"What? You're Watanabe Ichiro?"
Hearing the name, Lu Yang broke out in a cold sweat. He had heard the girl say before that Watanabe had been dead for a long time. To think he would meet him in the Nandu Shrine now, and he was a spirit?
Lu Yang had some understanding of what a spirit was. "Hei Long Jue" provided an introduction to spirits, describing them as those who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts cultivation, or even possessed godly realm strength, transcending Grandmaster level. To prolong their existence, they would use various secret arts to preserve their physical bodies while a portion of their consciousness could be separated, thus becoming a spirit.
However, the spirit before him seemed much more powerful than Lu Yang's understanding. It wanted to possess Lu Yang's body, which was terrifying. Lu Yang had only read about possession in fantasy novels and never expected to experience it himself.
"A hundred years ago, I was the most outstanding and powerful swordsman in the Isles. I annihilated the ten great sects of the Isles and was granted the title of 'Sword Saint' by the Emperor. However, I also went to Hua Guo. Unfortunately, I was defeated by a master from the Ye family in Hua Guo. I wonder if that master is still alive!"
Watanabe Ichiro said thoughtfully, as if recalling something.
"The Ye family? Which Ye family do you mean?"
Lu Yang naturally knew the Ye family in Hua Guo. They were the most powerful martial arts family in all of Hua Guo, rich in talent and dominating the southeast.
"Ye Xiangtian. Back then, I was only a Grandmaster of the sword. Ye Xiangtian's strength was already at the peak of Grandmaster. I thought I could challenge Ye Xiangtian with my strength, but I didn't expect to be defeated by Ye Xiangtian!"
Watanabe Ichiro continued.
"Ye Xiangtian? She seems to have been dead for many years. The current head of the Ye family is Ye Qing, who is also a Grandmaster of martial arts. As for how powerful she is, I don't know!"
Lu Yang said lightly. As he got to know Watanabe Ichiro better, Lu Yang no longer felt afraid. It was just a spirit separated from a human body, and in comparison to a human, its strength might be much weaker.
"Dead? That's a bit of a pity. However, after I possess your body, I will challenge the current head of the Ye family to avenge my defeat!"
Watanabe Ichiro chuckled, as if he had already secured Lu Yang.
"Are you so confident that you can possess my body?"
Lu Yang didn't want to waste any more time with Watanabe Ichiro and got straight to the point.
"Haha, kid, do you know what this Nandu Shrine is built with?"
Upon hearing Lu Yang's words, Watanabe Ichiro immediately chuckled.
"I truly don't know. I'd be honored to hear about it!"
Lu Yang replied calmly.
"The Nandu Shrine is built with countless spirit stones. These spirit stones were all salvaged from our Isles' oceans and have a great effect on strengthening the divine soul. The reason I can survive until now is because of these spirit stones. Otherwise, my divine soul would have long since dissipated, and I wouldn't have been able to refine a spirit to house my soul!"
"I might be very weak elsewhere, but within this Nandu Shrine, I am the master, I am heaven. No one is my match!"
Watanabe Ichiro looked at Lu Yang and explained unhurriedly, not rushing to attack. The prey was already within reach, it could be savored at any time.
"Is that so?"
"Then do you think you are my match?"
Lu Yang asked with a slight smile.
"Match? On my territory, you don't deserve to mention the word 'match'. However, given the immense contribution you've made to me, I can promise that I will complete the possession as quickly as possible, sparing you from pain. In the future, I will make a name for myself with your body, which is also a blessing from your past lives!"
Watanabe Ichiro didn't take Lu Yang seriously at all, his words implying magnanimity.
"Oh? Is that so? Whether we are a match or not, we'll have to fight to find out!"
Lu Yang said with a cold laugh.
"Fine, since you want to play, I'll indulge you. However, I'll let you have one hand. This way, it won't be considered bullying. After all, I am over a hundred years old, and you are only in your early twenties. Giving you an advantage is only fitting, lest people say I'm bullying the young."
Watanabe Ichiro continued.
"Enough nonsense, come on!"
Lu Yang threw a punch, smashing it towards Watanabe Ichiro.
Watanabe Ichiro didn't expect Lu Yang to be so ferocious. However, Lu Yang's speed was too fast. By the time Watanabe Ichiro wanted to dodge, it was too late. He was hit directly by Lu Yang's punch.
But Watanabe Ichiro's body was very strong. He only staggered back a few steps and didn't hit the wall behind him.
"Kid, not bad. At such a young age, to possess such powerful martial arts, you truly have a rare talent that appears once in a century!"
"After I possess this body, I will definitely be able to strive for the legendary Earth Immortal realm. At that time, who on Earth will be my opponent?"
Watanabe Ichiro laughed instead of getting angry, praising Lu Yang with a smack of his lips.
"You think too much!"
Lu Yang said while his fist continued to smash towards Watanabe Ichiro.
This time, Watanabe Ichiro was prepared. The corners of his mouth curved slightly as he also threw a punch, meeting Lu Yang's fist.
With a loud "boom," both Lu Yang and Watanabe Ichiro were pushed back a few steps. However, Lu Yang retreated significantly more, taking five or six steps back, while Watanabe Ichiro only retreated two steps.
"Kid, now you know how powerful I am!"
Watanabe Ichiro chuckled dismissively.
"Just so-so. Again!"
Lu Yang sneered and clenched his fist again, smashing it towards Watanabe Ichiro. They exchanged blows for over a dozen rounds. Lu Yang found that Watanabe Ichiro's spirit was indeed very powerful. Although it wasn't a physical body, it had substance. He didn't know how it was refined, and it was even stronger than Lu Yang's physical strength.
"It seems I have to use the Eighteen Forms of the Black Dragon!"
Lu Yang sneered and kicked towards Watanabe Ichiro.
This kick was already one of the Eighteen Forms of the Black Dragon. Its power was incredibly overbearing. Each move and form seemed capable of borrowing the power of heaven and earth to confront Watanabe Ichiro.
"What kind of martial art is this?"
Watanabe Ichiro had never witnessed such an overbearing martial art. His eyes showed a hint of surprise, but more than that, it was excitement.
"There are things that are not meant for you to come into contact with. However, to witness the Eighteen Forms of the Black Dragon, your life has not been lived in vain. You can go in peace!"
Lu Yang said, and then threw another punch, imbued with an ancient aura, towards Watanabe Ichiro.
Watanabe Ichiro's expression changed, and he immediately swung his fist to meet Lu Yang's punch.
With a "bang," Watanabe Ichiro did not gain any advantage this time. Instead, his spirit was sent flying by Lu Yang's punch and slammed into the wall of the Nandu Shrine.