The scorching sun hung like a blazing fire in the sky, radiating intense heat.
The Yun family's martial arts arena was packed to capacity. Today was the day of the duel between the former number-one genius of Yangzhou City and Yun Nantian of the Yun family.
Nearly all the younger generation of the Yun family had come to watch. After all, Su Qinghe and Yun Nantian represented the peak combat strength of their generation. Even upon learning that Su Qinghe's cultivation had been entirely crippled, his past reputation commanded such awe that not a single person dared to look down on him.
Seated in the central viewing gallery of the arena was Yun Tian, the head of the Yun family. Beside him sat three prominent figures: First Elder Yun Canghai, Second Elder Yun Jinghong, and Third Elder Yun Feng.
"Why hasn't Young Master Su arrived yet? Could he have forgotten?"
"I bet he doesn't dare show his face!"
"Exactly. Does he really think he's still the same old Su Qinghe? Today, if he dares to come, he's just asking for a beating."
"I heard Brother Su's dantian is shattered. Even if his talent is monstrous, how can he possibly fight Yun Nantian without a dantian?" A slightly immature-looking youth muttered these words, listening to the discussions around him with a heart full of secret worry.
This youth was Yun Che, the son of Third Elder Yun Feng. In the past, he had followed at Su Qinghe's heels day in and day out, begging for guidance in cultivation. He could rightly be called Su Qinghe's number-one little fanboy.
Thud, thud.
At that very moment, a series of footsteps echoed across the ground.
"Su Qinghe! You're finally here." Yun Nantian narrowed his eyes.
"Brother Su!"
"Young Master Su! He actually came?"
"Qinghe,..."
Exclamations erupted across the arena as every gaze converged on a young figure walking in from afar.
Dressed in a flowing black robe, Su Qinghe possessed a slender build and a calm expression. He walked slowly toward the crowd.
"Su Qinghe, three days ago, you challenged me to a duel. Today, I'd like to see how a cripple like you plans to face me!" Yun Nantian stood with an arrogant posture, his eyes brimming with disdain.
"Yun Nantian, you might be disappointed. While I never cared about the title of Yangzhou City's top genius, you shouldn't have pulled strings behind the scenes to test me through Yun Peng." Su Qinghe cast only a single, fleeting glance at Yun Nantian before looking away.
This casual dismissal deeply unsettled Yun Nantian, making him feel profoundly belittled.
"You dare look down on me like this? Do you still think you're the Su Qinghe of the past?" Yun Nantian's face darkened.
"Since you're in such a rush, I'll grant your wish." Unfazed, Su Qinghe turned to face Yun Tian with a faint smile. "Adoptive father, I told you: my martial path is not bound by this."
In the gallery, Yun Tian wore a puzzled expression. "Qinghe, what are you...?" Even the three elders beside him exchanged bewildered and uncomprehending glances upon hearing Su Qinghe's words.
"Come on, Yun Nantian, I'll satisfy you today!" Su Qinghe abruptly whipped around to face Yun Nantian, simultaneously releasing the unreserved aura of the Peak of the Second Layer of Pill Opening.
"Peak of the Second Layer of Pill Opening!"
"Gulp!"
...
The once-quiet arena rippled with commotion once more.
"Young Master Su has actually recovered his dantian?!"
"Brother Su actually recovered?! That's wonderful!"
"Young Master Su is truly extraordinary. But even at the Peak of the Second Layer of Pill Opening, Young Master Yun is at the Peak of the Second Layer of Life Palace Realm. That's a full major realm apart—how is he supposed to fight?"
"How can this be?! A shattered dantian cannot be healed unless one is a Pill Emperor! The entire Great Xia Kingdom has never produced a single Pill Emperor. Why has he recovered after a mere three days?!"
Terror gripped Yun Nantian's heart, leaving his face terribly pale.
In the center of the gallery, Yun Tian was overjoyed, his voice trembling slightly. "Qing... Qinghe has really recovered!"
"Hn? This is the aura of the Peak of the Second Layer of Pill Opening. Not only has Qinghe recovered his dantian, but he has also leaped straight to the Peak of the Second Layer of Pill Opening in one go. It's simply incredible!" Third Elder Yun Feng's eyes filled with astonishment.
"Congratulations to the eldest brother. Still, even at the Peak of the Second Layer of Pill Opening, Qinghe is no match for Nantian," First Elder Yun Canghai said with a disdainful smile.
"I won't trouble my second brother to worry; since Qinghe dared to issue the challenge himself, he naturally knows what he's doing." Yun Tian looked at Su Qinghe with a worried expression.
The First Elder let out a cold snort and said no more.
"Su Qinghe, I never expected your cultivation to recover. You truly live up to your name as Yangzhou City's top genius."
"However, with your puny cultivation now, can you even take a single blow from me?" Yun Nantian stared at Su Qinghe with the air of one who had already won.
"Are you done talking?" Su Qinghe met Yun Nantian's gaze directly.
"Since you're asking for a beating, don't blame me..."
"So much pointless chatter!"
Su Qinghe lunged forward, moving like a streak of light as he threw a punch in the blink of an eye.
"Gasp! Su Qinghe actually made the first move!"
"Why is his speed so terrifying? It's almost catching up to the Life Palace Realm!"
The onlookers gradually snapped out of their shock.
"You...? Well come!" Seemingly caught off guard by Su Qinghe's direct strike, Yun Nantian slammed his right foot into the ground, his body springing forward like a cannonball as he met the blow with a punch of his own.
"Boom!"
As their fists collided, a wave of violent, turbulent energy swept across the arena, stunning the crowd.
Yet Su Qinghe stood completely unmoved, while Yun Nantian was forced back two steps.
What?
"Heavens! How is this possible?!"
Su Qinghe had actually pushed Yun Nantian back!
Everyone present was utterly dumbfounded. The Peak of the Second Layer of Pill Opening had gone head-to-head with the Peak of the Second Layer of Life Palace, and actually repelled Yun Nantian!
Even though Su Qinghe had struck first, one had to remember the massive chasm in their cultivation levels.
Up in the gallery, Yun Tian was deeply shaken. Although Su Qinghe's cultivation had recovered, he was merely at the Peak of the Second Layer of Pill Opening—yet he had managed to push Yun Nantian back.
Deep shock flashed in the eyes of the three elders as well, while the First Elder's expression grew pitch black.
"Su Qinghe, you actually pushed me back?" Yun Nantian wore a look of utter disbelief.
"What? Did you think you were invincible?" Su Qinghe remained calm and unruffled, radiating the poise of a master.
"Hmph, don't get ahead of yourself. That was just a sneak attack. Now it's my turn!"
"Heavens-Bound Palms!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Yun Nantian slightly arched his body. As his palms crossed, surges of formidable, violent energy gathered and surged forward.
"Could that be the Heavens-Bound Palms at Great Completion?"
"That is a Yellow-grade top-tier martial art of the Yun family! Young Master Yun has actually cultivated it to Great Completion—Young Master Su is in grave danger."
"Indeed, with the momentum Young Master Yun is putting out, no one below the Life Palace Realm could possibly block it."
The crowd was struck with awe once more.
"A decent palm technique, but unfortunately, you ran into me." A faint smile touched the corner of Su Qinghe's lips.
Instantly, he formed hand seals and pushed out a single palm. Faintly, the very momentum of heaven and earth seemed stirred. Energy rippled across the entire arena as a mystic palm print pierced straight through Yun Nantian's layers of forceful qi.
"Great Heavens Creation Palm!" Su Qinghe uttered a sharp cry.
"Nantian, fall back!" Up in the viewing gallery, the First Elder's expression turned grave as he sensed the extraordinary power of that palm print.
Yet it was already too late. As their palms met, terror gripped Yun Nantian's heart, filling him with a sudden, overwhelming dread.
"What kind of palm technique is this? It possesses such terrifying might!"
"Ah!"
With a miserable shriek, Yun Nantian's body flew backward, crashing heavily onto the ground. "Pfft!" A mouthful of blood spewed from his lips.
"Su Qinghe, this isn't a Yun family martial art!" He half-knelt, roaring in rage, unable to pull himself up for the longest time.
Silence.
A deathly stillness!
The entire martial arts arena fell instantly quiet!
For a long while, no one could gather their wits.
"Nantian!" The First Elder was the first to leap down, rushing to Yun Nantian's side to check his injuries.
"Too terrifying! What kind of martial art was that, Young Master Su?"
"Brother Su's cultivation has recovered even stronger than before!" Yun Che cheered excitedly.
"Qinghe... this?!" Yun Tian's heart remained in violent turmoil.
"Qinghe... this boy is truly a monster!" Second Elder Yun Jinghong and Third Elder Yun Feng gasped as they sprang to their feet.
"Su Qinghe, I lost!" Supported by Yun Canghai, Yun Nantian slowly struggled to his feet, as if uttering those six words had drained every last ounce of his strength.