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He had seen many cases of combined magic and martial cultivation.

Like the Northern Wasteland, the Southern Barbarians also liked to worship some heretical gods, offering sacrifices and then their bodies.

Often, beings with bloodlines closest to that of demons were born.

These beings were the most likely to inherit the demons’ innate gifts, possessing the capacity for both magic and martial cultivation from birth.

In fact, within the orthodox Martial Families of the Central Plains, this practice of combined magic and martial cultivation is not held in high regard.

They perceive it as simply not overcoming one’s bloodline, haphazardly using innate talents as half-demons.

After all, with refined martial techniques, focusing solely on strengthening bloodlines and cultivating techniques to breed offspring, just a few well-cultivated generations make demons of the same level no match for a warrior.

On the contrary, people from the Northern Wasteland and Southern Barbarians wanting some of everything end up with impure refined bloodlines.

Take the Murong Family of the Northern Wasteland, for instance, with their many years of inheritance, yet still degradingly offering sacrifices to the demonic wolves of the Ice Plains.

To the Central Plains families, this is akin to losing the face of their race.

Wutu Gu actually agreed with the philosophy of the Central Plains families because, historically, any rise among them was preceded by enduring three generations under the hybrid demons.

After three generations, most had actual combat power that surpassed those deceptive demons, driving them to extinction or expulsion from the Central Plains.

It takes only three generations for the Human Race to refine the bloodline of ancient demons to an extremely high level, while those with diluted demon bloodlines, despite their ancient heritage, remain mediocre after thousands of years.

The fact that the Southern Barbarians and Northern Wasteland have been controlled by some demons for so many years, forced to sacrifice their own people, is a disgrace to the Human Race!

Why have the Northern Wasteland and Southern Barbarians been unable to invade the Central Plains for so many years?

Even when the previous dynasty was corrupt and on the brink of collapse, the combined efforts of a few fringe families were enough to hold off the entirety of the Northern Wasteland and Southern Barbarians at bay.

Why? Obviously, because the families of the Central Plains are stronger!

Refining bloodlines, pure warriors, this path is definitely the right one.

In magic and martial dual cultivation, relying entirely on bloodline talents, the chance of producing top-level combatants is very rare.

Over so many years in the Northern Wasteland, only Murong Yunji has emerged, and across the vast territory of the Southern Barbarians, almost equal in population to the Central Plains, only three transcendental warriors have appeared in the past hundred years, yet all were slain by Lumings twenty years ago!

Those who practice magic and martial dual cultivation have an advantage in the early stages, but in the later stages, most become jacks of all trades, masters of none.

In his view, if Murong Yunji had focused on studying martial techniques and refining her bloodline, needing only a few innate techniques, she would not have wasted so much time researching the so-called Divine Wind Sorcery, squandering her talent and time.

This is why she could never become an expert like Lumings.

And this Scholar before him was even more preposterous, possessing such powerful close combat abilities, and yet he also knew Barrier Technique, one of the most intricate Techniques?

Knowing it was one thing, but being able to simultaneously fight and cast it?

Almost instantaneously, Wutu Gu could no longer restrain his power.

His eyes turned blood-red, and with a roar, dark scales erupted from his flesh in an instant.

His vast and terrifying aura caused the temperature in the entire Martial Arts Field to plummet, with visible frost forming on the ground!

Though he looked down on practitioners of magic and martial dual cultivation, it didn’t mean he underestimated techniques.

Back when striving to break through in the Central Plains, he had a deep understanding of techniques.

Barrier Technique is definitely one of the most complex techniques, requiring focused concentration and calculations of the interactions between Runes.

A moment of inattention could lead to the destruction of the formation and death.

And yet, Chen Qing had instantly erected a barrier capable of withstanding the shockwaves of his power while also being able to fight him simultaneously?

This ability made him immediately realize that Chen Qing before him was undoubtedly Transcendent in caliber, his strength... possibly not weaker than that woman in the great hall that day!

"Good!" Wutu Gu shouted excitedly at Chen Qing, fully unleashing his power: "This is what makes it interesting!"

Chen Qing was pushed back by the opponent’s sudden burst of power, but he did not retreat far, stopping at the edge of the barrier, frowning as he looked at Wutu Gu.

"Dragon Transformation Technique... I see..."

Ali had said that on the day Ao Zhen showed his might in the great hall, the prince of Wutu Country’s subordinates were smacked down like flies, and he didn’t dare to utter a word, proving that he was completely overwhelmed by Ao Zhen’s power.

If it weren’t for the Emperor and the unknown methods used by the Ghost Domain behind him, Ao Zhen could have blood-washed the Court that day!

And now, in just two days, the opponent had advanced so much in strength that his aura was almost on par with Ao Zhen.

Chen Qing guessed that in the second version, there were not many secret techniques that could reach this level, other than the secretly guarded Insect Poison Technique of the abyss, or the Dragon Transformation Technique unique to the Dragon Palace.

This was to be expected, as the intelligence suggested that the Serpent Mother, the one who cuckolded the Western Sea Dragon King and who now dictated the situation on behalf of the Ghost Domain, was likely behind it.

Having spent many years in the Dragon Palace and coming from a Dragon Transformation background, it was logical for her to have some knowledge of the Dragon Transformation Technique.

But what was key, what breed was this?

Chen Qing looked at his opponent with a puzzled expression, feeling an eerie ghostly aura emanating from him. He seemed more like a ghost, but with scales all over his body and the distinctive Divine Wind Technique of the Western Sea, he closely resembled the Dragon King Breed of the Western Sea!

This certainly wasn’t any breed he was familiar with...

"Are you being too self-assured?"

After several probes, upon seeing Chen Qing continuously hover around the edge of the barrier, Wutu Gu’s face darkened more and more, "What do you mean? Do you really think you can win against me while being distracted by this barrier? There’s a limit to arrogance!"

"But the fact is just that..." Chen Qing said with a smile, "Even if most of my attention is on this barrier, you still can’t do anything to me, can you? If not, why bother with this verbal spar? Just use that awkward trident of yours and kill me!"

At that moment, all the warriors and magicians finally realized, this barrier... was actually set up by Chen Qing?

Could he actually be dueling with that Southern Barbarian beast while using the barrier to protect the people around him?

At that time, everyone’s feelings towards Chen Qing were extremely complicated.

On one hand, the strength of their opponent preserved their dignity, preventing them from being helplessly rubbed into the ground by a Southern Barbarian, but on the other hand, Chen Qing’s formidable power made the possibility of seizing Jiangnan seem... even more difficult.

"You think avoiding me makes you skilled?" Wutu Gu scoffed coldly.

"Are you trying to provoke me into hitting you?" Chen Qing said, amused, "Wait until I don’t want to dodge anymore, you’ll probably cry out for your daddy."

Ha ha ha ha!

The commoners outside who were watching the excitement couldn’t help but burst into laughter, and a group of noble warriors couldn’t help but almost break into laughter too.

Only Wutu Gu himself had a face as dark as thunder.

Although insulted, he was surprisingly calm.

Ever since he was young, he appeared reckless, but was actually quite meticulous.

Even that person in the Imperial Palace had said, his character seemed like a tiger, but in reality, it was like a snake, patient and cold!

This Chen Qing’s movements were impressive, really impressive, with a hint of Divine Wind Technique, and a strength far surpassing Murong Yunji. If he were to keep dodging like this, he’ll exhaust himself to death without touching the opponent even once.

Moreover, the opponent was actually right. While the opponent was managing the barrier and responding to him so effortlessly, if he were to completely reinforce the barrier and then fully concentrate on him, he would probably have no chance at all!

The window of opportunity was actually before the completion of the barrier!!

Very quickly, he found a loophole.

Wutu Gu didn’t continue chasing Chen Qing but suddenly turned around, concentrating his strength in his right arm. His right arm’s muscles suddenly swelled to about seven or eight times their usual size, and with a fearsome power, he directly bombed the barrier!

Seeing this monster suddenly charging towards the barrier, all the people on the periphery who were watching the battle were startled, much like the feeling when a fierce beast in a fighting pit suddenly charges towards the audience!

"Oh?"

Chen Qing, seeing this scene, did not move, but instead, with a hint of a smile, said, "Not too stupid."

After Murong Yunji joined forces with him, he had obtained her complete Divine Wind Technique. Combined with his now transcendent strength, even Ao Zhen himself couldn’t catch up to him, let alone this big, foolish fellow.

The opponent made an accurate judgment, if he couldn’t catch up with him, then he would directly attack the barrier. Since he seemed to care so much about the people outside, this huge barrier was indeed his biggest weakness.

Hmm... any normal person would think that, right?

"Idiot!!"

At the moment when Wutu Gu made this decision, the Emperor on the viewing platform unhesitatingly issued such a verdict.