Beneath the arena, the many cultivators saw Zhang Fan trapped by Pu Ji Zhenxian's Sword River, unable to break free no matter how he slashed. He was completely suppressed, the gap in their strengths significant.
"Pu Ji Zhenxian is indeed the pinnacle of the Five-Star Generals. With just one move, the Sword River Technique, he has thoroughly suppressed Shi Jue Zhenxian. No matter what he does, he cannot break the cage. This exchange has already decided more than half the outcome."
Tie Hou's mood improved considerably upon seeing this. Although he had lost ten immortal treasures, if Zhang Fan lost this fight, it would be forty immortal treasures.
Qiong Yu Zhenxian and Mu Shan Zhenxian were also watching among the crowd.
"Pu Ji Zhenxian's team encountered a calamity in the Star River two years ago. Apart from him, all his teammates perished. This matter struck him hard."
"For the past two years, he has been cultivating in the war base. His strength is now even greater than before. That Shi Jue Zhenxian will likely be defeated."
Qiong Yu Zhenxian looked at the elegant figure wielding a three-foot green sword and controlling the Sword River, saying softly.
"Pu Ji Zhenxian's strength is indeed very formidable," Mu Shan couldn't help but nod. However, deep down, he still held a glimmer of hope for this new recruit who remained unperturbed by favor or disgrace.
...
The people outside the arena could not comprehend Pu Ji Zhenxian's feelings. At this moment, he was immensely shocked. Zhang Fan's simple and unpretentious sword moves, seemingly ordinary, pointed directly at the essence of the Great Dao. Only when facing them directly could one feel this peculiar artistic conception.
The ethereal Great Dao was extremely distant from him, yet at this moment, he felt incredibly close.
"If I can comprehend the true meaning of this sword art, perhaps I can break through to the Nascent Soul realm!" Pu Ji Zhenxian's heart raced with excitement. He saw the path to his breakthrough.
Pu Zhenxian had completely forgotten about winning or losing. His eyes were solely on Zhang Fan, or more accurately, on the sword in Zhang Fan's hand.
Moving with the flow, entirely without form, it brought him a shock and a touch he hadn't experienced in many years.
For cultivators in the Nascent Soul realm to break through to the Refinement Realm, they need to cultivate the rules of a Great Dao to perfection. For cultivators in the Refinement Realm to break through to the Transformation Realm, in addition to merging the Nascent Soul and physical body, they must grasp the true meaning of the Great Dao.
The Domain of the Great Dao is merely the most basic application after the rules of the Dao are perfected. Every cultivator whose rules are perfected can grasp and unleash the Domain of the Great Dao. However, the true meaning of the Great Dao requires personal experience and comprehension.
The rules of the Dao are the foundation of the Great Dao, much like a language. Only by mastering enough vocabulary can one write beautiful prose.
And the true meaning of the Great Dao is the 'beautiful prose' composed of the rules of the Dao.
"Sword Seven!"
Zhang Fan swung his long sword again. As this sword strike fell, the surrounding Sword River shattered, countless sword lights turning into nothingness. With one sword, Pu Ji Zhenxian's Sword River Technique was broken.
"Such pure swordsmanship, such sharp sword intent!"
Pu Ji Zhenxian exclaimed involuntarily. As Zhang Fan unleashed his nameless sword art, Pu Ji Zhenxian went from calmly responding to feeling immense pressure.
"Sword Eight!"
Zhang Fan's blood-red sword danced incessantly. A sky-piercing sword light traversed the entire决战 arena, continuously compressing space and slashing towards Pu Ji Zhenxian.
In Pu Ji Zhenxian's eyes, the incoming strike was not just a sword light but an entire world crushing down upon him, leaving him no escape.
"Four Seasons Sword Formation, emerge!"
Pu Ji Zhenxian formed a hand seal, and four immortal swords flew from his brow, imbued with boundless sword dao rules, forming a perfect sword formation before him.
As the sword light descended, the sword formation trembled incessantly, emitting piercing sword cries.
After a few moments of stalemate, with a dull thud, the sword light dissipated, and the four immortal swords were also sent flying back, sustaining some damage.
"Sword Nine!"
As Zhang Fan's voice rang out, Pu Ji Zhenxian felt as though the entire world had stopped. His eyes were fixed on that figure, desperately trying to imprint every movement into his mind.
In this battle, Zhang Fan had unleashed nine swords, each with increasing power. He could barely resist the eighth sword with the power of his sword formation, but this ninth sword surpassed his limits.
As the dazzling sword light flashed, Pu Ji Zhenxian was cleaved in two. However, a look of contentment appeared on his face, showing no sign of dejection at his defeat.
"Fellow Daoist Shi Jue, your swordsmanship is peerless. I, Pu Ji, accept this defeat wholeheartedly," Pu Ji Zhenxian said, cupping his fist to Zhang Fan after his physical body reformed.
Refinement Realm cultivators had begun to fuse their physical bodies and Nascent Souls. Even if the body was split in two, a small expenditure of Nascent Soul energy could easily restore it. Their vitality was exceptionally strong.
This was also why, between cultivators of the Transformation Realm, it was difficult to kill each other unless the gap in strength was too large.
Without means to obliterate the Nascent Soul, one would need to continuously deplete the opponent's physical strength, causing their Nascent Soul to weaken until they could no longer repair their body, thereby achieving a kill.
From this, one could see how powerful the Myriad Beast Cauldron was as a Great Dao secret treasure. Even when facing cultivators stronger than oneself, it could still suppress them and then use its power to grind and refine them.
"Defeated?"
The scene beneath the arena was now deathly silent. The situation had reversed so abruptly. Pu Ji Zhenxian, who had been steadily suppressing Zhang Fan, was instantly defeated within a mere three sword strikes.
One sword destroyed the Sword River, one sword shattered the sword formation, and one sword decided the outcome.
This result was something many cultivators had not anticipated.
A very small minority of them thought Zhang Fan might win, but they never expected that Zhang Fan would defeat Pu Ji Zhenxian so decisively with just nine sword moves.
"With this one sword, Shi Jue Zhenxian's strength now rivals a Six-Star General. Truly unexpected." Qiong Yu Zhenxian was stunned by the power Zhang Fan displayed, unable to believe that a powerful figure had emerged from the Savage Star Domain. "With a mid-stage Refinement Realm cultivation, to achieve a Six-Star General rating, do you think he could become a King if he cultivates to the peak of the Transformation Realm?"
Hearing Qiong Yu Zhenxian's words, Mu Shan couldn't help but be slightly taken aback. Although he had always believed Zhang Fan was strong, he had never considered this possibility, simply because becoming a King was too difficult.
"Difficult, but there's a sliver of hope," Mu Shan Zhenxian replied.
There were nearly a thousand cultivators in the Transformation Realm at the war base, yet only one could become a King, highlighting the immense difficulty.
"Why compete in anything else but swordsmanship against my master? Is that something just anyone can do?" Nan Zun chuckled. Zhang Fan was someone who had perfected the rules of swordsmanship in the Nascent Soul stage. How could ordinary Refinement Realm cultivators compare?
"Eighty immortal treasures, and they came so easily." Xue Mo Jiao's eyes were filled with the prospect of immortal treasures, yet none of them would be his.
Gu Hai Zhenxian watched from below the arena, only able to shake his head in resignation. Although he had lost twenty immortal treasures, he harbored no blame towards Pu Ji Zhenxian. He understood that if it were him, the outcome would have been the same.
...