The setting sun cast a crimson glow across the sky, bathing the earth in a reddish hue.
“What’s going on? Why hasn’t that guy from the Great Sealing Sect arrived yet?”
“Could he have chickened out?”
“That’s possible!”
Many had gathered here early in the morning, but after waiting so long without seeing Tian Fan, such questions naturally arose.
“He won’t! Big Brother will come, and he’ll defeat that person!”
Yiyi, unwilling to hear anyone speak ill of Tian Fan, retorted with a flushed face.
The speaker turned to see it was a little girl and said nothing further. What grown adult would argue with a young girl?
Boom!
Suddenly, a soft but distinct sound of footsteps echoed from afar. Though gentle, it rang clearly in everyone’s ears, blending seamlessly with nature itself.
In the glow of the sunset, a man dressed in white slowly approached. The evening light fell on him, enveloping him in a divine radiance that highlighted his ethereal aura.
“It’s Big Brother! He’s here…”
Yiyi shouted, running toward him.
“Hehe, good girl…”
Tian Fan smiled and patted Yiyi’s little head.
“Why do I feel like you’re different from before?”
Li Yunhua frowned and asked while looking at Tian Fan.
“Different? How so?”
At the moment, Tian Fan appeared like an ordinary boy next door—sunny and unremarkable.
“I can’t quite say, but I just have that feeling,” Li Yunhua said seriously, his gaze fixed on Tian Fan.
“Me too,” Li Yunyang added, with Difu nodding in agreement.
“Alright, I’d better head up there. Otherwise, people might start throwing rotten eggs at me,” Tian Fan joked as he slowly ascended, stepping onto the arena.
Opposite him stood Xiang Yufei, a man known as the most ruthless among the Four Gates.
As he looked at Tian Fan, Xiang Yufei furrowed his brows slightly, a hint of surprise in his expression.
“You’ve grown stronger. You’re now qualified to fight me!”
The two locked eyes in calm confrontation. Xiang Yufei’s statement wasn’t arrogant—it was simply the truth from his perspective.
Suddenly, a beam of fist light shot toward Tian Fan. Xiang Yufei had made his move in a flash.
Boom!
Tian Fan raised his right hand slightly, forming a sword gesture. A silver sword beam burst forth, shattering Xiang Yufei’s fist energy into countless sparkling fragments.
“That’s rather impolite,” Tian Fan remarked, effortlessly neutralizing the sudden attack.
Seeing this, Xiang Yufei nodded.
“This guy neutralized Xiang Yufei’s punch so easily?”
“Could he really be a match for Xiang Yufei?”
Many who had placed their bets on Xiang Yufei began to worry.
“Let’s begin!”
Xiang Yufei’s voice was deep as he raised his right fist, swinging it slowly. Though the motion appeared sluggish, its immense power sliced through the air like a blade, causing the spectators to feel a stinging pain on their faces.
Suddenly, golden fist energy erupted like a raging sea, surging toward Tian Fan with an unstoppable force.
This was Xiang Yufei—a top-tier genius among the younger generation of the Divine Martial Continent. Even veteran experts would avoid confronting him directly. A single ordinary punch carried such devastating power that even Tian Fan felt immense pressure.
“Ninefold Unity!”
Tian Fan stood firm like a rock, unmoved by the force, as he unleashed this technique.
Eighty-one streaks of sword light filled the sky, interwoven with silver lotus leaves. The dazzling display shot forward at lightning speed, blanketing the area in a web of silver sword Qi.
Everyone’s expressions changed. They were all familiar with the “Ninefold Unity” technique, renowned for its immense power. That Tian Fan resorted to it right from the start spoke volumes—Xiang Yufei’s strength was overwhelming.
Crack! Crack!
The central arena, unable to withstand the tremendous energy, began to crack.
Xiang Yufei’s eyes gleamed brightly as his slow-moving fist suddenly accelerated, cutting through the air like lightning. The golden fist energy grew fiercer, completely sealing the space in front of Tian Fan.
“Five Elements Fist of the Fist Emperor Sect! This is the true divine mastery of the Five Elements!”
Though many in the crowd had low cultivation levels, their knowledge was vast. They immediately recognized this unmatched technique. The Five Elements arts were numerous on the Divine Martial Continent, but only the Fist Emperor Sect could wield the ultimate profundities of this art. This was why the Fist Emperor Sect was ranked first among the Four Sects, second only to the two divine dynasties, ancient martial clans, and a few secret cultivation sects.
Boom!
The entire arena trembled violently as though an earthquake had struck.
The clash between Tian Fan and Xiang Yufei created an explosion of golden and silver light, causing space to ripple and the power of destruction to fill every corner of the barrier-enclosed area.
As the golden and silver radiance faded, the two stood unmoving at the center of the arena, their gazes locked on one another. Xiang Yufei’s expression remained unchanged, while Tian Fan appeared composed, his white robes fluttering gently, exuding elegance.
“He blocked the Golden Fist!”
Gasps filled the air. Tian Fan was only at the early Cloud Heaven stage, while Xiang Yufei had reached the mid-stage, just a step away from its peak. Moreover, Xiang Yufei’s “Five Elements Fist” was a top-tier technique famed across the Divine Martial Continent. Yet Tian Fan had effortlessly withstood it, leaving everyone astounded.
Even Li Yunhua’s expression changed. Having fought Xiang Yufei before, he knew that Xiang Yufei hadn’t used even one percent of his power against him. Yet even that fraction had been overwhelming. Now, Tian Fan had effortlessly blocked one of the Five Elements Fist techniques. How strong was he?
Xiang Yufei’s expression remained indifferent as he threw another punch, just as slow as before, though no one dared to underestimate it—if anything, they grew even more apprehensive.
Emerald light burst forth, transforming into a forest of towering trees that surged toward Tian Fan like an unstoppable tidal wave.
“The Wooden Fist of the Five Elements!”
“A true wooden-element divine art!”
More gasps erupted from the crowd as they recognized this formidable fist technique.
Tian Fan responded with the Five Elements Seal. Countless silver runes appeared around him, radiating brilliant light that dyed the entire space silver. The word “Seal” emerged, with endless silver runes forming a barrier that blocked the overwhelming power of the Wooden Fist.
Boom!
Another resounding collision shook the arena. The silver radiance shattered the illusory green trees, which weren’t real vegetation but condensed wooden-element power from the Five Elements Fist, nearly solid in form.
“He blocked it! He blocked the Wooden Fist too!”
The crowd was in disbelief.
On the central stage, the two fighters remained rooted in place.
Xiang Yufei’s expression was as stoic as ever, but Tian Fan frowned slightly. Having faced the Golden and Wooden Fists, he knew that the Water, Fire, and Earth Fists would follow, each more powerful than the last. How should he counter them? How could he defeat Xiang Yufei?
Could it be… would he have to resort to “that” move…?
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