His armor glinted with a cold, hard light under the sun. Each step he took on the wooden planks produced a heavy thud, like a sledgehammer striking everyone’s heart.

The five people inside the enclosure simultaneously focused their minds, their gazes unanimously turning to the main stage.

Zhou Tong straightened his back. Zhou Zhiqiang clenched his fists. Even Li Mengchao, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them, a sharp glint flashing in their depths.

The Silver Armor Captain stepped onto the main stage, surveyed the entire field, and cleared his throat. His voice, amplified by his Inner Strength, carried to every corner of the training grounds. "Time is up! The afternoon session of the field trials now officially begins!"

As his voice faded, thunderous cheers erupted from the spectator stands, so loud they made the very air tremble.

The wind inside the enclosure carried a sweltering heat. Yang Jing glanced at the other four Martial Artists below the stage, each with a profound and heavy aura, yet he felt surprisingly calm.

He looked down at his fists, a faint, powerful afterglow of the Mountain-Shattering Fist still lingering on his knuckles.

From first entering this year’s field trials to now being securely ranked fifth, he had already far surpassed his own expectations.

Fifth place. According to the rules from previous years, his chances of making the final list were high.

As for the top four—Li Mengchao, Qin Yu, Zhou Tong, and Zhou Zhiqiang—every single one of them was a master who had been immersed in the Peak of Dark Energy for years.

Li Mengchao’s Vajra Hand Seal was incomparably domineering. Qin Yu’s Celestial Eagle Claw was sinister and unpredictable. Zhou Tong’s hard-style techniques and Zhou Zhiqiang’s Heavy Fist each had their own unique strengths.

Yang Jing believed he could hold his own against them for a time with his Mountain-Shattering Fist and Riptide Kicks, but he knew he lacked the strength to fight for a higher rank.

’Making it this far is enough.’

He told himself silently, his gaze gradually growing clear and serene.

In the upcoming matches, if he got the chance to fight, he would treat it as a rare opportunity to spar and see exactly what the gap was between him and these top-tier experts. As for his rank, that was no longer important. He would forfeit when he had to, without a moment’s hesitation.

Just then, the Silver Armor Captain on the main stage spoke again, his voice as steady as a great bell. "First match of the afternoon session: Li Mengchao versus Qin Yu! To the stage!"

The spectator stands instantly erupted.

These two were undoubtedly the greatest contenders in the current field trials. One’s palm technique was domineering, the other’s claw technique was vicious. Whoever won would be crowned champion.

Li Mengchao slowly rose, still wearing that same calm and nonchalant expression. With his hands behind his back, he walked toward the stage at a steady, unhurried pace.

A long shadow stretched out behind him in the sunlight, and his body seemed to be shrouded in an invisible aura. Wherever he passed, this aura naturally pressed down, causing a tightness in the chests of those nearby.

Qin Yu moved as well. His body was slightly hunched, like a hawk gathering its power, his footsteps light yet carrying a piercing sharpness.

Reaching the edge of the stage, he looked up at Li Mengchao, who was already standing across from him. A cold, sharp smile touched his lips. The will to fight churned in his eyes; a match against an opponent like Li Mengchao was exactly what he had been hoping for.

The two ascended the stage one after another, the wooden steps groaning lightly under their feet.

Li Mengchao stood on the eastern side, his back to the sun, half his face cast in shadow. He slowly opened his palm, a faint golden light swirling within it. He had clearly already gathered the momentum for his Vajra Hand Seal.

Qin Yu, meanwhile, took his position on the western side. His feet were slightly apart and his hands formed into claws, his fingertips glowing with a faint white light. The sharp aura of his Celestial Eagle Claw was like an invisible blade, aimed directly at his opponent.

The air on the stage seemed to freeze in an instant.

Li Mengchao’s aura was as heavy as a mountain, while Qin Yu’s was as sharp as a falcon. The two completely different types of Qi Force clashed and intertwined at the center of the stage, seeming to bring the whistling wind to a standstill for a moment.

The murmuring from the spectator stands quieted, and everyone watched the stage with bated breath.

This was a clash of titans, and it was set to be the most intense match of the entire field trials.

The invisible clash of their auras alone was enough to silence the crowd, lest they disturb this peak-level duel.

Yang Jing stood inside the enclosure, his gaze locked on the stage.

He could faintly sense the fluctuations of Inner Strength coming from the two men—a power that far surpassed his own—and couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement.

’My future,’ he thought, ’will reach a level of the Martial Dao far, far higher than this!’

The Silver Armor Captain retreated to the edge of the stage. His gaze swept back and forth between the two men before he announced in a deep voice, "Begin!" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

The moment his voice fell, Li Mengchao struck first.

He thrust his right palm forward. The golden light of the Vajra Hand Seal flared brilliantly, pressing toward Qin Yu like a heavy golden shield with Mountain-Shattering Stone-Splitting force. Before the Palm Force even arrived, the Qi Force alone was enough to make the wooden planks of the stage clatter.

Qin Yu’s body shot sideways like a falcon, narrowly dodging the edge of the Palm Force. Simultaneously, his left hand shot out like a bolt of lightning, the sharp wind of his Celestial Eagle Claw striking directly at Li Mengchao’s wrist.

His speed was astonishing. His figure weaved through the afterimages of the golden palm, his claw technique cunning and vicious, specifically targeting the openings in Li Mengchao’s exertion of power.

BANG!

In the first direct clash between palm and claw, a wave of energy exploded outward.

Li Mengchao’s body didn’t move an inch, but Qin Yu was forced back half a step, a numbing pain shooting through his fingertips.

He was inwardly shocked. ’Li Mengchao’s Palm Force is even more domineering than the rumors claimed.’

Li Mengchao’s eyes narrowed as he renewed his assault.

The Vajra Hand Seal was sometimes like Mount Tai crashing down, other times like a great wave smashing against the shore. The palm shadows, shrouded in golden light, sealed off all of Qin Yu’s escape routes. Each strike carried immense power, forcing Qin Yu to rely on his Body Technique just to evade, leaving him unable to mount an effective counterattack.

Though Qin Yu’s Celestial Eagle Claw was agile and ruthless, he simply couldn’t break through Li Mengchao’s palm formation.

His opponent’s Inner Strength was as deep as an abyss, and his palm technique contained a viscous force that would suppress him completely the moment it made contact.

After several dozen exchanges, Qin Yu was gradually losing ground. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and his breathing grew ragged.

The spectators could see it clearly. Li Mengchao’s advantage was growing more and more obvious. The power of the Vajra Hand Seal was stacking, layer upon layer, as if a true Vajra was standing on the stage, every move possessing world-shaking force.

’I can’t let this go on!’

A sense of urgency flashed in Qin Yu’s heart, along with a glint of ruthlessness.

He knew that dragging this out would mean certain defeat. With a sudden, low shout, his body dropped, and his Celestial Eagle Claw shot out—abandoning all form—straight for Li Mengchao’s groin!

The strike was utterly vicious. The tips of his claws whistled sharply as they tore through the air, aimed directly at Li Mengchao’s inner thigh.

Li Mengchao’s pupils shrank. He clearly hadn’t expected Qin Yu to resort to such a despicable move. He twisted his body to dodge in haste, but it was too late to evade it completely.

RIP!

The sharp sound of tearing fabric was piercing to the ear.

Qin Yu’s claws grazed across Li Mengchao’s inner thigh, drawing a spray of blood. The dark fabric of his uniform was torn open in a long gash, revealing the bleeding flesh beneath.

GASP—!

A deafening cry of shock erupted from the spectator stands on all sides.

Everyone watched, their hearts pounding in their chests. That last attack had missed its vital target by a hair’s breadth!

If Qin Yu’s claws had been half an inch to the side, Li Mengchao would have been utterly ruined for life.

A grievous injury could be healed, but if one’s very foundation was damaged, even the highest Martial Arts Cultivation would be for naught. Many in the crowd held their breath unconsciously, a cold sweat breaking out on their backs.

Yang Jing couldn’t help but shudder. For a moment, his fear of Qin Yu surpassed even his awe of Li Mengchao.

’Li Mengchao is incredibly skilled, and even he couldn’t completely dodge that. If that had been me...’

The mere thought sent a chill through Yang Jing’s groin.

He couldn’t help but feel grateful for his own weakness.

’If I were stronger, back when I fought Qin Yu, I might have pushed him enough to use that move. I’d have been done for.’

’This guy is ruthless,’ Yang Jing thought, making a new assessment of Qin Yu.

On the main stage, Li Mengchao stood frozen. He looked down at the wound on his inner thigh, a searing pain radiating from it. But what surged through him even more fiercely was a towering rage.

In that instant, he had felt a threat akin to death—not the death of his body, but a complete and utter ruin more humiliating than death itself.

"You’re courting death!"

Li Mengchao snapped his head up. All traces of calm and composure had vanished from his eyes, replaced by a bone-chilling killing intent.

The aura around him exploded outward. His Inner Strength erupted like a volcano, and the entire stage seemed to tremble under his furious glare.

Seeing that he had truly enraged Li Mengchao, Qin Yu’s heart tightened.

That last move had been an all-or-nothing gamble, intended to force his opponent back, but he hadn’t expected such a violent reaction.

Now, seeing the killing intent in Li Mengchao’s eyes that was almost palpable, he knew that continuing the fight would lead to a battle to the death. He hurriedly retreated several steps and shouted, "I forfeit!"

...

PS:

Hey everyone, I owed you an update and just couldn’t get to sleep. It’s been two and a half hours since I posted the previous two Chapters, and I’ve finally finished this one.

I probably passed out on my keyboard six or seven times during that period, woke up, and just kept on writing.

This author really needs to get some sleep now. If there are any typos, please feel free to help me correct them.

Lastly, for the sake of this humble author working so hard, please cast some votes for me, my brothers and sisters. Thank you so much!