Chapter 294 - 145: Challenge 3
Qin Lie had a resolute face and was dressed in crimson martial attire. Faint waves of heat emanated from his body. He was a true, veteran True Gang Powerhouse who had trained arduously for ten years at the Main Courtyard, and his foundation was terrifyingly solid.
Luo Zhan still had that cold and stern appearance, but his eyes had grown much more serious. He could feel that the strength of the man before him was not to be underestimated.
"Qin Lie, of the Four Islands Alliance Headquarters."
Qin Lie cupped his fist in salute, his voice steady.
"Luo Zhan, True Inheritor of Profound Turtle Island, from the Outer Sea Nine Islands."
Luo Zhan slammed the butt of his long spear onto the stage.
"Please."
"Please."
Then, the gong sounded, and Qin Lie moved.
He took a single step forward, and the arena stage trembled.
His palms turned as red as branding irons as his Burning Flame Gang Qi erupted, sending a scorching heatwave sweeping across the entire arena!
"Burning Flame Palm—Wildfire!"
The Palm Force was like a volcanic eruption, blotting out the sky as it bore down on Luo Zhan.
With this one palm strike, Qin Lie put forth his full strength from the very beginning!
Luo Zhan’s pupils contracted. His long spear spun rapidly, and his jet-black Gang Qi condensed into the spectral image of a turtle shell in front of him.
"Profound Turtle Guardian!"
BOOM—!
The Palm Force and the turtle shell collided. The resulting shockwave exploded outwards, actually causing the protective light barrier at the edge of the stage to ripple violently.
Instead of retreating, Qin Lie advanced, his palms flying through the air to create a flurry of Palm Shadows.
"Burning Flame Palm—Molten Gold!"
"Burning Flame Palm—Sea Boil!"
"Burning Flame Palm—Heaven Sear!"
Each palm strike was faster and stronger than the last!
The scorching Gang Qi burned the very air until it distorted. The floor of the stage began to melt, leaving behind a series of charred Palm Seals.
Luo Zhan was forced back again and again by the ferocious assault, but he remained calm and steady. The spectral turtle shell flickered in and out of existence, deflecting most of Qin Lie’s Palm Force.
"Yes!"
A Disciple in the crowd shouted excitedly, "Senior Brother Qin has the upper hand!"
"As expected of number one on the Dragon and Phoenix List!"
On the high platform, however, Chen Xuanfeng and the others’ brows only furrowed more tightly.
The Elder from Profound Turtle Island wore a slight smile, not the least bit panicked.
Thirty moves!
Fifty moves!
Seventy moves...
Qin Lie’s assault began to slow.
The Burning Flame Palm was powerful, but it consumed an enormous amount of Gang Qi.
"My turn."
He let out a low shout as his long spear suddenly switched from defense to offense!
The jet-black spear shadow shot out like a venomous dragon emerging from its lair, instantly piercing through the layers of Palm Shadows. With an explosion of Gang Qi, it aimed straight for Qin Lie’s throat!
Qin Lie retreated hastily, clapping his palms together as his crimson Gang Qi condensed into a Fire Shield before him.
CLANG—!
The spear tip struck the Fire Shield, sending sparks flying everywhere.
With a flick of his wrist, Luo Zhan changed the spear’s momentum again.
"Profound Turtle Spear—Wave-Breaking Style!"
The spear shadows came like a tide, each wave stronger than the last!
Qin Lie gritted his teeth and endured, pushing his Burning Flame Gang Qi to its absolute limit. His palms glowed crimson, like an erupting volcano.
The two traded blows frantically on the stage. The continuous booming of their clashing Gang Qi was so loud it made one’s eardrums ache.
One hundred moves!
A trickle of blood escaped the corner of Qin Lie’s mouth, but his gaze remained sharp.
Luo Zhan’s breathing had also grown heavy. The skin between his thumb and forefinger had split open, staining the spear shaft with blood.
"One last move!"
Qin Lie knew he couldn’t let this drag on, or defeat was certain. With a roar, he poured all of his remaining Gang Qi into his palms, which glowed a final, intense crimson.
"Burning Flame Palm—Nirvana!"
As he struck, the floor of the stage exploded violently.
A crimson Palm Seal, like a phoenix spreading its wings, flew toward Luo Zhan!
A sharp light flashed in Luo Zhan’s eyes. He spun his long spear, gathering the jet-black Gang Qi at its tip until it formed a single, ultimate point of black light.
"Profound Turtle Spear—Sea Suppressing!"
He thrust the spear forward!
The black spear light and the crimson Palm Seal collided in mid-air.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still.
The next moment—
BOOM—!!!
A terrifying storm of energy exploded, distorting the protective light barrier so violently that it seemed on the verge of shattering!
When the dust settled, Qin Lie was on one knee. There was a gash on his chest so deep the bone was visible, dripping with blood.
Luo Zhan stood holding his spear. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but he remained standing perfectly straight.
"You let me win."
Qin Lie struggled to his feet, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and then cupped his fist to concede defeat.
"My respects."
With that, he staggered off the stage.
The entire arena fell deathly silent.
Even the number one on the Dragon and Phoenix List...
had lost.
Luo Zhan took a deep breath, suppressing the churning Qi Blood within him.
This had not been an easy victory.
His gaze swept over the crowd below. In the eyes of the Main Courtyard disciples, there was no longer any defiance, only despair.
"Who else?"
He asked calmly. His voice wasn’t loud, but it struck everyone’s heart like a heavy hammer.
No one answered.
Luo Zhan turned to leave.
"Wait."
A calm voice spoke up.
The crowd parted, and Liang Cheng walked out slowly.
Luo Zhan turned back and sized up the youth in the green robe.
His aura was restrained, and he looked utterly unremarkable.
"And you are?"
"Liang Cheng of the Main Courtyard."
Liang Cheng leaped onto the stage and stood facing Luo Zhan. "I’ve come for your instruction."
A commotion immediately broke out below the stage.
"Senior Brother Liang!"
"But he just broke through to the True Gang Realm..."
"Even Senior Brother Qin lost. Isn’t he just going up there to die?"
Hearing the crowd’s discussion, realization dawned on Luo Zhan. "So, you’ve only just entered the True Gang Realm. Such boldness is commendable, but..."
He chuckled and shook his head. "Junior Brother Liang, you saw the previous fight. This isn’t a gap that courage alone can bridge."
"Please."
Liang Cheng simply looked at him calmly.
"You can regulate your breathing and recover first, so no one can say my victory is unearned."
"There’s no need."
Luo Zhan’s eyes turned cold.
But Liang Cheng continued, "You just fought a bitter battle of over a hundred moves, and your Gang Qi consumption was considerable. You should recover first. Otherwise, my victory would be unearned."
The crowd below instantly erupted into an uproar!
Arrogant!
So unbelievably arrogant!
A True Gang Early Stage cultivator actually dared to say something like that to a True Gang Peak expert!
Below the stage, Ye Zhiqiu and Leng Feng were also growing anxious. They hadn’t expected their junior brother to actually issue a challenge, but it was too late to back down now.
On the high platform, Chen Xuanfeng’s expression grew even uglier. He glanced at Ye Zhiqiu, signaling that if things went south, he should immediately jump onto the stage and save him.
Ye Zhiqiu understood and nodded, reassuring Chen Xuanfeng.
On the stage, Luo Zhan laughed in anger, the last trace of politeness vanishing from his eyes. "Good! How utterly arrogant and ignorant!"
He said no more. With a shake of his long spear, he poured his jet-black Gang Qi into its shaft.
Even after such a bitter fight, the majestic aura of a True Gang Peak expert still pressed down on the crowd, making it hard for them to breathe.
"Since you’re so intent on seeking death, I’ll grant you your wish!"
"Take this!"
He and his spear moved as one. A black spear light flashed like lightning, tearing through the air as it stabbed straight for Liang Cheng’s face!
In that same instant, Liang Cheng moved.