“Tang Yan, you’ve got this!” Lin Dongxue pumped her fist.
“For that bet, I’ll give it everything,” Tang Yan winked.
Her cheeks flushed at his mischievous grin—she knew exactly what he was hinting at. With a light huff, she turned away.
Stepping onto the stage, Tang Yan faced Fang Xuan and clasped his hands. “Cloud City’s Tang Yan. Please, enlighten me.”
“Fang Xuan,” Fang Xuan returned the gesture.
“Match—begin!” the red-robed elder declared.
“Gotta say, you’re one lucky guy—two women bowing out for you in a row,” Fang Xuan said, his tone genial but edged with a barb.
Tang Yan caught the jab—implying he’d coasted here on others’ backs. Smiling faintly, he fired back, “Compared to your lottery luck, mine’s still a bit lacking.”
A glint of steel flashed in Fang Xuan’s eyes. “True, my luck’s better—because yours is about to run dry!”
With that, his aura surged, peak fourth-rank Mysterious Stage power bursting forth. His footwork flared, and he shot toward Tang Yan like a gale, momentum towering.
“So strong!” The crowd gasped at the peak fourth-rank aura.
Tang Yan’s gaze sharpened, wary. Fang Xuan charged without striking, masking his intent and forcing Tang Yan to guess.
Once close, he’d attack, leaving Tang Yan on the defensive. With a power gap, falling behind would be tough to reverse.
*This guy’s sharp—seasoned, cautious, and quick,* Tang Yan assessed swiftly, his eyes narrowing. *But no matter your schemes, I bet your speed can’t match mine!*
Locking onto the charging Fang Xuan, Tang Yan smirked as Fang Xuan’s left shoulder twitched—a tell.
His vortex dantian whirred, true energy flooding his right fist. Phantom Step unfurled, and he punched into the empty space ahead.
Fang Xuan’s pupils shrank. Tang Yan’s strike sealed his planned move.
*Did he guess, or see through me?*
*Boom!*
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A dull blast echoed.
The crowd’s eyes widened—Tang Yan had tanked Fang Xuan’s hit unscathed.
*Boom! Boom! Boom!* The Heart of Combat kicked in. With just peak third-rank strength, Tang Yan matched Fang Xuan blow for blow.
“Not bad!” Fang Xuan was stunned by Tang Yan’s prowess, though he didn’t believe it rivaled his own.
“Green Mountain Fist!” With a soft shout, he unleashed a mid-tier Origin Stage technique.
Tang Yan’s heart skipped. *Is he pulling Wan Fei’s playbook? Quick low-tier techniques to build an edge, then a big finisher when I’m reeling?*
His hunch soon proved right.
A few moves later, Fang Xuan threw an upper-tier Origin Stage technique.
Tang Yan’s eyes chilled. He drew a breath, spun, and countered with an elbow and fist, narrowly parrying the assault.
Spectators marveled at Tang Yan’s resilience but saw him stuck defending. Hope for his win faded.
After another clash, Fang Xuan gained ground. With a light cry, a crimson glow flared on his fist. “Blazing Fist!”
Red winds enveloped his right hand, heat radiating as he hammered toward Tang Yan.
“Game over!” Fang Xuan grinned smugly. His escalating techniques were wearing Tang Yan down.
*He just blocked my last move—his dantian’s probably shaky. How’s he taking this stronger hit?*
*Wan Fei’s strategy’s gold!*
Tang Yan sneered inwardly. *Over?*
*Thud, thud, thud, thud!* Phantom Step pulled him back four steps, then he lunged forward.
*Thud!*
The fifth Thousand Mountains Fist took shape, surging with fearsome power to meet Fang Xuan’s strike.
As their fists neared, Tang Yan’s trajectory twisted like a phantom, aiming for Fang Xuan’s knuckles—where Blazing Fist’s energy was weakest!
*Boom!*
The gusts scattered. Tang Yan stood steady, Fang Xuan gaining nothing.
Fang Xuan’s surprise deepened, his initial disdain turning serious.
“Your combat skills are solid—seamless moves and techniques, pinpointing weaknesses. That’s enough to offset a strength gap, even turn the tables.
“But against absolute power, tricks mean nothing!”
His aura shifted again. “Forcing my true strength out—even if you lose, I’ll respect you as a worthy foe.”
“Fifth-rank Mysterious Stage!”
The crowd gawked, hearts pounding. Fang Xuan, barely in his twenties, had hit fifth-rank—talent primed for Heavenly Stage.
*Tang Yan’s done for!*
Pressure bore down. Tang Yan sighed. He’d guessed fifth-rank fighters would emerge, but facing one still hit hard.
“It’s truly over,” Fang Xuan said, hands forming seals. Air currents swirled before him, compressing tighter and tighter into a terrifying force at his palm.
With a low shout, he thrust an unstoppable strike!
Two ranks apart, with Fang Xuan’s experience no slouch, Tang Yan stayed sharp.
*Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!* Six rapid spins forged the sixth Thousand Mountains Fist.
Tang Yan knew his waterfall-honed technique fell short against Fang Xuan’s Mysterious Stage move. Power and skill—he was outmatched.
*It’s ending…* The crowd’s held breaths began to ease.
“Fang Xuan’s talent shines—strategic, nearly unbeatable at his rank,” Mo Bin praised with a smile. “Fifth-rank at his age—his future’s boundless.”
Fang Wentian glowed at Mo Bin’s words. His son’s Azure Dragon Academy spot was all but sealed.
“There’s always more to learn,” he said modestly.
…
Against such a foe, falling behind was a death knell.
Tang Yan didn’t hesitate. A bone-white flame flickered before his fist.
A massive mental surge slammed into Fang Xuan.
Caught off guard, Fang Xuan’s mind blanked, true energy faltering, his aura dipping sharply.
*Boom!*
*Thud, thud!* The wild clash sent both stumbling back two steps.