Chapter 913: The Legendary Star Artifact

On the 'Gen' platform, Gu Qianxun and Fang Chan stood facing each other.

The two city champions meeting in the third round naturally drew extra attention; the surrounding stands were nearly full, and everyone eagerly awaited, hoping to witness their prowess.

Han Li also found a relatively less crowded spot below the platform, quietly watching the stage.

'Daoist Fang, I gained much from our battle back then. I thought I'd have to wait until the top four to meet you, but I never expected to compete with you now,' Gu Qianxun said, looking at Fang Chan with an expressionless face, speaking each word deliberately.

'Mm, being able to compete with Daoist Gu again makes me very happy too,' Fang Chan replied. By now, he had completely shed his foolish, dazed demeanor; his eyes blazed with intense light, and his whole being exuded a soaring battle spirit.

'Begin!' the referee beside them announced loudly after glancing at the two.

As soon as the words fell, Gu Qianxun stomped hard on the ground.

With a muffled 'boom,' a large hole burst open in the ground. Her figure shot forward like an arrow from a crossbow, instantly covering over ten zhang to reach Fang Chan. Her small, snow-white fist slammed down, launching a fierce attack first.

Dozens of acupoints on her arm lit up densely, and a powerful invisible force of steel suddenly erupted.

The air within several zhang instantly exploded, emitting a terrifying screech, its momentum far greater than when she faced Du Qingyang earlier.

On the distant high platform, Chen Yang frowned at the sight.

Fang Chan had a unique talent—not only his sonic attacks but also his physical strength was extremely formidable. Among the participants in the Five Cities Tournament, he was second only to Zhu Ziyuan of Xuan City, with only his speed being slightly slower.

Gu Qianxun's frontal assault was like using a weakness against a strength; she should have used her movement technique to find openings to strike.

Sun Tu's eyes showed surprise, then he furrowed his brows slightly, a strange glint flickering in his gaze.

Fang Chan also showed a trace of oddness on his face, but his reaction was quick. His right arm moved, suddenly blurring, and then a pitch-black fist shot out like lightning.

In an instant, a black fist and a white fist met!

A loud explosion rang out, and a powerful shockwave burst forth between them.

Fang Chan's expression changed. His body staggered backward, retreating three steps in succession, each step leaving a deep footprint on the ground, which cracked around him.

Chen Yang, Sun Tu, and the others also changed expressions, showing shock, and the surrounding spectators erupted in uproar.

Gu Qianxun's sleeve trembled violently and tore with a 'rip,' revealing her snow-white arm.

On her arm was a multicolored armlet.

The armlet shimmered with twenty-one white dots, exactly like acupoints. The multicolored armlet was deeply embedded in Gu Qianxun's arm, as if the two had grown together.

The white dots on the armlet now flickered, merging with the light from the other acupoints on Gu Qianxun's arm.

'A body-integrated star artifact! Daoist Liuhua, have you already succeeded in developing it?' E Kui asked, a slight change in his calm face as he looked at Madam Liuhua beside him.

'After nearly a hundred thousand years of exploration, I've finally achieved something,' Madam Liuhua said with a smile.

The others on the high platform were startled upon hearing this.

A strange glint passed through Han Li's eyes, and then he glanced at the people on the high platform.

Their conversation had not been transmitted telepathically, so he had heard it. He had never heard of such a thing as a body-integrated star artifact.

'Daoist Li, a body-integrated star artifact is one that merges with the body, channeling the artifact's power into the physical form. Unlike your Star Shield, using a body-integrated star artifact not only consumes nothing but also enhances physical strength. For example, Gu Qianxun's armlet effectively adds over twenty extra acupoints. Actually, this method previously existed only in legends, theoretically feasible at best,' Chen Yang's voice explained in Han Li's ear.

Han Li understood and looked at Madam Liuhua with admiration. To be able to forge something so miraculous—truly worthy of being the foremost artifact refiner in the Jilin Sky Realm.

However, in his view, such a body-integrated star artifact was probably not easy to forge. The materials used for Gu Qianxun's armlet were likely related to her mother's Phantom Scale Rainbow Serpent bloodline; otherwise, the artifact probably couldn't have merged with Gu Qianxun.

'Madam Liuhua's artifact-refining skills are truly miraculous. Sun admires them, but may I ask what relationship you have with this Gu Qianxun, that you forged such a body-integrated star artifact for her?' Sun Tu asked, squinting at Madam Liuhua.

'Do I need your permission, City Lord Sun, to forge weapons for whomever I please?' Madam Liuhua retorted with a cold laugh, rolling her strange eyes.

'Sun wouldn't dare. Please don't misunderstand, Madam Liuhua,' Sun Tu said hastily with an apologetic smile, glancing at E Kui.

Madam Liuhua snorted and ignored Sun Tu, continuing to watch the match.

Setting aside the discussions on the high platform, on the Xuan Dou Platform, Gu Qianxun did not pause after her strike; she charged forward again like lightning.

She shook her arm, and a streak of golden light shot out from her waist—a series of golden bone links.

These bone links connected, instantly forming a golden spear. The golden spear tip emitted a piercing shriek, leaving trails of afterimages as it thrust toward Fang Chan's face.

Although Fang Chan was overpowered by Gu Qianxun's strength, he showed no signs of discouragement or fear; instead, his battle spirit surged, and the light in his eyes grew even brighter.

He stomped the ground, shooting backward, while his hands reached behind his back.

A black shadow flashed, and Fang Chan now held two black axes in his hands. They turned into two black afterimages, smashing into the golden spear tip.

With a loud 'clang,' the golden spear was deflected.

A surge of power rippled outward in all directions, causing the spectators near the Xuan Dou Platform to stagger and retreat a few steps.

Gu Qianxun twisted her waist, changing the direction of the golden spear from a thrust to a sweep aimed at Fang Chan's midsection, a very subtle maneuver.

Fang Chan let out a loud shout, spun around, and used one axe to meet the golden spear while the other directly chopped at Gu Qianxun, launching a forceful counterattack.

Gu Qianxun suddenly swayed, sidestepping, and at the same time, the golden spear in her hand spun, instantly transforming into countless golden spear shadows that enveloped Fang Chan.

Fang Chan showed no fear, charging directly into the golden spear shadows. His two axes turned into black cyclones, swirling around his body, blocking the golden spear attacks while constantly counterattacking. His fighting style was ferocious and ruthless, as if he had become a different person.

The two clashed fiercely, the clanging of metal ringing out like raindrops, exchanging hundreds of blows in the blink of an eye.

As a result, with both going all out and yielding not an inch, they soon each sustained injuries.

A half-foot-long wound was cut on Gu Qianxun's lower abdomen, and Fang Chan had two bowl-sized wounds pierced into his body. However, neither paid them any heed, focusing solely on attacking.

Spear shadows and axe flashes passed, and large holes burst open on the ground from time to time. The entire Xuan Dou Platform rumbled and shook, as if unable to withstand their power.

Since the start of the Five Cities Tournament, there had never been such an intense battle. The nearby spectators were stunned.

Although Fang Chan tried desperately to regain the upper hand, Gu Qianxun's physical strength now surpassed his, and her spear technique was exquisite. Despite his utmost efforts, he remained at a disadvantage, being pushed back steadily until he was forced to the edge of the platform.

A hint of anxiety flashed in his eyes. He swung both axes in a wide arc, barely knocking the golden spear aside, then opened his mouth wide. A layer of white crystalline light appeared on his face, especially around his nose, where acupoint dots emerged. He let out a heavy snort.

With a 'hum,'

a white sonic wave burst from his nose, spreading in a fan shape toward Gu Qianxun.

Gu Qianxun had clearly anticipated this move. The moment the white sonic wave appeared, her figure turned into a blurry afterimage, sidestepping.

The white sonic wave instantly expanded, covering a range of several hundred zhang.

The spectators below were also affected by the sonic wave. Although it had traveled this far and thinned considerably, those enveloped by it felt their bodies go numb, their limbs stiffen, and their breathing pause.

Han Li's position happened to be within the sonic wave's range. He was also enveloped, his body stiff, even moving his fingers difficult. A trace of surprise flashed in his eyes.

Although Gu Qianxun dodged quickly, she couldn't completely avoid the white sonic wave. The residual wave grazed her, and her face instantly turned pale, her body stiffening.

But the next moment, her face suddenly flushed crimson, and the same happened to her body. Her skin trembled as if something was moving beneath it, and her stiff body immediately recovered. The golden spear in her hand shot out like a venomous snake, almost instantly striking Fang Chan's waist.

'The Armor-Transformation Technique? No, Gu Qianxun has pushed her blood and qi circulation to the extreme, forcibly dispersing the sonic wave's effect on her body,' Han Li murmured to himself from below the platform, his eyes flickering.

But in his view, this method placed a heavy burden on the body. He wondered how long Gu Qianxun's body could sustain it.

Fang Chan clearly hadn't expected Gu Qianxun to counterattack immediately after being hit by his sonic wave. He hurriedly dodged to the side.

But his reaction was a moment too slow. With a 'rip,' he failed to fully evade the strike, and a deep, bone-deep wound was cut on his waist, blood gushing out.

Fang Chan's eyes suddenly turned bloodshot. A series of crackling sounds came from within his body, and his body swelled violently, doubling in size. His skin turned dark red, and thick veins and bulging muscles emerged, twitching and trembling.

He instantly transformed into a humanoid beast, the aura he emitted suddenly doubling in intensity, surging like a storm in all directions. The wounds on his body quickly healed.

Most strikingly, the white light from his acupoints suddenly changed to a blood-red hue. Then these blood lights turned into strange blood-colored currents that swirled around his body.

The surrounding space hummed and trembled, emitting sharp whistling sounds. The entire Xuan Dou Platform shook, cracks appearing, as if unable to withstand Fang Chan's current power.

This scene made everyone in the surrounding stands gasp.

On the high platform, Chen Yang and Sun Tu both looked grave. Even in E Kui's usually calm eyes, a glint of interest appeared.