CHAPTER 144: CHAPTER 144: THE STUNNING SWORD!

"Han Feng is actually challenging Jiang Ping, who is ranked ninth. He managed to determine the victor with just a single sword stroke earlier; I wonder what will happen this time."

"Jiang Ping will definitely win. The opponents Han Feng encountered earlier weren’t that strong. How can he be compared with Jiang Ping on the Hidden Dragon List? Jiang Ping’s Great Power Fist has already been cultivated to the Great Achievement Realm; Han Feng has no chance of defending."

"Hmm, that’s true. Han Feng is being too reckless. If he challenged Li Xian, who is ranked tenth, he might have a chance of winning."

Watching the two on the stage, the crowd murmured among themselves.

Hearing the voices around him, Luo Feng slightly furrowed his brows. Noticing this, Bing Ruolan asked with a smile, "Luo Feng, who do you think will win?"

Luo Feng looked at Han Feng. "Definitely Han Feng."

Contrary to public opinion, Luo Feng did not think Han Feng’s choice was rash. While Jiang Ping’s Great Power Fist was indeed powerful, he wasn’t adept at Qinggong. Han Feng, on the other hand, always ended his fights with a single sword strike. His swordsmanship is characterized by its swiftness. Compared to Li Xian, who is skilled in movement techniques, Jiang Ping is much easier to deal with.

On the stage, seeing that Jiang Ping made no move, Han Feng said, "If you don’t strike soon, you’ll never get the chance."

Jiang Ping sneered, remaining composed, and crossed his arms. "Han Feng, do you think you can defeat me with a single sword stroke too? You’re underestimating me, Jiang Ping. Even if you strike ten times, you won’t hurt me at all."

"Is that so? Then watch closely."

Han Feng’s gaze turned cold as he advanced on Jiang Ping step by step, his right hand slowly moving towards his sword hilt.

WHOOSH!

Three steps from Jiang Ping, a flash of electric light momentarily illuminated the entire arena. The chilling gleam of the sword made the air instantly frigid!

Jiang Ping’s expression changed drastically; he hastily threw a punch to intercept.

"You’ve lost!"

The cold light retracted, and a calm voice sounded. Han Feng’s Three Feet Green Edge was poised an inch from Jiang Ping’s throat, its chilling gleam sharp and distinct.

HISS...

A collective gasp swept through the arena. No one had even seen how Han Feng drew his sword, yet Jiang Ping was already defeated!

Staring at the sword tip before him, Jiang Ping opened his mouth and smiled bitterly. "Good swordsmanship. I admit defeat."

"What an excellent Sword-Drawing Technique," Luo Feng, observing Han Feng on the stage, couldn’t help but commend.

Bing Ruolan nodded. "He must be cultivating the Seek Gap Swordsmanship. This swordsmanship features tricky and fierce attack angles. It either doesn’t strike, or when it does, it invariably injures! Han Feng’s Seek Gap Swordsmanship has obviously reached an extremely high level of mastery."

Luo Feng nodded, then dismissed Han Feng from his thoughts. The Seek Gap Swordsmanship aims for the ultimate attack, but being too rigid leads to breaking. If the enemy’s movement technique is fast enough, this swordsmanship won’t injure them; instead, it will put the user in a desperate situation. It’s an extreme, all-or-nothing type of swordsmanship. With the speed of Teng Dragon’s Step, I’m confident I could leave Han Feng’s attack range the moment he executes his Sword-Drawing Technique.

Victorious in the challenge, Han Feng took the ninth golden seat on the stage, while the defeated Jiang Ping retreated to the tenth position.

"Chen Tie, who do you want to challenge?" Elder Chen, presiding over the match, looked at a dark-faced teenager.

Chen Tie was tall, and a fierce aura emanated from him. After glancing at Han Feng sitting in the ninth golden seat, he licked his lips and pointed to the fifth golden seat.

"I challenge the fifth-ranked, Zhou Tong!"

WHOA!

As his words fell, a commotion erupted within the arena.

"Chen Tie is actually challenging ’Ruthless’ Zhou Tong! Where does he get his confidence?"

"Maybe he has some kind of hidden trump card."

The top five on the Hidden Dragon List were in a completely different league in terms of power, so many were shocked to hear Chen Tie challenging Zhou Tong.

"Hahaha... Finally, someone is challenging me! Sitting here was becoming incredibly boring."

Zhou Tong leaped from his seat, laughing loudly. With a single jump and a loud THUD, he landed on the stage more than ten meters away.

"Come on up! Spar with me and loosen up my bones!" Zhou Tong waved at Chen Tie, his excitement causing the scars on his face to twitch.

Without a hint of fear, Chen Tie leaped onto the stage.

"Iron Mountain Skill!" An intense aura surged from him as Chen Tie launched a punch at Zhou Tong.

Luo Feng watched Chen Tie on the stage and slightly shook his head. Chen Tie is only at the initial stage of the seventh-level Essence storage Realm. His strength and Zhou Tong’s are worlds apart. He likely challenged Zhou Tong because he saw Han Feng ascend to the ninth position on the Hidden Dragon List. Feeling indignant, he must have acted impulsively.

Faced with the charging Chen Tie, Zhou Tong remained motionless on the stage. Only when Chen Tie drew close did he grin fiercely and shout, "Take this punch!"

BOOM!

It was as if a thunderclap had exploded in the arena. The heavy pressure made many feel as if a stone was lodged in their chests; it was very uncomfortable.

Amidst the deafening sonic boom, Zhou Tong’s and Chen Tie’s fists collided.

AH!

There was no suspense. The moment their fists met, Chen Tie cried out in pain, spat blood, and was sent flying tens of meters off the stage. His body crashed heavily to the ground, and he fainted.

"He’s so strong! Incredibly strong! This is the power of the top five on the Hidden Dragon List. Chen Tie couldn’t even block a single punch!"

"Chen Tie’s Iron Mountain Skill is a high-grade Yellow-rank body enhancement martial art. Its defensive power is extremely strong! Yet, he couldn’t stop it. This Zhou Tong is truly terrifying!"

"It seems these students from the Winged Tiger List have no chance of making it into the top five of the Hidden Dragon List. I wonder if Luo Feng, having seen this, will still dare to challenge Lin Yun later."

"Definitely not. Zhou Tong is already so formidable, and Lin Yun, ranked second on the Hidden Dragon List, is even more unfathomably powerful. Unless he’s insane, he won’t go up there just to be humiliated..."

Listening to the hushed discussions around him, Luo Feng merely smiled faintly, paying them no mind. The events about to unfold would naturally silence these people.

"Defeated so easily? That wasn’t satisfying at all! Who else wants to challenge me? Hurry up and come on stage!" After sending Chen Tie flying with a single punch, Zhou Tong clapped his hands, somewhat unfulfilled, and directed his gaze towards Luo Feng’s group.

When his gaze swept over the Winged Tiger List experts, they instantly swallowed hard. Other than Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan, everyone lowered their eyes; no one dared to respond. Challenge Zhou Tong? That was out of the question. Chen Tie, the third-ranked expert on the Winged Tiger List, had been nearly beaten to death with a single punch. How could any of them dare?

"Zhou Tong, stop messing around!" scolded Elder Chen, who was in charge of the contest.

"BAH! A bunch of cowards!" Zhou Tong grumbled discontentedly, his gaze subtly flicking past Luo Feng before he reluctantly returned to his seat.

The challenge matches continued. Chen Tie’s disastrous defeat had brought everyone else back to their senses.

Those who felt they had no hope directly forfeited their challenge.

Of the four people ranked ahead of Bing Ruolan, only ’Blood Shadow Knife’ Hu Fei succeeded in defeating Jiang Ping, taking the tenth spot on the Hidden Dragon List.

Seeing Hu Fei’s successful challenge, Bing Ruolan grew anxious. Her beautiful eyes stared at the ten figures on the stage, her palms slick with cold sweat.

"Luo Feng, who do you think I should challenge?" Unable to decide, Bing Ruolan appealed to Luo Feng for help.

Luo Feng smiled. "First, tell me which swordsmanship you chose in the Martial Arts Hall, and then I’ll give you some advice."

"You... you’re taking advantage of my predicament!" Bing Ruolan huffed, looking adorably indignant.

"I’m not taking advantage of your predicament. This way, I can better understand your strength." Seeing Bing Ruolan’s cute, angry expression, Luo Feng chuckled and rubbed his nose.

Bing Ruolan had no choice but to say, "I chose the Star-piercing Swordsmanship."

"Star-piercing Swordsmanship... This swordsmanship is extremely fierce in its attacks, which will perfectly compensate for your lack of offensive power," Luo Feng nodded.

At this moment, Elder Chen’s gaze turned towards them.

"Next challenger, Bing Ruolan. Who do you challenge?"

Bing Ruolan anxiously glanced at Luo Feng.

"Challenge Zhou Tong," Luo Feng stated directly.

"Zhou Tong? But he’s at the middle stage of the seventh-level Essence storage Realm, and my Star-piercing Swordsmanship is only at the first level. Can I defeat him?" Bing Ruolan was startled by Luo Feng’s answer and asked nervously. Zhou Tong’s earlier display of overwhelming strength had left a profound impression on her.

Luo Feng nodded and said in a low voice, "Remember how we trained together. He’s not your opponent."

Bing Ruolan was still somewhat skeptical, but Elder Chen’s voice rang out again.

After a moment’s hesitation, Bing Ruolan clenched her teeth, looked towards Zhou Tong, and replied, "I challenge Zhou Tong, ranked fifth!"

BUZZ!

As soon as her voice fell, the entire arena erupted. Zhou Tong had just knocked Chen Tie, a cultivator at the early stage of the seventh-level Essence storage Realm, unconscious with a single punch. He was utterly brutal!

No one had expected Bing Ruolan to have the courage to challenge Zhou Tong again!

Bing Ruolan gracefully landed on the platform, and Zhou Tong also walked onto the stage.

"I, Zhou Tong, don’t go easy on pretty girls. Even though you’re a woman, I won’t hold back," Zhou Tong said, clenching his fists. He was smiling, but his voice carried a chilling undertone.

Bing Ruolan’s face had already returned to its usual cool composure. Holding her slender sword, she nodded her smooth, delicate chin slightly. "That’s for the best."

Hearing this, Zhou Tong’s smile gradually faded. He walked towards Bing Ruolan step by step, the ferocious light in his eyes intensifying. In the end, his savage aura became so palpable that even the spectators below the stage could feel it—an intense, oppressive pressure that inspired fear.

When he was ten steps away from Bing Ruolan, Zhou Tong moved!

With a forward rush, Zhou Tong’s arms danced wildly, stirring up vicious gusts of wind. Emanating a ferocious aura, he surged towards Bing Ruolan. His fists, like a Jiao Dragon entering the sea, seemed to churn oceans and roil rivers on the stage, as if threatening to overturn heaven and earth! His imposing aura was truly terrifying.

Yellow-rank supreme martial art, Furious Dragon Fist!

Bing Ruolan was initially very nervous, but the moment Zhou Tong attacked, her body reacted before her mind could process.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Her wrist trembled slightly, and the edge of her sword created countless afterimages, completely sealing off Zhou Tong’s path.

Zhou Tong frowned. Just as he was about to change his attack, Bing Ruolan’s sword momentum shifted. The vast expanse of sword light suddenly condensed into a single line, stabbing towards Zhou Tong with lightning speed!

WHOOSH!

This strike exploited the vulnerable instant of Zhou Tong’s transition, using speed to overcome power. The blade reached him in a flash—unbelievably fast.

HISS!

Soft gasps rippled through the crowd, everyone stunned by this divinely inspired Fast Sword.

"Such a fast sword! She actually managed to exploit Zhou Tong’s weakness in that brief instant. Amazing!"

"It’s as if she saw through Zhou Tong’s moves from the very beginning!"

"Incredible!"

Many experts in the stands exclaimed, all recognizing the extraordinary nature of this strike!