Chapter 281: Chapter 281: Sky Collapse Earth Splitting
The crowd’s eyes widened, watching unblinkingly as the two individuals fiercely sparred in the plaza. This duel was too thrilling; everyone worried they might miss the most spectacular moments.
However, as time went on, people began to notice something was amiss.
The two had exchanged no fewer than two hundred moves. However, Luo Feng, initially thought to be at a disadvantage, showed no signs of his fist Gang Qi’s power diminishing. Instead, it seemed to be growing stronger.
"What’s happening? Why do I feel Luo Feng’s attacking power is getting stronger!" someone finally blurted out, unable to contain their doubt.
"I have the same feeling."
"I’ve noticed it too." Several people nodded in agreement.
"That’s not the case." A keen-eyed Martial Artist slowly shook his head and said, "Luo Feng’s fist Gang Qi power isn’t getting stronger; Qin Honglie’s is getting weaker."
"What!"
Upon hearing this, many were deeply shocked, their faces etched with disbelief.
Qin Honglie, a late-stage eightfold Hell Realm Martial Artist, was actually losing to Luo Feng in a direct confrontation of Yuan Qi!
This simply defied common sense!
In the third gazebo, Zi Hongyuan gripped the armrests of his chair tightly, his face flushed with excitement. He looked as if he had shed a dozen years.
Luo Feng’s strength far exceeded his expectations. He was able to stand his ground against Qin Honglie!
This gave him a glimpse of the dawn of victory.
If Luo Feng could defeat Qin Honglie, one of the Four Princes, it would be an immense honor for the Purple Sun School, and indeed for all four major schools of the Flowing Cloud Region!
In contrast, Zhu Huo, the Dean of Ivy School, looked utterly grim.
He had initially assumed Qin Honglie would defeat Luo Feng with ease. He never anticipated that despite Luo Feng only possessing a mid-stage eightfold Hell Realm cultivation, his Yuan Qi would be so incredibly robust!
Zhu Huo’s only consolation was that Luo Feng’s cultivation was one minor realm lower than Qin Honglie’s, so his chances of victory weren’t high.
Otherwise, had Luo Feng been any stronger, Qin Honglie would likely have been defeated within a few exchanges.
When did the Flowing Cloud Region produce such a monster! Zhu Huo thought, his gaze fixed on Luo Feng, eyes burning with jealousy. He could now see that Luo Feng’s potential surpassed even Qin Honglie’s. This infuriated Zhu Huo, who had always looked down upon the four major schools of the Flowing Cloud Region.
Zhu Huo was not the only one angered.
At the edge of the plaza, the Unibrow Swordsman, who had made a bet with Wu Xiaoye, had also lost his composure. He stared intently at Qin Honglie and muttered, "What in the world is that Qin Honglie doing! Why isn’t he using his full strength to defeat Luo Feng already!"
By the time they had exchanged three hundred moves, Qin Honglie finally understood: trying to win by purely competing with Yuan Qi was impossible.
After such a prolonged exchange of fist blows, his own Yuan Qi was showing signs of depletion, yet Luo Feng seemed completely unaffected, the power of his fist Gang Qi not weakening in the slightest.
At this moment, Qin Honglie even regretted not heeding Luo Feng’s earlier suggestion to recover his Yuan Qi before the spar began.
If he had done that, he wouldn’t be in such an embarrassing situation now.
Since I can’t win by competing with Yuan Qi, my only option is to use my ultimate techniques! Qin Honglie gritted his teeth. His body suddenly shot upwards, his aura ferocious and unparalleled, his fist gleaming with a dazzling red light.
"Sky Fire Crumbling Gold Fist!"
The red glow on Qin Honglie’s fist transformed into a dazzling ball of fire the size of a millstone, which then thundered down from above.
CRACKLE!
The crimson fist Gang Qi shot out for several dozen feet, then suddenly exploded, transforming into countless scorching streams of fist energy that rained down, like a heavenly conflagration descending from the sky.
"He’s finally using a martial art technique!"
A stir went through the crowd; they knew the decisive moment had arrived.
Facing the roaring, explosive heavenly fire, Luo Feng’s eyes sharpened. He immediately executed the second form of Sky Collapse Fist: Fist Dominates All Directions!
All the ambient Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi within a radius of several zhang was instantly drained. As Luo Feng’s fist moved, a strange ripple spread out, forming a circular fist Gang Qi that pressed outwards in all directions.
RUMBLE...
The crimson fist Gang Qi exploded in layers. It was as if the entire plaza had been lit up with countless fireworks; the brilliant glare made it impossible for people to keep their eyes open as sparks flew in all directions.
WHOOSH!
Luo Feng’s figure flashed, retreating several dozen steps to evade the range of the fiery conflagration.
The Sky Fire Gold Kong Fist, though only a low-grade Profound Level martial art, contains an explosive force within its fist energy that can even ignite a Martial Artist’s Gang Qi. Its power is comparable to an ordinary middle-grade Profound Level martial art. It’s truly difficult to handle. He Qin, as the top new talent from the previous year’s cohort, was exceptionally knowledgeable and recognized Qin Honglie’s fist technique at a glance.
An ordinary late-stage eightfold Hell Realm Martial Artist would have to be extremely cautious when facing the Sky Fire Gold Kong Fist. For Luo Feng to fight him to a standstill was already incredibly remarkable.
"Take another punch from me!"
Qin Honglie, seizing the advantage, let out a long roar. A fierce glint flashed in his pupils as a crimson ring of fire materialized behind him, then converged onto his fist before he blasted it outwards.
This punch was even more formidable than the last. The circular fist Gang Qi was the size of a house, and its fiery light enveloped the entire plaza. As it descended even an inch, a continuous, thunderous booming, deafening and incessant, assaulted everyone’s eardrums.
Luo Feng’s gaze sharpened. He immediately unleashed Breaking Sky Fist. A ferocious, three-zhang-long beam of fist energy shot skyward.
BANG!
The formidable fist energy shattered, the flames dissipated, and Luo Feng took a single step back, his brow slightly furrowed.
Even with my mid-stage eightfold Hell Realm strength, contending with an expert like Qin Honglie is proving quite taxing. Despite using Fist Dominates All Directions, I was still somewhat suppressed. But then again, it wasn’t entirely surprising. Qin Honglie is one of the Four Princes of Red Maple Lead. Among the younger generation in Red Maple Lead, only a select few are his match. Furthermore, he entered the late-stage Hell Realm half a year ago and possesses a profound foundation. If someone at the mid-stage Hell Realm could defeat him, then the title of ’Four Princes of Red Maple Lead’ would be nothing but a laughingstock.
While Luo Feng was still assessing Qin Honglie’s strength, Qin Honglie’s own heart was already in turmoil.
That last punch was delivered with my full strength! I was certain it would overpower Luo Feng. Who would have thought it would only push him back a single step! I merely gained a slight upper hand. This realization made the perpetually proud and arrogant Qin Honglie feel as humiliated as if he had been slapped hard across the face.
Impossible! How can I, Qin Honglie, possibly lose to you! Gazing at Luo Feng, an uncontrollable rage ignited within Qin Honglie. He gritted his teeth, and with a sharp CLANG, his sword was unsheathed.
"Qin Honglie has drawn his sword!" Seeing this, the spectators exchanged bewildered glances.
Just moments ago, Qin Honglie had solemnly vowed to defeat Luo Feng using only his fist techniques. Yet now, he had broken his word and drawn his sword first!
This was an undeniable breach of his promise, indirectly proving that he couldn’t overcome Luo Feng relying solely on his fists.
"Who would’ve thought that one of the distinguished Four Princes, Qin Honglie, would be pushed to this point?"
"It’s hardly surprising. Luo Feng is just too strong. Who could have imagined that a mere mid-stage eightfold Hell Realm Martial Artist could actually rival one of the Four Princes? If word of this got out, probably no one would believe it."
"Indeed. Challenging those at higher cultivation levels isn’t the scariest part; what’s truly terrifying is when the challenger is also a peerless genius! Luo Feng’s potential is simply too frightening!"
"For a Swordsman, their combat strength with a sword versus without one is like night and day. Now that Qin Honglie has drawn his sword, Luo Feng probably has no chance of winning anymore."
"Qin Honglie went back on his word and drew his sword first. He’s faithless. Even if he wins now, it’ll be a hollow victory, a joke."
A buzz of discussion swept through the entire plaza. This duel had taken so many unexpected turns, a relentless series of twists that left many feeling overwhelmed and struggling to keep up.
Qin Honglie was oblivious to the surrounding discussions. Even if he had heard them, he wouldn’t have stopped now.
The only thought remaining deep in his heart was to defeat Luo Feng! Nothing else mattered.
BUZZ!
A vast torrent of Yuan Qi erupted from his body. In mid-air, Qin Honglie’s aura instantly surged to its zenith. Intertwining, blood-red Sword Qi tore through the air, emitting a mournful sound like the wailing of ghosts and the howling of wolves. Finally, it coalesced into a colossal, ten-zhang-long Sword Shadow that slashed down from the heavens.
"Great Sun Destruction Sword!"
Qin Honglie roared, his figure merging with the sword light. Achieving Human-sword Unity, a piercing Sword Qi radiated outwards, seeming powerful enough to cleave the very earth asunder.
BOOM!
A crimson glow enveloped half the plaza as fierce Sword Qi rampaged, carving deep, shocking gashes into the ground. No one saw how they appeared.
So, he’s drawn his sword. In that case, I’ll let you witness the third form of Sky Collapse Fist! Luo Feng observed Qin Honglie’s silhouette, a cold smile playing on his lips. His clothes fluttered, and his aura steadily intensified.
The entire plaza churned with turbulent energy, yet the space immediately around Luo Feng remained eerily calm.
Any sharp Sword Qi that came within three zhang of him seemed to be disintegrated by an invisible force, vanishing without a trace.
"Hey! He’s at the late-stage eightfold Hell Realm!"
Gasps of astonishment rippled through the plaza. Many widened their eyes at Luo Feng, as if witnessing something truly unbelievable.
Luo Feng’s aura at this moment was in no way inferior to Qin Honglie’s; in fact, it even faintly surpassed it! Clearly, he was a late-stage eightfold Hell Realm Martial Artist!
BANG!
In the second gazebo, the teacup in Zhu Huo’s hand shattered into pieces. He stared fixedly at the youth standing proudly in the plaza, muttering, "Impossible, impossible..."
Meanwhile, in the third gazebo, Zi Hongyuan had already leaped to his feet, his face flushed with excitement. "Late-stage eightfold Hell Realm! No wonder he was so confident he could defeat Qin Honglie! So that’s how it is! Hahahaha..."
Zhou Zhiyun smiled faintly, a blush gracing her ethereally beautiful face. "It seems we’ve all been deceived by him."
He Qin, Bing Ruolan, and Zi Yuan exchanged glances, utter shock written across their lovely faces.
They all knew Luo Feng’s strength. He had only broken through to the eightfold Hell Realm two months ago. To advance to the late-stage eightfold Hell Realm in such a short period... such a cultivation speed was truly difficult to believe!
Late-stage eightfold Hell Realm! How is this possible! Qin Honglie stared intently at Luo Feng.
I never imagined that the person I’d dismissed had been hiding such formidable strength, a power not the least bit inferior to my own! He’s also at the late-stage eightfold Hell Realm... His cultivation might even be slightly higher than mine!
Luo Feng offered no words, only a cold smile directed at Qin Honglie.
"Sky Collapse Fist, Third Form: Sky Collapse Earth Splitting!"
Two spheres of Gang Qi condensed around Luo Feng’s fists as he fiercely hammered the empty air to his left and right.
BANG! BANG!
With the explosive sounds, the very air in the plaza seemed to solidify for an instant.
To everyone’s horror, large, dark cracks appeared in the space surrounding Luo Feng, spreading out in all directions as if the very fabric of space was tearing apart and collapsing.
SPURT!
At the edge of the plaza, some Martial Artists with weaker cultivation bases trembled violently, their faces paling as they spat out mouthfuls of blood, unable to withstand the pressure.