The Whole Audience Was Shocked

Li Yuan's current strength is at the late stage of the Inner Force Realm, and he will soon step into the True Qi Realm. It has only been a little over a year since he started practicing martial arts, and it has only been a month since he broke through to Inner Force.

This breakthrough speed is too fast, it would be too astonishing if it were spoken of.

If it attracts the attention of those with ulterior motives, who might think he possesses some fortuitous encounters or treasures and become covetous, it could lead to disaster.

Therefore, Li Yuan decided to gradually reveal some of his trump cards and establish his persona as a genius martial artist. This way, even if his strength increases rapidly in the future, it won't seem so abrupt.

And the Shocking Step, this movement technique, is very suitable for showcasing.

When Li Yuan executed the Shocking Step, he instantly dodged the incoming sword strike. Shocking Force continuously erupted from his feet as Li Yuan weaved left and right, easily evading Ji Hongchun's subsequent pursuit.

The Shocking Step developed by Li Yuan is highly distinctive, allowing him to move rapidly without any warning, transitioning from extreme stillness to extreme motion, or from extreme motion to extreme stillness.

This method of movement is counter-intuitive and counter-inertial, making it difficult for Ji Hongchun to predict Li Yuan's next move and his trajectory. He pursued relentlessly but could never even touch Li Yuan's clothes.

Li Yuan could use continuous footwork to create a feeling of extreme discontinuity. If one had to describe it, it would be like fighting a high-ping player; Li Yuan's movements, whether stopping or starting, were so abrupt they were almost like a slideshow!

Experience the terror of being dominated by a high-ping player!

This scene stunned the surrounding disciples.

"What movement technique is this? I've never seen it before."

"His speed is incredible!"

"We're both in the Inner Force Realm, yet Senior Brother Ji can't catch up to Senior Brother Li."

"For some reason, I feel a sense of familiarity with this movement technique, but I can't quite place where."

While the surrounding disciples couldn't discern the true nature of Li Yuan's footwork, Qi Zhengyang recognized the Shocking Step the moment Li Yuan displayed it!

Shocking Force!

This is an extremely profound application of Shocking Force!

Everyone knows that practicing Cinnabar Palm can generate Shocking Force, but can Shocking Force be used like this?

Applying Shocking Force to footwork to increase movement speed?!

You can play it like that?

Qi Zhengyang had never seen such footwork before. This movement technique was rebellious in its application, yet undeniably effective. Most importantly... Qi Zhengyang had never encountered this footwork before.

Could it be... that this movement technique was created by Li Yuan himself?

While Qi Zhengyang and the surrounding disciples marveled at the peculiar footwork displayed by Li Yuan, the duel between Li Yuan and Ji Hongchun continued.

Ji Hongchun grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed. Li Yuan's speed was simply too fast. Even with his full pursuit, he couldn't touch his opponent, every sword strike landing on empty air, causing him immense frustration.

Suddenly, the sword he was wielding stopped abruptly, becoming immobile. Upon closer inspection, his sword was firmly clamped between Li Yuan's two palms.

Ji Hongchun's arm muscles bulged as he tried to pull his sword from Li Yuan's grasp, but he felt as if his sword was held by two iron pillars, unmoving.

Li Yuan's strength was approaching three thousand jin, far surpassing the strength of these Inner Force Realm disciples, and even exceeding that of some in the True Qi Realm. Ji Hongchun's sword was completely locked in place.

"Haa—"

Li Yuan exhaled forcefully, and terrifying Shocking Force erupted from his palms. The wooden sword in his grasp shattered, exploding into a spray of fine wood fragments!

The power of the Shocking Force traveled along the broken sword, infiltrating Ji Hongchun's body. Ji Hongchun trembled all over, his face turned pale, and he staggered backward.

Li Yuan flashed forward, once again employing the Shocking Step to close the distance, and unleashed a palm strike towards Ji Hongchun's face.

"Boom—"

The violent palm force exploded, creating a visible ripple in the air. A fierce wind swept outwards in all directions.

This palm strike stopped a foot away from Ji Hongchun's face. If it had landed, no one would doubt that Ji Hongchun would have been turned into a pulp.

Witnessing this exchange, Qi Zhengyang spoke at the opportune moment, declaring the result: "The winner has been decided."

Ji Hongchun gave a wry smile: "I lost. You are very strong, much stronger than me."

Since it was merely a spar, he had used a wooden sword. The wooden sword was easily destroyed by Li Yuan's Shocking Force, preventing him from continuing his swordsmanship.

However, he had no doubt that even if he had used a steel longsword, it would have been shattered by Li Yuan.

The moment they were locked together, Ji Hongchun felt Li Yuan's absurd strength, coupled with Li Yuan's unfathomably potent Shocking Force, which seemed capable of destroying anything!

As the two prepared to step down, Qi Zhengyang suddenly spoke, "Li Yuan, what was that movement technique just now?"

Li Yuan knew Qi Zhengyang would ask this; he was prepared.

"I call this movement technique... Shocking Step."

"Shocking Step?"

Qi Zhengyang seemed not to have heard of this name.

"If the Pavilion Master hasn't heard of this movement technique, it's quite normal, because this movement technique was created by myself," Li Yuan continued.

Self-created?!

Not only Qi Zhengyang but also the surrounding disciples exclaimed in astonishment.

"A self-created technique?"

"I truly haven't heard of the Shocking Step technique, nor have I seen it before."

"Speaking of the Shocking Step, it really might be unique to him."

"Could it be that Senior Brother really created this technique himself?"

"Unbelievable, Senior Brother Li actually created a martial art."

The disciples murmured amongst themselves, and Qi Zhengyang fell into thought.

He had suspected this before, and hearing Li Yuan admit it himself now stirred up a storm within him.

Li Yuan had actually created a movement technique?

This Shocking Step wasn't some amateurish skill, nor was it some crudely made, low-grade creation, but a very exquisite movement technique.

When Li Yuan performed the Shocking Step, some of its subtleties even made Qi Zhengyang, a martial artist of the True Essence Realm, clap his hands in admiration.

Not only that, but Li Yuan's execution of this Shocking Step was clearly incredibly proficient, his movements fluid and natural, allowing him to fully unleash the power of this movement technique.

Qi Zhengyang stared directly at Li Yuan, as if seeing him for the first time. Li Yuan had given him too many surprises recently, and it seemed he had never seen Li Yuan's limit.

"Li Yuan, let's spar."

As soon as he said this, everyone present was shocked.

The Guild Master was actually going to spar with Li Yuan himself!

Normally, Qi Zhengyang would often guide the disciples in the martial hall, especially those in the Inner Force Realm. As the group closest to the True Qi Realm, Qi Zhengyang would spar with these Inner Force Realm disciples.

But Qi Zhengyang saying he wanted to spar with Li Yuan in such a setting carried a completely different meaning.

"Li Yuan, I can see it, you are very strong. Even if all the disciples in the Inner Force Realm attacked you together, they couldn't defeat you. There's no need for this competition to continue."

"I'm very curious about how strong you are right now. Show me your strength, and you will be the head disciple of the martial hall."