Ye Tian waved his arms, sending out palm after palm infused with powerful, domineering vigour and his own intent, blocking Sha Shan’s ferocious assaults. The two exchanged blows using innate-level martial techniques, the fight fierce and intense, with bursts of vigour exploding outward with every strike.
After Chen Bowen’s defeat, the people of Yao had felt their hearts sink to the depths, but now, seeing Ye Tian use his arms to fend off Sha Shan’s relentless, stone-splitting kicks, they were deeply shaken.
“So Ye Tian is the true number one in Yao City!”
“Such incredible arm strength. To block those leg techniques that can split stone with nothing but his arms. I never imagined Ye Tian was this strong!”
“…”
Su Zhengping and the others could not help but brighten, turning to praise Ye Li. “When did your son become so powerful? To unleash palm strikes so rich with intent!”
Ye Li himself was stunned. He had no idea when his son had grown this strong.
“Down you go!” Ye Tian parried another kick from Sha Shan, then thrust out a palm with explosive force, his intent manifesting like a surging wave. Sha Shan blocked desperately, but was still forced back several steps, his face paling.
“Well done, Ye Tian!” The Yao crowd roared with excitement as Ye Tian gained the upper hand, their cheers loud enough to drown out heaven and earth.
Chen Bowen, carried away after his loss, watched Ye Tian bask in such adoration. His expression grew even uglier, dark and sullen, though no one knew what thoughts churned within him.
“Your big brother is no ordinary man!” Pang Shao watched Ye Tian dominate and could not help clicking his tongue at Ye Chu. He was only seventh-level Meaning Transformation himself, yet he was overpowering another at the same realm using innate-level techniques. A truly formidable cultivator.
Ye Chu was also somewhat surprised. Ye Tian had exceeded his expectations. Moreover, the Ye family possessed no such palm technique. Where had Ye Tian obtained it?
“Good! Good!” Sha Shan laughed loudly. “I thought Yao was full of useless drunkards, but there is a real man here after all! Not all pretty boys!”
His words drew furious curses from the Yao crowd. Chen Bowen’s face darkened further, losing all its former brightness.
“Yao never lacks real men!” Ye Tian stared at him. “Sha will gain nothing here! Abandon your greed and withdraw the troops you have massed on our border.”
“That depends on your ability!” Sha Shan laughed, sweeping out another kick, even fiercer and more domineering than before.
Ye Tian swung his arms, unleashing palm after palm, clashing directly with Sha Shan and steadily suppressing his edge.
Seeing Ye Tian overpower Sha Shan, the Yao crowd shouted even louder, their cheers surpassing those for Chen Bowen earlier.
The immense noise affected even Zhang Su’er and her group. They could not help raising their arms and cheering for Ye Tian.
“It seems this time all the glory belongs to Ye Tian!” Pang Shao stared at Ye Chu, jealousy clear on his face. He resolved to learn an innate-level technique when he returned. Seducing women would be far too easy with one.
“Down you go!” Ye Tian forced Sha Shan back step by step to the edge of the arena, then unleashed a palm strike to knock him out.
Just as Sha Shan was about to be driven off, a strange smile appeared on his lips. His arm flipped, and several silver needles flashed in his palm.
Ye Tian struck out, confident he could send Sha Shan flying.
But the moment their palms met, Ye Tian’s expression changed drastically. Agonising pain shot through his hand, as though his entire arm were being torn apart. The pain froze him for an instant. In that moment, Sha Shan kicked out, landing squarely on Ye Tian’s body and sending him flying.
Pfft…
Ye Tian spat blood and collapsed to the ground. Seeing the silver needles embedded in his palm, he cursed, “Despicable!”
Sha Shan ignored the insult, cupped his hands towards Ye Tian, and said, “I accept your concession!”
The sudden reversal stunned the Yao crowd, but outrage exploded immediately. Curses rained down. “Despicable! Using concealed weapons!”
“The Sha people truly are vile, resorting to such shameless tricks!”
“…”
The Yao crowd’s fury ignited. They hurled abuse at the Sha side, some even grabbing bricks in anger and throwing them towards the Sha camp.
“What? Can Yao not accept defeat?” The Sha leader waved a hand to deflect the stones, his gaze falling on Su Zhengping with mockery.
“Carry Ye Tian up here!” Su Zhengping ordered furiously, having men bring Ye Tian to him.
Ye Tian’s hand had already turned black, alarming the cultivators gathered around him. “Poison!”
Ye Tian shook his head. “It is evil qi! The needles were tempered in evil qi!”
His words caused everyone, including Su Zhengping, to pale. Sha intended to cripple Ye Tian. Evil qi was vicious beyond measure. The human body could not absorb it. It could destroy vitality and meridians. If it invaded the organs, death was certain.
Ye Tian felt as though his arm were being ripped apart. The intense pain drenched him in cold sweat and made his body convulse.
“Haha! Does Yao have no one left to fight? If so, send over Su Rong and the city maps!” the Sha leader laughed.
His words drew furious glares from the Yao crowd, but their faces were equally grim. Yao’s two strongest had been defeated. Who could stop the enemy now?
“Anyone else? Is Yao full of nothing but trash?” Sha Shan taunted from the arena, his laughter grating.
Pang Shao nudged Ye Chu. “You really not going up?”
“No interest!” Ye Chu replied, though his expression was not good. He did not walk towards the arena but towards Ye Tian.
Evil qi had entered his body. If not treated, Ye Tian would truly be ruined.
Su Rong and the others had already gathered around Ye Tian. Seeing black spots spreading on his arm, their faces paled with fear.
Ye Chu pushed past Zhang Su’er and Su Rong. The two women glared coldly at him for still daring to touch them at such a time. Zhang Su’er was about to curse him.
But Ye Chu ignored them, crouched beside Ye Tian, and reached for the silver needles in his hand.
“Don’t touch them!” Ye Tian cried urgently. These were evil-qi-tempered needles. How could Ye Chu handle them?
“It’s fine!” Ye Chu smiled, pulled out the needles, then firmly grasped Ye Tian’s hand.
Ye Tian tried to pull away, but discovered that once Ye Chu held his hand, the tearing pain vanished. Stunned, he heard Ye Chu’s voice in his ear. “Calm your mind! Do not move!”
The onlookers frowned at Ye Chu holding Ye Tian’s hand, but paid it little attention. Their focus remained on the Sha side, who continued their taunts.
Su Zhengping and the others looked grim. Who could fight now? Their gazes swept over Yao’s younger generation, but all avoided eye contact with Su Zhengping.
Even Chen Bowen and Ye Tian had lost. How could they dare step forward?
