The entire corridor fell silent for a moment.
Ouyang Fanke's eyes narrowed, his pupils contracting sharply as his eyes turned bloodshot.
He was furious now, with the bitter hatred of a man who had been humiliated.
He touched his struck cheek. It burned, then slowly began to swell.
That showed just how hard and cleanly the slap had landed.
But though the blow had carried plenty of force, it had not drawn on Blood Qi. Otherwise, with Lin Xiaotian's Blood Qi and Blood-Qi Resonance, a swollen cheek and finger marks would have been the least of his worries.
He would have been seriously injured.
"You..."
It took Ouyang Fanke all his strength to force out that one word.
His hatred, shame, fury, and murderous intent, clenched tight between his teeth, were all packed into that tiny "you."
He dared not say more, nor did he dare accuse the boy again. He knew he was no match for him.
He had learned that earlier, outside the Ouyang Household's gates.
He had simply refused to accept it, clinging to the hope that he had only fallen for the boy's trick because he had let his guard down.
But now, facing the boy again, after seeing how the other members of the Lineage had fared and taking a slap himself...
He knew how wide the gap between them was.
Yet he was almost at the late stage of External Force, while this boy had only reached Blood Tempering. How could this be?
How could the gap be so vast?
Suddenly, he understood.
"Your speed..."
Lin Xiaotian smiled.
"You finally noticed. Want to try again?"
Ouyang Fanke's face darkened. He abruptly thrust out a palm, Blood Qi gathering within it. In the blink of an eye, a surging force took shape.
"If I can't