Chapter 448 - 447: Tieshan
’Yes, I know my manners.’
’For that reason, this ridiculously young Elder should go easy on me. Yes, he definitely will,’ Qir Meng thought to himself, his expression reverent.
It wasn’t like he had a choice!
After all, Qin Ya was the madman who had single-handedly slaughtered the members of more than a dozen Blood Nether Association strongholds. His killing intent was enough to startle gods and ghosts, earning him the moniker "Killing God." How could he not be afraid?
Qin Ya looked at the deferential Qir Meng before him, smiled gently, and clasped his hands. "This is the fighting ring. There are no distinctions of status here. Brother Qir, there’s no need to be so formal."
"Yes."
Qir Meng clasped his hands in return and thought, ’Looks like it’s working.’
"Come on, then."
"Then forgive my impertinence."
Qir Meng let out a low shout. With a BOOM, his figure shot forward like a cannonball. He clenched his fist, which was wreathed in tendrils of sharp, furious wind.
’Not bad speed.’
The punch was incredibly fast; even a Half-Step King might not be able to react in time. But in Qin Ya’s eyes, Qir Meng’s every move and trajectory were perfectly clear.
He stepped aside to dodge, deliberately slowing his movements as he threw a punch. Qir Meng’s pupils constricted slightly as he blocked it with a defensive posture. He felt the True Essence transferred from the blow wasn’t as powerful as he’d imagined; it merely sent him staggering back a hundred feet or so.
Qir Meng’s eyes darted about. He instantly realized Qin Ya was holding back. He burst into laughter and boomed, "Elder Qin’s strength is truly astonishing! Let’s fight again!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Qir Meng charged forward once more.
"Alright, let’s continue."
Qin Ya thought for a moment. Not wanting to make Qir Meng’s defeat too unsightly, he suppressed his strength and engaged him in a flurry of punches and kicks. The scene looked incredibly intense.
"Come, come, Elder Qin! Take this punch of mine!"
"To think the Elder’s Fist Technique incorporates Spear Technique. Truly extraordinary!"
"Heh, Brother Qir’s application of the Mysteries of Wind is also quite impressive."
"Good! Come! This battle is truly exhilarating!"
The crowd watched the fight, their expressions turning rather strange.
’What is this? Are they just playing around?’
’You call this a duel? You must take us for fools.’
Meanwhile, high above, Ming Yue and the others were at a loss for whether to laugh or cry.
After nearly an hour, Qir Meng threw a punch and then recoiled several hundred feet away. He looked at Qin Ya, clasped his hands, and declared, "Elder Qin’s strength is truly unparalleled. You are worthy of being called the greatest prodigy in the history of our Kunyun Palace. I, Qir Meng, admit defeat. I hope I will have another opportunity to fight the Elder again."
Qin Ya smiled. "You let me win."
Qir Meng nodded, then flicked his sleeves. Head held high and chest puffed out, he descended from the ring with an extraordinary air, his expression tinged with a hint of solitary pride as he walked.
"Ahem, ahem... In this duel, Qin Ya is victorious."
The subsequent duels continued for another two full days, concluding the first round of eliminations. Half of the Disciples were eliminated. Among them, Muh Qing failed to advance to the second round. Having only recently broken through to the Celestial Human realm, he was not yet proficient in controlling his Dharma Aspect.
"Heh, Brother Muh, don’t be discouraged."
"Don’t worry, Brother Qin. I was just here to gain some experience," Muh Qing replied with a casual smile. He added, "Brother Qin, I’ll be waiting for your good news."
After speaking, he left along with the other eliminated contestants.
At that moment, the second round of duels was about to begin, and everyone prepared to draw lots.
This time, Qin Ya drew a Martial Artist named Feng Ba.
"Feng Ba. It’s said his strength is not to be underestimated. He once escaped from the clutches of a King, and an ordinary Half-Step King is no match for him." Just then, Leng Qiushan, a longsword strapped to his back, walked over and commented in a somewhat detached tone.
"Mm, even I would have a difficult time against him."
Xue Qianlong said coolly, then added to Qin Ya, "But with your strength, dealing with him won’t be a problem. You’ve basically already passed the second round."
"I wasn’t so lucky. I drew Zhao Tieshan."
Just then, Ling Zhan walked up, a grim look on his face. It wasn’t that he was afraid of Zhao Tieshan, but that his opponent’s Mysterious Technique was incredibly troublesome, which vexed him greatly.
"That guy is like a damn turtle shell. I can’t even put a dent in him."
"Indeed. Zhao Tieshan’s Mysterious Technique is quite tricky. Once he uses it, I’m not even sure my Sword Qi could break through it."
Leng Qiushan sounded resigned. "And besides his defense, his Attack Power is also impressive, comparable to a Half-Step King. The combination of the two makes him a tough opponent."
Hearing this, the look on Ling Zhan’s face grew even uglier.
A short while later, Ling Zhan stepped onto the ring to face Zhao Tieshan.
Both were formidable fighters, ranking high among the contestants. Their battle immediately drew the attention of the majority of the crowd, who began to discuss it animatedly.
"Zhao Tieshan versus Ling Zhan. I remember they fought not long ago, right?"
"That’s right. Unfortunately, Ling Zhan lost that time."
"This fight will probably end the same way. Zhao Tieshan’s Mysterious Technique is just too insane. He’s like a fortress of bronze and iron; you can’t even touch him."
On the ring, Zhao Tieshan laughed loudly, looking at Ling Zhan with disdain. "What a coincidence. You lost to me last time, and this time will be no exception."
Although Zhao Tieshan was the clear favorite, Ling Zhan wasn’t one to lose his nerve before the fight even started. He gave an arrogant laugh as a domineering aura erupted from him. "Heh, you turtle shell! This time, you’ll get a good taste of your Grandpa Ling’s fists!"
"Fight!"
With a thunderous shout, the two shot toward each other like cannonballs. BOOM! Their fists collided, and a powerful gale swept out from around them.
"Why are your punches so weak and feeble?" Ling Zhan sneered.
Immediately, his aura surged again. A Mysterious Technique manifested, like a great mountain descending from the sky, sending Zhao Tieshan flying back several hundred feet. But a black light flashed around Zhao Tieshan, blocking the force of the blow. He said contemptuously, "Hmph. Your punches are still as weak as a woman’s. Are you trying to scratch an itch for me?"
Before his words had faded, a violent ripple of energy erupted from Ling Zhan. The Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi surged, forming a Dharma Aspect a thousand feet tall. The Dharma Aspect brought its palms together, gathering a peerless amount of energy and blasting out a majestic beam of yellow light.
The beam carried an immense, heavy power, causing the very air to tremble!
"Now *this* is a little more interesting."
Zhao Tieshan roared. Black light bloomed from his body as his own thousand-foot-tall Dharma Aspect condensed. At the same time, a layer of True Essence surged over the Dharma Aspect, forming black Armor that exuded a Realm of indestructibility, like Vajra itself!
"Black Steel Divine Armor!"
’Damn it, it’s that turtle shell again.’
Ling Zhan cursed inwardly as he controlled his Dharma Aspect to charge forward, throwing punch after punch. The immense power made the entire void tremble with Vibration.
But when the blows landed on Zhao Tieshan’s Black Armor, they had no effect whatsoever!
The Defense Power of that Black Armor was simply astonishing. Ling Zhan’s mountain-destroying Dharma Aspect hammered against it, but it was like striking a mountain forged from solid steel. At most, he could only make it tremble slightly. Zhao Tieshan... Iron Mountain... Ling Zhan couldn’t help but roast the man’s parents for their foresight in giving him that name.
"Haha, it’s useless!"
"Your fists aren’t even worthy of scratching my itches."
With that, Zhao Tieshan threw three consecutive punches, sending Ling Zhan flying.
And with that, the outcome of the battle was already clear.
In the end, Ling Zhan was defeated from exhaustion.