Li Yun slowly raised his fist.

There was still no energy fluctuation, yet the simple motion made Zhou Xiong Ying feel an unprecedented sense of danger, as if that single strike could shatter everything in its path.

With a roar, Zhou Xiong Ying forced himself to act. He summoned the Nether Eagle Staff and poured all his qi into it, causing a pitch-black radiance to gather at its tip. The condensed power shot forward like a sharp beam, aiming directly at Li Yun with destructive force.

Li Yun did not dodge.

He stepped forward once more and threw his punch.

The collision was instantaneous.

The pitch-black beam shattered completely upon contact, breaking apart like fragile glass under immense pressure. The force of Li Yun’s strike did not diminish in the slightest as it continued forward, slamming directly into the Nether Eagle Staff itself.

A loud cracking sound echoed as the staff trembled violently, unable to withstand the overwhelming impact. The recoil surged through Zhou Xiong Ying’s arms and into his body, causing his entire figure to shake uncontrollably.

Blood burst from his mouth as he was sent flying backward, his body crashing heavily onto the ground in the distance.

The arena fell into complete silence.

Every spectator stared at Li Yun with wide eyes, their expressions frozen in shock.

Because what they had just witnessed was something far more terrifying than any martial technique.

Li Yun had relied on nothing but his body.

"Zhou Xiong Ying is actually injured."

A wave of disbelief swept through the crowd as shocked voices rang out one after another.

"He is an expert at the 5th level of Essence Qi Realm and ranked eighteenth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, yet he was forced back and wounded by someone at the seventh level of the Qi Sea Realm."

"What kind of background does that young man have? His strength is completely beyond reason. I did not sense any qi fluctuations from him just now. Does that mean he relied purely on his physical body to fight?"

The spectators could not hide their astonishment. The scene before them had overturned everything they expected.

Li Yun stood calmly on the arena, his gaze fixed on the figure that had been pushed back.

"Ranked eighteenth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. Is that all?"

A faint sneer appeared at the corner of his lips. He slowly raised his right hand, and a dull gray light began to gather around it. In the next moment, he swung it downward with decisive force. A sharp beam of energy tore through the air, cutting forward with explosive momentum.

Zhou Xiong Ying’s expression darkened as he stabilized his body midair.

"Do not get ahead of yourself. Defeating me is not as simple as you think."

His voice was filled with anger as he roared out.

"Nether Eagle Swallows the Firmament."

The qi within his body surged violently, erupting like a raging tide. It poured into the Nether Eagle Staff in his grasp, causing a dense black radiance to rise skyward.

The dark energy gathered rapidly, condensing into the form of a massive black eagle that stretched across the sky. Its presence was overwhelming, its size reaching a thousand meter as it loomed above the battlefield.

The moment it fully formed, the eagle opened its beak.

A terrifying suction force burst forth, drawing everything toward it. The incoming beam from Li Yun was caught in its pull and swallowed whole without resistance.

A series of deep rumbling sounds echoed from within the eagle’s body, as if something was being violently crushed inside. The noise continued for a brief moment before fading away completely, leaving the massive construct hovering silently in the sky.

Zhou Xiong Ying’s confidence returned as he stood beneath it, his expression turning cold and resolute.

"Now, I will show you the strongest technique of the Origin Order Palace. To fall beneath this move should be considered your honor."

This was his ultimate attack, the technique he relied upon in decisive battles. In the past, he had used it to eliminate an opponent at the sixth of the Essence Qi Realm in a single strike. With such power, he was convinced that Li Yun, who stood at the seventh level of the Qi Sea Realm, would have no chance of resisting it.

"Senior Brother Zhou Xiong Ying is going to use that move."

Excited voices rose among the disciples of the Origin Order Palace as they recognized the technique he was about to unleash.

"That is his ultimate trump card. Its power is terrifying. That brat will not be able to withstand it."

The humiliation they had felt moments earlier began to fade. Zhou Xiong Ying, a genius ranked eighteenth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, had been forced back and even injured by an unknown opponent. To them, this was not only a personal disgrace for Zhou Xiong Ying, but also a blow to the pride of their entire sect.

They had endured that moment in silence, unable to respond.

Now, seeing him prepare his strongest technique, their confidence surged once again. Excitement spread across their faces as if the outcome had already been decided.

"Nether Eagle’s Wrath Collapses the Firmament."

Zhou Xiong Ying’s voice thundered across the arena as he released a long, piercing roar. The qi within his body erupted violently, rising like a volcanic explosion. It condensed into a massive beam of energy that shot straight into the sky, pouring into the enormous black eagle above.

At first, the eagle’s form had been indistinct, almost like a shadow.

However, as the dense stream of qi flowed into it, its body began to solidify. Its outline grew sharper, more defined, and with each passing moment, an increasingly terrifying aura spread from within it.

A deep rumble echoed through the surroundings.

The air began to tremble under the pressure. What started as a faint vibration soon intensified, spreading across the battlefield. The ground quivered, and the atmosphere itself seemed to shake, as though an immense force was descending upon the world.

The scene was overwhelming.

It felt as though a divine eagle from the depths of the underworld had broken through its domain and descended into reality, bringing with it the intent to annihilate all life.

"Kill."

A cold glint flashed in Zhou Xiong Ying’s eyes as he raised his hand and pointed forward.

A sharp cry echoed through the sky.

The massive black eagle spread its wings, each one stretching across a vast distance, casting a shadow that seemed to blot out the light itself. With a single powerful beat, it surged forward, transforming into a torrent of darkness that rushed toward Li Yun with unstoppable force.

Black mist swirled around it, dense and suffocating.

The mist carried a chilling presence, as though it originated from the depths of the underworld. It churned like boiling water, releasing an aura that felt heavy with death. Wherever it passed, the surrounding air seemed to lose all vitality, falling into an eerie stillness that inspired dread.

Within that black mist was a powerful 50% Death Intent.

Death Intent was a rare and profound concept, one that very few martial artists could comprehend. It infused every movement with the essence of decay and destruction. Any opponent struck by it would feel their life force erode rapidly, their vitality draining away until nothing remained.

Zhou Xiong Ying’s ability to wield such a concept revealed the depth of his talent.

His position on the Hidden Dragon Ranking was no accident.