Nie Fengzhuo steadied his breath, the faint sting in his arm betraying the force of their last clash.
His gaze fell on Chu Ziyan—still standing, eyes sharp as a drawn blade.
She hadn't fallen.
He hadn't underestimated her—not once.
From the beginning, he had treated her as a worthy opponent.
Yet… this wasn't what he expected.
By all logic, she should have crumbled already.
Her strikes had been sharp, yes. Her control was refined, yes.
But compared to the sheer weight of his attack, she was supposed to break.
And yet—she endured.
Even his Absolute Severance, a Heavenly Technique that had ended stronger opponents, had only managed to force her back five steps.
Five steps!
While he himself was pushed back 3 steps!
Nie Fengzhuo's eyes narrowed, the faintest flicker of respect flashing across them before hardening again into steel.
"This is becoming much more difficult than I anticipated," he muttered.
