"Esteemed contestants, I have a temporary announcement to make: the individual ability competition of this year's grand martial arts tournament will change its format."
While everyone was still immersed in the brilliant duel between Lu Qing and Yu Ziyuan, still reeling from the spectacle, Lei Shen stood up and addressed the crowd below. "The upcoming format will be changed to this: Shen Lang of the Southern Ling Martial Guard Department will accept a wheel battle from everyone. If Shen Lang wins in the end, he is this year's champion. If he loses, the person who defeats him becomes the champion."
Lei Shen announced, "Next, Long Feng, Qilian Shan, Meng Xinghun, Lu Qing, Zhan Qinglong, Nan Chenfeng, Li Wuji, Ning Qiankun, and Jia Bao Wang, you may engage Shen Lang in a wheel battle. Are you ready?"
"Huh?"
Upon hearing Lei Shen's words, both those who had already competed and those who hadn't yet were completely bewildered. Why would they have to engage Shen Lang in a wheel battle? They had never heard of the rules being changed.
"I am ready."
As everyone exchanged confused glances, unsure of what to say, Shen Lang walked step by step towards the high platform and spoke to Lei Shen on stage.
"What?"
Lei Shen was taken aback by Shen Lang's response. He had expected Shen Lang to protest, but instead, he saw not a trace of displeasure on Shen Lang's face. Could this young man truly be confident that he could defeat everyone and win the championship?
"Everyone, stop dwelling on it. Just line up and come at me. In a word, I am invincible, and you may all try."
Under Lei Shen's disbelieving gaze, Shen Lang looked at the nine confused figures below and smiled.
"Shen Lang, you are too arrogant. I will make you pay the price for your arrogance."
These individuals had not yet decided whether to attack Shen Lang. Upon hearing Shen Lang's arrogant declaration, they immediately made up their minds. Long Feng was the first to leap forward, then quickly ran towards the high platform, saying, "Shen Lang, let me defeat you and become the champion of today's grand martial arts tournament."
"With you?"
Shen Lang chuckled upon hearing this. "Long Feng, your skills are decent, but unfortunately, in front of me, you are not yet qualified."
With that, Shen Lang spoke seriously to Long Feng, "Think about your most prized weapon. I permit you to use it."
"No need. These two iron fists are my weapons."
With these words, Long Feng rapidly closed in on Shen Lang and delivered a ferocious punch directly towards Shen Lang's face.
Long Feng had witnessed Shen Lang's formidable power in defeating Xiao Zhantian, so he did not hold back with this punch, unleashing his full strength from the outset.
Long Feng's hands had been broken by Ma Feng before. In order to make his hands unbreakable, Long Feng had been practicing Iron Wire Fist for the past three years, and his mastery had now reached an apex.
During his fight with Ma Feng, Long Feng had not used his fists because he wanted to conserve his strength for subsequent matches. However, with the change in format, where defeating Shen Lang meant winning the championship, he no longer had any reason to hold back.
In a flash, Long Feng's heavy fist was inches from Shen Lang's face, but it could not advance any further.
This was because Shen Lang's right hand had emerged at some unknown point, gripping Long Feng's wrist with such terrifying speed and strength that he could not move even an inch forward, despite exerting his full power.
"A good punch, but its power is too weak. To injure someone, you need this kind of power."
Shen Lang smiled slightly at Long Feng, then raised his fist and delivered a powerful blow to Long Feng's chest.
"Bang—"
Instantly, Long Feng was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing heavily into the ring's railing. He spat out a mouthful of blood.
The iron railing behind him was contorted by the impact.
"This..."
Witnessing Shen Lang's effortless injury of Long Feng, the expressions of the other contestants changed drastically. They knew Shen Lang was not ordinary, but they had never imagined he could so easily block Long Feng's attack and then counter-attack.
"Long Feng, that move you used against Ma Feng earlier was good. Use it again."
As everyone watched in shock, Shen Lang looked at Long Feng and said with a smile.
With that, Shen Lang swiftly closed the distance to Long Feng and punched directly at him.
Seeing Shen Lang's attack mirroring Ma Feng's exactly, not only were the other contestants shocked, but even Lei Shen and the various department heads on stage looked on in disbelief.
Ma Feng's attack on Long Feng earlier had resulted in Long Feng seizing an opportunity and kicking out, breaking Ma Feng's spine. Did Shen Lang intend to repeat the same mistake?
As expected, facing Shen Lang's rapid and fierce punch, Long Feng dodged as swiftly as before, then took seven steps in mid-air, flashing behind Shen Lang and kicking directly at Shen Lang's spine.
"Got him?"
Seeing that Long Feng's ultimate move had seemingly worked, the other contestants were both excited and worried.
Excited because Shen Lang would be severely injured by this kick, just like Ma Feng whose spine was broken, signaling his defeat.
Yet, they were also worried that if Shen Lang lost this way, Long Feng would ultimately win the championship.
After all, no one had prepared from last year to this year with the intention of losing so easily.
"Broken—"
As everyone held their breath, watching the stage intently, Shen Lang turned to look at Long Feng and said.
"Hahaha, I know, your spine is broken."
Upon hearing Shen Lang's words, Long Feng burst into laughter.
This kick was intended for Ma Feng, and he had not expected it to not only deal with Ma Feng, but also to avenge himself from three years ago, and finally to defeat Shen Lang and win the championship.
Long Feng was ecstatic.
"Why do you look so excited?"
Shen Lang, seeing the expression on Long Feng's face, asked with a puzzled look.
"I defeated you, shouldn't I be excited?"
Long Feng replied, "I thought it would take a tough battle to win the championship, but I didn't expect it to be this easy. Shen Lang, Shen Lang, I should really thank you."
"Thank me? Are you alright?"
Shen Lang's words were startling. "What I said was broken, it wasn't my spine that broke, it was your leg that broke."
"What?"
Hearing Shen Lang's words, Long Feng's face contorted with disbelief. But as he just reacted, a sharp pain shot through his right leg, followed by a cracking sound of it breaking.
"Bang—"
Before Long Feng could even comprehend what had happened, he collapsed onto the ground.
"Ah—"
After falling, Long Feng realized his leg bone was broken, and he let out a heart-wrenching scream of pain.
"This..."
The turn of events was so swift that it caused the eyes of the other contestants and the department heads to widen. They had never expected such an outcome.
"Shen Lang, this kid has cultivated innate true energy. Long Feng's defeat is not unjust."
Lei Shen on the high platform immediately saw the crux of the matter and explained.
Upon hearing Lei Shen's words, Long Feng and everyone else's eyes widened.
Innate true energy? Wasn't that a martial art that only existed in legends?