CHAPTER 108: CHAPTER 108: TREADING ON SNOW WITHOUT A TRACE

Chen Guan was not polite. Being polite at this moment would actually be seen as offensive.

With a movement of his steps, Chen Guan directly employed the Senluo Ghost Step. His figure suddenly accelerated, pointing with his finger as if wielding a sword towards Xue Wuhen.

"Not bad at all, your Body Technique Secret Skill," Hua Wulei said with a smile, though there was little sincerity in her tone.

For ordinary people, the Senluo Ghost Step was already considered a very good Secret Skill; its lone piece quality was relatively high.

However, for the four—Feng, Hua, Xue, and Yue—they had made ample preparations before retraining and naturally prepared top-tier Secret Skills for themselves upon retraining.

Xue Wuhen was proficient in more than one Unparalleled quality Body and Stepping Technique Secret Skill, each practiced to Level 10. Together with his self-created Technique "Snow-Stepping Traceless" under the guidance of the Lotus Temple Master, he had few equals in the art of Lightweight Body Technique at the same level.

The Senluo Ghost Step, such a lone piece Secret Skill, was only trained to Level 3 by Chen Guan, so it was naturally incomparable.

Therefore, Hua Wulei didn’t think Chen Guan could win; she was only watching to see how Xue Wuhen would win.

According to Xue Wuhen’s past personality, he would only stop once his opponent was utterly exhausted.

The other disciples thought the same and were waiting to see the spectacle unfold.

With a shift of his steps, Xue Wuhen used a Stepping Technique Secret Skill, calmly and composedly dodging Chen Guan’s attack with ease, his hands still clasped behind his back, exuding an air of effortless grace akin to an Immortal.

Xue Wuhen had no intention of counterattacking, merely moving towards Chen Guan with his Stepping Technique, not even reaching out his hands.

This move was anticipated by many Daoists and Daoist nuns who whispered to themselves, "It’s starting... the tormenting moment is about to begin..."

Xue Wuhen’s Stepping Technique was swift. As Chen Guan attacked again, he slid his foot as if skating on ice, moving to Chen Guan’s side and almost reaching his back.

Once Xue Wuhen reached behind him, he’d stick to Chen Guan like a shadow, always moving outside Chen Guan’s vision, making him seem like he was battling a ghost. That psychological pressure and torment would easily cause one’s spirit to collapse.

Fortunately, Chen Guan’s Senluo Ghost Step was also adept at evasion, allowing him to follow Xue Wuhen’s rhythm and prevent him from getting behind.

To avoid making Xue Wuhen’s loss too embarrassing, Chen Guan did not use the Secret Technique of One and only contended with the ordinary Senluo Ghost Step.

Xue Wuhen couldn’t succeed but wasn’t surprised and continued his Body Technique to spar with Chen Guan.

"The Body Technique Secret Skill is good, but constantly using Body Technique Secret Skills is ultimately not a long-term strategy. Relying solely on Body Technique Secret Skills, once the Primordial Energy is depleted, he will still be overtaken by Senior Brother Xue," Yue Wuxin analyzed.

All the Daoists thought the same as Yue Wuxin, waiting for Chen Guan’s Primordial Energy to deplete until he could no longer use Body Technique Secret Skills.

The Lotus Temple Master looked at Chen Guan with a slightly surprised expression, seemingly guessing something.

Chen Guan took step after step, the Senluo Ghost Step fully engaged, each step supported by a Secret Skill, moving at an astonishing speed and leaving behind afterimages, one after another.

Xue Wuhen found himself forced to continuously use Body Technique Secret Skills, unable to match Chen Guan’s speed with ordinary movement.

Xue Wuhen was not worried at all. While he was using Body Technique Secret Skills, he interspersed many ordinary Body and Stepping Techniques in between.

It seemed like both were using Secret Skills, but the frequency at which Xue Wuhen used them was far lower than Chen Guan’s.

So Xue Wuhen was very calm, knowing that Chen Guan’s Primordial Energy would soon be exhausted, while he still had Primordial Energy left to keep employing his Body Technique Secret Skills, thus gaining the upper hand entirely.

Xue Wuhen was not in a hurry, and neither was Chen Guan.

He also realized that Xue Wuhen’s Body Technique Secret Skills were stronger than his Senluo Ghost Step and that his own skills were impressive. If Xue Wuhen had gone all out with his Body Technique Secret Skills from the start, the outcome would have indeed been difficult to predict.

Now, Chen Guan knew he had already won.

Xue Wuhen was waiting, as were Feng, Hua, and Yue. All the Daoists were waiting for the moment when Chen Guan’s Primordial Energy would deplete, expecting him to be tormented and put on the mask of pain by Xue Wuhen.

Yet, time and again, Chen Guan continuously used the Senluo Ghost Step, without any signs of his Primordial Energy depleting as they had expected, unable to use Secret Skills.

"This is impossible!" Yue Wuxin showed disbelief. With her understanding of Xue Wuhen, his Primordial Energy should be nearing its limit, with recovery not catching up to the depletion. Yet, Chen Guan remained vigorous, repeatedly using Secret Skills, showing no signs of Primordial Energy exhaustion.

"His Primordial Energy consumption must be far higher than Third Junior Brother’s, yet he can still continue to support the consecutive use of Secret Skills. He likely possesses the ability to quickly recover Primordial Energy," Hua Wulei said, her smile fading as she continued studying Chen Guan’s face: "This is bad. If he can keep it up, it might spell trouble for Wuhen."

"Arrogant normally, but now he can’t even handle a rookie just entering the industry, truly embarrassing us old Daoists." The Lotus Temple Master pursed his lips.

"Master, calm down. Senior Brother Xue hadn’t anticipated Chen Guan having such remarkable Primordial Energy recovery abilities. It’s likely due to an extraordinary Talent," the young Daoist Feng Wuchang said.

Yue Wuxin commented, "It’s too early to concede defeat. Senior Brother Xue has realized this problem and should still have enough Primordial Energy for one last effort. With his Body Technique and skills, one chance might be all he needs to win the duel."

As she mentioned, Xue Wuhen also realized Chen Guan’s Primordial Energy seemed more than his own, indicating a recovery ability.

Otherwise, given that Xue Wuhen used far fewer Secret Skills, Chen Guan should have run out of Primordial Energy by now.

With this thought, Xue Wuhen no longer hesitated, instantly pushing his self-created Snow-Stepping Traceless Body Technique to its limit, using several Body and Stepping Technique Secret Skills in succession, aiming to seize victory in this last wave of Primordial Energy explosion.

Chen Guan only felt that Xue Wuhen’s figure before him suddenly became gracefully fluttering, akin to an Immortal in the wind, leaving a series of phantasmal images attacking from various angles at an incredible speed.

Chen Guan knew this was simply an illusion, a result of his inability to keep up with Xue Wuhen’s speed.

It wasn’t that he was incapable, but his Secret Skill wasn’t sufficient. The Senluo Ghost Step couldn’t match the quality or level of Xue Wuhen’s Secret Skills, let alone his Composite Secret Skills, which combined several Body and Stepping Technique Secret Skills. How could the Senluo Ghost Step possibly compete?

What Chen Guan lacked was a sufficiently powerful Secret Skill, particularly those with high Primordial Energy consumption and significant effects.

For others, high Primordial Energy consumption would be a drawback, but for Chen Guan, it wasn’t an issue. As long as the effects were strong, the more Primordial Energy it consumed, the better.

Regrettably, there was no time or chance for Chen Guan to learn such Secret Skills now. Watching as Xue Wuhen appeared like an Immortal or a ghost, transforming into countless fleeting shadows attacking from every direction, Chen Guan’s eyes gradually narrowed.