Chapter 43 - White Tiger Holds Corpse
As his name suggested, Gu Zhan was extremely fond of battles. [1]
He loved battles, and he loved being strong enough for them, earning him widespread renown within the outer sect.
Despite not hailing from a prominent clan, Gu Zhan's humble family background did not hinder his progress. During his youth, he stumbled upon a profound tier qi cultivation technique, the Great Golden Bell Cocoon Qigong. Through diligent effort, he gradually distinguished himself from the other outer sect disciples. He was now a strong contender for a spot among the top 10 disciples in the ongoing Outer Sect Grand Competition.
“Haha, I never expected to face you in this round. It seems I have an easy match.” Gu Zhan couldn't help but burst into laughter, his voice booming with confidence.
Gu Zhen knew about Chen Fan’s one-punch-to-kill feat, but he didn’t care about it much. He believed that he, too, could achieve that. His confidence in his strength was unwavering.
“Chen Fan, I've spent the past six months outside the sect, gaining valuable experience and enhancing my strength," Gu Zhan remarked. "Little did I expect to return and hear news of you challenging Zhong Li, causing a stir within the outer sect. You have guts."
“You literally detonated that good-for-nothing Sun Youwei earlier, too. You’re definitely not weaker than a late-stage, seventh-level martial artist. While my cultivation level is exactly that, I have had some fortuitous encounters in the past and have been practicing a profound tier cultivation technique. My primeval qi is robust, letting me fight those at the peak stage of the seventh level. You are no match for me. Admit defeat, and I promise not to harm you.”
Gu Zhan’s aura created a formidable pressure, making Chen Fan's muscles tense slightly.
Gu Zhan was much, much stronger than Chen Fan’s opponents thus far, living up to his reputation. However, underestimating Chen Fan and expecting him to surrender so easily was a grave miscalculation.
"Enough with the empty words. Show me what you've got. Time is running out," Chen Fan retorted, narrowing his gaze. His cultivation surged, and the whirlwind beneath his feet roared, extending its influence over a ten-meter radius.
“Hehe, my man, you still want to fight against me. I’ll grant your wish, then. Don’t worry, I won’t go for the kill, but our fists and kicks have no eyes. Some superficial injuries are inevitable. Be careful now.”
Gu Zhan glared at Chen Fan with his bull-like eyes; his battle spirit surged, making it seem like he was growing larger.
“Say, how long do you think Chen Fan will last against Senior Brother Gu Zhan?”
“Senior Brother Gu Zhan is a battle maniac. I heard he fought a tier-one, seventh-level demon beast in the Qingyang Mountain Range while still at the sixth level. It was a long fight, but he did kill the beast in the end.”
“Hehe, I think ten moves at the most.”
......
The disciples under the fighting arena began discussing among themselves.
“Gu Zhan, you have to lose in this battle!”
Gu Zhan harrumphed as his primeval qi surged, forming a defensive layer that withstood the Chakravarti Seal’s relentless assault without yielding. He stood firm like a reef at the bottom of the sea, unperturbed by the crashing currents and waves.
Gu Zhan transformed into a ferocious tiger descending from the mountains, slicing through the wind and slashing the waves. He violently lunged toward Chen Fan, his hand plunging like a mighty axe.
“White Tiger Holds Corpse!”
Roar!
Suddenly, an enormous white tiger materialized, its ferocity dominating the sky. With a thunderous roar, it unleashed waves of air that captivated the hearts and souls of onlookers.
Bang!
That white tiger’s shadow was swift, rushing up to Chen Fan in the blink of an eye. It pierced through his primeval qi and clamped down fiercely, resembling a real white tiger holding its prey in its jaws.
Chen Fan’s complexion changed slightly. Primeval qi surged between his legs as he attempted to execute the Ghostly Shadow Steps to retreat.
Bang bang!
However, he was half a beat too slow. The white tiger grazed him, disrupting his retreating steps and causing him to stagger backward, his qi and blood churning.
That blow earlier was indeed very powerful.
Swish!
Before Chen Fan could steady himself, a violent wind swept over him, accompanied by a ferocious aura, a fierce tiger’s roar ringing in his ear.
“Fierce Tiger Jumps Across Stream!”
As Gu Zhan's attack approached, Chen Fan swiftly raised both hands, releasing a surge of primeval qi that formed a protective cloud around him. However, the tiger claws of Gu Zhan's assault tore through the qi cloud, probing through the dissipating mist.
“Golden Light Palm!”
Countless streaks of golden light radiated from Chen Fan’s palm like the sun. He simultaneously executed Ghostly Shadow Steps once more, darting to the side.
Rip!
The white tiger tore apart the Golden Light Palm, but it managed to block Gu Zhan’s attack, allowing Chen Fan to escape. He quickly distanced himself from Gu Zhan, creating some space to catch his breath.
1. The word Zhan ‘战’ means fight, battle, war, and his surname Gu ‘顾’ means to look after, to take into consideration, to attend to. ?