Contest

In the center of the hall, Yao Feng stood facing the youth called Lei Dong.

The youth had thick brows and large eyes, and was slightly taller than Yao Feng. He scratched his head, an awkward look appearing on his face.

"Brother Yao Feng, it's the family's order. I don't want to come up here either, but I can't defy it. Still, I really can't bring myself to bully someone younger than me. How about we exchange a few moves later and call it a draw?"

Hearing Lei Dong's quiet words, Yao Feng's eyes flashed with surprise. What's this about? Some vague martial conviction or something? Not bullying the young has rules behind it? You're way too strange!

Suppressing his surprise, Yao Feng's impression of Lei Dong improved somewhat. He had thought Lei Dong was the same sort as Lei Mie, but he still said quietly,

"Since it's the family's order, Brother Lei, just go all out. I may not be as weak as you imagine!"

What a joke. As a transmigrator, if he could not even challenge someone above his level, would that not disgrace all transmigrators? Even if the author could afford to lose face, Yao Feng could not.

"Alright, then excuse my offense."

After struggling for a moment, Lei Dong's expression finally hardened with resolve. The aura of a Five-star Dou Zhe slowly unfurled from him.

"Shadowing Steps!"

A flash of lightning streaked past as Lei Dong moved at high speed. Faint lightning gleamed in his palm as he rapidly struck toward Yao Feng.

"Profound Tier Low-Grade Dou Technique—Lightning Palm!"

"Burning Fire Palm!"

Yao Feng remained where he stood, slowly extending his hand forward. Demonic flame instantly enveloped his palm.

"Beast Flame?"

Yao Dan raised his brows. He had not expected his son to refine a Beast Flame after merely going out once. Judging by its power, it was likely the origin flame of a fourth-tier magical beast. Had he underestimated the strength of a Divine Grade Bloodline?

Huo Yao and Lei Mie's expressions also shifted slightly. With the strength of a two-star Dou Zhe, he had managed to refine the Beast Flame of a fourth-tier beast. If he had truly succeeded through his own efforts alone, then this child's talent was terrifying.

Huo Yao in particular, as an elder of the Flame Clan, understood even better how difficult it was to refine flames. Two days ago, Huo Zhi, the Flame Clan's greatest genius, had only barely succeeded in refining a fifth-tier Beast Flame with the aid of numerous elders. Even then, she had needed to consume quite a few pills before recovering.

Ripples also stirred within the red-dressed girl's calm eyes. She had personally experienced the difficulty of refining a Beast Flame just two days ago. She had thought herself powerful enough, only to encounter a peer today who had likewise refined a Beast Flame.

In the blink of an eye, their palms collided. Small explosions rang out between them. Lightning and fire were hailed as the two most violent attributes in the world, and their collision naturally caused considerable energy fluctuations.

A moment later, the two retreated at the same time. Their first exchange had actually ended evenly. Though Yao Feng's demonic flame was powerful, Lei Dong's Lightning Palm was equally destructive, and his abundant Dou Qi flowed out continuously. His reserves of Dou Qi far surpassed Yao Feng's, who cultivated the Flame Mantra.

"As expected of a Thunder Clan prodigy. In every aspect, he's much stronger than that Li Xie I met today."

Lei Dong, standing opposite Yao Feng, was equally astonished. Within the Thunder Clan, he had already been invincible among his peers. Yet today, he was evenly matched with Yao Feng, who was a year younger than him.

"Ding. Host detected within Yao Clan Hall. Would you like to sign in?"

Damn it, System, do you have procrastination issues? It's been so long already?!

Yao Feng, who had been intently watching Lei Dong's movements, was startled by the mechanical voice that suddenly rang out in his mind and could not help shouting inwardly.

"Ding. The System has its own arrangements. Please do not question the System, or the System will impose punishment!"

"I... I want to sign in!"

Yao Feng forced the words through clenched teeth. If he did not have to rely on the System to survive, he truly wanted to dismantle it.

"Ding. Congratulations, Host. You have obtained a Proficient Grade Advanced Dou Technique—Soul Blade!"

That familiar sensation descended upon Yao Feng once more. A moment later, a Dou Technique appeared in his mind as though he had practiced it countless times.

After reading Soul Blade's brief description, the corners of Yao Feng's lips lifted slightly, and his gaze suddenly sharpened.

"Absorbing Palm!"

A powerful suction force erupted from his palm. Lei Dong only felt a force acting upon him, yet he had no time to react.

Meanwhile, Yao Feng's body flew toward Lei Dong.

"Wildfire Prairie!"

A mass of fire abruptly appeared. Under Yao Feng's control, the demonic flame transformed into a curtain of fire that descended upon Lei Dong.

Lei Dong reacted quickly as well. Before the fire curtain reached him, a screen of lightning appeared before him.

"Lightning Shield!"

Seeing the demonic flames completely blocked, Lei Dong had just revealed a relieved smile when his expression froze, and his eyes instantly turned dull.

Using the pull of the Absorbing Palm to rapidly close in on Lei Dong, Yao Feng directly used Explosive Steps to appear behind him. A triumphant smile appeared on Yao Feng's face as he raised his right hand. Lightning flickered in his palm, and a thunder flood dragon roared forth, striking Lei Dong squarely in the back. Lei Dong suddenly snapped back to his senses. Feeling the attack from behind, his hairs stood on end. His hands moved rapidly as he tried to cast Lightning Shield again, but before it could take shape, the thunder flood dragon shattered the incomplete shield with a roar and slammed fiercely into Lei Dong.

"A soul attack?!"

Elder Lei Mie cried out, his expression turning rather grim.

Old Man Shen Nong, beside him, also revealed curiosity and surprise in his eyes. Such an unexpected soul attack—why had he not seen this little fellow use it earlier? Did he look down on that boy from the Li Family?!

After taking that blow, Lei Dong's face turned incomparably pale. The strike had landed fully on him. Even with a physique far stronger than ordinary people, he could not withstand the full-force attack of a Profound Tier Dou Technique.

Seeing Lei Dong's condition, Yao Feng silently praised the power of Soul Blade. He had used Wildfire Prairie to block Lei Dong's vision, then taken the opportunity to unleash Soul Blade. An illusory blade had passed through the demonic flames at incredible speed and struck Lei Dong from the side. Soul Blade attacked the soul directly, causing Lei Dong to fall into a brief daze. Though it had lasted only an instant, it was enough for Yao Feng.

Seizing that fleeting instant, Yao Feng had directly used Thunder Flood Dragon Transformation from behind and injured Lei Dong before he could defend himself.

"Do you still want to continue?" Yao Feng asked calmly, looking directly at Lei Dong.

"Haha, Brother Yao Feng's strength is exceptional. Lei admits defeat!"

Lei Dong laughed heartily and readily conceded. Though he still had strength left, that soul attack was impossible to guard against. Even if he persisted, his chances of victory were slim.

However, Elder Lei Mie, seated nearby, wore a dark expression as he silently watched the center of the hall.

"You let me win!"

Lei Dong's attitude surprised Yao Feng somewhat. It seemed not every descendant of a great family was so spoiled and arrogant after all! Thus, Yao Feng returned the courtesy politely.

"Elder Lei Mie, it was only a sparring match. There's no need to take it too seriously! As for the alliance, we'll proceed as previously discussed. It hasn't been easy for this old fellow Shen Nong to come out even once. He must have obtained something good again. Why don't we take a look?"