True Showdown

"Such tremendous strength!"

Chu Xiong had always considered his physical strength among the best in the entire Immortal Academy.

Yet facing Shen Yi now, he could not shake him in the slightest. Defeated in the very area he excelled at most, Chu Xiong felt somewhat dejected.

"I concede!"

Before Chu Xiong's words had even faded, the watching crowd immediately erupted into commotion.

"That Shen Yi had been hiding his strength all along. He really is terrifying!"

"What a joke! They were clearly evenly matched, so why did he suddenly give up? Shen Yi must have promised Chu Xiong some benefit!"

For a time, everyone held their own opinion, and chaos broke out below the stage.

Shen Yi still wore a relaxed expression. After being teleported out by the Spirit Stele, he found a spot and closed his eyes to rest.

The six hundred matches soon came to an end, and the young talents favored by the crowd all won with ease.

A quarter of an hour later, the Spirit Stele bloomed with golden light once more. Two columns of names appeared, and the second round began!

"Wow! What kind of luck does Shen Yi have? He actually got a bye!"

Even Shen Yi himself was somewhat surprised.

Still, it did not matter. He continued refining the Essence of Flora energy within his body.

As the final arena produced its result, the second round of matches also came to an end. Everyone hurried to regulate their breathing and prepare for the third round.

Soon, golden light flashed, and the third round of eliminations began!

Watching many people around him get selected by the golden light, Shen Yi was surprised to discover that he had gotten another bye.

This round of battles was equally uneventful and ended quickly, but Shen Yi clearly noticed one person and became greatly interested in him.

"Wang Teng... I remember he was ranked one-thousandth in Class A. Judging from his aura, he has now reached the Qi Condensation Realm. He is probably no weaker than Yuwen Yue."

A night passed. After eating the Immortal Academy's specially prepared spiritual food and medicinal pills, everyone swept away their fatigue and became full of energy, returning to their peak condition.

"What kind of luck does Shen Yi have? He got another bye in the fourth round!"

"He can win just by lying down. I'm green with envy."

Shen Yi spread his hands. Luck was also part of strength. Then he turned his gaze toward Wang Teng's arena.

"As expected, he is still hiding something."

Watching Wang Teng's strange movement technique, Shen Yi realized that even against an opponent at Qi Refining First Layer, Wang Teng had not used his full strength.

He merely relied on his movement technique to leave his opponent exhausted from trying to defend.

A hand blade shot straight for his opponent's vital point. The man was horrified and could only concede. Wang Teng seemed to sense Shen Yi's gaze and looked up at him.

"What terrifying eyes. It was like staring into an abyss—look for one moment too long, and the aura spilling from that abyss would swallow you whole."

Shen Yi came back to his senses and discovered cold sweat streaming down his back. Wang Teng had hidden himself incredibly deeply!

The Spirit Stele shone even more brilliantly. When everyone saw the matchup displayed on the inscription, the entire arena instantly boiled over.

Shen Yi versus Li Yue!

"Li Yue, go! Take down Shen Yi!"

"Our Young Master is invincible beneath heaven! Shen Yi is nothing but a head stuck on a spear, ready to be claimed!"

"Although Li Yue usually acts arrogantly and gets on everyone's nerves, that Class A first-place Shen Yi is even more annoying. I'll support Li Yue for now."

The voices below the stage surged like a boiling sea, but most were supporting Li Yue. Shen Yi was rather speechless. Just what outrage against gods and men had he committed to make so many people target him?

"I said it before—this time, I will wash away my past humiliation!"

Li Yue stood on the arena, flames flickering in his eyes.

The humiliation Shen Yi had given him had long since transformed into towering battle intent.

Every day, he trained for this very day.

"Fine. I'll be right here, waiting for you to fight me!"

Battle intent rose from Shen Yi's body. After a year of tempering, he had long stopped dwelling on the past. He did not hate Li Yue as much as before, either.

He had long expected this battle. Accepting the challenge now was to give his former self an answer.

Li Yue's aura suddenly changed. His long robe fluttered without wind, snapping loudly.

Without giving Shen Yi time to prepare, he shouted and charged forward.

Shen Yi was equally focused. He leaped ahead and clashed with Li Yue.

Thunderous booms rang across the arena. Neither held anything back. Their fists and kicks collided, and the gale force they stirred up slammed into the arena's edges, sending ripples across the golden barrier.

"So strong! Shen Yi is actually this terrifying. Relying solely on physical strength, he can suppress Li Yue."

Bang!

After seventy or eighty exchanges, Li Yue was ultimately one move short. Shen Yi's fist smashed into his chest, knocking him far back.

"Bring out your true skills. Otherwise, you won't be able to defeat me!"

Shen Yi spoke calmly, his words brimming with confidence and making the surrounding spectators suck in cold breaths.

Li Yue wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. With a thought, a long spear appeared in his hand from thin air.

"That is... a Mid-grade Dharma Artifact!"

No one had expected the Li Family to value Li Yue so highly that they would bestow a Mid-grade Dharma Artifact upon him.

Shen Yi had no choice but to face him cautiously now. Even though he had cultivated his Undying Skin to great mastery, there was already a gap between their realms. With Li Yue now wielding a Mid-grade Dharma Artifact, the pressure on him sharply increased.

A point of cold light arrived first as Li Yue launched another offensive.

Shen Yi did not dare lower his guard. He darted left and right, barely evading the attacks, though several wounds still appeared on his arms. The cuts were slight, but blood seeped from them.

"With the support of a Mid-grade Dharma Artifact, Li Yue's strength now is probably no less than that of a Qi Refining Sixth Layer cultivator. Shen Yi's body may be powerful, but he will likely lose sooner or later."

Everyone nodded in agreement. After all, Shen Yi was currently at a disadvantage, and the wounds on his body were gradually increasing.

Raging Dragon Strike!

Seeing Shen Yi forced into a corner, Li Yue no longer held back and unleashed his strongest attack. His spear danced, transforming into a Silver Dragon that roared as it charged at Shen Yi, seeking to destroy him.

The law enforcement officer at the side wanted to intervene and save Shen Yi, but Feng Yang stopped him.

A flicker of red light appeared in Shen Yi's hand. A flame suddenly rose at his fingertips. He had asked the shopkeeper for it when buying beast-catching tools back then, never expecting to use it today.

Explode!

Explode!

Explode!

Without time to think, Shen Yi flung out three sheets of Talisman Paper at once. Three fireballs gathered together, and their violent energy collided with the Silver Dragon formed from Li Yue's spiritual power.

Boom—

The massive energy made the golden barrier shake violently, and for a time, no one could see what was happening inside.

When the shaking stopped, everyone revealed expressions of utter disbelief.

Li Yue had lost!

Shen Yi's fist rested against Li Yue's forehead. Though Shen Yi looked extremely bedraggled, Li Yue's spiritual power was exhausted, leaving him powerless to resist.

"I lost."

Li Yue spoke bitterly, but he did not seem particularly disappointed.

"You are very strong!"

Shen Yi did not mock him. His tone was sincere as he acknowledged Li Yue's strength.

"Next time, I won't lose to you!"

Li Yue was slightly stunned, then spoke with a steadfast gaze.

"Good!"

Shen Yi waved his hand. It was a response to a fearless challenge, and also a farewell to his past self.

"Able to take things up and set them down, with a mind as meticulous as silk—this boy is no ordinary one!"

Chen Chong looked toward Feng Yang. The two exchanged a smile, their faces full of delight.