Chapter 423 - 153: I Didn’t Want to Hit You This Hard
On the bluestone slabs of the Cyan Qilin Platform, Yang Jing and Wei Dongting faced off from a distance.
The morning light spilled down, casting their shadows upon the ground. One stood tall and straight in a white robe, his expression serene; the other was clad in combat attire, his gaze burning with killing intent.
The clamor surrounding the high platform seemed to be cut off by an invisible barrier. All eyes were locked tightly on the two combatants, and even the Elders at the judges’ table looked on with greater solemnity.
Wei Dongting was the first to move. With a low roar, he pushed off with his legs, charging swiftly and ferociously toward Yang Jing.
His Inner Strength surged, and a faint crimson glow emanated from his palms—a clear sign that he was unleashing the Fiery Sun Palm with all his might.
The palm strike carried a scorching wave of heat, like a ball of fire aimed straight for Yang Jing’s face. The technique was fierce and domineering, imbued with an unstoppable momentum.
Yang Jing’s eyes narrowed. He stood his ground, not dodging or evading, as the Inner Strength within him circulated rapidly, pouring entirely into his fists.
This time, he didn’t hold back much, directly channeling ninety percent of his Inner Strength to execute a technique from the Mountain-Breaking Seal.
His fist sliced through the air, carrying the heavy, condensed power of a collapsing mountain, and crashed thunderously against Wei Dongting’s palm.
A deafening thud exploded outward. A powerful shockwave rippled through the air, kicking up clouds of dust.
Yang Jing’s feet were firmly planted on the ground, his body unmoving. Only the hem of his robes whipped about in the gale, snapping loudly.
In contrast, Wei Dongting felt an incomparably fierce power surge from his palm through his entire body. It threw his Inner Strength into turmoil and made the web of his thumb go numb. He staggered back several steps before managing to regain his footing.
He looked up at Yang Jing, his expression instantly turning incredibly grave.
’In my previous fights, I deliberately held back twenty percent of my strength. It was so I could win by surprise in the later rounds.’
’But who would have thought this disciple from Lingxi Peak was also hiding his strength!’
’Even with both of us going all out, Yang Jing still has a clear advantage over me!’
"Not bad, kid. You’ve got some tricks," Wei Dongting growled, the solemn look on his face twisting into one of ruthless ferocity.
He held nothing back. His palms became a blur, creating overlapping crimson afterimages. The scorching waves of heat they generated seemed to nearly set the air itself on fire.
The two were instantly locked in close combat, and the continuous sound of clashing fists and palms echoed across the Cyan Qilin Platform.
Yang Jing’s Mountain-Breaking Seal techniques were heavy and condensed. Each punch carried immense weight, relentlessly forcing Wei Dongting back.
Wei Dongting’s Fiery Sun Palm, by contrast, was vicious and cunning. Its scorching palm strikes were all aimed at Yang Jing’s vital points.
After more than ten exchanges, Yang Jing still held the absolute advantage. The force behind his fists grew heavier with each blow, making Wei Dongting’s breathing ragged and his blood churn. His chest felt crushed, as if a boulder was sitting on it, and he could barely breathe.
Wei Dongting’s expression suddenly turned cold, and a sinister light glinted in his eyes.
’My skills aren’t limited to just the Fiery Sun Palm!’
In the next instant, Wei Dongting’s figure blurred. His speed suddenly surged, and he moved like a phantom, his movements erratic and unpredictable.
His palms remained fiery red as the assault from his Fiery Sun Palm grew even more ferocious. The palm afterimages weaved between his movements, making his trajectory impossible to follow.
The disciples below the platform saw this and immediately burst into exclamations of shock.
"What a fast Body Technique! To think Senior Brother Wei still had a trick like this up his sleeve!"
"No wonder he claimed to fear no one. He had a trump card all along!"
"He must have trained a Body Technique-type martial art to the Huajin Realm, right?"
Wei Dongting’s gaze was locked coldly on Yang Jing as he sneered inwardly.
’This Body Technique is my trump card. I spent more than ten years of blood, sweat, and tears to cultivate it to the Huajin Realm.’
’Not only have I trained the Fiery Sun Palm to the Peak of Transformation, but I also possess a Huajin Body Technique and another martial art at the Peak of Dark Energy.’
’With this kind of power, I was originally preparing to deal with Yuwen Mingjue, Zhao Chong, and Qin Wenbao.’
’I never expected I’d have to reveal it early just to deal with Yang Jing!’
Staring at Yang Jing’s slightly stunned expression, Wei Dongting couldn’t help but sneer. ’To force me to use my ace in the hole... you can be proud of yourself when you fall to this technique!’
...
「Below the Cyan Qilin Platform.」
Steward Zheng’s brow instantly furrowed, a flash of worry in his eyes.
Zhang Hengyi and Zhao Xuexiang’s expressions changed. They exchanged a look, each seeing the shock in the other’s eyes.
Just moments ago, Yang Jing had held a clear advantage. Who could have imagined that Wei Dongting had such a trump card—that he had quietly cultivated a Body Technique to the Huajin Realm?
"This is bad. Junior Brother Yang is in danger!"
Zhang Hengyi exclaimed in a low voice, "The difference in their strength wasn’t that great to begin with. If a gap opens up in their Body Technique, it’s not even a fight anymore!"
Zhao Xuexiang added gravely, "A slight edge in speed drastically increases your chances of winning. With Wei Dongting’s sudden burst of speed, I’m afraid Junior Brother Yang is about to be forced onto the defensive and take a beating!"
Just as the two were voicing their concerns, Yang Jing, on the platform, took a deep breath. His chest swelled slightly as the Inner Strength throughout his body began to circulate even faster.
He watched Wei Dongting lunge at him like a phantom, wreathed in scorching palm winds. Stomping his foot hard on the bluestone slab, his own speed instantly increased. His body became a faint white blur as he shot forward to meet the attack.
Fist and palm collided once more with a deep, thunderous boom.
Wei Dongting felt that familiar, ferocious power travel up from his palm, making his arm go numb.
He immediately used the force of the impact to retreat. His movements were as light and unpredictable as a drifting willow catkin as he instantly circled to Yang Jing’s left. The crimson glow in his palm intensified as he unleashed another killing blow from his Fiery Sun Palm.
But to his horror, Yang Jing was stuck to him like a shadow, his speed not the least bit slower.
At the very instant Wei Dongting changed his vector, Yang Jing shifted as well. Fists clenched, he unleashed a continuous barrage of techniques from the Mountain-Breaking Seal, completely nullifying his opponent’s assault.