Champion-Li Yao!

At that thought, Li Yao steeled himself and shot forward like a cannonball!

Across from him, Ye Xiao was stunned.

Was this guy really that bold?

He knew he couldn't win, yet he still dared to attack first?

But Ye Xiao had no time to think. Li Yao was already upon him.

"Heaven-Breaking Fist!"

Li Yao roared and struck the opening stance of the Heaven-Breaking Fist.

His fist tore through the air, heading straight for Ye Xiao's face.

Ye Xiao hurriedly raised his arms to block.

He knew how powerful Li Yao's Heaven-Breaking Fist was.

That earlier punch had even made him bleed.

He didn't dare let down his guard.

But just as he braced his arms for the blow, Li Yao abruptly changed moves!

His fist opened into a palm, and before Ye Xiao could blink, he slapped the second joint of Ye Xiao's left index finger!

Oh no!

Ye Xiao's heart lurched. How did he know the weak point of Myriad Forms Return to Origin?

Ye Xiao tried to pull away, but Li Yao had changed moves too quickly. He couldn't react in time.

Smack!

A sharp crack rang out.

Then, as though a switch had been flipped, wisps of Spiritual Qi began leaking from Ye Xiao's body.

Ye Xiao seized the chance to turn defense into offense, driving a heavy punch into Li Yao's chest.

Bang!

Li Yao flew several meters backward.

He slammed hard into the Arena.

Once there was distance between them, Ye Xiao hurriedly examined himself.

It's over. Myriad Forms Return to Origin has been broken!

Despair crept into Ye Xiao's heart.

He had never imagined that Li Yao would see through the weak point of his technique, something no one else had ever discovered.

How the hell was that possible?

"System, you're incredible!"

Li Yao got up from the ground and rubbed his chest.

"How'd you know that was this guy's weak point?"

"Ding. This system knows everything."

The system gave its smug reply.

Li Yao looked at Ye Xiao's deathly pale face and felt immensely satisfied.

That's what you get for showing off. That's what you get for revealing a Heaven-Rank Cultivation Technique in public. Not feeling so clever now, are you?

Ye Xiao stood rooted to the spot, feeling utterly wretched.

He could feel the Spiritual Power inside him pouring out uncontrollably.

The heart of Myriad Forms Return to Origin lay in its "return to origin."

It meant Spiritual Power circulated endlessly within the body, renewing itself without cease.

But now that its weak point had been struck, his Spiritual Power was like air escaping a punctured balloon. He couldn't hold on to it.

"You..." Ye Xiao raised his head and stared at Li Yao in disbelief. "How did you know my weak point?"

Li Yao shrugged and grinned. "Would you believe me if I said I guessed?"

Why was this idiot telling everyone his weak point again?

Ye Xiao: "..."

Guess, my ass!

Was that something anyone could guess?

"Who exactly are you?" Ye Xiao asked through gritted teeth.

"Li Yao. Who else?" Li Yao dusted himself off. "What, did I knock you senseless?"

Ye Xiao took a deep breath and forced down his shock.

He knew this wasn't the time to pursue the question.

What mattered now was finding a way to stabilize the Spiritual Power within him.

But with Myriad Forms Return to Origin broken, he couldn't stabilize it at all.

He needed to regulate his breathing. If he waited any longer, things would only get worse.

He glanced at Li Yao, who was clutching his chest, then clenched his teeth.

Bitterly, he spoke.

"I concede."

The crowd erupted.

"What the hell? Ye Xiao conceded?"

"No way. Weren't they evenly matched just now?"

"What did Li Yao do?"

"I didn't even see it clearly. He slapped Ye Xiao once, and Ye Xiao conceded?"

"That's ridiculous!"

Up on the raised platform, Shi Jian froze too.

He narrowed his eyes at the grinning Li Yao on the Arena, stunned to his core.

How had that kid done it?

Others might not have seen it, but an expert of his caliber had seen everything clearly.

Li Yao's palm had struck precisely where Ye Xiao's technique was weakest as it circulated.

Luck couldn't explain that.

Only someone with an exceptionally deep understanding of the technique could have done it.

But how old was Li Yao? Twenty-two!

How could he have such profound knowledge?

The more Shi Jian thought about it, the more something seemed off.

That kid had been hiding quite a lot.

On the Arena, Ye Xiao had already turned to leave.

"Wait."

Li Yao called out to him.

Ye Xiao looked back at him coldly. "What else?"

"Um..." Li Yao scratched his head. "Want me to help repair your technique?"

Ye Xiao paused.

"You?"

"Yeah, me." Li Yao smiled faintly. "If I can break your technique, I can repair it too. What do you say? Want to try?"

Ye Xiao fell silent.

He knew Li Yao was telling the truth.

Someone who could break his technique could naturally repair it.

But he and Li Yao were neither family nor friends. Why would Li Yao help him?

"Why?"

Ye Xiao asked.

"Because..." Li Yao thought for a moment. "I think you're a decent guy. You show off a bit, but you're not bad. And you didn't try to kill me just now, right?"

Ye Xiao stared at him.

He hadn't expected Li Yao to say that.

"All right."

Ye Xiao nodded. "Sorry for the trouble."

Li Yao walked over with a smile, rested a hand on Ye Xiao's shoulder, and said quietly, "Don't move. I'll help stabilize your Spiritual Power."

With that, he circulated the Nine-Turn Profound Art and channeled a stream of pure Spiritual Power into Ye Xiao's body.

Ye Xiao felt warmth flow into him. The Spiritual Power that had been pouring out of him began to settle.

Astonishment stirred in his heart.

They were both Heaven-Rank Cultivation Techniques, so why did Li Yao's seem even stronger than Myriad Forms Return to Origin?

"All done."

Li Yao withdrew his hand and patted Ye Xiao's shoulder. "It's stable for now. The rest is up to you."

Ye Xiao nodded and gave Li Yao a long look.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it." Li Yao waved a hand. "We're friends now. If you ever need help, just ask."

Ye Xiao's mouth twitched.

They'd been fighting tooth and nail a moment ago, and now they were friends?

Wasn't that a little fast?

Below the stage, everyone stared in disbelief.

"No way. He just patted Ye Xiao, and then Ye Xiao conceded?"

"This turn of events is ridiculous!"

"I think I'm dreaming."

Liu Ming was shouting himself hoarse below the stage. "Senior Li Yao is incredible! Senior Li Yao is number one!"

Li Yao stood on the Arena, listening to the cheers below. He was thrilled beyond words.

Ding! Congratulations to the host for defeating Ye Xiao and winning the Superpower Competition!

Background Value +10,000.

Side quest: Enter the Superpower Competition and win the championship. Complete!

Quest reward: 50,000 Background Value.

Li Yao listened to the system notifications, grinning from ear to ear.

"I'm rich! I'm rich!"

He had another 60,000 Background Value now.

Once the competition's over, I'll trade with the system for something good.

Li Yao happily made his plans.

Just then, Shi Jian stood, cleared his throat, and announced, "The champion of this year's Superpower Competition is—Li Yao!"

The crowd burst into deafening cheers.

Li Yao stood on the Arena, basking in everyone's attention.

At that moment, he knew he had finally shed the label of a hopeless simp! One piece of the mess left by this body's original owner was finally behind him.