The monk’s punch appeared ordinary, devoid of any apparent force.
Not only that, but it was slow.
Yet, Ye Qiu distinctly felt an overwhelming, suffocating pressure emanating from the monk’s fist.
Ye Qiu met it with a punch of his own.
“Boom!”
As Ye Qiu’s fist shot forward, a fierce, unyielding aura erupted, his fist glowing with radiant golden light.
His punch was unstoppable.
Irresistible.
“Bang!”
Their fists collided fiercely, like a thunderclap, the massive shockwave causing nearby ancient trees to tremble, leaves cascading down.
This clash ended in a draw.
“Again!”
The monk roared, throwing another punch.
Ye Qiu didn’t budge an inch.
Their fists clashed repeatedly.
They exchanged dozens of blows in succession.
Each collision between Ye Qiu and the monk was like two artillery shells exploding, the terrifying force spreading outward, sweeping up leaves that danced in the air.
“Enough!”
Ye Qiu suddenly shouted, knocking the monk back with a punch, and declared, “This kind of probing is pointless. I know you’re a cultivator. There’s no need to hold back. Show me your full strength. Otherwise, I’ll send you to your grave right now.”
The monk laughed. He had indeed been testing Ye Qiu, but hadn’t expected to be called out.
“Fine, since you’re so eager to die, I’ll oblige.”
The monk took a step forward.
“Thud!”
The ground shook.
A formidable aura surged, and a strand of dragon qi appeared behind the monk.
“Initial Foundation Establishment?” Ye Qiu showed no fear.
“Boom!”
A second strand of dragon qi emerged behind the monk, followed by a third and a fourth.
“Mid Foundation Establishment?”
Ye Qiu’s expression shifted slightly.
The monk’s strength surprised him.
But Ye Qiu remained unafraid. Without using his full power, he had once knocked back Master Longbrow, an initial Foundation Establishment cultivator, with a single punch. He was confident he could hold his own against the monk.
“Boom!”
At that moment, five more strands of dragon qi appeared behind the monk.
In total, the monk unleashed nine strands of dragon qi.
“Peak Foundation Establishment!”
Ye Qiu’s face grew solemn.
This meant the monk was just one heavenly tribulation away from becoming a Venerable realm expert.
“Kid, now do you see the gap between us? You can’t defeat me. I suggest you end yourself, or when I make my move, not even your ashes will remain.”
The monk soared into the air, his nine strands of dragon qi swirling, making him look like a divine Buddha, terrifyingly majestic.
In the distance, Tang Fei’s face paled.
“A cultivator with nine dragon qi strands? Ye Qiu’s in danger.”
But Ye Qiu’s next words were earth-shattering.
“I’ve never killed a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator before. Today’s a good day to try.”
As he spoke, Ye Qiu unleashed eight strands of innate true qi.
Though his eight strands didn’t match the monk’s nine dragon qi in grandeur, they were far more radiant, each gleaming like gold.
“Innate true qi!”
Murderous intent surged in the monk’s eyes as he said coldly, “They say those who cultivate innate true qi are martial prodigies. It seems your martial talent is exceptional. Good. I love crushing geniuses.”
With that, the monk, wielding his nine dragon qi, dove from the sky, his fist aimed at Ye Qiu’s head.
The punch was domineering.
Yet Ye Qiu showed no fear, nor did he dodge. He channelled the Nine-Turn Dragon God Technique, condensing his eight true qi strands into his right fist, and met the monk’s punch head-on.
“Bang!”
Their fists collided in mid-air, like two stars crashing, shaking the earth.
In an instant, the monk was sent flying, crashing through several ancient trees as thick as washbasins, landing a hundred metres away.
Ye Qiu, meanwhile, stood rooted to the spot, his feet as if anchored to the ground.
“Holy crap!”
Tang Fei’s eyes nearly popped out. He couldn’t believe Ye Qiu had sent the monk flying with one punch.
The monk was a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator, while Ye Qiu had only cultivated eight strands of innate true qi.
If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he’d never have believed it.
With such a gap in realms, how was the monk the one sent flying?
What was going on?
Unbeknownst to him, Ye Qiu was equally shocked.
He had only used seventy percent of his strength in that punch.
He’d wanted to test whether seventy percent could withstand the monk’s strike, but instead, he’d sent him flying.
“How strong am I, really?”
Ye Qiu realised he had no clear grasp of his own combat strength.
Or rather, he had underestimated the power of innate true qi.
“If I can send him flying with seventy percent, what would happen if I used full strength? Could I kill him with one punch?”
With this thought, Ye Qiu’s confidence surged. He strode towards the monk.
As he walked, he taunted, “Dead bald donkey, didn’t you eat? You’re a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator, yet your punches are so weak?”
The monk, just climbing to his feet, felt his blood churn. Hearing Ye Qiu’s words, he couldn’t hold back and spat out a mouthful of blood.
He was both shocked and furious.
Shocked that Ye Qiu, with only eight strands of true qi, had knocked him back.
Furious that Ye Qiu mocked him for not eating, humiliating him.
His face flushed red with rage.
“Don’t get cocky. I only used fifty percent of my strength just now,” the monk said.
Tch, you got sent flying and still talk tough? What’s the point?
Ye Qiu didn’t respond, continuing to approach.
The monk added, “Even with fifty percent, you’re no match for me. You must’ve used some dark art earlier. But that doesn’t matter. What matters is, I won’t give you another chance. You wanted to see my trump card? Fine, I’ll show you my Invincible Vajra Technique.”
Rip—
The monk tore off his clothes, revealing toned muscles.
Ye Qiu was speechless.
A fight’s a fight. Why strip?
Showing off your muscles?
Go compete in a bodybuilding contest!
“Roar!” The monk bellowed, his nine dragon qi strands coalescing into a giant bell, enveloping him in an impregnable defence.
At the same time, his skin turned golden, making him look like a sacred, inviolable Buddha.
Without a word, Ye Qiu swung his fist.
This time, he used eighty percent of his strength.
“Clang!”
His fist struck the golden bell, shattering it instantly. The force continued, hitting the monk, who was sent flying again.
Then, Ye Qiu’s cold voice rang out, “Pathetic!”
