Becoming a Deity from Planting the Bodhi Tree

The standoff in the arena intensified, with everyone exchanging glances, their Qi force locked in place.

Bian Rong's pupils shimmered with a sinister crimson while the blood and Qi within his body roared. His gaze was fixed on Shi Xinwan.

Yue Yourong and Yin Wushuang's Qi forces were both locked onto Mu Juncheng.

Shi Xinwan remained standing before the wall, eyeing the Divine Text above, but within her seemingly delicate body, a torrential and domineering Fist Intent was brewing, much like Mu Juncheng's, remotely locking onto Ji Jingqiu!

Seizing the moment before combat erupted, Zhuang Yanxing whispered hurriedly, careful not to attract attention, relayed all the intel on those present to Ji Jingqiu:

"...[Heavenly Sword Dao Body], this Dao Body requires the branding of Dharma all over one's acupoints, condensing Sword Intent and Sword Qi. Once the Dao Body reaches Perfection, one can transform into the Heavenly Sword. In the later stages of Martial Arts, each acupoint in one's body harbors a Heavenly Sword, infinite in variation, forming the Heavenly Sword Formation!"

"Yue Yourong hails from Han Sea Academy and is the face of this generation of the Sea Martial Association. She cultivates Spiritual Martial Arts, the focal research of the Academy, incorporating ancient yoga, Daoist True Words, hypnotism... It's said that she's only a step away from achieving Residence!"

"Sister... uh, Shi Xinwan comes from Lion Heart Dao, and her martial path is similar to that of the Seventh Layer's. Ji, you can just think of her as a version of the one from the Seventh Layer. However, there are rumors about her Innate root bone..."

"Bian Rong is from Heavenly God Dojo, currently the Federation's foremost dojo. My master says this faction becomes more and more heretical the further you go. They initially focus on tempering the physical body without external methods, primarily cultivating the form and intent..."

"Not much is known about Mu Juncheng, other than he is one of the two most prominent Martial Arts prodigies of the Mu Family this generation."

"These individuals are undoubtedly the most extraordinary tonight, and even among the entire younger generation, they will have the chance to compete for the strongest rank in the future!"

Ji Jingqiu nodded slightly.

At that moment.

The standstill Qi forces began to fluctuate.

Battle was imminent!

Yin Wushuang made the first move; his sword draw was slow, but the strike was extremely fast. Sword Intent soared into the sky, ruthlessly sharp, every move perfectly aligned with the natural order, leaving no gaps to exploit.

Instantly, all eyes turned toward him.

Amidst the entwined Qi forces, a streak of sword light flashed gracefully like a startled swan, powerfully like a dragon, seemingly illuminating the vast night as it etched an indelible scar in the air, targeting Mu Juncheng!

Witnessing this spectacular strike, Ji Jingqiu thought to himself, is this the [Heavenly Sword Daoist Scripture]?

Even without the subtleties of Dharma, the skill alone was "beautiful" to the point of taking one's breath away.

If it were him, the only response to this strike would be to use strength to break the technique.

The sword strike bore down!

Mu Juncheng's expression was solemn and stern, his deep eyes as if they could see through all changes in Dharma.

He, too, wielded a longsword but held no Sword Intent, as if for him, the sword was merely a form, not the true foundation of martial arts.

"[Heavenly Sword Daoist Scripture], Sword Number Two... I wonder which number Yin will reach today."

Mu Juncheng murmured softly, raising his sword to meet the attack, his sword drawing in from all directions!

Sword light wove into a net, constructing a trap all around. Despite Yin Wushuang's sword momentum being unstoppable, Mu Juncheng dissolved the assault casually, as if in a leisurely garden, with the gentleness of a spring rain, nullifying the offensive into nothingness.

A glint appeared in Yin Wushuang's eye, instantly recognizing the origin of this Combat Skill.

He flicked his wrist, and the second strike was ingeniously tricky, with the sword light still resolute.

Going all out, the Heavenly Sword Power transformed into three streaks of Sword Qi from three directions, intent on forcibly breaking through the layered net!

An aura of "standing unshakably with Heaven and Earth" surged mightily from Mu Juncheng.

The initially precarious sword net, bolstered by this aura, now harmonized with Heaven and Earth, encapsulating the essence of acceptance.

The second strike failed, and Yin Wushuang cried out:

"[Seamless Heavenly Robe] paired with [Immovable Ming King Body]! What are you all waiting for, let's break Mu's turtle shell first!"

He was only halfway through his sentence.

When out of nowhere, a graceful figure appeared behind Mu Juncheng.

A palm pressed down, permeated with an aura of serene selflessness, momentarily causing the sword net to stagnate.

Mu Juncheng nearly burst into laughter, spinning with his sword to repel Yue Yourong:

"Miss Yue, using a Buddhist handprint to press me, isn't that too bullying!"

Yue Yourong smiled lightly, stepping back just as another figure approached, as if calculated.

A seemingly delicate fist met its target, but it was as forceful as cavalry drilling through mountains, with an absolute and domineering Fist Intent. The gale of the fist whistled through the air, compressing and twisting the flow mercilessly!

The next moment, the fist collided with the sword net; the sword net blurred for an instant, and the fist came away with several bloody marks.

Shi Xinwan's eyes held a hint of amusement as she followed with the same fist technique, delivering thirteen continuous punches in the blink of an eye, as if determined to smash Mu Juncheng's sword net by sheer brute force!

To one side, Bian Rong's blood Qi loomed like beacon fires, his figure swelling up as he charged like a rampant dragon, his Martial Intent could be described in two words—pure simplicity.

In an instant, sword light and fist shadows encircled Mu Juncheng from four sides in a joint attack!

Mu Juncheng grunted, his Seamless Heavenly Robe-formed sword net instantly collapsed, forcing him to retreat several steps.

Fortunately, as the sword net broke apart, it rebounded the accumulated forces, switching from defensive to offensive, giving his attackers no opportunity to pursue.

Then, a blade light shattered the night sky, slashing from above!

Ji Jingqiu followed the momentum of his blade, seizing the moment when the sword net crumbled and Mu Juncheng was at his weakest to deliver a proverbial kick while he was down!

Mu Juncheng looked resignedly towards Ji Jingqiu, barely managing to lift his sword before being sent flying by Ji Jingqiu's blow.

Just as Ji Jingqiu was about to pursue, he sensed a rushing wind from behind.

A sword from Yin Wushuang came slashing down!

In an instant.

Everyone understood the unspoken strategies.

Among the six fighters, those who could not withstand the pressure would be the first to leave the fray!

"Hahaha! Ji, here I come!" Bian Rong laughed wildly, his form resembling a savage beast as he pounced forward, delivering a series of punches that alternated between the ferocity of a tiger and the strength of an ape!

Mu Juncheng stumbled back but his eyes shone bright, forcing down the tumult within his Qi Force, he leapt up with his sword to join the assault on Ji Jingqiu. His strike was not the [Seamless Heavenly Robe], but a Sword of Severance!