Chapter 108: Drawing the Sword, Sheathing It Again

Among the crowd, many had shaken off their confusion, realizing the strategy behind Lin Feng challenging Nangong Xue: it was a classic case of Tian Ji’s horse racing. By sacrificing their weakest contender to eliminate the opponent’s strongest, the remaining two fighters would hold the advantage, ensuring victory.

To the onlookers, Nangong Lin only possessed the strength of the Great Completion of the Blood Qi Realm; against either Hai Chao or Tie Muqing, he stood no chance. As for the youth invited by the Nangong family, though mysterious and seemingly capable, he did not appear strong enough to defeat the other two—at least, that was how the spectators saw it.

It was evident that Tie Muqiu’s cunning had reached a profound level. Such people were the most difficult to deal with.

Lin Feng looked at Nangong Xue with a gentle expression, his eyes harboring a trace of admiration, though it was hidden deep. As a woman who combined such beauty and strength, she naturally attracted the affection of many young talents in Yongle City, and Lin Feng was one of them. However, he had been sent by his sect to participate in the tournament, and his master, Jin Cheng, had told him bluntly to challenge Nangong Xue. It was clear he was merely a supporting character, meant only to go through the motions, for with his strength, defeating her was impossible.

At this thought, Lin Feng’s expression turned bitter. He bowed politely to Nangong Xue and said, "I hope Miss Nangong Xue will show mercy."

Looking at the bitter-faced Lin Feng, Nangong Xue’s beautiful eyes betrayed no emotion. She gave a faint nod, a polite acknowledgment of his gesture. While she did not dislike him, she held no particular affection for him either. Her cold, clear voice drifted from her small lips, "Make your move, or you won’t have another chance."

"Lin Feng is certainly no match for Miss Nangong. This match isn't worth watching."

"Anyone with eyes can see that the Blood Fiend Gang is using Lin Feng as cannon fodder to eliminate Miss Nangong Xue from the competition."

The surrounding whispers reached Lin Feng’s ears, only deepening the bitterness at the corners of his mouth. Suddenly, he hardened his resolve, and a surge of crimson blood-qi energy erupted from his body.

He unleashed his full strength at the Great Completion of the Blood Qi Realm. To face Nangong Xue, he had to give his all. With the Great Completion of the Blood Qi Realm against the Peak of the Blood Qi Realm, there was no hope of victory, so he didn't expect to win; but he at least wanted to last a few dozen rounds to save some face.

Violent blood-qi energy swept across the arena, the crimson aura enveloping his body.

"Half-step to the Peak!"

Sensing the power Lin Feng was now displaying, some of the stronger martial artists in the crowd felt a flicker of surprise. They could sense a hint of harmony in his blood-qi, though it was not yet perfected.

It was clear that in time, Lin Feng would surely step into the Peak of the Blood Qi Realm.

"Yongle City truly is full of talent!"

Ye Cheng narrowed his eyes. He could sense that Lin Feng’s foundation was incredibly solid, not merely boosted by auxiliary potions. If this strength were back in his hometown of Luoyang Town, he would undoubtedly be the number one of the younger generation—excluding himself, of course. But here in Yongle City, he could only rank third or fourth.

Keen-eyed observers in the crowd noticed that the power Lin Feng displayed only brought a fleeting moment of surprise to Nangong Xue’s cold face, which quickly returned to indifference.

Though this blood-qi was not weak, it was still insufficient against her.

"Boom!"

Lin Feng stomped hard on the bluestone floor, his blood-qi erupting like swirling flames. Using the rebound force, he propelled himself forward like a lion ready to strike, his palms open as he unleashed his technique.

"Nine Palm Strikes!"

Surging blood-qi, thick as viscous fluid, coiled around his palms. As he danced through his movements, the energy manifested into crimson palm prints, striking toward Nangong Xue with intense, crushing force.

Lin Feng had immediately unleashed his strongest technique. The Nine Palm Strikes was one of the high-level martial arts of the True Martial Sect, reserved for the sect leader’s direct disciples. Each of the nine strikes built upon the last, continuous and unending, with the power doubling each time.

If fully executed, the ninth strike would possess twice the power of the previous eight combined. In a sense, the first eight were merely gathering momentum.

Watching the strikes rapidly approaching, Nangong Xue remained unmoved. Her peak-level blood-qi surged forth, manifesting as a defensive barrier before her.

"Bang!"

Lin Feng’s first palm struck the barrier with a dull thud. He quickly shifted his position to strike again, and to the astonishment of the crowd, Nangong Xue simply raised her hand to condense the barrier once more, blocking the force.

"Bang! Bang..."

Lin Feng moved repeatedly, launching strike after strike, yet each was blocked by her barrier. By the seventh strike, the power had increased significantly, cracking her defense. The eighth strike was monstrously strong, nearly shattering the barrier entirely.

"Take my ninth strike!"

Seeing the barrier nearly disintegrate, Lin Feng felt a surge of confidence and roared, "Take my ninth strike!"

As the ninth palm strike—a tangible, solidified palm print—shot toward her, Nangong Xue finally ceased her defense. Her jade hand brushed her storage ring, and a bronze longsword appeared in her grasp.

"Draw the sword, return to the sheath!"

With two simple, fluid motions, a brilliant, thick cyan sword beam erupted from the bronze blade, dissolving the incoming palm strike. In a panic, Lin Feng concentrated all his blood-qi externally to defend, but the beam struck with such force that, to his horror, he was sent flying. He vomited blood in mid-air before crashing off the bluestone platform.

"So strong!"

"I think the status of Tie Muqing as the number one in our younger generation is now in question. Given Miss Nangong’s strength, it’s unclear if even he can defeat her."

Seeing Nangong Xue defeat Lin Feng with just a single draw and sheath of her sword, the onlookers erupted into gasps. Many young men looked on with sparkling eyes; she was truly the goddess of their hearts.