Chapter 80: Interference

Each training area resembled a basketball court. Surrounding the central arena were spaces dotted with equipment, and beyond these were staircases ascending to the spectator stands capable of containing two to three thousand people. At the top of these stands were several rooms with glass windows.

Normally off-limits to the public, one of these rooms now hosted Cao Tianyou, Jiang Qingyue, Zhao Yuan, and others. Accompanying them were the Aura Cultivation Grandmaster from the capital city, Luo Baihe, and the deputy chairman of the Jiang Province Martial Society, Lian Hongchen.

There were a total of six deputy chairmen in the Jiang Province Martial Society, two of whom were figureheads. As for the remaining three, one was relegated to the sidelines, while the other two had already pledged allegiance to Lin Yuzhi, constantly catering to his wishes.

Lian Hongchen, meanwhile, was also among the marginalized deputy chairmen. Lin Yuzhi's influence pervaded nearly every aspect of the Jiang Province Martial Society

After receiving Li Pin's message through Zhao Yuan the previous night, Cao Tianyou mulled over it for a considerable time. He even sought out Jiang Qingyue late at night, and they engaged in a lengthy discussion that lasted over two hours.

Eventually, Jiang Qingyue accompanied Cao Tianyou to meet Deputy Chairman Lian Hongchen. Following a thorough exchange of views, Deputy Chairman Lian Hongchen, along with Jiang Qingyue and Cao Tianyou, decided to base their final decision on Li Pin's performance in the upcoming match. This was the reason they had all gathered here today.

***

"Han Li? So he's the one making a move. It seems Chairman Lin is concerned that he won't be able to control the public opinion if they push things too far," Jiang Qingyue remarked.

They had received news of this the previous evening.

"Han Li should be no match for Li Pin. I wonder what tactics they plan to use to turn things around," Cao Tianyou mused.

"The key might lie with Zhou Chaoguang," Luo Baihe said, glancing at the middle-aged man in the official attire. "Qiu Chufeng went to great lengths to bring this Aura Cultivation Grandmaster from the capital city. I doubt it's just so he could officiate."

"Could they be planning to manipulate the match unfairly? Every match in the martial competition is recorded. If they go too far and Li Pin appeals, Zhou Chaoguang isn't the only one whose future will be ruined. Lin Yuzhi, having assigned him to this position, will also face consequences," Jiang Qingyue said.

"The key is to secure evidence. Without it, we can't bring down Lin Yuzhi. Even with evidence, if it's a minor issue, it won't be enough to harm him," Lian Hongchen replied calmly.

Despite his presence, he would not readily intervene on behalf of Li Pin and the Five Elements Sect against Lin Yuzhi unless he had absolute certainty of success.

"They've even sent out Han Li. This is their last chance to target Li Pin. I'm certain they'll take action," Cao Tianyou said with seriousness.

"Han Li is highly renowned in the capital city for his daring and lethal reputation. While his cultivation might be slightly inferior to Jiang Zhenhai's, he surpasses him in terms of battle experience and ferocity. Moreover, he's an expert in body-refining arts, having turned his own body into a formidable weapon. In a sparring match against Jiang Zhenhai, his odds are three to seven. In a life-or-death struggle, those odds could swing to four to six or even fifty-fifty," Luo Baihe elaborated.

Coming from the capital city, Luo Baihe had good knowledge of Han Li, the Core Formation martial artist.

Lian Hongchen and Jiang Qingyue remained silent, their gazes directed downward.

***

"Where are you looking?" came a deep voice from the front.

Han Li stood over six feet tall, with a somewhat honest-looking face. At first glance, he resembled the harmless, clumsy big guy often seen on television. But as soon as he spoke, his demeanor swiftly shifted from harmless to menacing and imposing.

The shift in his demeanor took even Li Pin by surprise.

Looking at the robust man in front of him, Li Pin felt the imposing aura that seemed to grow stronger as the qi and blood flowed through his body.

Li Pin's expression wasn't one of fear, but rather of surprise. It was an expression of joy at finally encountering an opponent who might truly be considered formidable.

"You've killed before," said Li Pin, his gaze fixed on Han Li. He continued firmly, "More than one, even."

"I'm not concerned whether Jiang Zhenhai can secure a top-three spot, or if I can make it into the top ten. But you should not have killed Zhang Chiyan," Han Li responded with a serious tone. "Zhang Chiyan is from my sect, the Solar Vermillion Sect. Killing him means declaring war against my sect, and by extension, against me. The way I deal with my enemies—"

"Dead enemies are the best enemies," Li Pin interjected. He looked at the man who had finally brought him a glimmer of surprise and spoke with grave seriousness. "Please, do not hold back."

Han Li stared coldly at Li Pin and didn't utter another word.

Meanwhile, Zhou Chaoguang reiterated a referee's standard phrase, "Fight with restraint."

With a wave, he declared, "Let the match begin!"

In the next instant, Han Li surged with energy, amplifying his already imposing physique. He moved first, fingers taking a blade-like stance as they slashed with an intensity that seemed to cleave through the very air with overwhelming killing intent.

Standing over six feet tall, Han Li's qi and blood surged through his muscles, causing them to bulge and making him appear even taller, around six feet five tall. In contrast, Li Pin seemed noticeably shorter.

With his height and long arms providing a clear advantage, Han Li's swift hand movements, resembling the strike of a blade, moved with astonishing speed toward Li Pin's forehead.

This strike, driven by the Core Force of a seasoned expert, posed a grave threat of splitting Li Pin's temple and crushing his skull upon impact.

Confronted by Han Li's strike, which seemed capable of tearing apart the sky and shattering the air, Li Pin did not retreat an inch.

"Impressive power!" he exclaimed, taking a bold step forward.

Simultaneously, in his mental world, the image of a ferocious beast began to emerge. At that moment, he felt as though he had been transported back to an ancient era where countless monstrous birds and beasts roared and thundered across the land.

Eight Enormities True Fire Force! Qiongqi!

Embracing the will of this fierce beast, Li Pin's right foot landed, and the force generated from his heel surged upward, through his toes, and into his waist, finally channeling into his fist. His punch, resembling a ferocious beast's attack, collided fiercely with Han Li's slash, which seemed capable of tearing the heavens and shattering everything in its path.

Just as the fist and the slash were about to collide and unleash their devastating power, Li Pin suddenly felt a chilling sensation on his scalp. An unprecedented sense of danger surged from his left side, as if a supreme ferocious beast was lunging at him with bloodthirsty intent, triggering every alarm in his senses. Startled, he swiftly withdrew without hesitation.

As he stepped back, Li Pin abruptly caught a glimpse of the figure on his left.

"It's him!"

It was the officiating personnel at the Aura Cultivation realm! Though he hadn't moved an inch, he had unleashed an attack akin to a fist intent, targeting Li Pin's mind and triggering his danger senses.

Li Pin immediately realized something crucial. "This is bad!"

However, it was too late!

Slap!

Before the devastating power of their clash could be unleashed, Han Li seized the opportunity and swiftly advanced forward, transforming his sword stance into a grappling maneuver, and caught Li Pin's fist with a powerful grip.

Given his robust physique, he managed to easily envelop Li Pin's fist with his palm.

As Han Li spread his fingers wide, he exerted tremendous force, his fingers contracting with ferocity, aiming to crush Li Pin's fist and shatter his bones like steel clamps.