In the rest area, Fang Yan had just finished regulating his breathing. His qi and blood and stamina had both recovered to their peak. He could feel the surging power within him, and he was filled with confidence for the impending showdown with Lin Hao.
Just then, the referee's voice came over the broadcast: "Next match: Lin Hao versus Fang Yan! Both contestants, please proceed immediately to Martial Arts Platform Three!"
"I'm coming!" Fang Yan's gaze sharpened. He rose and headed toward Martial Arts Platform Three.
The surrounding students immediately gathered around, buzzing with discussion.
"Look, it's Fang Yan and Lin Hao! This is the main event!"
"I heard Lin Hao recently broke through to the Body Tempering Ninth Layer, and his qi and blood have reached 0.90. Fang Yan is in trouble this time."
"Not necessarily. Fang Yan was able to fight Zhao Yu to a draw before. His strength is impressive too."
"Hard to say. Lin Hao is petty. He'll definitely fight viciously. Fang Yan needs to be careful."
Lin Hao was already standing on the martial arts platform. His eyes were closed, as if he were adjusting his condition. But Fang Yan could clearly sense that the aura around Lin Hao was far stronger than before, and it carried a strange, violent quality.
Something's wrong with him. Fang Yan thought to himself.
He stepped onto the platform, looked at Lin Hao, and asked in a low voice, "What did you take?"
Lin Hao slowly opened his eyes. They were streaked with blood, and a twisted smile spread across his face. "What did I take? Something that'll make you die faster! Fang Yan, today I'll make you pay for everything you did before!"
The referee glanced at them and frowned, but still followed procedure. "The match begins!"
The instant the referee finished speaking, Lin Hao charged forward. His speed was astonishing—several notches faster than Li Hao's had been. His strength had also become abnormally powerful, and every punch carried the might to shatter heaven and earth.
That strength... It's definitely not just the Body Tempering Fifth Layer! Fang Yan was startled. He immediately executed Wind-Treading Steps, desperately dodging Lin Hao's attacks.
Lin Hao's attacks grew more and more frenzied. His eyes were filled with killing intent, and every move was aimed at Fang Yan's vitals. The stone slabs on the martial arts platform were smashed to pieces beneath his blows, sending rubble flying everywhere.
"Keep dodging! Why aren't you dodging anymore?" Lin Hao roared as he attacked. "Weren't you so tough before? Show me what you've got!"
Fang Yan was driven into a sorry state by Lin Hao. He had already taken several punches. Although the resilience of his Northern Darkness Ice Soul Body kept him from suffering serious injuries, waves of stabbing pain still coursed through him.
This can't go on. I have to counterattack! The thought flashed through Fang Yan's mind. He seized an opening in Lin Hao's attack and suddenly concentrated all the qi and blood in his body into his right fist. At the same time, he circulated the artistic conception of Basic Sword Technique. Though he held no sword, his fist seemed to condense an invisible strand of sword qi.
"Straight Punch · Sword Shadow!"
Fang Yan gave a low shout and punched. This punch possessed not only the unyielding force of a straight punch, but also the sharpness of swordsmanship. The airflow around his fist transformed into a phantom sword shadow that thrust toward Lin Hao's chest.
A trace of disdain flashed through Lin Hao's eyes. "It's useless!" He neither dodged nor retreated, instead throwing a punch of his own and intending to withstand Fang Yan's attack through sheer overwhelming strength.
"Bang!"
The two fists collided with a deafening boom. A powerful shockwave spread outward, forcing the surrounding spectators back several steps.
The smile on Lin Hao's face instantly froze. He felt a sharp force surge from Fang Yan's fist. It not only pierced through his defenses, but also burrowed into his body. His arm went numb from the impact, and his qi and blood began to fall into disorder.
"How is this possible?" Lin Hao wore an expression of utter disbelief.
Fang Yan seized the opportunity and gave Lin Hao no time to react. With a shift of his feet, he instantly appeared behind Lin Hao. His left hand formed a palm, carrying a gentle force as it struck toward Lin Hao's back. The palm strike looked gentle, but concealed a fierce power. It was precisely a technique he had comprehended from Basic Sword Technique.
"Pfft!"
The palm struck home. Lin Hao spat out a mouthful of blood and crumpled to the ground. He struggled to crawl back up, only to find that his entire body was powerless and his qi and blood were in utter turmoil.
The referee immediately ran over, examined Lin Hao's condition, and announced, "Lin Hao has lost the ability to fight. Fang Yan wins!"
Thunderous applause and cheers immediately erupted from below the platform. Everyone was stunned by Fang Yan's performance. No one had expected Fang Yan to defeat Lin Hao after his breakthrough to the Body Tempering Fifth Layer—and in such a dazzling fashion, no less.
Fang Yan stood on the martial arts platform, panting heavily. That punch and sword shadow had nearly drained all the qi and blood in his body. He looked at Lin Hao lying on the ground without the slightest trace of pity. He knew that if he had been even a little careless, he would have been the one lying there.
Just then, Su Qing stepped onto the martial arts platform and handed Fang Yan a bottle of pills. "Take these quickly and restore your qi and blood. Your performance just now was excellent, especially that final move. You combined the artistic conceptions of fist techniques and sword techniques—it was very creative."
Fang Yan took the pills and swallowed them. A warm current instantly spread throughout his body, and his exhausted body relaxed considerably.
"Thank you, Teacher," Fang Yan said gratefully.
"The matches ahead will be even more difficult. You need to be prepared," Su Qing reminded him. "The champion of the School Martial Arts Competition will not only receive generous rewards, but also earn the chance to cultivate in the Martial Dao Secret Realm. It's an exceptional place for improving one's strength."
"The Martial Dao Secret Realm?" Fang Yan's heart stirred, and a look of yearning appeared in his eyes. He knew that no matter how great the difficulties he encountered, he had to fight for the championship and enter the Martial Dao Secret Realm.
After stepping down from the martial arts platform, Fang Yan was showered with the crowd's admiration. But he did not become arrogant or complacent because of it. He knew this was only the beginning of the School Martial Arts Competition. The true experts were still waiting for him further ahead.
In a corner of the martial arts platform, an old man dressed in a gray robe watched Fang Yan's departing back. A strange glint flashed through his eyes. He murmured to himself, "This kid is interesting. Perhaps he's the person we've been searching for all along."
Before you continue