The conflict between the faction of the Medicine King Mountain family and the sect lineage has long been known to everyone.

Currently, the family faction is very powerful, boasting many talents. Not only is there Li Changsheng, who possesses a Pure Yang Dao Body and a First Grade Pill Primordial Spirit Seed, but also Sun Jin with the Five Thunders Body, whose talent is no less than Li Changsheng's.

Besides that, there are other geniuses with various talents.

On the contrary, the sect lineage has gradually weakened.

Just a few cats and dogs.

Never mind disciples of the Dao Body level, there are scarcely any even at the Spirit Body level.

Presently, He Ling True Master has specifically descended the mountain, recruiting several individuals with Spirit Body talent, like Gu Yuan, Niu Youde, Li Changqing, and Xia Xiuxue.

Among them, Li Changqing is an openly declared undercover.

As for Gu Yuan, he stands out among them.

He possesses two Spirit Body talents and has been accepted as a disciple by He Ling True Master, evidently entrusted with significant responsibilities, being groomed as the future pillar of the sect lineage.

Now, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Liu Xinjun has proposed a spar with Gu Yuan, clearly not just for a casual practice.

The conflict between the family faction and the sect lineage is not yet at the point of explosive tension, but it has reached a stage of open strife and secret struggle, with actions back and forth.

Moreover, although Gu Yuan has good talent, his cultivation time is short, and he is just an Innate Martial Master now. In worldly terms, that's quite impressive, but in the eyes of many disciples of Medicine King Mountain, it's just decent.

Liu Xinjun's proposal to spar is clearly targeting Gu Yuan, intending to damage his reputation.

If Gu Yuan agrees, he clearly won't be a match for Liu Xinjun, and the result would only be defeat, possibly even a humiliating defeat.

If he doesn't agree, he'd be seen as cowardly, and spreading the news would lead to ridicule, resulting in a loss of face for He Ling True Master as well.

"Brother Gu..."

Xia Xiuxue hesitated to speak.

She knew no less about the internal affairs of Medicine King Mountain than Gu Yuan did, clearly aware of the seriousness of this issue.

He Ling True Master values Gu Yuan more than his own eyes. If Gu Yuan accepted a provocation, losing face would be a minor issue, but suffering serious injuries or having his foundation ruined would be a major problem.

Li Changqing folded his arms, watching the scene with a slight sneer on his face.

He looked as if he was waiting for a good show.

The white-haired old servant silently stood a few steps behind him.

Everyone knew his identity, so Li Changqing's reaction was unsurprising.

"Junior Brother Gu, this Liu Xinjun is an outstanding figure of the family faction. He practices the 'Seven Kills White Tiger Saber', a divine technique rumored to be related to the 'Western White Tiger Scripture' created by an ancient mighty figure who comprehended the path of western killings. It is a sword technique Daoist scripture created from insights gleaned by a high personage of the Primordial Spirit from the 'Western White Tiger Scripture'.

"Although its grade is not a Celestial Rank Daoist Scripture, it is also a Peak Earth Tier Daoist Scripture, which perfectly complements Liu Xinjun's Geng Metal Spirit Body."

At this moment, the somewhat anxious voice of Sha Luosheng rang in Gu Yuan's mind:

"He already has the qualification to compete for the position of True Disciple within the sect, being a popular candidate for the True Inheritance competition. Junior Brother, you have not yet advanced to the Celestial Human Realm, so you should be wary of falling into his trap."

"Be aware that temporary gains and losses or honor and shame mean little. Your talent is exceptional, and you'll surely surpass him in the future..."

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother Sha, but I am no longer the Gu Yuan of the past. Therefore, I intend to give it a try."

Gu Yuan glanced at Sha Luosheng and replied through a sound transmission.

Sha Luosheng frowned, feeling a hint of displeasure, thinking that Gu Yuan seemed overly arrogant now.

What kind of person was Liu Xinjun?

He himself had exceptional talent and had cultivated a Daoist divine technique that aligned with his talent. He'd been at Medicine King Mountain for nearly thirty years.

Even Sha Luosheng himself didn't believe he could surpass him.

But what about Gu Yuan?

Having just entered Medicine King Mountain, he had not even visited the sect to pay respects to the ancestors. In essence, he was just a talented Innate Martial Master, not yet a cultivator.

Yet, no matter how talented, one must bow before absolute power.

Sha Luosheng felt that Gu Yuan's superb talent might have led to arrogance developing in his heart over time.

Facing the varied gazes of the crowd, Gu Yuan smiled and said, "Since Brother Liu has invited me, how dare your younger brother refuse?"

Liu Xinjun was taken aback, then smiled and said, "Very well!"

"Since Junior Brother Gu has honored me with his acceptance, as senior, I shan't bully the young."

Liu Xinjun smiled elegantly, as True Qi emerged from his body, transforming into an illusory but fierce and ruthless blade light, exuding a fierce murderous aura:

"Then I will use only ten percent of my cultivation to form a Qi Soldier to spar with Junior Brother."

"Ten percent of your cultivation?"

Gu Yuan chuckled inwardly, thinking that Liu Xinjun still wanted to save some face, knowing that bullying him as a Celestial Human Realm cultivator would seem unjust if it became known.

However, even just ten percent of his cultivation was actually still bullying.

Once reaching the Celestial Human Realm, the gap from an Innate Martial Master isn't merely in terms of cultivation, but also in divine techniques, magical battle experience, and reaction speed!

Moreover, Liu Xinjun wasn't a typical Celestial Human, having progressed significantly within that realm.

Even with just ten percent of his cultivation, he was enough to match an ordinary Celestial Human Realm cultivator.

"No need for just ten percent of your cultivation..."

Gu Yuan flicked his finger, sending forth a sharp Sword Qi that shattered the blade light with a clang.

To the stunned gaze of everyone present, Gu Yuan smiled and said, "I too have achieved the Celestial Human Realm, so senior brother need not hold back. When we spar, it should naturally be a mutual exchange!"

Celestial Human Realm?!

Not far away, the watching Li Changqing's mouth twitched violently, his smile freezing on his face:

"How is this possible?! When did this kid establish the Dao Foundation and reach the Celestial Human Realm?"

The establishment of the Dao Foundation is not an achievement reached overnight but usually requires gradual accumulation and refinement.

This process requires a steady progression and cannot be hurried, which is the common understanding in the cultivation realm.

Even after establishing a Dao Foundation, cultivating divine techniques still demands considerable time and effort.

Yet, Gu Yuan's Sword Qi clearly was a divine technique!

However, from what he knew, just two or three months ago, Gu Yuan was merely an Innate Martial Master, still in the Blood Exchange Stage.

So the question arises, how did Gu Yuan manage to break through to the Celestial Human Realm in such a short time, not to mention mastering a divine technique?

This greatly surprised Li Changqing, leaving him in disbelief.

Because even he himself had not yet broken through to the Celestial Human Realm.

Yet the foe he regarded as his great rival, Gu Yuan, had surpassed him by breaking through first!

Xia Xiuxue was equally bewildered.

She could be said to be the one who knew Gu Yuan best on the floating Dragon Boat. When she first met Gu Yuan, he was merely a junior Martial Master, and that was just half a year ago.

But now, in just half a year's time, he had broken through from an Innate Martial Master to the Celestial Human Realm, which overturned her worldview somewhat.

Everyone says that the path of cultivation is a road of gradual progress and refinement. But what of Gu Yuan's journey?

Advancing a small realm every month?!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.