"Let's head to Tian Kui Market. I don't have my medical kit with me, but your wound needs to be dealt with as soon as possible to prevent any complications," Chen Fei explained.

Upon hearing this, Wang Dashan finally snapped back to reality. He remembered that Chen Fei wasn't just the nominal chief instructor for their Flying Leopard team but also a doctor—a very skilled one at that! A hint of joy immediately appeared in his eyes. He tore his coat to cover the wound and followed Chen Fei down from the ring, ready to leave the mountaintop.

"Stop right there!"

Just then, a cold and gloomy reprimand exploded in everyone's ears.

They saw the face of Yuan Liegang of Huadao Fort, which had turned utterly grim. His eyes swirled with a frighteningly cold light as he stared rigidly at Chen Fei and Wang Dashan, his tone hostile. "The match isn't over yet, and you want to leave?"

A suffocating, dreadful aura suddenly enveloped the area, emanating from him as if he were stained with something terrifying. It was so potent that everyone had to avert their gaze. It was a truly frightening sight.

Clearly, the old man was genuinely furious this time.

After all, Huadao Fort had suffered a considerable loss in this battle. Duan Jingshan, their newly promoted Innate Early Stage expert, had one of his hands brutally crippled by his opponent. This effectively ended his martial 'path' from here on out. His strength would undoubtedly plummet and never be the same again. Such a loss, even for a powerhouse like Huadao Fort, was excruciatingly hard to bear—more painful than cutting off their own flesh.

The reason he hadn't reacted so violently before was entirely because he thought Wang Dashan was as good as dead. Trading a hand for a life, though still painful, was within an acceptable range. But now, the situation had taken a sharp turn. That boy could actually dispel the malicious aura of the Fierce Blade?

Feeling both astonished and shaken, Yuan Liegang's eyes reddened and his hair stood on end. A terrifying surge of energy burst from his body like a volcanic eruption, vaguely reflecting his gruesome old face. If Wang Dashan doesn't die, wouldn't Duan Jingshan's arm have been crippled for nothing!?

"We'll call a half-hour truce. We'll be back soon," Chen Fei said indifferently, not bothering to pay the old man any attention as he continued down the mountain without a backward glance.

"It seems you are truly scared. Are you running away?" Yuan Liegang's cold voice rang out again, tinged with mockery. "If you're scared, just admit defeat."

At those words, Chen Fei's steps paused slightly. He turned around, his thumbs and forefingers rubbing together subconsciously as a sharp gleam crossed his pitch-black, glass-like eyes.

"Old thing, how old are you? Are these pathetic, third-rate tricks all you know?" Chen Fei looked at him calmly, a hint of mockery curling his lips.

WHOA!

His words sent an uproar through the crowd. Many stared at Chen Fei with astonishment and disbelief.

After all, that was Elder Yuan Liegang, a notorious scourge of the martial world and a prominent Innate Expert from one of the Four Great Hidden Sects in the Lingnan Mountains. Moreover, he was at the Early Stage Peak of the Innate Realm.

This kid has only just entered the Innate Realm. Even if he has great talent and ability, isn't he being too arrogant and self-absorbed to speak to an expert at the Early Stage Peak of the Innate Realm like that!?

"What did you say?" Yuan Liegang's face became extremely ugly, ashen to the core. He had never expected Chen Fei, a junior he'd considered beneath his notice, to be so brazenly disrespectful in front of everyone. This was a clear sign that Chen Fei didn't take him, Yuan Liegang, seriously at all!

Damned, worthless fool!

"Are you deaf? Can't you hear what I said? Starting now, we're taking a half-hour truce. We'll be back soon! Hmph!" But Chen Fei's reaction was far more intense than he'd expected. With a dismissive, cold snort, he turned once again, ready to leave.

"You say truce, so it's a truce?"

However, just as he turned, before he could even take a step, a slightly neurotic laugh rang out, causing everyone's eyes to narrow.

Chen Fei's steps paused. Behind him, Wang Dashan did the same.

Upon hearing the chilling laughter, most of the audience instinctively turned toward the sound. There, in the center of the ring, stood Duan Jingshan. He clutched his wound, his face pale, but his eyes were filled with a terrifying, tremble-inducing madness.

His eyes locked onto Wang Dashan as he roared, his voice filled with that neurotic madness. "You damn brat, get out of the way! No one can stop me from killing him today! I want his life!" The hatred for his crippled arm was clearly etched into his very bones.

Hearing this, the expressions of those present turned grim. They hadn't expected the situation to escalate to this level. This no longer looked like a wagered duel; it had clearly escalated into a grudge match.

"Our duel isn't over, so you can't leave now. Continue!" Yuan Liegang added in a ghastly tone.

"We forfeit the first round!" Chen Fei said, his brow furrowed.

"Forfeit? If you could just forfeit, what would be the point of this duel? Are we playing make-believe?" Duan Jingshan suddenly snarled, his neurotic, low growl making everyone's eyes narrow.

What did he mean by that?

While everyone was still reeling from the chilling implication of his statement, an elderly voice sounded faintly. "It's just a spar over pride. If things get out of hand, it will be difficult to resolve. What do you all think?" It was none other than Patriarch Bai, speaking personally.

He had already sensed that the situation was turning grim, with certain individuals harboring murderous intent. If it truly escalated to that point, it would indeed be difficult to settle. It would also run counter to the original intention of hosting this event at Lingnan Mountain Martial Arts University. In fact, it would be the complete opposite. That was why he spoke up, hoping to serve as a reminder.

"Brother Bai, you worry too much. What could possibly be difficult to resolve?" Yuan Liegang's chilling voice provided the answer. Indeed, with their status and cultivation levels, what couldn't be resolved?

Since we've already shed all pretenses, we might as well be more direct! he thought. I'd like to see just how long two mere fledglings who have just entered the Innate Early Stage can last against me, Yuan Liegang.

With this in mind, he simply waved a hand toward Wang Dashan. In an incredibly gloomy and sinister tone, he stared him down and said slowly, "You, get back on the stage. I will be your next opponent!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd erupted, their expressions changing dramatically.

Wang Dashan was clearly severely injured and unable to fight, yet Yuan Liegang was deliberately ordering him back onto the stage. And his opponent would be Yuan Liegang himself, an expert at the Early Stage Peak of the Innate Realm. Wasn't this a blatant attempt to kill him?

Therefore, it wasn't just the surrounding audience whose faces changed. Even Ruan Qingxiu of Qingqiu and Patriarch Bai couldn't help but narrow their eyes, their expressions shifting slightly.

"It seems some people are determined to be shameless."

Just then, a cold, indifferent murmur suddenly resonated in everyone's ears.

"You bastard—!"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Liegang's wrinkled face, which resembled dried tree bark, twitched violently. His murky, gloomy eyes flared with ferocity. However, in the next moment, his expression froze. His emotions shifted abruptly, and his pupils contracted as he roared, "Stop! Stop it!"

In the instant those words left his mouth, Duan Jingshan, whose face was still a mask of madness on the stage, seemed to sense something.

BANG!

At that very moment of realization, a shockingly fast black shadow appeared beside him, closing the distance in an instant. The sight made his expression change drastically.

But the figure was simply too fast, completely unexpected. In his severely injured state, he had no hope of dodging. In the next moment, a cold, young face and a massive fist appeared before his terrified eyes, crashing heavily into his body.

BOOM!

A dull thud, like the sound of the earth cracking, rang sourly in everyone's ears. Everyone stared, dumbfounded at the scene.

On the stage, the blurry figure of a young man in a black robe stood. An invisible but palpable, scalp-numbing aura pressed down fiercely on the terrified Duan Jingshan.

"This… this is…"

Everyone was aghast at the sight.

Even Ruan Qingxiu of Qingqiu and Patriarch Bai had a glint flash across their eyes as they stared at the young man on the stage with a mixture of disbelief and astonishment.

BANG!

Another dull thud echoed. The young man in the black robe now had one foot planted firmly on Duan Jingshan's head. Muffled sounds escaped the latter's mouth as his face flushed a deep red from the pressure.

BOOM!

At this sight, an appallingly terrifying aura surged wildly from Yuan Liegang's aged body. His murky eyes glared hatefully at Chen Fei as he said ominously, "Kid, are you looking to die? Get off him now!"

He was already in motion, transforming into a streak of black light that shot toward Chen Fei on the stage. His speed was incredible. A withered, dry hand reached out, strands of black mist writhing around it, looking utterly fearsome.

However, even while locked onto by such a terrifying aura, Chen Fei seemed not to have heard a thing. He simply wore a faint, cold smile as he looked down at the furious face being ground into the dirt beneath his foot. He grinned. "Wasn't it you who said this duel couldn't be forfeited?"

His seemingly harmless smile, coupled with his flat tone, did nothing to calm the crowd. On the contrary, it sent a visible shudder through them. They felt a chill crawl up their spines, their pupils trembling as they drew in a sharp breath.

It wasn't just them. Even Duan Jingshan, pinned under Chen Fei's foot, suddenly stiffened as a deep chill washed over him.

Even Yuan Liegang couldn't help but feel his heart jump into his throat upon hearing those words in that tone. His pupils contracted violently as his face turned livid. "What are you trying to do? Stop it right now!" he roared.

But in the next instant, his murky, aged eyes froze as he witnessed the scene unfolding before him. Chen Fei raised his hand and chopped down fiercely.

"Since forfeiting isn't an option, I'll start the slaughter with you… you shameless piece of trash!"

In his trembling vision, blood splattered everywhere.

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