"It's finally begun!"
As Elder Wu De's voice fell, the crowd in the spectator stands held their breath.
This duel was much more intense than those of the past. Previously, duels merely involved the exchange of spirit stones or treasures as stakes, with the victor claiming all. Such duels were also based purely on victory or defeat.
As long as one party conceded, the duel would be interrupted by the officiating Elder Wu De. However, this was a battle to the death, meaning the duel would not cease until someone died.
"Qiu Shaolong still hasn't emerged from seclusion? Interesting." You Haotian glanced at the still vacant seat, murmuring to himself before shifting his gaze to the challenge arena.
"Lin Chu, you've caused quite a stir this past year. But today, it's time for it to end. Once you step onto this challenge arena, even the Saintess cannot stop you. Today, I shall see who can save you!"
Qiu Shaoming sneered at Lin Chu.
Lin Chu smiled and said, "You've been very secretive this past year. You rarely show yourself within the sect, it seems. Qiu Shaoming, the boasting is over, let's settle this with our fists."
"I originally intended to give you more time, but I didn't expect you to be so eager to court death. Lin Chu, let me see how much you've accomplished in this past year!"
As Qiu Shaoming finished speaking, he instantly lunged towards Lin Chu. A faint spiritual light appeared around his body.
"Spirit energy projection? I didn't expect Qiu Shaoming's strength to have reached the advanced stage of the Early Spirit Realm in just a year." Huo Ling, also seated in the core disciple area, was somewhat surprised.
"This Lin Chu's situation looks rather precarious." Liu Boming nodded in agreement.
"I don't think so. Look, Lin Chu's face doesn't show any change. He's clearly prepared," a young man in green beside Liu Boming offered a different opinion.
"Brother Qingyun's assessment aligns with mine." As Zhu Qingyun finished speaking, another person voiced their agreement.
The few individuals in the core disciple area fell silent, their eyes darting about as if contemplating something.
"Sky-Breaking Fist!" Lin Chu, without a second thought, unleashed a punch in response to Qiu Shaoming's charge. The spirit energy within his body surged into his left arm, erupting with immense power. Where his fist passed, even the space seemed to vibrate.
Bang!
Lin Chu's fist landed squarely on Qiu Shaoming's fist. Time seemed to freeze for a moment as the two collided. After a full five breaths, both were sent flying backward.
"Lin Chu's strength seems to have entered the early stage of the Early Spirit Realm as well." Liu Boming said with some surprise, observing that Qiu Shaoming had retreated five steps while Lin Chu had retreated nine.
"Entering the Early Spirit Realm in a year, Lin Chu is truly not to be underestimated. If I recall correctly, Lin Chu's tested aptitude was merely that of an ordinary disciple. To reach the Early Spirit Realm in a year, he must have put in a considerable amount of effort."
Huo Ling nodded, a trace of surprise in his eyes as well.
"Lin Chu is indeed impressive. But it's a pity. If he had a few more years, Lin Chu might have truly surpassed Qiu Shaoming. However, at present, Lin Chu holds no advantage. It's too difficult to defeat an advanced stage practitioner with an early stage in the Early Spirit Realm."
As Huo Ling spoke, Zhu Qingyun also chimed in.
Hearing their assessments, You Haotian smiled faintly and pointed to the upper level of the challenge arena. "Look, the Saintess, the Grand Elder, and the Sect Master have all arrived. I wonder if they will intervene if one of them is about to lose?"
"This..." Everyone exchanged glances, unsure how to respond.
"What kind of fist technique is this?" Qiu Shaoming, after retreating five steps, felt a flicker of surprise in his eyes. Lin Chu's punch had left his arm numb. If he had more time, one more punch could cripple his arm.
"You're quite curious, aren't you?" Lin Chu smiled faintly. With a thought, he swiftly executed the Lingxu Step, moving like a phantom towards Qiu Shaoming. At a glance, only an afterimage could be seen.
"Lin Chu's moves and techniques do not seem to belong to our sect," Elder Wu De mused with a hint of suspicion, observing Lin Chu's displayed techniques and movement.
He subtly glanced at Bai Yuwei, who was seated beside Liu Feichen in the upper area, before turning his gaze back to Lin Chu.
"Good lad, to have grown to this extent in a year. Since that's the case, don't blame me for not holding back. Eight Dragons of the Heavenly Realm!"
Observing Lin Chu's elusive movements, Qiu Shaoming quickly formed hand seals. The spiritual light around his body condensed into a spiritual orb in his hand, which he then hurled towards the rapidly approaching Lin Chu.
"Sky-Breaking Slash!"
With a furious roar, Lin Chu leaped into the air above Qiu Shaoming. The spirit energy in his fist flickered as he aimed directly at Qiu Shaoming's head.
At this moment, the spiritual orb launched by Qiu Shaoming rapidly enlarged, transforming into a spiritual dragon over five meters long that roared towards Lin Chu.
"What's going on! Only Qiu Shaolong knows the Eight Dragons of the Heavenly Realm. How does Qiu Shaoming know it? Has Qiu Shaolong emerged from seclusion?"
Upon seeing the spiritual dragon, Liu Boming and the others in the core disciple area leaped to their feet.
The expressions of Liu Boming and the others clearly indicated that Qiu Shaoming's move was not to be trifled with.
Boom!
With the appearance of the spiritual dragon, a flicker of shock crossed Lin Chu's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure, his fist smashing directly into the spiritual dragon.
Puff!
The spiritual dragon collided with Lin Chu's left fist in an instant. A tremendous force sent Lin Chu flying towards the edge of the arena. Before he could suppress the surging blood within him, Lin Chu spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Brother Chu!" Bai Yuwei, watching from above, displayed a look of worry in her eyes.
The Grand Elder's eyes flashed with a hint of schadenfreude, which he quickly concealed. He then slowly spoke, "Saintess, the duels between disciples are meant to uphold the sect's rules. Please do not break them."
Liu Feichen glanced at Bai Yuwei and shook his head, as if hesitating to speak.
Seeing Lin Chu slumped on the ground with a pale face, Qiu Shaoming's face lit up with exultation. He then sneered, "Lin Chu, I truly underestimated you. I never thought that in this short year, you, a mortal with no spirit energy within you, would reach the early stage of the Early Spirit Realm."
"However, you're not the only one who has been improving. You no longer have the strength to resist, do you? Rest assured, for the sake of the Saintess, I will grant you a swift end."
"Cough... cough... I didn't expect the gap between the early and advanced stages of the Early Spirit Realm to be so vast. But is it too early for you to be celebrating now?"
Lin Chu coughed twice, a hint of realization flashing in his eyes. To Qiu Shaoming's stunned gaze, he slowly stood up.
"Impossible! No one has ever been able to stand up after taking a hit from the Eight Dragons of the Heavenly Realm!" Qiu Shaoming's face was filled with disbelief as he watched Lin Chu rise.
Lin Chu steadied himself with difficulty. Hearing Qiu Shaoming's words, he smiled calmly again. "The world is full of possibilities. Your so-called impossibility is merely something you haven't witnessed yet. Cough... Since I've taken one of your blows, it's time for my turn!"
"Meteor Holy Slash!"
As Lin Chu spoke, his hands rapidly formed hand seals. The surrounding spiritual energy was instantly drawn in. Then, a large amount of spiritual energy was absorbed into Lin Chu's body, his initially pale complexion instantly regaining its color.
Immediately after, Lin Chu changed his hand seals, and the spirit energy within him surged into his hands, transforming into a spiritual light that he hurled towards Qiu Shaoming.
"Eight Dragons of the Heavenly Realm!"
Seeing Lin Chu not only recover but unleash an even more powerful attack, Qiu Shaoming was somewhat surprised. However, he quickly adjusted, forming hand seals again. A spiritual orb was once more condensed and shot towards the spiritual light Lin Chu had unleashed.
Rumble!
As the spiritual light flew, it transformed into a sky full of starlight, resembling a sword rain, its power clearly not to be underestimated. Qiu Shaoming's condensed spiritual orb once again turned into a spiritual dragon, charging into the starry expanse.
Sizzle! Sizzle!
Soon, as if in a tangible collision, rapid sizzling sounds erupted. Elder Wu De, witnessing this on the challenge arena, waved his large hand. A flash of spiritual light appeared, and the already slightly shaking challenge arena immediately stabilized.
"How is this possible!"
At this moment, Qiu Shaoming cried out in disbelief.
His face was filled with extreme terror. In the direction of his gaze, the spiritual dragon was actually beginning to dissipate under the torrent of starlight.
"Sky-Breaking Fist!"
Seeing Qiu Shaoming's spiritual dragon disintegrating, Lin Chu moved, swiftly executing the Lingxu Step and charging directly towards Qiu Shaoming.
Bang!
The stunned Qiu Shaoming had no time to react. As he was about to defend himself, it was too late. Lin Chu's fist smashed fiercely into Qiu Shaoming's chest.
Puff!
Qiu Shaoming's body flew upward, tracing a long arc in the air before crashing heavily onto the arena.
"What! Qiu Shaoming lost?"
"Lin Chu found a great opportunity. Striking when his opponent was momentarily stunned, few people could withstand that."
"Not necessarily. Lin Chu was able to counterattack after taking a hit from Qiu Shaoming before. Moreover, Qiu Shaoming's strength is inherently greater than Lin Chu's. He absolutely wouldn't be out of the fight after one palm strike."
"..."
As Qiu Shaoming fell, the disciples in the spectator stands erupted into discussions.
The core disciples, however, fell silent. But in their gazes towards Lin Chu, a subtle change had occurred.
"Look, Lin Chu is attacking again!"
On the challenge arena, after spitting out a mouthful of blood, Lin Chu did not stop. With a clenched fist, he unleashed another punch.
Bang!
This time, however, Lin Chu's fist was firmly intercepted by Qiu Shaoming's outstretched palm. Fist met palm, and both their faces gradually turned red.
Boom!
Seeing his punch blocked, Lin Chu decisively changed his right hand into a palm and struck towards Qiu Shaoming's wrist. The palm that Qiu Shaoming used to block his left fist was instantly batted away by Lin Chu's right palm. In a flash, Lin Chu channeled the spirit energy within him and unleashed another punch.
Puff.
Having already been hit once by Lin Chu's advantage, and now struck again, Qiu Shaoming's chest had caved in. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, which splashed almost entirely onto Lin Chu's face.
Lin Chu closed his eyes slightly at the spray of blood from Qiu Shaoming, then slowly walked to the front of Qiu Shaoming and stopped.
"Cough... I... I didn't expect... you... you... cough..." Qiu Shaoming struggled to open his eyes and looked at Lin Chu beside him, a deep sense of unwillingness in his gaze. Before he could finish speaking, he began to cough violently again.