Far Too Weak

Xiao Yan stood behind Xiao Zhan, his eyes fixed on the two people in the center—one middle-aged man and one youth!

They were Jia Lie Bi and Gu Fang!

Xiao Yan watched them, but his thumb idly rubbed the black ring on his finger. His lips twitched from time to time, as though he were communicating with someone.

The one speaking with him was Old Yao.

"How could that be? That's a Da—"

Xiao Yan suddenly spoke aloud, but halfway through, he realized something and hurriedly shut his mouth. After glancing around and seeing that no one had noticed his odd behavior, he breathed a small sigh of relief.

Then, he resumed speaking through his soul.

"How could that be? How could a Dou Shi possibly be guaranteed victory against a Da Dou Shi?"

"There is plenty you haven't seen. That youth comes from the same clan as your little girlfriend. Having grown up in that clan, how could he not have some tricks up his sleeve?

This continent is vast.

A Da Dou Shi may be considered strong here, but beyond this place, they have only just begun!"

"Boy, I really don't know whether you're arrogant or ignorant. The gap between a Dou Shi and a Da Dou Shi isn't something talent can make up for!"

Jia Lie Bi sneered at Gu Fang with a savage grin.

"Enough nonsense. Make your move!"

Gu Fang looked at Jia Lie Bi and said softly, "A summer insect cannot speak of ice. The chasm you see as insurmountable is merely what you believe it to be. The gap between a Dou Shi and a Da Dou Shi—

can be shattered with a wave of the hand!"

"Utterly arrogant!"

Jia Lie Bi roared. Wind-attributed battle qi spread across his body, and in the next instant, he shot forward. His right hand clenched into a fist as azure battle qi gathered at its tip, eventually forming an azure cone half a meter long.

"Mid-level Mysterious Rank, Azure Wind Cone Stab!"

Gu Fang sensed the terrifying, violent power within Jia Lie Bi's attack, yet there was not the slightest trace of fear on his face—not even much solemnity.

He took a light step forward. Origin Flame surged over his body as his hands moved in circles, finally forming one profoundly mysterious hand seal after another.

"Is he going to meet it head-on? The difference in strength between a Dou Shi and a Da Dou Shi..."

Watching Gu Fang's movements, Xiao Yu suddenly recalled the scene of Gu Fang's earlier clash with Jia Lie Bi and could not help muttering worriedly.

But the strange phenomenon rolling across the sky choked those words back down her throat.

"A phenomenon of heaven and earth... an Earth Rank battle technique?"

Amid waves of startled cries, the attribute-less battle qi in the sky churned before turning crimson, spreading across the heavens. Strands of profound power connected with Gu Fang, pouring into every limb and bone of his body before finally gathering in his palm!

All of this was completed in an instant. Then Gu Fang's cold, utterly emotionless voice rang out.

"Mid-level Earth Rank, Blazing Sky Flame Palm!"

As the final word fell, the flaming palm formed by Gu Fang collided violently with Jia Lie Bi's azure cone. At the moment of impact, a thunderous boom erupted.

"Boom!"

Azure wind-attributed battle qi and Gu Fang's Origin Flame collided and scattered, energy ripples spraying outward in every direction.

"Sometimes, so what if you're a Da Dou Shi? If a Dou Shi's strength crushes yours, what's wrong with that?"

Gu Fang spoke softly with a smile on his face. As the final word left his mouth, the qi vortex in his lower abdomen spun at high speed, flinging out large droplets of energy, which flowed through his meridians and into the Blazing Sky Flame Palm.

In an instant, Gu Fang's attack suppressed Jia Lie Bi. The vortex battle qi condensed by the latter shattered at once, and the scattered energy was devoured by Gu Fang's Origin Flame, forming even greater power. Gu Fang's Origin Flame did not merely devour and fuse things. After fusing with the Nihility Devouring Flame, it had also acquired the Nihility Devouring Flame's traits!

Thus, even in battle, Gu Fang could turn his opponent's scattered power into his own!

Naturally, he still could not unleash the full power of an Earth Rank battle technique, but against Jia Lie Bi...

it was more than enough.

Bang, boom!

The Flame Luo Palm collided with Jia Lie Bi, and an explosive roar burst forth at the point of contact.

The aftermath of the explosion forced both men back, but the distance they retreated and their states afterward were completely different.

Gu Fang merely took half a step back and exhaled heavily.

Jia Lie Bi, who had been struck by Gu Fang's attack, was far from so "graceful"!

His entire body was sent flying. The azure Battle Qi Armor over his chest was blasted open with a huge hole, while his expensive clothes were shredded into strips.

In the end, he slammed hard into a wall, his face flushed red.

At this moment, where was the dignity of a Da Dou Shi or the head of the Jia Lie clan?

Jia Lie Bi's appearance fell into the eyes of the surrounding spectators, and in an instant...

The entire scene fell silent.

Everyone turned their gaze toward Gu Fang, their shock impossible to conceal.

At that moment, Gu Fang wore a smile as he gazed at the disheveled Jia Lie Bi, looking just like a...

Sunny, cheerful young man!

"How is that possible? How could this brat possess an Earth Rank battle technique? And with merely the strength of a Dou Shi, how could he possibly use an Earth Rank battle technique?"

Jia Lie Bi gritted his teeth as he looked at the indifferent Gu Fang across from him. Feeling the shattered Battle Qi Armor on his chest, he used his battle qi to restore it.

Once the Battle Qi Armor had been repaired, Jia Lie Bi shook his fist and thought, Even if he has an Earth Rank battle technique, how many times can a Dou Shi use it? The final victory will still belong to me!

"Clan Leader Jia Lie, are you ready to admit defeat? As long as you cripple your own battle qi, then break your son's arms and legs, and get out of Wutan City for good...

I'll spare your life for now."

Gu Fang spoke softly.

"What difference is that from asking me to die?"

Jia Lie Bi rose to his feet. The Battle Qi Armor around him slowly faded, eventually gathering around his legs. "What wind-attributed battle qi is most proud of...

Has never been its attack power, but rather...

Speed!"

As the final word fell, azure battle qi exploded, then wrapped around Jia Lie Bi. Afterimages emerged one after another, all closing in on Gu Fang at once.

When he neared Gu Fang, he moved like the wind, darting behind him in an instant.

He clenched his fist and smashed it toward Gu Fang's head.

"So what if it's an Earth Rank battle technique? In all martial arts under heaven, only speed is unbeatable!"

As Jia Lie Bi finished the thought, his fist was already about to strike Gu Fang's head. But at that very moment...

Jia Lie Bi discovered in terror...

That the force generated by his fist had failed to stir even a single strand of Gu Fang's hair.

"Earth Rank High-Level, Blazing Flame Inch Move!"

Gu Fang's voice sounded ethereal, but Jia Lie Bi knew it had definitely not come from the figure in front of him.

Whoosh...

His fist crashed down, terrifying force bursting forth, yet there was no sensation of impact at all!

An afterimage!

No wonder nothing had changed. This Gu Fang had been an afterimage from the start, not a real body at all!

"Where is he?"

A suffocating sensation enveloped Jia Lie Bi, endless terror surging from within his heart. But all of it came to an end with Gu Fang's words...

"You're too slow."

Bang, boom!

Gu Fang appeared, and as he landed, he stomped directly onto Jia Lie Bi's back, smashing him into the ground.

The terrifying force sent cracks spreading across the bluestone beneath him.

Jia Lie Bi howled as he tried to resist, but how could Gu Fang give him the chance?

Another foot came down...

Accompanied by a crisp crack, the fluctuations of battle qi around Jia Lie Bi vanished completely.

With that kick, his qi vortex shattered.

From that day onward...

Jia Lie Bi was no longer a powerful Da Dou Shi, but a "cripple" incapable of using battle qi.

This scene entered the eyes of everyone present.

Everyone who witnessed it felt their hearts turn cold, directing fearful, horrified gazes toward Gu Fang's handsome face!

This youth...

Was terrifying beyond measure!