Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Struggle

Liu Feng no longer paid any attention to Zhang Ming; he turned and walked to the front of Zeng Lu and the others.

"Brother Liu, you did well! You gave that arrogant and domineering Zhang Ming a good beating, and vented our anger for us," Zeng Lu said, slapping Liu Feng’s shoulder and laughing heartily.

"You really are something, kid. Now even your old brother here can’t beat you," Zhao Guang said, looking at Liu Feng with a touch of admiration in his tone.

At that moment, Zhang Luoxue began to spar with an opponent. Her white garments fluttered, and her delicate hand moved gently, like a fairy from the Jade Pool, ethereal and otherworldly.

Yet her opponent felt none of that. Instead, he only sensed that this stunningly beautiful girl struck like lightning, her force fierce and swift, driving him steadily backward.

After a brief exchange, Zhang Luoxue slid behind her opponent and placed her slender jade hand on his back. Instantly, he felt a gentle yet immense force strike him, sending his body hurtling backward.

"Miss Luoxue is truly formidable. We can only look up to her," Zhao Guang exclaimed sincerely as Zhang Luoxue returned.

Zhang Luoxue smiled slightly and said, "Brother Zhao, you need not be modest. Your strength is also unmatched by most."

Zhao Guang chuckled and said nothing more.

By now, the twenty-four contestants had completed the first round, and everyone was eager to begin the second.

"This time, I'll go first. I wonder which friend would like to spar with me?" Wang Xinghe stepped forward, his expression calm.

Huang Lingshan laughed loudly and walked to face Wang Xinghe. "When we fought for the divine fruit earlier, our match was undecided. Let's settle it now."

A spark flashed in Wang Xinghe's eyes, and he nodded slightly. He struck out, his fist whistling through the air with a savage force.

Huang Lingshan’s face grew solemn, a fierce fighting spirit emanating from him. He activated the Battle Tiger Sect’s inner technique, and his wild strength surged like crashing waves. He extended his right palm, colliding it directly with Wang Xinghe’s fist.

"Boom!"

Fist and palm met, and the surging power erupted like a volcano, sending shockwaves in all directions. The stone beneath their feet shattered with a thunderous crack, and even the spectators were forced to retreat.

The two men moved with lightning speed, their steps weaving and darting, leaving afterimages flickering across the clearing, making it impossible to discern their true forms.

Within moments, they had exchanged hundreds of blows. Wang Xinghe was agile and swift, moving like a leopard; Huang Lingshan, fierce as a tiger, his strikes wild and powerful.

"Cut Across!" Wang Xinghe shouted, his hands forming blades. Two sharp arcs of energy swept out like divine punishment, slashing toward Huang Lingshan.

"Battle Tiger Fist!" Huang Lingshan roared inwardly, infusing true energy into his fists. Light flashed on his knuckles like burning flames, and he unleashed a ferocious blow, smashing into Wang Xinghe’s blade energy.

"Thunderous rumble!"

The massive sound roared like thunder, making ears ring as the violent energy swept in all directions. The ground fractured, and at the epicenter of their clash, a four-meter-wide crater appeared.

Then a figure flew backward, tumbling to the ground, blood spilling from his mouth. "Huang Lingshan, you’ve got it," Wang Xinghe said hoarsely.

"Wang Xinghe, you’re not bad yourself," Huang Lingshan replied, stepping forward with blood at the corner of his mouth.

The exquisite beauty Li Qiuyun walked up to Wang Xinghe and asked softly, "Are you alright?"

Though Wang Xinghe's face was pale, he was composed. "It’s just a minor injury. I’ll be fine in a while," he replied calmly.

Li Qiuyun nodded and turned, her voice cool and clear, "I wonder who would like to challenge me?"

Zhang Luoxue stepped lightly forward, coming face to face with Li Qiuyun. Two beautiful women met—one ethereal as a fairy, the other sharp and fierce like a warrior goddess. They looked at each other, a flash of determination in their eyes.

Li Qiuyun struck first, her sword thrusting forward like an arrow loosed from the bow, its sharp whistle slicing the air as it reached Zhang Luoxue in the blink of an eye.

Zhang Luoxue remained serene. She extended her slender hand, her jade fingers tapping out, and a streak of blue sword energy shot forth, sharp as a divine weapon, colliding with Li Qiuyun’s blade.

A metallic clang rang out, as if two blades had clashed.

The first strike failed. Li Qiuyun twisted her wrist, sending her sword diagonally at Zhang Luoxue’s wrist with lightning speed.

Zhang Luoxue formed a seal with her fingers, her ten digits shifting through intricate gestures. At a certain moment, her hands trembled, and a blue lotus flower materialized, spinning as it struck the tip of the sword.

A resounding clang, and Li Qiuyun felt her sword hit a shield of metal, her palm tingling from the impact. Her heart trembled, and she gripped her sword harder, finally breaking the blue lotus with a loud crack.

"Ha!" Frustrated by repeated setbacks, Li Qiuyun let out a shout, her voice piercing and powerful, making eardrums buzz. Suddenly, her aura grew sharper, like an unsheathed blade.

Zhang Luoxue responded, her right palm fluttering forward with the grace of a butterfly, but its speed was like a flash of lightning, arriving before Li Qiuyun in an instant.

Li Qiuyun gripped her sword with both hands, swinging it swiftly to create a curtain of light that blocked the incoming palm.

A soft bang marked their clash, both women jolted and drifting back.

Li Qiuyun pushed off with her foot to halt her retreat, her face pale. In all her years, she had never encountered such a powerful young woman.

"Hmph, no matter how strong she is, I will not back down," Li Qiuyun thought, her aura growing even fiercer. Sword in hand, she launched herself forward, thrusting at Zhang Luoxue’s arm.

Zhang Luoxue’s gaze sharpened. She struck out with both palms, sending two waves of blue light to collide with the sword.

A hiss filled the air as Li Qiuyun’s blade pierced through the blue light, its momentum unbroken, striking Zhang Luoxue’s palm.

A crisp clang, and the sword bent slightly from the impact. Li Qiuyun withdrew her sword, then slashed diagonally again at her opponent’s body.

Now Zhang Luoxue’s eyes gleamed with intensity. She formed a seal with her hands, and a blue chain shot out, wrapping around the sword.

Li Qiuyun felt her blade sink into a quagmire, unable to move. Just as she was about to let go, Zhang Luoxue’s right palm struck her, sending her flying backward with blood trickling from her lips.

Zhang Luoxue bowed slightly. "Thank you for letting me win."

"Hmph, I was simply outmatched," Li Qiuyun said coldly.