The True Duel

"Such formidable power!"

Chu Xiong asked himself—his physical body was among the best in the entire Immortal Academy. Yet now, facing Shen Yi, he could not budge him even a fraction. Defeated in the very area he excelled at, Chu Xiong felt a pang of dejection.

"I concede!"

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

"That Shen Yi hides his strength well—truly terrifying!"

"No way, it was clearly a stalemate. Why would he just give up? Shen Yi must have promised him some benefit!"

For a moment, everyone had their own opinion, and the arena below fell into chaos.

Shen Yi still wore an easy expression. Teleported out by the Spirit Stele, he found a spot on his own and closed his eyes to rest and recuperate.

Six hundred matches ended quickly. Several young talents favored by the crowd all won with ease.

A quarter of an hour later, the Spirit Stele once again blazed with golden light. Two columns of names appeared—the second round of matches had begun!

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

Even Shen Yi was a little surprised, but it didn't matter. He continued refining the energy of the Essence of Flora within him.

As the final match on the arena concluded, the second round was entirely over. Everyone seized the time to regulate their breathing, preparing for the third round.

Soon, golden light flashed, and the third elimination round began!

Watching many around him being chosen by the golden light, Shen Yi was astonished to find that he had drawn another bye.

This round passed without incident, ending quickly. But Shen Yi clearly noticed one person who piqued his interest.

"Wang Teng. I remember he was Class A, rank one thousand. Judging by his aura, he's already at the Qi Condensation Realm—probably not inferior to Yuwen Yue."

A night passed. After eating the special spirit food and elixirs provided by the Immortal Academy, everyone shed their fatigue, spirits renewed, and returned to peak condition.

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

"Winning 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 to the arena where Wang Teng was fighting.

"As I thought, there's more hidden."

Watching Wang Teng's uncanny footwork, Shen Yi realized that even facing an opponent at the first layer of Qi Condensation, Wang Teng hadn't used his full strength. He relied solely on his movement technique to exhaust his foe.

A hand blade struck straight at the opponent's vital point. The man's heart trembled in fear, and he had no choice but to concede. Wang Teng seemed to sense Shen Yi's gaze and looked up.

"Such a terrifying gaze—like peering into an abyss. One more moment, and the aura emanating from that abyss would swallow you whole."

Shen Yi snapped back to reality and found cold sweat trickling down his back. This Wang Teng had hidden himself so deeply!

The light on the Spirit Stele blazed even brighter. As the match results displayed on the stele, the entire venue erupted.

Shen Yi versus Li Yue!

"Go Li Yue! Take down Shen Yi!"

"Our Young Master is unmatched under heaven. A mere Shen Yi is nothing but a roadside peddler offering his head!"

"Sure, Li Yue usually acts arrogant and rubs people the wrong way, but seeing that Class A top ranker Shen Yi is even more grating. This time, I'll reluctantly support Li Yue."

The crowd below was a roaring tide, but most voices backed Li Yue. Shen Yi found it speechless—what had he done so heinous that so many people were gunning for him?

"I told you, this time I'll wash away my shame!"

Li Yue stood on the arena, flames blazing in his eyes. The humiliation Shen Yi had inflicted on him had long turned into surging battle intent. He trained every single day for this moment.

"Fine. I'm right here, waiting for you to fight!"

A fighting spirit surged from Shen Yi. After a year of tempering, he no longer dwelled on the past. As for Li Yue, he didn't despise him as much anymore.

He had long anticipated this battle. Accepting the challenge now was to give closure to his former self.

Li Yue's aura shifted. His long robe billowed without wind, snapping loudly. Without giving Shen Yi time to prepare, he let out a fierce shout and charged forward.

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

Thunderous booms echoed from the arena. Neither held back. Fists and feet collided, and the gale-force winds slammed against the arena's edge, sending ripples across the golden light barrier.

"So strong! That Shen Yi is terrifying—just by relying on his physical strength, he can suppress Li Yue."

Bang!

The two exchanged seventy or eighty moves. In the end, Li Yue was a step slower. Shen Yi's fist struck him square in the chest, sending him flying back.

"Show me your real skill, or you won't even touch me."

Shen Yi said calmly, his words brimming with confidence, making the onlookers draw in a sharp breath.

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

"That's... a Mid-grade Dharma Artifact!"

It seemed the Li Family valued Li Yue greatly, granting him a Mid-grade Dharma Artifact.

Shen Yi now had no choice but to tread carefully. Even though his Undying Skin had reached great mastery, the gap in their cultivation levels remained, and with Li Yue now wielding a Mid-grade Dharma Artifact, the pressure on him mounted sharply.

A glint of cold light arrived first—Li Yue launched another attack.

Shen Yi dared not be careless. He dodged left and right, barely evading the strikes, yet several wounds still appeared on his arms. Though the cuts were shallow, blood seeped out.

"With that Mid-grade Dharma Artifact backing him, Li Yue's strength now probably rivals a Qi Refining Sixth Layer cultivator. Shen Yi might have a tough body, but he'll likely lose before long."

The crowd nodded in agreement, for Shen Yi was clearly at a disadvantage, and the number of wounds on him was steadily growing.

"Raging Dragon Strike!"

Seeing Shen Yi cornered, Li Yue held nothing back and unleashed his strongest blow. The spear whirled through the air, transforming into a Silver Dragon that roared as it charged at Shen Yi, intent on destroying him.

The enforcement officers nearby wanted to intervene and save Shen Yi, but Feng Yang stopped them.

Just then, a faint red light flickered in Shen Yi's hand, and a ball of flame suddenly appeared at his fingertip. This was something he had begged from the shopkeeper when buying trapping tools—he never thought he'd use it today.

"Explode!"

"Explode!"

"Explode!"

Without time to think, Shen Yi flung out three talisman papers in one breath. Three fireballs converged into one, and their violent energy collided with the silver dragon formed from Li Yue's spiritual power.

"Boom—"

The immense energy sent the golden light barrier shuddering violently, and for a moment, no one could see what was happening inside.

When the shaking stopped, everyone wore expressions of disbelief.

Li Yue had lost.

Shen Yi's fist pressed against Li Yue's forehead. Though he looked utterly battered, Li Yue's spiritual power was now exhausted, leaving him powerless to resist.

"I lost."

Li Yue said bitterly, yet there was little disappointment in his voice.

"You're 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 paused briefly, then spoke with a resolute gaze.

"Good!"

Shen Yi waved his hand—a response that welcomed the challenge, and also a farewell to his past self.

"He can take it up and put it down, with a meticulous mind—this kid is no ordinary one!"

Chen Chong looked at Feng Yang, and the two exchanged smiles, their faces brimming with joy.