Pablo Larrazabal fired a six-under 66 to open up a three-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Volvo China Open.
The four-time European Tour winner mixed seven birdies with a sole blemish to equal the 36-hole record at Topwin Golf and Country Club and go three clear of Alexander Levy and Dylan Frittelli.
Levy birdied his final two holes to post a two-under 70 and move alongside Frittelli, who had matched the Frenchman's course record 63 from the opening day.
Beginning the round one off the pace, Larrazabal followed back-to-back gains from the fifth with a tap-in birdie at the eighth to reach the turn tied with Frittelli.
The Spaniard drove the par-four 11th green and rolled in a 10-foot eagle to grab the outright lead, before moving three ahead by holing a putt from the fringe at the next.
Larrazabal extended his advantage with another putt from off the green at the 15th, only to card his first blemish in 82 holes after a misjudged chip at the penultimate hole.
Frittelli had set the early clubhouse target after reaching the turn in 30 and adding three gains along the closing stretch, while Levy mixed four birdies with two bogeys during an up-and-down day.
Soomin Lee threatened the lead with seven birdies in a nine-hole stretch around the turn on his way to a seven-under 65 and fourth spot, with Thomas Detry and George Coetzee a further two strokes back.
Graeme Storm leads the British interest and is seven shots off the pace alongside last week's Shenzhen International champion Bernd Wiesberger, while Chris Wood lies in the group on four under.
Anthony Wall missed the cut in his 500th European Tour appearance, with Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn also making an early exit.
Watch the Volvo China Open throughout the weekend live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf. Coverage on Saturday begins at 5.30am.