Chapter 604: Chapter 604

In a wilderness far from the urban sprawl.

This place is desolate, with no signs of life or even plants in sight.

Bai Lu and Yang Yan stand atop a barren mountain, looking down as two shadows exchange blows below, with thunderous roars accompanying each strike that leaves hundred-meter wide fist imprints on the wilderness.

Under Bai Lu’s watchful eye, Ji Jingqiu and Hong Hu spar, progressing from initial probing to full-force combat, both growing increasingly alarmed as the fight unfolds.

In the head-on clashes that initially occurred, Ji Jingqiu was clearly at a disadvantage.

Hong Hu’s punches were too overbearing and heavy, as imposing as a mountain smashing down. He had forged the unique Dragon Tiger Dao Body of the Dragon Tiger Dojo, achieving Body Unification, far beyond what Ji Jingqiu could contend with at his current stage.

Although Ji Jingqiu had not deployed the Heaven and Earth Dojo, he too momentarily achieved a form of Body Unification using an embryonic form of a dojo, but still had to avoid the brunt of the blows.

Merely in terms of physique, he was obviously no match for Master Hong, in fact, far behind!

But at their level, physique is just one aspect; every move they make is accompanied by the Power of Heaven and Earth, compensating for the physical disparity.

And Hong Hu found himself increasingly perplexed; Ji Jingqiu’s techniques were endless and unconventional.

Ji Jingqiu’s physique was clearly way above his peers, not something that could be compared to someone who had merely broken through two Chains at the same stage.

It must be the work of the Divine Embryo, which had given Ji Jingqiu a far stronger physique than other martial artists even before his Transformation.

In Hong Hu’s estimation, Ji Jingqiu’s physical strength should be equivalent to having gone through three or four Transformations.

Theoretically, each additional Transformation in the Chains Realm signifies a fundamental change, representing a comprehensive upgrade in one’s life essence, from strength and speed to reflexes and so on, and the difference is stark compared to before.

Without the aid of Divine Skills, it’s difficult to overcome.

Pure power and speed, along with an all-around enhancement of reflexes—it’s as simple and brutal as that: if your physique isn’t up to it, it just isn’t.

While Hong Hu was internally marveling at Ji Jingqiu’s physique, he quickly realized that his admiration was premature.

Then, the Dharma Form Ji Jingqiu revealed next took him by surprise; he hadn’t expected that, in addition to a dojo embryo, Ji Jingqiu had already condensed his own Dharma Body, although the techniques were somewhat rudimentary.

But it seemed that this was just the beginning.

After being at a disadvantage in the physical combat, Ji Jingqiu resonated with Heaven and Earth using Spiritual Fetal Breath, interfering with and harnessing the Power of Heaven and Earth, stupefying Hong Hu.

Not long ago, he had sensed someone breaking through Fetal Breathing on the East Three Bright Star and had specifically inquired Bai Lu, who had strangely remained silent; only now did he discover that person was Ji Jingqiu!

The threshold of Heavenly Person, with one Fetal Breathing and one Reverse Innate, has puzzled many martial artists. Even now, he hadn’t fully grasped the marvel of Fetal Breathing.

In fact, most who break through the Heavenly Human Boundary haven’t grasped the marvel of Fetal Breathing but have done so due to special circumstances during the impact on the boundary.

Once Fetal Breathing is accomplished, stepping into the realm of Heavenly Person is natural.

Unable to help himself, Hong Hu asked Ji Jingqiu whether his dojo embryo had undergone any Transformation.

The True Seed had grasped the embryonic form, and now with the heart reaching Fetal Breathing, shouldn’t the dojo embryo have also progressed somewhat?

Then under Hong Hu’s "insistent" request, Ji Jingqiu found a perfect moment to suppress, using the Heaven and Earth Dojo to send Hong Hu crashing into the ground.

Lying in the crater of the wilderness, Hong Hu was somewhat numb.

A Human-formed Heaven and Earth Dojo?!

He did suspect Ji Jingqiu’s dojo embryo had progressed, but what sort of progress is this, like jumping from elementary directly to university?!

This kid is not in the Chains Realm at all!

Calling him at the peak of the Heart Image Realm wouldn’t be doubted by those quasi-heavenly beings who are secluded in pursuit of the Heavenly Human Boundary!

In the latter part of the fight, Hong Hu felt that he had to bring out some real skills. His Inner Qi surged within him, his spirit as the guide, instantly causing the wind to rise and clouds to gather!

Qi Force exhaled from his pores roared upwards, turning into wind and cloud dragons and tigers. Above the wilderness, a massive swirling cloud loomed, drooping down.

This was the manipulation of the Power of Heaven and Earth by a human, with the Dragon Tiger manifesting, gathering the wind and clouds.

There’s another special name for the Heart Image Realm: the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm, which pursues Unity of Heaven and Man, controlling the celestial phenomena to converge through the human form.

Observe the Way of Heaven and execute the deeds of Heaven.

At this moment, Ji Jingqiu felt a domain radiating out from Hong Hu at its center, enveloping him; within this domain, the rules of Dharma seemed rewritten, vying destructively with him for control over the Power of Heaven and Earth.

This is the Heart Image Domain that Heart Image Warriors have integrated into their Martial Arts, anchoring with the Dharma Body, founded upon their Lifebound Character, using visualization of wondrous sights as a guide to forcibly rewrite the rules of Dharma within the domain.

Reaching this step, they are actually not far from the Heaven and Earth Dojo.

Ji Jingqiu was carefully experiencing the pressure from Master Hong Hu, particularly his Heart Appearance Domain.

This too is the significance of this battle, identifying shortcomings and allowing him to witness first-hand the various mystical techniques of the Heart Image level.

Master Hong Hu, even among those at the Heart Image Realm, is said to be no weakling.

Seeing Master Hong Hu bring out his real skills, Ji Jingqiu also stopped holding back. Since condensing his Fetal Breath, he had never fully exercised his strength.

At this moment, in the heat of battle, Ji Jingqiu faintly felt an obstruction.

This barrier stood between him and Heaven and Earth, preventing him from freely expressing his feelings.

A voice seemed to resonate in the hearts of both of them.

This was Bai Lu’s Spirit Communication. Having reached Fetal Breathing in the Spirit Realm, one can achieve communication over thousands of miles; should one reach the height of Heavenly Person, the range would extend to encompass an entire planet.