C30 Disappointing!

Liu Feng finally seized the opportunity to catch his breath, his feet planting firmly on the arena floor once more.

"I will kill you!" Liu Feng bellowed, fury igniting within him as he considered how Zhao Yu had backed him into a corner.

His hands moved in a blur, launching a fierce assault on Zhao Yu.

Ideally, he should have been focusing on stabilizing his blood flow and smoothing out the circulation of genuine energy within his body.

A premature attack would only further destabilize his Qi, potentially causing the genuine energy to recoil and inflict internal injuries.

But in that moment, rage had overwhelmed Liu Feng's better judgment.

Nearly bested by a single move from Zhao Yu, he felt utterly humiliated.

Continuously overpowered and on the verge of being driven out of the arena, Liu Feng had no choice but to play his final hand, finally clawing back a chance to counterattack.

To him, the ordeal was a stain on his honor, one that would invite ridicule if left unavenged.

So, despite the risk of genuine energy backlash, he was determined to take down Zhao Yu.

Killing intent had even begun to seep into Liu Feng's thoughts.

The clash of their exchange filled the air with muffled impacts as the Palm Shadows from the Ten Shadow Palms materialized and shattered in rapid succession.

Zhao Yu found himself retreating, his offensive giving way to defense.

Liu Feng, on the other hand, had shed his earlier despondence, now radiating an aura of overwhelming strength, his expression twisted with ferocity.

"Now Senior Brother Liu is on the offensive. Zhao Yu doesn't stand a chance against him," one disciple remarked.

"I was so worried for Senior Brother Liu just a moment ago, but thankfully, it was only a scare," another sighed in relief.

"I knew it would come to this. Liu Feng joined the Inner Sect before Zhao Yu and has years of experience from his travels. How could he not have a few aces up his sleeve?" a third mused.

The crowd around the arena buzzed with renewed energy, their earlier shock giving way to fervent excitement.

Zhou Yun watched the intense battle above and pondered, "The Silk Hand must be Liu Feng's trump card, right? It's incredibly potent. It was meant for us, but now he's been forced to reveal it prematurely."

"Do you think Junior Brother Zhao can withstand it?" Wu Caiyue asked, her eyes glued to the arena as she frowned. "From what I can see, Zhao Yu is losing ground. Things don't look too promising."

Zhou Yun was slightly hesitant. "Even though Liu Feng has unleashed his ultimate technique, I'm not sure if Zhao Yu has a trump card of his own."

At that moment, Zhao Yu was being pushed back to the center of the arena, and he continued to be driven backward.

Despite Zhao Yu's solid defense, which had prevented any injuries so far, Liu Feng's relentless assault was beginning to slow down his defensive maneuvers.

Unless something unexpected occurred, it seemed Zhao Yu's defeat was inevitable.

"Let's see how much longer you can resist!" Liu Feng bellowed, a sense of triumph in his voice.

"I'll manage just fine, but I'm worried you'll be the one to give out first," Zhao Yu retorted, his demeanor as serene as ever. "If that's the extent of your skills, then I'm truly disappointed. Brace yourself for defeat."

A chill ran through Liu Feng's heart. He couldn't fathom how Zhao Yu could remain so composed under such an aggressive onslaught, as if he was under no pressure whatsoever.

Impossible. He's got to be bluffing.

"I'm curious to see how much longer you can keep up this act!" Liu Feng roared, disregarding the turmoil within his body as he wildly channeled his genuine energy, pushing the Silk Hand technique to its limits.

He was cornered. If he couldn't take down Zhao Yu quickly, the backlash from his own genuine energy would inflict severe internal damage.

Zhao Yu let out a cold snort.

All of a sudden, Liu Feng's vision blurred as the Palm Shadows multiplied around him, each strike more ferocious than the last.

The Palm Shadows that he had previously destroyed with ease now seemed indestructible. He struggled to shatter one, only to be faced with an onslaught of new ones.

The Palm Shadows appeared to be endless.

"What is happening?!" Liu Feng was astounded.

Zhao Yu's technique was still the Ten Shadow Palms, unchanged in form, but the power behind it had more than doubled.

"Seven Palm Shadows!"

Disciples at the base of the arena gasped in astonishment, and even the elders watching from the platform couldn't hide their shock.

Ten Shadow Palms weren't considered a secret technique within the sect. Many disciples had trained in this martial skill, including those assigned to menial tasks.

It was common knowledge among the disciples that while Ten Shadow Palms were easy to pick up, they were incredibly challenging to master.

With each additional Palm Shadow conjured, the technique's potency correspondingly increased.

Managing to produce two Palm Shadows was enough to be deemed a novice. This feat wasn't exclusive to inner sect disciples; even some of those responsible for odd jobs had achieved it.

But to generate more than three Palm Shadows required diligent study and rigorous practice.

For sect disciples, summoning five Palm Shadows was the pinnacle, a barrier never before surpassed.

Beyond five Palm Shadows, the technique underwent a transformation, multiplying its strength.

Within the Sky Profound Sect, only a handful of elders could muster the strength to release seven Palm Shadows.

Yet here was Zhao Yu, an inner sect disciple, accomplishing what was typically reserved for the revered elders. It was both unexpected and utterly astonishing.

Bang, bang, bang...

The onslaught was relentless, the sky swarming with Palm Shadows that ensnared Liu Feng like a cage.

Despite the Silk Hand's fluidity and fierceness, it appeared fragile against the relentless morphing of the seven Palm Shadows.

Zhao Yu halted his retreat, invoking the Vajra Body, his power surging beyond Liu Feng's.

"You've been holding back until now?" Liu Feng's expression darkened.

Zhao Yu had cornered him into playing his hand, yet Zhao Yu still had reserves of strength. Liu Feng struggled to come to terms with this reality.

"I'd heard rumors about your special technique prepared for this assessment. Initially, I was quite intrigued—what kind of secret move could instill such confidence in you? But to see that this is all you've got, it's a profound letdown," Zhao Yu shook his head, his sigh conveying genuine disappointment.

He wasn't mocking Liu Feng; his regret was heartfelt.

He had anticipated a fierce challenge from Liu Feng, a Qi Refining Layer Four Peak practitioner. Yet the encounter had proven far less demanding than he'd expected.

"You bastard!" Liu Feng, mistaking Zhao Yu's laughter for mockery, felt a surge of anger that reddened his eyes.

He frantically tried to channel his genuine energy, but chaos reigned in his meridians, and sharp pain emanated from his Dantian. The backlash of genuine energy had begun, and the might of his Silk Hand technique sharply declined under its influence.

Meanwhile, Zhao Yu, with his Vajra Body activated, saw his strength steadily rise. In this dire situation, Liu Feng found himself retreating more rapidly and helplessly than before.

The disciples from the sect who had doubted Zhao Yu now fell silent, their eyes glued to the unfolding drama in the arena.

In less than the time it takes to take ten breaths, Liu Feng was cornered at the edge of the arena.

"Get down!" Zhao Yu commanded icily, his movements quickening. He broke through Liu Feng's defense and landed a heavy palm strike on his chest.

Liu Feng let out a scream as he tumbled down from the arena.

Gazing down at the pitiful sight of Liu Feng, Zhao Yu let out a cold laugh. "You're the trash that thought you could beat me into a dead dog? Utterly laughable."

Now, it was Liu Feng who lay beaten and bloodied, resembling the very thing he had threatened to make of Zhao Yu.

Covered in blood, Liu Feng managed to get back on his feet, his face a mix of shame and rage upon hearing Zhao Yu's taunts. Yet, he was at a loss for words.

In the world of cultivation, power is paramount. Liu Feng had initiated the provocation, and now Zhao Yu's humiliation was simply the consequence of his own actions—a sentiment even the elders watching from the stands shared.

Zhao Yu turned his attention to Liu Guang, who stood below the stage, stunned. "Liu Guang, remember our wager. You now owe me an additional two thousand Tao points. If you dare not pay up, I'll beat you to death."

Liu Guang's complexion turned ashen, his eyes reflecting nothing but despair.

He had believed that once his cousin returned, Zhao Yu would be put in his place. But reality had proven otherwise.

"He brought it upon himself."

Numerous sect disciples shook their heads in disappointment.

Had Liu Guang not gone out of his way to provoke Zhao Yu earlier, he wouldn't be facing such misfortune now.

"For the third match, Zhao Yu is victorious and moves on to the semifinals," the referee elder declared with authority.

With the announcement made, Zhao Yu turned and descended from the arena.