Chapter 2190: Feng Jiuge Wants to Break Through

The formation for Zheng Yang's assessment required breaking through the Dragon's Tail, Dragon's Body, Dragon's Head... each level was guarded by someone of higher cultivation than him. To pass, he had to defeat all of them. What Feng Jiuge mentioned was clearly far off.

Even if the nine-person formation was more difficult, a well-used formation could actually become an advantage!

Just like himself—the more powerful the formation the opponent set up, once he found its flaw, the greater the backlash.

Like a spring: the harder it's pressed, the stronger it rebounds.

"Once the formation is set up, this Feng Jiang will definitely participate. Two years ago, our strength gap wasn't large, but after all this time, he's been training hard, using who knows how many clan resources, while I've been weakening... In a one-on-one fight, it's hard to win, let alone with eight others of similar strength forming a formation..."

Feng Jiuge's tone carried uncertainty.

Over the past two years, having suffered damage and lacking clan resource support, both his martial skills and combat awareness had fallen far behind his opponent.

Moreover, the opponent wasn't even the strongest among the nine.

In truth... if he really tried to break through, he would surely die.

Seeing him like this, Zhang Xuan smiled slightly, his gaze encouraging: "Jiuge, do you trust your teacher?"

"Of course!" Feng Jiuge nodded.

Without this teacher, he might have remained despondent forever.

It was the other who had given him hope and resolved his hidden danger—how could he not trust?

"Since you trust me, agree to him and participate in this so-called Nine Phoenix Formation assessment!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Agree?" Feng Jiuge was stunned. "But, Teacher..."

"Don't worry, nothing will happen!" Zhang Xuan smiled slightly.

"Alright!" Seeing his teacher's confidence, Feng Jiuge took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and waved his hand to stop the two young men before him: "No need to fight. I've decided to break through!"

"Break through?"

Everyone was taken aback. Feng Jiang also thought he had misheard: "Are you sure?"

Though he had said that earlier, he hadn't actually expected the other to agree.

After all, this was something only those nearing the end of their lifespan would do. This man, in his twenties, at the peak of Upper Grade Celestial God, with nearly a thousand years left to live... why come seeking death now?

"I'm sure!" Feng Jiuge said.

"It seems you've not only recovered your cultivation but also gained considerable strength. Let me first test whether you're even qualified..."

Feng Jiang sneered, stamped his foot, and lunged forward.

At the peak of Upper Grade Celestial God, only half a step away from God King, his attack froze the air in the courtyard, and the power of heaven and earth flowed down wildly.

"He even has some understanding of God King realm... worthy of being a strong member of the Fire Phoenix Clan..."

Zhang Xuan nodded inwardly.

This man before him, in terms of pure strength, might not match Ao Hua of the Yun Chi Heaven, but every move he made contained the power of heaven and earth, showing he had some comprehension of the God King realm.

Without finding a weakness, it would be extremely difficult to defeat him.

Seeing his attack, cold sweat broke out on Feng Jiuge's forehead.

Having just recovered, his cultivation had made a greater breakthrough, but after two years of decline, he wasn't accustomed to the new power and couldn't fully exert it. Moreover, his understanding of the power of heaven and earth was far inferior to his opponent's. If the fight continued, his chances of winning were slim.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

With three consecutive sounds, Feng Jiuge retreated seven or eight steps, his face pale.

After a few exchanges, he had already fallen into a disadvantage. Though not seriously injured, he could no longer contend.

"With strength inferior to mine, you still want to break through the Nine Phoenix Formation?" Feng Jiang snorted. "You really don't know your place!"

"I..."

Stopping his attack, Feng Jiuge looked at Zhang Xuan, filled with humiliation.

Two years ago, he might not have been able to pass the so-called formation, let alone now. He truly didn't understand why his teacher insisted he compete.

"You're indeed not my match now. Would you give me one hour? In one hour, I guarantee he can pass your so-called formation!" Seeing his worry and doubt, Zhang Xuan didn't answer but looked at Feng Jiang and said with a faint smile.

"Who are you?"

Feng Jiang frowned.

Earlier, he had been following behind Feng Jiuge and was so young, so he had assumed he was a servant. Now, speaking like this, he clearly wasn't.

"I am Feng Xuan, a collateral branch of the Fire Phoenix clan scattered outside. I came today to participate in the selection competition!" Zhang Xuan said calmly.

"Feng Xuan?" Feng Jiang was taken aback, then snorted. "A collateral branch dares to boast?"

Collateral branches had weak bloodlines. Even if their strength was similar, they were no match for core disciples. For someone who had never been in the clan to speak so boldly, who gave him the nerve?

"What of it? No one has ever ruled that collateral branches are inferior to core members!" Zhang Xuan chuckled.

"Nonsense! Blustering! Men, take this blustering fool as well!" Feng Jiang ordered.

Swish!

The two young men from before approached again, their hands reaching for Zhang Xuan's left and right arms. Before they could reach him, the young man before them swayed lightly and appeared in front of them, his shoulders shaking twice.

Bang! Bang!

With two muffled sounds, the two young men were sent flying, their faces pale, suffering not light injuries.

"Hmm?"

Feng Jiang's eyes narrowed immediately.

He could also perform the other's movements just now, but not so effortlessly.

Could it be... this collateral branch was even stronger than him?

"No wonder you dare to speak arrogantly. It seems you have some skill. Let me see what tricks you have!"

With a cold shout, Feng Jiang's hand grabbed forward, the same move he had used against Feng Jiuge, sealing off the surroundings and crushing with force.

His attack carried a deterrent force that crushed heaven and earth.

"You using this move is perfect; it saves me from having no physical demonstration later..." Zhang Xuan turned to look at Feng Jiuge not far away. "He just used this move against you. I'll now show you how to counter it with your current strength!"

Saying this, he slid forward and abruptly stopped about five meters from Feng Jiang.

This stop immediately made the latter's attack awkward.

Though it could still reach, it was as if the airflow had been cut off, its power greatly diminished.

Feng Jiang's palm technique borrowed the power of heaven and earth, and this position was precisely the vital point of the martial skill. Once found, it cut off the source of power, leaving only his own cultivation.

However, this Feng Jiang was indeed an outstanding member of the Fire Phoenix clan, reacting quickly. Realizing this, he circulated his true qi internally, maintaining the force in his hand.

This time, he no longer borrowed the power of heaven and earth but used his own true qi.

Two years of accumulated resources had brought him to the peak of Upper Grade Celestial God. Though still a distance from God King, he was not someone ordinary peers could contend with!

Even whether Qi Yue of the Qi family could withstand him was uncertain.