CHAPTER 1918: CHAPTER 1918: BATTLE OF THE HALF-IMMORTAL RANK

Jing Xuantian was naturally aware that the conditions he proposed were ones that Zhongli Tian would never agree to, so he wasn’t surprised by Zhongli Tian’s refusal.

"In that case... no need for an apology, just withdraw from Fire Python Mountain immediately!"

Jing Xuantian made a concession.

Zhongli Tian remained silent, looking at Jing Xuantian with a faint smile, seemingly waiting for him to continue his offer.

"Withdraw from Fire Python Mountain, and you’re allowed to take away twenty percent of the Fire Python Sect’s cultivation resources... this is our bottom line!"

Jing Xuantian made a significant compromise this time.

In Jing Xuantian’s view, the Fire Python Sect, having been established for thousands of years, must have substantial cultivation resources stored. Allowing the Green Bamboo Sect to take away twenty percent was already a considerable amount.

Seeing Zhongli Tian still saying nothing, Jing Xuantian became furious and said in a deep voice, "Sect Master Zhongli, I’ve already conceded repeatedly. One must know when to be satisfied!"

Zhongli Tian smiled faintly and said leisurely, "Fire Python Mountain has already been renamed Luoxia Mountain. From now on, only the Luoxia Sect exists here, not the Fire Python Sect. Additionally, all cultivation resources here belong to the Luoxia Sect, and no one else should covet them! Otherwise, they will be our enemy, the Green Bamboo Sect!"

Seeing that he not only refused to make any concessions but also displayed an aggressive stance, Jing Xuantian couldn’t help but become enraged. He stepped forward, his overwhelming pressure surged forth, and he shouted angrily, "Old Zhongli, do you really want to break off all relations?"

Zhongli Tian retaliated with the same pressure, laughing loudly, "So what if we break off relations? Jing Xuantian, what can you do about it?"

Jing Xuantian raised his hands, and a pair of Dark Iron Clubs appeared in them, a Half-Immortal Rank Spiritual Artifact he had obtained by chance.

Holding the iron clubs, he stepped forward through the air, closing in on Zhongli Tian step by step, and said coldly, "Thirty years ago, in a battle between you and me, you fled after a thousand moves. Today, let me see just how much you’ve improved over these thirty years!"

With the iron clubs in hand, the pressure he released suddenly increased by several degrees, so much so that even those like Huo Hai standing hundreds of meters away at the mountain summit could feel the overwhelming pressure of a collapsing mountain, inducing a sense of fear.

The two Elders from the Green Bamboo Sect worked together to set up a spiritual energy defensive barrier in front of everyone, countering the surging pressure from Jing Xuantian, allowing Huo Hai and others to breathe a sigh of relief.

Zhongli Tian, who bore the brunt, naturally felt the pressure from Jing Xuantian, and his expression changed slightly.

"Thirty years ago, you could beat me only because of the advantage of the spiritual artifact in your hand. Now, history won’t repeat itself!"

He displayed a confident smile on his face, summoned an Immortal Sword, and held it across his chest. The sword unleashed a brilliant Green Glow, immediately neutralizing the pressure from Jing Xuantian.

"That sword of yours... it couldn’t be a Half-Immortal Rank Spiritual Artifact too, could it?"

Seeing the sword in Zhongli Tian’s hand, Jing Xuantian’s face couldn’t help but change, and he exclaimed involuntarily.

Zhongli Tian chuckled proudly and said, "If you can have a Half-Immortal Rank Spiritual Artifact, why can’t I? Come, Jing Xuantian, and see for yourself just how much I’ve improved in these thirty years!"

Jing Xuantian’s expression fluctuated as he became sinister, feeling the situation go awry.

Just as Zhongli Tian had mentioned earlier, he could only defeat Zhongli Tian back then by relying on the assistance of his pair of iron clubs, and not his own power. If this advantage were negated, beating Zhongli Tian would be nearly impossible.

Comparing both sides’ overall strength, Jing Xuantian found it to be fairly even. If a full-scale conflict broke out, both sides would suffer heavy losses.

This was quite different from what Jing Xuantian had anticipated and was something he was unwilling to see.

"Fight, or not fight?"

For a moment, Jing Xuantian was in a dilemma, undecided.

"Jing Xuantian, I know you have concerns and don’t want an all-out war. In fact, neither do I. How about you and I battle it out? If you win, I’ll leave immediately with my men, and everything here will belong to you. Conversely, you leave with your men and no longer meddle in this matter. How about it?"

With his sword in hand, Zhongli Tian felt a surge of ambition, pointing the Immortal Sword at Jing Xuantian, and said aloud.

This statement gave Jing Xuantian an out, and he responded immediately, "Fine! Let’s have a duel! If you lose, you leave! If I lose, I leave!"

At this point, both stopped being verbose, holding their Half-Immortal Rank Spiritual Artifacts, charging towards each other forcefully.

Both were the top experts of the time, wielding supreme power with each move, and with their Half-Immortal Rank Spiritual Artifacts assisting, their attacks and defenses showed an unparalleled strong force.

Within a thousand-meter radius centered on them, waves of energy swept through, spiritual energy surged, and images of clubs and sword radiance intersected continuously, creating impacts. Powerful spiritual energy shockwaves spread out in rings, expanding into the surrounding space.

The strong individuals around feared being caught in their battle, retreating to watch from a distance, not daring to step closer.

"Swish!"

Zhongli Tian suddenly swung his right hand, with a several-meter-long shocking Green Glow shooting out, aimed at Jing Xuantian.

Jing Xuantian dodged, and the sword radiance struck a mountain behind him, creating a loud noise as the mountain split with a deep fissure, and several thousand-jin boulders rolled down thunderously.

Jing Xuantian’s eyes sparkled with cold light as he retaliated, throwing his two iron clubs, which expanded instantly into large rods, striking towards Zhongli Tian from the air.

"Humph!"

Zhongli Tian let out a cold snort, brandishing his Immortal Sword to weave several strands of sword radiance into a net, blocking the descending iron clubs.

"Boom!"

The iron clubs crashed into the sword net, which dispersed and vanished, while the clubs were repelled dozens of meters away.

"Old Zhongli’s spiritual artifact seems to be even stronger than my iron clubs!"

Jing Xuantian noted that his spiritual artifact couldn’t overpower Zhongli Tian and was instead repelled by the opponent’s sword radiance, feeling a chill in his heart, realizing there was almost no chance to win this battle.

But at this moment, having come this far, retreating would tarnish his reputation, forcing him to grit his teeth and continue fighting.

Zhongli Tian had once been defeated by Jing Xuantian’s pair of iron clubs. Seeing the Immortal Sword repelling the clubs without harm, he was ecstatic, unleashing a loud roar.

His fighting spirit surged, making his attacks more aggressive. For a moment, he pressed Jing Xuantian to the point where he was flustered and constantly retreating.

Since achieving the Demi-Immortal Realm, Jing Xuantian hadn’t met his match. Yet now he was being suppressed by Zhongli Tian, feeling increasingly irritated, and in a fit of rage, fiercely swinging his clubs to launch a frantic counterattack to regain ground.

"Jing Xuantian, if we continue fighting, we might both end up badly injured or exhaust our spiritual energy, forcing us to cease battle. How about this: you withdraw from this dispute, and you’re allowed to take twenty percent of the Fire Python Sect’s cultivation resources. From now on, we’ll not interfere with each other."

Zhongli Tian knew that Jing Xuantian had a ruthless side, and if pushed too far, he might fight desperately.

Zhongli Tian, having arrived at the invitation of Fang Bai to protect the Luoxia Sect, wasn’t keen on an all-out fight to the death with the Light Sect. Trading a small portion of cultivation resources for peace between the two sects seemed feasible to him.

He also believed that Fang Bai and Huo Hai, along with other Luoxia Sect disciples, would agree with his decision.