Undying Life

Chapter 871: A Hair's Breadth Away

"Don't worry, it's just a sparring match. I won't take your life!" Cheng Baiyi said with a wicked smile.

Cheng Baiyi's words were laden with provocation, instantly drawing the attention of all the cultivators near Ghost Island. Their anxiety over being unable to break the formation was momentarily forgotten in the face of this new spectacle.

At this moment, Zhong Shan's eyes narrowed as he focused on Cheng Baiyi. This wasn't a negotiation; it was a forced demand. Sparring? Between members of different factions, in front of so many spectators? What was Cheng Baiyi really after?

"Who is Zhong Shan?"

"Are you from the underworld? You don't know Zhong Shan? He's the Saint King of Daeng! He recently killed a great immortal with a single palm strike!"

"Killed a great immortal with one palm? Is he also a great immortal? Peak level?"

"No, the rumors say he's only at the second level of heavenly immortality. But his palm strike is incredibly powerful. No one knows how he did it, but the fact remains that he killed a great immortal with one blow."

"Second level of heavenly immortality? He's doomed! Cheng Baiyi is a renowned powerhouse from Zixiao Dojo."

"Why does Cheng Baiyi want to spar with Zhong Shan here?"

"Does he want to kill Zhong Shan?"

"No, Cheng Baiyi said he won't take Zhong Shan's life."

"And you believe him?"

...

The crowd buzzed with speculation, but one thing was certain: Cheng Baiyi's "sparring match" had piqued everyone's curiosity.

"Cheng Baiyi, what are you trying to do? Do you want to make an enemy of Taichu? Not long ago, the Saintess of Zixiao was in danger, and Zhong Shan saved her with all his might. Have you forgotten that so quickly? Or do you want to see the Saintess dead because you missed your chance and now want to take it out on Zhong Shan?" Nine-Tailed Princess suddenly shouted.

"Wow!"

Nine-Tailed Princess's words caused another uproar. Despite her somewhat overbearing nature, she was very intelligent. Otherwise, she wouldn't have earned Su Afu's respect in Qingqiu, nor would she have recognized Zhong Shan's abilities at a glance.

With her words, Nine-Tailed Princess highlighted that Zhong Shan had just saved the Zixiao Saintess, making Cheng Baiyi's current actions seem ungrateful and malicious. Furthermore, she implied that Cheng Baiyi had wanted the Saintess dead, and now sought to blame Zhong Shan for her survival.

In an instant, Cheng Baiyi's reputation plummeted in everyone's eyes. Even if these words reached Zixiao Dojo, it would tarnish his image, especially in the eyes of Zixun, making her even more displeased with him.

Cheng Baiyi's eyes widened in anger as he said deeply, "I said I won't take Zhong Shan's life. I just want to spar."

"Why now? Why not say this half a month ago?" Zhong Shan said calmly.

Nine-Tailed Princess's remarks had swayed many people to Zhong Shan's side, creating a momentum that made it seem like Zhong Shan had the upper hand. Zhong Shan seized this moment to question Cheng Baiyi.

"No reason. I just want the world to see whether your palm strike is stronger or mine!" Cheng Baiyi sneered.

Cheng Baiyi's goal was not only to show the world but more importantly, to prove to Zixun that he was far stronger than Zhong Shan. Even though Zixun couldn't see this now, she would know in the future. Cheng Baiyi wanted Zixun to understand his superiority over Zhong Shan.

Today, this palm strike was going to happen, no matter what.

Zhong Shan looked deeply at Cheng Baiyi, as if seeing through his determination. Without wasting more words, Zhong Shan said with great composure, "Since Daoist Cheng Baiyi is so eager to test, let's give it a try."

"Spar? Are you serious?"

In that moment, everything fell silent. Everyone was stunned, eyes wide with disbelief. Sparring? Zhong Shan actually wanted to spar?

A second-level heavenly immortal against someone who seemed like an ancient immortal?

For the first time, people understood what it meant to court death. A heavenly immortal against an ancient immortal?

"Has the Saint King of Daeng lost his mind?"

"Who knows, this is strange. Cheng Baiyi's strength is well-known, while Zhong Shan, no matter how strong, is still just a heavenly immortal."

...

No one believed in Zhong Shan.

"Zhong Shan, have you gone mad? Sparring with him? He faced off against the Demon Chess Saint last time!" A-Fo exclaimed.

"Yes, Zhong Shan, are you alright? He's an ancient immortal. No matter how strong you are, you can't defeat him across two realms. He's trying to humiliate you!" Nine-Tailed Princess said anxiously.

"He's not an ancient immortal yet," Zhong Shan shook his head.

"Not an ancient immortal yet? How do you know?" Nine-Tailed Princess asked, eyes filled with doubt.

"He's at most at the peak of great immortal. The last time he faced off against the Demon Chess Saint, it was because the Chess Saint had just broken through to ancient immortal and hadn't fully adapted yet. He couldn't see through Cheng Baiyi at the time!" Zhong Shan said confidently.

"Are you sure?" Nine-Tailed Princess asked, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes.

"I'm sure!" Zhong Shan replied firmly.

Zhong Shan was so certain because he had observed Cheng Baiyi closely. In Su Daji's tomb, Zhong Shan's cultivation was only at the fourth level of heavenly immortality. After swallowing the powerful Sea Shark clan member and the great immortal artifact half a month ago, he had reached the fifth level of heavenly immortality.

This was a qualitative leap. The outside world still believed him to be at the second level of heavenly immortality.

Such a drastic change, if revealed, would shock everyone. After all, every step in an immortal's cultivation was incredibly arduous.

To see through someone's cultivation, one must surpass them by two realms. This meant only an ancient immortal could truly see Zhong Shan's cultivation level, even his foundational bone structure.

Zhong Shan's seemingly fragile yet powerful foundational bone would astonish any ancient immortal. If such a foundational bone could break through so quickly, it would certainly draw their attention. The last time the leader of Zixiao saw Zhong Shan's cultivation, his pupils had contracted and his brows furrowed.

But Cheng Baiyi didn't react. Even half a month ago, seeing Zhong Shan's breakthrough, he showed no response.

This indicated that Cheng Baiyi was not an ancient immortal. He was merely a great immortal with access to unique immortal techniques, artifacts, or experiences from Zixiao Dojo.

A great immortal? As long as he wasn't an ancient immortal, Zhong Shan never feared them!

Zhong Shan and Cheng Baiyi's "sparring match" attracted countless onlookers. This was a clash between two different power levels. Would it go as people expected?

The Saint King of Daeng was a respected king, after all!

People watched with anticipation. On a distant island peak, Sima Qianjun stood with a group.

"Hasn't the little prince and Second Uncle arrived yet?" Sima Qianjun frowned.

"It might take some more time. The little prince hasn't finished his matters," a servant replied.

"That's a pity. They'll miss the grand spectacle," Sima Qianjun clicked his tongue.

As he spoke, a surge of resentment flashed in Sima Qianjun's eyes. The humiliation he suffered from Zhong Shan erupted, and he stared into the distance, hoping Cheng Baiyi would kill Zhong Shan with one strike.

On the distant horizon, the two men faced each other coldly. Nine-Tailed Princess, A-Fo, and Hong Xiao had all stepped back, wishing Zhong Shan well.

"You go first, lest people think I'm bullying you!" Cheng Baiyi said with a faint smile.

The onlookers were speechless. An 'ancient immortal' sparring with a heavenly immortal—what fairness was there to speak of? But the crowd, here for the Five-Colored Divine Stone, wasn't exactly filled with paragons of justice, so they watched with a sense of amusement.

Only Su Afu and Nine-Tailed Princess showed deep disdain in their eyes.

Zhong Shan did not hesitate. With his fifth-level heavenly immortal strength, his Sky-Opening Palm had become even more formidable. With a slight step forward, his right palm seemed to gather strength as he slowly extended it. As his palm moved, it shone with a silver light, enveloped in clouds and smoke, with countless runes swirling around it.

As Zhong Shan launched his palm, a gigantic handprint, thousands of feet tall, materialized in the void, identical to Zhong Shan's right palm. It grew more solid and powerful, emitting a terrifying aura that seemed to press the sea surface downward, causing towering waves in the distance.

This terrifying palm strike rushed straight at Cheng Baiyi.

Cheng Baiyi's eyes narrowed. He knew Zhong Shan's palm was strong but hadn't expected it to be this powerful—far beyond what a heavenly immortal should be capable of. How could he produce such a powerful strike?

Not daring to delay, Cheng Baiyi mirrored Zhong Shan's move, launching his own palm strike. In the void, a white palm materialized.

One white, one silver—the colors were almost the same, but Zhong Shan's palm had a metallic sheen and countless runes swirling around it.

"Boom!"

A thunderous explosion shook the sea, sending waves crashing wildly. The impact was so great it seemed to scatter the dark clouds in the sky.

The two palms collided and held each other in a stalemate. Both men were testing each other's limits, their palm strength continuously rising.

Cheng Baiyi's eyes were filled with astonishment, but also with madness. His powerful palm technique, using 80% of his peak great immortal strength, couldn't overcome Zhong Shan. But he believed Zhong Shan had reached his limit.

With bloodshot eyes, Cheng Baiyi exerted more force, pushing his white palm against Zhong Shan's silver palm.

At that moment, Zhong Shan seemed to be fueled by a fierce anger. He intended to use this opportunity to make a statement.

Demonic Body Tempering! Seventh Level!

Eightfold strength. As Zhong Shan's eyes widened, his entire body swelled, and his terrifying power surged. The force of his right palm increased dramatically.

The terrifying palm, now eight times stronger, caused Cheng Baiyi's face to change drastically.

Meanwhile, on a distant island, Sima Qianjun held a long bow, nocking a golden arrow, aiming directly at Zhong Shan.

"Young master, that's a great immortal artifact. If you launch a sneak attack, even an ancient immortal might not intercept it in time. If it hits Zhong Shan, how will you explain it to the Saint King?" a servant exclaimed.

"I want Zhong Shan dead!" Sima Qianjun said venomously.

With those words, Sima Qianjun released the arrow. The golden arrow flew at the speed of light, aiming straight for Zhong Shan's vital point.

"Whoosh!"

The arrow moved too fast, reaching Zhong Shan's back in an instant, just as Zhong Shan was exerting full force against Cheng Baiyi, leaving him no time to defend his rear.