Chapter 42: Crushing Victory

Chapter 42: Crushing Victory

The palm strike was domineering, tearing through the air with a force that seemed capable of obliterating everything in its path. Chen Feng's expression remained unchanged. Without even drawing his sword, he channeled the Primordial Chaos Sword Force, his figure blurring as a tempestuous gale howled around him. In an instant, his leg shot through the air like a bolt of lightning.

Wind Demon Hundred Strikes - Hurricane Grass!

The deafening roar of wind filled the air.

Before Shi Lei's palm strike could fully descend, a violent storm-like aura surged toward him, suffocating him in its wake.

The next moment— The leg strike tore through the void, locking onto Shi Lei with terrifying precision. Unable to evade, Shi Lei shuddered involuntarily, his muscles tensing as he accelerated his palm strike, slashing it viciously toward the incoming leg shadow.

A thunderous collision erupted, shockwaves scattering in all directions.

The leg shadow dispersed, but a figure was sent flying backward at an astonishing speed, crashing into a coiled dragon pillar with a muffled grunt. A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of Shi Lei's lips.

"My thanks for the match," Chen Feng said casually.

Shi Lei nearly spat blood in frustration.

"What kind of leg technique was that? It seemed extraordinary..."

"Top-grade Martial Arts—Wind Demon Hundred Strikes!"

The crowd gasped in shock.

How many could master Top-grade Martial Arts while still in the Body Forging Realm?

Extremely few!

Throughout the Huntian Sect's history, such individuals were rare.

Most prodigies could only begin mastering Top-grade Martial Arts after reaching the Aperture Opening Realm.

This wasn’t because they were incapable of doing so in the Body Forging Realm, but rather because it demanded excessive time and effort, which would inevitably delay their cultivation progress.

The Body Forging Realm was the foundation of martial arts—the more solid, the better. However, lingering too long in this stage risked falling behind peers. Sacrificing progress for the sake of advanced techniques was a sure path to lagging behind others.

"Ye Yunqi, our duel three months ago was rather unsatisfying," Chen Feng said, ignoring the seething Shi Lei as his sharp gaze locked onto Ye Yunqi's face. His eyes turned piercing. "I hope your bloodline evolution has made you sturdy enough to withstand more than a single strike from me this time."

Ye Yunqi's face darkened like a scorched pot.

Three months ago, he had been utterly crushed by Chen Feng in a single strike, left severely wounded. That humiliation had taken root in his heart, festering into seething hatred—yet he had no choice but to suppress it.

Everything would be settled once they entered the Hidden Dragon Secret Realm.

But now, hearing Chen Feng's taunts, Ye Yunqi nearly exploded with rage. The hatred he had forcibly restrained surged like molten lava in his chest, threatening to erupt.

Unable to hold back, Ye Yunqi prepared to strike.

Even if his current cultivation was on par with Chen Feng's, he had little confidence in defeating him.

But if he didn’t act, his reputation—and even Tiancang Peak's standing—would be trampled under Chen Feng's feet, reduced to a laughingstock.

"Junior Brother Chen, I am Jiang Yuankai, a core disciple of Tiancang Peak," a young man beside Ye Yunqi suddenly stood and spoke, a faint smile on his face as he regarded Chen Feng. "I entered the sect two years earlier than you, but alas, my talent is limited. Despite two years of arduous cultivation, I’ve only barely reached the Eleventh Transformation of the Body Forging Realm. Hearing of your peerless talent and exquisite swordsmanship—and as a fellow swordsman—I wish to seek your guidance. Surely, Junior Brother won’t refuse?"

He paused, then added with a smirk, "Ah, but if Junior Brother is concerned about the gap in our cultivation, I can’t exactly suppress my strength. How about this—I’ll let you have three free strikes. Would that suffice?"

Jiang Yuankai narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled leisurely.

"Surely, the disciple of the Juejian Peak Master—renowned for being unrivaled among his peers and capable of fighting above his level—wouldn’t back down now, would he?"

It had to be said that Jiang Yuankai, though seemingly amiable in speech, was quite devious. With just a few words, he had cut off Chen Feng’s path of retreat.

If Chen Feng refused the battle, the reputation of Juejian Peak would inevitably suffer to some extent.

Countless gazes instantly fell upon Chen Feng, waiting to see how he would respond.

The difference in strength between the Tenth Transformation of the Body Forging Realm and the Eleventh Transformation was undeniably vast. Even if Chen Feng had cultivated Top-grade Martial Arts, bridging that gap would be no easy feat.

"Fine."

Chen Feng responded without the slightest hesitation.

"Junior Brother Chen, such boldness!" Jiang Yuankai’s eyes flickered briefly in surprise at Chen Feng’s reply before he chuckled. With a graceful leap, he swept forward like a gust of wind, sword in hand, landing before Chen Feng with an air of elegance. "Junior Brother, you may strike first."

Chen Feng wasted no time. In a flash, he unleashed the Wind Demon Hundred Strikes once more. A single leg, infused with overwhelming Force, tore through the air as if piercing it, hurtling toward Jiang Yuankai with devastating force—the very same move that had defeated Shi Lei moments ago.

But Jiang Yuankai’s strength was at the Eleventh Transformation of the Body Forging Realm, far surpassing Shi Lei’s.

Faced with Chen Feng’s ferocious strike, Jiang Yuankai’s expression hardened as he swiftly retreated to evade.

He had promised to yield three moves—meaning he could only dodge or defend. If he retaliated now, he would be humiliating himself and Tiancang Peak, especially under the watchful eyes of so many.

Chen Feng wasn’t surprised when his first strike missed.

His opponent was at the Eleventh Transformation, after all. If Jiang Yuankai had been hit so easily, he would have been far too weak.

Second move!

Wind Demon Hundred Strikes·Storm Destroys the City!

As the Huntian Sword Force surged, Chen Feng’s legs lashed out in rapid succession. In an instant, ten leg shadows tore through the air, each carrying a brutal, overwhelming force capable of crushing everything in its path.

This attack was not only faster but also far more devastating than the last.

Jiang Yuankai’s face paled as he realized, to his shock, that he couldn’t evade—he had no choice but to block.

He raised his sheathed sword horizontally, channeling his Force as the skin beneath his robes took on a faint bronze hue. The ten leg shadows struck with terrifying power, each infused with Huntian Sword Force tempered nine times—enough to shatter even the toughest refined steel.

Deafening explosions rang out as violent shockwaves erupted from the point of impact on the sword sheath.

Jiang Yuankai’s expression grew increasingly grave, his eyes widening in alarm as he was forced to retreat repeatedly, struggling to disperse the overwhelming force behind Chen Feng’s strikes.

The combination of nine-tempered Huntian Sword Force and the formidable physique granted by the fourth level of the Huntian Sword Body endowed Chen Feng with monstrous strength—enough to rival even some of the most exceptional prodigies with Innate Divine Trait Physiques.

Under the barrage of ten leg shadows, Jiang Yuankai staggered back over a dozen steps, his sword trembling violently in his grip.

And yet, the full power of Storm Destroys the City could unleash a thousand leg shadows—a force truly capable of annihilating everything before it.

As his feet touched the ground, Chen Feng twisted his body and took ten rapid steps, leaving behind ten afterimages in his wake.

His figure flickered, each step as if treading on the crest of a wave, his speed doubling in an instant. Ye Yunqi's eyes narrowed slightly, sensing that Chen Feng's footwork bore some resemblance to the Ye Family's Treading Waves Step, yet it was distinctly different.

The sword left its sheath!

A clear, melodious sword hum resonated across the arena as an icy aura suddenly spread. A streak of cold light shot from the scabbard at Chen Feng's waist, stirring a fierce gale that howled and surged with overwhelming force.

Gripping the hilt with both hands, Chen Feng poured all his strength into a single slash that cleaved through the air.

Three Ultimate Swords of Heavenly Wind: Gale's Fatal Strike!

Jiang Yuankai's face paled in shock as he hastily raised his sword to block.

The moment their blades clashed, a terrifying storm of sword force erupted, like a mountain shifting and crashing, sending Jiang Yuankai staggering back several meters. The scabbard in his hand, unable to withstand the devastating power of that strike, cracked before shattering completely.

"Three moves have passed..." Jiang Yuankai, both stunned and seething with fury, let out a furious roar. Channeling the immense Force of his Eleventh Transformation of the Body Forging Realm, he unleashed it like a raging tide, determined to crush Chen Feng in a single overwhelming assault to vent his pent-up rage.

But— A flash of cold light split the air, too fast for anyone to react.

Three Ultimate Swords of Heavenly Wind: Swift Wind's Fatal Strike!

By the time Chen Feng's figure reappeared, the Flowing Cup Sword was already pressed against Jiang Yuankai's forehead. The terrifying sharpness of the blade sent a piercing pain through his brow, his scalp tingling as if his skull might burst. An indescribable dread surged from the depths of his heart, flooding his entire body. His face drained of color in an instant.

Jiang Yuankai's expression twisted with fury, yet his eyes held confusion and fear. His mouth hung slightly open, his sword only half-raised, making him look utterly foolish.

"My thanks for the match, Senior Brother Jiang of Tiancang Peak..." Chen Feng sheathed his sword, his tone calm and unhurried.

"I refuse to accept this!" Jiang Yuankai roared. "I demand a rematch! I haven't even fought seriously yet—I haven't even activated my divine trait—!"

"When you lie dead beneath an enemy's blade, do you think you can come back to life and demand a fair rematch?" Chen Feng countered with a mocking laugh.

"You—! You—!" Jiang Yuankai's pale face flushed crimson, his words stumbling incoherently.

The disdainful gazes of the surrounding crowd pierced him like swords, making his humiliation unbearable.

Ye Yunqi abruptly stood up.