The only exception would be a practitioner of a Hard Skill who had reached an incredibly high realm, one where even he could not sense the fluctuations of qi in their very flesh and bone.

With a loud roar, Li Lei’s fighting spirit surged even higher.

His Spear Momentum shifted. He was no longer aiming for a single, fatal blow, instead unleashing Thousand Peaks and Ridges.

A continuous stream of spear afterimages appeared, each strike heavier than the last. They descended like a range of overlapping mountains, pressing down layer by layer.

Each thrust was immensely powerful, carrying a crushing weight that seemed intent on pulverizing Chen Qing amidst the endless mountain crags.

Chen Qing’s Cloud-Coiling Spear became a streak of cyan light as he, too, used Thousand Peaks and Ridges to counter!

Spear afterimages danced—jabbing, deflecting, shattering, and parrying. He pushed the resilience of his Cyan Wood True Qi to its absolute limit, desperately trying to neutralize the overwhelming pressure.

The clashing of their spear tips sounded like a drumroll of rain on leaves. The two fighters blurred across the platform at high speed, their spear afterimages weaving a tangled web as Strong Qi radiated from them. The hard bluestone floor was torn up as if by a plow wherever they passed, sending shards of rock flying.

The Iron Spear, once as heavy as a mountain, suddenly became incomparably fierce, its speed more than doubling.

Clearly, he was done testing the waters and was now attacking with his full strength.

The Earth True Qi in his body surged, imbuing his spear. It transformed into a great yellow dragon that roared as it charged Chen Qing.

Li Lei had opened all Seven Orthodox Meridians and was just one step away from the Late-stage Embracing Pill realm. In terms of the sheer volume of his True Qi, he surpassed Chen Qing.

Veins bulged on Chen Qing’s arm. A series of CRACKLES and POPS echoed from his flesh and bone as he met the attack with a thrust of his own.

BOOM!

The Power from his Cyan Wood True Qi combined with the Eight Extremes Vajra Body was simply terrifying. The great dragon Li Lei had formed instantly shattered, vanishing like smoke.

The shockwave from the collision of their True Qi exploded into countless violent gusts.

Li Lei hastily retreated, but Chen Qing stood his ground, unmoving. The violent winds that slammed into him dissipated in an instant.

"This kid’s got some real skill!"

Hong Yuandong exclaimed in admiration upon seeing this.

He had originally assumed Chen Qing was just an ordinary disciple at the Mid-stage of the Embracing Pill realm who wouldn’t last more than a few rounds against Li Lei. It was now clear that was not the case.

Tan Yang nodded slightly. "Indeed, he is quite impressive."

He could sense that Chen Qing’s foundation was solid, built through his own accumulation rather than by constantly consuming pills to force breakthroughs.

This was especially important for breaking through bottlenecks in the future.

Many disciples from wealthy families had previously consumed vast quantities of Treasure Medicine and Treasure Fish. Their Cultivation would soar, but their momentum would soon fizzle out, making further progress nearly impossible.

’So Chen Qing’s position as the top disciple of the Cyan Wood Institute isn’t just for show.’

The thought flashed through Li Lei’s mind in an instant. He then charged at Chen Qing again, spear leveled.

The tip of the spear struck like a viper’s tongue, accompanied by the sound of tearing air. The glinting spear point sliced through the atmosphere, sending an involuntary, icy chill down one’s spine. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

BANG!

Chen Qing swept his spear in a wide arc, kicking up a gale within the hall. A sky full of spear afterimages materialized, a veritable storm of strikes that converged on the incoming spear tip under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

Another burst of Qi Force from the clash of metal erupted outward. The teacups on the surrounding tables rattled and clattered, splashing tea everywhere.

The force of the impact threw both of them back several steps, their heavy boots carving long drag marks into the hall’s carpet.

Li Lei stomped his foot, shooting forward like an arrow loosed from a bow. His spear became a silver-gray streak of light, closing the distance at an astonishing speed.

The carpet shredded instantly under his spear point and the surging Strong Qi. The very air seemed to part before his sharp intent; it felt as if anything in his path would be ripped to shreds by his ferocious Spear Momentum.

Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear! Furious Waves!

Li Lei’s feet left a trail of deep imprints in the floor. By the time he had built his Spear Momentum to its peak and thrust out once more, each wave of Spear Force was stronger than the last, like a series of monstrous, towering waves, carrying the power to shatter mountains and split stone!

Li Lei was now giving it his all. His Spear Force compounded, each wave cresting higher than the one before, crashing toward Chen Qing like a raging sea.

A steady, heavy Qi Force surged around Chen Qing. His spear spun like a wheel as he executed Immovable Prison Suppression from the Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear technique.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

Li Lei’s thrusts came one after another, his assault like a relentless tide pounding against a reef. In a single moment, he unleashed a full seventeen strikes!

The sound of his spear tip striking the shaft of Chen Qing’s weapon was as dense as a downpour!

BANG!

When the eighteenth strike, carrying the Power of Ten Thousand Jins, slammed home, Chen Qing felt the webbing between his thumb and forefinger go numb, and a violent tremor shot up his arms.

But Li Lei was faring even worse. Repeatedly unleashing such a ferocious Spear Momentum was clearly a massive drain on his energy. He leaned on the shaft of his spear, panting heavily.

He’d never imagined Chen Qing’s defense would be so tenacious. Even after unleashing the full eighteen strikes of his Furious Waves, he still hadn’t managed to completely break his opponent’s Spear Momentum.

Seeing that his prolonged assault had failed, Li Lei suddenly gave a sharp cry, "Junior Brother Chen, watch out!"

Before his voice had even faded, his Spear Momentum shifted dramatically!

The tip of his spear trembled, conjuring shimmering points of cold light that carried a bone-chilling, piercing intent. Like a meteor shower tearing through the night sky, they shot straight for Chen Qing’s vital points!

This was none other than the Upper-Grade Martial Art, Stone-Breaking Cloud-Piercing Spear!

"What?! Brother Li has mastered this Spear Technique to the Great Success realm too?!"

"Great Success in two spear arts! How... how is anyone supposed to fight that?!"

"It’s over! Brother Chen is in danger!"

...

The entire crowd erupted in an uproar!

Disciples from the Kun Earth Institute and all the other institutes alike wore expressions of utter astonishment.

Mastering one Great Success Spear Technique was already exceptionally difficult. Yet, in such a short time, Li Lei had managed to master a second, equally fierce and powerful Superior Spear Skill to the Great Success Realm.

Du Lingchuan’s eyebrow twitched. "Great Success in two spear techniques!?"

"Old Ghost Du, what do you think of my disciple?"

Peng Zhen couldn’t conceal the proud smile on his face.