C4 Broken Arm

"If you're aiming to be a hero, you need to be aware of your own limitations," Feng Gan said, his eyes brimming with contempt.

He was confident that Hua Hsing couldn't slip through his grasp. While the Azure Edge Sword Sect prohibited its disciples from slaying one another, crippling Hua Hsing's cultivation was still within his power.

Half a month prior, Feng Gan had cunningly lured Hua Hsing to the Platform of Life and Death with the intent to kill him.

Though he couldn't outright kill Hua Hsing in the Outer Sect Square, maiming him during a match was considered fair game.

"You're hardly one to talk," Hua Hsing retorted, detecting a sliver of murderous intent in Feng Gan's gaze. Feng Gan was out for blood, and Hua Hsing felt no need to ingratiate himself with such a man.

"Hua Hsing, if I don't leave you crippled today, I'll have no face left to show at the Azure Edge Sword Sect."

Feng Gan's sneer was chilling. He clenched his fists, channeling all his strength into his punch before hurling it towards Hua Hsing with ferocity.

The force behind the punch was immense, equivalent to the combined might of two bulls at their limit, nearly reaching the power of three.

The square echoed with two thunderous roars. Following those roars, an overwhelming force burst forth.

Feng Gan's Body Refining Fist technique had reached its sixth level, and he stood at the pinnacle of the Qi Refining Stage Level Two.

Hua Hsing lifted his dark eyes, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth as he observed Feng Gan's onslaught. With equal resolve, he clenched his fists and swung them with force.

Both combatants unleashed roars, yet the bellowing from Hua Hsing's frame paled in comparison to Feng Gan's.

"So, this is the extent of your prowess? Merely the strength of two bulls?" Feng Gan scoffed, instantly recognizing that Hua Hsing's Body Refining Fist lacked his own power.

Their fists collided with a resounding crash. The crowd anticipated Hua Hsing's defeat, but what unfolded next was unexpected.

Both men were driven back three steps. This turn of events even took Feng Gan by surprise.

"You actually withstood my attack?" he questioned, scrutinizing Hua Hsing with a newfound wariness, eager to understand how Hua Hsing had managed to resist his formidable blow.

The square erupted into murmurs as many disciples quietly discussed among themselves.

At that moment, Hua Hsing felt a twinge of pain in his fingers. His face remained expressionless, but inwardly he marveled at the formidable power of the Qi Refining Stage Level Two peak.

He had managed to counter Feng Gan's sixth layer Body Refining Fist with only the fifth layer due to a critical surge of energy from his golden heart, which greatly amplified his strength.

"Feng Gan is formidable indeed. Yet, if I were to fully unleash the One-qi Sword, I would have no reason to fear," Hua Hsing mused.

Feng Gan was seething with anger.

"You're lucky to have withstood my punch. But now, prepare for my most powerful strike."

No sooner had Feng Gan spoken than a long sword materialized in his grasp. Clutching it firmly, the blade emitted a chorus of resonant tones.

"Heavenly Azure Sword Technique."

With a furious bellow, Feng Gan brandished the sword, and the sky above was slashed with streaks of daunting sword light.

"Unbelievable, Hua Hsing has actually pushed Feng Gan to deploy the Heavenly Azure Sword Technique. How did he manage that?"

"Has Hua Hsing had a breakthrough? Has his power increased?"

"To think he could block the Heavenly Azure Sword Technique—it's inconceivable."

Despite their astonishment at Hua Hsing's prowess, the crowd's allegiance lay with Feng Gan as he executed the Azure Sword Technique, a technique far superior to the One-qi Sword.

Within the Azure Edge Sword Sect, only those who had ascended to the Qi Refining Stage Level Two were entitled to select such an advanced cultivation technique. Being at the first level, Hua Hsing had been limited to practicing the One-qi Sword.

The sky was awash with sword light.

Witnessing the spectacle, Hua Hsing's pupils contracted. Without hesitation, he gripped his long sword and executed the One-qi Sword.

The One-qi Sword's first level.

In an instant, Hua Hsing performed the initial level of the One-qi Sword to perfection. Though a basic technique, he had honed it to the pinnacle of the Perfection Stage.

The sword light from Hua Hsing's One-qi Sword clashed mightily with Feng Gan's, holding its ground for a brief moment before shattering to pieces.

"It's over."

With a furious roar, Feng Gan pushed the Azure Sky Sword Technique to its peak, intent on severing one of Hua Hsing's arms.

The crowd in the square braced for what seemed like the inevitable conclusion of the fight.

Yet, Hua Hsing hadn't thrown in the towel. This was merely the start.

The second level of the One-qi Sword.

Over the past half-month, Hua Hsing had been honing the One-qi Sword alongside his cultivation. He had mastered the second level days ago.

In that instant, Hua Hsing unleashed the second level of the One-qi Sword. His golden heart throbbed fiercely.

A surge of pure energy flowed into the sword light, causing its aura to swell dramatically.

"He's done well to master the second level of the One-qi Sword, but sadly, he's no match for Senior Brother Feng."

"Indeed. There's no way he can beat Senior Brother Feng."

High above, two sword lights faced off in the sky. Hua Hsing's aura surged in tandem.

Only then did Feng Gan realize that Hua Hsing had ascended to the Qi Refining Stage Level Two.

"Hmph, what does it matter if you've reached Qi Refining Stage Level Two? I will still defeat you."

Feng Gan sneered, directing the sword light from above to pierce at Hua Hsing.

As the sword lights collided, sparks flew, and the One-qi Sword struggled against Feng Gan's onslaught.

But as the One-qi Sword's light wavered, the stream of energy within it emerged.

The moment the current manifested, Feng Gan's sword light was obliterated.

His sword light in ruins, Feng Gan was in disbelief.

Hua Hsing wasted no time. He stepped forward, his Qi Refining Stage Level Two power bursting forth. Aided by the Golden Heart, he swung his long sword relentlessly, each stroke casting forth brilliant sword lights.

"I will not be defeated."

Hua Hsing's assault materialized before Feng Gan in the blink of an eye, drawing from him an enraged and thunderous roar.

"Sky Blue Sword Technique!"

With a thunderous roar, Feng Gan unleashed the Azure Sword Technique once more. Alas, he was no match for Hua Hsing's onslaught.

Sword lights danced from Feng Gan's blade, a myriad of them, until the final one sent him hurtling through the air. His long sword clattered to the ground.

In that moment, Hua Hsing stood like a war deity upon the square, surveying all before him.

A hush fell over the crowd. Eyes wide, mouths agape, they witnessed the unbelievable.

Hua Hsing had toppled the peak of the Qi Refining Stage Level Two, Feng Gan. The shock was palpable.

"Can it be? Hua Hsing defeated Feng Gan?" That was the question on everyone's mind.

Prostrate, coughing up blood, Feng Gan's pallid gaze fixed on Hua Hsing. He couldn't fathom his defeat by the mere One-qi Sword.

With deliberate steps, Hua Hsing approached, his sword poised.

"What do you intend to do, Hua Hsing?"

Feng Gan's voice was a furious growl.

"Weren't you the one who vowed to cripple me?" Hua Hsing retorted.

"Let's call an end to today's duel, Hua Hsing. I won't trouble you again," Feng Gan proposed, desperation edging his voice.

Hua Hsing gave a slight shake of his head. Feng Gan was still in denial of his predicament.

The sword gleamed, and Feng Gan's scream echoed, a spray of blood marking the aftermath.

Onlookers turned to see a fresh wound marring Feng Gan's body.

"Ah, Hua Hsing, how dare you harm me!" Feng Gan's cry was filled with agony.

"Please, Hua Hsing, spare Senior Brother Feng. Let's put this behind us."

"Senior Brother Feng has been bested," chimed in a few of Feng Gan's allies.

Hua Hsing's expression was frosty as he responded, "Would he have spared me had I lost?"

Silenced by his challenge, they hung their heads in shame.

They knew well that if Hua Hsing had been defeated, he would have been left crippled.

"Rest assured, we're in the square; I won't kill you. But I will sever one of your arms first," Hua Hsing declared once more.

"Hua Hsing, you can't lay a hand on me—Senior Brother Re will never let you off the hook." Feng Gan, gravely wounded, was powerless to fend off Hua Hsing's onslaught. As Hua Hsing poised to sever his arm, Feng Gan cried out in terror.

"Hmph, no one can save you now," Hua Hsing declared, his voice icy as he lifted his sword.

"You'd better stop right there."

As Hua Hsing readied his blade, a displeased voice echoed from a distance, followed by the approach of two figures.

Feng Gan's spirits lifted. "Senior Brother Re, save me!" he bellowed.

"I'll take his arm."

Without looking back, Hua Hsing swung his sword, striking Feng Gan's shoulder. In an instant, Feng Gan's arm was severed.

Senior Brother Re hadn't anticipated that Hua Hsing would have the audacity to maim Feng Gan right before his eyes. He had intended to intervene, but it was too late.

Ah!

With his arm now severed, Feng Gan screamed in agony and collapsed to the ground.

A chill swept over the square as everyone stared at Hua Hsing in stunned silence.

"He actually cut off Feng Gan's arm right in front of Senior Brother Re."

"Indeed, Senior Brother Re is a formidable practitioner, having reached the pinnacle of the Qi Refining Stage Level Three. Hua Hsing is no match for him."

"He's done for. He had just shed his reputation as a nobody, and now he's about to be destroyed by Senior Brother Re."

The crowd's faces turned uneasy at the sight of Re Yunzheng's arrival.

Amidst Re Yunzheng's fury, a jarring voice pierced the air.

"Senior Brother Re, why don't we just kill him?"