CRACK. CRACK.
Tang Zheng rotated his neck, producing a series of sharp cracks, like firecrackers going off. In fact, it wasn't just his neck; his entire body erupted with this sound that made one's skin crawl. It was as if his entire skeleton was restructuring itself.
BOOM!
Then, Tang Zheng took a step forward. The bluestone slab instantly shattered, his entire foot sinking into the ground as spiderweb-like cracks spread in all directions. A surging Vitality Force enveloped his body, swirling out in brilliant golden strands. The power pulsed from him, potent enough to shake the heavens.
This was the prodigy who had been frozen for thirty years.
Even though he was completely isolated from the outside world, the Southern Clan's royal family had constantly imrsed his body in various dicinal herbs. Although he lay in an ice coffin the entire ti, his strength had not diminished in the slightest.
THUD. THUD.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Tang Zheng advanced with thunderous steps. His frosty eyes, like those of a hawk, swept across the crowd before finally locking onto Chen Yang.
"Not bad, not bad. You're barely qualified to be my whetstone." Tang Zheng looked Chen Yang up and down, a smirk playing on his lips. He bared his teeth in a grin. "Your father isn't worthy of participating in my journey to sainthood. For you to take his place... that is your honor."
BOOM!
With each step, Tang Zheng's power surged by an entire realm. By the ti he stood five ters from Chen Yang, a heaven-toppling pressure swept out in all directions.
Stage Seventeen: Emperor of the Firmant.
"He can... he can do that?" soone in the crowd stamred.
After his power stabilized at Stage Seventeen, Tang Zheng nonchalantly took a strand of his own hair and used it to tie back his ssy, waist-length locks. He smiled coolly. "Boy, don't be alard. Although your father and I are mortal enemies, I will grant you the honor of sharpening my skills. For that, I promise to leave you with an intact corpse."
HISS...
The tens of thousands of spectators in the square gasped. Even the Fist Masters felt their scalps tingle, a deathly chill running down their spines. The aura erupting from him was simply terrifying.
"First cos the Venerate, then the Saint. After today's battle, I should be able to touch the threshold of the Saintly Realm." Tang Zheng flicked his bangs aside, the implication clear: Chen Yang was a satisfactory whetstone.
Today was indeed the perfect opportunity. A flower raised in a greenhouse can never be as tempered as one that has weathered a storm. Only through a true life-and-death battle could he shatter his bottleneck and advance to the next level.
"Yong Master, please make your move. With standing guard, nothing will go wrong," Tang Renfeng reminded him, seeking to put his mind at ease.
"Alright, Elder Wu Xing." Tang Zheng nodded. After cracking his knuckles, he bent his legs and shot forward, his body wreathed in a golden glow that made him look like a towering, golden-armored War God.
RUMBLE...
His speed was so incredible that it created a series of terrifying sonic booms. Without any flashy or wasted movents, he threw a direct punch.
Chen Yang didn't dodge, instead eting it head-on.
The fierce collision of their palms, fueled by their imnse Vitality Force, instantly created a violent shockwave that swept outwards. Those standing too close were sent flying like autumn leaves in a storm. The flagstones shattered piece by piece, turning to dust. A cloud of dust obscured the sky. As the aftershocks radiated outwards, even distant ornantal trees were torn from the ground, roots and all. The destructive power was terrifying to behold.
"I, Tang Zheng, was born with the True Dragon Qi! I am destined to step into the Saintly Realm! You will be nothing more than a spectacular corpse on my path to sainthood," he proclaid. "For this, you ought to feel imnsely honored!"
His spirited, confident words imdiately drew roars of approval and laughter from Tang Renfeng and the other mbers of the Southern Clan's royal family. With Tang Renfeng, an Elder of the royal clan, personally standing guard, this supposedly fair duel had already put Tang Zheng in an invincible position. A Yong Master of his noble status was truly without peer.
CLANG.
Tang Zheng drew his war blade. The seemingly rust-pitted blade erupted with a light so dazzling that it made the fierce sun in the sky seem dim in comparison. The very air seed to tremble and tear. The sharp aura of the blade was so intense that even the spectators on the far outskirts felt a piercing pain, as if needles were pricking their backs.
"Die!" Tang Zheng roared, wielding the blade with both hands and slashing down at Chen Yang from above.
CRACK.
The flagstones beneath Chen Yang's feet, unable to bear the pressure, instantly crumbled. Yet Chen Yang himself stood firm, unmoving. As the brilliant slash descended, the long spear in his hand moved like a bolt of silver silk.
The spear moved like a dragon, its cold light arriving before the spear itself. The move was a vision of flying snow across majestic mountains. It was a majestic and imposing sight, imbued with the strength to uproot mountains and a spirit that could overshadow the world.
DING.
A shower of sparks erupted in the air. The collision was earth-shattering.
Tang Zheng's arms trembled. He didn't retreat, instead pressing forward with a furious downward thrust, but Chen Yang's power still sent him flying backward.
BOOM!
Chen Yang leaped into the air, tearing through it with a sharp sonic boom. His spear shot upward like the rising sun piercing through blood-red morning clouds.
The outco was decided.
SHHNK!
In the next instant, the spear tore through Tang Zheng's chest, impaling him completely.
"Ah...!" As Tang Zheng let out a frenzied roar, Chen Yang landed back on his feet. Holding the spear with one hand, he kept the Yong Master of the Southern Clan's royal family impaled and lifted in mid-air.
Blood dripped down the shaft, re-soaking the already crimson tassel.
"This..."
"He lost? Tang Zheng lost, just like that?"
Watching the stunning spectacle, the crowd stared with slack-jawed disbelief. Tang Zheng, who seconds ago had seed so arrogant and invincible, now looked limp and lifeless, blood gushing from his wound. In contrast, Chen Yang, who had been as still as a stone statue, now stood like a demon king in the center of the arena, his presence terrifying all who looked upon him.
"Our Yong Master only seems to have lost because his weapon was inferior! How could this be a true defeat?" Tang Renfeng's voice was grim as he added, "Yong Master, catch!"
WHOOSH!
A brilliant streak of light shot out, flying straight toward Tang Zheng. But the gleam of the spear suddenly shifted, its trajectory changing to aim directly for Chen Yang's heart.
"You shaless bastard!" Chen Jinnan roared in fury. To think that a respected Elder of a royal clan would resort to such a dirty trick against a junior in front of everyone! This talk about the weapon being inferior was clearly just an excuse to attack Chen Yang.
"Old bastard, you put on such high and mighty airs. Do you really think I'm afraid of you?" Chen Yang sneered and swung his spear horizontally to block.
CLANG!
In a flash, the two spears collided with an explosive sound sharp enough to shatter a person's very soul.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
The web of Chen Yang's hand was torn open, a ss of bloody flesh. He was violently forced backward, plowing a five-ter-long trench in the ground with his feet.
PFFT!
The mont he stabilized himself, Chen Yang coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Tang Renfeng remained motionless, his presence as imposing as ever, but a flicker of deep astonishnt crossed his eyes.
He actually withstood it?
The entire arena erupted into a clamor.
"He blocked it?"
"How is that possible...?"
Before the crowd could process what had happened, Tang Zheng, who was still impaled and reeling from the shock, clutched the spear shaft piercing his body and scread, "Elder Wu Xing, save !"
So much for all that confidence from before. Heh... he was just a spineless shrimp after all.
Having lost all face, Tang Zheng fell silent, his dark eyes fixed on Chen Yang in a venomous glare.
Chen Yang t his gaze and slowly shook his head. "This whetstone... is not qualified."
With that, he gave his arm a gentle shake.
BANG!
Tang Renfeng was speechless.
So was everyone else.
The scene was too brutal, too domineering. A stunned silence fell over the arena.
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