Chapter 28: Lothgar
Lordi Payne didn't hesitate much before agreeing. Just yesterday, he'd taken down Lee Sagwon's trio—including a fifth-layer Qi Refinement cultivator—so he wasn't too intimidated by Gum Torin. This spar was a perfect chance to gauge this team's strength.
The others stepped back, creating a makeshift arena. Gum Torin cracked his neck and stretched his arms. His demeanor was relaxed, almost dismissive, as if he were indulging a child. "Come at me, Junior Brother," he said, his voice dripping with casual arrogance. "Don't hold back."
"Senior Brother Gum, here I come!" Lordi Payne clasped his fists in salute, then sank his shoulders, squared his stance, and threw a punch.
Gum Torin smirked at the straightforward strike—purely a test of strength, no art or technique. He didn't dodge or block, instead, he stood his ground, allowing the punch to land squarely on his chest.
Bang!
The impact echoed with a dull thud, and for a brief moment, Gum's expression faltered. His face paled, then flushed red as the force of the blow rippled through him. In a flash, he snapped a kick at Lordi Payne's knee.
Lordi Payne's instincts screamed at him to evade. He sidestepped, but Gum's movement were unpredictable. The kick shifted mid-air, as if anticipating Lordi Payne's dodge. Caught off guard, Lordi Payne raised his right forearm to block!
Thud!
A surge of force rocked Lordi Payne's arm, shoving him back three steps.