Chapter Fifty-Five: Victory and Defeat

Liu Feng could feel Li Rui’s aura growing even more intense and aggressive.

His eyes narrowed as his fists shot forward, unleashing a violent surge of power that erupted in dazzling light from his knuckles, hammering fiercely toward Li Rui.

Li Rui pressed both palms outward, sending forth a ferocious column of energy, sweeping out like a colossal storm, carrying with it a wild, shredding force that crashed brutally into Liu Feng’s fists.

A thunderous bang echoed as Liu Feng’s fists struck the energy column, causing it to rumble heavily but not shatter at once.

By then, Li Rui’s palms were already descending, and in the blink of an eye, they were right before Liu Feng.

In this moment of peril, Liu Feng’s true qi surged madly, concentrating into his fists. Instantly, the light around his fists blazed even brighter, and a wild, overwhelming power radiated out, making the air roar with the force of the impact.

He hammered forward again, shattering the energy column to pieces, his fists pressing on to collide directly with Li Rui’s palms.

A deafening rumble exploded as their fists and palms met, an immense force erupting like a volcanic blast, rippling outward in all directions. The bluestone platform beneath their feet groaned and cracked; several slabs splintered with deep fissures, teetering on the edge of collapse.

After the clash, both quickly separated, their gazes sharp and locked onto one another.

“Li Rui is our class’s acknowledged strongest. Who would have thought Liu Feng could fight him to a standstill?”

“When did Class One produce someone this formidable?”

Li Rui was the pride of the third class, yet an unknown, unheralded student could fight him to a draw—this left his classmates dumbfounded.

“I think Liu Feng is already on par with Li Jingtian now. How in the world did he train?”

“I remember just three months ago, Liu Feng was only at the fourth stage of the Qi Gathering Realm, and now he’s reached the very peak.”

Even the students of Class One, watching Liu Feng’s performance, found themselves deeply astonished.

As the students whispered among themselves, the battle on the platform raged with increasing intensity.

Liu Feng’s fists swung relentlessly, his wild power surging out in waves, making the air howl with every strike as he traded blows with Li Rui’s palms.

They darted across the arena like tigers and panthers, their fists and palms colliding repeatedly, like two raging giants locked in furious combat.

The immense energy from their strikes rolled outwards, the stone tiles beneath them cracked and splintered, shattered shards shooting in all directions. The students in the stands reacted swiftly, knocking the debris aside.

Zhang Ying, the instructor of Class Three, watched Liu Feng’s performance on stage, a gleam flashing in his eyes. Inwardly, he mused, “This boy’s progress is astounding. Just a month ago, he was at the seventh stage of Qi Gathering, and now he’s this powerful. Truly a prodigy.”

Liu Feng’s own instructor, Zhang Ning, nodded with approval as she watched his figure on the platform. She had witnessed his steady growth firsthand and was well aware that this student was gifted beyond compare.

On the stage, the two figures moved like lightning, still fiercely clashing. At the heart of their battle, surges of powerful energy erupted, shaking the arena like a giant drum being struck.

“Sky-Splitting Sword Art!”

With a loud shout, Li Rui’s hands rose, fingers joined as if forming a sword. Two brilliant beams of light burst from his fingertips, and an incisive, razor-sharp force surged forward.

He flashed toward Liu Feng, unleashing two fierce sword-qi strikes that tore through the air, making a sharp hissing sound.

Liu Feng raised his palm like a blade, channeling surging true qi into it until a massive blade of energy coalesced, exuding a domineering, explosive force.

He swung his blade-hand down at Li Rui’s sword-qi, and the two sharp forces collided.

A blast thundered as violent, razor-edged energy exploded out, slicing fresh cracks into the bluestone platform, which then fractured apart.

Both fighters weaved and shifted, darting around the ring, their sword and blade energies clashing repeatedly, each collision sending powerful shockwaves rippling outward.

At that moment, Liu Feng leapt into the air, his blade-energy descending in a sweeping arc toward Li Rui, the cutting force shrieking through the air.

Li Rui’s eyes narrowed, a fierce light flashing in his pupils as he swung his sword-qi upward to meet the descending blade.

A tremendous crash like rolling thunder resounded, making the audience’s ears ring.

The immense force sent Liu Feng flying upward, while Li Rui staggered backward under the blow.

Liu Feng landed lightly, then launched himself at Li Rui once more.

Li Rui moved as swiftly as lightning, his hands radiating dazzling sword-energy that stabbed furiously into the massive blade-energy.

A resounding bang rang out. The blade-energy shattered explosively, the sword-energy splintering and dissipating into the air, and both fighters leapt backward, retreating from the impact.

“They’re both fighting with everything they have, and still, there’s no clear winner.”

“I’m sure it won’t take long before Li Rui wins.”

“I say Liu Feng will win this match before long.”

“Dream on!”

“You’re the one dreaming!”

At that, the students from Class One and Class Three erupted into argument in the stands, neither side willing to back down, the tension threatening to spill over into a brawl.

Zhang Ning’s brow furrowed at the commotion. Her voice rang out, cool and clear: “What kind of behavior is this? Victory and defeat are common in battle. Anyone who continues to make trouble will be asked to leave.”

Zhang Ying from Class Three added, “With tempers this small and vision this narrow, how will any of you become true champions in the future?”

Hearing the instructors’ words, the quarreling students immediately fell silent.

By now, the battle on stage had reached its final phase. After exchanging hundreds of moves, both combatants were exhausted—physically, spiritually, and in terms of true qi.

The lightning-fast speed and river-like torrents of power had both begun to wane.

“Greenwood Palm!”

Li Rui gathered his last reserves of true qi, pouring it madly into his right palm. Instantly, a verdant glowing palm formed, its center seemingly coalescing into a great green tree. This strike, brimming with agility, resilience, and unending vigor, surged forward.

Liu Feng channeled all his remaining true qi into his fists, which blazed with blinding light. His power surged like mountains and seas as he swung for the greenwood energy palm.

The two attacks collided, unleashing a storm of violent energy that sent ripples through the air. The two were locked in a deadlock.

With a mighty shout, Liu Feng’s fists flared with renewed brilliance, pushing Li Rui backward.

Gritting his teeth, Li Rui mustered the last of his true qi, channeling it into his palm. The green light surged, forcing Liu Feng to stagger back as well.