186: Chapter 186 Li Qing enters the arena and defeats the two.

Li Qing leaped up in one step and landed cleanly on the arena stage, a Spirit Rain Sword hanging from his waist.

Yi Huan sighed in his heart and also took a step forward, landing on the arena stage.

From their Footwork alone, one could see that Li Qing's Footwork was smooth and natural, while Yi Huan's Footwork was slightly stiff.

Just from this single difference, everyone could see that Li Qing's strength was likely far superior to Yi Huan's.

Since that day, facing Li Qing once again, Yi Huan's mindset was completely different.

In the beginning, he possessed the arrogance of having performed outstandingly among the Yi Family's side branches since childhood, and the confidence that he could shine brightly even within the Dragon Snake Sect.

However, under that single slap from Li Qing, all of this shattered like bubbles.

A month had passed, and Yi Huan thought he had overcome this mental hurdle.

But when he faced Li Qing once more, he found that he had completely lost his spirit.

Yi Huan swallowed hard, forcing himself to rally his spirits.

Li Qing's strength certainly terrified him, but the gazes of Young Master Chu and the others behind him were also hard to bear.

If he performed too poorly, how could he ever mingle in the circle of the Family Faction's young Disciples in the future?

The bitterness in Yi Huan's heart was beyond words.

'If I had known Li Qing was coming, I wouldn't have come.'

Li Qing's expression was calm. With the assistance of Micro-Perception, he could see that since just now, Yi Huan's body was showing more and more flaws.

Tap!

As the pebble hit the ground, both sides made their moves.

Li Qing took the initiative to attack, executing the Wind-Chasing Leg Technique, showing off his Major Achievement Realm to the fullest.

In the crowd, Huo Zonglin and Dong Wei understood.

"Li Qing indeed has Major Achievement Footwork!"

Major Achievement Footwork was not rare, but for a young, newly entered Disciple to possess Major Achievement Footwork in addition to Major Achievement fist techniques, that was rare.

If Huo Zonglin and Dong Wei had already anticipated this, Senior Brother Shi Yuan and his group were utterly astonished.

A Senior Sister hesitated and said, "Junior Brother Shi, is this what you meant by 'decent talent'?"

Senior Brother Shi Yuan's mouth twitched slightly. He had not expected Li Qing to hide his strength so deeply.

After seven previous minor competitions and frequent spars and exchanges with Li Qing, he had always thought Li Qing was just a newcomer with decent talent.

"Could it be that Junior Brother Li's Footwork only recently broke through to Major Achievement?"

On Jia Long's side, Ding Yishan was also somewhat astonished, and even felt a bit ashamed.

Although Jia Long held Li Qing in high esteem, Ding Yishan had still thought Li Qing was only valued because he was Jia Long's fellow townsman.

He had not expected his strength to actually be this formidable.

On the stage, Li Qing calmly executed his Major Achievement Wind-Chasing Leg Technique, unleashing a succession of rapid sword strikes.

Continuous Drizzle Chasing Waves!

Sword strike after sword strike—tapping, flicking, diagonal thrusting, upward slashing... various sword moves fell like rain filling the sky, continuous and endless, almost sealing off all of Yi Huan's directions for dodging.

Yi Huan's face was filled with panic. To defend against Li Qing's sword moves, he used almost all his strength, but an occasional sword strike that he failed to defend against in time would draw a line of blood from his body.

A Disciple beside Senior Brother Shi Yuan praised, "Junior Brother Li's Spirit Rain Sword moves are highly skilled, his angles of attack are tricky, and his power is steady yet decisive. To achieve such results in just over half a year is already comparable to many Disciples who have cultivated for three years. It is clear that his Comprehension Ability is indeed quite extraordinary, just as Senior Brother Shi said."

Meanwhile, on the viewing platform, the originally indifferent Song Zhinian raised an eyebrow, his gaze remaining fixed on the sword-wielding youth.

A few breaths later, he seemed to have discerned something. Recalling what was written in the letter Senior Sister Xu Lingji had sent him, the corner of his mouth curled up.

'Interesting.'

On the stage, Li Qing had not even displayed the Entry-Level Spirit Rain Sword; using only a small portion of his strength, his sword moves were like continuous fine rain—seemingly gentle and mild, but actually containing hidden killing intent.

What Yi Huan used was a palm technique. Li Qing could see some patterns of the Coiling Root Palm in it, likely practiced to facilitate a future transition to cultivating the Coiling Root Palm.

Compared to the previous Huang Jing, Yi Huan's palm technique might not be heaven and earth, but it could certainly be described as a difference between clouds and mud.

Li Qing only needed to lightly tap with his sword to draw blood from him.

Before long, Yi Huan's clothes were in tatters, and his body was covered in blood.

Feeling that it was about enough, Li Qing finally changed his move.

Misty Rain Piercing Clouds!

Li Qing held his thin sword level, instantly switching his movement technique to the Spirit Snake Step. Like smoke and mist, his figure was like a thread of rain as he rushed directly in front of Yi Huan.

Buzz!

Just as Li Qing thrust his sword out, about to pin it to Yi Huan's chest, he was deterred by an invisible force.

Li Qing could not move a single muscle, but he felt a bit strange in his heart.

'If I exerted all my strength and also released Deterrence, it seems... I could break free, or at least my hand could!'

This was incredible!

What kind of figure was Master Jinhe? A grand Elder of Gang Strength. Even a mere trace of his aura was enough to make the hundreds of Huajin Martial Artists present unable to move, like ants.

However, Li Qing could not actually try to break free; too many eyes were watching!

Thus, Yi Huan was defeated.

Returning to Young Master Chu's side, Young Master Chu nodded and praised, "Junior Brother Yi performed well, forcing out a portion of Li Qing's strength."

Yi Huan forced a smile.

Only he knew that Li Qing had not used his full strength against him at all.

He hesitated for a moment and said, "Senior Brother Chu, this Li Qing's strength is very, very formidable. He shouldn't be underestimated."

Young Master Chu nodded, "I can see that. However, he might not even get past Junior Sister Fei, let alone me waiting behind her. There's no need to worry."

Yi Huan did not know Liu Siyuan's strength, so it was normal for him to worry.

Yi Huan: "..."

Junior Sister Fei Ying leaped onto the stage, cupped her fists, and said, "Flying Snake Lineage, Junior Sister Fei Ying."

Li Qing cupped his fists, "Spirit Snake Lineage, Li Qing."

He could see that although Junior Sister Fei Ying appeared to have no weapons on her surface, judging by her movement tendencies, she had throwing knives hidden on her calves, thighs, forearms, and waist.

Of the two lineages of the Fire Element, the Red Dragon used long sabers, while the Flying Snake used throwing knives.

Tap!

As the pebble hit the ground, Junior Sister Fei Ying immediately retreated. At the same time, two throwing knives appeared in her hands. One flew straight, thrown directly at Li Qing's face, while the other was curved like a crescent moon, thrown from the side, slicing toward Li Qing's flank along a circular trajectory.

The knife technique was called the Flying Star Blade. Once thrown, the knives flew like shooting stars; even if Li Qing had Major Achievement Footwork, Junior Sister Fei Ying believed she could hit him.

Clang! Clang!

Cold Rain Locking Dust!

Li Qing merely spun in place, his Spirit Rain Sword tracing a circular screen of sword light, blocking both throwing knives one by one.

One had to know that the two throwing knives had appeared almost simultaneously at Li Qing's chest and waist!

Junior Sister Fei Ying's face darkened. Li Qing's proficiency with his sword moves was even higher than she had anticipated.

Whoosh!

Activating the Major Achievement Wind-Chasing Leg Technique, Li Qing dashed straight toward Junior Sister Fei Ying.

Junior Sister Fei Ying also executed her Major Achievement Footwork. In their pursuit of each other, she threw out two throwing knives from time to time.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The throwing knives came in quick succession, yet they could never bypass the thin sword in Li Qing's hand, blocked by him one by one.

Even when Junior Sister Fei Ying unleashed a killing move—a throwing knife driven by a secret technique that gathered all her strength—it only forced Li Qing to use the 'Three Vibrations' to empower his thin sword, easily parrying it away.

In the end, Junior Sister Fei Ying ran out of throwing knives and had no choice but to admit defeat.

Young Master Chu had seen the battle just now with absolute clarity. "A powerful secret technique?"

He leaped onto the stage in one bound.