Chapter 561 - 190: The Strength of the Hidden Dragon List’s Number One

On the tournament stage.

Steward Xue unfurled the list in his hand. His gaze swept over the crowd below before he gathered his Inner Qi and announced in a booming voice, "The Fushan Grand Tournament, sixth round, first match: Chu Yunhai of Celestial Derivation Peak versus Cui Yuan of Zhenyue Peak!"

As his voice fell, two figures leaped onto the stage, one after the other.

Chu Yunhai was dressed in a blue robe, his figure as straight and tall as a pine tree. He walked with an unhurried grace, a faint smile on his face. He showed no hint of an aggressive edge, yet he carried himself with a profound and unshakable presence.

Cui Yuan, in contrast, wore black martial attire. He had a burly, powerfully built frame, and his steps thudded heavily on the stage, projecting an imposing and robust aura.

Below the stage, Yang Jing’s eyes were fixed on its center, his expression growing more solemn.

He clenched his fists, knowing full well that if he defeated Lu Shaohua this round and made it into the top three, a match against Chu Yunhai would be inevitable.

That would be the crucial battle to decide the final rankings of the Fushan Grand Tournament, and also the best opportunity to test his own strength.

In the previous rounds, Chu Yunhai had won effortlessly with just a move or two. His opponents hadn’t even managed to draw out his true strength, making it impossible to gauge his depth.

But now, every disciple who had made it into the top six of the Fushan Grand Tournament was a top-tier, battle-hardened genius of immense strength.

It would be nearly impossible for Chu Yunhai to defeat his opponent as discreetly as he had before, without revealing his true capabilities.

Yang Jing decided to take this opportunity to carefully observe Chu Yunhai’s techniques, patterns, and Inner Qi Cultivation. He wanted to see just how powerful Chu Yunhai truly was and be fully prepared for their eventual confrontation.

"Chu Yunhai’s reserved nature really makes him impossible to read," Ma Qiang, who was standing nearby, couldn’t help but exclaim with a hint of admiration. "Ever since he took first place on the Hidden Dragon List, he’s rarely fought anyone with his full strength. No one in the sect knows just how powerful he’s become."

His words struck a chord with everyone present.

Cui Yuan was also very strong. He cultivated the Mid-grade True Skill, the Mountain-Suppressing Fist, and had once shattered the skull of a Xeno-beast with a single punch. He was a renowned genius not only in the Xuanzhen Sect but throughout Jintai Prefecture.

But now, facing Chu Yunhai, almost no one in the plaza believed he could win. All eyes were fixed on the stage as everyone wondered just how much of Chu Yunhai’s power Cui Yuan could force him to reveal.

Chu Yunhai was widely acknowledged as the core seed of the Xuanzhen Sect’s next generation. Despite his youth, he already stood at the peak of the Qi Eating Realm, just one step away from the Qi Absorption Realm.

With his steady temperament and outstanding talent, he was destined to become a cornerstone of the Xuanzhen Sect and even join its upper echelons once he matured.

No one would dare underestimate such a figure, no matter where he went.

...

On the stage, Steward Xue saw that both contestants were ready and announced loudly once more, "The match begins!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and walked off the stage, leaving the vast platform entirely to the two facing each other.

On the stage, Cui Yuan looked at the calm and composed Chu Yunhai opposite him. Taking a deep breath, he was the first to cup his fist in salute, his voice as resonant as a bell. "Senior Brother Chu, please guide me!"

Chu Yunhai smiled lightly and nodded, raising his own hands to return the salute. His expression was serene, and though he said nothing, his eyes were as deep as an old well, impossible to fathom.

Cui Yuan didn’t waste any time. He snapped his saluting hand back as the Inner Qi around him erupted, causing the stone tiles beneath his feet to tremble slightly.

The muscles on his arms bulged as he threw a punch and lunged at Chu Yunhai. The wind from his fist howled like a descending tiger, tearing through the air as it shot toward Chu Yunhai’s chest.

Watching Cui Yuan charge at him, Chu Yunhai felt the immense power and formidable aura of the attack. His eyes lit up slightly, and a long-lost flicker of anticipation stirred in his long-quiet heart.

His body trembled slightly as he softly uttered two words: "Bring it."

Cui Yuan’s strength was indeed formidable. The aura around him was as heavy as a mountain, and his fist technique was sweeping and powerful, balanced in both offense and defense. Each punch landed with overwhelming force, making the very air on the stage hum.

However, just as his fist, wrapped in a gale of wind, was about to slam into Chu Yunhai’s chest, Chu Yunhai remained motionless. His right hand shot up, fingers held together, and—starting later but arriving first—he precisely blocked the incoming strike.

"THUD!"

Fist met palm in a muffled impact.

Cui Yuan’s expression changed slightly, and his arm went a little numb, but he wasn’t surprised.

He knew full well that with Chu Yunhai’s strength, it would be impossible to land a clean hit so easily.

Cui Yuan gritted his teeth. His Inner Qi surged like a tide, and his assault grew even more ferocious.

His figure moved rapidly across the stage. One punch followed another, the overlapping afterimages of his fists raining down like a torrential storm on the nearby Chu Yunhai, each blow aimed at a vital point.

Yet Chu Yunhai remained rooted to the spot, the stone tiles beneath his feet perfectly still. Relying on only his right hand, he precisely blocked every single one of Cui Yuan’s punches.

His movements were calm and unhurried. With a slight turn of his wrist, he could deflect the majority of the force from each punch. From beginning to end, he had not retreated a single step.

This sight made the faces of the crowd below pale, and they collectively gasped.

This could only mean one thing: Chu Yunhai’s strength far surpassed Cui Yuan’s. They weren’t even in the same league.

One must remember that Cui Yuan was a famous genius in Jintai Prefecture and a celebrated figure within the Xuanzhen Sect. Yet, against Chu Yunhai, he couldn’t even touch the corner of his sleeve.

’Is this the overwhelming pressure of the one who holds the top spot on the Hidden Dragon List?’