Chapter 562 - 190: The Strength of the Top of the Hidden Dragon List (2)

Below the stage.

Yang Jing stared intently at every move on the stage, his fists unconsciously tightening as his expression grew grave.

’If it were me,’ he thought, ’could I do what Chu Yunhai is doing?’

He had just broken through to the Qi Eating Realm with his *Hengjiang Du* and merged his Three True Skills, causing his strength to skyrocket. He figured he could probably block Cui Yuan’s assault as well. But his breakthrough was too recent; his control over his Inner Qi hadn’t reached a state of perfect harmony. He likely couldn’t have managed it with Chu Yunhai’s effortless composure.

Yang Jing couldn’t help but sigh internally. ’One can never underestimate the heroes of this world.’

Cui Yuan was already powerful enough, yet a huge gap still existed between him and Chu Yunhai.

’My own journey to this point was mainly due to my talent, but also thanks to some risky moves aided by my panel. But for Chu Yunhai to have reached this level all on his own... that kind of talent is truly remarkable.’

The fact that Chu Yunhai could completely block Cui Yuan’s ferocious barrage at such close range was proof that he had already taken complete control of the match.

...

「Just then, on the stage.」

Chu Yunhai spoke, his voice as calm as still water. "I’ve taken twenty of your moves. Now, you take a few of mine."

The moment the words left his lips, Chu Yunhai finally moved.

He took a soft step with his right foot, his body moving as if shrinking the distance between them. In an instant, he was beside Cui Yuan, his right hand raised, striking toward Cui Yuan’s shoulder with a sharp palm wind.

Cui Yuan’s expression changed drastically. He had no time to react and could only throw a punch to block on pure instinct.

BAM!

Fist and palm collided once more. Cui Yuan felt an overwhelming, unstoppable force surge up his arm, making his qi and blood roil. He stumbled back several steps, the impact cracking the stone slabs beneath his feet.

However, before Cui Yuan could regain his footing, Chu Yunhai’s figure was on him like a shadow. Another palm strike flew out, even faster than the last and carrying an irresistible pressure.

This time, Cui Yuan raised his fist to block again, but with a faint CRACK, his arm went numb. The powerful force shattered his guard, leaving him completely defenseless.

Immediately after, Cui Yuan could only watch as Chu Yunhai’s palm landed softly on his chest.

A gentle yet tyrannical power surged into his body. Cui Yuan felt his strength leave him as his Inner Qi instantly scattered.

The next moment, Chu Yunhai’s palm strike sent Cui Yuan flying off the stage, his feet leaving the ground as he sailed through the air like a kite with a snapped string.

Watching Cui Yuan fly off the stage like a kite with a snapped string and crash to the ground, Chu Yunhai sighed softly and shook his head in resignation.

’In the previous rounds, my opponents were far too weak for me. I never used my full strength, simply going through the motions and ending the fights in a few moves.’

’This time, Cui Yuan’s strength was decent. His fist techniques were fierce, and his foundation was solid. I had hoped for a proper match. I even let Cui Yuan have twenty moves, allowing him to unleash a relentless barrage, just to experience the thrill of a good fight.’

’But who would have thought that once I actually attacked with my full strength, Cui Yuan couldn’t even take two moves?’

Chu Yunhai stood in the center of the stage. The morning breeze rustled his blue robes, making the sleeves flutter gently. A hint of the unmistakable loneliness of a master flashed in his eyes.

Cui Yuan was already one of the top prodigies of the younger generation; otherwise, he never would have made it into the top six of the Fushan Grand Competition, which was packed with experts.

But even so, he couldn’t withstand two moves from Chu Yunhai at full power.

Of course, it might have also been because Cui Yuan had just attacked twenty times in a row. After all, as the saying goes: the first charge is full of spirit, the second wanes, and the third is depleted.

Having failed to even make Chu Yunhai retreat half a step after twenty consecutive attacks, Cui Yuan’s spirit had probably already been broken. With his momentum shattered, it was only natural he couldn’t handle the counterattack.

At the exact moment Chu Yunhai defeated Cui Yuan with two seemingly weightless palm strikes, the entire Fushan Square fell deathly silent.

The image of Chu Yunhai’s attack replayed in the minds of the thousands of Xuanzhen Sect disciples.

Those two seemingly casual palms contained an unstoppable power. One palm to force Cui Yuan back, another to shatter his defense—the movements were as smooth as flowing water, executed with casual ease.

Everyone was so shocked their jaws dropped, their faces filled with utter disbelief.

On the secondary platform, the Su Family Grand Elder’s hand, which had been stroking his beard, paused. He stared at the upright figure on the stage with a grave expression and murmured in a low voice, "So this is the power of number one on the Hidden Dragon List? Truly unfathomable."

Su Muyuan had once been ranked fourth on the Hidden Dragon List, just a single step away from the top three.

This had once made many in the Su Family feel indignant, believing that even if Su Muyuan couldn’t claim the top spot on the Hidden Dragon List, the gap between him and number one shouldn’t be that large.

But now, after witnessing Chu Yunhai’s strength firsthand, the Su Family Grand Elder finally understood completely. The gap between Su Muyuan and Chu Yunhai was enormous; they simply weren’t opponents on the same level.

The silence lasted only for a moment before the area below the stage erupted. The disciples burst into discussion, their voices filled with unconcealed amazement.

"My heavens! Senior Brother Chu is just too strong! Senior Brother Cui’s fists were so fierce, yet he couldn’t even take two of his moves?"

"Is this the overwhelming presence of the number one on the Hidden Dragon List? He’s just too powerful!"

"I used to think Senior Brother Chu was winning easily, but now I know! It’s not that his opponents were too weak—it’s that Senior Brother Chu is too strong!"

The disciples from the Prefecture City families who had come to watch were also silenced, their faces etched with shock.