The whole square got really quiet all of a sudden. It was so quiet that you could hear a needle drop.
Then in the heartbeat really loud and crazy laughter broke out!
Some disciples behind Lin Yanchen were clutching their stomachs, rolling on the ground as if they had just heard the most hilarious joke in the world. On the high platform, Wang Qingcang was stunned. When he looked at Ye Lingyun again, his gaze was like looking at a fool who didn't know the heights of the heavens and the depth of the earth.
A Outer Court disciple at the Fifth Stage of Qi Refining actually dared to claim he would hurt, or even kill, a Golden Core expert who had suppressed his realm?
"Hahahaha..." Lin Yanchen doubled over, tears nearly streaming down his face. Clutching his stomach, he gasped, "Junior Brother Ye, you've truly opened my eyes today!"
He paused intentionally, dragging out his words: "Fine! I promise you! If you can slightly hurt me in this fight it will be because I am not good enough! The matter will have nothing to do with you. With Elder Wang here as a witness, the Sect will absolutely not hold you accountable!"
Having said that, he pointedly looked up at Wang Qingcang on the platform and shouted, "Elder, you heard that, right?"
Wang Qingcang did not say anything for a moment. Then he nodded his head. "So be it. In a duel, life and death are up to fate. No retribution shall be sought afterward."
The moment the words left the Elder's mouth, Lin Yanchen took a step forward. His aura surged and then abruptly withdrew, suppressed down to the Fifth Stage of Qi Refining, perfectly matching Ye Lingyun. With undisguised contempt, he sneered, "Junior Brother Ye, please! Within three moves, I will neither dodge nor counter and I will just defend myself.. Please... show some mercy!"
The last words were laced with stinging sarcasm. The playfulness on his face had vanished, replaced by a flicker of cold, murderous intent deep within his eyes.
[Host, this kid has no intention of holding back!] The System's warning blared in Ye Lingyun's mind. [His suppressed realm is just a front. He likely plans to land a fatal blow under the guise of 'yielding'!]
Ye Lingyun gave a nod and for a moment you could see how determined he was. From the moment Lin Yanchen proposed the duel, he had been secretly activating an ancient, trump-card Demonic Forbidden Technique—the Shadow Reverse Scale Art. This technique was incredibly tyrannical, capable of squeezing every drop of potential from the body, condensing all spiritual energy, blood essence, and soul power into a single strike that far exceeded one's realm.
With his current energy, it was enough to unleash a blow comparable to a Golden Core expert's full power!
The price, however, was devastating. Once triggered, he would be stuck in bed for least three days and he would be so tired that he could not even lift his hand. But now, he didn't care. Lin Yanchen was a Golden Core cultivator after all; even suppressed, the purity of his energy was not something a Qi Refining cultivator could withstand, even if Ye Lingyun had once reached the pinnacle of the Emperor Realm in his past life!
A dangerous light flickered in the depths of Ye Lingyun's eyes... In my previous life, we had no grievances. No matter who sent you or what your goal is... today, I'll just have to kill you first!
Ye Lingyun didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, appearing before Lin Yanchen in an instant. His fingers curled into a fist and he smashed it towards Lin Yanchens chest!
The Ling Yancheng's lips curled up into a sneer. He casually tucked one hand behind his back and raised the other to meet the blow.
BOOM!
A dull explosion rang out! At the moment of impact, Lin Yanchen didn't move all, the smile never leaving his face. Instead, Ye Lingyun seemed to be struck by a mountain of force, staggering back five or six steps before stabilizing himself. He clutched his numbed fist, his knuckles flushed red, his face looking grim.
On the high platform, Wang Qingcang took it all in and shook his head a little bit. With just one punch, the gap was very clear. Ye Lingyun stood no chance!
"As expected of a powerhouse on the Phoenix Rank," Ye Lingyun slowly withdrew his numbed hand, his tone unreadable, before his voice suddenly turned sharp, "Even if... you're just at the tail end of it!"
Lin Yanchen stared at him with utter scorn. "Hmph, to be honest, I only used half my strength for that palm strike!"
"Is that so?" Ye Lingyun said, word by word. "Then you'd better be careful with this next move. Because if you're not, you might actually die!"
"Hah!" Lin Yanchen laughed as if he'd heard the world's biggest joke. He looked at Ye Lingyun like a clown overestimating its strength.
Before the laughter could fade, Ye Lingyun kicked off the ground, his body shooting out like a bolt from a crossbow! He threw another punch toward Lin Yanchen's heart, just a simple move with no visible technique, as if he were merely pouring spiritual energy into his fist again.
Lin Yanchen's contempt deepened. He didn't bother to dodge, meeting the punch with his own fist, still using only sixty percent of his power. In his eyes, Ye Lingyun was just like an animal that was trapped; this punch wouldn't change anything. He would play along for three moves, then send this kid to hell!
When Ye Lingyuns fists were about to hit something, a weird red light flashed in his eyes. ! It was a demonic glow, cold and sharp, as if a god from the abyss had opened its eyes. In the next second, the spiritual energy that had been flowing steadily within him erupted like a volcano!
A lot of energy went into his fist, and an ominous, dark red halo began to swirl around his knuckles!
"Die!!"
BOOM!!!
The collision unleashed a roar a hundred times louder than before, vibrating through the entire square! A terrifying shockwave exploded from the point of impact, rippling outward like a tsunami. The surrounding disciples were blown back, many falling to the ground!
In the center of the blast, a figure was sent flying like a cannonball!
CRASH!!
With a heavy thud, the figure slammed into an ancient locust tree at the edge of the square. The thick trunk snapped instantly, sending leaves raining down. The person fell to the ground looking like a heap of mud and started coughing up blood. His eyes looked empty, and his aura withered away instantly!
"Brother Ye!"
Xue Lang was really scared. He did not care about the dust that was everywhere , he scrambled toward the bloodied figure. He grabbed the slumped man, his rage boiling over. He turned toward the smoke-filled center of the square and roared at the standing figure:
"Lin Yanchen! You fucking bastard! You promised to yield for three moves, and then you sneakily strike like this! If anything happens to him, I, Xue Lang, will give my life to..... wait, what?"
Before he could finish, Xue Langs voice got stuck in his throat. His angry, replaced by pure confused. The person he was holding was covered in dust and blood, but upon closer look... that face wasn't Ye Lingyun's at all!
The smoke went away, the figure in the center of the square became clear.
Ye Lingyun was standing with his hands behind his back. Aside from his hair being a bit messy, he was completely unharmed. The weird red glow was gone, leaving him pale, clearly weakened from the burst of the forbidden technique.
Under the locust tree Lin Yanchen was lying there coughing up blood and really close to dying it was actually Lin Yanchen!
The disciples who had just regained their footing saw the situation clearly. The entire square plunged into a dead silence, with only the sound of the wind whistling through the broken branches.