Journey to the West: Starting with the True Lord of the Pure Land

When the banquet reached its climax, a sense of exhilaration naturally arose.

Several bold and unrestrained demon cultivators couldn't contain themselves and went down to the arena to demonstrate their martial arts skills to add to the excitement.

A demon cultivator at the Golden Core stage got excited, wielded his Xuanhua Axe, and cleaved the water, splitting the sky and causing waves of energy to surge.

Several more demon cultivators then entered the fray, some wielding steel forks to create towering waves, others using swordsmanship to conjure up a hundred beasts in a stampede.

Supernatural abilities are certainly valuable, but close-quarters combat skills are the foundation for survival.

The demons, observing this, also secretly harbored thoughts of scheming and competing.

The hall was filled with dazzling light, shouts, and a lively atmosphere.

Upon seeing this, the Bull Demon King couldn't help but burst into laughter.

He was overjoyed to have become sworn brothers with Xuan Ling today, and after drinking quite a bit of spirit wine, his spirits soared, and he couldn't help but slam his fist on the table and stand up:

"Fellow Daoists, let me add to the festivities! This old ox will also make a fool of himself by performing a few staff techniques to add some liveliness to the Dragon King's birthday banquet!"

Having said that, he moved swiftly and arrived at an open area in the hall.

Without any apparent effort, a heavy, dark iron rod was already in his hand.

The staff was simple and unadorned, yet its appearance caused a slight pause in the surrounding airflow.

Several guests who were nearby felt a sudden heaviness in their breathing, as if an invisible mountain was pressing down on them.

The Dragon King of Ten Thousand Saints stroked his beard and smiled, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. He raised his hand and gestured as if to press down:

"Bull King, wait!"

The King of Bulls is renowned throughout the four continents, but a solo dance is bound to be monotonous. Wouldn't it be a waste of his talents to simply add some entertainment?

"With such distinguished guests gathered here today, why not find a fellow practitioner for a brief exchange, stopping short of serious discussion, so that we may all broaden our horizons? Wouldn't that be even better?"

He continued with a smile:

"The Bull King's Staff Technique is domineering and difficult for ordinary cultivators to withstand. One must find a fellow cultivator with comparable skills to master it."

Although the Bull Demon King was rough and bold, he was also a thoughtful person and immediately understood the refined meaning behind the song.

He knew that the old Dragon King intended to use him to help his younger brother gain fame and prestige, and establish his reputation among the demons of Xiniu Hezhou.

This was exactly what he wanted, so he leaned on his cane and laughed:

"The old Dragon King is absolutely right!"

Sharing joy is worse than enjoying it alone! But I wonder which fellow Daoist would be willing to step down and stretch the old ox's muscles?

Before he could finish speaking...

The Bull Demon King, slightly intoxicated yet with a sharp, lightning-like gaze, had already passed over all the guests and landed on the person in the head seat on the right.

On the body of that black-robed, black-haired dragon demon king.

There was a moment of silence in the hall.

All eyes followed the Bull Demon King's gaze and focused on Chen Jiao.

The music had stopped sometime earlier. Quietly retreating to a corner, the previous commotion seemed to have been wiped away by an invisible hand.

Only the shimmering light of the pearl illuminated Chen Jiao's black robes, making them appear even more profound and unfathomable.

Chen Jiao's hand holding the cup was as steady as a rock, and the wine in the cup remained calm.

He slowly raised his eyes to meet the Bull Demon King's gaze, which was full of fighting spirit and anticipation.

"Brother, would you be willing to come down and stretch your muscles with me?"

All the demon cultivators knew that the Bull Demon King possessed great supernatural powers, and his staff skills were so formidable that ordinary demon cultivators couldn't even withstand a single blow from him.

Although Xuan Ling possesses profound aura and enjoys considerable fame, it remains uncertain whether he can withstand the Bull King's offensive.

Chen Jiao simply nodded slightly and said, "Since Brother Niu is in such high spirits, how could I refuse?"

After speaking, he slowly walked off the stage.

He strolled leisurely, yet possessed a calm and composed demeanor that unconsciously diminished the surrounding noise.

A flash of mysterious light appeared in Chen Jiao's palm as he grasped a long weapon, the Fangtian Halberd, that had suddenly appeared.

The shaft of the halberd is like dark blue ancient iron, coiled like a dragon or python, and is engraved with intricate and complex ancient seal script of clouds and thunder, with a point of blue lightning swirling around the tip.

It was the Azure Thunder Halberd.

The halberd trembled slightly, emitting a low hum, as if wind and thunder were stored within it.

A slight commotion immediately arose inside the hall.

The guests looked bewildered, exchanging incredulous glances.

The Demon King Xuan Ling, in the East Sea, beheaded a group of demons with a single sword strike, relying on his astonishing swordsmanship.

Everyone believed that his swordsmanship was divine, and this sparring match would surely be a clash between exquisite swordsmanship and domineering staff techniques.

Unexpectedly, he abandoned his strengths and chose a lesser one, a halberd that was not the most famous.

The halberd is a long weapon, emphasizing momentum and power, which is similar to the style of the Bull Demon King. This choice is surely a case of using the short to attack the long.

Some demon cultivators secretly shook their heads, feeling that this dragon king was probably being a bit too arrogant.

In front of a master of staff techniques like the Bull Demon King, one would be helpless without even using their best skills, as it would be like tying one's own hands and feet.

The Bull Demon King was also slightly taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in his copper bell-shaped eyes, and he laughed loudly:

"Brother, I've heard your swordsmanship is superb, and I was just looking forward to seeing it for myself. Why have you taken out such a heavy halberd?"

His words were concerned, not dismissive, but purely out of curiosity.

Chen Jiao held the halberd in one hand, the tip pointing diagonally at the ground, with blue lightning flashing across the blade.

He looked up at the Bull Demon King, his gaze calm, and said:

"Swordsmanship may be powerful, but it is ultimately a path of lightness and speed."

Brother Niu's iron staff moves with wide, sweeping strokes and immense power. If one were to use a sword against a staff, it would inevitably lead to a drawn-out, grappling fight, losing much of its exhilarating effect.

His tone was calm, yet carried weight:

"The halberd is also the king of all weapons. I have practiced halberd techniques for many years and can still use them."

Moreover, with such a large force, their momentum is vast and unpredictable, perfectly suited for a hero like Brother Niu to fight with all their might. Wouldn't that be even better?

After speaking, Chen Jiao slightly turned his wrist, and the Azure Thunder Halberd drew an arc in the air.

As the halberd passed, a low, rumbling thunderous sound accompanied it. Although no force was exerted, a profound and magnificent momentum had already quietly spread out.

Upon hearing this, the Bull Demon King was first taken aback, then his eyes lit up, and he burst into thunderous laughter:

"Great, even better! That's wonderful!"

My dear brother, you've said the same thing! Come, come!

"Today, let me see for myself how much power and chaos lies hidden beneath your halberd, my worthy brother!"

The Bull Demon King, wielding his iron cudgel, originally intended to instruct and guide his virtuous brother, and incidentally bring him fame. Therefore, he initially used only a fraction of his strength.

The staff technique is used like an old man playing with a mischievous child, with hidden flaws hidden in its wide and sweeping movements, so that my virtuous brother can perform the halberd technique more beautifully.

With a flick of his iron cudgel, the Bull Demon King transformed it into a streak of black light, aiming straight for the center of the body. The cudgel whistled through the air, its force heavy and powerful, yet it concealed five parts of its ferocity, leaving room for maneuver.

Seeing the staff coming, Chen Jiao remained calm. He slightly shifted his feet, his body as firmly rooted as a pine tree. He neither dodged nor avoided the Qingxuan Thunder Halberd in his hand, the blade drawing a sharp arc of light.

"clang!"

A clear, resonant sound rang out, and sparks flew everywhere.

The Bull Demon King felt a concentrated and powerful force emanating from the staff, which made his palm slightly numb, and he was immediately startled:

"Good heavens!"

Although he didn't use his full strength in that strike, it was still extraordinary. An ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator would find it extremely difficult to withstand, let alone use such precise leverage against him.

Brother, your halberd skills are far beyond what the word "acceptable" can describe!

After a few rounds, the Bull Demon King felt even more apprehensive.

But Chen Jiao's halberd moved like a dragon, its crescent blade slicing through the water, accompanied by the faint sound of wind and thunder.

Pointing, thrusting, chopping, and hanging—the moves are simple yet grand, with smooth and skillful trajectories.

Not only did it completely seal off the gaps he had deliberately left, but its halberds also repeatedly targeted the slightest stagnations in his staff techniques.

This doesn't look like someone who needs to give way to others.

It is clearly a true art of killing that can only be honed through countless battles!

The Bull Demon King's copper bell eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he let out a hearty laugh:

"Excellent halberd technique! Be careful, my brother!"