Chapter 252 Inspirations



Envoy Ming's eyes shot open in surprise seeing the vision in the sky.

When he had looked over earlier, the vision hadn't been fully formed. He didn't know the nature of vision. He just knew that this was a vision that a cultivator obtains during a breakthrough.

However, when the vision fully formed, his expectations were shattered. The vision was not that of a Golden Core. Rather, the vision was that of a Violet Palace. He had never even heard of such a thing in existence.

This stumped him for a moment before his brain reconnected.

Envoy Ming realized that this was most probably a vision that was the result of someone breaking through to the Violet Palace realm. Even though it was hard for him to digest that, he could only reluctantly admit it after seeing it with his own eyes.

A cultivator must be true to himself first and foremost. Denying things that you know full well to be true can only lead to the formation of heart demons in the long run. So, he could only reluctantly admit it.

This was like a slap to his face. Thinking back on his earlier apprehension and fear of barging into that region, Envoy Ming's face blushed in shame and anger. It was only further accentuated after realizing the identity of the person undergoing the breakthrough.

Envoy Ming wasn't a fool. Even though he lacked hard evidence, considering the breakthrough level and the area from which the vision came, it was easy to point out that it was Duncan who was undergoing a breakthrough.

To think he had been afraid of disturbing the very person he came to hunt down was laughable to him. He couldn't swallow such an embarrassment. His rage ignited as he looked at the clearly formed vision in the distant sky.

Gritting his teeth, Envoy Ming decided that enough was enough. He had already made a mistake and lost out on a precious opportunity. Duncan receiving backlash was only to his advantage. So, he didn't want to stand here in the distance anymore.

Furthermore, one look at the Violet Palace was enough to let him know how much of a disaster it would be to let such a person live. The Violet Palace in the sky was a macabre thing. Just looking at the gates alone was enough to cause a revolt in his heart. He couldn't let such a person live.

Enraged beyond belief and armed with a righteous cause, Envoy Ming threw subtlety out of the window and rushed towards Duncan with a primal scream. What greeted him was a sword slash, unlike anything he had faced before.

Envoy Ming had to hastily throw up a defense. Even then, he was blasted back several paces by the sword slash. Envoy Ming could feel a sharp sword light present in the slash. There were also traces of concepts present in the slash.

Grimacing at the progress of his opponent, Envoy Ming gathered himself and smoldered his rage. With a grim determination etched on his face, Envoy Ming once again rushed towards the location from where the sword slash originated.

No matter what, this demonic cultivator mustn't leave this place alive!

*****

Duncan merely raised his eyebrows when he saw the attacker returning with even more gusto. It was clear to him that this person wasn't a friendly visitor in any manner. With a slight smirk, Duncan steadied himself and looked at the approaching figure hungrily.

Ever since he broke through, Duncan felt unprecedented strength coursing through his body. Both his body and mind had been fundamentally changed during the breakthrough. Even now the fading vision was sending him some mystical energy in the form of blessings.

The blessings from the vision were also strengthening his body as well. Duncan felt that his body was far stronger than compared to the last fight he had been in. Right now, he felt as if he could tank the attacks that injured him in the earlier fight. This level of difference was pretty remarkable.

Moreover, as his attacker got near, Duncan was able to perceive the strength of his attacker as well. Duncan felt as if the attacker was only slightly stronger than the two cultivators he ran into after exiting seclusion in the Greenwood Forest.

Right now, he was hungry for battle. He also wanted to test out his new power. A sharpening stone has offered itself willingly. How can Duncan be willing to let it go?

Envoy Ming arrived before Duncan with his trusty spear in hand. He had always preferred using long-range weapons that had put some distance between him and his opponent. His cautious style of fighting was revealed in how he used his spear.

Envoy Ming swung at Duncan with his spear as he approached Duncan. His aim was to suppress Duncan with his spear first before attacking him. Unfortunately, Duncan had already anticipated such an attack and immediately countered with an upward slash with his sword.

Unlike when he was fighting against the young talents, Duncan didn't extend his slash further away from his sword. He contained it within his sword and met with the spear attack head-on.

During his breakthrough, countless inspirations burst forth in him. Using the sword in such a manner that it reverted back to its original use of fighting at close range was one of his inspirations at that time.

After he became a cultivator, Duncan often attacked with long-range slashes while attacking someone. This form of fighting had its advantages. However, a sword was a personal weapon that was suited for close-range combat more than long-range combat. Thus, using it in this way minimized the advantages it presented to him.

Duncan's mastery of his Absolute Severance Slash was really high. He could use it however he wanted with just a change in the way he wielded his spirit qi. So, Duncan thought of testing this approach out first.

And the result didn't dissatisfy him at all.

With a clang, the sword met the spear and both parties were locked in. Envoy Ming tried to overpower Duncan with his superior cultivation. However, with his both feet firmly on the ground, Duncan's body strength came into play clearly at this moment.

Duncan looked across the weapons at his attacker with a slight smirk. He felt that comparing power with him in such a way was very foolish of his attacker. But then, he might have not known about his powerful body. His powerful body had only become stronger after his breakthrough.

With a mighty heave, Duncan sent his attacker spinning into the air. Duncan didn't waste such a prime opportunity. He sent out aerial slashes to follow up on his heave. And then, he stepped out with <Wind Chasing Steps> and closed the distance with his attacker.

This was a vague idea he had while massacring the young talents of various sects. Combining his movement technique with his sword attacks will give him more mobility and will also aid him in avoiding attacks that he couldn't or didn't want to face head-on.

During the breakthrough, this thought was also opened up and he now had several methods he wanted to try out. Taking this opportunity to experiment with his style a little bit, Duncan executed his movement technique and closed the gap between him and his opponent.

Envoy Ming was immediately put in a sorry state. After being sent spinning into the air, he had to hastily avoid the following slashes. Before he could breathe some air, his opponent was already closing in on him with his sword.

Envoy Ming felt a little frustrated with this turn of events. Even if his opponent had a body that was relatively strong, he never expected his opponent's strength to reach this level.

Weaving his spear in a circle, Envoy Ming tried to create some distance between them. Unfortunately, Duncan ducked under the swing and closed in on Envoy Ming. Envoy Ming had to backpedal a bit to get enough room to use his spear. This further frustrated him.

Ever since the battle began, his opponent had been pressing him relentlessly. He also felt that he couldn't execute his martial arts to their fullest potential due to the closeness of his opponent. It was an aggrieving feeling to experience.

The duo exchanged several blows in midair in this manner. Sounds of weapons hitting each other echoed across the region as a brutal fight ensued. Duncan never gave enough room for Envoy Ming to execute his spear art proficiently. He relentlessly pressed after him making him become passive as time passed.

Envoy Ming knew that he was beginning to get passive in the fight. But, there was nothing he could do. Duncan was like a storm, unleashing slashes continuously causing him to defend constantly.

If you give a cultivator a split second, they would be able to capitalize on it. They could regroup and attack by creating more space or changing their tactic. The reaction time of a cultivator was miles above the best martial arts practitioner among mortals.

However, if the opposite person is also a cultivator, then the fight will be more intense once they start engaging in close combat. Very few cultivators prefer close combat. Most usually used their qi to attack at a range.

Duncan got hold of this seemingly unknown weakness in his opponent and started pressing relentlessly. Pretty soon, his effort paid off and Envoy Ming wasn't able to block a slash towards his torso in time.

Blood splattered across the sky as Duncan's sword cut into Envoy Ming's flesh. Duncan didn't even pause after that. He rotated in midair and sent out a Primal Fist right towards the sternum sending Envoy Ming reeling back with a harsh shout of pain.

Envoy Ming slammed into the ground from midair causing dust to fly everywhere.

*****

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