"Can't believe Wang Bo's getting pushed back," one voice muttered, just loud enough to be heard.

"Maybe he's not as strong as he likes to pretend," another snorted, the disdain barely masked in their tone.

Zhen noticed the murmurs of the crowd, their dissatisfaction with Wang Bo's barely concealed in their hushed tones.

But not everyone doubted. Scattered among the crowd, there were still those who supported Wang Bo, their loyalty unwavering despite the somewhat clash.

"Who does Li Zhen think he is?" someone hissed, the words dripping with venom. "Daring to upstage the strongest disciple!"

"Wang Bo's just getting warmed up. He'll crush Li Zhen in the next strike," one of his supporters whispered.

"Li Zhen doesn't stand a chance once Wang Bo stops holding back," another chimed in.

"This won't end well for Zhen…" another voice murmured, low and resigned, as if the outcome was already decided in their mind.

Zhen's jaw tightened, the muscles knotting beneath the skin as he fought to keep his expression neutral. These bastards, I thought, casting a glance at the crowd. Half the problem here is the way they spin every little thing, turning it into a mountain of exaggeration. This cultivation world is filled with gossiping idiots who make everything worse just by opening their mouths.

Across from him, Wang Bo's face twisted with rage. The humiliation of being stopped in front of the entire sect had pushed his anger to new heights, but it was clear that the last exchange had taken a toll.

His stance wasn't as firm as before, and his breathing was heavier, as though the previous clash had taken more out of him than he cared to admit.

Zhen could see the fury in Wang Bo's eyes—a storm that clouded his vision, turning everything into a red haze. Wang Bo's fists were so tight his knuckles turned white, the dark red aura around him flaring up, burning brighter and hotter as if it were feeding off his fury.

The dark red aura gradually intensified, Wang Bo's qi swirling with a renewed ferocity. The air crackled with tension, the oppressive weight of Wang Bo's anger pressing down on everyone around. But despite the intensity of the aura, it lacked the sharpness it once had.

Should I attack? Zhen considered, but quickly dismissed the idea. I need to stop myself from being crazy; a good defense should be enough. Without any weapons at hand, Zhen knew his bare hands wouldn't stand much chance against Wang Bo's defense.

Zhen's eyes narrowed as he noticed the dark, red aura swirling around Wang Bo, pulsating with an ominous energy. This guy is definitely doing something to fuel his strength, Zhen realized. It was clear that Wang Bo wasn't just relying on his natural qi reserves; he was drawing from something else, something that twisted the natural qi around him into that malevolent hue.

Despite the display, Wang Bo didn't seem ready to strike. Is he waiting for the right moment to crush me with one powerful attack? Or is he running out of steam? Zhen wondered, analyzing the situation. If his last move drained him, I might have a chance to outlast him.

Maybe I could win with my proper ninth realm of Qi Condensation. At least my reserves should be enough to outlast this brute.

With my ninth realm of Qi Condensation, my reserves should be enough to withstand whatever he throws at me, Zhen thought, hope flickering within him. If Wang Bo's taking his time, I'll use it to replenish my own qi.

Deciding quickly, Zhen began the Hundred Stars Refinement technique, settling into the specific breathing pattern it required—nine shallow exhalations followed by one deep inhalation. As he inhaled deeply, he could feel the surrounding qi respond, a faint trickle drawn toward him. There's not much qi around, but I'm not in a position to be picky, he thought, focusing on drawing in every bit of energy he could.

Across from him, Wang Bo's eyes narrowed, his sharp gaze locking onto Zhen. For a split second, Zhen thought Wang Bo might try to interrupt his technique, but the moment passed, and instead, Wang Bo's fury only seemed to intensify. The dark red aura around him pulsated with a dangerous energy, twisting and coiling like a living thing, as if it had a mind of its own.

But Zhen refused to be distracted by the sight of the recharging brute. Instead, he closed his eyes, focusing inward. The pressure of Wang Bo's intent only served to sharpen Zhen's mind.

With each deep breath, he drew in qi not only through his mouth and nose but through every pore of his skin. The sensation was almost soothing, as if the qi was a cool stream, washing away the heat and tension that clung to his muscles.

Inside him, the nine stars began to spin, each one a tiny vortex of power. Unlike the early stages of his cultivation, where forming and maintaining these stars had been a challenge, they now spun effortlessly, each one a beacon of refined energy, pulsing in perfect harmony.

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As they rotated, they drew in the qi around him, refining it into his own unique qi. It felt like a small engine revving up inside him, ready to unleash its power.

But as the qi flowed in, Zhen noticed something unusual. The nine stars were refining the qi at a pace far faster than he had anticipated. The process was so efficient that it almost seemed too good to be true.

Either this refinement technique is better than I thought, or there's really not much qi in the air to begin with, he mused, realizing that the scarcity of qi might be the reason for the unexpectedly fast refinement.

Then it hit him—the Starlight Qi I felt in the Cave is missing. The quality of the qi here is subpar. He would need twice the amount to get half the result. So without refining that potent qi, maybe he was able to refine normal qi much fater.

Zhen opened his eyes, briefly considering the possibility of reabsorbing the qi he had already used in their previous exchange. But a quick assessment revealed that the qi both of them had unleashed seemed to be dissipating into the air, vanishing without a trace.

So much for recycling my own qi, he thought wryly. It's like trying to grab smoke—it's just gone. Even the qi I wasted is nowhere to be found. Shouldn't the qi linger in the environment, at least in some form? But where would it go? He wondered, his mind briefly grappling with the mystery. Is it really a one-time use? But there was no time to dwell on it.

For now, though, Zhen focused on maximizing what he could absorb. Every ounce of qi he drew in was refined into a denser, more powerful form, enhancing his strength and reinforcing his body. Great, now I'm a qi guzzler. If this keeps up, I'll be gobbling up qi like an overpowered protagonist gathering cheat skills.

As the gentle flow of refined qi coursed through his meridians, Zhen felt a soothing effect spread through his body. The rejuvenating energy flowed directly into his most battered areas, restoring vitality to his fatigued limbs with each breath.

The exhaustion in his arms, strained from Wang Bo's attacks, began to lift, the sharp sting of overexertion dulling to a faint throb, and the burning sensation ebbed away, replaced by a comforting warmth. This qi might even help with normal injuries, Zhen thought, noting how effectively it was healing his body. Is this a normal effect for cultivators? Maybe it is… After all, don't people in this world seem to bounce back into fights even after being battered?

Wang Bo suddenly bellowed, his voice shaking with fury. "It would be a waste to use thin on a bug like you, but you've forced my hand!"

Zhen didn't like the sound of that, unease prickling at the back of his mind, but he quickly masked his unease with a smirk. "Are you just trying to scare me with empty threats because you know you're running out of steam?"

Wang Bo's eyes narrowed, fury blazing in their depths. For a brief second, Zhen thought Wang Bo might lash out recklessly, but the brute seemed to hold back, his focus sharpening even more. Zhen didn't like Wang Bo's control, but he still decided on outlasting Wang Bo tricks.

Only five minutes at most had passed. While it was not much, Zhen felt like hours had passed in his active state.

But instead of letting the growing dread consume him, he pushed it aside and refocused. What other power is Wang Bo hiding? Zhen wondered, his thoughts racing. Why waste it on me? The question gnawed at him. Or is this really about He Shan? His gaze flickered to He Shan, sprawled on the ground, watching the fight with white-knuckled intensity.

Even battered and bruised, He Shan's eyes still burned with defiance, a look that seemed to scream that the real injustice was happening to him, not Zhen. That bastard, Zhen cursed silently. Even when he's down, he acts like the world owes him. The realization struck hard, Am I just taking the beating meant for him? Is this one of the protagonist halo effect? Is Wang Bo planning to use me as an example, to terrify the others?

Wang Bo's stance shifted lower, more aggressive, his body coiled tight like a spring. His robes, dark and tattered from their earlier exchange, flared out slightly as the qi around him distorted the air. He looked like a beast ready to pounce, barely contained rage simmering just beneath the surface, threatening to erupt.

"You think you can stop me with some fancy tricks, Zhen? I'll crush you!" Wang Bo roared, his voice echoing with murderous intent. The dark qi traveled up his arms, concentrating into his hands, where it began to take on the shape of sharp, deadly talons, each one gleaming like polished steel.

The red aura flared brighter, crackling with energy as the talons lengthened, their edges jagged like the teeth of a saw, shimmering with a dark, corrosive energy that seemed to eat away at the very air around them.

Time's up. Zhen checked his qi reserves and almost vomited blood. Huh? Not even a five percent increase? His heart sank. This can't be right, he thought.

As Zhen readied himself to defend once more, he narrowed his focus, concentrating intently on the qi coursing through his arms. He wanted to form a stronger, more stable defense, something that wouldn't shatter so easily under Wang Bo's next assault. But the qi responded sluggishly, refusing to cooperate the way he wanted.

Damn, this isn't working… Frustration bubbled up inside him. Deciding to take a different approach, Zhen eased his grip on the qi, allowing it to flow more naturally along his arms, without forcing it into a rigid form. To his surprise, the qi began to move more smoothly, increasing his overall arm strength and resilience as it did so.

Okay, not exactly what I planned, but I'll take it, Zhen thought, feeling the energy coalesce around his arms. There was the same light blue with purple streaks of qi over his hands, but they felt more solid to him. While it wasn't the perfect defensive technique he had imagined, it was an improvement, and at least it wasn't scorching his flesh like before.

Maybe getting specific effects from qi requires following a set pattern or technique, Zhen conceded, recalling the martial arts technique he had planned to acquire. Wang Bo should be using a technique to shape his qi into those deadly talons. Maybe I need martial arts techniques to form a proper defense. Using a vague sense to control qi could only do so much.