Chapter 94

"You're quite the chatterbox," muttered Zhou Hong, positioning his Hun Yuan Yi Qi Staff horizontally in a defensive stance.

The four silver-white stars surged towards him, encircling him in an instant.

One of the stars darted straight for his face.

Zhou Hong reacted swiftly, shifting his staff to intercept the incoming star with a resonant clang.

Simultaneously, the other three stars closed in.

Faced with this predicament, Zhou Hong had no choice but to maneuver his staff to fend off the remaining stars.

"Hun Yuan Bell!" he shouted, swinging his staff to manifest a golden bell.

The silver-white stars collided with the bell, producing a series of crisp chimes, yet they failed to penetrate its defense.

Inside the bell, Zhou Hong's staff movements left afterimages as he countered the relentless assault.

Visually, the scene was intense and perilous.

Each silver-white star weighed over a hundred pounds; even a glancing blow could result in broken bones.

However, the intensity was one-sided.

Li Jun, with a composed demeanor, formed hand seals, effortlessly directing the stars to besiege Zhou Hong.

His relaxed posture starkly contrasted Zhou Hong's sweat-drenched struggle.

This disparity made spectators realize an often-overlooked fact:

Li Jun's strength had always been overshadowed by his amiable personality.

People knew him as kind, intelligent, and caring towards fellow disciples.

Even disciples from other peaks could rely on his assistance.

Such a benevolent image made people forget that Li Jun was a formidable contender alongside the likes of Chi Xiao and Wu Dao.

Subtly, Li Jun's image elevated in everyone's mind.

Unlike Wu Dao and Chi Xiao, who had glaring flaws, Li Jun exuded an aura of perfection, reminiscent of the current sect master, Yun Yangzi, making him more approachable.

"Impressive and dazzling," Han Luo nodded from the audience, acknowledging Li Jun's technique, rating it at least 60 points.

He had considered learning the Star Sword Formation himself.

Firstly, the formation's power was immense.

Each silver-white star weighed over a hundred pounds, and with deeper cultivation, their weight could increase to thousands, even millions of pounds.

Eventually, each star could become a condensed planet.

Such massive stars, compressed to thumb-sized projectiles, possessed terrifying strength.

Moreover, with higher cultivation, one could summon more stars.

Imagine unleashing a meteor shower upon your enemies—a scene that could overwhelm even true immortals.

Secondly, the formation offered safety.

As a long-range attack method, it allowed users to control from a distance, avoiding close combat.

Safe, reliable, and visually impressive, it was the epitome of showmanship.

However, mastering the Star Sword Formation wasn't easy.

Without sufficient talent, attempting it could be detrimental.

Powerful techniques required strong foundations.

Without strength, understanding and mastering such techniques was nearly impossible.

Observing now, Li Jun's talent was exceptional.

He could effortlessly control four silver-white stars; if he exerted himself, he might manage seven.

With seven stars, he could form the formidable Big Dipper Formation.

Facing Li Jun himself, Han Luo had myriad ways to defeat him, even making Li Jun thank him afterward.

But if Xian'er were to face Li Jun, how could she secure victory?

Han Luo pondered strategies silently.

On the battlefield, spectators' perception of Li Jun solidified.

He transformed from a gentle senior brother to a powerful and gentle senior brother.

Though some still found his demeanor overly smooth and uncLuous.

"Clang, clang, clang..."

Zhou Hong swung his staff, using the Hun Yuan Bell to attempt breaking through the Four-Star Dragon Trap.

Yet, every time he spotted a weakness and tried to exploit it, he was thwarted, forced into a passive defense.

"Use softness to overcome hardness," a voice echoed in Zhou Hong's ears.

Indistinct in gender, yet clear and invigorating.

Instinctively alarmed, Zhou Hong grasped the essence of the message, his eyes lighting up.

"Damn! I should've thought of this earlier."

He cursed himself for being so fixated on defeating Li Jun that he lost composure.

The voice, though brief, was enlightening, bringing clarity.

Li Jun's spiritual energy was of the metal attribute, and the Star Sword Formation emphasized brute force.

The best counter to brute force was softness.

Adjusting his staff, Zhou Hong dispelled the Hun Yuan Bell, preparing to face an incoming silver-white star.

As before, he aimed to intercept the star.

But this time, just before contact, he withdrew force, letting the star graze past the staff's tip.

Then, leveraging the momentum, he redirected the star towards another incoming one.

The stars, moving too swiftly to halt instantly, collided.

"Boom..."

A muffled explosion ensued, distorting the surrounding space with ripples, showcasing the stars' immense impact.

"It works,"

Zhou Hong rejoiced, employing the same tactic to neutralize the remaining stars.

This unexpected turn shifted the previously one-sided battle.

"Using softness to overcome hardness, leveraging force—this Zhou Hong is intriguing. To devise such a counter in a dire situation demonstrates remarkable composure,"

praised Lei Xing, impressed by Zhou Hong's adaptability.

He was well-acquainted with the Star Sword Formation's power; escaping it was nearly impossible.

Yet, Zhou Hong managed to dismantle it by turning the stars against each other—a testament to his combat prowess.

"Indeed, maintaining a clear mind under such pressure is commendable," Red Lady concurred.

Hearing their accolades, Yun Qianren's expression softened slightly.

Seizing the moment, Yun Ding added, "This Zhou Hong is impressive. Though suppressed by Jun'er, his countermeasures are noteworthy."

His implication was clear: despite Zhou Hong's efforts, he remained under Li Jun's control.

"They're still young; temporary setbacks mean little. With such talent, Zhou Hong is destined for greatness,"

Yun Qianren retorted, displeased with his disciple's predicament.

The rivalry between the two peak masters was evident, both on and off the battlefield.

Having broken through the Four-Star Dragon Trap, Zhou Hong's momentum surged.

His Hun Yuan Yi Qi Staff danced like a dragon, creating a flurry of shadows, all targeting Li Jun.