Two Weaklings

Under normal circumstances, breaking through from the Body Refining Realm to the Innate Realm required an absolutely quiet environment.

But that was only because those whose body tempering had not reached its peak feared that a failed breakthrough would render all their previous efforts useless.

Han Fei had no such concerns. Thanks to the body-tempering technique Pangu had bestowed upon him, his physical body had already reached a perfect state at the initial stage. All Han Fei needed now was spiritual energy.

Boom! Han Fei threw back his head and roared. Rings of spiritual light rapidly swirled around his body. He was like a machine charging at high speed, crazily absorbing the spiritual energy around him.

Shao Bing and Wei Zixuan did not know what to do either. If Han Fei had been a true enemy, neither of them would have allowed him to continue breaking through. But this was merely a sparring match, and neither dared attack while Han Fei was in the midst of a breakthrough.

Wang Rui said in a low voice, "What are you two doing? Watching him break through?"

Shao Bing hesitated. He glanced at Daoist Sanyuan and, seeing that Daoist Sanyuan had no intention of stopping him, raised his longsword, circulated his spiritual energy, and charged straight at Han Fei.

It was not that Daoist Sanyuan did not want to stop him. Han Fei had dared to take on two opponents at once, so he must have had something to rely on. In Daoist Sanyuan's impression, Han Fei was not someone who acted without restraint. That was why he did not speak up to stop them. He also wanted to see where Han Fei's confidence came from.

Holding his longsword, Shao Bing delivered a diagonal slash toward the area above Han Fei's left ear.

Whoosh! Although the longsword was only forged from ordinary refined iron, imbued with spiritual energy, it could easily cut through the flesh of someone around the Innate Realm. Not to mention Han Fei, who had not yet reached the Innate Realm.

But at that moment, bloody patterns lit up on Han Fei's neck, seeming to be part of a tattoo.

The light vanished in a flash, and the spiritual energy gradually settled. Han Fei opened his eyes as well.

Daoist Sanyuan said in surprise, "So quickly? He broke through already?"

Shao Bing's blade flashed like lightning, chopping directly toward the area above Han Fei's left ear.

In that instant, everyone covered their eyes, seemingly unwilling to witness such a bloody scene. Even Daoist Sanyuan was startled. He had never expected Han Fei not to dodge at all.

Since Shao Bing had never taken Han Fei seriously, his moves were broad and forceful, without any technique whatsoever. Even someone in the Body Refining Realm could have easily dodged them.

That was why everyone thought Han Fei had deliberately chosen not to evade. Shao Bing himself froze for a moment. His slash had originally been meant to distract Han Fei and create an opening for Wei Zixuan, but he had not expected it to land.

Wang Rui, Lu Zhong, and the others revealed faint smiles as well. Being struck directly on the head by a weapon would be no small matter even for Wang Rui, an Eighth Level of the Innate Realm cultivator.

Yet the expected spray of blood did not appear. Han Fei merely tilted his head, and the force of Shao Bing's slash was deflected.

Only because the longsword carried considerable force was Han Fei's head knocked slightly to one side. Otherwise, he would not have moved at all.

Han Fei slowly straightened his head, while Shao Bing's longsword was still pressed against it.

Cold sweat slowly trickled down Shao Bing's forehead. The Han Fei before him looked like a demon in his eyes. He had actually withstood an iron weapon with his flesh and blood.

Shao Bing was terrified. Instinctively, he raised his longsword and slashed down again, but this strike missed.

The instant the blade descended, Han Fei ducked his head and threw a right punch at the same time, striking Shao Bing in the abdomen.

Shao Bing only felt his abdomen suddenly go numb. It was pain taken to the extreme, to the point that even his breathing stopped for a moment.

Bang! Shao Bing flew backward nearly ten meters and crashed onto the floor. A mouthful of blood burst into a crimson mist. Clutching his stomach with both hands, he immediately curled into a ball.

With just one punch, Shao Bing felt as though breathing had become difficult. He could not make a sound, and it felt as if all the air inside him had been knocked out.

Han Fei pointed at the fallen Shao Bing, loosened his right fist, and pointed his middle finger downward as he said disdainfully, "Weak..."

Just as Han Fei spoke, a flash of sword light stabbed in from his right, aimed directly at his right temple.

Whoosh! Just before the sword tip touched Han Fei, his body leaned back slightly.

The disciples watching from around the arena could only see that Han Fei was incredibly fast. Even Daoist Sanyuan saw it that way.

But Wei Zixuan, Han Fei's opponent, saw something entirely different. Han Fei suddenly seemed to split apart, turning into countless afterimages, while her own movements became unbelievably slow. She could only watch helplessly as Han Fei evaded her sword tip.

Wei Zixuan was stunned. At that moment, she felt as if the entire world had slowed down, including herself. She might never forget that instant, nor would she ever forget Han Fei's smile at that moment.

What Han Fei had used was Void Walking, a technique that allowed one to move so quickly that Martial Artists of the same level could not follow with their eyes.

In truth, Wei Zixuan's speed was perfectly normal. It was merely that Han Fei's speed had increased in that instant, and only those fighting him could see their own movements. Even Daoist Sanyuan could not discern the mystery behind it.

Of course, given Daoist Sanyuan's cultivation, he could still clearly see Han Fei's movements. Their cultivation levels were too far apart; no matter how fast Han Fei was, he could not exceed Daoist Sanyuan's vision.

As Han Fei dodged Wei Zixuan's blade, he grabbed the wrist holding her sword with his right hand. His arm exerted a slight force.

Wei Zixuan immediately felt an irresistible force forcibly bending the arm that held her sword.

Her own sword was turned back and placed against her own neck, forcing her into the posture of someone about to kill herself.

Daoist Sanyuan fell silent. Wang Rui went quiet. The disciples throughout the arena were all dumbfounded.

If defeating Shao Bing in one move had relied on brute strength, then defeating Wei Zixuan in one move was purely a matter of skill.

Han Fei smiled faintly at Wei Zixuan. "You're a woman, so I won't be rough with you."

With a flick of his hand, he sent Wei Zixuan several meters away.

Compared to Shao Bing, who was lying on the ground, Wei Zixuan had gotten off far better.

That night, Han Fei stood by the window of the Side Hall, staring blankly at the moonlight outside.

Han Fei did not feel that his forceful display that day had gone too far. He had remained silent for too long. If he did not slap Wang Rui and the others hard across the face, they would surely keep causing him trouble one after another.

The best way to gain peace and quiet was to be strong—to beat them until they no longer dared extend their claws. Only then would they truly behave themselves.

"Senior Brother Han, the water is ready. You can bathe now..."

Dong Jie's voice came from behind him. She had watched Han Fei's astonishing outburst throughout the events in the main hall that day. The impact on Dong Jie had been the strongest.

She had accompanied Han Fei for six years. Other than cultivating, almost everything she did revolved around him. She also understood Han Fei better than anyone else, which was why today's change had truly frightened her.

Han Fei turned his head and smiled. "No need. Go rest. I need to think about some things."

Dong Jie nodded slightly. Even she could not figure out what she regarded herself as—his servant? His friend? Or his junior sister? She merely wanted to do things for Han Fei, anything at all.

Naturally, Han Fei claimed one of the five slots after that battle. Instantly defeating two Innate Realm Third Level experts was something that even an Innate Realm Fifth Level cultivator might not be able to accomplish.

After that battle, almost no one dared challenge Han Fei again. Wang Rui also became much more restrained.

The five who obtained the slots were Han Fei, Second Senior Sister Qi Mengyu, Third Senior Brother Heran, Fourth Senior Brother Du Kun, and Sixth Senior Brother Lu Zhong.

As for Fifth Senior Sister Liao Yue, her cultivation was the same as Lu Zhong's, both at the Sixth Level of the Innate Realm, yet she was completely defeated by Lu Zhong.

Of course, Han Fei did not care in the slightest who obtained the other four slots. At Taihe Peak, perhaps Dong Jie was his only true friend.

Dong Jie stood quietly behind Han Fei. Looking at his back, she hesitantly asked, "Senior Brother Han, are you thinking about him?"

Han Fei froze. "Who?"

"That person who, like me, only entered the Tianyuan Divine Sect because of Senior Brother Han, yet now betrayed you and became a disciple of the Divine Sect's leader."

Han Fei gave a calm "Oh," then shook his head.

"You mean Jiahao? It's nothing. People strive to climb higher. I'm happy for him too."

Though he spoke calmly, there was still a trace of bitterness on Han Fei's face.

Fu Jiahao had been Han Fei's childhood companion. After Han Fei became the Head Disciple, he could bring two people into the Tianyuan Divine Sect. Otherwise, anyone wishing to enter the Tianyuan Divine Sect had to pass a physical fitness examination. Fu Jiahao had failed that examination, which was why he had begged Han Fei to bring him into the Tianyuan Divine Sect.

Unexpectedly, Fu Jiahao, who had once followed Han Fei's every lead, was discovered by chance to possess a Supreme Spiritual Root as well. His talent was exceptional, and he broke through to the Innate Realm at the age of thirteen, shocking the entire sect.

Now, the sect leader Qi Xiaotian had accepted him as a closed-door disciple, giving him a status nearly equal to that of a core disciple. As a result, he no longer regarded Han Fei highly.

After learning that Han Fei's meridians were narrow and his cultivation progressed slowly, Fu Jiahao directly severed ties with him. On several occasions, he had even come to Taihe Peak specifically to humiliate Han Fei.

Dong Jie sighed and hugged Han Fei from behind. "Do you hate him?"

Han Fei shook his head. "Sorry, there's no need. Nor do I have the time to hate someone unrelated to me..."