The crowd buzzed with anticipation as the semi-finals began. All eyes were on the two warriors who now stood at opposite ends of the arena, poised for battle. On one side stood Bai Feng, the Raging Dragon of the outer sect, his spear gleaming in the sunlight, his icy aura making the air around him feel sharp and tense. Opposite him was Wang He, the giant swordsman who had bulldozed his way through the competition with a mixture of sheer strength and skill.

Wang He chuckled as he twirled his greatsword with ease. The massive blade seemed weightless in his hands. "Another spear user, huh? I feel like I'm fighting a whole clan of you guys," he said, his booming voice full of amusement.

Bai Feng's eyes narrowed, his usual stoic expression unmoved by Wang He's jest. He merely twirled his spear, the air around him becoming colder, and his stance deepened.

"It won't be the same fight you had before," Bai Feng said calmly, his voice cutting through the chatter like a blade.

Wang He grinned wider, planting his sword into the ground with a heavy thud. "Good! I was hoping you'd say that."

The atmosphere grew tense as the crowd quieted down. The two combatants sized each other up, waiting for the signal to begin. As the young sect leader overseeing the tournament raised his hand, the entire arena held its breath. Then, with a swift downward motion of his arm, the battle began.

In an instant, Bai Feng and Wang He rushed at each other, their speed belying their size and weight. The sound of metal clashing against metal rang out as Bai Feng's spear collided with Wang He's greatsword in a fierce exchange. Sparks flew from the impact, the force of their blows sending tremors through the ground.

Bai Feng moved like a coiling dragon, his spear a blur of motion. His strikes were swift and precise, aiming for the gaps in Wang He's defense. He jabbed, spun, and slashed, trying to overwhelm the giant with speed and technique.

Wang He, however, met every strike with his greatsword, his movements surprisingly fluid for a man of his size. Each swing of his blade was like a tidal wave, powerful and unrelenting. Bai Feng found himself forced back with each clash, but he held his ground, refusing to yield.

The crowd was on the edge of their seats as the two fighters engaged in a brutal, fast-paced dance. Neither gave an inch. Bai Feng's spear flashed like lightning, aiming for Wang He's vitals, while Wang He's greatsword moved like a mountain, crushing down with terrifying force.

"He's fast," Liu Chen remarked from the sidelines, watching the exchange with sharp eyes. "But Wang He... he's still holding back."

Mei Ling furrowed her brows, worry evident on her face. "Holding back? How is that possible? Bai Feng's attacks are relentless, and yet Wang He is keeping up so easily."

Liu Chen nodded. "That's just it. He's matching Bai Feng's speed, but he's not exerting himself. He's testing him, trying to gauge how far Bai Feng will push before revealing his true strength."

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In the arena, Bai Feng was starting to realize the same thing. Despite his best efforts, Wang He seemed unfazed. The giant's grin hadn't left his face for the entire match. Bai Feng's eyes narrowed—if Wang He wasn't taking this seriously, then it was time to change that.

With a swift motion, Bai Feng spun his spear and lunged forward, his body becoming a blur as he unleashed his signature technique—Dragon's Coil. The spear whirled through the air like a serpent, twisting and curling as it sought to entangle Wang He's defenses. The tip of the spear flashed with cold qi as it aimed for Wang He's throat.

Wang He's eyes lit up with excitement. "Finally!" he roared, slamming his greatsword down to meet Bai Feng's attack.

The force of their collision sent shockwaves through the arena. Dust and debris flew into the air as the ground cracked beneath their feet. Bai Feng's spear was caught in the parry, but he twisted his body, using the momentum to spin around and strike at Wang He from another angle.

Wang He blocked again, but this time he took a step back, his grin widening. "You're strong," he admitted, his voice loud enough to echo through the arena. "But let me show you something."

With a flick of his wrist, Wang He sent Bai Feng's spear off course, creating an opening. Bai Feng quickly regained his stance, but before he could react, Wang He reached down and—clink—unhooked several small weights from his ankles and wrists. They dropped to the ground with a dull thud, leaving small craters in the dirt.

The crowd gasped in astonishment, and Bai Feng's eyes widened.

"I've been holding back," Wang He said with a wink, cracking his neck. "Now let's see how you handle me at full speed."

Without warning, Wang He shot forward like a cannonball. His speed was overwhelming. One moment he was standing in place, the next he was right in front of Bai Feng, swinging his greatsword down with terrifying force.

Bai Feng barely managed to block the strike, his spear shaking violently under the pressure. The impact sent a jolt through his arms, and he was forced to take several steps back to regain his footing. But Wang He didn't let up. He followed up with a barrage of powerful slashes, each one faster than the last.

Bai Feng was now on the defensive, his spear moving frantically to block and parry the incoming strikes. But with Wang He's increased speed, he was finding it harder and harder to keep up. The weight of each blow threatened to overwhelm him.

Wang He grinned as he pressed his advantage. "What's wrong, Raging Dragon? Losing steam?"

Bai Feng gritted his teeth, his mind racing. He needed to find a way to turn the tide, but Wang He wasn't giving him any openings. His defense was solid, and his speed was now beyond anything Bai Feng had anticipated.

Then, in a flash, Wang He moved behind Bai Feng, faster than the eye could follow. Before Bai Feng could react, a powerful kick landed on his back, sending him flying into the air.

The crowd gasped as Bai Feng's body was launched high above the arena. He struggled to regain control, twisting his body in mid-air to face his opponent. But Wang He was already there, leaping up to meet him.

Bai Feng thrust his spear forward in a desperate attempt to counterattack, but Wang He's greatsword met it with a resounding clash. The force of the parry sent a shockwave through Bai Feng's arms, and before he could react, Wang He's sword came crashing down on his abdomen.

The blow was devastating. Bai Feng's eyes widened in shock as the impact sent him hurtling toward the ground. He crashed into the dirt with a thunderous boom, dust and debris flying into the air.

The arena fell silent as the dust settled. Bai Feng lay motionless at the edge of the platform, his spear by his side. The referee moved forward, checking for signs of consciousness. After a brief moment, he raised his hand.

"Winner, Wang He!"

The crowd erupted into applause, though many were still in shock at the overwhelming display of power. Wang He, now back on the ground, let out a satisfied sigh as he sheathed his greatsword. He gave a casual wave to the crowd before turning his attention to Bai Feng, who was being helped to his feet by sect attendants.

"That was a good fight," Wang He said, his grin never leaving his face. "You almost had me there for a second."

Bai Feng, still recovering from the blow, managed a nod. Despite the loss, he couldn't help but respect Wang He's strength.

From the spectators' area, Wuye was left speechless. He had known Wang He was strong, but this? The man had been holding back the entire tournament, only now revealing his true power.

Liu Chen whistled, clearly impressed. "He's a monster," he said, shaking his head. "I knew he was strong, but even I didn't expect him to have so much hidden strength. That's the cunning of a true warrior—he's been saving his full power for the later rounds."

Wuye nodded, still trying to process what he had just witnessed. Wang He's sheer power was on a different level entirely. This was the kind of strength he aspired to reach.

As the next match was announced, Wuye couldn't help but wonder—what would happen when Wang He faced off against the remaining competitors?