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"Boom!"
Xu Taiping's blade clashed once again with Ye Xuan's sword.
The collision of sword and blade, accompanied by the slicing sound of their auras, echoed across the Sword Control Platform.
This time, however, Xu Taiping's blade snapped with a "crack".
Ye Xuan's sword, forged from superior mysterious iron compared to Xu Taiping's long blade, was no surprise in breaking the latter.
Xu Taiping had anticipated this.
In the instant his blade broke, his left fist, embodying the might of a bull's horn, thundered towards Ye Xuan with a "boom".
Ye Xuan, far from blocking, simply smirked, allowing Xu Taiping's punch to descend.
"Boom!"
Just as Xu Taiping's fist was about to shatter the protective aura around Ye Xuan.
A burst of fierce flames erupted around Ye Xuan, shielding him from the punch and engulfing Xu Taiping in flames.
In a blink, Xu Taiping turned into a fiery figure.
"Dragon Flame Technique?!" Zhao Linglong exclaimed in shock.
If she wasn't mistaken, the fiery aura around Ye Xuan was from the Dragon Flame Technique, one of the Qingxuan Sect's three major Qi Refining Heart Techniques.
"Last time at the Seven Peaks competition, they obtained the Dragon Flame Technique. Once cultivated to its first major stage, it offers such protective power," Qingxiao nodded gravely.
He wasn't surprised that Ye Xuan had reached the first major stage of the Dragon Flame Technique.
"How should Taiping counter this?" He pondered, frowning.
"Boom!"
To the surprise of the disciples watching, Xu Taiping, unfazed by the flames, continued his assault, unleashing the Charging Bull Formation.
From afar, he resembled a fiery bull, fiercely charging at Ye Xuan.
"Taiping is doing what?" Qingxiao's brows furrowed.
He knew the Dragon Flame Qi wasn't true fire, but its power surpassed ordinary flames. If Xu Taiping left it unchecked, he would surely be burned.
"Crack!"
Just when everyone thought Xu Taiping had lost his mind, he emerged from an ice shell, unscathed, continuing his relentless assault on Ye Xuan.
His fists never faltered.
"I forgot, Taiping can use the Xuan Ice Armor of the Fading Sunset Scripture," Qingxiao sighed in relief, admiring Xu Taiping's quick decision-making.
This seemingly reckless move granted him the opportunity to execute the Charging Bull Formation.
Once its momentum builds, it's hard to suppress.
"Bang, bang, bang!"
Ye Xuan was overwhelmed.
Facing Xu Taiping's escalating punches, faster and stronger each time, even with his Dragon Flame Technique and swordsmanship, he found no opportunity to counter, passively defending with his Dragon Flame Qi.
"Crack!"
"Boom!"
After shattering the third Xuan Ice Armor, Xu Taiping's Charging Bull Formation reached its 108th punch.
"Boom!"
The long-awaited punch, without hesitation, carrying the force of over a hundred punches, slammed into Ye Xuan.
"Boom!"
The punch shattered Ye Xuan's Dragon Flame Protective Qi and struck him hard.
"Boom!"
Ye Xuan was sent flying amidst a cloud of dust.
The sudden turn left many cultivators in shock.
Those disciples found the scene almost unreal.
Ye Xuan, a prominent figure among the Qingxuan Sect's new disciples, was now reeling.
"Finding the opportunity in the opponent's weakness and executing 108 punches, his timing, courage, and mastery of the Green Bull Fist were all precisely calculated. Is this really the naive boy from back then?" Qingxiao was equally astonished.
"Clang!"
As Ye Xuan was about to be thrown off the platform, he planted his sword into the ground, halting his retreat.
Some keen observers noticed Ye Xuan appeared disheveled but unhurt.
After all, that was Xu Taiping's mightiest blow.
"Boom!"
Just when people were pondering how Ye Xuan managed that, his aura suddenly surged, revealing the air of the Gazing Abyss Realm.
Golden flames, like ripples on water, began to cover his body, resembling armor woven from fire.
"He's wearing the Dragon Flame Armor!" Qingxiao realized.
"In just three years, he's advanced the Dragon Flame Technique to its second major stage."
His expression turned solemn.
Only at the second major stage can the Dragon Flame Qi form the Dragon Flame Armor, akin to Xu Taiping's Xuan Ice Armor but far more formidable.
"Linglong, doesn't this mean Taiping's Green Bull Fist is ineffective against him?" Zhao Linglong grew anxious.
She knew of the Dragon Flame Armor's strength. Ordinary martial arts, and even some powerful techniques, could hardly breach it, only sword cultivators' flying swords posed a threat.
"Unless Taiping's punches become faster and stronger," Qingxiao said gravely.
However, he knew well that Xu Taiping had nearly exhausted the potential of the Green Bull Fist. Becoming faster and stronger was near impossible.
***
On the platform, Xu Taiping didn't pursue Ye Xuan.
Sensing the Dragon Flame Armor on Ye Xuan during his final punch of the Charging Bull Formation, he knew ordinary fists could no longer harm Ye Xuan.
Glancing at his hands, the one without the cloth was covered in burn marks, painful to the slightest touch. The other hand, although better, had its silkworm cloth mostly burnt.
"More troublesome than the Golden Bell Shield."
Xu Taiping looked towards Ye Xuan, who was standing up, murmuring to himself.
As he spoke, he removed the silkworm cloth from his hands.
He then paced, contemplating his next move while facing Ye Xuan.
"Is that all you've got?" Ye Xuan dusted off, giving Xu Taiping a cold glance.
He too paced, observing Xu Taiping as if appraising his prey.