Gaara's Challenge!

"Eight Gates Closure!"

As his final finger fell, lightning and force erupted in a tangled burst. Xiao Li was violently knocked back, crashing into the wall at the edge of the arena.

At the same time, the energy storm brought about by the Eight Gates Formation vanished in an instant. It was as if he had been returned to his original state, the crimson color of his skin gradually fading to pale.

Xiao Li cried out in pain and tried to get back up to continue fighting, but the moment he rose from the ground, he felt the strength inside him rapidly draining away. That violent, overbearing energy had vanished without a trace.

Then, intense soreness and exhaustion washed over him like a tide. His legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground once more.

"What's going on?!"

He could not help but be startled. He knew his own strength well; under normal circumstances, he should have been able to maintain the Fifth Gate for nearly two minutes.

Yet this time, he had reverted to normal in less than a minute. It was truly strange.

Moreover, he had always been forced out of that combat state only after exhausting all his stamina. But just now, it had felt as though some external force had forcibly stripped away the energy of the Eight Gates Formation...

Might Guy, watching from the stands, naturally noticed the problem as well. He immediately disregarded everything else, leaped down, and landed beside Xiao Li. With concern in his voice, he asked, "Li, are you alright?"

Xiao Li shook his head. "I'm fine. I just don't know why my strength suddenly disappeared."

Hearing this, Guy hurriedly examined him, only to pause in slight surprise.

Not only was his beloved student uninjured, but his physical condition was even better than expected.

Logically, after using the Eight Gates Formation, both body and mind should have fallen into extreme exhaustion, and every use should have caused enormous damage to one's life force.

But although Xiao Li was weak all over, he could at least still barely stand. The damage to his body was also far less severe than expected.

Why was that?

With that thought, his gaze turned toward Chen Feng across from him. A contemplative look flashed through his eyes before he walked straight over.

Seeing this, everyone assumed that Guy, angered by his student's defeat, was going to personally reclaim his honor. Yet when he stopped before Chen Feng, he instead bowed solemnly and said, "Thank you!"

The others were all slightly stunned by this scene, unable to understand what was happening. Was he thanking someone for beating up his own student?

But Guy had no mind to care about what others thought. At that moment, countless thoughts arose in his heart.

The unexpected changes in Xiao Li's body had most likely been caused by the person before him.

If his guess was correct, then this Dao School youth possessed a way to eliminate the side effects of the Eight Gates Formation...

And his guess was indeed correct. Chen Feng truly possessed such a method.

The so-called Eight Gates Formation had actually evolved from the Dao School's Qimen Dunjia.

The Dao School pursued Harmony of Man and Nature, drawing upon the essence of heaven and earth to replenish oneself. What it sought was the transformation of one's very life level; divine abilities and techniques were merely incidental products.

Yet some madman had somehow reversed the Eight Gates technique, using life force as the price to forcibly break open the body's Eight Gates in exchange for power far beyond one's own.

Trading away one's life for temporary strength—no matter how powerful it was, it could never be considered the righteous path.

What Chen Feng had done just now was use the power of Feng Hou Qi Men alongside acupoint-sealing techniques to seal several major acupoints within Xiao Li's body, thereby closing the five Gates that had been opened.

Although this had ended Xiao Li's Eight Gates state early, it had also greatly reduced the damage to his body.

That was precisely why Might Guy had thanked him.

After offering his thanks, Guy said nothing more. He silently helped Xiao Li away. After all, this was someone else's secret, so it was not appropriate to ask too much here.

Soon afterward, the referee announced Chen Feng's victory, bringing the first match of the third round to an end.

The following matches then proceeded. Half a day later, the final five victors had emerged.

They were Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha from Konoha, Gaara and Temari from the Sand Ninja, and Chen Feng from the Dao School.

Aside from Chen Feng, the other four would all be granted the title of Chunin, with the Third Hokage and the Kazekage presenting it to them together.

Just then, Gaara spoke. "Wait."

"Is there another problem?"

One of Konoha's Jonin asked.

Gaara turned his head and looked coldly at Chen Feng beside him. "I want another fight with him."

He had not forgotten what happened in the Forest of Death. Earlier, the agitation of the tailed beast within him had caused him to suffer a slight loss during his clash with Chen Feng, and it had left him deeply displeased.

He had originally planned to reclaim his honor in the later matches, but they had not encountered each other in either the preliminaries or the main tournament. Thus, he could only make the request now.

Upon hearing this request, the ninja maintaining order did not know whether he should agree, so he turned his gaze toward the Third Hokage.

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the Kazekage beside him and asked, "Lord Kazekage, what do you think?"

The man clad in the Kazekage's robes nodded, signaling his agreement.

After all, he had come here to cause trouble. Naturally, the more chaotic the scene became, the better.

Seeing that he had no objections, Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "Very well. If young friend Chen Feng agrees as well, then we shall add another round."

Chen Feng had already brought him many surprises in the earlier matches. He also wanted to see what further surprises this Dao School disciple would bring when facing an even stronger opponent.

Chen Feng did not refuse. After all, one more match meant more reputation points.

Each of them had their own motives. And so, a highly anticipated extra match began.

Chen Feng and Gaara once again stood in the arena. The two exchanged a glance before Gaara said coldly, "I told you before that if we met again, I would tear you apart!"

Chen Feng remained calm and composed. "Then come and try."

A chill flashed through Gaara's eyes. As he raised his hand, streams of yellow sand surged from the gourd on his back, transforming into whipping ribbons that twisted toward Chen Feng to tear him apart.

Chen Feng brought two fingers together like a sword and said softly, "Qian Character, Hundred Flowers in Dazzling Profusion!"

As his words fell, his figure blurred and split apart. More than a dozen identical figures instantly appeared before everyone's eyes...