No More Pretending

After all, he hadn't made a move from start to finish, only using a tiny sliver of weak spiritual power to probe at the very end. Given Zhang Tao's strength at the time, he shouldn't have had much spiritual power, and it should have been impossible for him to discover him.

"Old Zhao, what are you dawdling for? Don't tell me you're scared? He just broke through to the seventh rank, and you're a high-stage seventh-ranker. What is there to be afraid of!" A grandmaster immediately began to heckle.

Zhang Tao also looked at Zhao Changfeng with a beaming smile.

Being goaded like this, Zhao Changfeng's face flushed, and he immediately scolded, "Old Qin, what are you shouting for? I was just a bit surprised, that's all. Grandmaster Zhang, please!"

Since he couldn't avoid it, Zhao Changfeng had no choice but to stop playing it low-key and walked out with a generous stride.

"Grandmaster Zhao, watch closely!" Zhang Tao didn't use a weapon; after all, he hadn't brought a blade when he came out. As for Zhao Changfeng, he wasn't carrying a weapon either—there was no help for it, why would anyone bring a weapon just to watch someone break through?

It could be said that most of the people present were not carrying weapons, with the exception of divine weapons, of course.

Zhang Tao's palm had already turned blood-red; it was clear that his vital energy and blood were converging, and even the power of heaven and earth was gathering. Zhao Changfeng frowned. Was this Zhang Tao's divine ability? What kind of pathetic divine ability was this?

Seeing Zhang Tao strike with a palm, Zhao Changfeng pushed his thoughts aside and threw a punch. Although it was an unremarkable punch, it also gathered his own power of heaven and earth. With Zhang Tao's cultivation having just entered the seventh rank, Zhao Changfeng felt that dealing with him shouldn't be difficult.

However, after his fist collided with Zhang Tao's palm, his expression changed, because the power within that palm exceeded his psychological expectations, and his fist even felt faintly numb.

With a muffled thud, the surrounding grandmasters narrowed their eyes. This move of Zhang Tao's was not simple. It looked ordinary, yet it gathered so much vital energy and power of heaven and earth. But, did Zhang Tao still have energy to spare?

Of course, ninth-rank grandmasters like Li Xianling frowned immediately. This move of Zhang Tao's was somewhat like the Blood Blade Art, only he had transformed the Blood Blade Art into palm power.

Such a move was a double-edged sword, a technique grandmasters used for mutual destruction—it was only a step below self-detonation.

Zhao Changfeng retreated two steps, suppressing the stifling sensation in his chest. He knew he had underestimated Zhang Tao, but how many times could he pull off an attack like that?

Zhao Changfeng suddenly felt that it wouldn't be bad to figure out Zhang Tao's bottom line here; that way, he could ensure success the next time he dealt with him. After all, he had felt ashamed for a long time after the failure of the last mission. He hadn't delivered the finishing blow and had left in a hurry—it had been somewhat unwise.

But Zhao Changfeng was clearly overthinking things. Zhang Tao had been backed by Li Zhen back then; would Zhang Tao have dared to act so recklessly without a backup plan?

Zhang Tao was unaware of Zhao Changfeng's thoughts, nor did he care to know. He simply continued to strike at Zhao Changfeng palm after palm. Facing such attacks, Zhao Changfeng retreated while simultaneously trying to exhaust Zhang Tao. In his view, such an attack could never be sustained. Young people were just young people—too impatient.

"Daoist Wang, this Zhang Tao is still too young. With such a massive expenditure of energy early on, how will he fight later?" The Bearded Man shook his head, clearly not optimistic about Zhang Tao.

Daoist Wang, however, raised an eyebrow. He also recognized Zhang Tao's technique as being somewhat like the Blood Blade Art, but what was Zhang Tao trying to express?

"Just keep watching and you'll see!" Daoist Wang replied. The Bearded Man curled his lip, stopped talking, and looked toward the center of the field.

Zhang Tao's attacks never ceased, as if his vital energy and blood were inexhaustible. At this point, even Zhao Changfeng felt a bit numb. Could he really keep this up for so long?

The Bearded Man's eyes widened. How many palms had that been? Was this something someone who had just entered the seventh rank could pull off? Thinking about how he had just said he wasn't optimistic about the kid, he felt like he had just been slapped in the face.

"Pfft!" Just then, Zhao Changfeng was suddenly struck in the chest, and a mouthful of blood sprayed out.

Zhang Tao did not hesitate in the slightest. Strike while the iron is hot—he followed up with another palm.

"Zhang Tao!" Someone exclaimed. One had to know that the winner had already been decided; the fact that Zhang Tao was still attacking left these grandmasters shocked and angry.

But by the time they wanted to intervene, it was already too late. Zhang Tao landed another palm on Zhao Changfeng's body. Zhao Changfeng was sent flying like a rolling gourd, and a section of his chest bones had even caved in.

"Zhang Tao, we are all human, how could you strike with such cruelty!" An old man immediately scolded him roundly!

"Everyone, be careful, he is an Evil Martial Artist!" Seeing someone about to step forward to treat Zhao Changfeng, Zhang Tao shouted immediately!

The scene fell deathly silent in an instant. Those who had been preparing to check on Zhao Changfeng stopped in their tracks.

Li Xianling was the first to fly to Zhao Changfeng's side, reaching out to probe him.

Zhao Changfeng shouted immediately, "Zhang Tao, stop slandering me! When have I ever offended you?"

He dared not resist Li Xianling's powerful hand, but he would certainly not sit still and wait for death, so he immediately retorted.

Li Xianling had already grabbed Zhao Changfeng by this point. He glanced at Zhang Tao and said, "Zhang Tao, you must be responsible for your words!"

Zhang Tao said immediately, "Chief Overseer, I will certainly be responsible for my words. The day I left Kyoto, I was ambushed. If I hadn't played dead, I would likely be cold by now. Zhao Changfeng released a sliver of spiritual power back then; I absolutely cannot be mistaken. I believe he must have flaws. As long as you search, you should be able to find some evidence!"

Hearing Zhang Tao's words, Li Xianling nodded, and the other grandmasters were also half-convinced. After all, Zhang Tao was Li Xianling's successor and a prodigy of humanity; he shouldn't be framing Zhao Changfeng. Many people's gazes toward Zhao Changfeng had already changed, though they couldn't say much since there was no evidence yet.

"Everyone, although my strength was only at the sixth-rank Essence-Blood Fusion stage back then, I have a unique talent and my spiritual power is extraordinary. Zhao Changfeng, you were just too cautious back then. To be honest, if you hadn't probed with that sliver of spiritual power, I really wouldn't have discovered you!" Zhang Tao explained to the surrounding grandmasters, and of course, he also said it for Zhao Changfeng's benefit. The meaning was clear: you have no chance left.

Zhao Changfeng's face was gloomy. Seeing Li Xianling's reaction, it seemed he already believed Zhang Tao, and he really did have some things hidden at home. If they really investigated, he would likely be exposed.

"Even now, you still refuse to speak? Zhao Changfeng, reveal your superiors, and we will arrange a decent death for you!" Zhang Tao suddenly shouted, his voice imbued with massive spiritual power.

This roar caused Zhao Changfeng's eyes to glaze over for a moment. However, being a high-stage seventh-ranker, he quickly snarled, "Zhang Tao, I will never betray the Holy Sect. You, too, will not escape death!" That was right, he stopped pretending, because it was useless.