Chapter 247 - 225: Slapping the Face

Chapter 247: Chapter 225: Slapping the Face

At the edge of the Martial Arts Arena, the expressions of the Refining Organ Realm Martial Artists from Divine Forest Prefecture, who had been relaxed and nonchalant, suddenly changed.

They knew Han Jianshen’s strength all too well. They believed that among all the powers in Celestial State Prefecture, no sect other than their own Divine Forest Prefecture could possibly have a Refining Organ Realm disciple capable of defeating him.

Even the rumored Chen Yue, who had supposedly defeated everyone on the Liuyun Sword Sect’s Sword Heart Ranking, was just an exaggeration in their eyes.

’How strong can an early-stage Refining Organ Realm Martial Artist be? The Liuyun Sword Sect’s Sword Heart Ranking must be nothing but undeserved fame.’

But now, Chen Yue had sent Han Jianshen flying with a single kick.

They had never imagined such an outcome.

Guo Zhuo, seated in the main seat, had been leisurely sipping a cup of tea.

When Chen Yue’s kick lashed out, his hand, holding the teacup, paused slightly. His gaze fell upon the green-robed figure in the Martial Arts Arena, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

He set down his teacup and sized up Chen Yue for a few moments, an enigmatic smile gracing his lips.

It wasn’t just the Refining Organ Realm Martial Artists from Divine Forest Prefecture; no one else in the surrounding stands had expected this result either.

Just how strong Han Jianshen was had been clear from the way he suppressed Jiang Wenda, the number one disciple on the Panshi Sect’s Cyan Cloud Ranking.

There was no question about Jiang Wenda’s strength; he was definitely among the top tier of the Refining Organ Realm. It was just that Han Jianshen was too strong. And yet, this incredibly strong Han Jianshen had been sent flying by Chen Yue’s kick.

Although Han Jianshen might have been careless, he probably hadn’t anticipated Chen Yue’s speed or strength.

But a Martial Artist’s instinctual reaction in the face of danger is never lacking.

And yet, Han Jianshen was still sent flying. That in itself spoke volumes.

In the Martial Arts Arena, Han Jianshen lay sprawled on the ground. When he heard Chen Yue’s words—"Is that enough force for you?"—an uncontrollable rage, like a volcanic eruption, instantly consumed all his reason.

Just moments ago, he had been demanding others use more force, complaining that Jiang Wenda’s saber lacked impact and He Qingjing’s whip lacked power.

And now, it was as if the loudest slap in the world had been dealt soundly across his face.

Han Jianshen’s eyes turned bloodshot in an instant!

It wasn’t just the redness from circulating his Cultivation Technique; it was from extreme anger and shame. He pushed the Qilin Fiery Flame Technique within him to its absolute limit.

His skin seemed about to ignite, radiating an astonishingly high temperature.

"ROAR!"

Han Jianshen let out a beast-like roar. His body flipped into the air, adjusting his posture in mid-flight as he viciously kicked at Chen Yue’s head with the force of a thousand mountains.

Behind him, the faint phantom of a Fire Qilin emerged. The qilin was crimson all over, its mane like flames, its four hooves treading on fire. Its eyes were wide, and it exuded an ancient, majestic aura.

Following Han Jianshen’s movement, the Fire Qilin also raised a massive hoof, stomping toward Chen Yue with an aura capable of incinerating all creation.

This kick was more ferocious than any of his previous attacks!

The scent of something scorching filled the air—the aftermath of the intense heat burning the atmosphere. Some of the small pebbles on the ground even began to glow faintly red.

Seeing Han Jianshen’s furious strike, Chen Yue showed no fear. Instead, a smile touched his lips.

His entire body spun into the air, his right leg whipping out like a steel lash. It carved a sharp arc through the air, striking with perfect precision against Han Jianshen’s incoming right leg.

"BOOM!!!"

A violent explosion rang out across the Martial Arts Arena.

A furious shockwave swept out in all directions like a hurricane. The dust on the ground was kicked up, forming a visible ripple.

Still in mid-air, Han Jianshen let out a muffled grunt.

His face, which had been flushed red, instantly paled. A moment later, a spray of blood mist erupted from his mouth, forming a crimson cloud in the air.

Han Jianshen was thrown backward once more, as if struck by an invisible sledgehammer.

But Chen Yue, still airborne, flipped his body and stomped hard on the empty air!

"BANG!"

The air let out a low boom. He forcefully halted his backward momentum in mid-air and, with even greater speed, caught up to the retreating Han Jianshen.

Then, he brought his foot down toward Han Jianshen’s chest!

Han Jianshen’s eyes revealed unconcealable shock as Chen Yue suddenly appeared before him.

He never imagined Chen Yue could be so fast that he could actually catch up to him in mid-air.

Han Jianshen suddenly recalled the rumors about Chen Yue. In the Liuyun Sword Sect’s Martial Arts Arena, Chen Yue had used a Body Technique that allowed him to push off the air itself, changing direction multiple times to defeat three prodigies from the Sword Heart Ranking who had surrounded him.

It was said he could stomp on the air up to four times in a row!

Before this, Han Jianshen hadn’t paid any mind to the rumors about Chen Yue.

’Chen Yue is definitely strong, I’ll admit that. But I’m stronger.’

’I am Han Jianshen, ranked fifth among the Refining Organ Realm disciples of the Divine Forest Prefecture. I practice the Sect’s secret Qilin Fiery Flame Technique. In the entire Celestial State Prefecture, the only ones I respect are the four ranked above me in my own Sect.’

’As for the Refining Organ Realm disciples from other sects, they’re nothing more than worthless rabble in my eyes.’

But now, one of those he considered worthless rabble was stomping a foot toward him.

The kick came too fast. Spurred by the life-or-death crisis, the Power in Han Jianshen’s body trembled violently, and his Qilin Fiery Flame Technique circulated frantically.

Unable to withstand the furious energy, his skin split open, and blood burst forth, turning into a cloud of mist.

The next instant, upon contact with the scorching heat of the Qilin Fiery Flame Technique, the blood mist ignited.

In that moment, Han Jianshen was transformed into a blazing human torch. The temperature around him skyrocketed, and the air warped and distorted from the heat.

At this moment, his aura reached the absolute peak of his life.

While still airborne, Han Jianshen frantically thrust out his palms. Each strike carried searing flames, which converged in the air to form a surging sea of fire that swept toward Chen Yue!

It seemed as if it would burn everything to ash!

"BOOM!!!"

An earth-shattering explosion rocked the Martial Arts Arena!

With one stomp, Chen Yue shattered all the flames and all of Han Jianshen’s Palm Seals.

Flames scattered in every direction, landing on the ground with a SIZZLE and leaving behind charred black marks.

Han Jianshen coughed up another large mouthful of blood mist. As if he’d been struck head-on by a mountain, he was brutally slammed from mid-air onto the ground!

"CRASH!"

The entire Martial Arts Arena trembled violently. A shallow, human-shaped crater was smashed into the hard Obsidian floor, with spiderweb-like cracks spreading outward and rubble flying everywhere!

Han Jianshen lay in the shallow crater, the flames on his body extinguished, leaving only a few wisps of green smoke curling up.

In the Martial Arts Arena, Chen Yue landed about ten feet away and did not press his attack.

He just stood there calmly, watching Han Jianshen struggle to get up from the ground.

Han Jianshen propped himself up with his hands, his body trembling violently. He gritted his teeth and pushed himself up, bit by bit, lifting his knees from the ground, planting his feet firmly, and then shakily straightened up.

He raised his head and stared daggers at Chen Yue, his bloodshot eyes filled with indignant fury.

His mouth moved as if to say something, but before any words could come out, he spat another mouthful of blood mist.

Han Jianshen swayed involuntarily, and his knees slammed heavily onto the Obsidian floor with a dull thud.

He lowered his head, gasping for breath, as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth and dripped onto the ground, spreading into a small crimson stain.

In the stands, the hundreds of Panshi Sect disciples were overcome with excitement; many had even leaped to their feet involuntarily.

Seeing He Qingjing and Jiang Wenda defeated one after another had left them with an indescribable feeling.

In their hearts, these two were top-tier existences among the Refining Organ Realm, the very face and pride of the Panshi Sect’s disciples at that level.

And yet, they had been consecutively defeated by Han Jianshen, with no hope of victory in sight.

The frustration, the helplessness—it had made nearly every Panshi Sect disciple feel suffocated, as if they couldn’t breathe.

Fortunately, Chen Yue had stepped forward.

His strength was far greater than anyone had anticipated.

Even the seemingly invincible Han Jianshen had been beaten to this state within a few moves, saving the Panshi Sect from the embarrassing scenario of having its Cyan Cloud Ranking completely swept.

They had no desire for the Panshi Sect to suffer the same fate the Liuyun Sword Sect had just recently experienced.

Han Jianshen was helped away by people from the Divine Forest Prefecture. He kept his head down, not once glancing back at the Martial Arts Arena, his retreating figure radiating desolation and resentment.

On the Martial Arts Arena, Chen Yue slowly turned his head. His gaze traveled across the empty field, settling on the area where the Liuyun Sword Sect was seated, and finally on He Linxi.

He had never forgotten their agreement to face each other at this Celestial State tournament.

However, as Chen Yue’s gaze fell upon him, He Linxi slowly lowered his head.

He didn’t meet Chen Yue’s eyes, merely staring silently at the ground in front of him.

The other disciples of the Liuyun Sword Sect instinctively looked toward He Linxi. When they saw his reaction, disappointment couldn’t help but show on many of their faces.

Although they knew He Linxi was likely no match for Chen Yue, they never imagined he wouldn’t even dare to enter the arena.

’The number one on the Sword Heart Ranking has lost even the courage to accept a challenge?’

’Where has the once high-spirited He Linxi gone?’

Chen Yue’s brow twitched slightly. He hadn’t expected this kind of response from He Linxi either.

He was silent for a moment. Instead of continuing to stare at He Linxi, he slowly turned his head and swept his gaze across the entire grandstand, taking in the faces filled with surprise or awe.

Then, his gaze stopped, landing on the area where the Divine Forest Prefecture was seated.