Golden light seemed to twist into a ferocious primordial beast. Unmatched force pressed down like a massive mountain. Ding Dian felt his mind waver, a sense of invincibility rising within him. Then, startled, he quickly suppressed this emotion and gritted his teeth as he threw a punch to meet the attack.
"Boom!" Gold and white light exploded again, like thunder in the night sky, illuminating the darkness. Once more, he was knocked back, but before he could react, the towering figure pursued him again. Another unadorned palm strike came.
It was as if the previous strikes had cost nothing. Ding Dian felt stifled. It was just a single palm, yet he couldn't dodge it—he could only take it head-on.
"Boom!!!" Relentlessly, fist and palm clashed over a dozen times. Ding Dian was pushed back repeatedly, his frustration growing.
In contrast, Li Daoqiang felt increasingly exhilarated. A man, once he had power, wanted to test it, to fight. It was a man's nature—combative, competitive—only a matter of degree and self-control.
He was no exception. With his current strength, he was undoubtedly among the top-tier in the Xiantian realm. Opponents were hard to come by.
Ding Dian was a rare worthy adversary. Both had cultivated divine arts, both had reached the pinnacle of Xiantian. Even if Ding Dian's combat experience was lacking, he was still a top expert in Xiantian. Someone who could go toe-to-toe with him.
Right now, Li Daoqiang seemed to be fighting effortlessly, completely dominating—but that was only due to his Hundred-Battle Body. Combining factors like their positions, terrain, and psychology, he delivered palm strikes that his opponent couldn't avoid or refuse. Relying on the superior strength of the eighth layer of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art, he overpowered him.
Though he had other ways to win, this method was more straightforward and awe-inspiring. Crushing the enemy with pure force. And it felt far more satisfying.
As he struck palm after palm, Li Daoqiang felt his boldness grow. His control over the power within him became more refined, and the force he unleashed increased slightly. Seeing his opponent's frustrated expression only lifted his spirits further.
He genuinely felt that possessing such power meant it should be used freely. This was what a man should do.
Another palm sent Ding Dian staggering back. Noticing the flush on his face and blood seeping from his shoulder, Li Daoqiang paused and stopped.
Ding Dian, feeling both aggrieved and resigned, was startled when his opponent halted. He had thought he might die tonight, yet the other man stopped. His wariness deepened. Stopping now surely meant some greater scheme.
"Haha, what a thrill! Tonight was exhilarating. Good, Ding Dian, you didn't disappoint me. In all of Jingzhou, only you can fight me like this." Li Daoqiang laughed heartily.
Then, with a hint of regret, he added, "Pity you're still injured and lack combat experience. Otherwise, I could have enjoyed this even more."
Ding Dian was momentarily stunned. Who exactly was this man? His words sounded as if he had sought him out purely for a sparring match.
After a moment, he spoke clearly, "Who are you, sir? I admit defeat today. If you have something to say, say it directly."
"Straightforward. I appreciate you more and more. I made the right choice in seeking you out." Li Daoqiang smiled again.
Ding Dian frowned, puzzled. But he didn't let his guard down for a second.
"Alright, stop guessing. I do have important business with you, but it's not about your divine art or treasure." Li Daoqiang said frankly.
Now that he had demonstrated his strength, it was time to talk business. For someone like Ding Dian, honesty was both his persona and his method.
Unsurprisingly, Ding Dian didn't believe a word and grew even more wary. He stared coldly at Li Daoqiang, like a tiger protecting its cub. With a sneer, he said, "Everyone who deceives me says that. Do you think I believe you?"
Li Daoqiang smiled confidently and said calmly, "Most people covet two things from you: your divine art and the treasure you know of. Your Divine Illumination Sutra is formidable, but my divine art is no worse."
Ding Dian raised an eyebrow, recalling their fight, and silently agreed. Leaving aside other aspects, that overwhelming power—like an unstoppable force—was undoubtedly a divine art. In terms of raw power, it surpassed the Divine Illumination Sutra.
He had already mastered the Xiantian content of the Divine Illumination Sutra to its limit, yet his opponent's power exceeded his. That meant its might was greater. While this didn't completely rule out the possibility that Li Daoqiang coveted his art, it significantly reduced the likelihood. After all, someone who had cultivated to this level wouldn't switch techniques. At most, they might borrow insights to create a more suitable method.
Thinking this, Ding Dian remained silent, his vigilance undiminished.
Li Daoqiang seemed unfazed, his smile widening as he continued, "As for the treasure—the one tied to the Liancheng Code—I believe I've already found it."
"Impossible!" Ding Dian exclaimed instinctively, staring at Li Daoqiang in disbelief.
"Why is it impossible? What makes it so impossible?" Li Daoqiang's smile grew more arrogant.
"Hmph." Ding Dian let out a cold laugh, disdainful. "Trying to provoke me?"
He was the only one who knew the treasure's secret now, so of course, he didn't believe it.
Li Daoqiang remained unruffled. "Years ago, Mei Niansheng, known as the Iron-Boned Ink-Sepal, guarded the Liancheng Code and its secrets. But he was betrayed by his three disciples and chose you as his successor. Over the years, countless people have sought you out. Some wanted the Divine Illumination Sutra, others the Liancheng Code treasure. As for the treasure, they don't know—I've already found it."
Ding Dian said nothing, just sneered at him.
Li Daoqiang didn't mind. Casually, he said, "Jiangling City, Tianning Temple, the Great Buddha."
Instantly, Ding Dian froze, his eyes wide with shock as he stared at Li Daoqiang. All his disbelief crumbled before those words.
How? How could this man know?
"You—!" Countless questions caught in his throat, unable to form words. The events of tonight shattered the composure he had honed through years in prison.
"Haha." Li Daoqiang laughed lightly, as if it were nothing. "No need to be so surprised. It's a small matter. I don't know the secrets of the Liancheng Code. But I can search.
The treasure's owner, Emperor Yuan of Liang, lived nearly a thousand years ago. In a thousand years, the world changes. How many places in Jiangling City have remained unchanged? A careful search was all it took."
"Just that simple?" Ding Dian asked, stunned, unable to believe it.
Of course, it wasn't that simple. Li Daoqiang thought to himself, but his face showed only indifference as he brushed past the topic. "Now do you believe I'm not after your divine art or treasure?"
Ding Dian was unsettled, his thoughts still chaotic. After a moment of hesitation, he cautiously asked, "Since you know where the treasure is, haven't you taken it?"
Li Daoqiang gave Ding Dian a meaningful look, inwardly amused. Once bitten, twice shy—he was indeed cautious. With a light snort of displeasure, he said, "I wanted to, but the poison there is too potent. I'll wait for now."
At that, Ding Dian fully believed that this man had truly found the Liancheng Code treasure. He knew the secret, had deciphered it himself, and understood its true meaning. If the other man knew about the poison, he had definitely been there.
This realization left Ding Dian feeling hollow and at a loss. The secret he had guarded for so many years—someone else had found it! Worry, reluctance, and a faint sense of relief intertwined, making his expression complex.
"Alright, let's get to the main topic." Li Daoqiang waited a few breaths, then spoke when he saw Ding Dian still lost in thought.
Ding Dian snapped back to reality. Suddenly, an overwhelming sense of relief washed over him. The burden that had weighed on his heart for years was gone. For a moment, even the bottleneck in his Divine Illumination Sutra seemed to shift.
A faint, relaxed smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. When he looked at Li Daoqiang again, his wariness had lessened. This man wasn't after his treasure or divine art. Though he didn't fully understand the situation, at least he was honest.
Composing himself, Ding Dian clasped his hands and said solemnly, "Ding Dian greets you, brother. Forgive my earlier rudeness and misunderstanding. Please don't take offense."
Li Daoqiang found it a bit odd but understood the man. Ding Dian was indeed a righteous gentleman. Once he realized Li Daoqiang wasn't after his secrets, his attitude shifted immediately.
With a hearty laugh, Li Daoqiang said directly, "No need for such formality. I may not want your divine art or treasure, but I do want something else from you."
Ding Dian was taken aback, then laughed openly, boldly saying, "Aside from my divine art and treasure, all I have left is this life. But you stopped just now, so clearly you don't want my life. I truly can't figure out what else you could want from me."
………………