The Third Round of the Tournament

Li Xiao had meant to feign weakness and, once Shen Qingyun let down his guard, severely injure him in one strike—or even cripple him outright.

But the viewing platform was packed with representatives from every faction, with countless eyes watching. Crippling a fifth-rank disciple in full view would not only weaken the Three Origins Sect, but also make Li Xiao look ruthless and unwilling to show mercy. It would do his standing in the Sect no good.

After weighing it over, Li Xiao decided not to do it here.

Shen Qingyun noticed none of this. When Li Xiao still failed to press his attack, Shen Qingyun grew ever more convinced that he was nothing special. He even began to wonder whether the rumors had been exaggerated.

Shen Qingyun attacked harder and fought with increasing abandon, as though he could already see his chance to wear Li Xiao down and leave the stage with dignity.

Seeing that Shen Qingyun had dropped his guard completely, Li Xiao stopped playing along.

He planted his feet and unleashed the Iron Wire Fist. Bolstered by his gauntlets, his surging true qi condensed into a crimson Fist Aura that blasted forward like a scorching meteor.

The Fist Aura swelled as it flew, cutting off every avenue of retreat. It bore down on Shen Qingyun head-on with suffocating force.

Only then did Shen Qingyun truly face that terrifying power. His pupils contracted, and his face went deathly pale.

That was no attack a Marrow-Piercing cultivator should have been capable of. Its crushing force was no weaker than a Round Marrow expert's.

He hurriedly unleashed the Flying Cloud Leg, trying to break the Fist Aura. But the instant their true qi collided, his attack crumpled like paper.

The crimson Fist Aura slammed into his chest without slowing. Shen