9: Chapter 9: The Decisive Battle Against Xiao Ning, Breaking the Stalemate with Danhuo

Beneath the arena, the sound of the crowd was like a tidal wave.

Everyone's eyes were focused on the two figures about to ascend the stage.

On one side was Xiao Ning, a direct-line prodigy who had long been famous and was regarded as the biggest favorite to win this small competition.

On the other side was Lin Yan, a dark horse from the side branch who had repeatedly created miracles by defeating stronger opponents.

This duel had long surpassed simple victory or defeat; it involved the face of the direct and side branches, the clash between new and old talents, and certain undercurrents beneath the surface.

Xiao Ning leapt onto the arena first, his movements vigorous, landing without a sound.

The Dou Qi fluctuations of an 8th stage peak were released without reservation, faintly carrying a formidable aura approaching the 9th stage, drawing successive exclamations from beneath the stage.

He wore luxurious combat attire, stood with his hands behind his back, chin slightly raised, and eyes looking down with disdain, waiting for his opponent.

That confidence and arrogance made it seem as if victory was already in his grasp.

Lin Yan ascended the stage slowly, his steps steady.

His expression remained calm, and under the effect of the breath-concealing talisman, his aura was maintained at the level of a 5th stage peak, though his eyes were sharper and more focused than ever before.

He could clearly feel the pressure coming from Xiao Ning—not just the gap in cultivation, but a kind of momentum cultivated from being in a high position with abundant resources.

"Lin Yan, to be able to make it this far, you have some skill."

Xiao Ning finally spoke, his voice carrying undisguised contempt, "However, this is where it ends."

"Your brute force and those wild-style hidden forces you learned from who knows where are nothing but a joke in the face of absolute strength."

"I will make you, and those trash beneath the stage who hold fantasies about you, recognize reality."

His words were harsh, targeting not only Lin Yan but also implicitly sweeping over the many side-branch disciples below, drawing a wave of suppressed glares.

On the viewing platform, the First Elder lowered his eyelids, as if he hadn't heard.

Patriarch Xiao Zhan frowned slightly but did not intervene; in a small competition, as long as the war of words didn't go too far, it was hard for him to interfere.

Lin Yan was not provoked and simply said calmly: "Young Master Xiao Ning, please."

This indifferent reaction made Xiao Ning feel like he had punched empty air, and he felt even more displeased, snorting coldly: "Putting on an act! Let's see if you can remain this calm later!"

"Third round, second match, Lin Yan versus Xiao Ning, the competition begins!"

The moment the deacon finished speaking, cold light surged in Xiao Ning's eyes, and his figure suddenly launched forward!

He did not test the waters like his previous opponents; his first move was thunderous!

The ground beneath his feet trembled slightly, and his entire body shot out like an arrow from a bow.

On his right fist, pale yellow Dou Qi surged violently, carrying an aura that was as heavy as a mountain yet as swift as the wind, striking directly at Lin Yan's chest!

Yellow-tier advanced Dou Technique — Mountain Crushing Fist!

Before the fist arrived, the sharp wind of the punch had already made it difficult for Lin Yan to breathe.

The power and speed of this punch far exceeded that of Xiao Li!

Xiao Ning truly had the capital to be arrogant; this punch had initially combined the power of an 8th stage peak with the might of an advanced Dou Technique.

Lin Yan's pupils contracted; he dared not take it head-on.

He retreated rapidly, rotating his body to the side, attempting to avoid the frontal edge.

However, Xiao Ning's fist momentum followed like a shadow, strangely drawing an arc in mid-air, still locking onto Lin Yan!

"Can you hide?!" Xiao Ning sneered, his fist speed increasing by another thirty percent!

Seeing that he could not avoid it completely, Lin Yan let out a low shout, and his right fist also slammed out, fully unleashing the first heavy, bright force of the Eight Extremities Collapse, meeting the flank of the opponent's fist.

"Boom!"

The fists collided, erupting with a dull, thunderous sound.

Lin Yan felt an irresistible force surge through him; his fist was in excruciating pain, his entire arm went numb, and his body slid back several steps uncontrollably, his blood and Qi churning within him.

Xiao Ning merely swayed, stabilized his footing, and pressing his advantage, his left fist followed like a heavy hammer!

Lin Yan hurriedly crossed his arms to block.

"Bang!" He was forced back two more steps, and fine cracks appeared on the bluestone ground beneath his feet.

A sigh echoed from beneath the stage.

The gap was too large; it was a completely one-sided suppression.

Every one of Xiao Ning's strikes was heavy, his Dou Qi was vigorous, and combined with the exquisite Mountain Crushing Fist technique, he kept Lin Yan firmly on the defensive.

Lin Yan could only rely on the body toughness and keen reflexes enhanced by the Living Spirit Flame to barely hold on, occasionally counterattacking with the hidden force of the Eight Extremities Collapse, but these were all neutralized by Xiao Ning's greater strength or clever deflection techniques, making it difficult to pose a substantial threat.

"Is this all you've got? Where is your hidden force? Use it!"

Xiao Ning's offensive was like a tidal wave, his mouth constantly mocking, trying to disturb Lin Yan's mind.

His attacks were like a storm, one punch heavier than the next, forcing Lin Yan to constantly dodge and weave across the field, in constant danger, his clothes already cut in several places by the fist wind, appearing somewhat disheveled.

On the viewing platform, the First Elder's mouth curled into an imperceptible arc.

Xiao Zhan looked worried; Lin Yan's performance was already stunning enough, but facing Xiao Ning, who had a deeper foundation, he seemed to have truly reached his limit.

Xiao Yan clenched his fists beneath the stage, his nails almost digging into his flesh.

He could see that Lin Yan wasn't without the power to fight back, but was deliberately enduring, seemingly waiting for an opportunity, but Xiao Ning's offensive was too fierce and consumed too much; if he kept defending, he would eventually fail.

"Admit defeat! Trash!"

Xiao Ning, unable to break through after a long offensive, grew increasingly impatient.

He had thought he could easily crush his opponent, but he hadn't expected the other to be so resilient, like sticky taffy—impossible to knock down, impossible to shake off.

A fierce look flashed in his eyes, and the Dou Qi within his body suddenly began to circulate in an even more violent manner, his fist momentum changing abruptly—no longer seeking continuous strikes, but condensing all his power into the next blow!

"Mountain Crushing Earth Splitting!"

Xiao Ning roared, his body rising from the ground, the earth-yellow Dou Qi on his right fist condensing into a tangible fist aura, carrying a tragic momentum capable of shattering mountains, crashing down from above!

This strike covered a huge area, almost sealing off all of Lin Yan's evasion space, forcing him to take it head-on!

This was the killing move of the Mountain Crushing Fist, its power faintly touching the threshold of a Profound-tier technique!

Exclamations erupted from beneath the stage, and many people couldn't help but close their eyes, as if they saw the scene of Lin Yan being severely injured by one punch.

Facing this fatal blow, Lin Yan, who had been on the defensive and whose aura had appeared "disordered" (disguised), suddenly saw a startling brilliance erupt in his eyes!

What he was waiting for was this very moment when the opponent had fully unleashed his power and his old strength was spent but his new strength had not yet arisen!

He no longer retreated; instead, he met the terrifying fist aura, slightly bent his knees, and his right hand flashed into his bosom (actually his storage ring), stuffing an "Improved Power Accumulation Pill" he had long prepared into his mouth!

The pill melted upon entry, and a stream of heat, far purer and gentler than an ordinary energy recovery pill and containing vitality, instantly surged into his limbs and bones, rapidly replenishing his heavily consumed Dou Qi, and even relieving some of his physical fatigue.

At the same time, his left palm supported upward in a gesture of struggling to block, while his right fist quietly retracted to his waist and abdomen, his internal Dou Qi circulating at an unprecedented speed, the path of the Eight Extremities Collapse's force rapidly connecting, the first heavy bright force and the second heavy hidden force compressing layer by layer!

This was not enough! Facing this strike from Xiao Ning that was near the 9th stage, even with the pill's replenishment, facing it head-on with only the 7th stage peak Dou Qi and the first two layers of the Eight Extremities Collapse would very likely result in severe injury!

Just as the Mountain Crushing Earth Splitting fist aura was about to hit, Lin Yan made a move that shocked everyone—he kicked the ground hard, his body not moving forward to meet the attack, but retreating rapidly to the rear-side, as if to avoid the center of the fist aura, but in doing so, he exposed his left shoulder and half his body to the edge of the fist aura!

"Want to escape? Too late!" Xiao Ning sneered, the fist aura following like a shadow, shifting slightly, still slamming fiercely toward Lin Yan's exposed left shoulder!

He seemed to have already heard the sound of bones shattering.

Just as the fist aura touched his body, Lin Yan's right fist, which had been retracted to his waist and abdomen, moved!

This punch had no grand momentum, not even any light.

But the moment he threw the punch, Lin Yan moved his mind slightly, peeling off a negligible, tiny thread of scorching aura—thinner than a hair—from the Green Lotus Core Flame seed fire in his Dantian, skillfully wrapping it around the compressed hidden force on his fist, simulating the illusion of a "sudden eruption of fire-attribute Dou Qi"!

The fist arrived first despite being thrown later; at the moment when the power at the edge of Xiao Ning's fist aura began to wane, but his own center of gravity was slightly leaning forward due to the chase, it was like a poisonous dragon emerging from a cave, precisely piercing through the weak gap of the fist aura, slamming fiercely into the side of the Shanzhong acupoint on Xiao Ning's chest, where his move had grown old and his Dou Qi could not retract in time!

"Eight Extremities Collapse, Double Hidden Force — Flame Break!"

"Puff!" A dull impact sound rang out.

The sneer on Xiao Ning's face instantly froze.

He only felt a sharp, scorching, and strangely vibrating force, like a red-hot drill, breaking through his body's Dou Qi defense and drilling fiercely into his body!

That scorching heat was not intense, but it carried an indescribable penetrating power and burning pain, and what was even more terrifying was the double hidden force that followed, erupting violently within his meridians and viscera!

"Urgh—!"

Xiao Ning let out a painful muffled groan, his forward momentum coming to an abrupt halt, and the condensed Mountain Crushing fist aura instantly dissipated.

His face turned from red to white, then from white to green, his chest feeling as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer, and a sweetness rose in his throat; he could no longer suppress a mouthful of blood, and with a "wah," he spat it out!

His entire body was like a kite with a broken string, flying backward, drawing a miserable arc, crashing heavily onto the edge of the arena several feet away, rolling twice before barely stopping, struggling to crawl up, but his limbs were weak, his internal Dou Qi was rampaging, and he couldn't summon any strength for a moment, only able to curl up and gasp in pain.

As for Lin Yan, he was also swept by the aftermath of Xiao Ning's fist aura on his left shoulder, let out a muffled groan, staggered back seven or eight steps to the rear-side, and then stabilized his figure on one knee, his left shoulder clothes torn, revealing a patch of red and swollen skin beneath, a trace of blood also spilling from the corner of his mouth, his face pale, his aura fluctuating violently, clearly also having suffered no light shock.

But he stood still.

And Xiao Ning had fallen.

The entire training ground was deathly silent.

Everyone widened their eyes and opened their mouths, looking at this reversed scene on the arena in disbelief.

What happened? Just a moment ago, Lin Yan was still fleeing in a disheveled manner, on the verge of defeat and severe injury, how did it turn out in the blink of an eye that the aggressive Xiao Ning was the one who fell?

That last punch... that strangely vibrating force carrying a scorching aura that erupted in an instant...

"Fire... fire-attribute Dou Qi?!" Someone with a keen eye finally exclaimed in shock.

"That punch just now had a flame aura! Is Lin Yan of the fire-attribute constitution?"

"Did he hide his attribute? That hidden force combined with the fire-attribute eruption... what a strange Dou Technique!"

"Did he swallow a pill just now? Was it an energy recovery pill? It recovered so fast!"

"He won?! Lin Yan defeated Xiao Ning?!"

The uproar erupted like a tsunami.

Shock, ecstasy, disbelief, confusion, jealousy... all kinds of emotions were intertwined in the crowd.

On the viewing platform, Xiao Zhan stood up abruptly, his face full of surprise and shock: "Fire-attribute Dou Qi? Good lad! To think he still hid this hand! That force-generating technique in the last punch... exquisite! Defeating the strong with the weak, bold and meticulous, good!"

He did not hide his admiration.

The teacup in the First Elder's hand "cracked," a crack appearing, and boiling tea splashed out, but he didn't even notice.

His face was pale, his eyes staring viciously at Lin Yan, who was kneeling on one knee on the stage, and then looked at his grandson, Xiao Ning, who was lying on the edge of the arena groaning in pain, his chest heaving violently.

The few elders beside him also looked at each other, their expressions complex.

Beneath the stage, Xiao Yan let out a long sigh of relief, his clenched fists slowly loosening, and an excited light flashing in his eyes: "Fire-attribute... so that's how it is! That pill's effect is also extraordinary. Lin Yan, how many more secrets do you have?"

In Xiao Xun Er's beautiful eyes, strange brilliance rippled.

She saw more clearly than others; Lin Yan's final punch had a pure and restrained fire-attribute aura, erupting at just the right moment; it didn't look like he had just awakened the attribute or was barely using it.

And that grasp of timing, the calculation of his own consumption, the decisiveness of swallowing the pill... this was definitely not something a lucky person relying only on "encounters" could do.

The evaluation of Lin Yan in her heart was raised once again.

The deacon was also stunned for a long time before stepping forward to check on Xiao Ning's condition.

Xiao Ning only suffered internal shock, his Dou Qi was disordered, and coupled with the erosion of the double hidden force, he was momentarily exhausted; his injuries were not light but not fundamental.

He struggled to sit up with the deacon's help, looking at Lin Yan with eyes full of resentment, shame, and a hint of undisguised fear.

He couldn't figure out how he could lose to a side-branch disciple at the "5th stage peak" no matter what.

"Lin Yan... wins!" the deacon announced loudly, his voice carrying a hint of imperceptible trembling.

Lin Yan slowly stood straight, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and felt the stinging pain in his left shoulder and the churning blood in his body.

The medicinal power of the Improved Power Accumulation Pill was still continuing to take effect, and the vitality of the Living Spirit Flame was also slowly repairing his injuries.

He looked at Xiao Ning, who was being helped off the stage, his eyes calm and waveless.

He had won this battle with difficulty, revealing his trump cards of "fire-attribute" and "hidden force combination," but he had also completely established his image as a "genius," paving the way for entering the Cang Gong Pavilion.

He looked up, his gaze passing over the seething crowd, and looked toward the opposite side.

There, Xiao Yan had finished his battle at some point and was standing quietly.

Their gazes met in the air.

The deacon's voice sounded again, drowning out the noise of the whole field: "The third round is over! The finalists: Lin Yan, Xiao Yan! The finals will be held tomorrow!"

Xiao Yan nodded at Lin Yan from afar, his eyes filled with fighting spirit.

Lin Yan took a deep breath and returned a firm look.

The brothers' duel, the battle of the peaks, would be tomorrow!

And at this moment, no one noticed that on the viewing platform, under the First Elder's gloomy face, his fingers quietly crushed a message jade talisman in his sleeve.