C11 Fighting

The guests on the sixth floor sensed the escalating tension between Zhang Tiankui and Lee Qingyun and realized this was no mere jest.

"Could we actually witness a battle between Foundation Stage cultivators today?"

"The excitement is palpable... Who could possibly emerge victorious?"

"Didn't you hear? Zhang Tiankui possesses a medium grade Dao Foundation, while Sect Master Lee only has a low grade one. My money's on Zhang Tiankui for sure..."

"But Sect Master Lee is so strikingly handsome. I'm rooting for him to win..."

"..."

To the onlookers, Zhang Tiankui's towering and robust frame was twice the size of Lee Qingyun's, exuding a far more daunting presence. By contrast, Lee Qingyun, with his symmetrical build, appeared somewhat slight in that moment.

The well-known disparity in their Dao Foundation quality had the crowd anxiously holding their breath for Lee Qingyun.

Wang Ruhai declared, "The battle will take place in the open space of the restaurant. You are forbidden from intentionally causing damage or inflicting lethal harm. Do you accept these conditions?"

"Agreed," they responded in unison.

"Very well! Let the match commence."

At the command, Zhang Tiankui charged forward, his massive fist cutting through the air towards Lee Qingyun's face.

Against all expectations, Lee Qingyun stood frozen, making no attempt to dodge the oncoming blow.

But in an astonishing turn, Lee Qingyun suddenly dropped down, seizing Zhang Tiankui's thigh and yanking him downward with ferocity!

The spectators gasped in shock as Zhang Tiankui's punch swiped at nothing, and he was pulled down by Lee Qingyun!

Lee Qingyun realized Zhang Tiankui's eagerness to strike had made him forget they were suspended mid-air, where agility was paramount. He had left his lower body vulnerable.

Just then, a chilling breeze hit Lee Qingyun's back, and he knew trouble was brewing. Zhang Tiankui was contorting his body for a counterattack.

With no other choice, Lee Qingyun clutched Zhang Tiankui's thigh and hurled him down towards the first floor.

By the time Fong Yong had cleared a massive space on the first floor, the stage was set.

With a thunderous "Bam!" Zhang Tiankui hit the ground, creating a deep crater upon impact.

A hush fell over the crowd, and the entire restaurant was enveloped in silence.

Had Lee Qingyun really taken out Zhang Tiankui with a single move?

Yet, Lee Qingyun's face betrayed no relief; his expression grew even grimmer.

Zhang Tiankui lay in the crater, but within seconds, he shuddered, pushing himself up off the ground.

"He's a body cultivator!" someone with keen eyesight exclaimed.

"Ah, a body cultivator!"

"That explains why he's unscathed after such a fall..."

"With the Dao Foundation overpowering him, and he's still a body cultivator, it looks like Sect Master Lee is definitely going to lose this one."

"..."

Zhang Tiankui spat onto the ground and taunted, "Sect Master Lee, that bit of strength won't even scratch me. Time to bring out your real power."

Just as I suspected... Lee Qingyun reflected. From the outset, this man had been challenging him, uttering outrageously provocative words. He had indeed come prepared, specifically to target him...

With a bizarre yell, Zhang Tiankui's foot shattered the ground as he launched himself from the first floor, closing in on Lee Qingyun with astonishing speed.

Caught off-guard, Lee Qingyun had no choice but to engage in close-quarters combat. His physical prowess paled in comparison to Zhang Tiankui's, and he was quickly overpowered, losing ground.

This is bad...

Ye Xiaoyu watched the scene unfold, her lips pressed tightly together. Even with Qingyun's skills, he seemed unable to overcome a body cultivator like Zhang Tiankui in hand-to-hand combat. But why wasn't Qingyun creating distance? Was he already too overwhelmed to retreat?

Meanwhile, the white-robed youth beside her scoffed at the intense fight between Zhang Tiankui and Lee Qingyun that had the entire restaurant holding its breath.

Up on the eighth floor, Senior Sister Lau watched Lee Qingyun falter. Ye Xiaoyu's concern was palpable, but inside, Senior Sister Lau couldn't help but feel a smug satisfaction. Xiaoyu, I'm doing this for your own good. I want you to see just how hopeless Lee Qingyun is, unable to take even a single hit. Don't worry yourself too much.

Zhang Tiankui seized the opening between Lee Qingyun's defenses and with a powerful swing, sent him crashing down to the sixth floor.

"Sect Master Lee, such strength simply won't cut it. It looks like you won't be getting your hands on the Spirit Gathering Stone today. And to think, you've even made an ordinary disciple like me triumph over the despicable sect master of the Twin Rage Sect... tsk, tsk, tsk."

"It's not the most honorable victory, but it sure is gratifying," Zhang Tiankui remarked as he gazed at Lee Qingyun. This flirt, who had his way with Xiaoyu, did possess some skill, but he still fell short when compared to Zhang Tiankui.

Lee Qingyun rose to his feet on the sixth floor and retorted, "I gave you the upper hand just to gauge how far you've come with your body refining. As it turns out, it's nothing to write home about."

"Hahaha!" Zhang Tiankui burst into laughter, his anger turning to amusement. "Oh, the ever-defiant Sect Master Lee. Well then, allow me to bring this duel to a close. I'm curious to see how you'll maintain that stubbornness once I'm through with you!"

Brushing the dust from his robe, Lee Qingyun coolly replied, "The feeling is mutual."

"Prepare to witness the might of a medium-grade Dao Foundation."

"Let me be frank, Sect Master Lee. I've been practicing the Soul Capturing Sect's 'Soul Capturing Technique' for quite some time. My mastery over spirit energy has reached the point where I can release it externally. Coupled with my proficiency in the technique and my medium-grade Dao Foundation, this is the most formidable move I've developed to date. Falling to this technique won't tarnish your status as the Sect Master of Twin Rage."

With a cry of "Soul Capturing!" Zhang Tiankui unleashed his palm strike, and the spiritual energy of the heavens and earth coalesced into a three-foot-long beam of black light that hurtled towards Lee Qingyun.

"Half-Step into the Inferior Grade!" Wang Ruhai shouted, leaping to his feet in astonishment.

He hadn't anticipated that the Soul Capturing Sect's esteemed 'Soul Capturing Technique' would have advanced to the Half-Step Inferior Grade! With Zhang Tiankui's adept manipulation of spiritual energy, combined with the technique, he managed to unlock a fraction of the secret technique's true potential!

In that tense moment, Wang Ruhai was on high alert, his spiritual energy at the ready, prepared to intervene and rescue at a moment's notice.

Should Lee Qingyun fail to withstand such force, there was a real possibility he would perish on the spot. As the host, it was imperative that I prevent Lee Qingyun from meeting his end at my birthday celebration.

At that moment, Ye Xiaoyu was gripping her skirt with one hand and clutching a red jade pendant in the other, poised to step forward and offer assistance at any moment.

Lee Qingyun, with a grave expression, braced himself against the torrential spiritual energy cascading down upon him. The incantations of the Rain Seal surfaced in his consciousness.

"Buzz!"

Spiritual energy flooded into Lee Qingyun's body like a whale engulfing the sea, making the passage of time around him seem to decelerate. The six Heaven and Earth Bridges within him worked at full capacity to concentrate spiritual energy, miraculously amassing a twenty-foot-long arc of green spiritual energy in his palm!

"Bam!"

Wang Ruhai, seated on the ninth tier, shattered the armrest of his chair, teeth clenched, as he muttered, "A low-grade technique..."