"The second match! Contestants from the ’B’ draw: Qin Yu, champion of Arena Four, versus Yang Jing, champion of Arena Seven. Take the stage!"

The Silver Armor Captain’s voice had barely faded.

’It’s him.’

Yang Jing’s heart skipped a beat. He took a deep breath and strode toward the main arena.

The bluestone floor was scorching hot under the sun. He walked with steady steps, but his mind was already racing.

Qin Yu had already beaten him to the stage. Clad in black martial arts attire, his figure was as straight and tall as a pine tree. He stood there, naturally radiating an imposing aura without any sign of anger.

He made no superfluous movements, merely watching calmly as Yang Jing approached. Yet, his eyes held a barely perceptible sharpness, like a falcon that had spotted its prey.

Yang Jing leaped onto the stage, his gaze locking with Qin Yu’s. Their two intangible auras clashed in mid-air, creating a subtle turbulence.

He cupped his fist in a salute, his expression grave. In his heart, he dared not relax for even a moment.

Qin Yu was a Core Disciple of the Zhenwei Martial Arts Hall, and he was also personally acknowledged by the Hall Master as the "number one disciple of the Zhenwei Martial Arts Hall."

The information his master had given him was crystal clear. Qin Yu specialized in the Celestial Eagle Claw, a sinister and unpredictable technique. His finger strength was immense, and he had once defeated three Peak of Dark Energy Martial Artists in a row, making him one of the top contenders for first place in this ranking tournament.

On the way here, Sun Yong had even given him a special warning: "Qin Yu’s claw technique isn’t just fast; it conceals a sinister energy. Anyone struck by it will find their meridians blocked. You must be extremely careful."

The details about Qin Yu surfaced in Yang Jing’s mind, making his expression grow even more somber.

He could faintly sense that the aura emanating from Qin Yu was even more substantial than Shen Lie’s from yesterday. His Inner Strength circulated flawlessly; he was clearly a seasoned master who had been immersed in the Martial Dao for many years.

This would be anything but an easy match. The slightest mistake could lead to defeat—in fact, the probability of losing was extremely high.

"Your guidance, please."

Qin Yu spoke. His voice wasn’t loud, yet it carried an oppressive weight.

He slowly raised his hand, curling his five fingers. His knuckles emitted a faint CRACKLE. The tips of his fingers seemed to glow with a pale green luster—a rumored sign that one had mastered the Celestial Eagle Claw to a profound degree.

Yang Jing said nothing. He simply focused his mind, remaining on high alert as he spread his feet slightly and assumed the opening stance of the Mountain-Shattering Fist.

The effects of the Qi Storage Pill within him were still slowly being released. A warm current flowed through his meridians, making his senses exceptionally sharp.

He knew that against such an opponent, any carelessness would be fatal. He had to give it his absolute focus to counter any move his opponent might make.

In the spectator stands, the disciples of Sun’s Martial Arts Hall all held their breath.

Xu Hong clenched his fists and muttered, "Junior Brother Yang has to hold his ground! Qin Yu’s claws are vicious!"

Sun Yong sat in the front row, his expression calm, but the way his fingers gently tapped on his knee revealed that he, too, was sweating bullets. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Seeing that both fighters were ready, the Silver Armor Captain took two steps back and announced in a deep voice, "Begin!"

As his voice fell, he turned and stepped off the stage, leaving it entirely to the two Martial Artists.

The air instantly grew still. The sunlight was blinding. The two on the stage faced each other from a distance, motionless, yet it was as if countless invisible blades were clashing between them.

Yang Jing’s gaze was locked on Qin Yu’s hands, not missing even the slightest twitch of his fingertip muscles. His heart beat steadily in his chest, gathering power with every pulse.

He knew the real battle had arrived.

"Hah!"

Qin Yu was the first to strike. His body shot forward like a lightning bolt, his right hand formed into a claw. His fingertips were tensed ramrod straight, whistling sharply through the air as they aimed for Yang Jing’s chest.

The claw technique was both wide and sweeping, yet it concealed treacherous angles. This was the "Eagle Strikes the Vast Sky" from the Celestial Eagle Claw. The force of the strike was as sharp as a blade, threatening to rip the very air apart.

Yang Jing dared not hesitate. Sinking his waist into a firm stance, he clenched his right fist. Inner Strength surged, and the surface of his fist seemed to glow with a faint light. He concentrated the fierce Inner Strength of the Mountain-Shattering Fist into his knuckles and punched out to meet the incoming claw.

BAM!

Fist and claw collided violently in mid-air, letting out a deafening thud. A shockwave of intertwined raw power and sharp force exploded outward, whipping their robes about wildly.

Yang Jing felt an overwhelming force surge up his arm, as if he had struck a rapidly spinning slab of iron. The webbing between his thumb and forefinger went instantly numb, and his arm was flung back uncontrollably. He stumbled back two steps before steadying himself, the vital energy in his chest churning.

A chill shot through him. ’Qin Yu’s strength is that much greater than mine!’

Both Qin Yu and Shen Lie, his opponent from yesterday, were at the Peak of Dark Energy. But Yang Jing could clearly feel that Qin Yu’s Inner Strength was far more profound than Shen Lie’s!

In contrast to Yang Jing, Qin Yu hadn’t retreated a single step.

A flicker of surprise flashed through his eyes, followed by a cold sneer. "Your Mountain-Shattering Fist isn’t half bad. A pity your mastery of it is still lacking!"

Before the words had even left his mouth, his left claw shot forward. The attack was even more ferocious, aiming straight for Yang Jing’s throat. It left a flurry of afterimages, making it impossible to tell which was real and which was a feint.

Yang Jing took a deep breath, forcing down the aching numbness in his arm. He blocked with his left fist while gathering his strength to strike again with his right.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

In a matter of moments, fist and claw collided again and again, each impact unleashing a shocking wave of force.

Yang Jing’s Mountain-Shattering Fist was powerful and weighty. Every blow carried the force to shake a mountain, and the wind from his punches swept across the stage, kicking up clouds of dust.

In contrast, Qin Yu’s Celestial Eagle Claw was swift and treacherous. The afterimages of his claws formed a net, sometimes striking like an eagle’s beak, other times tearing like its talons. Every single move aimed for a vital point.

But any discerning observer could see that Yang Jing was gradually losing ground.

Qin Yu’s Inner Strength was clearly superior. Each clash with his Celestial Eagle Claw carried a spiraling force; it was not only powerful but also contained a twisting energy that forced Yang Jing to block with all his might.

As fist and claw met once more, Yang Jing felt the aching numbness in his arm intensify. He staggered, stumbling back three consecutive steps until his back was nearly against the ropes at the edge of the arena.