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At this moment, Beamon had already activated the Moon attribute "Zhi Chi Tian Ya" (Step of Heaven and Earth), leaving behind two ethereal blue afterimages. This was when I truly witnessed the power of the supreme art contending for the title of "Fastest in the World." His movements perfectly balanced motion and stillness. When I reached out to grab him, he was several feet away, but in the next instant, he appeared right beside me. The two afterimages behind him kept changing, disrupting my judgment and making it impossible to predict his actions.

If I were to activate the "Holy Ice Thorns Aura," with its unique effect of ignoring all defenses and draining the original essence, it would undoubtedly counter Beamon's "Step of Heaven and Earth." I had noticed that his movements required an extremely high level of balance. If any part of his body slowed down even slightly, it would disrupt the balance between motion and stillness, rendering his speed ineffective.

However, at this moment, I stubbornly refused to activate the Moon attribute and instead relied solely on my Nine Yin Manual cultivation to face the opponent. The reason for this was entirely due to our discussion yesterday, where Catherine insisted that apart from the "Holy Ice Thorns Aura," there was no other skill capable of countering "Pursuit of the Sun" and "Step of Heaven and Earth." Although she vaguely knew I possessed other skills besides my aura, she firmly believed that nothing could compare to authentic aura cultivation.

For me, the Nine Yin Manual was a treasure I had obtained by sacrificing countless precious things. Denying the Nine Yin would mean denying my past life. Even though I had created the "Ice Hell Magic Thorn Art" with the "Holy Ice Thorns Aura" and "Platinum Mirror Magic Armor," I knew deep down that it was not my own ability but a miracle bestowed by that unnamed silver crystal. If left to my own devices, it would take a hundred years to achieve such results. Therefore, the Nine Yin Manual was truly mine, Chen Xuanfeng's, and it held a unique significance for me. Proving that the Nine Yin was not inferior to any martial arts would validate my decision to leave my sect, proving that the pain I caused my master and the expulsion and lifelong disabilities of my junior brothers were not without meaning.

Unfortunately, relying solely on my own insights, I was far from fully unlocking the true power of the Nine Yin Manual. Although I had opened the door to advanced martial arts during my hunt for the ice mountain Beamon, every step afterward remained challenging. From the text alone, I understood that each Nine Yin technique had limitless potential for development. Even external techniques like the Bone Claw could be refined to surpass the "Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms," but the path to mastery remained elusive. Unlike the Seven Sons of Quanzhen, who were Taoist priests and had guidance from the upper volume of the Nine Yin, I could only rely on moments of inspiration in life-and-death situations. Taoism emphasizes the cultivation of both life and spirit, and understanding life is the key to Taoist martial arts.

Thus, I abandoned the idea of using aura and relied purely on the "Yellow Spring Phantom," "Nine Yin Bone Claw," and "Heart-Crushing Palm" to face the enemy. Despite Beamon's speed exceeding human reaction times, his attacks failed to cause significant harm. The Leopard Clan's "Hundred Rending Claws" could only scratch my skin, while the "Purple Cloud Burst Fist" initially almost made me vomit blood. However, after a few exchanges, I learned to dissipate the force of his punches using the "Yellow Spring Phantom" and protect my vital organs with Nine Yin energy, ensuring that the damage only caused intense pain without weakening my combat ability.

Once, twice, ten times, twenty times, a hundred times, two hundred times—my mind gradually returned to the state of enlightenment I experienced half a year ago when I comprehended the essence of the Nine Yin Bone Claw. Back then, I was unaware of the situation and only sought to kill the enemy. After executing the advanced variation "Nine Manifestations of the Divine Dragon" to slay the foe, I exited that state. Although I later recalled and mastered the "Nine Manifestations of the Divine Dragon," I could never return to that dreamlike state where various Nine Yin techniques flowed through my mind, revealing their secrets.

This time, however, I maintained that state intentionally or unintentionally. It felt as if it was me yet not me, and my body moved naturally. The "Yellow Spring Phantom" became increasingly elusive and ethereal. Though I stood there, Beamon's strikes often missed. Many times, he aimed accurately but found my position slightly shifted when he approached, preventing him from delivering a powerful blow.

Simultaneously, my "Nine Yin Bone Claw" and "Heart-Crushing Palm" posed an increasing threat. The sharp and unpredictable moves tightened around him like a net, forcing him to expend more effort and make more changes to avoid my counterattacks.

Although the situation on the field remained with Beamon, the Leopard Sword Master, attacking relentlessly and me dodging and counterattacking with limited effect, Beamon realized that his opponent was growing at a terrifying speed. If the battle continued, he might end up losing.

As Beamon hesitated, I gradually withdrew from that wondrous state. Not because I didn't want to delve deeper into the mysteries of the Nine Yin Manual, but because the pressure from this mere Second Rank Sword Master had vanished. This instinctive feeling could not be controlled; once the external threat disappeared, the previously boiling life essence returned to calm, and I could no longer maintain the state between existence and non-existence. I knew this method was not a normal cultivation path, suitable only occasionally, but fortunately, I had gained enough insight to digest and practice over time.

But now, it was time to give this leopard, who had been using me as a punching bag, a lesson.

Chapter 39: Leopard Attack Laughs at the Monument

Beamon, currently nineteen years old, is the top young expert of the Leopard Clan, having mastered "Zhi Chi Tian Ya" and ascended to the rank of Sword Master at eighteen, just one year after the Lion Clan's new star, Catherine. He carries the hopes and future of his entire race and is determined to achieve greatness.