Chapter 8: Shocking Strength
"First round, first group, Cao Meng versus Emperor Cao Xukun!"
As the deacon announced loudly, a brawny man with shoulders like a tiger jumped onto the ring, cracking his knuckles and glaring viciously at Emperor Cao Xukun: "You loser, you're unlucky to run into me first! Today, I'll show you what it means to overestimate yourself!"
The crowd burst into laughter.
Cao Meng was at Qi Refining Stage 4, considered average among the younger generation, so everyone assumed Emperor Cao Xukun would lose.
"Hurry up and concede, save yourself the beating!"
"Exactly, it's so ugly to be beaten to the ground!"
Emperor Cao Xukun walked onto the stage slowly, hands in his pockets, not even bothering with a stance: "Too much talk. Come at me together, I'm in a hurry."
"You're courting death!"
Cao Meng was furious, swinging his sandbag-sized fist with a whistling wind towards Emperor Cao Xukun's head, "Watch me smash your head with one punch!"
Everyone closed their eyes, unable to bear the sight of the coming tragedy.
"Bang!"
A muffled sound.
The expected scene of Emperor Cao Xukun bleeding didn't happen.
Instead, Emperor Cao Xukun dodged the punch with a casual side-step, then countered with a punch to Cao Meng's stomach.
Cao Meng was sent flying like he'd been hit by a truck, arching his back as he crashed into the edge of the ring, frothing at the mouth, and passed out on the spot.
The whole place went silent instantly.
After three seconds, someone gasped: "One move? He actually defeated Cao Meng in one move?"
"How is this possible? Isn't he only at Qi Refining Stage 3?"
The elders on the high platform straightened up, their faces showing surprise.
The Great Elder frowned and snorted coldly: "It's just good luck. He won't be so lucky in the next match."
However, facts soon slapped him in the face.
In the second match, Emperor Cao Xukun faced Cao Tao of Qi Refining Stage 5—defeated in one move.
In the third match, against Cao Yu of Qi Refining Stage 6—still one move.
In the fourth match, the semifinals, against Cao Feng of Qi Refining Stage 7—still one move!
The entire martial arts arena exploded.
"My god! All one move! Is this really that loser?"
"Qi Refining Stage 3 beating up Qi Refining Stage 7? This is simply absurd!"
"How can his strength be so strong? Could it be that his dantian not only recovered but became even more powerful?"
Everyone's gaze towards Emperor Cao Xukun changed, from previous mockery and disdain to shock and awe.
Lin Yueer stood under the stage, covering her mouth, her eyes tearing up with excitement.
She knew her Young Master Cao was the best!
In the VIP seats, Young Master Xiao Chen's hand holding the teacup paused slightly, his expression finally becoming grave.
He had originally thought Emperor Cao Xukun had only recovered a little cultivation, not expecting him to be so capable in a fight.
Su Wanqing also frowned, a flash of confusion in her cold eyes.
This Emperor Cao Xukun seemed completely different from the arrogant playboy she remembered.
"Next, the final! Cao Xuan versus Emperor Cao Xukun!"
As the deacon's voice fell, the whole place went silent.
Everyone held their breath, staring at the ring.
Cao Xuan leaped up and stood opposite Emperor Cao Xukun, his face so gloomy it could drip water.
Four consecutive one-move kills had put unprecedented pressure on him, but more than that, it was jealousy and anger.
"Emperor Cao Xukun, don't get cocky!"
Cao Xuan drew the long sword at his waist, pointing at Emperor Cao Xukun, "Those before were just trash, I'm different! I have the cultivation of Qi Refining Stage 8!"
"Today, I won't just defeat you, I'll destroy your dantian and turn you back into that loser who's not even as good as a dog! I'm cleaning house for Young Master Xiao Chen!"
The Great Elder on the stage immediately echoed: "Xuan'er is right! Such a rebellious person should have his cultivation destroyed and be driven out of the Cao family!"
Young Master Xiao Chen curled his lips into a cold smile and took a sip of tea.
In his view, although Cao Xuan wasn't as good as him, he was still more than enough to deal with an Emperor Cao Xukun at Qi Refining Stage 3.
Emperor Cao Xukun picked his ear, looking disgusted: "So noisy. Can you stop buzzing like a fly?"
"I said it just now, I'm in a hurry. Three moves. If I can't knock you down in three moves, I lose."
"Arrogant!"
Cao Xuan trembled with rage, "I think you're courting death!"
Before the words faded, Cao Xuan leaped, his sword unsheathed, bringing sharp sword energy as he stabbed directly at Emperor Cao Xukun's dantian!
The strike was ruthless and fatal, clearly intending to destroy Emperor Cao Xukun.
"What a fast sword!" someone exclaimed below the stage.
However, Emperor Cao Xukun stood in place, motionless, as if frightened silly.
Just as the long sword was about to pierce his dantian, Emperor Cao Xukun finally moved.
He dodged the blade with a side-step and flicked his finger.
"Ding!"
With a crisp sound, the long sword in Cao Xuan's hand shattered!
"First move."
Emperor Cao Xukun's voice was calm and waveless.
Cao Xuan's pupils shrank.
Before he could react, Emperor Cao Xukun had closed in and slapped his chest with a palm.
"Puff!"
Cao Xuan spat out a mouthful of blood and flew backward, his spiritual energy shield shattering instantly.
"Second move."
Cao Xuan fell heavily to the ground, struggling to get up, his eyes filled with fear and unwillingness.
He couldn't believe that with his Qi Refining Stage 8 cultivation, he couldn't even take two moves from Emperor Cao Xukun!
"Impossible! This is impossible!"
Cao Xuan roared, channeling his last bit of spiritual energy and lunging at Emperor Cao Xukun, "I'll fight you to the death!"
Emperor Cao Xukun's eyes turned cold, and without any mercy, he kicked Cao Xuan's dantian.
"Crack!"
The crisp sound of a shattering dantian clearly spread across the entire arena.
"Third move."
Cao Xuan's body stiffened in mid-air, then fell heavily to the ground, his eyes unfocused, completely losing his strength.
He could clearly feel his dantian rapidly withering, his cultivation turning into nothing.
"Ah—! My dantian! My cultivation!"
Cao Xuan let out a desperate scream and passed out.
The entire arena was deathly silent.
You could hear a pin drop.
Everyone stared with wide eyes and open mouths, blankly looking at Emperor Cao Xukun on the ring, their faces full of disbelief.
Three moves.
It really only took three moves!
He defeated the Cao family's second-greatest genius, Cao Xuan of Qi Refining Stage 8, and destroyed his dantian!
This couldn't be described as absurd anymore; it was simply a miracle!
The elders on the high platform all stood up, their expressions frozen.
The Great Elder looked at his grandson who had passed out, his body swaying, almost falling to the ground.
In the VIP seats, the teacup in Young Master Xiao Chen's hand fell to the floor with a "clatter", splashing tea all over him.
He stood up abruptly, staring fiercely at Emperor Cao Xukun, filled with shock and murderous intent.
Su Wanqing also stood up, a ripple appearing in her cold eyes for the first time.
She looked at the black-clad youth standing tall on the ring, her heart skipping a beat uncontrollably.
Emperor Cao Xukun stood in the center of the ring, facing the shocked gazes of everyone, slowly raising his head.
His gaze swept over the high platform and finally landed on Young Master Xiao Chen.
He curled the corner of his mouth into a cold arc and said, word by word, in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"Young Master Xiao Chen, you're next."