That's it?

The air in the valley seemed to freeze.

The disciples from Third Peak and Seventh Peak stared at Qin Yuan, their expressions shifting from initial disdain to bewilderment, and finally to disbelief.

Just moments ago, Qin Yuan's words had struck them as arrogant and laughable—a kid who was only at Foundation Establishment level six a few days ago dared to tell two experts at Foundation Establishment level nine and ten, "I'll send you on your way"?

But now, as the terrifying aura emanating from Qin Yuan was unleashed without reservation, everyone's faces froze.

Foundation Establishment peak!

And not just any peak, but a true peak that was profound, solid, and utterly devoid of any superficiality!

The muscles on Xiong Li's face twitched. He stared intently at Qin Yuan, as if trying to find a flaw in his calm expression. "You... When did you break through?!"

Three days ago, Qin Yuan at the competition was still at Foundation Establishment level six. Three days, from level six to the peak? This defied the basic common sense of the cultivation world and overturned all cultivation theories!

Lu Yun's face turned deathly pale, his sword-holding hand trembling slightly. He could clearly feel the oppressive aura from Qin Yuan, which was even stronger than that of their Third Peak's Senior Brother Chu Feng, who was also at Foundation Establishment peak!

"This is impossible..." he muttered, "An evil technique that burns lifespan would never have such a solid aura... What kind of monstrous talent is this?!"

The other disciples from both peaks were stunned into silence.

Many of them had cultivated diligently for ten, twenty years, only to barely reach the middle stages of Foundation Establishment. Yet this young man before them had completed in three days a journey that took them half a lifetime?

In an instant, a strong sense of inferiority surged within them. What geniuses, what elites, were simply a joke in front of Qin Yuan!

Qin Yuan slowly took a step forward.

The bluestone ground beneath his feet cracked silently, spiderweb-like fissures spreading outward from him.

"Now," his gaze swept over Xiong Li and Lu Yun, "do you still want me to hand over the resources?"

Xiong Li gritted his teeth, forcibly suppressing the shock in his heart.

He was a direct disciple of Seventh Peak, at Foundation Establishment level ten peak, representing Seventh Peak's honor in this secret realm.

If he were intimidated by Qin Yuan's words and retreated, how could he maintain his standing in the sect in the future?

"Qin Yuan!" he took a deep breath and said sternly, "So what if you've broken through to Foundation Establishment peak? I am also at the peak! And I've been in this realm for three years, my foundation is much more solid than yours! You offended my Seventh Peak first, so today I will discipline you on behalf of the Peak Master, to let you know that there's always someone better!"

He spoke with righteous indignation, as if he were truly acting for the greater good of the sect.

Qin Yuan listened and suddenly smiled.

The smile was faint, yet carried undisguised mockery.

"You're quite kind," he said. "You even took the trouble to explain why you're making a move. Fine, just make your move, no need for so many excuses."

The sarcasm in his words made Xiong Li's face flush red.

"You're courting death!"

He roared, no longer bothering with pleasantries, and his spiritual energy erupted!

His cultivation at Foundation Establishment level ten peak was unleashed without reservation, condensing into a thirty-foot-tall giant bear phantom behind him! The giant bear roared to the heavens, its sound shaking the surroundings, and its terrifying pressure forced the nearby disciples to retreat.

"It's Seventh Peak's ultimate technique, Savage Bear Physique!" Zhou Ming exclaimed. "It's said that when cultivated to the extreme, one can transform into a giant bear, possessing immense strength and astonishing defense!"

Xiong Li was indeed getting serious. He stomped the ground with both feet, shooting forward like a cannonball. His right fist was clenched, condensing a blinding earth-yellow light, and he hurled it towards Qin Yuan's face with immense force!

This punch was unadorned, a pure crushing of power!

He wanted to let Qin Yuan know that even among Foundation Establishment peak experts, there was a vast difference!

Facing this punch, which could collapse a mountain wall, Qin Yuan didn't even move his feet.

He simply raised his right hand, spread his fingers, and gently clenched them towards the oncoming fist.

The movement was as gentle as catching a falling leaf.

"Boom--!!!"

The moment fist met palm, a terrifying shockwave erupted from the center of the two! The valley floor cracked inch by inch, sending sand and stones flying. Several disciples who were close were forced to retreat repeatedly, their blood and qi churning.

But everyone stared intently at the scene.

Qin Yuan stood firmly in place, his right hand firmly gripping Xiong Li's fist. The full-power strike, capable of crushing the skull of a third-tier demonic beast, was caught by his single hand, and his body didn't even budge!

Xiong Li's sneer froze on his face.

He felt as if his fist had struck a mountain forged from ten-thousand-year-old profound iron. Not only did it fail to shake the opponent in the slightest, but his entire arm went numb from the impact!

"Is that all?" Qin Yuan asked indifferently.

Before his voice even finished, he violently twisted his right hand!

"Crack--!!!"

A crisp sound of bone cracking echoed!

Xiong Li cried out in pain, his entire right arm twisted into a pretzel, his bones shattering! The intense pain made his vision blacken, and he nearly fainted.

But Qin Yuan gave him no chance to recover.

His left hand shot out, pressing a palm against Xiong Li's chest.

This palm strike seemed light and airy, but the force penetrated his body, instantly shattering Xiong Li's chest bones and destroying more than half of his meridians!

"Pfft--!!"

Xiong Li spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, flying backward as he transformed into a white light in mid-air and disappeared—eliminated.

From the first move to the end, three breaths.

Xiong Li, a Direct Disciple of Seventh Peak, at the peak of Foundation Establishment tenth layer, was crushed by Qin Yuan with one hand, eliminated in three breaths!

The entire venue fell silent.

The remaining nine disciples of Seventh Peak stared blankly at where Xiong Li had disappeared, their faces filled with fear and disbelief. Their strongest senior brother was just... gone?

Lu Yun's entire body turned cold.

His strength was on par with Xiong Li's. Xiong Li being instantly killed meant he absolutely wouldn't last three breaths either!

This thought instantly occupied his mind.

But the moment he turned to flee, Qin Yuan's gaze had already fallen upon him.

"Your turn."

Lu Yun stiffened, slowly turning around, his face as pale as paper.

He knew he couldn't escape. He had witnessed Qin Yuan's speed earlier—Xiong Li, at full power, was easily caught. Even if he wanted to flee, he definitely wouldn't be faster than Qin Yuan's pursuit.

"Qin... Senior Brother Qin..." Lu Yun's voice was dry, "This is a misunderstanding... My Third Peak has no intention of being enemies with Fifth Peak..."

"Oh?" Qin Yuan raised an eyebrow, "Weren't you just saying you wanted to settle the score with me?"

"That was... that was Xiong Li instigating!" Lu Yun said urgently, "My Third Peak and Fifth Peak have always been on good terms, how could we actually fight? It was all that scoundrel Xiong Li..."

Before he could finish speaking, a figure walked out from the Third Peak team.

It was Liu Han.

She walked up to Qin Yuan and bowed deeply, "Senior Brother Qin."

Qin Yuan looked at her, saying nothing.

Liu Han looked up, her expression complex, "Senior Brother Qin, today's matter, it is indeed my Third Peak who was in the wrong first. Senior Brother Lu Yun was momentarily foolish, please, Senior Brother Qin, show mercy and spare him."

She paused and continued, "I am willing to guarantee on my personal behalf that Third Peak will no longer be enemies with Fifth Peak from now on. In the secret realm, we will retreat three steps, and for all our gains, we are willing to give half to Fifth Peak."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone from Third Peak was stunned.

Lu Yun's expression flickered. He wanted to retort, but seeing Qin Yuan's cold eyes, he swallowed his words back.

Qin Yuan looked at Liu Han, then at the Third Peak disciples behind her—most of them looked fearful, some even daring not to meet his gaze.

He knew that after this battle, Third Peak's courage had been completely shattered.