Extreme Showdown, Evenly Matched?

Second Courtyard area.

Wen Liang recognized Chen Changqing at a single glance.

"So it's this brat."

"How dare he challenge a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Body Cultivator?"

Wen Liang was secretly startled, finding it somewhat unbelievable.

After all, faced with Shi Tian's overwhelming strength, he himself had already given up on contending for first place in this Grand Tournament.

He never expected that at this final moment, Chen Changqing would actually step onto the stage.

"He's only at Foundation Establishment Early Stage—he probably can't even withstand a single punch from Shi Tian, right?"

Wen Liang narrowed his eyes, holding no favorable opinion of Chen Changqing at all.

He felt the gap in strength between the two was far too vast.

"Damn it!!"

"It's that bastard!"

Meanwhile, Cui Hao beside him gnashed his teeth in fury, his gaze toward Chen Changqing filled with venom.

Earlier in the Void Realm, he had led several disciples from the Second Courtyard to surround Liu Ruyan, intending to seize all the points on her Identity Token.

Who would have thought that at the critical moment, Chen Changqing would pop up?

Seeing that Chen Changqing was only at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, Cui Hao had dismissed him as unremarkable.

But after a bout of fighting, he discovered that Chen Changqing's strength far exceeded his imagination.

Not only had he defeated Kong Ning, who was also at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, but he had also shattered the Seven Kill Sword Formation that Cui Hao presided over with a single punch.

In the end, he even took all the points from their Identity Tokens.

This caused Cui Hao's points to drop out of the top twenty on the Scoreboard.

The more he thought about it, the more resentment festered in Cui Hao's heart.

After all, he had been certain of entering the Inner Sect.

Now, because of Chen Changqing, he was forced to spend another year in the Outer Sect.

Fourth Courtyard area.

Meng Zhou also recognized Chen Changqing.

"This kid?"

"Foundation Establishment Early Stage?"

"Could it be because of the opportunity he seized earlier in the Void Realm?"

Meng Zhou muttered to himself. He remembered clearly that back in the Void Realm, Chen Changqing had only been at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.

Now, having broken through to Foundation Establishment Early Stage, he naturally thought of the opportunity that had been snatched away.

After a moment's thought, Meng Zhou snapped back to reality and sighed helplessly:

"Even if he did obtain that opportunity, so what?"

"Facing Shi Tian, a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Body Cultivator, he simply doesn't measure up!"

At the same time, Chen Changqing had already arrived on the White Jade Arena.

"Hm?"

Shi Tian squinted at Chen Changqing and waved his hand, saying:

"Junior Brother, you'd better get down."

"I don't want to bully you."

Chen Changqing smiled calmly, cupped his fists, and said:

"Senior Brother, please."

Seeing that Chen Changqing was still determined to challenge him, a flash of ruthlessness passed through Shi Tian's eyes, and he said in a low voice:

"Since you insist on making a fool of yourself!"

"Then don't blame me."

As soon as the words fell, a fierce glint flickered in Shi Tian's eyes, and his right fist shot out violently!

"Boom!"

With that single punch, the air exploded, crackling and popping.

Shi Tian was extremely confident.

He figured that this one punch alone would be enough to finish Chen Changqing.

Meanwhile, the watching crowd also assumed that Chen Changqing would be blasted off the arena by Shi Tian's single blow.

But just then, Chen Changqing let out a light, cold laugh.

Facing Shi Tian's fist force, he showed no intention of retreating or dodging; instead, he threw a punch straight back in counterattack.

"Boom!!"

Within a few breaths, their fists had already collided.

"Bang..."

A violent blast of air exploded, and the arena floor cracked under the assault of the fist force. The barrier protecting the arena's perimeter trembled violently.

Their fist forces canceled each other out, and both took several steps back.

The watching disciples from various courtyards were stunned, their eyes filled with disbelief.

"Huh?"

"Am I seeing things?"

"This Chen Changqing actually... blocked Senior Brother Shi Tian's punch?"

"How is that possible?"

"How did he do it?"

"I must be seeing things..."

The disciples exclaimed in shock, some unable to believe it.

"What?"

Shi Tian steadied himself, his pupils contracting sharply as a numbing sensation spread through his arm.

"Such terrifying power!!"

"He's only at Foundation Establishment Early Stage, yet he can unleash strength like this?"

Shi Tian muttered in shock, his gaze at Chen Changqing filled with utter disbelief.

This was the first time he had encountered an opponent among the Outer Disciples who could clash head-on with him.

At the same time, Chen Changqing was also somewhat astonished.

"This Shi Tian's physical body is indeed extraordinary!"

Chen Changqing marveled quietly.

He felt the force surging through his arms.

After all, he had broken through to Qi Refining at the limit of Body Refining. Earlier, he had advanced to the Foundation Establishment Realm in the Void Realm, his arms bursting with the strength of Ten-Thousand-Jin Force. Ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators couldn't withstand a single punch from him.

But Shi Tian actually could!

Just as Chen Changqing was lost in thought, Shi Tian suddenly burst into wild laughter:

"Haha, good!"

"I didn't expect to meet a Junior Brother like you as an opponent."

"Finally, I can have a real fight!"

As he spoke, battle intent blazed in Shi Tian's eyes.

The next moment, he directly gathered his strength and struck at Chen Changqing again.

"Thunderclap Divine Fist!"

Seeing this, Chen Changqing let out a low shout, his fist wrapped in purple lightning, and clashed directly with Shi Tian.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

For a time, deafening fist explosions rang out continuously from the arena.

Every strike from Chen Changqing carried the roar of thunder.

Meanwhile, Shi Tian was like a savage beast, his fists and feet sweeping wide and fierce, each move causing the air to crack.

"Boom! Boom!"

The arena shook incessantly, wild spiritual energy surging without pause.

Seeing Chen Changqing and Shi Tian trading blows evenly, all the disciples from various courtyards were dumbfounded.

"Is this still a Foundation Establishment Realm battle?"

"A Foundation Establishment Early Stage disciple like Chen Changqing can actually fight on par with Shi Tian?"

"How is that possible?"

"How did he do it? Shi Tian is a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Body Cultivator!"

Numerous disciples exclaimed in astonishment.

Everyone had originally thought that Chen Changqing would be unable to withstand even a single punch from Shi Tian and would be defeated off the arena.

Who would have guessed that, once the exchange began, Chen Changqing would erupt with terrifying strength, fighting Shi Tian to a standstill.

One must know that Chen Changqing was using his Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivation to battle against Shi Tian's Foundation Establishment Late Stage strength.

This made it all the more unbelievable.

Seeing this, the disciples of the First Courtyard all wore grim expressions.

"Damn it!"

"What background does this Chen Changqing have?"

"He's only at Foundation Establishment Early Stage and can do this?"

"Senior Brother Shi Tian is our First Courtyard's number one!"

"He can't even take down a mere Chen Changqing?"

"..."

The First Courtyard disciples fumed with indignation.

In their eyes, Shi Tian had always crushed his opponents.

But now, he was locked in such a battle with Chen Changqing.

On the other side, the disciples of the Seven Courtyards erupted in excitement.

"No way!"

"Junior Brother Chen... is actually this strong?"

"He can go toe-to-toe with Shi Tian—that's incredible!"

"And he's only at Foundation Establishment Early Stage!"

"If he had Foundation Establishment Late Stage strength, wouldn't he be able to crush Shi Tian easily?"

"..."

The disciples were thrilled. Earlier, although they had all supported Chen Changqing in stepping onto the arena to challenge Shi Tian, deep down, they held little hope that Chen Changqing could defeat Shi Tian.

But now, seeing Chen Changqing trade blows evenly with Shi Tian, the disciples of the Seven Courtyards suddenly felt hope kindled in their hearts.