88: One punch that amazed the world, yet utterly vulnerable.

Immediately, a deafening roar of cheers erupted!

"Duan Lang! Duan Lang!"

Three moves!

He really only used three moves!

Clean, crisp! Utterly domineering!

A look of shock appeared on City Lord Zhuang Bai's face.

He abruptly turned to look at Li Qing beside him, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Not only was this youth's own strength a mystery, but his insight was also frighteningly sharp!

He predicted within ten moves!

Just... what is his background?

As for Li Qing, from start to finish, he didn't even bother to raise an eyelid.

As if all of this was within his expectations.

His gaze passed over the ecstatic Duan Lang, over the stunned crowd, and once again met Qin Shuang's on the arena from afar.

This time, a ripple finally stirred within Qin Shuang's placid, water-like eyes.

She had also seen Li Qing's conversation with the City Lord just now.

She had also heard those words, "three moves."

This mysterious youth seemed even more interesting than she had imagined.

Duan Lang's overwhelming victory pushed the atmosphere at the scene to a minor climax.

He stood at the center of the arena, basking in the cheers of the entire crowd, his eyes brimming with unrivaled arrogance.

Then, he made a move that no one expected.

He did not leave the stage. Instead, he turned around and fixed his gaze directly on Li Qing in the Viewing Platform.

"Hey!"

He pointed at Li Qing, his voice booming and reaching every corner of the Martial Arena.

"Are you that pre-selected Li Qing?"

The entire place instantly fell silent.

The eyes of everyone present shifted back and forth between Duan Lang and Li Qing.

This was going to be good!

This was the shared thought in everyone's mind.

City Lord Zhuang Bai's brows furrowed slightly.

The City Lord's Guard beside him had already begun to emanate a chilling killing intent.

To openly provoke someone the City Lord valued right before the City Lord himself was a grave disrespect!

However, Zhuang Bai raised a hand, stopping the Guard.

He too wanted to see how Li Qing would handle this situation.

Would he endure quietly, or would he... respond with force?

Li Qing's face remained expressionless.

He didn't even stand up. He merely picked up the teacup before him, took a gentle sip, as if he hadn't heard Duan Lang's provocation at all.

This kind of disregard was more insulting than any verbal retort.

Duan Lang's face instantly flushed a deep, purplish-red.

He had just defeated his opponent with three punches, riding the Peak of his momentum. He had intended to use this opportunity to crush the arrogance of this "favorite" and show everyone who the true powerhouse of the younger generation in Jinling City was.

Yet the other party had simply ignored him!

"Kid, are you deaf?!"

Duan Lang roared.

"I don't care what stroke of luck you had or whose coattails you're riding!"

"I'm just telling you, the spots for the Great Xia Martial Selection are earned with fists, not begged for through connections!"

"If you're a man, get down here and fight me!"

"Let me see just how much this so-called 'Genius' of yours is worth!"

His voice echoed throughout the Martial Arena.

Many young Martial Artists joined in with shouts of agreement.

They too were dissatisfied with Li Qing.

Why should they fight tooth and nail here while Li Qing could sit back and enjoy the fruits of others' labor?

In the Viewing Platform, the Master of the Baizhang Martial Arts School revealed a smug smile.

This was exactly the effect he wanted.

As long as Duan Lang could defeat Li Qing publicly, proving his own mettle...

At that time, the reputation of their Baizhang Martial Arts School would reach a new Peak.

As for the consequences of offending the City Lord's Estate?

He couldn't afford to worry about that now.

Great wealth can only be sought through great risk!

He could just offer more benefits later.

On the arena, Chen Meng's heart leaped into her throat.

She watched Li Qing nervously.

Although she knew Li Qing was no longer the same as before, his strength was only at the Peak of Body Refining.

While that might be decent among his peers...

The power Duan Lang had just displayed was utterly terrifying.

How could Li Qing... possibly win?

Just as everyone thought Li Qing would continue to ignore it, or that the City Lord's Estate would step in to suppress the situation...

Li Qing finally set down his teacup.

"Tap."

A soft sound, exceptionally clear in the silent Martial Arena.

He slowly stood up.

There was no overwhelming Aura, no frenzied Battle Intent.

He simply stood there calmly, his gaze indifferent as he looked at Duan Lang on the arena, like a Dragon looking down upon a noisy ant.

"You, wish to challenge me?"

His voice was very plain, his expression composed.

Having witnessed the great storms and waves of the Great River.

The sight before him truly couldn't stir up any desire to fight.

"That's right!" Duan Lang lifted his head, declaring arrogantly.

"What, are you scared?"

Li Qing shook his head, the corner of his mouth curving up slightly.

It was a smile mixed with pity and disdain.

"You, are not qualified enough."

As the words fell, he neither descended from the Viewing Platform nor stepped onto the arena.

He simply stood in place, and from a distance of nearly a hundred meters, he threw a punch towards Duan Lang.

This punch seemed utterly ordinary.

There was no Protective Aura, no fluctuation of Internal Energy, not even a stir of wind.

It was like an ordinary person casually swinging an arm.

"Huh??"

Duan Lang was dumbfounded.

Everyone in the entire Martial Arena was dumbfounded.

What was he doing?

Striking an ox from afar?

What a joke!

The Master of the Baizhang Martial Arts School even laughed out loud.

"Hahaha, and I thought he was someone special. Turns out he's an idi..."

Before the word "ot" could leave his mouth, his voice abruptly cut off.

Because, on the arena, a sudden change occurred!

The air in front of Duan Lang seemed to be violently clenched by an invisible giant hand, suddenly collapsing and compressing inward!

An indescribable, incomprehensible, terrifying force materialized out of thin air, instantly locking onto his entire body!

"No..."

The mockery on Duan Lang's face was instantly replaced by boundless terror.

He felt as if he had been struck head-on by an Ancient Divine Mountain; all the bones in his body groaned in agony.

He wanted to resist, to activate his Internal Energy, to flee.

But before that force, his Peak of Condensing Essence Realm cultivation, his proud "White Fist," his supposedly indestructible Protective Aura—all were as fragile as a joke!

"BOOM——!!!"

A dull, earth-shattering explosion.

Under the horrified gazes of tens of thousands, Duan Lang's body, like a smashed tomato, instantly exploded into a cloud of blood mist!

Not even a single scream had time to escape.

Blood mist, mixed with minced flesh and bone fragments, drifted down, staining half the arena red.

Dead!

One punch!

From fifty meters away!

Had blasted a Peak of Condensing Essence Realm Prodigy into nothingness!

"..."

The entire world seemed to have been muted.

Dead silence.

A deathly stillness.

Everyone's minds crashed at that moment.

What had they just seen?

An illusion?

The unrivaled Duan Lang from moments ago... just gone like that?

On the Viewing Platform, the smile on the face of the Baizhang Martial Arts School Master completely froze, turning into an ashen, deathly pallor.

He stared blankly at the glaring crimson stain on the arena, his body trembling uncontrollably. His own nurtured Prodigy...

Gone just like that?

At this moment, Zhuang Bai was stunned!