"Huh? It didn't kill instantly?"
Someone who witnessed this scene exclaimed in surprise:
What's going on?!
Because of Han Xuanji's previous performance, his battle naturally attracted a lot of attention.
Although it was supposed to be a match where they were beating out weaker opponents, almost half of the people in the room were still paying attention to Han Xuanji's situation.
It seems Han Xuanji has met her match this time?
Within the light screen, Han Xuanji made another move, five-colored light condensing into a semi-transparent hand that reached out to grab Zhou Lie.
Zhou Lie roared, and creation and destruction transformed into a pillar of light, forcefully shattering the giant hand.
The two exchanged blows, locked in a fierce battle.
In the stands, the audience's expressions changed from boredom to disbelief.
"What... what's going on? Why are Han Xuanji and him fighting so fiercely?"
"Is Zhou Lie really that strong? Isn't he also a Earth-level seed?"
Someone provided a reasonable analysis and offered an answer.
"Could it be that Zhou Lie is also a master, but he's been pretending all along?"
"Two Earth-level seeds have already beaten Heaven-level seeds, so it seems normal for a third one to appear, right?"
"Very likely."
This statement was accepted by many, but it was quickly refuted by others:
"Where did all these dark horses come from? I think Han Xuanji is throwing the game. Isn't Zhou Lie also a cultivator from Thousand Souls City?"
"Hold back? Why would we hold back? This is Principle Conference, not a show!"
"Besides, Zhou Lie is said to have had a grudge against Han Xuanji before. If I ran into him, wouldn't I beat him to a pulp?"
"That makes sense. Zhou Lie might also be a master!"
There was much discussion in the stands, and they came to a "reasonable" answer.
That is, Zhou Lie is also a hidden master capable of fighting against a Heaven-level seed.
However, some people insist on contradicting this view, believing that Han Xuanji may have just happened to have the means to restrain Zhou Yunhe before, and this time she has encountered a powerful person and cannot quickly defeat him.
On the high platform, He Guanshan's expression was somewhat subtle.
He could obviously tell that Han Xuanji was holding back.
How could he not know the strength of those two?
Those moves probably look impressive, but their actual lethality is limited.
Although Zhou Lie was fighting fiercely, Han Xuanji was simply holding back his strength at just the right moment with each collision.
"This kid..."
He Guanshan shook his head, but a slight smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Han Xuanji to do this shows that he was a person who valued loyalty and affection.
This kind of person is worth befriending.
They're not afraid that if the other party becomes successful, they'll look down on others.
Hun Qianxue also noticed this and secretly found it amusing.
That kid knows how to handle people.
In another corner of the stands, Wang Ping was so anxious he kept stamping his feet.
"What is Brother Han doing? That Zhou Lie could be dealt with in one punch, why is he dragging this out for so long!"
Hun Jiuge tugged at his sleeve and lowered her voice:
"Why are you in such a hurry? Young Master Han has his reasons."
"What's the point? Winning is all that matters!"
Li Tiantong didn't speak, but just looked at the light screen with a slight smile on his lips.
He understood.
On the snowy plains, Zhou Lie grew more and more excited as the fight progressed.
He didn't know that Han Xuanji was letting him win; he only knew that he was in exceptionally good form today.
Every punch, every dodge, every clash of Dao Principles was perfectly timed and exhilarating.
This feeling is like going back to the time when I was sparring with my master.
etc...
Zhou Lie seemed to realize something; was the other party going easy on him?
Thinking of this, Zhou Lie came up with a plan and deliberately made a teasing remark:
"Brother Han, have you not eaten?"
Han Xuanji stepped aside and said calmly:
"Same to you."
The two exchanged another blow, each taking several steps back.
Zhou Lie was panting heavily, his eyes filled with fighting spirit:
"Let's go again and settle this with one strike!"
Han Xuanji looked at him and sighed inwardly.
The act is almost over; if it continues, the mistake will be exposed.
Mainly, he was too lazy to offer any more moves.
"Brother Zhou, you have indeed made a lot of progress."
Han Xuanji suddenly spoke, her tone serious.
Zhou Lie was taken aback.
"However, it really is time to end this."
Han Xuanji raised his right hand and clenched his fist.
A pale golden light condensed on the surface of his fist, filled with profound Power of Mystic Heaven, making it more solid than ever before.
Zhou Lie's pupils contracted as he sensed a deadly threat. However, he did not back down. Instead, he also exerted his full strength, condensing the Shifang Dao Principles into the Creation Divine Fist. This strike was the result of his painstaking research and was more than twice as strong as when he fought Han Xuanji.
Boom--
The two fists collided, unleashing a deafening roar.
The snow on the snowfield was lifted up by the blast wave, sweeping outwards like a white tsunami.
The moment Zhou Lie's fists made contact, he felt a power he had never experienced before—a power that was a fusion of multiple primal forces, domineering and almost invincible.
He had virtually no chance of resistance.
His body flew backward like a kite with a broken string.
The wind and snow howled in his ears, and the sky and earth rapidly alternated in his field of vision.
In the last moment before he lost consciousness, he saw Han Xuanji standing there, slowly withdrawing his fist.
Those calm eyes remained unchanged.
A white light shone and enveloped him.
The next instant, Zhou Lie was already kneeling on the high platform.
He was breathing heavily, sweat dripping from his forehead and making a soft sound as it fell to the ground.
His right hand was trembling, and his knuckles were tingling and numb—the marks left by the shockwave from the Power of Mystic Heaven.
He looked down at his fist, then looked up at the huge light screen above the platform.
His name had faded from the screen.
Han Xuanji's name firmly occupies a place in the top eight.
"Brother Han, you really didn't hold back..."
Zhou Lie muttered to himself, his voice filled with bitterness.
He had already guessed that Han Xuanji might have been letting him win in the previous rounds.
But when the truth was laid bare, he realized the gap was far greater than he had imagined.
If Han Xuanji had used his full strength from the beginning, he would have been eliminated long ago.
The so-called evenly matched strength is nothing more than the other party putting on an act.
This is what happens when a lower-ranked player encounters a higher-ranked player.
Zhou Lie supported himself on his knees and slowly stood up.
He took a deep breath, straightened his back, and waited for the mocking glances and harsh comments from the stands.
He lost, and he lost badly.
He couldn't even hold on for a single breath before that final punch.
How would those people laugh at him?
Would people say he's overestimating himself?
However, the expected ridicule did not come.
A deafening roar of cheers erupted from the stands.
" Zhou Lie! Zhou Lie! Zhou Lie!"
It wasn't just one person, or a few people, but tens of thousands of people shouting in unison.
The sounds came from the direction of the Tiger and Panther Legion's stands, from the stands where the cultivators of Thousand Souls City had gathered, and mostly from faces he didn't recognize, all clapping enthusiastically.
Zhou Lie was stunned.
He stared blankly at the surging crowd, at the waving fists and excited faces, his heart filled with confusion.
He lost, but it feels like he won?