Chapter 89: Chapter 88: Pride of the Outer Courtyard
In the first match of the round, Lang Feng faced Ren Hua.
When the crowd saw their two names on the Announcement Stele, everyone was stunned. Ren Hua was a contender with the strength to fight for first place, yet he was matched against Lang Feng so early. The onlookers were left in a daze.
"What a shame. Ren Hua could have at least fought for second place."
"Yeah, Lang Feng is going to eliminate him outright."
"Still, I’m curious if Ren Hua can even make Lang Feng use his true strength."
Lang Feng walked onto the Purple Stone Arena, his expression impassive as he looked at Ren Hua. Ren Hua gave a wry smile and said, "I never thought the first match of the third round would be against you."
"Your skills are decent," Lang Feng said casually.
Ren Hua shook his head. "Even if my opponent is you, I won’t give up. Show me your true strength. I want to see just how powerful the man who has held the top spot in the Outer Courtyard for a year truly is."
"If you want me to use my true strength, then you’ll have to earn it."
The next instant, without another word, Lang Feng pushed off. A powerful gust of wind erupted as he shot forward like a bolt of lightning. His palms glowed with red Powerful Qi, unleashing a sky full of Palm Seals that rained down like a storm.
"Wave Sea Palm Technique!"
This was a Sixth-Grade Martial Arts, notoriously difficult to master in the Outer Courtyard.
At its peak, this Palm Technique allowed one’s bare hands to shatter metal and crush stone, easily rivaling weapons. Moreover, when the technique was active, the user’s aura was as relentless and unending as rolling tides, hence the name Wave Sea Palm Technique.
The moment Lang Feng attacked, the surrounding Primordial Qi surged like a tidal wave and his aura spread boundlessly. He had clearly mastered this Sixth-Grade Martial Arts completely.
The surrounding crowd couldn’t help but cry out in astonishment.
Ren Hua’s expression turned grave. He didn’t take the attack head-on. Instead, he employed an exceedingly bizarre Step Technique, his body swaying like a willow branch in a storm as he constantly changed positions. His white robes left a blur of afterimages across the stage.
In what felt like a flash, the time it takes to burn a stick of incense had passed.
Lang Feng struck out with his palm. It was like a gale whipping up the tides—a true Wind Rises and Clouds Surge. The Primordial Qi, condensed and focused, howled as it passed, showing he had pushed his Wave Sea Palm Technique to its absolute limit.
Meanwhile, Ren Hua had been dodging from the very start, not daring to meet the attacks head-on for even a moment.
Ren Hua’s Step Technique was also exceptionally refined, making the spectators nod in silent approval. He was like a small sampan on a vast, stormy ocean; it seemed he would be swallowed by the furious waves at any moment, yet he would always reappear on the surface in the next instant.
Suddenly, a burst of Powerful Qi grazed Ren Hua, disintegrating a lock of his hair. Seemingly aware of the extreme danger, his feet moved in a blur. His lithe body dodged nimbly through the air, his movements noticeably faster and more agile than before.
Upon seeing this, Wen Qingye couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.
"Did you have a breakthrough?" Lang Feng sneered at Ren Hua.
Ren Hua laughed heartily. "Hahaha, thank you, Brother Lang, for helping me achieve a breakthrough in my Step Technique!"
"Fury Sea Waves!"
Lang Feng scoffed and struck out with his palm again. The majestic Primordial Qi seemed to transform into an ever-flowing river, pressing forward with the crushing momentum of a tidal wave.
Ren Hua’s expression changed, and he thrust his own palms forward to meet the attack.
BOOM!
The immense energies of Primordial Qi collided, releasing a heaven-shaking boom. The entire Purple Stone Arena trembled, and ripples of Primordial Qi spread outwards.
Pale-faced, Ren Hua had been forced back to a corner of the arena.
After a moment, Ren Hua gave a helpless smile. "I’m no match for you. I surrender!"
With that, Ren Hua casually left the Purple Stone Arena.
"South Mountain, Lang Feng is the victor!"
The first match of the quarter-finals had finally concluded.
The crowd had finally witnessed the prowess of the Outer Courtyard’s number one student. His stormy Palm Technique was truly fearsome, yet even Ren Hua hadn’t been able to force Lang Feng to use his true strength.
Ren Hua walked up to Wei Qiutong with a wry smile. "He’s too strong. I feel like he didn’t even use his full strength, and I was already defeated."
Wei Qiutong comforted him, "Don’t worry about it. Lang Feng has always been incredibly powerful. It’s only natural that you weren’t his match."
"Sigh. To be in the same generation as him is both an honor and a tragedy," Ren Hua lamented.
The second match began soon after: Guu Lei versus Guo Gui.
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
The intense sounds of Primordial Qi explosions echoed from the arena.
The burly Guo Gui relentlessly swung his saber at Guu Lei. The Sword Aura he projected was boundlessly tyrannical, and every single move was filled with an oppressive wave of energy.
Guu Lei calmly watched the terrifying Sword Aura approach, his composure absolute as he faced the scorching, spark-showering attack.
His build wasn’t particularly imposing, even leaning toward slender, but it was filled with an indescribable explosive power. Each of his moves was a basic Fist Technique, yet he executed them with perfect timing—as seamless and untraceable as an antelope hanging by its horns.
"Hahaha, let’s see just how impressive the number one of West Mountain really is!"
Guo Gui suddenly burst into laughter. The great saber in his hand shot forward, the slash transforming into a flash of lightning that streaked across the arena with an incomparably brilliant light.
HUMMM!
Guu Lei suddenly drew his sword. The blade flashed, tracing an incomparably bizarre arc as he thrust it directly at the flat of Guo Gui’s saber.
Defeat!
Guo Gui had lost!
Guu Lei had drawn his sword and defeated Guo Gui of East Mountain with a single strike, sending him flying straight off the arena.
The entire crowd was in an uproar!
Guo Gui’s strength had always been ranked highly in East Mountain. He had a domineering personality but was also fiercely loyal and righteous. He had mastered the pinnacle Sixth Grade Thunder Blade Technique to a very high degree and had won his previous two matches with ease. Yet now, he had been defeated at Guu Lei’s hands.
Guu Lei!
Only then did the crowd realize just how terrifying his strength was. Many people now stared intently at the arrogant-looking man on the arena.
Lang Feng’s strength was unfathomable. He had the air of a king, shining like a blazing sun that eclipsed the glow of all other senior students. Everyone’s attention had been so focused on him that they had overlooked the top students from the other mountains.
In this battle, Guu Lei’s utter defeat of Guo Gui allowed him to shine with his own unparalleled brilliance.
It forced everyone to re-evaluate him!
"Good! What a showing, Guu Lei! I accept this loss wholeheartedly!"
Guo Gui laughed freely and spoke in a clear voice. He didn’t fly into a rage out of humiliation, nor did his face turn ashen. His demeanor was completely carefree. After speaking, he shouldered his great saber and departed.
"West Mountain, Guu Lei is victorious!"
The Steward on the arena loudly announced the result. After hearing it, Guu Lei walked down with his head held high, departing into the distance under the crowd’s awestruck gazes.
"What terrifying strength. And what a fast sword strike."
"I wonder who’s stronger, him or Lang Feng?"
"Guu Lei is probably no match for Lang Feng. After all, hardly anyone knows what Lang Feng’s true strength is."
