Beads of sweat formed on Lin Yue’s forehead, his arms growing sore from the repeated collisions.

Mountain-Shattering Fist was an art that consumed a great deal of Inner Strength. He now had to counter his opponent’s heavy Palm Force and unpredictable angles at the same time, the pressure bearing down on him like a collapsing mountain.

But he didn’t let up, his gaze growing sharper.

Their exchange had allowed him to get a feel for his opponent’s style. Li Mengchao was strong, but not invincible.

"HUUUH..."

Lin Yue seized the chance to retreat and took a deep breath, forcing down the ache in his arms. A smile touched with fighting spirit curled his lips.

He had been worried that Li Mengchao would crush him, just as Qin Yu had overwhelmed Yang Jing. After all, his master had specifically warned him to be exceptionally careful against this particular opponent.

But now it seemed that while his opponent was a notch above him, he was far from impossible to fight.

"Again!"

Lin Yue let out a low roar as the Inner Strength in his Dantian churned.

He unleashed the full power of Mountain-Shattering Fist’s Rock-Splitting style, his fist sweeping out with enough force to shatter boulders.

This punch sacrificed speed, instead focusing all his Inner Strength into the point of impact, intending to break finesse with raw power.

A hint of a disdainful smile flashed in Li Mengchao’s eyes. He raised his right palm again, the pale golden glow around it becoming more pronounced.

The dull thuds of their collisions echoed across the stage. Lin Yue’s Mountain-Shattering Fist grew increasingly ferocious, his strikes like thunder as he poured every ounce of his strength into each punch.

He could feel the immense power of Li Mengchao’s Palm Force, but it always remained within manageable limits. His opponent seemed to be holding back. His palm strikes were stable, but they lacked a certain relentless, all-in aggression.

’Looks like he’s not all that special after all!’

A surge of daring confidence filled Lin Yue. Pushing his Inner Strength to its peak, he sent his fist whistling through the air, straight for Li Mengchao’s chest.

He anticipated that his opponent would sidestep and evade like before, so he had already gathered power in his left fist, waiting to unleash a devastating blow the moment an opening appeared.

This time, however, Li Mengchao didn’t move.

He stood his ground. As he slowly raised his pale hand, the faint golden glow in his palm suddenly blazed to life, as if a miniature sun had ignited there.

His previously nonchalant gaze instantly turned as sharp as a hawk’s, and his lips curved into an icy smile. "I’ve had my fun. It’s time to end this."

The words were barely out of his mouth when Li Mengchao’s right palm shot forward like a cannonball.

This strike was entirely different from the ones before. An unstoppable wave of pressure arrived before the palm itself, as if an entire mountain was crashing down from overhead.

The air compressed by the Palm Force let out a piercing shriek. The pale golden palm left a shimmering afterimage in the sunlight, moving too fast for Lin Yue to even process.

This was the true power of the Vajra Hand Seal!

Lin Yue’s pupils contracted. A chill shot up his spine, straight to the crown of his head.

’So that’s how it is. The fight until now was just a sham. Li Mengchao was hiding his true strength the entire time, just toying with me like a cat with a mouse!’

He tried to bring his fist back to block, but realized he had overextended on his previous punch. The force of his opponent’s palm had locked him down, cutting off any escape. Under that immense pressure, his own Inner Strength momentarily seized up.

BOOM—!

The palm struck Lin Yue squarely in the chest.

There was no earth-shattering CRACK, only a muffled thud, like a boulder sinking into cotton.

But Lin Yue was sent flying backward like a kite with its string cut. The fabric over his chest instantly exploded outward, revealing a pale golden palm print seared into his skin, its edges an unnatural, bruised black.

He spat a mouthful of blood in mid-air, the droplets splattering across the stage like crimson blossoms.

His body slammed hard into the railings at the edge of the stage, was thrown back by the ropes, and crashed onto the cold wooden planks with a heavy thud.

Lin Yue struggled to lift his head, but a coppery tang filled his throat, and black spots swam in his vision.

The excruciating pain in his chest felt like it was tearing his insides apart. His Inner Strength collapsed like a bursting dam, leaving him without the strength to even move a finger.

His last moment of consciousness was filled with the image of Li Mengchao’s apathetic gaze. Then, his world went black, and he knew no more.

The stage fell deathly silent.

Everyone was stunned by the sudden turn of events.

What had seemed like an evenly matched contest one moment had ended with such a massive disparity the next.

Li Mengchao slowly drew back his hand. The pale golden glow in his palm faded away, as if that world-shaking strike had never happened.

He glanced at the unconscious Lin Yue on the floor, his expression as impassive as ever, as if he had just swatted an annoying fly.

The Silver Armor Captain strode onto the stage, checked for Lin Yue’s breath, and announced in a grim voice, "Lin Yue is severely injured and unconscious. Li Mengchao wins!"

The voice echoed across the silent training grounds. A long moment passed before scattered whispers broke out, and everyone’s gaze toward Li Mengchao was now laced with awe and fear. This heir of the Li Family had hidden his strength far, far too well.

In the stands, Sun Yong shot to his feet, his face tight and grim. He clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white.

「Below the stage, inside the enclosure.」

Yang Jing was sitting cross-legged, meditating to regulate his breathing. The Rejuvenation Pill’s potency circulated slowly through his body, gradually refilling his depleted Dantian. A pleasant warmth suffused his limbs.

His eyes were closed, and though the clamor of the training grounds filled his ears, his mind was immersed in the details of his earlier fight with Qin Yu, analyzing the flaws in his own techniques.

Suddenly, an unusual commotion broke out, laced with gasps and shouts of alarm. It was like a stone tossed into a placid lake, instantly shattering the tranquility.

Yang Jing’s heart leaped. He snapped his eyes open, his gaze as sharp as an arrow, fixed directly on the main stage.

What he saw made his pupils shrink.