Defeating Ding Hao!

On the Gambling Arena platform, Ding Hao's fist, wrapped in the dense True Qi of the Qi Gathering Realm Fourth Level, glowed with a faint yellow radiance. Like a howling meteor, it smashed toward Ye Feng's chest.

The disciples below the platform held their breaths.

Qi Gathering Realm Fourth Level against First Layer—this was utterly one-sided. No one believed Ye Feng could take that punch.

Ding Qian's eyes were wide open, his fists clenched so tightly they had turned white. He eagerly anticipated the pathetic sight of Ye Feng being sent flying off the platform.

No matter what the others thought, Ye Feng stood in place, his expression as calm as ever.

The Profound-grade Low-tier Azure Origin Art within him circulated at high speed. The dense True Qi in his Dantian surged through his meridians into his right fist. Without any needless flair, he threw a punch of his own.

"Bang!"

The two fists collided explosively in midair, and the dull boom made the surrounding air tremble faintly.

The impact generated by the collision of the two streams of True Qi spread outward. Ye Feng's body swayed slightly as he took half a step back, while Ding Hao remained where he stood, his arm merely going a little numb. He appeared to have gained the upper hand.

Yet there was not a trace of joy on Ding Hao's face. Instead, his eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.

He could clearly sense that although the True Qi on Ye Feng's fist was only at the Qi Gathering Realm First Layer, it was extraordinarily dense and refined. It had actually withstood his full-force punch head-on!

One had to know that he was an Inner Court Prodigy capable of crossing ranks to contend against Qi Gathering Realm Seventh Layer cultivators. Even ordinary Qi Gathering Realm Third Layer disciples could not take this punch from him, yet Ye Feng was only a First Layer disciple who had just broken through.

And he had only taken half a step back?

How is this possible?! Stormy waves churned in Ding Hao's heart as fury at being slighted surged up within him.

A newcomer had actually caught his punch. This was a slap straight across the face!

The disciples below the platform were likewise collectively stunned. The mockery they had prepared caught in their throats as they stared at one another.

"Am I seeing things? Ye Feng actually took Ding Hao's punch?"

"He's only at the Qi Gathering Realm First Layer! Ding Hao used eighty percent of his strength in that punch!"

"No, look at Ding Hao's expression. He seems shocked too... could Ye Feng's strength be comparable to Ding Hao's?"

Before the discussion could die down, Ding Hao's aura abruptly soared. His face darkened, and his right hand suddenly pressed against the saber at his waist. With a "shing," a long saber flashing with cold light was drawn. The instant the blade emerged, a mysterious force coiled around it, increasing its already sharp saber aura several times over out of thin air.

"It's Nascent Blade Intent! Ding Hao has actually comprehended Nascent Blade Intent!" a disciple below the platform cried out.

"My heavens, the power of artistic conception! There are only a handful in the entire inner court who can comprehend artistic conception at the same realm. Ding Hao truly is a prodigy!"

"It's over. Ye Feng has no chance now. With Blade Intent reinforcing him, the power of Ding Hao's saber techniques has at least doubled. Ye Feng simply can't stop it!"

Everyone believed the battle was already over. The gap created by the power of artistic conception was not something realm alone could make up for. Ding Qian also let out a sigh of relief, and a smug smile returned to his face. "Ye Feng, it was already impressive that you took my brother's punch. Now it's time to accept your fate!"

Ye Feng looked at the Blade Intent on Ding Hao's saber, and a trace of approval flashed through his eyes. He murmured softly, "Nascent Blade Intent... it does have something to it." Yet his expression remained calm, without the slightest hint of panic.

He slowly raised his right fist. The True Qi of the Vajra Fist within him circulated to its utmost limit, and the might of the Profound-grade Low-tier martial skill gradually unfolded.

At that moment, a layer of dazzling golden light suddenly bloomed over Ye Feng's fist. Immediately afterward, a mysterious force similar to Ding Hao's Blade Intent, yet even more powerful, quietly wrapped around that golden glow. Empowered by this force, the golden light grew ever denser, like a miniature golden sun, radiating a steady and domineering aura.

"That is... the power of artistic conception?!" A disciple below the platform rubbed his eyes, unable to believe what he was seeing.

"It's Fist Intent! Ye Feng has actually comprehended Nascent Fist Intent too! And... this Fist Intent seems even stronger than Ding Hao's Blade Intent?"

The hand holding Ding Hao's saber clenched abruptly, and the confidence on his face instantly froze. He could clearly feel that the Fist Intent on Ye Feng's fist was more refined and more substantial than his own Blade Intent.

Both were merely nascent forms, yet the difference was so obvious!

"Impossible! How could a newcomer who just broke through to the Qi Gathering Realm comprehend Nascent Fist Intent?" Ding Hao roared. The long saber in his hand slashed down fiercely. "Netherworld Blast Slash!"

The saber light streamed like silk, carrying the terrifying saber aura of Nascent Blade Intent as it swept toward Ye Feng's waist. Even the air was split with a faint crack.

Ye Feng neither dodged nor retreated. His right fist, carrying golden Fist Intent, smashed straight into the saber light.

"Boom!"

Fist and saber collided once more, and the force that erupted this time was far more terrifying than before.

A gale like surging ocean waves swept outward from the two of them, cracking the bluestone tiles of the Gambling Arena platform with fine fissures.

Many disciples below the platform had no time to react before the gale sent them staggering back again and again. They had no choice but to unleash their True Qi to steady themselves.

When the dust settled, the sight on the platform left everyone dumbfounded.

Ding Hao's face was pale, and the long saber in his hand had already been knocked away. He himself lay sprawled miserably beneath the Gambling Arena platform, a trace of blood hanging from the corner of his mouth. He had clearly suffered serious injuries.

Meanwhile, Ye Feng still stood firmly on the platform. Aside from the hem of his robes fluttering slightly in the wind, there was not the slightest sign of anything amiss.

The Gambling Arena fell deathly silent, before erupting in deafening uproar.

"Ding Hao... lost?"

"Ye Feng actually defeated Ding Hao, who had Nascent Blade Intent? Is he really a newcomer?"

"Not only did he win, he possesses an even stronger Nascent Fist Intent! Isn't that too monstrous? How could artistic conception possibly be so easy to comprehend?!"

Ding Qian stood amid the crowd, completely stupefied. He stared blankly at Ye Feng atop the platform, repeatedly roaring, "Impossible! This is impossible! How could he comprehend Fist Intent? How could he possibly defeat my brother?!"

But no matter how he roared, Ye Feng's figure standing as steady as a mountain on the platform mercilessly shattered his fantasies.

Ye Feng ignored the shock of the surrounding disciples, and he paid no heed to Ding Qian's madness either.

He jumped down from the platform and walked straight toward Ding Hao, who lay on the ground. His tone was calm, yet carried an unquestionable finality. "A bet is a bet. Ten Low-grade Spirit Stones."

Ding Hao struggled into a sitting position, his face still pale.

He looked at Ye Feng, his gaze complex to the extreme.

Even now, he still could not believe that he had actually lost to a newcomer who had only just broken through to the Qi Gathering Realm.

The force behind Ye Feng's fist still echoed in his mind. If he had not used Netherworld Slash to offset most of its power, he would likely be seriously injured and unconscious by now.

Ten Low-grade Spirit Stones were no small sum—enough for him to exchange for quite a few Cultivation Resources.

Ding Hao's heart ached at the loss, but the Gambling Arena's rules were right there. He did not dare violate them.

In the end, he gritted his teeth, pulled a cloth pouch from his robes, and viciously hurled it at Ye Feng. "There are ten Low-grade Spirit Stones in there. Take them!"

Ye Feng caught the pouch and weighed it in his hand. After confirming that the amount was correct, he nodded in satisfaction.

He turned and left, leaving behind a storm of stunned discussion and Ding Hao's unwilling gaze.

To him, earning enough Spirit Stones to strengthen his foundation was the most important thing right now.