By dawn, the Shadow Guards still had not found any trace of Fu Jiahao.
Qi Xiaotian's face was grim. The last disciple he had painstakingly nurtured for over three years had now vanished.
Han Fei said, "It can be confirmed that Fu Jiahao has definitely left the Tianyuan Divine Sect."
With his hands behind his back, Qi Xiaotian slowly walked to the entrance of Tongtian Hall. He let out a long sigh, still finding it hard to believe.
In his eyes, Fu Jiahao had been practically perfect over the past three years. At one point, he had even considered marrying his daughter, Qi Xuanxuan, to him.
Now that Fu Jiahao's facade had collapsed and his many disgraceful deeds had been exposed, Daoist Sanyuan showed no mercy either, revealing how Fu Jiahao had gone to Taihe Peak to humiliate Han Fei. Only then did Qi Xiaotian realize that he had raised an ungrateful wretch.
"Men, issue a Tianyuan Wanted Order. Fu Jiahao is wanted throughout the Tianyuan region. List him as an S-rank mission. Anyone who captures Fu Jiahao alive will be rewarded with ten thousand Spirit Stones."
The Shadow Guard accepted the order and departed.
Han Fei muttered, "Ten thousand Spirit Stones are enough to buy a somewhat weaker top-grade treasure artifact."
Qi Xiaotian rubbed his forehead. "You two should rest first. The Thirty-Three Peaks Martial Arts Tournament will continue shortly. As for Fu Jiahao, we'll announce it after the tournament ends."
Han Fei and Daoist Sanyuan bowed and left.
The morning passed, and Tongtian Plaza was once again packed with people. Everyone was waiting for Qi Xiaotian to arrive.
Qi Xuanxuan had just awakened. Qi Xiaotian examined her injuries and was relieved to find that she was unharmed. Then she followed him to Tongtian Plaza.
When Qi Xuanxuan reached the viewing platform and saw Han Fei in the direction of Taihe Peak, she did not know how she felt.
Qi Xiaotian did not speak throughout. The Elder Judge in charge of officiating announced loudly, "Tongtian Peak's Fu Jiahao has withdrawn from the competition for personal reasons. Whoever drew Fu Jiahao as an opponent in the fourth stage advances directly."
The announcement immediately sparked discussion, but the Elder Judge gave everyone no time to talk it over and directly declared the start of the fourth stage of the Thirty-Three Peaks Martial Arts Tournament.
Han Fei and the others began the fourth round of drawing lots in order.
The Elder Judge called out, "Who drew bamboo slip number eleven?"
Han Fei lowered his head and looked. He had number eleven.
The Elder Judge said, "Han Fei receives a bye this round."
The moment those words fell, discussion erupted around Han Fei.
"What luck. Fu Jiahao withdrew, and Han Fei actually drew him. That means Han Fei advances directly."
"Taihe Peak is really turning things around this year. They actually produced a monstrous genius like Han Fei."
"Not necessarily. Since Han Fei could defeat Saintess Qi Xuanxuan, he might not have lost to Fu Jiahao. I'd say that with Fu Jiahao withdrawing, we've missed the chance to watch a battle between two titans."
Yet Han Fei, at the center of attention, stared silently at the bamboo slip in his hand for a long time.
"We could have settled this quickly in this match, but unfortunately, you left the Tianyuan Divine Sect. I have to admire you. You truly have a broad mind, to let go of everything in the Tianyuan Divine Sect so easily."
As he spoke, Han Fei clenched his right hand and crushed the number eleven bamboo slip into powder.
One duel after another continued. By the fourth stage, there were basically no weak competitors left, and every match was exceptionally thrilling.
Sword techniques, spear techniques, saber arts, staff techniques, as well as all manner of strange moves—ice, blazing flames, long-range control, Formation Arrays—countless peculiar techniques emerged one after another.
But all of it seemed dull in Han Fei's eyes. Aside from Fu Jiahao, no one else interested him in the slightest. Even those in the Spirit Gathering Realm were no exception.
After ten duels had ended, Han Fei became one of those who entered the fifth round.
"First match: Han Fei versus Meng Qing."
Han Fei composed himself and leaped onto the plaza. At the same time, a woman in a yellow gown landed opposite him.
"Digui Peak's Meng Qing. Junior Brother Han, please enlighten me."
Han Fei said, "Senior Sister Meng Qing is too courteous. I should be the one asking Senior Sister Meng to go easy on me."
Meng Qing said, "Junior Brother Han, you are too modest. Although your cultivation is only at the Eighth Level of the Innate Realm, everyone here knows that even the Saintess of the Spirit Gathering Realm lost to you. I am only at the Tenth Level of the Innate Realm, so it is almost impossible for me to defeat you. Not to mention that you have the Dragon Slaying Sword Art."
Han Fei raised his left hand, signaling for Meng Qing to make the first move.
Meng Qing did not hesitate. She tilted her head toward the sky and spread her hands, her body slowly rising into the air.
Han Fei frowned. Although he had watched Meng Qing fight before, he had never understood what kind of technique this was. Now that he was facing her himself, he found her even harder to read.
The disciples of Digui Peak said excitedly, "It's Senior Sister Meng Qing's Falling Flame Art."
As Meng Qing activated the Falling Flame Art, the maple trees atop Tongtian Peak swayed in the wind. Then, as if drawn by her, countless maple leaves flew toward the center of Tongtian Plaza.
Han Fei stepped back. Watching the innumerable maple leaves fly toward him, he did not know what would happen next, so he chose to widen the distance for now.
Meng Qing gave a sharp cry and violently flung both hands toward Han Fei.
Countless maple leaves spun at high speed, like countless blades.
Han Fei held two fingers together on his right hand, and Sword Qi instantly filled them. His sword had already broken, and he had no sword to use for the time being, so he could only substitute Sword Qi.
His body spun into the air, using Sword Qi to draw in the incoming maple leaves and make them rotate with him.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Maple leaves struck the ground one after another, producing a chain of explosions. Every leaf possessed tremendous destructive power.
Han Fei continuously guided them with spiritual power, but there were simply too many maple leaves. To the outside world, vast swathes of maple leaves looked like more than a dozen dragons flying in from all around Tongtian Plaza and wrapping around Han Fei.
Han Fei knew that spiritual power was his weakness, so he had no intention of being drawn into a prolonged battle.
Meng Qing had seized upon precisely this point. She also feared Han Fei's Dragon Slaying Sword Art, so she used such a wide-range attack to restrict it.
But Meng Qing was soon stunned. Han Fei suddenly appeared outside the encirclement of maple leaves, then vanished again. At the same time, she felt a powerful gust rushing toward her.
Before she could think further, the experienced Meng Qing immediately pressed her hands together. The nearest maple leaves instantly wrapped around her, and the leaves surrounding her burst into flames.
Clang! Han Fei's figure gradually solidified amid the tremors, and the sword fingers stabbing toward Meng Qing rang with the sound of metal.
The burning maple leaves were like an impregnable wall of bronze and iron, blocking Han Fei's Sword Qi outside.
Meng Qing brought her hands together, and all the maple leaves around her gathered before her.
Bang! Han Fei was blasted backward and landed several meters away.
In that instant, Han Fei had used true Teleportation, transferring himself outside the encirclement of maple leaves. Then, relying on his speed advantage, he had appeared directly in front of Meng Qing.
However, Meng Qing had reacted quickly as well, using her strongest defensive technique to block Han Fei's Sword Qi attack.
Meng Qing asked, "Why didn't you use the Dragon Slaying Sword Art? Are you looking down on me?"
Han Fei shook his head without offering much explanation.
Her hands moved repeatedly, and the surrounding maple leaves came under her control once more, rushing toward Han Fei.
Han Fei clenched both fists and activated the Indestructible Golden Body. The Indestructible Golden Body at the Eighth Level of the Innate Realm caused waves of golden radiance to emanate from his skin.
Meng Qing was stunned. She had never imagined that Han Fei would simply ignore her attack. With so many maple leaves slicing into his body, even the strongest physical body should not be able to withstand them, right? At that moment, Meng Qing wondered whether she should stop attacking.
But Han Fei's expression told Meng Qing that her attack was useless against him.
Frowning tightly, Meng Qing thought, Since you're so confident, let's see how you block this.
Han Fei's refusal to use the Dragon Slaying Sword Art had already displeased Meng Qing. It was clearly a sign that he looked down on her, and now he was even ignoring her attacks.
But in the next moment, Meng Qing was dumbfounded. When all the maple leaves struck Han Fei's body, they only produced a series of metallic clangs. Not a single trace of blood appeared.
After a burst of crackling sounds, the maple leaves gradually vanished, revealing Han Fei's figure.
Han Fei was now bare-chested. His robe had long been shredded by the maple leaves, but aside from having no shirt left to wear, there was not a single wound on his body.
Meng Qing said softly, "Th-This... how is that possible?"
While Meng Qing was still in shock, Han Fei had already arrived in front of her. Those smooth muscles of his clearly contained explosive power.
"Senior Sister Meng Qing, are we still fighting?"
Han Fei could already sense that Meng Qing was nearly out of spiritual power and had no strength left to continue tangling with him. She was a long-range Martial Artist; without spiritual power, she would have no combat ability at all.
Meng Qing let out a breath, then suddenly revealed a faint smile. "Junior Brother Han, you win."
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