Even though he had managed to defeat Feng Jiuge, he still has not fought with the latters teacher yet. As such, the first place that he had received through the tournament was not exactly proper.

For this reason, he had headed right over to the Inferno Phoenix Clan as soon as the tournament ended in order to wait for Feng Xuans return and challenge him.

If I defeat you, will you pass the opportunity to enter Spirit God Palace over to me instead? Zhang Xuan asked.

If you are able to defeat me, that right will naturally be passed down to you! Feng Hanqiu replied.

Spirit God Palace contained the artifacts that the Deathless Monarch had left behind. Through studying the artifacts of the Deathless Monarch, a Celestial God could greatly increase their chances of becoming a God King.

However, Feng Hanqiu was already a God King, so it did not matter whether he entered Spirit God Palace or not.

In the past, when the Deathless Lava Reservoir was still functioning, it would still have been worthwhile for him to enter it to temper his body and possibly comprehend the crux of deathlessness. However, the Deathless Lava Reservoir had also become defunct in recent years, so there was not much for Feng Hanqiu to look forward to anymore.

Besides, if the young man was able to defeat him, it would go to show that he should have been the true victor of the tournament. The other candidates should have no issues with him passing down the right to someone like that.

Thats a relief. Lets begin then! Zhang Xuan nodded.

I have already made a breakthrough to God King, so the battle is disadvantageous to you. Out of consideration for fairness, Ill give you a three-move advantage! Feng Hanqiu said.

God Kings and Celestial Gods were two vastly different existences. It was already improper for a God King like him to challenge a high-tier Celestial God to a battle, so it was only right for him to offer a handicap.

But in response to his offer, Zhang Xuan shook his head and replied, Theres no need for that.

The other party had only just made a breakthrough to God King. In his view, there was no need for such a handicap.

Not wanting to waste his time on words, Zhang Xuan took a step forward and appeared right before Feng Hanqiu in an instant. Just by raising his hand lightly, the air in the courtyard suddenly seemed to freeze in place.

Hes formidable!

Feng Hanqiu had still planned on handicapping himself when he sensed the tremendous might building up before him. His eyes narrowed in astonishment, and he did not dare lower his guard anymore.

He quickly drove his zhenqi furiously as he retaliated with a punch.

Peng!

However, Zhang Xuan seemed to be completely unaffected by Feng Hanqius retaliation. He struck his palm down leisurely, and the latters face immediately paled.

The next instant, his body skidded all the way back till he knocked violently against a wall.

The victor had been decided within a single move.

Despite having become a God King, Feng Hanqiu was still no match for Zhang Xuan.

Zhang Xuan walked up to Feng Hanqiu and said, Hand your slot over to me.

His zhenqi capacity had reduced significantly after he neutralized his Heavens Path zhenqi against the gray surge of energy, but in return, the increased purity of his zhenqi granted him greater burst power. Even a God King realm pinnacle expert like Fu Jiangchen would not be a match for the current him, let alone Feng Hanqiu.

Thank you for showing mercy on me Feng Hanqiu stood up with a look of disbelief.

While he found it all hard to accept, he could tell that the other party had gone easy on him with the earlier strike. Otherwise, he would not have gotten away with such minor injuries.

With a flick of his finger, he passed a jade token over to Zhang Xuan.

It was the insignia required to enter Spirit God Palace.

Zhang Xuan quickly accepted the insignia in relief.

With this, he would finally be able to enter Spirit God Palace and find Luo Ruoxin.

Brother Feng Xuan, may I know how you were able to become so strong despite being only a Celestial God? Feng Hanqiu asked in wonderment.

He had been ranked first on the Sky of Spirit Origins Board of Potential God Kings previously. He was indubitably one of the strongest Celestial Gods in the entire Firmament.

Yet, even after he made a breakthrough to the God King realm, he was still no match for the young man before him.

He really could not fathom how it was possible for a Celestial God to be able to become so powerful.

Theres nothing special to it. Once you accumulate enough, itll eventually lead to a qualitative difference, Zhang Xuan replied with a nod.

Accumulate enough Feng Hanqiu repeated those words contemplatively before nodding in realization. Brother Feng Xuan, what you mean to say is that I should spend more time and effort trying to reinforce my cultivation so as to build up a firm foundation instead of rushing to make a breakthrough, right?

Feng Hanqiu had thought that he had already spent a lot of time building up his cultivation at high-tier Celestial God realm pinnacle. It was due to his diligent accumulation that he had been able to make a breakthrough in the midst of a duel.

But as it turned out, he was still lacking a lot compared to the other party.

Was his foundation still not strong enough?

But he had clearly felt himself reaching his limits. He had no idea how he could go any further than that!

It was just like piling up boxes. Beyond a certain height, it was impossible to go any further.

There was simply a limit to how much a cultivator could reinforce their cultivation. If one tried to push beyond the limit, it could have adverse consequences.

Indeed. Sometimes, even though it might seem like you have already reached your limit, if you work just a little harder, you might find that there is still room for improvement, Zhang Xuan said.

It was similar to how he thought that the Heavens Path zhenqi was the most formidable zhenqi in the world. But when he finally cultivated the Pathos of Heaven, he realized that there was actually a level even higher than where he already was.

I have benefitted from your guidance!

Hearing those words, Feng Hanqiu lowered his head and thanked Zhang Xuan. A curious glint flickered across his eyes as he asked, Brother Feng Xuan, it must have taken you quite a bit of effort to reinforce your cultivation to such an extent, right?

Indeed!

Recalling all the difficulties he encountered in his cultivation, Zhang Xuan felt like he could grumble for days on end!

Ever since I reached high-tier Celestial God five days ago, I have been working hard every single day to reinforce my cultivation. No matter how busy I am, I still reserve at least an hour every day specifically for my cultivation. Sometimes, I might even cultivate up to four hours without rest! You can probably imagine the hardships I have been through in order to reach my current level!

F-five days? Feng Hanqiu was stunned. You have only cultivated for at most four hours a day for five days after reaching high-tier Celestial God?

After hearing what Zhang Xuan had said, he thought that the latter would have cultivated for at least decades in order to reach his current level, but five days?

Scram!

Hardship my ass! Even a single seclusion of mine would be far longer than that!

Furthermore, there was even a day when you cultivated for an hour

Indeed. It has already been five days, so I should have already made a breakthrough by now, but I just cant find a suitable cultivation technique, Zhang Xuan said. This sure is a bummer. Oh right, Jiuge, why dont I help you make a breakthrough?

If not for the fact that he had an urgent need to enter Spirit God Palace, he could have devoted his time to figuring out the next level of the Pathos of Heaven, and he could have already made a breakthrough by now.

It was obvious that he was lagging behind.

Just by imagining how strong his direct disciples would be by now made him feel a little anxious. He really had to pick up his pace, or else it sure would be awkward if he met them.

So, you have spent less than twenty hours cultivating since you made a breakthrough to high-tier Celestial God realm pinnacle? Feng Hanqiu was really feeling a little frenzied.

Brother Feng Xuan, its not that I want to nag at you, but becoming a God King is more than just reinforcing your cultivation. You need to be able to grasp the powers of nature, and that will take quite a bit of effort and time in order to do it

Halfway through his words, Feng Hanqiu realized that Feng Xuan was not paying attention to him at all, and his words slowly trailed off.

While he was talking, Feng Xuan had already walked up to Feng Jiuge, and the latter was nodding excitedly.

Since I have some spare time, lets do it right now!

Without further ado, Zhang Xuan took out a pill and placed it into Feng Jiuges mouth. Following that, he placed his palm on Feng Jiuges back and sent a powerful surge of zhenqi into his body.

Kacha kacha kacha!

Feng Jiuges eyebrows shot up as he swiftly overcame the limitations of his cultivation. An amazing amount of energy gathered within his dantian before bursting outward in the form of an indomitable aura, rising right toward the clouds.

This is the power of a God King

Standing by the side, Feng Hanqiu and his group of followers clawed at their hair in disbelief.

Feng Jiuge really managed to make a breakthrough just like that?

It was just a moment ago that Feng Hanqiu had talked about how difficult it was to become a God King, and the next moment, Feng Xuan had already helped his disciple make a breakthrough.

Was there a worse way to slap a persons face than this?

More importantly, the person whom he had helped achieve a breakthrough was known to have his cultivation regressing continuously for the past two years due to his unique condition, such that he had even been expelled from the Inferno Phoenix Clan a few days prior.

Given that Feng Jiuge had just regained his cultivation, he should still have been in the midst of reinforcing his cultivation.

Yet, with just a single pill, Feng Jiuge had managed to reach the realm that he had worked hard for decades to reach

Feng Hanqiu could not help but feel as if his world had been turned upside down.

When did becoming a God King get so easy?

If it had been so easy all this while, what had he been doing all his life?