Cultivation starts from simplifying the exercises

Chapter 2205 How can fireflies compete with the bright moon?

Under the night sky of Huangji Tiandu, the city was brightly lit, and the hustle and bustle extended far beyond the gambling dens and street gossip. Deep within the residences of various sects and aristocratic families, another silent contest was also underway.

"This child's Dao Domain is extraordinary. It seems to rely on the amplification of the formation, but in reality, it is based on body refinement and uses the soul as the pivot. It forcibly blends the characteristics of several top-notch cultivation techniques to form its own chaotic prototype. It is both offensive and defensive, and also has the ability to annihilate and distort spacetime. Ordinary methods may not be able to break it."

In a quiet room, several elderly men dressed in star-patterned Taoist robes surrounded a jade wall that continuously played back images of the battle between Chen Fei and Cheng Yingjue, analyzing the scene with solemn expressions.

"Cheng Yingjue's Zhou Tian Xing Su Dharma Image and Shattered Star Divine Weapon are undeniably powerful, and his Heavenly Secrets Deduction can also anticipate the enemy's moves. However, when his attacks fall into that Dao Domain, seven or eight out of ten of their power are dissipated, and the opponent uses their strength against him, suppressing him step by step. It can be seen that simple power bombardment and skill changes have limited effect on this Dao Domain."

A middle-aged cultivator with a handsome face said in a deep voice.

"We must find its core weakness, or rather, its operating principle."

Another elderly woman with white hair and a youthful face stared intently at the constantly flashing silver-gray array patterns on the surface of Chen Fei's Dharma body in the image. "Look, his Dao Domain is clearly based on those silver-gray array patterns as its framework, communicating and distorting space-time to form the domain's structure."

It uses the power of primordial chaos as its flesh and blood, filling it with offensive, defensive, and annihilation properties. Then, with the undying spiritual light between its brows as its core, it governs, harmonizes, and stabilizes the domain. All three are indispensable, but perhaps the most crucial element is the array that constructs the framework!

She paused, then pointed to the area on the jade wall where the array patterns on Chen Fei's avatar's chest were flashing densely: "This array is the key to his forced fusion and amplification of his own Daoist essence, and it is also the most unstable part of this Daoist domain!"

Although his mastery of formations is high, capable of instantly setting up formations in the void using his own elemental power, it is ultimately a shortcut. The formation's structure inevitably has weaknesses, and its integration with his own power is too tight. Once the formation is disrupted or destroyed, the power of this Dao domain will be greatly reduced, and it might even backfire on him!

"What my uncle says is absolutely right!"

The middle-aged elder's eyes lit up. "We can try to use a stronger control over the rules of heaven and earth to forcibly interfere with and distort, or even partially cover the space he is in, to disrupt the connection between his formation and the primordial energy of heaven and earth, and make his formation malfunction."

Alternatively, one could use a secret technique or magical artifact specifically designed to counter spatial formations, arrays, or soul connections to attack its array nodes and spiritual core. As long as the foundation of its array can be shaken, this Dao Domain will crumble without a fight!

"Excellent! Immediately organize this method and send it to all disciples who are about to participate in the competition. In addition, focus on searching and analyzing the moment before his battle with Cheng Yingjue, when his aura suddenly surged and the Dharma Image array patterns lit up brightly—that's the key!"

"Perhaps it's a sign that he's forcibly stimulating the grain, or perhaps it's some kind of special state. Find its pattern or the price!" the old woman declared definitively.

Similar analyses and discussions unfolded in various hidden places throughout Tiandu.

Outside the quiet room where Jin Sheng was located at the Burning Heaven Valley's encampment, several black-robed cultivators with a chilling aura stood solemnly, bringing in a jade slip that recorded details of Chen Fei's battle.

A moment later, a cold laugh echoed from inside the room: "Forcibly combining them with an array? Taking shortcuts is ultimately a lowly approach. Before the true Heaven-Burning Fire, all illusions turn to ashes."

Inside an ice crystal palace within the Ice Soul Divine Palace, Ling Qingxue, dressed in pristine white, quietly watched the battle footage replaying in the ice mirror before her. Her exquisite face was devoid of joy or sorrow, except for a faint hint of interest that flickered deep within her icy blue eyes.

"Time and space, void, inspiration... an interesting combination. I wonder if it can freeze your time and space, and freeze your void?"

At the Heavenly Battle Sect's headquarters, Zhan Wuji's towering figure resembled an iron tower. He did not watch the images but simply closed his eyes to regulate his breathing, his fighting spirit burning like a raging fire.

"To be able to overcome skill with brute force and withstand the half-step Heavenly Monarch Dharma Form...that's not bad!"

Deep within the royal palace, Yuwen Xuan toyed with a purple-gold jade pendant, listening to his subordinate's report, a faint smile playing on his lips: "The Danchen Sect... has indeed produced two interesting figures. However, how can the light of a firefly compete with the brilliance of the moon?"

Besides these top-tier forces, many more mid-to-upper-tier sects and families are also intensely studying the tactics of their various opponents, trying to find a glimmer of hope for victory.

That night, Huangji Tiandu remained immersed in a strange and excited state.

There was no curfew, no silence. The wide streets were still bustling with people. Restaurants and teahouses were packed with guests, playing drinking games and engaging in lively conversation.

The market was brightly lit, and all sorts of rare and precious items that hadn't been examined closely during the day still attracted countless eyes.

Many cultivators even gathered in groups of three or five in the streets, alleys, and open squares, enthusiastically discussing the day's battle and speculating about tomorrow's outcome. The air was filled with a mixture of Dao crystals and excitement.

For practitioners, going without sleep is commonplace, especially during such a grand event, where the heightened mental excitement and abundant vital energy are enough to dispel all fatigue.

Many lower-level cultivators seized this rare opportunity to sense the subtle Daoist principles revealed in the battles of the top geniuses during the day, or to exchange ideas in discussions, hoping to gain some insights.

As the first hint of dawn breaks on the eastern horizon, and the golden light of sunrise pierces through the clouds, once again draping the majestic Imperial Capital in a glorious cloak, a new day has finally arrived.

"Boom!"

A bell tolled from beyond the heavens, resounding throughout the entire Imperial Capital, instantly silencing all the clamor.

Then came the second, the third… a total of nine chimes, each one louder and more awe-inspiring than the last, awakening the great city.

"The Grand Competition of Ten Thousand Sects, Day Two, officially begins!"

As that familiar and majestic voice resounded through the heavens and earth once again, the 108 golden celestial martial arts arenas above the Huangji Hall in the center of Huangji Heavenly Capital began to change!

The light from the seventy-two training grounds quickly dimmed and contracted, eventually transforming into seventy-two streams of light that flew back into the depths of the Imperial Palace and disappeared.

The remaining thirty-six training grounds shone brightly, their size seemed to expand slightly, their suspended height decreased slightly, and the distance between them increased, making each training ground more independent and conspicuous.

They are arranged in a mysterious pattern, guarding the central Hall of Supreme Harmony, like thirty-six of the most brilliant stars.

"The number of training grounds has been reduced to thirty-six! This is to ensure that every duel is as visible as possible to everyone!"

"Indeed, today's battle is fought by the elite of the elite. Their duel is more enlightening for our cultivation, so we must let people see it clearly."

"Look! The lottery has started!"

In the sky, from the center of the thirty-six martial arts arenas, countless golden streaks of light shot out once again, flying towards the area where the advanced practitioners were gathered below, just like yesterday.

Cao Feiyu's identity token lit up with golden light first, and a new guide appeared in the Jiazi area, Martial Arts Arena No. 3.

Immediately afterwards, Chen Fei's identity token also radiated warmth, and golden light enveloped him in the Yichou area, the No. 18 Martial Arts Arena.

Yichou area, No. 18 Martial Arts Arena.

Chen Fei's figure solidified in the martial arts arena, facing a giant man nearly ten feet tall with bronze skin.

He wore only a simple leather armor on his upper body, exposing most of his chest, which was covered with various claw marks from wild beasts and scars left by weapons, exuding a wild and powerful aura.

Instead of holding common knives, spears, or halberds, he was carrying a giant bronze cauldron with three legs and two handles that was half a head taller than him.

The bronze cauldron was obviously incredibly heavy, but when the giant held it in his hands, it felt as light as a feather, and a faint heat emanated from its mouth.

"Mountain Moving Sect, Tie Li," the giant man announced in a voice like muffled thunder.

However, when he saw the face of the person opposite him clearly, his originally fierce and confident eyes froze instantly, and the corner of his mouth even twitched.

The Mountain Moving Sect is renowned for its expertise in moving mountains and tempering the body. Its sect-defining technique in the Tai Cang Realm, the Mountain Moving and Mountain Refining Technique, is also a top-grade sixteenth-level body-refining technique.

Tie Li's strength is undeniable, having reached this point. He is among the best in the peak of the Tai Cang Realm, especially with his brute strength and defense, which are rarely matched.

However, standing opposite him was Chen Fei.

Yesterday, he was the rebellious prodigy who used his strange Dao Domain to confront the half-step Heavenly Monarch Dharma Form and shatter it!

Although Tie Li was confident, he was by no means blind. He was well aware of the gap between himself and someone like Cheng Yingjue, who was at the half-step Heavenly Monarch level.

Chen Fei's ability to defeat Cheng Yingjue means that Cheng's strength is definitely superior to his own.

"This is... a huge problem." Tie Li inwardly groaned, but his face didn't show much fear; only his eyes became extremely serious.

He took a deep breath, and the Mountain-Moving and Mountain-Refining Technique was running wildly within his body. Under his bronze skin, faint mountain phantoms flowed, and his aura suddenly rose to its peak. He held the huge bronze cauldron horizontally in front of him and assumed a defensive posture.

He knew that if he launched a preemptive attack against Chen Fei, he might die even faster.

Only by first maintaining a stable defense can we perhaps find a weakness, or hold out until the opponent's Dao Domain is greatly depleted, thus giving us a glimmer of hope.

Chen Fei took in the changes in the other party's expression, but his heart remained unmoved. He simply cupped his hands in a calm gesture and said, "Dan Chen Sect, Chen Fei."

"Please!" Tie Li's voice was hoarse, and he was completely focused.

"The competition begins!"

Almost the instant the verdict was pronounced, Chen Fei moved.

He made no attempt to probe, nor did he change his strategy because of his opponent's cautious defense.

The best way to deal with this kind of body cultivator is to crush them head-on with absolute power and rules, and finish the battle quickly.

"Buzz!"

A chaotic light rose from Chen Fei's body, and silver-gray spacetime array patterns flashed and disappeared in the void.

The chaotic Dao Domain that enveloped him unfolded once more.

The moment his Dao Domain unfolded, Tie Li felt himself sinking into a quagmire. The surrounding space became viscous and heavy, and the space itself slightly distorted, causing his movements to slow down by thirty percent.

"Is this the Dao Domain?"

Tie Li was horrified and dared not be careless. He roared and swung the giant bronze cauldron in his hand. It transformed into a thick, dark golden light screen, completely protecting his body.

The beast patterns on the cauldron lit up, exuding a defensive aura as solid as a mountain and as impregnable as a fortress. Furthermore, strands of earthy yellow qi overflowed from the cauldron, combining with the illusory mountain shadows on his body to form a double layer of protection.

Chen Fei took a step forward and appeared directly in front of Tie Li's bronze cauldron light screen, throwing a punch at the thick defense.

Chaotic mist condensed on the fist, without dazzling light, but carrying a terrifying Daoist charm that could shatter all laws.

"Boom!"

The fist and the cauldron collided, unleashing a deep, resounding boom. Tie Li felt an indescribable, eerie force penetrate the cauldron and his protective aura, slamming into his body.

His double defense, which was strong enough to withstand the bombardment of magic weapons of the same level, quickly dimmed and disintegrated the moment it came into contact with the chaotic mist of his fist.

The bronze cauldron groaned under its own weight, and the animal patterns on its body dimmed.

Tie Li's arms trembled violently, his tiger's mouth split open, and blood flowed freely. He was shaken back seven or eight steps by the force, leaving deep footprints on the ground. His blood and qi surged, and his internal organs were shaken.

"What terrifying power!"

Tie Li was shocked. The opponent's punch was not only incredibly powerful, but also contained a strange property that could erode and disintegrate defenses. His own defenses were so vulnerable in front of it.

Before he could regain his footing, Chen Fei's second move had already arrived.

Chen Fei instantly closed in, his fingers forming a sword shape. A point of chaotic spiritual light, condensed to its extreme, was pointed at Tie Li's chest, which was slightly exposed due to his retreat, and struck out with lightning speed.

This seemingly casual gesture actually incorporates the true meaning of the Dao Domain's Return to Nothingness and the acceleration of time and space, resulting in incredible speed and unpredictable trajectory.

"Move mountains and suppress peaks!"

Tie Li was terrified. In his haste, he held the bronze cauldron horizontally in front of him and simultaneously activated the Mountain Moving and Mountain Refining Technique with all his might. The illusory mountain images on his body solidified, attempting to withstand the attack head-on.

"laugh!"

A chaotic light emanated from his fingertip and struck the weakest point in the bronze cauldron's defenses, a point where Tie Li's blood and qi flowed. There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a slight cracking sound.

The protective light barrier of the bronze cauldron shattered instantly, and the chaotic spiritual light pierced through the cauldron and entered Tie Li's chest.

Tie Li trembled violently, as if struck by lightning. The illusory mountain-like figures on his body collapsed instantly, his face turned deathly pale, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. His aura weakened at a visible speed.

The chaotic spiritual light not only severely damaged his physical body, but also had an annihilating force invade his meridians, frantically disrupting the circulation of his Yuan energy.

Chen Fei moved again, appearing in front of Tie Li who was staggering backward, and lightly struck out with his right palm.

This palm strike, seemingly powerless, actually contained the final restraint and suppression of the power of the Dao Domain.

Despair filled Tie Li's eyes. He wanted to dodge and block, but due to his severe injuries, his movements were much slower. He could only watch helplessly as the palm was imprinted on his dantian.

"puff!"

A gentle yet overwhelming force penetrated his body, not to destroy, but to instantly seal the remaining Yuan energy in his dantian. A strange shockwave spread throughout his body, making his muscles and bones weak and causing him to completely lose control of his body.

"I... admit defeat..."

Tie Li managed to utter three words before collapsing to the ground, the massive bronze cauldron in his hand crashing to the ground with a clang.

From start to finish, Chen Fei only used three moves.

One move breaks through the defense, one move inflicts serious injury, and three moves seal the opponent's defenses. The moves are swift and decisive, without any unnecessary delays.

He didn't even use a stronger version of the Heaven and Earth Manifestation Technique, nor did he unleash the Heaven-Turning Seal. Relying solely on the blessing of his Dao Domain and his own exquisite control of power, he easily defeated a formidable peak Body Refinement Grand Cang Realm expert. (End of Chapter)