, although it was a "fair" contest at the Gui Yuan realm cultivation level, Chen Chang An's long-suppressed heart wanting to "restore husbandly authority" couldn't help but stir restlessly!
He looked at his wife across from him, her smiling expression as if she had him completely figured out, then looked at the Heaven's Cloud Sword in her hand—even in its disguised form, one could still sense the terrifyingly sharp edge contained within. Instead of retreating, he revealed an eager and excited expression.
"Wife, today this husband must offend you!" Chen Chang An stretched his wrists, his eyes burning with long-absent fighting spirit.
Ji Hong Li understood her husband all too well. How could she not see through his little schemes? She smiled radiantly and transmitted her voice: "Alright then, let me see how much my husband has improved over these years~"
The two tacitly suppressed and restrained their cultivation to the pure Gui Yuan realm level at the same time, without borrowing any power or rule understanding beyond this realm.
The bell rang, and the match began!
In the next instant, both figures moved simultaneously!
There was no earth-shattering spiritual power eruption, no flashy exchange of techniques.
Only the most extreme skill, the most exquisite control, and the most inconceivable collision of combat instincts!
"Chen Er's" fists, palms, fingers, and legs all contained the principles of heaven and earth. Seemingly plain and unremarkable, he could always avoid "A Li's" sword edges, which were as pervasive as moonlight and incomparably sharp, by the slightest margins. He counterattacked in a nearly predictive manner at points she couldn't afford not to defend.
And "A Li's" swordplay was exquisitely refined to the extreme. Her sword light flowed like moonlight spilling across the ground—sometimes light and ethereal, sometimes heavy as a mountain. She pushed the spiritual power and physical strength that a Gui Yuan realm could mobilize to a maddening peak!
The two fought so fast it was dizzying to watch. Their movements were beautiful yet full of killing intent. Every exchange was dangerously extreme, yet also brilliantly sublime!
The originally somewhat disinterested audience below gradually widened their eyes, opened their mouths, and exclaimed in disbelief!
"This... this is Gui Yuan realm?!"
"My heavens! Is their Gui Yuan realm the same realm as our Gui Yuan realm?!"
"This combat awareness! This technical control! Simply... simply inhuman!"
"That female cultivator named A Li, her swordplay is too terrifying! I feel like she could insta-kill me, a Long Life realm cultivator, with one sword strike!"
"That Chen Er is even more ridiculous! He seems to always know in advance where the sword is coming from!"
Exclamations and praises rose one after another. This Bing-grade cultivator duel that was originally not highly anticipated, in terms of excitement and the "technical content" displayed, was actually not inferior to any Yi-grade or even Jia-grade battle before it! It even carried a kind of returning-to-basics, pointing-directly-to-the-Great-Dao quality!
Chen Chang An grew more excited the longer he fought. He felt as if he had returned to that pure state when he first began cultivating, his entire being immersed in this "game" with his wife. He perfectly integrated his understanding of power and comprehension of rules within the framework of the Gui Yuan realm, displaying it all to the fullest.
Finally, after nearly a thousand exchanges, Chen Chang An seized a flaw so minute it was almost imperceptible during the transition of Ji Hong Li's sword momentum. One finger precisely landed on the spine of the Heaven's Cloud Sword!
"Ding!"
A clear ringing sound. Ji Hong Li's wrist went slightly numb, and her sword momentum instantly collapsed.
Chen Chang An's fingertip followed through, lightly pressing onto her shoulder well acupoint. Though he didn't exert force, the outcome was already decided.
Ji Hong Li's figure paused briefly, then she withdrew her sword and stepped back. On her lovely face was no frustration, but rather a cunning smile as she gazed deeply at Chen Chang An.
Chen Chang An had won, yet he couldn't help feeling somewhat bewildered.
Won? It seemed he had won.
But he felt... something wasn't quite right?
Just then, Ji Hong Li's transmitted voice sounded in his heart, carrying thick laughter and a hint of imperceptible tenderness: "Silly, why are you standing there dazed? Actually, you could have beaten me long ago."
Chen Chang An instantly understood. Looking at his wife's knowing smile, a warm current rose in his heart along with a feeling of not knowing whether to laugh or cry. So... his little scheme had been seen through all along.
"A Li, with a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for?"
"Then I want hot pot."
"This husband will make it for you when we get back."
After the couple exchanged some transmitted words, Chen Chang An shook his head with a wry smile, then stepped forward. He cupped his hands toward the referee and the countless spectators below who were still immersed in that wonderful duel: "This match, I won by luck. A Li and I are old acquaintances. This competition was intended as a spar, not for advancement. We both withdraw and leave the opportunity to the fellow daoists behind."
Having said this, without waiting for anyone to react, he took Ji Hong Li's hand. The two looked at each other and smiled, their figures swayed, and like merging into a clear breeze, they quietly left the martial stage, leaving behind endless discussions and speculations from the still-unsatisfied crowd.
The husband and wife returned home together, hiding their merit and fame.
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