From a martial arts disciple to a god through countless trials and tribulations

Chapter 213 The Strongest Chosen One of Our Time

Volcano, lava, strong wind.

An earth-shattering battle has begun. On one side is Chen Xuan, who cultivated an unparalleled divine body using the Five Elements, and on the other side is Taotie, the Heavenly Mandate Martial, who is the fastest and most skilled in attack in the world.

But as soon as the battle officially began, an unexpected situation occurred.

"boom!"

The Martial Taotie rose from the surface of the lava lake, shooting into the sky like a black pillar of light, only to be knocked down in an instant, plunging into the golden-red lava, leaving an ink-like trail spreading beneath the lake.

Chen Xuan's body was surrounded by flowing light, the power of the five elements was endless, dazzling and brilliant. This was an unparalleled immortal body that was the embodiment of the creation of heaven and earth. The spiderweb-like inscriptions of divine ascension around him were difficult to approach and all retreated.

Many people observed the battle in various ways, some were stunned, and whispered and discussed among themselves.

"The legacy of Immortal Shangyang is quite interesting." Nan Mian's eyes changed slightly as he muttered to himself.

Although Wu Taotie's soul was destroyed and he lost his most relied-upon Heavenly Mandate ability in combat, he was still once a Heavenly Mandate peak cauldron. Even if he only relied on his body's instincts to fight, he still had the strength to surpass most cauldron masters.

However, in the first attack after the Martial Gluttony's resurrection, Chen Xuan actually gained the upper hand.

"The version of the [Five Treasures Martial Immortal Body - Shangyang Secret] that Chen Xuan practiced is very different from the legendary power."

Hua Liuli's expression changed as well. Although she trusted Chen Xuan implicitly, he was, after all, the renowned Martial God of Yunmeng Prefecture.

Immortal Shangyang was an ancient immortal from the eastern part of the Three Thousand States in the Southern Region. He had cave dwellings in states such as Yunmeng State and Yaoguang State. During the Immortal and Ghost Era, many of these cave dwellings were opened up, revealing a great deal of heritage.

Why do people say that the Secret of the Upper Yang cannot be mastered?
Because some of the original manuscripts of the Shangyang Secret Manual circulated among certain factions.

Some exceptionally talented cultivators attempted to master the secret techniques, but ultimately gave up in despair, concluding that the method was flawed. Let alone fusing a hundred scriptures, even integrating the Five Elements scriptures would lead to the collapse of the divine body, turning one into a monster.

"In the last period of his life in the grotto-heaven, the Immortal Shangyang completed this secret technique... A peerless immortal technique is about to be revealed in Chen Xuan's body." In the small underworld, the Ox-Headed Underworld Messenger commented.

“If you don’t have the natural talent, you can make up for it with your comprehension. I’ve known for a long time that Chen Xuan’s comprehension is terrifyingly high. He can learn any inheritance in no time.” The black cat rode on the ox’s horns, its eyes shining brightly, and said with full confidence.

“Xin Zhai, no, Chen Xuan is powerful.” The horse-faced Yinchai standing next to him nodded. He was tall and burly, with a pair of blood-red eyes like two burning blood moons, exuding cruelty and ferocity, like boiling blood.

"Xin Zhai, what is that..." Xuan Mao wondered, turning to look at the Ox-Head and Horse-Face, who seemed to know a lot.

Inside the volcano, flames rippled, evaporating the air, and the ritualistic runes of ascension began to crumble and dissipate.

"It's you--"

On the surface of the molten lava lake, the Martial Gluttonous Beast rose to the surface. His entire body was covered in solar runes, exuding an indescribable nobility and overwhelming pressure. However, wisps of black energy emanated from his body, and his skin had a sickly bluish-purple hue. A hoarse voice resonated from his throat.

"Chen Xuan—" Wu Taotie's heroic face was twisted, and his corpse still contained some memories of Chen Xuan, the culprit who had interrupted his path to destiny.

"You didn't forget me even after you died, that's quite impressive." Chen Xuan looked down from his high position, his expression calm.

Chen Xuan twisted his wrist, and in the brief exchange of blows, he tested the power of the Martial Arts Divine Body nurtured by the "Martial Arts True Scripture". This was a divine body that was most good at close combat, and its strength was very high, far surpassing other cauldron treasure bodies that relied on immortal qi and secret techniques to fight.

However, it is far inferior to his Five Treasures Martial Immortal Body, and there is no need to avoid it in a head-on battle.

"A fight has broken out! The Holy Son of the Southern Wilderness is fighting with outsiders!" In the Guyao Mountains, Hu Qing, the fox spirit of Qingqiu, overheard the news and immediately screamed excitedly.

However, the distance is very far, and there is a high-level feng shui formation in between. Only a few top-notch cauldrons can hear a little wind and judge the situation.

"He should be called the Holy Son of Qingnang now... Chen Xuan was facing Wu Taotie, not Nanmian."

The eight-tailed white fox, Zhao Shenhu, said in a low voice, a hint of sadness flashing in his eyes, and continued, "Yu Zhexian has been the crown jewel of the Southern Region for the past two years. As a dignified Daoist of the Little Azure Heaven, he actually lowered his pride and submitted to a lowly upstart like Chen Xuan. If this gets out, the entire Southern Region will laugh at Nanmian... Nanmian is the most cunning person!"

The arrival of Xiaolong Palace halfway through was of little use.

However, Xiao Qingtian came prepared, and Nanmian's identity was extraordinary, far surpassing that of ordinary Divine Travelers. If he were to perish at Guyao Mountain for any reason, the consequences would be unimaginable, and even a True Lord would sense it... Zhao Shenhu thought to himself, this is my way out.

But Nanmian, the young master of the underworld, is not one to follow the rules; he has a knack for seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune.

Inside the volcano, lava splashed out golden-red waves, creating a somber atmosphere.

"If Chen Xuan dies at the hands of Wu Taotie, things might take a turn for the better," Zhao Shenhu thought to himself.

Qingqiu Tingbai knew that Wu Taotie was ridiculously strong. Among the three giants of Yunmeng Heavenly Fate Cauldron, the two Realm Lords were known for their wealth, but Wu Taotie and Wan Shizun were famous for their hard-earned reputations. Both of them had fought against earthly gods and escaped unscathed, and even retaliated in kind.

However, Chen Xuan pressed in on the border in October, and the furnace was formed in one fell swoop. Even the Little Dragon Palace sensed this and came to stop him. Now it can be said that he has initially gained momentum.

The sight of these two fighting each other certainly attracted everyone's attention.

"With the destiny shattered, the secret techniques cannot be developed. I wonder how much fighting power Wu Taotie still has. He'd better not disappoint me."

Chen Xuan's eyes were filled with fighting spirit. His five-colored immortal robes fluttered like flowing fire, and the power of fire virtue emerged, burning fiercely as if to set the world ablaze. The raging flames outlined Chen Xuan's tall and straight figure, making him look like a god descending to earth.

Chen Xuan felt an irrepressible fighting spirit towards martial arts experts like Wu Taotie and Jidao Shen.

There are too many old monsters in the cultivation world, and these pure martial artists who rely on their fists to fight their way through life and death are extremely rare.

"Kill!" Wu Taotie roared, and the entire volcano roared and the fire waves surged into the sky, like thousands of troops roaring and charging out.

At this moment, Wu Taotie unleashed the full power of his partially completed Xingtian Secret Technique. Nine thick, black arcs of light pierced through the golden-red sea of ​​fire, dazzlingly bright.

In an instant, the Martial Taotie transformed into nine figures, moving at an incredible speed, each possessing the divine power to shatter mountains and split cities.

The sparks flying between heaven and earth seemed to stand still, and even time seemed to stop.

Only the figure of Wu Taotie pierced through the sky. He was the strongest warrior at the pinnacle of martial arts in the mortal world, a peerless martial artist who vowed to shatter all conspiracies and schemes with his fists.

Chen Xuan remained calm, like an unshakable five-colored divine mountain. His Five Treasures Martial Immortal Body stood firmly in the void, impervious to all laws and avoided by all techniques. Even ordinary cauldron secret techniques could not harm this perfect immortal body in the slightest.

In an instant, a terrifying battle erupted. The entire volcano seemed to explode, with fist light astonishing the world, the five elements evolving, and the radiance that splashed out would burn and bleed even the eyes of a Daoist cultivator with just a glance.

The Five Elements Divine Light and the Nine Paths of Black Light clashed, with various Heavenly Mandate Immortal Qi and Divine Light splashing out. They fought dozens or even hundreds of times in a single turn, their energy surging like a raging sea, terrifying beyond compare.

In an instant, the battlefield where both were located was shrouded in divine light, and even the golden-red lava lake below could not be seen.

Many spectators who witnessed this scene showed subtle changes in their expressions.

"If Wu Taotie's destiny and divine soul were still intact, few cultivators of the same realm in the world could rival his prowess," Nan Mian murmured with a sigh. Even many True Monarchs in their youth could not match Wu Taotie's brilliance. "Chen Xuan is only at the first level of the Cauldron Realm, yet he is not at all inferior!" On the other side, Hua Liuli spoke up unhappily, showing no goodwill towards Nan Mian.

Inside the volcano, two cultivators fought a fierce battle. Nine demonic black lights intertwined like thunder, forming a black sphere in the sky. At the very center stood a five-colored figure, indestructible, whose fist light illuminated the sky and pierced through layers of darkness.

Chen Xuan's expression was grim; this was the strongest enemy he had encountered since he began cultivating.

Although Wu Taotie's soul was destroyed, his martial will was revived, and he unleashed his physical power to the extreme. His fighting spirit, though dead, was still undying, and he shone with brilliant splendor!
"rumble……"

The two became the center of this area, stirring up chaos in the volcano, lava, mountains, and immortal energy. Their punches and palm strikes caused the mountains and rivers to tremble.

In the mountains of Guyao, the group of Qingqiu foxes fell silent. Zhao Shenhu listened intently, his expression moved, yet he remained silent.

After a few breaths, Zhao Shenhu sighed: "Among the world's inheritances and heroes, humans alone account for two or three out of ten. Within this race, there are indeed some truly amazing individuals."

Why are thousands of demons joining forces to besiege and target the human race?
Humanity is too strong; once it is allowed to rise, few demon races will be able to suppress it.

Speaking of Guyao Mountain at this moment, Zhao Shenhu believes that he is no less than Nanmian, Wu Taotie, the two world masters, and the rising Chen Xuan. Among the young foxes of the Zhang and Bai families in Qingqiu Mountain, there are two foxes who can be compared with them, but apart from them, there are no more foxes.

"It is truly a pity that the Martial Gluttonous Demon's path to the Heart-Gathering Sect has been severed in Guyao." In the small underworld, the Ox-Headed Underworld Messenger let out a strange laugh.

At this moment, everyone is intently watching the two figures on the battlefield.

"Little Black Light, you've shown your true colors, I've found you." Chen Xuan was like a rock in a raging storm, his eyes gleaming with a pale golden light. After hundreds and thousands of exchanges, he finally saw through the origins of the Martial Gluttony Xing Tian Secret Technique.

Chen Xuan also possessed the cultivation method for this technique, "The Three Thousand Heavenly Demons' Journey: Xing Tian's Secret Manual," and had briefly studied it.

Nine demonic black lights swept across the sky, attacking from all directions and every corner at lightning speed. But at this moment, Chen Xuan, standing in the black storm, suddenly launched his attack.

"brush!"

Chen Xuan pointed his fingers like a sword, the True Martial Sword Intent permeated the air, and the power of the Five Elements converged into the power of Metal Virtue. A white sword light trailed from his fingertips, slashing towards an incoming black arc of light, and a splash of blood immediately appeared.

At this moment, amidst the myriad black arcs of light, Chen Xuan locked onto the true form of Wu Taotie, and then, his sword light, capable of cutting through anything, flashed out like lightning.

"No!" Wu Taotie exclaimed in horror, wanting to turn back halfway, but Chen Xuan, who had been waiting for a long time, suddenly unleashed a terrifying speed that was like a raging torrent. The white sword light drew a smooth arc, and a trace of blood appeared at his fingertips.
"puff!"

The sky full of black arcs of light trembled slightly, the secret of Xing Tian was broken, and the other eight black streams of light instantly turned into a cloud of black mist and slowly disappeared.

A large gash appeared in the neck of the gluttonous beast; its trachea was severed, and blood gushed out.

Wu Taotie's body trembled as he sensed a strong sense of crisis. At the critical moment, he forcibly suspended in mid-air to avoid some of Chen Xuan's killing moves. Although he was seriously injured, his neck was not severed at the root. He quickly turned back and transformed into a streak of black light to leave.

At this moment, Chen Xuan could not allow it to escape. This was a hard-won opportunity. He streaked down from the sky like a five-colored lightning bolt, chasing after the wounded Wu Taotie.

"boom!"

Two figures clashed and fought fiercely in the air, like gods and ghosts. Anything in their path crumbled at their touch. With a crack, Chen Xuan grabbed the head of the Martial Taotie and slammed it into the mountain, causing the entire volcano to tremble and collapse.

At that moment, the mountains and valleys shook and rumbled.

"Not good!" A group of mad Taoist priests on the periphery of the volcano screamed. With a loud bang, the volcano, which was thousands of feet high, was pierced through. Immediately afterwards, the mountain collapsed, and rocks surged into the sky and danced wildly, creating a huge spectacle.

Nanmian and Hua Liuli were forced to leave the crater and floated in the sky. All the powerful beings in the cauldron can float in the air for a long time.

"A magnificent battle! Chen Xuan has some real skills. He broke through Xing Tian's secret techniques during the battle, overshadowing the momentary brilliance of the incomplete Martial Taotie." Nan Mian's Taoist robe billowed as he commented with a satisfied expression.

It is not that the Shangyang Secret Essentials are superior to the Xingtian Secret Essentials.

It was Chen Xuan's Shangyang Secret Manual that surpassed Wu Taotie's Xingtian Secret Manual.

"Nanmian, you seem quite pleased? Wu Taotie's ascension ceremony was destroyed in the battle." On the other end, Hua Liuli frowned. The entire volcano was destroyed, and this already unsuitable place for ascension was completely ruined.

At this moment, even if Chen Xuan ultimately failed to capture Wu Taotie's corpse, Nan Mian would also be unable to refine the Divine Travel Elixir, because Wu Taotie's body was severely injured and could not withstand the consumption of ascending to godhood in the new place.

"Hmm? It seems so." Nan Mian's expression was gentle. He blinked, rested his chin on his hand, and sighed helplessly, "This is a difficult situation. They're not giving me any way out."

"boom!"

When Chen Xuan and Wu Taotie reached the most dangerous moment of their battle, the two figures trailed brilliant arcs of light as they engaged in close combat. Like two azure dragons, they used the earth as their battlefield, causing chaos and devastation.

Many mad Taoist priests along the way were shocked and involuntarily retreated. Some unlucky ones were only grazed by the surging residual force and were sent flying backward, breaking many of their bones and falling to the ground spitting blood.

Chen Xuan was locked in a tight battle with the incredibly fast Wu Taotie, but Wu Taotie was no pushover. Even in dire straits, it fought with increasing ferocity, effortlessly employing various powerful and mysterious techniques.

"Come!" Wu Taotie's face was ferocious as he held a dark gold stone tablet in his hands. The tablet was covered with dragons and phoenixes, and runes were flashing. He swept the tablet toward Chen Xuan in front of him.

The stone tablet seemed to be creating the world, dancing and shining, cracking the sky with fissures, as if tearing apart the present world and about to be thrown into the chaotic void.

"Good!" Chen Xuan laughed loudly, more than he could have asked for. His Five Treasures Martial Immortal Body was the most resilient peerless treasure. He punched out of the air, piercing through the stone tablet and denting the chest of the Martial Glutton.

This is the secret technique "Great Stele-Smashing Hand Seal," which Chen Xuan had seen in the Martial Gluttony Destiny and memorized.

At that moment, Chen Xuan unleashed a powerful punch, precisely finding the weak point amidst the trail of killing moves outlined by the lines of the countless stone tablets, and shattering the secret technique with a single blow.

Fragments of stone tablets flew everywhere, each one carrying the power of a destructive cauldron, leveling a small mountain in the distance and leaving the ground riddled with holes.

At this moment, no matter how many wonderful techniques Wu Taotie possessed, Chen Xuan saw through them all and defeated them one by one with his fists in a very short time. For Chen Xuan, this was a thrilling battle.

"But without the Mandate of Heaven, Qin Yu can no longer be considered the pinnacle of martial arts."

At one moment, such a thought arose in Chen Xuan's mind. Immediately, the light of his fist became even more terrifying. With one punch, the five elements flowed, and all things withered and flourished, reflecting the blood-covered body of Wu Taotie and his astonished face.

"Bang!" Chen Xuan closed in on Wu Taotie, his punch shattering all laws, penetrating Wu Taotie's chest, breaking its spine, and splattering blood everywhere.

"This..." Wu Taotie lowered his head in a daze, looking puzzled. Chen Xuan punched again, and Wu Taotie's neck, which was already half broken, snapped off and flew out, raising a line of blood.

At the same time, in the distance, the jade book around the black cat's neck floated into the sky, and some golden characters, as if written by a deity, gradually appeared.

"It's begun! Wu Taotie has fallen, and Chen Xuan will become the next Heavenly Mandate!" Xuanmao clapped his hands excitedly.

On the other side, Nanmian seemed to sense something, looked at the area where the Little Underworld had descended, narrowed his eyes, and muttered to himself:
"Heh, impressive methods. Little Underworld truly lives up to its reputation as the strongest being in this world... the Chosen One."

(End of this chapter)