Volume One: The Hidden Dragon in the Abyss Chapter 40: Overwhelming Strength
With that step, the youth in azure moved unhurriedly, his back gently tilting, hands forming seals and striking rapidly, the force like a thunderbolt, surging forth as if mountains were collapsing and seas overturning.
The heir dodged again and again with his utmost speed, barely evading each attack by a hair’s breadth, the blows grazing his robes.
Strike after strike missed their mark.
Now, his own opportunity had arrived!
Twisting his body without a backward glance, the heir swept his leg, striking the seemingly dazed youth in azure.
Boom—
Summoning the powerful internal force of advanced martial arts, he hastily unleashed a punch, followed by a sweeping kick.
This kick aimed at the youth’s lower body, the speed was astonishing.
Bang—
The youth in azure seemed unable to dodge, taking the blow straight on, the sound of bones cracking faintly audible.
Yet the heir sensed something was wrong; as they drew close, the youth quickly seized his arm.
His face changed dramatically, instantly understanding the other’s intent.
Earlier, he had pushed his footwork to the limit, launching several attacks that all missed, and was then met with merciless counterattacks, left utterly disheveled.
He could not discern the youth’s skill.
If his cultivation weren't higher, he would have been completely suppressed.
It seemed his footwork could still sustain the exchange, while the other had chosen to counter motion with stillness.
But the youth was willing to endure injury for an opportunity—why could he trade wounds like this?
Wait!
Realizing the other's tactics, the heir desperately tried to break free.
He moved swiftly, counterattacking several times.
His heart trembling, he unleashed a torrent of internal force, attempting to shake the youth off, like a fish struggling to escape the hook.
The sixth step,
The youth in azure, pulled along, clung tightly to the heir's arm, repeatedly intercepting his attacks.
True energy collided fiercely, vibrating between them.
He followed through, taking another step.
The youth's other hand moved slowly, striking again and again, each time throwing the heir into confusion.
The wind from his palms whistled sharply, slicing through the air in unpredictable arcs, merging seamlessly with his mysterious footwork.
...
How could this be?
Sweat broke out on the heir’s forehead.
He could not deceive himself; from the start of the match, he had clearly fallen behind.
He had deliberately avoided Wang Chuan this time—it should have been his moment to shine.
But,
But,
Why were there so many prodigies here?
Damn it!
He couldn't let himself lose face like this.
"Break!"
The heir shouted, his voice thunderous, as his internal force surged, forcefully meeting the incoming attacks.
He channeled all his true energy into one arm, unleashing it with all his might!
Bang...
It was a blow-for-blow exchange, both risking injury.
The youth in azure staggered, nearly stepping back under the fierce recoil of the heir's internal force.
But he gritted his teeth, enduring the discomfort, refusing to yield.
Yet, he could not hold on any longer, unable to restrain the heir, who broke free and retreated.
The heir stifled a groan, his arm numb and aching, almost losing all feeling.
All could see his right arm drooped, nearly powerless.
They rose to their feet, stunned, holding their breath.
The heir retreated, but was elated.
"Ha! Let me see you defeat me in seven steps, ha ha..."
He laughed like a madman.
Most people sighed in relief; it was not easy for the heir to salvage a shred of dignity.
Now, more than ten paces separated the two.
The heir kept laughing, as if mocking the youth.
Looking back at the youth in azure, they could not find the expression they expected on his face.
Something seemed off.
The youth in azure was expressionless, as if indifferent to such matters.
So he simply remained unmoved.
Every martial art he practiced had reached perfection, even surpassing its original limits.
Master one art and understand a hundred—this was a terrifying thing.
He could handle any martial art with ease.
Whenever he acted, he had nothing but success.
With the blessing of great fortune, whatever he did was twice as effective.
Thus, the youth could only take the initiative.
As he moved, tension rippled through the crowd; he displayed a palm technique unseen before, advancing and retreating, the real and the illusory hard to distinguish.
A palm strike beyond anything known, eliciting awe and terror.
Yang Hao suddenly felt, for reasons unknown, that the youth embodied the harmony of heaven and earth, giving him a strange sensory shock.
Each attack seemed to blend an inexplicable momentum, unpredictable and bizarre.
His footwork never paused, and finally, he stepped forward again...
The seventh step!
Wind and cloud seemed to follow, his aura soaring.
With that step, the gale roared.
In that instant, his force rolled like storm clouds, the sound slicing across the sky.
So powerful...
Though he did not defeat his opponent in seven steps, none could deny the youth’s strength.
Watching his figure, the prodigies on the field paled in awe.
Especially among the scions of noble families, breathing became difficult, their spirits trembling.
His energy condensed, forming a refined internal force, its strength moving with him, the force rippling around him like waves—its refinement surpassing even the limit of Heaven-tier martial artists.
The shock and pressure he brought were beyond words.
Hearts skipped; disbelief reigned—how could anyone be so strong!
Wait, something was very wrong.
Hadn't he only taken the last step?
All eyes widened; the youth had already appeared before the heir once more.
"Damn!"
The heir was hit hardest, unable to comprehend—such distance, and only a single step...
A step...
Why not just ascend to the heavens?
"Shrinking the earth to an inch!" Someone murmured, face grave.
Taking a few steps forward, they tried to see more clearly.
"What?"
"Shrinking the earth to an inch."
"He actually used Shrinking the Earth!"
"..."
Everyone present was a martial artist; none failed to grasp the meaning.
This mysterious youth had displayed such a technique.
Shrinking the earth to an inch.
At the Master’s Realm, mastery of force and law reached an extraordinary level; only those at that height could perform such divine martial skills.
Yet this unknown youth had executed it.
With this final step, the youth appeared before the heir, his true energy surging like a dragon.
Palm winds howled, descending with force.
Both hands moved together, the assault fierce, like a storm sweeping across the field.
The wind roared like thunder, the air stirred violently.
The entire space shook with overwhelming power; in that moment, wind and cloud seemed to be swept aside, dominance clear.
In haste, the heir launched his strongest martial art, his protective energy raised to its peak, resisting with all his might.
Two terrifying martial arts collided, the storm and energy waves dancing wildly, forming a small whirlwind.
"This explosive power, that last strike has surpassed even the Heaven-tier, hasn’t it?"
"Unimaginable—how can there be such a powerful youth?"
"Too monstrous."
"..."
The martial stage was shattered, fragments scattered in all directions.
Spectators retreated again and again during the fiercest clash, barely escaping the aftermath.
Boom—
Before the storm faded, a figure was knocked far onto the lake surface, splashing water everywhere.
In that moment, many felt a foreboding, hoping...
Sure enough, the person soon surfaced—it was the heir to the King of Yan.
Soaked, like a drowned rat, utterly disheveled.
Hair in disarray, body trembling, he spat blood, his figure barely upright.
Thud—
At last, unable to stand, he collapsed.
One hand propped him up as he gasped for breath, lifting his face to look at the youth in azure.
His face was filled with resentment and unwillingness.
Defeated!
Not only did he lose, he lost at the seventh step.
Defeated in seven steps—just as foretold.
The heir’s face was utterly lost.
Despicable! Today’s humiliation, I will repay a hundredfold another day!
The youth in azure stood atop a broken pillar, never glancing at his opponent again.
His gaze swept the arena, finally resting on the Sixth Prince of Wei.
Right, there was still the Sixth Prince!
All those present perked up—there was still hope.
That prince who had stepped into the Heaven-tier, a peerless youth of this generation.
He was truly Heaven-tier; surely he couldn’t lose.
The youth in azure waited quietly.
Others’ eyes shifted between the two.
Only they remained.
"Hmph..."
A cold snort sounded.
The Sixth Prince ignored them, after a brief stare, turned away.
Want me to regain your honor for the people of Yu? Are you even worthy?
He was a prince of Wei, noble in status!
How could he fight a battle with such uncertain odds?
It wasn’t fear—what was there to fear?
If the opponent were Wang Chuan, or if Wei's honor was at stake, he would risk all.
But now, stepping forward would just make him their pawn—impossible!
All were disappointed, utterly defeated.
What prince—relationships were as fragile as paper, only united by interest.
No matter how much time passed, this defeat would remain a shadow overhead, never to disperse.
The youth in azure saw this clearly and turned to leave.
He soared above the lake, moving on true energy.
Yet his feet left no trace, stepping on the river without a ripple!
Even his lightness skill was terrifying to such a degree?
All suffered another blow, watching as he departed, feeling an unprecedented sense of defeat.
Wang Chuan already left them awestruck; now, in this city of Fucheng, there was another prodigy so young.
He would surely rise like a true dragon, soaring thousands of miles.
But what had their years of arduous cultivation been for?
Why must there be another genius to overshadow me?
Some quietly left the arena.
"Quick! Faster!"
Yang Hao watched the youth depart and quietly followed, fetching his steed and galloping after that figure.
But the youth drew farther and farther away, finally disappearing into the mountains, lost in the depths of the clouds.
Yang Hao gave up, dismounted, and sat on a tree trunk, panting heavily.
Breathing hard.
He would have to investigate further—this person was surely extraordinary.
"Why are you following me?"
Suddenly, a voice sounded. Yang Hao jolted and saw the youth appear before him once more.