C29 A Concession!

Zhou Yun was the first to secure a spot in the semifinals.

In the second match of the quarterfinals, Zhang Xuemeng faced off against another Inner Sect disciple named Wai Peng.

With her exceptional agility, Zhang Xuemeng smoothly dispatched her opponent, claiming the second semifinal berth.

"The third bout of the Elite Eight, Zhao Yu versus Liu Feng," the referee elder declared with a booming voice.

Liu Feng let out a wild laugh and leaped onto the arena.

"I've been eagerly anticipating my cousin's match against Zhao Yu. My cousin once single-handedly stormed a den of thieves and slew their leader amidst hundreds. How could Zhao Yu possibly measure up? He's about to get pummeled by my cousin."

Beneath the arena, Liu Guang was visibly thrilled, his excitement contagious as he boasted to his fellow disciples about his cousin's might and the impending doom awaiting Zhao Yu.

The nearby disciples grew increasingly impatient, subtly moving away from Liu Guang to spare themselves the earache.

Zhao Yu ascended to the arena, his demeanor serene.

"Let the match begin," the referee elder announced before stepping down to clear the stage.

"I half-expected you to forfeit again, but to my surprise, you've mustered the courage to face me," Liu Feng taunted.

He was certain Zhao Yu was no match for him and felt no rush to engage. He was convinced the victory was his for the taking.

A wave of laughter rose from the audience.

Unruffled, Zhao Yu responded with a light chuckle, "If I forfeited, how could I ever satisfy you? Besides, I've been a bit strapped for cash and could really use some Tao points."

Liu Feng scoffed, "You're a fool, blissfully unaware of your own limits. You'll be quickly defeated by me."

The smile vanished from Zhao Yu's face as he replied coolly, "Begin."

"Out of respect for you as my junior, I'll allow you the first move," Liu Feng boasted, standing tall with an air of arrogance. "Otherwise, you might not accept your defeat, claiming I took advantage of you."

With a cold laugh, Zhao Yu cut the chatter short and charged at Liu Feng.

At that moment, he finally started to unveil his true power.

Liu Feng was far from being an unknown. Having already secured a spot in the top eight, he was just one victory away from reaching the semifinals.

Zhao Yu relentlessly pressed the attack, leaving a trail of distinct footprints on the arena floor.

Leaping high, Zhao Yu's right leg shot out in a kick aimed at Liu Feng.

The sheer force was staggering, far beyond what a Qi Refining Layer Three disciple should be capable of.

Onlookers' faces twisted in concern, and even the elders on the viewing platform were visibly shaken.

They had witnessed Zhao Yu's bouts before, often seeing him execute the Mountain-splitting Leg, but never with such ferocity.

Shock registered even in the eyes of Zhang Daoming and the Head Elder. They had suspected Zhao Yu might be concealing his true power, but the extent of his hidden strength was beyond their predictions.

Liu Feng's face paled in alarm.

Zhao Yu's speed was overwhelming, leaving Liu Feng no time for a proper defense.

How could Zhao Yu possess such formidable power?

Yet, Liu Feng was a peak Qi Refining Layer Four warrior. Even in the face of dire peril, he kept his composure. With a roar, he countered with a palm strike to deflect the overhead assault.

This was the Sky Profound Sect's revered defensive technique: Heaven-defying Collapse.

Liu Feng had honed this skill through millions of repetitions, mastering it to perfection.

As an elite among the inner sect disciples, he could not afford to lose or show weakness to his junior brother.

The Mountain-splitting Leg met the Heaven-defying Collapse with a thunderous crash.

Pain surged through Liu Feng's arms, as if his bones might shatter.

His feet embedded themselves half an inch into the stone floor.

With a guttural roar, Liu Feng stumbled backward.

He realized that if he kept resisting, his arms might be permanently damaged.

"You actually withstood my strike, powered with 80% of my strength," Zhao Yu said, landing and smirking coldly. He didn't give Liu Feng a moment to regain his footing before charging again.

His palms wove together, casting a web of Palm Shadows that shrouded Liu Feng. This was the Ten Shadow Palms.

"You dare to injure me! You are finished!" Liu Feng bellowed.

But his words were just bluster. Still reeling, his blood circulation erratic, he could only fend off Zhao Yu's onslaught in a pitiful display of defense.

Had he not honed his Heaven-defying Collapse to near perfection, he would have been bested in a single move—a tremendous disgrace indeed!

Yet, despite Zhao Yu's strength surpassing his expectations, he remained full of confidence.

He had previously observed Zhao Yu's matches. While Zhao Yu's power was formidable, his martial skills were basic, riddled with vulnerabilities.

If he could just bide his time and wait for the right moment to strike back, he was certain he could regain control.

But Liu Feng's composure soon began to waver.

Zhao Yu's approach, though still brutish, had evolved into something far from simple—it was now impressively systematic.

Particularly when Zhao Yu unleashed the Ten Shadow Palms, the technique was not only powerful but executed with a finesse that rivaled that of elders who had practiced for decades.

Liu Feng desperately sought an opening to counter, yet no flaw in Zhao Yu's technique presented itself.

As the match wore on, Liu Feng grew increasingly agitated.

Constantly on the defensive against Zhao Yu's relentless assault, his blood raced, never settling, and his actions grew more erratic.

Inevitably, Liu Feng found himself backed to the very brink of the arena.

Was Liu Feng truly on the verge of defeat? The disciples spectating were on the edge of their seats, watching with bated breath.

The turn of events had shattered all their expectations, and no one dared underestimate Zhao Yu's capabilities any longer.

They realized that Zhao Yu had been concealing his true power all along. His advancement in the group was no stroke of luck.

Sun Mingyu watched the arena, his expression rigid, his gaze locked onto the unfolding battle.

Was this the extent of Zhao Yu's actual prowess?

If he were in Liu Feng's place, underestimating Zhao Yu, what then would his fate be?

The thought alone was chilling.

Sun Mingyu, without realizing it, was drenched in a cold sweat.

But he took solace in one last ace up his sleeve: the Fire Spirit Slash.

Zhang Xuemeng observed the bout with an outward calm, but her eyes betrayed a deep-seated disbelief.

"Zhao Yu, my skills improved dramatically only after encountering Hsiao Fengyun. Yet you, nearly fatally poisoned by me, even if fortuitously recovered, lost a year of training. How have you grown so formidable in such brief a span? Have you too stumbled upon some fortuitous event that enhanced your strength? Regardless, your end is nigh. The quicker you rise, the more uneasy I become. You'd best meet your demise swiftly!"

The look of shock in Zhang Xuemeng's eyes faded away, replaced by a fierce determination to kill.

Zhou Yun watched the match on the arena, his face etched with astonishment. He suddenly recalled his words to Zhao Yu before the assessment. With a wry smile, he remarked, "It looks like we all misjudged the situation. Junior Brother Zhao isn't just on the verge of catching up to us; he's already there."

Wu Caiyue shook her head and countered, "You're still not seeing it clearly. Junior Brother Zhao hasn't just caught up; from what I can tell, he's probably already outpaced us."

Time passed, and a quarter of an hour slipped by.

Liu Feng was gasping for breath, nearly pushed to the edge of the arena.

"Silk Hand!"

On the brink of defeat, Liu Feng clenched his teeth and let out a furious roar.

His arms turned suddenly limp and boneless, like serpents, coiling around Zhao Yu's body.

This was his secret weapon, a move he had intended to reserve for a final showdown with Sun Mingyu. But now, he had no choice but to reveal it—if he wanted any chance of breaking into the top four.

Zhao Yu recognized that Liu Feng was cornered and had unleashed his last resort.

He eased off his offensive and retreated a couple of steps, shifting from an aggressive stance to a defensive one.

Now in the quarterfinals, he knew it was wise to proceed with caution.