Chapter 70: Lethal Blow

It was Jiang Zhenhai of the Solar Vermillion Sect.

He wasn't the only one around, there were also dozens of other disciples from the Solar Vermillion Sect among the spectators. They all had robust physiques and exuded a vigorous aura, resembling powerful dragons and fierce tigers.

As soon as Li Pin and Fang Lingjue stepped into the training area, everyone's eyes fixed on them, radiating a palpable sense of pressure.

Some martial artists with weaker willpower might have become nervous in this situation, which could affect their performance. However, Li Pin remained calm.

His gaze quickly fell on one of the Solar Vermillion Sect disciples.

"Your opponent this time is Zhang Chiyan, a Core Formation expert from the Jiang Province branch of the Solar Vermillion Sect. If Jiang Zhenhai, Han Li, and a few others hadn't returned from the capital, he would have been a top ten seed competitor for the Solar Vermillion Sect," Fang Lingjue explained softly.

"Core Formation expert of the Solar Vermillion Sect?" Li Pin quickly recalled something. "I remember that the Sect Master of the Solar Vermillion Sect, Qiu Chufeng, is a Martial Saint."

"Yes," Fang Lingjue responded. "Twelve years ago, he was already capable of delivering a strike equivalent to Spirit Qi Unity. After two years of refining his skills, he was awarded the title of Martial Saint, which would be ten years ago. With his Solar Vermillion Force, he once dominated the martial world in Jiang Province.

"But he's past his prime now and rarely engages in combat. He has shifted his focus to training his disciples, several of whom have become top experts. The flag-bearer in the capital city has stepped into the Aura Cultivation realm, and there are rumors that he is on the verge of Blood Renewal."

Blood Renewal!

This was achievable only during the Internal Aura Phase. As martial artists strengthened their internal organs, they no longer needed secret arts to unleash Aura Force attacks. Once the internal organs could withstand the flow of Aura Force, a martial artist could undergo Blood Renewal.

Completing Blood Renewal meant achieving perfection in Internal Aura. The human body reached its peak at this stage. A grandmaster at this level was revered as a great grandmaster.

Beyond this, a martial artist would delve into refining their spiritual power, attempting to merge spirit and qi to unleash a strike akin to Spirit Qi Unity to earn the title of Martial Saint.

These techniques were thoroughly explained in the Five Elements Body-Refining Art and the scrolls Cao Tianyou provided.

"'About to undergo Blood Renewal' means that he hasn't completed it yet. In simpler terms, he is only at the peak of the External Aura level," Li Pin remarked, comparing himself to Qiu Chufeng.

He wondered if he could win against Qiu Chufeng if he unleashed his Blood-Seething Secret Art.

External Aura! Perhaps I should be more aggressive and provoke them into sending stronger opponents after me, preferably those who have mastered their Aura Force. Yes, that's the plan.

***

Time passed quickly, and before long, it was Li Pin's turn to fight.

As the officiating personnel made the announcement, Li Pin promptly moved to the center of the arena.

Immediately, murmurs of discussion filled the air.

The buzz around being "Jiang Province Number One," combined with his decisive victory over a Core Formation expert, had positioned Li Pin as a strong contender for the championship. Consequently, there was considerable discussion focused on him.

There were many martial artists and disciples from the Solar Vermillion Sect among the spectators, and they daringly scrutinized Li Pin. There were even several Core Force experts who continuously scanned Li Pin with their sharp and intimidating gazes, seemingly trying to provoke his sense of danger and disrupt his concentration.

Unfortunately...none of them had developed their Fist Intent. Trying to disrupt Li Pin's concentration with mere eye contact was nothing short of wishful thinking.

When Li Pin glanced at one particularly audacious young man, he briefly meditated on the Great Sun Astral God. In the next moment, it was as if a great sun had collapsed within his mind, unleashing boundless flames of pure destruction from his eyes. Using the techniques of the Astral Fall martial art, these flames became a sharp spiritual sword that thrust fiercely into the young man's eyes.

"

Ah

!"

The young man witnessed this firsthand, and the Fist's Intent, akin to the sun's destruction scorching the heavens and boiling the seas, inflicted a searing pain on him, causing him to let out a painful scream.

This scene naturally drew the attention of many onlookers, causing them to wonder what was happening. However, the disciples of the Solar Vermillion Sect standing beside the man were noticeably shocked.

"Intent!" exclaimed a Core Force martial artist standing beside Jiang Zhenhai, shuddering with goosebumps. "He has mastered the inheritance of the Martial Saints!?"

"To reach this level of cultivation, even grasping the mystery of intent, at twenty-two... Li Pin is truly a genius," Jiang Zhenhai remarked sincerely.

"Genius? That's exactly what I specialize in!"

A figure strode past Jiang Zhenhai and the others, heading toward the center of the arena. It was none other than Li Pin's opponent, Zhang Chiyan.

"It would be best if you could defeat him. If not, use your agility to trap him. Force him to reveal more of his hidden cards and exhaust his stamina. If things seem hopeless..." Jiang Zhenhai whispered, "surrender immediately."

In the martial competition, life and death were unpredictable. Despite the officials vehemently pushing the notion that the participating should "strike with restraint," each session still saw several martial artists perish, sometimes even more than a dozen. Jiang Zhenhai definitely did not want any mishap to befall a skilled Core Formation expert from his sect.

Zhang Chiyan nodded. "I understand."

He then strode confidently toward the center of the arena.

The officiating personnel glanced briefly at Jiang Zhenhai. After receiving his slight nod, he began to announce the rules, adding a few casual remarks, "This is a martial arts exchange where we emphasize restraint...."

Woosh!

As the match began, Zhang Chiyan swiftly leaped backward, creating distance between himself and Li Pin, keeping his goal firmly in mind.

Li Pin looked at Zhang Chiyan with clear eyes. "I hope you're stronger than Chang Yueming."

However, Zhang Chiyan's actions might suggest the opposite. While his immediate retreat could be perceived as cautious, that was a flattering interpretation. After all, it rather reflected a lack of confidence.

Hence, Li Pin added, "Of course, even if you're not as skilled as him, out of respect for my opponent, I'll still give it my all. Please be cautious!"

Zhang Chiyan stared coldly at Li Pin, his expression unchanged. However, deep within him, a murderous intent was already brewing.

As one of the top Core Formation talents in Jiang Province City, Zhang was originally a strong contender for a seed position in this year's Jiang Province Martial Competition. Yet now, he found himself targeting an unknown youngster, and the youngster had dared to underestimate him. He could accept it if there were no opportunities. But now that a chance had arisen, he was determined to show this brat the harsh realities of the martial world.

As Zhang Chiyan was lost in thought, Li Pin made his move.

With a single step forward, the bones throughout his body emitted a faint cracking sound, the resonance of his tendons and bones.

His entire form became taut like a drawn bow. With all the qi and blood within him activated, his body tightened abruptly under the guidance of his mind.

His foot landed firmly on the floor of the arena. The force surged through his body, channeling into his arms and transforming into a powerful fist strike. As he unleashed the punch, he broke the sound barrier, sending a violent, pressurized wind roaring forward.

Before the fist even landed, the forceful wind hit first.

This display of power made Zhang Chiyan's pupils dilate. He had spent the entire previous night reviewing information about Li Pin. He knew deep down that when it came to explosive strength, Li Pin had the upper hand.

As Zhang Chiyan faced this punch, his feet erupted with force, and he sidestepped quickly. His agility allowed him to easily evade Li Pin's attack.

However, unfortunately for him, Li Pin had decided to reveal a bit of his strength to provoke the officials into sending stronger experts to target him.

As Zhang Chiyan sidestepped to avoid the blow, Li Pin's forward momentum came to a sudden halt. He stomped his right foot, anchoring himself firmly to the ground. With a twist of his foot and a surge of power from his waist, he spun around and unleashed a powerful 180-degree spinning palm strike.

In his mind, a phantom of the terrifying creature materialized behind him—Hundun. It appeared like a deathly dark cloud covering the sky, accompanied by a suffocating roar, aiming to engulf Zhang Chiyan.

"What is this!?"

As Zhang Chiyan was targeted by the phantom of Hundun, he felt an electric-like sensation coursing through his entire body. It seemed that even his movements had slowed down in response.

"Break!" roared Zhang Chiyan.

At the crucial moment, he unleashed his qi and blood without hesitation. With a roar, he used the power erupting from his Blood Core to fiercely counter the suppression from the ferocious beast, Hundun.

Bang!

Upon collision, Li Pin's punch was completely shattered and overwhelmed by Zhang Chiyan's counterattack.

No! This sensation... is Zhang Chiyan bluffing? Is he trying to trade injury for injury?

Almost simultaneously, Zhang Chiyan's eyes gleamed with intensity. As Li Pin's punch shattered his right fist, Zhang Chiyan swiftly pivoted, brushing past Li Pin with incredible speed. In an instant, he appeared beside him, almost directly behind.

"Fire Serpent Strike!"

With the eruption of his Blood Core, the Core Force in his hand took on the form of a venomous snake infused with fiery qi and blood and struck fiercely at the sunken temple on Li Pin's forehead.

A lethal blow!

The Core Formation expert from the Solar Vermillion Sect's eyes were filled with cruelty, his face contorted with fierceness as he unleashed the power of his Blood Core in a deadly finishing move!

"Die!"