Chapter 498: Chapter 372: The Piaomiao Sect Incurs Public Wrath—Another Victory with a Single Punch?

He definitely didn’t want to be picked last, otherwise he might end up facing Lin Chang’sheng or Yang Huaizhen, and then he’d be in serious trouble.

"Zhou Qibai from Piaomiao Sect, I challenge Qin Ming from Spirit Mountain!"

Leaping onto the combat platform, Zhou Qibai announced his challenge, as if he’d already made up his mind.

Among the remaining fighters, the only choices left were Zhang Jinzhong of May Sect and Qin Ming of Yue Spirit Mountain. There was no way he would challenge disciples from the top three forces of the Immortal Realm.

That would be asking for a beating.

Comparatively, the odds of defeating a Spirit Mountain disciple were a bit higher.

Qin Ming from Spirit Mountain was no pushover. Hearing Zhou Qibai’s challenge, he burst forward and leapt onto the platform.

"Brother Zhou, I’ve been wanting to fight you for a long time. Please!"

Qin Ming was straightforward and expressed himself directly.

Zhou Qibai’s reputation for ruthlessness towards other sect disciples left Qin Ming feeling quite unhappy.

He was determined to wipe out this scoundrel.

However, reality didn’t match his expectations.

Zhou Qibai might be loathed for his personality, but his strength was no joke.

After just three moves against Zhou Qibai, Qin Ming was already at a disadvantage; Zhou Qibai severed his arm and landed a punch square in his chest, sending him flying off the platform.

Qin Ming hit the ground and immediately fell unconscious.

The crowd watching from below couldn’t help but sigh. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Elder Zhou Chang of Spirit Mountain was absolutely furious.

"Is this how you Piaomiao Sect discipline your disciples? It’s just a competition, yet you strike so viciously?"

Elder Zhou Chang rebuked angrily, his beard shaking with rage and his eyes glaring.

But Zhou Qibai and the Piaomiao Sect elders looked completely indifferent.

"Weapons and blades have no eyes. Injuries are unavoidable! My apologies!"

Zhou Qibai tossed out those words and went straight back to his seat, successfully entering the top ten, clearly satisfied with himself.

"You—"

"Elder Zhou, don’t get worked up. I have a Divine Healing Pill here that can help your disciple regrow his severed arm! Take it—"

Just as Elder Zhou Chang was furious, Elder Wu Kui from Piaomiao Sect flicked out an elixir, tossing it toward Zhou Chang.

He threw it so fast that if Elder Qing couldn’t catch it, he might have ended up smacking him right in the face,

But Zhou Chang was a Mahayana Stage cultivator; there was no way he wouldn’t be able to catch an elixir.

With a wave of his hand, he caught the pill between his fingers.

Zhou Chang only grew angrier at Piaomiao Sect’s "mercy."

Were they implying Spirit Mountain didn’t have healing elixirs?

Besides, who knew if the pill would actually do what Wu Kui claimed—it was possible he just wanted to laugh at them if it didn’t work.

Without hesitation, Zhou Chang hurled the pill back. It whistled through the air.

The pill crashed in front of Wu Kui, smashing a stone tile and shattering on impact.

Wu Kui was absolutely livid.

"Zhou Chang, what’s the meaning of this? I offered the pill out of kindness to heal your disciple, and you not only aren’t grateful, but you destroy it?"

Wu Kui exploded in anger, slamming down on his seat and rising to his feet.

"If you’re so kind, why not spend a bit more time disciplining your disciples? It’s just a pill—you think our Spirit Mountain can’t afford one?"

Zhou Chang shot back.

The situation was suddenly tense, both sides ready to draw their swords.

The Grand Elder of Refining God Sect had to step in as the peacemaker; if a fight broke out, it would get ugly.

"Enough! Enough!"

The Grand Elder of Refining God Sect barked harshly.

"This is a competition; injuries from weapons are to be expected—if you can’t match your opponent’s strength, surrender. On a real battlefield, who would hold back for you?"

The Grand Elder’s words cut straight to the point.

Elder Zhou Chang from Spirit Mountain instantly lost his temper.

He was right—the weak had no choice but to endure.

If you don’t want to be bullied or humiliated, you need enough cultivation to back it up.

After the Refining God Sect’s intervention, the two major sects each backed down and stopped arguing.

But the matches that followed were even more heated.

All the sect disciples fought with everything they had.

The sounds of battle and explosions were relentless.

In the fifth match, Yang Ao of Heaven-Suppressing Sect faced Zhang Jinzhong of Five Peaks Mountain. The two were evenly matched, neither gaining the upper hand.

They fought through over a hundred rounds, still unable to decide a winner. Eventually, both seemed exhausted and it was declared a draw.

The sixth and final match featured Lin Chang’sheng, Liu Yaoyue from Immortal Palace, and Yang Huaizhen from Immortal Martial Hall.

Lin Chang’sheng hadn’t even stepped onto the platform yet.

Instead, Liu Yaoyue of Immortal Palace leaped up, standing atop the combat platform.

She chose Lin Chang’sheng over Yang Huaizhen for her challenge.

"Liu Yaoyue from Immortal Palace challenges Daoist Lin. Will you come up for a friendly duel?"

Liu Yaoyue parted her red lips and spoke elegantly.

She wasn’t particularly stunning, but her figure was remarkably well-proportioned—red lips, gleaming teeth, a slender waist, rounded curves, jade-like hands.

With her spirited and valiant bearing, she drew the admiration of many male disciples.

But Lin Chang’sheng was in no mood to admire her form.

Pushing off the ground, he leapt up.

"Junior Sister Liu, be careful! Don’t be careless!"

Wang Huisheng frowned slightly as he watched Junior Sister Liu challenge Lin Chang’sheng. He knew whoever Liu Yaoyue faced, the fight would be tough.

Lin Chang’sheng’s cultivation remained unfathomable even now.

After all, every disciple who fought him was defeated with a single punch.

"Don’t worry, Senior Brother Wang!"

Liu Yaoyue glanced back with a confident smile, seemingly sure of her strength.

"Please!"

Lin Chang’sheng made a gesture of invitation, still showing no intention of drawing his weapon, which made Liu Yaoyue somewhat displeased.

He was clearly looking down on her—he wouldn’t even use a weapon?

But Liu Yaoyue couldn’t be bothered to argue with Lin Chang’sheng and swung her sword, blasting out waves of sword aura.

Lin Chang’sheng stood his ground and conjured a Divine Shield before him.

Bang bang bang—

A flurry of sword qi crashed into the Divine Shield, rumbling, but failed to break through Lin Chang’sheng’s barrier.

Liu Yaoyue’s heart skipped in shock.

What technique was this? How could its defense be so formidable?

But Lin Chang’sheng paid no mind to what Liu Yaoyue thought. He’d already given her a free attack—his courtesy ended there.

He swung his fist, unleashing the Four Symbols Divine Venerable Fist once more.

Roar—

Heh—

Four fierce beasts encircled the Fist Aura, making it utterly overbearing.

Seeing the overwhelming fist approaching, Liu Yaoyue refused to retreat.

Backing off would mean admitting defeat to Lin Chang’sheng.

That would disgrace Immortal Palace.

"Myriad Swords Return to One!"

Unyielding, Liu Yaoyue slashed with all her strength, hoping to shatter Lin Chang’sheng’s incoming fist aura. But things didn’t go her way.

The Four Symbols Divine Fist fused various immortal techniques and arts; it was anything but a regular fist technique—shattering it would require at least late-stage Void Refining cultivation.

In the same realm, it was almost impossible to break.

Boom—

The domineering fist aura and sword qi collided with deafening explosions.

But as soon as sword qi met fist aura, it was shattered instantly, almost powerless in comparison.

"This..."

Liu Yaoyue was stunned—she’d gone all out, yet was still no match?

Just how strong was he?

Bang—

The fist aura kept its momentum and smashed right into Liu Yaoyue, sending her flying off the platform.

Landing on the ground, Liu Yaoyue was still reluctant to accept her defeat, convinced she’d lost only because she was careless.

"Junior Sister Liu, are you alright?"

Wang Huisheng hurried over to check on her.

Liu Yaoyue just shook her head, her heart full of disbelief.

But the crowd below the platform had erupted.

He beat another opponent with a single punch?

The audience gasped in shock.

This was a highly anticipated match; everyone expected it to be evenly matched, with at least fifty rounds before a victor emerged.

But who’d have thought that even Liu Yaoyue, a middle stage Void Refining cultivator, would get taken out by one punch from Lin Chang’sheng? The onlookers were left bewildered.

"Just what cultivation does Lin Chang’sheng actually have? How come even a mid-stage Void Refining disciple can’t withstand a single punch from him?"

"Yeah! This makes no sense. Even among those of the same realm, you shouldn’t be able to win with a single move!"

"Exactly—could Lin Chang’sheng be cheating?"

"Cheating? This is the Celestial Pride List—who would dare to cheat? I figure Lin Chang’sheng must have late-stage Void Refining cultivation, but he’s hiding his true strength! Otherwise, none of this adds up!"

Elders and disciples nearby were all baffled, murmuring among themselves.

The way they looked at Lin Chang’sheng now was as if they were staring at a monster.