One must admit that when Innate Experts truly let loose in battle, the scene is undoubtedly soul-stirring, leaving spectators with parched mouths. Just the ripples from the fierce clash alone are enough to shake one's soul time and again, to say nothing of a moment like this, where both combatants have brought out their signature skills and ultimate hidden techniques! Such a spectacle was bound to leave an even deeper shock on the hearts of everyone present.

Wang Dashan's Demon Cloud Finger was his signature technique and his greatest asset. Back when he was still in the Half-Step Innate Realm, an overconfident Half-Step Innate Powerhouse, relying on his sturdy armor, had disdained the move, only to have a bloody hole pierced right through him, killing him on the spot. Now, he had broken through to the Innate Realm of Ancient Martial Arts, becoming a formidable Innate Early Stage expert. It was obvious how much stronger this signature technique of his had become.

As for his opponent, Duan Jingshan, the Beheading Blade he wielded was an equally renowned ultimate technique from Huadao Fort. Many famous figures in the martial world had fallen to this terrifying blade art. It was said that merely looking at the technique could cause a backlash severe enough to blind a person. This was truly a collision of cosmic proportions, a clash like a comet striking the earth, and it had everyone's hearts in a vice grip.

BOOM…

A dull, oppressive sound echoed across the arena. Everyone's eyes fell upon a dark-skinned, middle-aged man who was now half-squatting. There was a bowl-sized, bloody hole in his shoulder from which blood gushed out, causing the members of Huadao Fort to cry out in alarm, their eyes instinctively narrowing. "Patriarch… Patriarch Duan…!"

The dark-skinned man was none other than their own Strong Innate Ancient Martial Artist from the Blade Forge of Evil Dragon Pool—Duan Jingshan!

HISS!

A series of sharp gasps rippled through the Ancient Martial Artists surrounding the platform. It wasn't just because the wound on Duan Jingshan's shoulder was so horrifying, but more because his current state... could it mean he had lost?

"Quick, look over there!" someone suddenly exclaimed, pointing a trembling finger to the other side of the stage.

Through the thick, stinging smoke, a plump figure could be seen standing motionless. He appeared unharmed at first glance, but the ground beneath his feet was stained a vivid, eye-searing crimson.

"Deputy Instructor Wang!" Captain Pei and several Elite Members of Flying Leopard shouted, their expressions changing drastically. Even Chen Fei's face darkened slightly before he waved his hand.

WHOOSH!

A gentle breeze swept across the stage, dispersing the heavy smoke. When everyone saw the scene clearly, they all felt a cold chill crawl up their spines. Their pupils contracted, and they were left speechless for a long, long time.

Wang Dashan stood calmly on the platform, but on his right shoulder was a gash so deep the bone was visible. It stretched for dozens of centimeters from his shoulder down to his forearm, looking far more severe than Duan Jingshan's injury.

But that wasn't the most frightening part. The most terrifying thing was within the wound itself, where tiny black streams of energy wriggled like caterpillars, visible to the naked eye. The sight alone was enough to make one's heart clench in horror, making it impossible to remain calm.

In the crowd, from the Qingqiu contingent's direction, Shadow Immortal Dance frowned, her beautiful eyes fixed on Wang Dashan's wound. "What is that? Poison?" she asked, uncertain.

"It's not poison… it's something strange," Ruan Qingxiu, the Qingqiu Innate Expert beside her, said slowly. Her gaze shifted back to Wang Dashan, a flicker of complexity and sympathy in her eyes. That bizarre substance is not going to be easy to deal with.

On the platform, Duan Jingshan grimaced as he pressed a hand to the bloody hole in his shoulder. His neurotic, bloodshot eyes were fixed intently on Wang Dashan.

"Heh heh."

He tore off a piece of his clothing to staunch the wound, letting out a chilling, deranged laugh. Looking at Wang Dashan with a cruel smirk, he said coldly, "I told you that you Flying Leopard guys are worthless. What did you think the outcome would be? This was always your destiny. You didn't believe me before. Do you believe me now?"

His smile was merciless and cruel, for he knew exactly how grievous his opponent's injuries were. The reputation of his Fierce Blade Black Spring was not for show; it was earned through blood. It was said that the second master of their Huadao Fort had unearthed this Fierce Weapon from a mass grave of an ancient dynasty. One could only imagine the sheer weight of the baleful aura it contained. Even Innate Experts could barely withstand it, let alone when it had invaded the body as it had now.

"Heh heh?"

However, to everyone's utter astonishment, the severely injured Wang Dashan didn't even glance at his own wound. Instead, his eyes, burning with a demonic glint, stared fixedly at Duan Jingshan's shoulder. A grin stretched across his face as he said, "You don't really think you've fully withstood my Demon Cloud Finger, do you?"

"What do you mean—"

Duan Jingshan's expression changed drastically at his words. He instinctively started to retort but froze before the words left his mouth.

Suddenly, the wound on his shoulder, wrapped in cloth, trembled violently. A gush of dark, crimson blood burst forth like a ruptured dam. With a sickening SPLAT, a large, viscous pool of dark red blood spread across the ground, releasing a dizzying, foul stench.

HISS!

Witnessing this, everyone present froze, their faces masks of pure horror.

What the hell was going on now!?

"Damn it!" Outside the arena, Yuann Liegang watched with an extremely grim expression, never having expected such an outcome. Wang Dashan's Demon Cloud Finger was far more terrifying than he had imagined.

After suffering another devastating blow, the flush of excitement on Duan Jingshan's face drained away, leaving it deathly pale as his body trembled from weakness. Wordlessly, he wiped his mouth with a shaky left hand and raised his head. His sinister eyes locked onto Wang Dashan as he asked in a frigid tone, "What… did you do?"

"What did I do? Nothing much… I just crippled one of your hands," Wang Dashan replied, his voice hoarse. A smile spread across his plump, round face. This guy was just too arrogant. It made me unable to resist… going all out!

The crowd erupted into a shocked uproar.

What!? Crippled a hand!?

At his words, Yuann Liegang and the others from Huadao Fort shot to their feet, their faces ashen. Aside from Yuann Liegang, the others had looks of panic in their eyes. Everyone knew that Huadao Fort's martial artists lived and died by their hands—they needed them to wield their blades. It was what they were best at.

But now, their opponent was claiming to have crippled one of Patriarch Duan Jingshan's hands. If that was true, wouldn't it mean the Patriarch's strength would plummet!?

"Haha, hahaha, HAHAHAHA!"

Suddenly, Duan Jingshan's deranged laughter echoed across the arena like a peal of thunder. His sinister eyes remained locked on Wang Dashan as he laughed wildly, baring his teeth. "It's been a long time since I met someone as interesting as you! Crippled one of my hands? Fine! To trade one of my hands for your life… I'd say that's a bargain."

As he spoke, those below the Half-Step Innate Realm stared in stunned confusion. A life for a hand? What does that mean?

Only the experts at the Half-Step Innate Realm and above were not surprised. They all looked at Wang Dashan with complex expressions. The initial wound was already severe, and now the baleful aura from the Fierce Blade had clearly invaded his body. An injury of this magnitude was indeed fatal.

Wang Dashan knew this full well. He sighed inwardly but let none of it show on his face, a stoicism that inexplicably stirred the emotions of those watching.

WHOOSH!

Just then, a black shadow streaked through the air with astonishing speed, crossing from outside the arena onto the platform in an instant.

The shadow moved so fast that the vast majority of people present couldn't even react. In the next breath, it had already appeared beside the stiffened Wang Dashan, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Chief… Chief Instructor," Wang Dashan finally managed to recognize the newcomer, his voice sluggish.

"Relax. You're fine," Chen Fei's calm voice sounded in his ear.

Wang Dashan trembled slightly. He then felt a warm power mysteriously flow down from his shoulder into the wound on his right arm. It was a little stinging and a little itchy, yet also indescribable… but it felt as if his spirit was suddenly returning.

"He can actually expel the baleful aura of the Fierce Blade?" Seeing this, even Patriarch Bai was taken aback, staring at Chen Fei's back in a daze.

If even he was so shocked, it went without saying for the others. Ruan Qingxiu, the Qingqiu Innate Expert, stared with her cherry-like lips slightly parted, her delicate face filled with shock as she gazed at Chen Fei's back. "He…"

"That kid… Damn it! How is this possible?"

Patriarch Yuann Liegang's reaction was the most violent of all. His old face, wrinkled like tree bark, twitched uncontrollably, his eyes dark with fury. As the owners of the Fierce Weapon Black Spring, they knew better than anyone just how terrifying the weapon was. They knew the crushing weight of the baleful aura it carried, having been excavated by their Huadao Fort's second master from a pit filled with ten thousand corpses.

Under normal circumstances, even an expert at the Early Stage Peak of the Innate Realm like him would find it incredibly difficult to expel such a dense, nauseating baleful aura. Now that the aura had already invaded the body, the task should have been nearly impossible.

But now…

"Alright. Come with me," Chen Fei said, removing his hand and gesturing for Wang Dashan to follow.

"Uh, it's… it's done? Chief Instructor, where are we going?" Wang Dashan stammered, his face a mask of disbelief. He had just realized that the baleful aura from the Fierce Blade within his body had been completely and utterly purged.

As long as that most critical and troublesome baleful aura was gone, the remaining wound on his arm, though frightening to look at, was no longer life-threatening for an Innate Expert like him.

Seeing this, Duan Jingshan's face practically turned green.

Doesn't that mean his hand was crippled for nothing?

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