CHAPTER 244: AGAINST A YOUNG HEAVENLY GOD [1]

The Martial Ancestor’s gaze lingered on Yu Xuan, his tone deepening heavy with meaning.

"Child," he said quietly, "this... is me from my younger days. You are to defeat it. But believe me, even with your astonishing abilities, I think this may well be impossible."

A low hum filled the air as the golden-winged figure’s aura pulsed, distorting space itself.

Yet the Ancestor’s expression carried something more than just warning — it carried thought, hesitation, and perhaps... concern.

The potential Yu Xuan displayed had already gone beyond every disciple he had ever seen. It was as if Heaven itself favored this boy and that too like on a massive level.

’If he inherits my path, he will soar, but that same brilliance will draw too many eyes.’ the Martial Ancestor thought.

Too many enemies, simply because, he had too many enemies himself who seek his downfall.

The Martial Ancestor even though of searching the Heavenly Human Token for Yu Xuan, bring the protection of the remaining Heavenly Humans and a chance to become one.

But that too had a trial, if Yu Xuan survived it, he could become not only the sect’s greatest disciple but also a pillar of the Human Race itself.

Because even the Heaven Immortal Sect had enemies it could not face openly. Giving such a reckless child both power and and his legacy... was that a right thing to do or a disaster?

The Martial Ancestor’s sigh was deep and tired.

Even now, the "final trial" he had arranged was one he himself considered impossible.

A challenge meant to humble Yu Xuan.

Truly, he was a god of complex thoughts.

Across from him, Yu Xuan looked at the figure of the Martial Ancestor’s youth — the very embodiment of perfected martial will.

The air rippled around the golden warrior, bending and distorting as his aura rose to oppressive levels.

Yu Xuan’s gaze sharpened.

If he wanted to become stronger in less time, he would need this legacy.

"I’m ready," he said, his tone steady, resolute.

The Martial Ancestor looked at him for a long time.

He could still stop this but...

"...Forget it," he whispered to himself.

With a single wave of his sleeve, the world shifted.

The floating realm warped into a boundless martial ground.

On one side stood Yu Xuan, his robes fluttering.

On the other, the young Martial Ancestor, radiant and divine, his nine golden wings spread wide like a judgment from Heaven.

"I wish you luck," the Martial Ancestor said softly.

At that moment, the younger Martial Ancestor opened his eyes.

Twin golden irises ignited with terrifying clarity — alive, intelligent, and utterly focused.

The air froze.

And a Young Heavenly God stared back at Yu Xuan.

***

The Young Heavenly God did not waste a breath.

In the next instant, his figure blurred, space bent and he appeared directly before Yu Xuan.

His fist, wreathed in blinding gold, swung forward with the purity might.

Yu Xuan met it head on, his own fists wrapped in an dark radiance.

Boom!

Shockwaves split the air, cracking the martial ground beneath their feet.

Golden and Dark fist collided.

Yu Xuan’s eyes narrowed. His black and white pupils glowed, and from them burst twin beams of annihilation.

The light cut through, but before it could strike, the Heavenly God’s wings flared open, nine pairs of golden feathers that shimmered like suns.

They blocked the beams, though slightly pushed back.

Yu Xuan raised an eyebrow.

That speed... He hadn’t even seen the motion. It was literally faster than light.

A tide of darkness erupted from him, an ocean of deathly intent rolling outward to devour everything.

The heavens dimmed.

Yet the young god only extended his hand. Golden energy, divine and absolute — surged outward, forming a barrier of radiance that held the darkness at bay.

Yu Xuan wasn’t surprised. He already knew why it didn’t work.

His current body had not fully developed; he had yet to unlock the full potential of his physique.

So the power of Darkness he could unleash was limited.

And his opponent too, was extraordinary.

Still, that didn’t mean he couldn’t make it interesting.

He stepped forward, gathering every subtle thread of force into a single motion.

His punch came out slow, almost casual. No burst of light, no sound, no aura.

And yet—

Bang!

The Young Heavenly God was forced back a full step.

It was [The Formless Martial Path] — his martial technique that erased all traces of intent, returning the strike to pure, unshaped essence.

Yu Xuan had never used it, at its full potential.

For the first time, the young god’s expression shifted, faintly intrigued.

Then, without warning, he vanished again.

Space folded.

When he reappeared, he was already mid-swing.

A golden fist shot toward Yu Xuan’s chest, followed by another, and another.

A barrage.

Yu Xuan’s body responded instinctively — each counterpunch flowed like water, dissolving the force and redirecting it.

Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom!

Each collision sounded like thunder tearing through the realm.

Light warped, and still neither backed away.

From afar, even the Martial Ancestor’s and the other watching their eyes gleamed with rare admiration.

Two figures —one divine, one mortal— collided again and again, their strikes creating shockwaves.

Both of them were studying the other.

Neither had gone all out. Neither had used true techniques.

It was raw, primal combat — body and will against body and will.

But eventually, the balance began to tilt.

Yu Xuan was losing.

No matter how perfectly he flowed, how carefully he controlled his Qi and blood, the difference was clear — his body was weaker than his opponent.

The Young Heavenly God’s body was a more developed than his.

And yet Yu Xuan didn’t falter.

He smiled faintly, the corner of his lips lifting despite being forced back.

"Alright," he muttered, his tone casual.

"I think I’ve seen enough."

The Young Heavenly God tilted his head slightly, as though acknowledging the statement.

Their next exchange would no longer be mere testing.

It would be the beginning, of true battle.

***

Yu Xuan had been watching the Young Heavenly God for some time now, not out of hesitation, but study.

Every motion, every shift of energy, he dissected quietly.

He wasn’t observing the man, he was observing the mechanism of his existence.

The way divine energy flowed through the body, the pulse of intent that moved with each strike, even the rhythm of his soul.

His [Immortal’s Gaze] had been quite helpful in that aspect.

He still remembered the updated description from when he had upgraded it once:

[Skill: Immortal’s Gaze (SS+) (Upgradable)]

You can briefly overwhelm someone one realm above you. Now grants laser vision, as well as the ability to see through obstacles such as closed doors and even bodies. Use wisely.

But now that power had been devoured and reborn within his black and white eyes.

His dual vision had swallowed the gaze entirely, inheriting every ability it once held.

To that, he even used his trait [Soul Vision].

Yu Xuan merged them all into one overwhelming faculty of perception.

It strained him, yes, but the insight it granted was worth the cost.

And what he saw was extraordinary.

The Young Heavenly God’s body, energy, intent, and soul were all in perfect synchronisation.

Every attack wasn’t merely a punch, it was a trinity of strikes: physical, spiritual, and soul force acting in unison.

Yu Xuan found this fascinating.

Maybe it was a racial trait, a Divine ability, or a self perfected martial harmony technique, but understanding it meant he could now counter it.

And once again, his other trait [Adaptive Mind] worked in the background.

He exhaled once, then moved.

His fist shot forward, cloaked in quiet darkness.

The Young Heavenly God met it easily, raising one arm to block.

That was what Yu Xuan wanted.

With his free hand, he seized the Young Heavenly God’s forearm and pulled, using the opponent’s strength against him.

The shift of gravity, the angle of his hip, perfect – as he had to adjust being smaller in size compared to his opponent.

The divine figure, towering and radiant, was suddenly flipped head over heels.

In the same motion, Yu Xuan slammed him into the ground.

But before the impact could settle, the nine pairs of golden wings flared open, rooting themselves into the earth like divine spears, halting the momentum entirely.

Yu Xuan only smiled faintly.

He had expected that.

Then, with no warning, space behind him trembled and a crimson arc tore through the air.

It appeared from nowhere, a blood red slash of pure destruction, cutting straight toward the Young Heavenly God.

The Young Heavenly God’s armour ignited with divine light, sigils blooming across its surface.

A colossal golden shield materialised before him, intercepting the slash with a deafening clang!

The impact burst outward like a sun being born, golden and red energy colliding, staining the world in their colours.

Light filled the air.

Yu Xuan’s eyes gleamed through the haze, black on one side, white on the other.