Previously, Chen Qing was just an ordinary disciple of the Cyan Wood Institute, so Li Lei naturally wouldn’t have lowered himself to challenge him.

Today’s grand celebration, however, was a perfect opportunity.

"It’s Brother Li!"

Seeing Li Lei step forward, some disciples’ hearts stirred with anticipation.

’I wonder which Chief Disciple Brother Li is going to fight!’

Li Lei walked to the center of the arena, first bowing to the Sect Leader, the Deans, and the Elders. Then, with a piercing gaze, he turned to face Chen Qing.

"I hear that Junior Brother Chen Qing of the Cyan Wood Institute, despite hailing from Cyan Wood, has received the True Inheritance of my Kun Earth Institute’s Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear. I am Li Lei. Though my talent is limited, I have been immersed in this Spear Technique for many years. On this grand occasion, my hands are itching for a match, so I have come to request some pointers from Junior Brother Chen! Please, grant me this lesson."

The moment he spoke, the entire crowd erupted in an uproar!

In an instant, every eye in the audience shifted from Yan Yaoyang, who had just stepped off the stage, and fell in unison upon the Cyan Wood Institute’s Chief Disciple—Chen Qing!

First, it was Yan Yaoyang challenging Li Wang, and now Li Lei was challenging Chen Qing.

Even among Chief Disciples, it was understood that there were clear differences in rank and skill.

Furthermore, Chen Qing cultivated the Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear, and Li Lei cultivated the very same technique. The duel between them would be a purer contest of skill than the last.

On the viewing platform, Dean Peng Zhen’s gaze fell on Chen Qing, but he did not stop his prized disciple.

Du Lingchuan knew exactly what Peng Zhen was thinking and turned his eyes to the arena.

The hearts of the Cyan Wood Institute disciples leaped into their throats as they stared nervously at Chen Qing.

For a moment, the entire celebration square fell utterly silent, waiting only for Chen Qing’s response.

Chen Qing met Li Lei’s scorching gaze, feeling the countless stares converging on him from all directions, yet his heart remained as tranquil as a calm lake.

He rose slowly, his face devoid of any emotion, and simply gave a slight bow to Li Baichuan.

Li Baichuan didn’t even raise his eyelids, uttering only two cool words: "Go on."

Chen Qing hesitated no longer and strode forward.

He picked up his Cloud-Coiling Spear, his steps firm and steady. Neither fast nor slow, he walked toward the high platform, the focus of all eyes.

The disciples all around broke into a flurry of discussion.

"Brother Li is a personal disciple of Dean Peng! His Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear reached the Great Success stage a year ago, he’s opened the Seven Orthodox Meridians, and his foundation is incredibly solid!"

"Using Cyan Wood True Qi to execute a Kun Earth Institute spear technique already yields half the results for twice the effort. How can he possibly be a match for him?"

From his seat of honor on the viewing platform, He Yuzhou’s gaze fell upon Chen Qing with great interest.

"The Chief Disciple of the Cyan Wood Institute?"

His tone carried a hint of curiosity.

"Your eyes are sharp, Sect Leader. It is he."

Sang Yanping bowed and murmured, "However, Li Lei was personally nurtured by Junior Brother Peng. His Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear has long been perfected. Although Chen Qing’s strength is considerable, his foundation is shallow, after all..."

Clearly, he favored Li Lei, who had been meticulously trained by Peng Zhen.

He Yuzhou remained noncommittal, his gaze profound as he returned his attention to the arena.

On the stage, the two opponents stood thirty feet apart.

Li Lei held a heavy, dark Iron Spear as thick as a bowl, its tip angled toward the ground. The point of the spear faintly glowed with an earthen-yellow luster, and it naturally exuded an aura as heavy as a mountain. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

The shaft of Chen Qing’s Cloud-Coiling Spear was a dark cyan with intricate patterns, and the cold light from its tip was kept withdrawn.

The Cyan Wood Eternal Spring Technique circulated within him, its verdant True Qi flowing to suppress with all its might the restless auras of Geng Metal and Gui Water stirring deep in his Dantian.

"Please!"

The fighting spirit in Li Lei’s eyes blazed, and he wasted no more words.

He stomped his left foot forward half a step, and the entire arena seemed to shudder.

The great spear in his hand was like a slumbering python suddenly roused. Its shaft hummed as he unleashed a ferocious thrust—Mountain-Breaking Rainbow Piercing!

A thrust of no return, all its power focused on a single point!

The dark blur of the spear tore through the air with a piercing shriek, as if it would bore through any obstacle in its path.

Before the spear tip even arrived, the sharp air pressure it generated pressed the front of Chen Qing’s robes tight against his skin.

Chen Qing did not meet the attack head-on.

He executed the Wave Riding Body Technique, his form becoming like a willow catkin in the wind as he glided three feet back and to the left.

At the same time, his Cloud-Coiling Spear shot out. It was not a direct block; instead, he executed Moving Mountains and Unloading Seas from the Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear technique. The tip of his spear, carrying a pliable, spinning force, precisely tapped the shaft of the Iron Spear, just slightly off its center of power.

CLANG—!

A crisp, lingering ring of metal on metal!

Li Lei felt a strange pulling force travel up the shaft of his spear, as if he had struck a multilayered spiderweb. His Piercing Force, which was strong enough to penetrate Fine Steel, had been cleverly deflected by several inches, whistling past Chen Qing’s side.

’Good spear technique!’

Li Lei praised him silently, his estimation of Chen Qing rising another notch.

But his assault didn’t let up. His Spear Momentum abruptly shifted from stillness to motion as he immediately followed up with Breaking Mountains and Dividing Territory!

The Iron Spear’s thrust became a sweep, its shaft executing a Sweeping Thousand Troops!

A blur of dark light, like a bolt of silk, shot out with the unstoppable force of a landslide, aimed straight for Chen Qing’s waist.

The spear’s arc was immense and its power overwhelming. The compressed air boomed, making the attack impossible to evade.

A sharp light flared in Chen Qing’s eyes. He knew retreat was no longer an option.

He sank into his stance, his center of gravity dropping in an instant, firm as the gnarled roots of an ancient tree. He planted his Cloud-Coiling Spear upright before him, the butt of the weapon striking the ground hard!

HUM!

An aura as solid as a mountain erupted from Chen Qing! His Cloud-Coiling Spear seemed to become one with the very earth beneath his feet. Cyan Wood True Qi coursed unceasingly along the dark cyan shaft, which now unexpectedly emanated a sense of unyielding, resilient weight.

CLANG—!!!

A deafening crash exploded through the air!

The Iron Spear smashed viciously against the shaft of the Cloud-Coiling Spear!

Sparks flew. A violent shockwave erupted from the point of impact, spreading out in all directions. It sent the robes of the disciples in the front rows flapping wildly, forcing them to shut their eyes.

The red carpet beneath Chen Qing’s feet shattered inch by inch, yet he had somehow withstood the mountain-shattering blow without retreating a single step.

"Is that a Hard Skill!?"

He Yuzhou, seated in the place of honor, had clearly spotted something.

The aura of a powerful physique, of flesh and bone thrumming with blood and qi—that was something that simply couldn’t be hidden.