Cultivation starts from simplifying the exercises

Chapter 2199 Showdown with a Half-Step Heavenly Monarch

Chen Fei's Dao Domain rippled slightly, with the light at its edges flickering intermittently, as the divine soul power and Yuan energy required to maintain the Dao Domain were rapidly being consumed.

Ye Zhi Qiu's tactics were clear: to use the advantages of his own domain's large range, many variations, and rapid recovery to wage a war of attrition and wear down his obviously unsustainable enlarged version of the Dao Domain.

A smile appeared on Chen Fei's face. He suddenly took a step forward, and his Dao Domain moved forward and compressed accordingly.

Chen Fei pressed his hands down, pushing the power of his Dao Domain towards the direction where Ye Zhi Qiu's true form was located.

The chaotic light ahead suddenly intensified, like a heavy hammer, slamming into the core area of ​​the Myriad Leaves Domain, ruthlessly pushing aside and crushing all the vines, ancient trees, flowers, and dew along the way.

Ye Zhi Qiu's expression changed slightly, and he retreated swiftly. At the same time, he manipulated the power of his domain to surround Chen Fei from the side and rear, cutting off Chen Fei's retreat and trapping him deep within the domain.

However, just as she retreated and manipulated her domain to encircle Ye Zhi Qiu, a glint of light flashed in Chen Fei's eyes, locking onto Ye Zhi Qiu's slightly sluggish aura due to her retreat.

Chen Fei suddenly changed his forward momentum to leaping upwards, and at the same time, he struck out three times with his palms towards the ancient war tree below, which was serving as a temporary foothold for Ye Zhi Qiu.

"Boom boom boom!"

The three chaotic giant hands did not attack Ye Zhi Qiu himself, but rather precisely struck the key nodes of the energy channels within the domain.

The giant hand, imbued with the power of Dao Ruins and Return to Truth, has an extremely strong restraining and destructive effect on such a pure wood-elemental energy structure.

"Crack! Boom!"

The energy channel was forcibly severed and annihilated. The massive ancient war tree had its trunk cracked by a single palm strike, and its roots were shattered inch by inch by another palm strike. Its immense vitality rapidly dissipated and withered.

The final palm strike surged upwards along the residual energy channels that had been severed, causing Ye Zhi Qiu's delicate body to tremble and her aura to become chaotic. Her resonance with the entire Wan Ye Domain was also momentarily interrupted.

In that instantaneous interruption, Chen Fei moved like lightning, passing through the withered remains of the ancient tree, and appeared in front of Ye Zhi Qiu, whose aura was unstable. A condensed chaotic palm print hovered three inches in front of her brow.

The power of annihilation contained in her palm made her skin feel cold and her soul tremble.

Ye Zhi Qiu felt the deadly threat coming from between his eyebrows, and then glanced at the easily destroyed core ancient tree and the chaotic domain below. A helpless yet relieved bitter smile appeared on his face.

The opponent's domain was not only strangely defensive, but also incredibly powerful in attack and destruction. Moreover, the opponent's timing in battle was precise. My proud Myriad Leaves Domain was truly like a nemesis in front of the opponent.

"I give up," she sighed softly, decisively.

"You flatter me." Chen Fei removed his palm seal.

"Yichou area, Martial Arts Arena No. 17, winner: Chen Fei of Danchen Sect."

When Chen Fei returned to the viewing platform next to Cao Feiyu, Cao Feiyu's third match had already ended not long ago.

She was sitting cross-legged, meditating, her face even paler than before, her breath somewhat weak, and there were even several cuts on her clothes from sharp weapons, clearly indicating that she had been through a fierce battle.

Seeing Chen Fei return, she smiled slightly: "You won?"

"Ah."

Chen Fei nodded, quickly stepped forward, grasped her wrist, and channeled his pure Yuan energy into her to help her regulate her somewhat disordered internal energy. "And you? Judging from your appearance, it wasn't an easy win."

Feeling the warmth and strength from Chen Fei's palm, Cao Feiyu relaxed and gently leaned on Chen Fei's shoulder, her voice tinged with weariness:

"I encountered a double hook user who was unpredictable in his movements and ruthless in his attacks, specializing in targeting the lower body and joints."

My swordsmanship was severely countered by him, and my speed was also inferior. After hundreds of exchanges, I finally managed to see through one of his movement techniques using my Undying Aura, and narrowly won with a single move using the Meteor Chasing the Moon from the Heavenly Descent Sword Technique.

She spoke of it casually, but Chen Fei could imagine how dangerous the battle must have been.

Those who wield hooks are inherently difficult to deal with, and those with unpredictable movements and a knack for targeting vital points are even more so. Cao Feiyu's victory was due not only to her strength, but also to her quick thinking and unwavering resolve.

"You've worked hard." Chen Fei gently patted her back.

As the two were talking in hushed tones and Chen Fei was helping Cao Feiyu recover, news about the third round of battles of the other true disciples of Danchen Sect also began to arrive.

The outcome is not optimistic.

A senior sister who is skilled in musical attacks and uses her zither as a weapon encounters a cultivator from the Heavenly Puppet Sect.

The opponent commanded three metal puppets comparable to the peak of the Tai Cang Realm, forming a battle formation. Undeterred by pain or sonic attacks, they exhausted the senior sister's Yuan Power, causing her zither strings to break, ultimately leading to her defeat.

Another senior brother, who was proficient in both wind and thunder magic, encountered a true disciple of the Five Thunder Sect.

The opponent's mastery of thunder magic was extremely high, and he had even cultivated a Five Elements Divine Thunder technique, which was mutually restraining and infinitely variable. The senior brother's wind and thunder techniques were completely suppressed. After struggling for a hundred moves, he was struck by a Wood-type Divine Thunder, which paralyzed his body and caused him to fall off the field.

Thus, of the nine disciples from Danchen Sect who participated in this competition, apart from Chen Fei, Cao Feiyu, Feng Butong, and Xu Ziqian, the other five have all been eliminated in the third round.

Two of them were seriously injured, their Dao foundations damaged, and they will likely need a long time to recover.

The atmosphere in the temporary area where the Danchen Sect was located seemed somewhat tense.

The elders leading the group had solemn expressions as they urgently treated the seriously injured disciples, setting up a spirit-gathering formation and feeding them precious pills.

The Dan Chen Sect disciples who came to watch the battle gathered in small groups, talking in hushed tones, their faces mostly showing disbelief and regret.

"Senior Brother Li actually lost... His Xunfeng Zhenlei Technique has reached the level of wind and thunder generating each other, how could this be..."

"Senior Sister Zhao's sonic attacks are rarely matched among those of the same level, yet she was worn down and defeated by a few iron lumps..."

"The worst off is Senior Brother Wang, who was injured by the Five Elements Divine Lightning, his meridians are damaged, I'm afraid..."

"Sigh, who could have imagined it would turn out like this?"

"On the contrary, Senior Brother Chen Fei, Senior Sister Cao, and Senior Brother Xu all advanced."

"Yes, Senior Brother Chen Fei goes without saying, his Dao Domain is too domineering. Senior Sister Cao also won, it was really close, but she won after all. Senior Brother Xu's Po Jun is simply invincible."

"Those three, they only broke through not long ago... their talent is terrifying."

"It seems that the structure within the sect is really going to change in the future."

"I only hope they can go further and bring glory to my Danchen Sect."

The disciples' discussions also revealed the complex feelings in the hearts of many.

There was both regret and concern for the defeated fellow disciples, as well as shock and anticipation for the amazing potential shown by the advanced participants, especially Chen Fei and his two companions.

This generational shift and the impact of the new generation pushing the old aside are particularly clear and rapid on the brutal stage of the Grand Competition.

Feng Butong stood at the edge of the area, gazing at the 108 martial arts arenas still shining in the distant sky. His expression was calm, but his eyes were deep.

This result may have been slightly unexpected for him.

He was confident in his advancement and had noticed Xu Ziqian's progress, but Chen Fei and Cao Feiyu's ability to get this far and the strength and resilience they showed were truly commendable.

Chen Fei, in particular, has made a name for himself with his unique approach to expanding his Dao Domain.

The rest period passed quickly, and the 108 training arenas in the sky, shimmering with light, began the fourth round of matching.

Chen Fei's identity token once again felt warm, and new guidance information appeared: "Dingmao area, Martial Arts Arena No. 5".

"I'm going," Chen Fei said to Cao Feiyu, whose breathing had basically stabilized beside her.

"Be careful." Cao Feiyu squeezed his hand, her eyes filled with the same trust and concern as always.

Chen Fei nodded, and his figure was enveloped in golden light and teleported.

When he appeared in the No. 5 training ground in the Dingmao area and saw his opponent slowly walking out, his brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

He was a tall, ordinary-looking young man dressed in a moon-white robe. He appeared calm and composed, with a peaceful gaze and no imposing presence.

However, Chen Fei could sense that this person's body was subtly in harmony with the rules of heaven and earth, and subtle rhythms of law flowed with his breath. He seemed ordinary, but he gave people a feeling of being as deep as the ocean.

Especially when Chen Fei's gaze met the other person's, the calm and unwavering eyes that reflected everything yet contained a hint of indifference were very familiar to Chen Fei.

He had felt this kind of gaze in Feng Butong and had also vaguely seen it in Yu Jinsheng. It was the gaze of a half-step Heavenly Monarch, looking at the world from a higher perspective.

"Cheng Yingjue of Tianji Pavilion." The white-robed youth spoke, his voice gentle yet possessing a strange penetrating power, clearly reaching Chen Fei's ears and resounding throughout the entire martial arts arena.

"The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion? Is that the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, famous for its ability to deduce heavenly secrets and its array formations and restrictions?"

"Cheng Yingjue? Is that the Cheng Yingjue who was rumored to have stepped into the half-step Heavenly Monarch realm three years ago, and who has long been ranked in the top 100 on the Great Dao Ranking?"

"That's right, it's him. I saw him compete in another martial arts arena just now."

"His opponent is... Chen Fei of the Dan Chen Sect? The one who won three matches in a row using a strange Dao Domain?"

"Chen Fei versus Cheng Yingjue? Half-step Heavenly Monarch versus peak of the Tai Cang Realm? This... this means Chen Fei is going to stop here."

"It's over, Chen Fei's luck has run out. With his strength, he had a very good chance of making it into tomorrow's top 1296 if he didn't encounter a half-step Heavenly Monarch, but now..."

As Cheng Yingjue's identity was recognized, the viewing platforms surrounding the No. 5 Martial Arts Arena instantly erupted like a tsunami, bursting into a clamor and discussion.

Countless gazes focused on Chen Fei, filled with regret, sympathy, and anticipation for a good show.

After all, one is a rising star who has defeated powerful enemies with his unpredictable Dao Domain and is currently enjoying great success, while the other is a well-established veteran powerhouse who is already famous as a half-step Heavenly Monarch.

The tension and suspense surrounding this matchup were heightened the moment the pairings were announced.

Of course, in the eyes of most people, the only suspense lies in how long Chen Fei can hold out, and whether his magical Dao Domain can play a role in front of a true half-step Heavenly Monarch.

"Senior Brother Chen Fei's opponent... is actually Cheng Yingjue?"

"Half-step Celestial Lord...this is troublesome."

"Alas, what a pity. With the strength Senior Brother Chen Fei has demonstrated, as long as he doesn't encounter a half-step Heavenly Monarch beforehand, entering the top 1296 is almost a certainty, and he might even be able to aim for a higher ranking. Now..."

"In the Grand Tournament of Ten Thousand Sects, sometimes luck is more important than ability when drawing lots."

"How could it be that Senior Brother Chen Fei had to run into someone like Cheng Yingjue..."

"In any case, it seems that Senior Brother Chen Fei will have to stop here. If he can force Cheng Yingjue to reveal some of his strength, then he can still be considered to have lost with honor."

The atmosphere in the viewing area where the Danchen Sect disciples were located suddenly became heavy and regretful.

They were just thrilled by Chen Fei's strong advancement when they were suddenly faced with such a near-desperate opponent.

The difference between a half-step Heavenly Monarch and the peak of the Tai Cang Realm may seem like only a half-step, but in reality, the gap is enormous—it's a suppression at the level of rules. No matter how miraculous Chen Fei's Dao Domain is, it's ultimately achieved through trickery. How effective would it be against a true half-step Heavenly Monarch's Dao Domain?

Most of the spectators from other sects shared similar thoughts.

Chen Fei's performance in these few matches was indeed amazing, but it was still not enough in front of a true half-step Heavenly Monarch.

This duel is more like a battle where Cheng Yingjue, a veteran powerhouse, demonstrates his strength and clears away obstacles.

Chen Fei listened to the faint discussions around him, looked at the white-robed youth opposite him who was as calm as a deep pool, and a smile appeared on his face.

News of the duel spread like wildfire among the Dan Chen Sect disciples. Soon, the Dan Chen Sect disciples, who had been scattered in various places watching the battle, flocked to the viewing platform of the No. 5 Martial Arts Arena in the Dingmao area, like rivers flowing into the sea.

Even Feng Butong frowned slightly upon hearing the news. He flashed onto the platform and calmly looked into the arena.

Cao Feiyu's heart clenched when she heard the name Cheng Yingjue.

She knew Chen Fei was very strong and had many trump cards, but a half-step Heavenly Monarch was an existence that had already begun to transcend the realm of Tai Cang, a powerful being who had taken a further step within the origin of the Great Dao.

At this moment, the area around Martial Arts Arena No. 5 was already packed with people. Countless eyes were focused on the two people in the arena, waiting for the start of this duel that seemed to be a mismatch in strength, but was made even more suspenseful by Chen Fei's mysterious Dao Domain.

"Dan Chen Sect, Chen Fei." Chen Fei clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice calm and clear.

Cheng Yingjue returned the greeting, his gaze lingering on Chen Fei with a hint of inquiry and interest:

"Your name is somewhat known. Using formations as the foundation to forcibly restrain and amplify one's own understanding of the Dao... the idea is novel and audacious."

He paused, his tone carrying a hint of the composure of a senior commenting on a junior: "To have achieved this level in the Tai Cang Realm, your talent, comprehension, and even your opportunities are all top-notch. The Dan Chen Sect is truly blessed to have produced a disciple like you."

However, Cheng Yingjue's tone immediately shifted, and his gentle voice now carried a hint of the indifference and certainty of a half-step Heavenly Monarch overlooking the Tai Cang Realm:

"Unfortunately, an idea is just an idea, and a trick is just a trick. Your Dao Domain, though seemingly powerful, is actually based on a weak foundation, like a rootless duckweed, forcibly created. Against an ordinary peak Tai Cang Realm cultivator, you might gain an advantage due to the characteristics of its rules. But..."

Cheng Yingjue shook his head slightly: "The foundation is ultimately lacking. The essence of the Dao Domain lies in the profound understanding and control of the origin of the Great Dao, and in the resonance and fusion of one's own Dao with the Dao of Heaven and Earth. It cannot be replaced by array amplification or the accumulation of power."

Cheng Yingjue's words resonated with many spectators, who nodded in agreement.

The Dao Domain is the outward manifestation of one's own Great Dao, the prototype of "I am the rule." How can it be compared to being amplified by an array? No matter how miraculous Chen Fei's Dao Domain is, it would probably be crushed in the face of a half-step Heavenly Monarch.

Chen Fei showed no anger in the face of Cheng Yingjue's condescending comments.

He merely raised his eyelids slightly, looked at Cheng Yingjue, and extended his right hand, beckoning Cheng Yingjue with his palm.

What's the point of saying all that? Let's fight. The one standing is right, and the one who's wrong lies on the ground. (End of Chapter)