C10 Shameless

With a whoosh, Ye Feng unleashed the Raging Thunder Palm.

His form was a blur, as quick as lightning and as nimble as a beam of light. In a swift motion, he sidestepped Ji Fanchen's oncoming attack, leaving behind a mere afterimage as he positioned himself at his adversary's side.

Incredibly fast!

Ji Fanchen nearly wrenched his neck trying to keep up with Ye Feng's rapid movements. But his body lagged behind, unable to match the pace. All he could do was lock eyes with Ye Feng's piercing gaze, the stark contrast of black and white, as a golden palm crackling with electricity swept toward his face.

"Here's your slap back!"

Smack!

The sound of the slap echoed throughout the arena.

Onlookers watched in shock as Ji Fanchen's face contorted under the force of Ye Feng's palm, his body flung through the air like a javelin, soaring over ten meters before crashing down.

There was no escape.

Ye Feng moved with the momentum, catching up to the airborne Ji Fanchen. He raised his foot high and brought it down with a merciless stomp on Ji Fanchen's back.

Thud!

Ji Fanchen hit the ground hard, face-first, blood gushing from his head as he lay sprawled out like a lifeless dog.

Once, Ye Feng had been the one humiliated and trampled by Ji Fanchen. Now, the tables had turned. Ye Feng stood over Ji Fanchen, pressing down with his foot, the force enough to make Ji Fanchen cough up another mouthful of blood.

"You've lost."

Ye Feng's gaze was devoid of emotion as he looked down at Ji Fanchen beneath him.

Such a man was never fit to be his rival. He was merely settling an old score.

"Ye Feng... you mongrel!"

Beneath him, Ji Fanchen writhed in a futile attempt to escape Ye Feng's hold, spewing curses. "You dare to hurt me in front of all these people? I'll kill you! I swear, I'll kill you!"

"Still spitting venom?"

With icy detachment, Ye Feng stepped down on the back of Ji Fanchen's head, silencing his foul mouth against the cobblestone. Two teeth shot out, and at last, the wretch was rendered speechless.

"Senior Brother, have I won?" Ye Feng looked up, his gaze settling on the referee disciple who seemed to be lost in thought.

"Oh, oh! Yes, you've won, definitely won!" The disciple snapped back to reality, giving Ye Feng an odd look before nodding and declaring loudly, "On arena number eight, Ye Feng is victorious!"

A wave of astonishment swept through the crowd around the arena.

Ye Feng had triumphed, just like that!

In less than five minutes since the match began, Jee Fanchen, the strongest among the outer sect disciples, lay defeated at his feet.

Ye Feng's strength had surpassed everyone's expectations. The mystery of who would top today's Inner Sect Assessment had been unequivocally resolved.

Meanwhile, Han Yun on the high platform was all smiles, stroking his sparse beard as he watched Ye Feng step down from the arena, thoroughly pleased with his performance.

"Hehe, this Ye Feng is truly remarkable. With the right guidance, he could very well skyrocket to great heights in just a few years. The only question is... whether that esteemed individual will manage to keep such a talent within the Nephelo Sect. Wait, no!!"

As Han Yun pondered, he suddenly slammed his hand on the table and stood up, his eyes fixed on a figure behind Ye Feng, shouting, "Jee Fanchen, what do you think you're doing?!"

Trouble!

It was clear to all that Jee Fanchen, already declared the loser, had risen behind Ye Feng. A ring on his right index finger glinted as he conjured a sharp, green long blade, aiming a strike at Ye Feng's back.

This scoundrel was breaking the rules of the assessment, wielding a weapon with lethal intent!

Enraged to the point of madness, Jee Fanchen bellowed as he lunged at Ye Feng with both hands gripping the sword, "Ye Feng! I want you dead!"

"Watch out!"

Shouts of alarm echoed from the audience, but no one could intercept the swift, venomous strike of Jee Fanchen's blade as it closed in on Ye Feng's back.

"Ah!"

Several of the more faint-hearted female disciples screamed, their eyes shut tight.

But in that split-second crisis, a surge of golden light enveloped Ye Feng, allowing him to leap forward just as the blade was about to pierce him. Then, with a swift turn, he blocked the deadly edge with his left arm.

Puff!

Blood sprayed in all directions.

Shielded by golden Profound Qi, Ye Feng's left arm parried the dishonorable strike from Jee Fanchen. Despite the protection, the searing pain caused Ye Feng's lips to quiver as a surge of nameless rage ignited within him.

Kill him!

The thought of murder flashed through Ye Feng's mind!

The golden profound energy within him roared like a voice echoing in his head:

Kill him!

How dare he challenge your dignity? Kill him!

Meanwhile, the heedless Jee Fanchen, failing to kill Ye Feng with his initial attack, grew even more frenzied. He hoisted his long blade—still smeared with Ye Feng's blood—and aimed another vicious slash at Ye Feng's neck.

"Scum! You scum, I'll see you dead! Die!"

"It's you who will die!!!"

Ye Feng erupted in fury.

A roar of anger reverberated throughout the area.

His eyes blazed with golden lightning, his entire being enveloped in a radiant glow. His presence now was twice as formidable as before.

In that moment, he stood majestic and imposing, a godly force to be reckoned with. Jee Fanchen's blade stood no chance of striking him again. Ye Feng clenched his fists, and with a burst of electric energy, he brutally struck Jee Fanchen's raised wrists.

Crack.

The sound of snapping bones was unmistakable. Jee Fanchen's steel blade soared into the sky like a kite with its string cut, followed by a piercing scream of agony.

Ow!

Jee Fanchen staggered back in pain, his hands shaking wildly in the air, his wrists shattered to bits. The pain was so intense that tears and snot streamed down his face as he retreated in utter disarray.

In this moment, the once arrogant young master felt fear.

He looked at Ye Feng, terror evident in his eyes, wanting to flee but realizing it was already too late.

Ye Feng had become a bolt of golden lightning, closing the distance in an instant. His eyes flickered with electric sparks, his expression chillingly demonic. He lifted his left hand and with the swiftness of a thunderclap, he struck, aiming directly at Jee Fanchen's chest.

"Die, you despicable worm!"

Boom.

The palm strike shone with brilliant golden light, crackling with energy, and hit Jee Fanchen squarely in the chest. A dull thud sounded as blood gushed from Jee Fanchen's mouth. He didn't soar through the air but seemed magnetically fixed to Ye Feng's electrifying grip, shaking uncontrollably, unable to utter a single word.

"Die!"

Ye Feng's right hand soared once more, lightning coalescing into a brilliant golden sun above his palm. With even greater force, it slammed down upon his left, the two mighty palms merging to create a two-meter-tall explosion of lightning that completely swallowed Jee Fanchen.

Ahh!

All that could be heard was Jee Fanchen's feeble, mournful cry.

Sizzle.

Spectators shielded their eyes, unable to withstand the blinding brilliance.

In that moment, Ye Feng was like the embodiment of the thunder god, dominating the heavens.

"Ye Feng, no!!"

It was then that Han Yun finally sprang onto the stage, his beard quivering in astonishment.

What unearthly Profound Qi was Ye Feng wielding?

How could someone at the One Pulse Profound Stage unleash such formidable power from a mere Raging Thunder Palm?

His mind raced with shock, yet his actions were swift. A surge of pure Profound Qi formed a colossal palm in front of him, plunging into the lightning to drag Jee Fanchen out.

"Stop!"

Simultaneously, a gentler stream of Profound Qi emerged, enveloping Ye Feng and thrusting him back several meters, bringing the tumultuous battle to a close.

"Jee Fanchen!"

Han Yun's heart raced with alarm as he beheld the charred figure in his grasp.

Truthfully, even if he had envisioned Ye Feng's victory, he could never have anticipated the severity of Jee Fanchen's defeat, especially given that Jee had reached the Two Pluses Realm.

The body in his arms was motionless, the skin charred to a crisp, resembling dry, blackened bark. A mere touch caused it to crumble away, revealing the dark, festering wounds beneath.

It was a ghastly sight.

Han Yun found it almost too harrowing to witness.

Thankfully, these were merely external wounds. With the Nephelo Sect's healing salves, a full recovery would be possible in just a fortnight. Yet, the fact that Ye Feng's Raging Thunder Palm had inflicted such damage suggested that even a martial cultivator of the Three Pluses Realm might struggle to withstand its might.

Beside them, the two young men Ye Feng had flung aside with his palm and fist had yet to rise. One lay face-down, his visage utterly marred, while the other writhed on the ground, clutching his stomach in agony, his face contorted as if in the throes of labor.

Was it really that painful?

Han Yun furrowed his brow.

Ye Feng had merely delivered a slap and a punch. Did these two really need to act as though they were on death's door?

Then again, Ye Feng's strength was surprisingly formidable.

Taking a slow, deep breath, Han Yun turned his gaze to Ye Feng.

By now, the golden lightning that had enveloped Ye Feng had vanished, and he stood in silence. To Han Yun, there was an absence of the typical post-victory excitement and wildness on the young man's face. Instead, there was a detached calm.

Unarrogant in victory, undaunted in defeat—such was Ye Feng's character. He was destined for greatness.

Han Yun felt a deep sense of pride and was very pleased with the outcome of the battle. Ye Feng was sure to gain renown throughout the entire Nephelo Sect and would be earmarked for intensive training. It remained to be seen which main peak he would ascend to hone his skills.

"Someone attend to this!" Han Yun's thoughts shifted, and he signaled for the cleanup of the battlefield. "Take the injured away and record Ye Feng's performance for the final announcement."

Understood.

Inner Sect disciples were already on standby. But as they moved toward Zhang Yun and Zhao Feihong, one of them let out a cry of alarm.

"Elder Han! Zhao Feihong's face is utterly shattered!"

Hmm?

Han Yun paused, taken aback, as another voice rang out.

"Elder Han, Zhang Yun has sustained serious damage to his spleen and stomach. It appears that even his vital meridians have been severed!"

What!

...

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