"How bold! I, Zhenmeng, am thirty-six years old this year, older than you, so I'll let you make the first move!"

As he spoke, Zhenmeng gestured towards Li Chen, inviting him to attack first.

Li Chen shook his head and said confidently, "No, you go first. If I make the first move, you won't have another chance to attack!"

Hearing Li Chen's boastful words, Zhenmeng became furious and shouted, "Arrogant! I hope your Kung Fu matches your big words. Don't disappoint me!"

Before he even finished his sentence, Zhenmeng stomped his foot fiercely. The mountain-rock paved arena immediately cracked with spider-web-like fissures.

"Watch out, take my axe!"

The axe strike was as powerful as thunder, whipping up a violent whirlwind that swept towards Li Chen.

The spectators near the arena could clearly feel the fierce aura.

Those with higher cultivation channeled their strength to resist it.

Those with weaker cultivation stepped back repeatedly.

However, Li Chen stood motionless at the center of the arena, as if he were a steadfast fisherman amid a storm.

"Do you think he's scared stiff?"

Someone pointed at Li Chen and asked a companion beside him.

"It's possible, after all, Zhenmeng is so fierce that even the elite from a Great Sect would struggle against him. Let alone this frail Loose Cultivator!"

Some people chimed in, and when mentioning "Loose Cultivator," there was an unmistakable tone of disdain, completely forgetting that they themselves, like Li Chen on the stage, are also Loose Cultivators.

Many are like this; when others look down on and insult them, they too look down on themselves.

Throughout their lives, they never understand the principle that "those who insult others will themselves be insulted!"

"Boom!"

Li Chen moved!

He flipped his hand, delivering a massive palm strike, resembling the Tathagata Divine Palm, directly striking down.

From Li Chen's earlier lesson to the rogue, Zhenmeng realized this opponent had some skills and was no ordinary person.

Yet, he ultimately underestimated Li Chen, never imagining that his opponent had such formidable explosive power.

In haste, he quickly raised his War Axe, positioning it in front of him as an impenetrable wall of defense.

Seeing this, Li Chen changed his move mid-air. His five fingers clenched tightly together, like a giant millstone, descending with thundering momentum.

"Rumble!"

Lightning exploded, shaking the very void!

The seemingly indestructible defense of Zhenmeng lasted only a few breaths before being ripped apart by the fierce Thundering Iron Fist.

Soon, his final defense, the Protective Gang Qi, also bore spider-web-like cracks.

In an instant, Zhenmeng, who had been on the offensive, was immediately suppressed, forced to grit his teeth and hold on bitterly, unable to retaliate.

By this point, Zhenmeng's chances were slim. The disparity in their strengths was crystal clear.

"How can this be?" Many of the onlookers were dumbfounded, their expressions stunned.

They clearly hadn't expected Zhenmeng's seemingly indestructible defense to be so flimsy.

"Senior Brother Du Song, do you think Zhenmeng is really going to lose?"

A cultivator from Qingzhou looked at the elegant scholar beside him, eagerly asking.

The elegant scholar flicked open and closed his folding fan, showing off as he said, "Not necessarily. Zhenmeng was just careless for a moment, allowing him to succeed."

"In my view, that Li Chen's cultivation is only at the Late-stage Foundation Establishment, his True Yuan far less robust than Zhenmeng's. As long as Zhenmeng withstands this attack, once Li Chen's True Yuan is exhausted, he's certain to turn the tables and snatch victory from defeat!"

This Du Song had a respectable reputation in the independent cultivator world, and many treated his words as sacred, joining in agreement.

Hearing the flattery from these fanatical followers, Du Song's vanity was greatly satisfied, and he began to swell with pride.

Soon, he boldly closed his folding fan and pointed at the battle on the stage, saying confidently, "Everyone watch closely, within no more than three rounds, Zhenmeng will secure victory and defeat Li Chen!"

However, before his words even finished echoing, Li Chen quietly harnessed his True Yuan, suddenly exerting force.

Already at his wits' end, Zhenmeng was sent flying backward, crashing onto the rocks, head bleeding profusely, utterly miserable.

"Pfft!"

Before he could rise again, he spat out a mouthful of blood, staining the rocks and flowers a blinding crimson.

Instantly, the entire arena fell silent.

Du Song felt his face burning hot, having just confidently declared Li Chen's inevitable defeat.

Yet, to his utter dismay, his words were barely spoken before reality delivered a harsh, resounding slap to his face.

Li Chen clapped his hands, glanced at the heavily injured Zhenmeng on the ground, and sneered coldly, "Do you admit defeat?"

Before Zhenmeng could speak, rage surged within him, causing him to spit out a large mouthful of blood.

He then wiped the blood from his lips with his sleeve, responding, "I, Zhenmeng, am not as skilled as you. You've won!"

Seeing his opponent concede so straightforwardly, Li Chen's impression of him improved slightly.

"I appreciate your courtesy!"

After Li Chen spoke, he surveyed the spectators below, finally fixing his gaze on Du Song.

"Who else wishes to challenge me?"

His tone was light, yet imbued with a domineering aura that seemed to pierce the heavens, stirring fear in souls. People averted their eyes from his piercing gaze, not daring to make eye contact.

Many spectators, noticing Li Chen's gaze lingering on Du Song, also turned their eyes towards him.

Several onlookers began urging Du Song to take the stage and teach Li Chen a lesson.

"Du Song, this kid is too arrogant, you should step up and put him in his place!"

"Yes, Du Song, you should show him what true strength is and teach him that there's always someone greater!"

...

Du Song, always hungry for the spotlight, felt his confidence swell hearing the flattery and encouragement from those around him.

"Kid, let me, Du Song, have a match with you!"

Before his words even landed, he turned a somersault and landed firmly in front of Li Chen.

He sized up Li Chen, then conducted himself with gentlemanly decorum, "I am Du Song from Xunyang, here to seek your guidance!"

Though Li Chen disliked Du Song's demeanor, the saying goes, 'One doesn't hit a smiling face.'

He nodded slightly as a response, saying coldly, "Let's not delay, let's begin!"

However, before Li Chen's words fully echoed, Du Song suddenly gestured and said, "Hold on!"

Li Chen raised an eyebrow, looking at Du Song with an inquisitive gaze, quietly waiting for his continuation.

Du Song pondered for a moment, cleared his throat, and said, "Fighting like this is too dull. How about we make it interesting this time, what do you think?"

Li Chen asked, "What do you plan to do?"

Du Song thought for a moment and then drew a circle on the ground, saying, "One of us defends while the other attacks. If the defender retreats, they're deemed the loser. What do you think?"

Li Chen agreed without hesitation.

"Alright, let's do it your way. You go first!"

"Great!"

Du Song didn't expect Li Chen to agree so readily and was pleasantly surprised.

He had witnessed Li Chen's match with Zhenmeng and assumed Li Chen's greatest advantage lay in his movement technique.

As long as Li Chen agreed, his movement advantage would be nullified.

By that time, wouldn't Li Chen be at his mercy?

Thinking of this, a sinister, triumphant smile edged onto Du Song's face.

Humph, playing with me, Du Song, you're still too naive!

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