Demon Slaying, Gaining 60 Years of Cultivation From the Start

"Not bad, do you dare to fight me?" Liu Zheng's mouth curled into a cold sneer, his gaze bearing down on Gu Chen.

Gu Chen's expression remained calm as he lightly said, "Why should I agree to fight you?"

Liu Zheng was initially stunned upon hearing this; he hadn't expected Gu Chen to actually refuse.

But then, a thought flashed through his mind, and he pressed, "What, are you scared?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Chen slightly smiled. He looked at Liu Zheng and said, "Are you so eager to fight me?"

"Of course!" Liu Zheng replied quickly, as if he feared Gu Chen would not agree.

"Fine, then I will give you this opportunity."

With a soft chuckle, Gu Chen then took the lead and walked towards the training grounds inside the Jing Tian Department.

As one of Da Xia's most important institutions, although not the headquarters, the Jing Tian Department occupied a vast area with multiple buildings and facilities, including a huge training ground specifically for the use of patrols like Gu Chen.

At the moment, the training ground was bustling, with many patrol officers practicing there. The ground was equipped with numerous training aids, such as stone pillars and rollers, all intended for physical conditioning.

And at the very center, there was a massive platform designated for the sparring matches between patrol officers.

After all, the Jing Tian Department could be considered Da Xia's most important martial institution, so naturally, it didn't ban weapons and even encouraged sparring among patrol officers, because sometimes, such confrontations could promote growth in cultivation more than solitary training.

Of course, the prerequisite was that no lives were lost.

Therefore, from time to time, patrol officers would be seen sparring on the platform.

And a month and a half ago, the original owner of this body was defeated by Liu Zheng right here, under everyone's watchful eyes.

Most of the patrol officers training here were at the Body Refining Stage and the Blood Refining Stage, because it's at these two stages that physical conditioning is emphasized. Once someone reaches the third stage of martial cultivation like Gu Chen, the focus shifts more towards the growth of internal energy.

When Gu Chen and Liu Zheng appeared, the actions of the patrol officers in the training ground all came to a halt.

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The feud between Gu Chen and Liu Zheng was no secret, and they knew that. Now, some were surprised to see Gu Chen, as most of them had been present when he had been injured by Liu Zheng some time ago.

"Master Gu, good day."

"Greetings to Master Gu."

Although they were a bit surprised at how well Gu Chen had recovered, all of these patrol officers, who were only at the first or second stages of martial cultivation, greeted Gu Chen and Liu Zheng warmly.

Gu Chen responded with a smile, nodding at each person who greeted him.

Those who had greeted Gu Chen were now even more puzzled, feeling as if Gu Chen had become a different person.

Because, in the past, the original owner was mostly silent and reserved, rarely showing a smile on his face.

Liu Zheng, standing by Gu Chen's side, was slightly astonished as well, but he didn't dwell on it. When he reached the platform, he lightly jumped up onto it.

"Come on, Gu Chen!" Liu Zheng looked at Gu Chen, almost unable to wait. He was very eager to show off his perfected Iron Sand Palm, and he looked forward to the shocked and terrified expression on Gu Chen's face at that time.

Upon hearing this, Gu Chen also lightly leaped, landing on the platform.

"Let's make it clear, just like last time, no matter the situation, I will not hold back, so don't say I didn't warn you," Liu Zheng said confidently, looking quite self-assured.

"Bring it on," Gu Chen said calmly. He certainly caught the deeper implication in Liu Zheng's words, but he didn't take it to heart.

Whoosh!

At that moment, Liu Zheng made his move, swift as an arrow released from its bow. With the sound of the wind whistling, he charged ferociously towards Gu Chen.

This could be said to be Gu Chen's first battle since arriving in this world. Although he had absorbed the original owner's memories and had the relevant combat experience, the feeling was somehow different when it came down to the actual fight.

Compared to Liu Zheng's smooth and practiced movements, Gu Chen's seemed somewhat rigid.

After all, it was his first time, much like everyone's first time in general. Everyone has theoretical experience and can talk expertly when the moment calls for it, but when it truly comes to battle and real combat, it still takes time to adapt.

Of course, Gu Chen was no exception. It was only when Liu Zheng got close that he belatedly raised his arm, seemingly reluctantly blocking the strike.

Bang!

The collision of fist against palm produced a dull sound in the air, and Gu Chen was forced back a few steps.

Seeing this, a smirk of triumph appeared on Liu Zheng's face. Indeed, even if his injuries had healed, a month and a half of recuperation had caused Gu Chen's martial skills to decline.

Liu Zheng was now certain that today, Gu Chen would still not be his match!

Even more, he wanted to achieve a breakthrough in his cultivation at the moment he defeated Gu Chen, reaching the mid-stage of the Essence Condensation Stage!

"Gu Chen, try taking another palm strike from me!"

Liu Zheng laughed loudly, his other arm shooting out like lightning, hammering towards Gu Chen's chest.

Seeing this, the Circuit Protectors watching the bout all shook their heads, feeling that Gu Chen was about to lose to Liu Zheng once again.

Bang!

Another muffled sound, but to everyone's surprise, Gu Chen actually caught the palm strike.

A flash of surprise crossed Liu Zheng's face. He had felt that with Gu Chen's reaction speed, his palm strike should have been guaranteed to hit, but unexpectedly, there had been a mishap.

However, it didn't bother him. A cold smile appeared on the corner of Liu Zheng's mouth as he sped up his attack. Both arms became blurs, as if launching countless strikes at the same time, making it impossible to discern which palm strike was real and which was a feint.

"Master Liu's inner strength is so robust and smooth, supporting him to launch such fierce and rapid attacks," a second-tier Circuit Protector marveled from below.

"It looks like Master Liu is about to break through to the mid-stage of the Essence Condensation Stage, what incredibly swift cultivation speed," another envious third-tier Circuit Protector commented.

"Master Gu is in a tough spot; it's too difficult to defend," the watching Circuit Protectors said, shaking their heads at the mention of Gu Chen.

On the platform, at first, Gu Chen did indeed find it a bit difficult to evade, but thanks to his deep inner strength for support, he came out unscathed for the moment.

As time elapsed, Gu Chen's movements became sharper and smoother. With continuous exchanges of blows with Liu Zheng, he gradually assimilated the previous owner's combat experience.

Seeing this, Liu Zheng felt increasingly uneasy. Gu Chen's movements were getting faster. Later on, it was he who struggled to keep up with Gu Chen's pace.

Liu Zheng knew that if this continued, he might be the one to lose!

With this thought, Liu Zheng's expression darkened. Soon, seizing an opportunity when Gu Chen left an opening during an attack, Liu Zheng channeled his internal energy to his left palm. At that moment, his left palm turned as red as a branding iron, emitting waves of scorching heat.

"The Iron Sand Palm of the Advanced Stage!" someone exclaimed.

"Master Gu is finished!" the Circuit Protectors inwardly sighed.

At that moment, on the platform, Liu Zheng's Iron Sand Palm, now perfected, solidly stamped onto Gu Chen's chest with a bang.

Liu Zheng looked at Gu Chen with a smug face and sneered, "It's over."

But the pained expression he anticipated on Gu Chen's face did not appear. Instead, Gu Chen looked normal, smiled at him, and asked, "Why did you stop?"

"Huh?!"

Seeing this, Liu Zheng was shocked and instinctively withdrew at high speed, putting distance between himself and Gu Chen.

One could see some scorched marks at the very center of Gu Chen's chest, proof that Liu Zheng's Iron Sand Palm had indeed hit Gu Chen squarely.

"How is this possible, how can you be unharmed after taking a hit from my Iron Sand Palm?" Liu Zheng asked, his face filled with disbelief. Last time, it was his Iron Sand Palm that defeated Gu Chen. His palm had caused the scalding palm force of the Iron Sand Palm to injure Gu Chen's organs, thereby making him unable to repress the evil qi, which then invaded his heart meridian.

This time, his Iron Sand Palm had reached perfection, striking Gu Chen without effect. Moreover, looking at his opponent's expression, it seemed more like a tickle?

Liu Zheng naturally didn't know that Gu Chen had long since become incomparable to the past. Having perfected the Iron Shirt Technique and the Thirteen Grand Protectors' Horizontal Training, Gu Chen's physique had reached a non-human level, truly comparable to hardened steel, and even stronger.

Furthermore, that was just the surface. Internally, Gu Chen was protected by sixty years of amassed strength. Liu Zheng, with only an initial stage Essence Condensation cultivation, could not injure Gu Chen even with a fully-realized Iron Sand Palm.

Let alone a single palm strike, even if Gu Chen were to stand there and let him strike ten times, Liu Zheng could still not harm him.

The gap between the two was too great. If it weren't for the fact that this was Gu Chen's first actual combat experience, Liu Zheng would have already been carried out.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

Liu Zheng shouted, his expression manic as he widened his eyes and stared at Gu Chen, saying, "You must be faking it, yes, you must be pretending. I don't believe you're fine after taking my Iron Sand Palm!"

"The Iron Sand Palm of the Advanced Stage, coupled with the strength I've bitterly cultivated for twenty years; this palm strike, you can't possibly withstand it!"

Liu Zheng roared, charging forward again, funneling all his strength into one palm and striking at Gu Chen with all his might, intending to settle the battle with this one blow.

His palm glowed red, faintly emitting a scorching heat, showcasing the undeniable power of the perfected Iron Sand Palm.

Seeing this, Gu Chen remained composed and slowly said, "Since that is the case, take a palm strike from me and give it a try!"