Chapter 258 - 119: Cat and Mouse (4)

Luo Yun cupped his fists at Li Hu below the stage and then made no other move.

Sun Yong nodded at him, a flash of approval in his eyes.

Li Haitao snorted softly. Losing the first match was a little embarrassing, but he didn’t really care. All that mattered was who had the last laugh.

Li Mengchao looked at Li Hu, who was on the ground, a cold glint in his eyes.

Luo Yun did not step down from the stage.

According to the rules of the match, the victor had to remain on the stage until defeated by a challenger. The side with the last person standing on the stage would be the winner of the entire competition.

He stood silently in the center of the Black Stone Platform, slowly calming his surging Inner Strength.

Li Hu was helped to his feet by his fellow family disciples. He retreated to the side, his face filled with shame.

Li Mengchao’s brow furrowed slightly as he gave a pointed look to a tall, thin young man on the other side.

The young man’s name was Li Shi. He was also at the Peak of Mingjin and practiced a superior martial art called Cloud-Piercing Palm.

He stepped forward at the signal, leaping onto the stage. He cupped his fist at Luo Yun and said, "From the Li Family, Li Shi. I ask for your guidance."

Before the words were even out of his mouth, Li Shi struck first.

Cloud-Piercing Palm valued dexterity and speed. His palms moved like shadows, slicing through the air as he aimed straight for Luo Yun’s vital points.

Luo Yun continued to counter with Mountain-Shattering Fist. The force of his blows was as solid as a mountain, time and again deflecting the tricky palm strikes.

After they exchanged several dozen blows, Luo Yun gradually began to show signs of fatigue. Facing two experts at the Peak of Mingjin in a row was draining; even he had consumed a considerable amount of Inner Strength.

Li Shi seized the opportunity. His palm strikes suddenly accelerated. With a move called "Cloud Swirls, Sun Sets," a vortex of force from his palms wrapped around Luo Yun’s legs.

Unable to dodge in time, Luo Yun was swept off his feet as the force of the blow struck his ankle. As he staggered, Li Shi seized the opening and landed another palm strike on his shoulder.

"OOF!"

Luo Yun muffled a groan and staggered back several steps. He couldn’t regain his balance, and seeing another palm strike coming his way, he had no choice but to jump off the stage.

Li Shi wins!

A low cheer went up from the Li Family’s side.

Li Haitao’s expression relaxed a little. ’Now, this is more like it.’

Next, Zhang Han of Sun’s Martial Arts Hall leaped onto the stage.

He wielded Mountain-Shattering Fist, its force ferocious and powerful, clashing with Li Shi’s Cloud-Piercing Palm.

Unfortunately, Zhang Han’s mastery of Mingjin was slightly inferior. After thirty moves, Li Shi swept him off the stage with a clever burst of force.

The next to go up was Song Kang. He was also at the Peak of Mingjin, but his physical strength was on the weaker side, preventing him from unleashing the ferocious power of Mountain-Shattering Fist. Furthermore, Li Shi’s palm techniques countered him in close-quarters combat, and he was defeated in fewer than twenty moves.

In just a few moments, Sun’s Martial Arts Hall had already lost three members. Onstage, Li Shi was triumphant, his gaze sweeping over the opposing Sun Family disciples with a hint of smug satisfaction.

Standing below, Li Mengchao watched the situation on the stage, a slow smile spreading across his lips.

’This kind of victory is just what Father expected. Wear down their strength step by step, and then I’ll personally end the competition. It guarantees a flawless victory and also showcases my power.’

Li Mengchao’s gaze shifted back to Yang Jing, his expression like a cat toying with a mouse under its paw, full of mockery.

"When Luo Yun defeated Li Hu, I thought Sun’s Martial Arts Hall was about to get the upper hand..."

"But Li Shi is a cut above. His Cloud-Piercing Palm is incredible!"

"But in the end, it all comes down to Yang Jing and Li Mengchao. I’m betting on Yang Jing to win. After all, he’s the one who defeated Li Qianxiong!"

"Yeah, the Li Family has a bit of a lead now, but it doesn’t really matter. The key is that they don’t have anyone who can stop Yang Jing. He’s said to be invincible in the Anjin realm."

The discussion from nearby drifted into Li Mengchao’s ears. His expression darkened abruptly, especially when he heard the part about "no one being able to stop Yang Jing."

’Invincible in the Anjin realm?’

He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. ’I should just get on that stage right now.’

But his father’s warnings were still ringing in his ears. He took a deep breath, suppressing his roiling anger, but the look in his eyes grew even colder.

’What’s the rush?’

’In a little while, I will personally walk onto that stage and use the Vajra Hand Seal to crush every ounce of Yang Jing’s pride. I’ll let everyone see that this so-called ’invincible in the Anjin realm’ is nothing but a posturing clown before me—a complete joke!’

Li Mengchao’s gaze, sharp as a blade, was fixed on Yang Jing, as if he could already picture the pathetic sight of his opponent’s defeat.

On the other side, Yang Jing felt Li Mengchao’s aggressive gaze and his brow furrowed slightly.

’This scion of the Li Family really seems to have it out for me.’

...