Ning Chen felt a cold, overbearing force invade his body through his arms, as though countless fine needles were piercing his meridians at once.
Even with the Thousand Mountains Formula protecting his body, he could not help grunting. He slid back three steps against his will, the bluestone slabs beneath his feet cracking inch by inch as each step left a deep footprint.
But he stood firm in the end.
His performance was partly an act, though he genuinely found it somewhat taxing. Mainly, he did not want to expose his true strength, so he could only conceal his abilities.
Gu Rong withdrew his palm, a flicker of surprise passing through his eyes.
Although he had used only thirty percent of his power in that strike, with his cultivation as a rank ninety-five Titled Douluo, even thirty percent was enough to send an ordinary Soul Douluo staggering back, vomiting blood.
Yet this young man had only retreated three steps, without so much as a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth. Such defensive strength truly exceeded his expectations.
"Not bad. No wonder you dared to be so arrogant," Gu Rong said flatly, his tone betraying neither praise nor criticism. "The second palm. Be ready."
He gave Ning Chen little time to catch his breath before the second palm came whistling after the first.
The might of this strike was entirely different from the first.
If the first palm had been a surging undercurrent, silently seeping into everything, then this second palm was a terrifying wave, toppling mountains and overturning seas.
Gray Soul Power condensed in Gu Rong's palm into the savage head of a bone dragon. Opening its enormous skeletal jaws, it bore down on Ning Chen's chest with a chilling aura that seemed capable of devouring everything.