Zeng Xing's Madness

At this moment, Zeng Xing's aura had reached the peak of the Body-Tempering Realm, just one step away from the Qi Refining Realm.

In an instant, he became like a crazed bull that had broken free of its reins, glaring with bloodshot eyes as he charged at Li Ping'an.

When Li Ping'an saw Zeng Xing swallow a Qi-Blood Pill, he sensed trouble. But before he could react and dodge, Zeng Xing had already pounced on him with the force of a tiger.

The crowd below the stage clicked their tongues and sighed.

"Now that old Li Ping'an is finished. If he isn't rammed to death, he'll be smashed so badly his soul will fly from his body!"

Others lavishly praised Zeng Xing.

"This old man has commendable courage. At his age, he still dared to swallow a Qi-Blood Pill? Does he not care about his life? Is going this far really worth it?"

Although the sect had no rule forbidding competitors from taking medicine to boost themselves, the Qi-Blood Pill inflicted far too much damage on the body—especially for an old man of such advanced age.

Some disciples below sighed.

"These old men are already candles flickering in the wind, yet they're still risking their lives and fighting so desperately. How can we be ashamedly lazy? They've awakened my burning passion and fighting spirit. When I return, I won't stop until I've cultivated through seven straight nights!"

Seeing this, Wang Steward smiled in satisfaction.

Zeng Xing had indeed not disappointed him. The old fellow had commendable courage, willing to damage his body just to remain in the sect!

Now that Zeng Xing had taken the Qi-Blood Pill, his strength had surged dramatically. No matter how much Li Ping'an had been concealing his strength, he could not possibly be Zeng Xing's match!

Judging by the balance of power on the arena now, Zeng Xing had already completely overwhelmed Li Ping'an. Wang Steward would not need to intervene at all; Li Ping'an was as good as dead.

Wang Steward's mood brightened at once. He picked up the teacup beside him and slowly took a sip of fragrant tea.

On the other side, Qingyue and Hong Ling were also startled by the sight.

They had not expected that in such an ordinary match, someone would actually take a pill that wounded the enemy by a thousand while damaging himself by eight hundred!

This was simply madness!

Qingyue grew anxious and hurriedly asked, "Senior Sister, what should we do? That bastard Zeng Xing actually swallowed a Qi-Blood Pill for this match. He won't beat my little brother to death, will he?"

Hong Ling furrowed her brows as well, beginning to worry whether Li Ping'an could withstand Zeng Xing's ferocious charge.

The Qi-Blood Pill was no trivial thing. For a brief period, it could vastly increase one's qi and blood, raising overall strength by one or even two times.

What was more, Zeng Xing had already been at the eighth layer of the Body-Tempering Realm. After taking the Qi-Blood Pill, his strength had faintly approached the Qi Refining Realm.

Now, unless Li Ping'an's strength could break through into the Qi Refining Realm, defeat was inevitable!

Unfortunately,

Hong Ling sighed. She had thought she would have a reliable alchemy fire-control specialist in the future, but she had not expected him to be expelled from the sect so soon!

The disciples of Waste Hall all believed that Li Ping'an was about to die.

They were certain Zeng Xing would ram him until his muscles and bones shattered and blood sprayed wildly, sending him flying several yards away.

One after another, they covered their eyes with both hands, not daring to watch any further.

Yet what happened next left everyone dumbfounded.

Li Ping'an was fine, still standing on the arena completely unharmed.

He planted himself in a horse stance, rapidly circulating his qi as a surge of spiritual power swiftly gathered around his fists.

"Heaven-Forging Battle Fist!"

Li Ping'an gave a low shout and stood rooted where he was, colliding head-on with the charging Zeng Xing.

Bang!

Spiritual power surged and rippled through the air in every direction.

Li Ping'an did not fly away as everyone had imagined. Instead, like an ancient tree with roots tangled deep in the earth, he was welded firmly in place.

This time, Zeng Xing actually failed to push him back.

How... how was this possible?!

Zeng Xing's expression changed when he saw this.

"You... you're definitely beyond the Body-Tempering Realm! Have you already entered the Qi Refining Realm?!"

In an instant, Zeng Xing looked at Li Ping'an as though he had seen a ghost.

What kind of terrifying cultivation speed was this?

He vaguely remembered that just last month, Li Ping'an had merely been an old man at the initial stage of the Body-Tempering Realm. After only a short time apart, he had somehow already reached the Qi Refining Realm.

Even those favored geniuses of the sect could not possibly cultivate this quickly.

Still reeling from his shock, before he could react, Li Ping'an had already unleashed the Heaven-Forging Battle Fist.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Punch after punch struck Zeng Xing's body, tearing open his flesh as the sounds of bones cracking rang out again and again.

Even after taking the Qi-Blood Pill and experiencing a violent surge in qi and blood, he could not endure Li Ping'an's storm-like barrage of fists.

Blood sprayed wildly from the corners of his mouth, and his body staggered backward again and again.

Finally, Li Ping'an raised a fist and struck Zeng Xing in the lower abdomen.

Zeng Xing was sent flying outright, falling beneath the arena.

The sight left everyone staring in utter shock, and the entire venue fell deathly silent.

Everyone's eyes were wide as they refused to believe what they had just seen.

Only after several breaths did the referee overseeing the match recover from his daze and announce, "Li Ping'an wins this match!"

The entire venue immediately erupted in wave after wave of uproar, filled with shock and confusion.

Why had Li Ping'an suddenly become so strong?

He had actually defeated even Zeng Xing after he took a Qi-Blood Pill?

This made no sense! This was impossible!

Wang Steward, who had been drinking tea, spat it out at once.

"What?! Li Ping'an actually defeated Zeng Xing? Just how much has this old bastard been hiding?!"

He stared fixedly at Li Ping'an on the stage, feeling a surge of fury rise within him.

Damn it. Now that Li Ping'an had defeated Zeng Xing, he could remain in the sect again.

All their plans afterward had gone down the drain.

Why was this damned old bastard so hard to kill?

Qingyue and Hong Ling both sighed in relief at this moment.

"I didn't expect your little brother to be so strong. That old fellow has hidden himself deeply."

Hong Ling narrowed her eyes at Li Ping'an on the stage, lost in thought.

Qingyue, meanwhile, did not think so much. She simply kept clapping and cheering as she celebrated for her little brother.

At this moment, Zeng Xing had already been carried away from below the stage.

He looked weakly at Li Ping'an on the arena and sighed. Forget it. His skills were inferior; a loss was a loss.

Yet on the elevated platform, another middle-aged disciple who looked very much like Zeng Xing was gritting his teeth in hatred, rage nearly bursting from his eyes.

Damn Li Ping'an! He actually dared to beat my father so badly and caused him to be expelled from the sect!

I won't let this debt go so easily!

The young disciple wore exquisite clothes, clearly holding no low status among the outer disciples.

"Jia Qing, immediately investigate everything about this Li Ping'an!"

He coldly ordered an outer disciple beside him.

"Yes!"

The outer disciple accepted the order and departed.

On the elevated platform, Li Ping'an let out a breath.

To be honest, his final battle against Zeng Xing had consumed quite a bit of his mental energy.

He truly had not expected Zeng Xing to be so mad that, just to remain in the sect, he would not hesitate to take a Qi-Blood Pill!

This fellow was far too stubborn, wasn't he?!

Li Ping'an sighed and looked at the utterly silent crowd below, feeling somewhat helpless.

After hiding for so long, it seemed he could no longer hide this time.

What excuse should I use to fob them off?

Li Ping'an began to feel a headache coming on.