A fierce torrent of Spiritual Thought surged out like a tide to meet Lan Fang’s palm of Spiritual Thought. In the blink of an eye, the two attacks collided.

THUMP...

A muffled sound echoed as an invisible shockwave erupted between Shen Haoran and Lan Fang, spreading in all directions. Everyone in the room caught in the blast felt dizzy, their heads ringing.

But the one in the worst state was Lan Fang, who had taken the clash head-on. He stared at Shen Haoran in terror. The moment their Spiritual Thoughts collided, Lan Fang felt as if he had been plunged into a vast ocean, his own Spiritual Thought instantly devoured by his opponent’s. The sheer power of Shen Haoran’s Spiritual Thought was on a completely different level.

STOMP, STOMP, STOMP... The table and chair beneath Lan Fang exploded into splinters as he was forced back. Each step he took left a deep footprint in the ground. After retreating several dozen steps, Lan Fang finally stomped his feet hard to dispel the force, crushing the bluestone slabs beneath him into powder.

The victor was decided in a single exchange. Han Ding and the surrounding Han Family Elders stared at Shen Haoran in utter disbelief. He hadn’t moved an inch and still wore a faint smile on his face.

Lan Fang had been immersed in the art of Alchemy since childhood and had been a Fifth Grade Alchemist for decades. Such an accomplishment was a rarity in all of Desert City, yet he was still no match for Shen Haoran!

The fact that Shen Haoran could repel Lan Fang proved his Alchemy Skill was no weaker than his opponent’s! And how old was Shen Haoran? Judging by his appearance, he was definitely not over twenty! A Fifth Grade Alchemist who wasn’t even twenty yet... The very thought was terrifying to everyone present!

At that moment, Lan Fang’s face was grim as he stared at Shen Haoran, a sense of deep humiliation welling up inside him. ’I, the esteemed chief Alchemist of the Lan Family, was actually defeated by a boy not even twenty years old. If word of this gets out, how could I ever show my face again?!’ He took a deep breath, and a faint killing intent began to rise from him.

"Hmph, I didn’t expect you to have a few tricks up your sleeve. In that case, I won’t be holding back anymore!" Lan Fang barked. His robes began to flutter though there was no wind, and a terrifying pressure from his Spiritual Thought erupted from his body. The shattered remains of the tables and chairs around him slowly began to float into the air.

’Lan Fang is going for the kill now. This kid is done for!’ the members of the Han Family thought gleefully as they felt the mountain-like pressure of his Spiritual Thought.

’I knew Master Lan Fang couldn’t possibly be weaker than that brat. He was hiding his true strength all along!’

’This Spiritual Thought pressure has reached the Peak of a Fifth Grade Alchemist. Let’s see how that kid deals with this!’

Han Xu watched Shen Haoran with a worried expression. Although he knew Shen Haoran’s abilities were not as simple as just a Fifth Grade Alchemist, Lan Fang had, after all, reached that level long ago. He had decades more experience than Shen Haoran. Han Xu wondered if Haoran could still withstand the attack.

Shen Haoran looked at the imposing Lan Fang, his expression unchanged. A cold smirk even played on his lips. He then extended a finger and beckoned. "Care to try?"

Seeing Shen Haoran’s arrogant gesture, Lan Fang’s face grew so dark it looked as if water could drip from it. The killing intent in his heart intensified!

"Since you’re so eager to die, I’ll grant your wish!" Lan Fang snorted coldly. His hands formed a Seal Technique, and his immense Spiritual Thought churned behind him, coalescing into a giant Fierce Beast.

The Fierce Beast roared and charged straight for Shen Haoran. A terrifying pressure from its Spiritual Thought washed over him like a tide, and the ground around him collapsed under the immense weight.

"So... so powerful! That Spiritual Thought Power is almost on par with a strike from a Spirit Aspect Powerhouse!"

"No wonder they say a High Level Alchemist’s combat power is no less than that of a powerful Martial Artist. This Spiritual Thought pressure makes me want to fall to my knees!"

The members of the Han Family gulped, their eyes fixed in terror on the Spiritual Thought Fierce Beast lunging at Shen Haoran.

Watching the approaching beast, Shen Haoran finally moved. He clenched his fists, and an invisible ripple emanated from his body, causing the very space around him to warp.

This was the Spiritual Thought from Shen Haoran’s Sea of Consciousness. ’If I’m going to slap that old man Lan Fang’s face, I might as well make it loud and clear.’ Shen Haoran had no intention of using his Spiritual Power; he would use only his Spiritual Thought to crush him head-on!

A tide of Spiritual Thought gathered around his right fist, and a faint, illusory phantom flickered over it.

"Break for me!" Shen Haoran roared suddenly, throwing a punch at Lan Fang’s Spiritual Thought Fierce Beast!

BOOM!

With a tremendous explosion, a pressure of Spiritual Thought even more terrifying than Lan Fang’s erupted from Shen Haoran’s body. The pressure that had been enveloping Shen Haoran instantly dissipated, like snow under a blazing sun.

Then, under the shocked gazes of the crowd, the giant fist of Spiritual Thought smashed into the Spiritual Thought Fierce Beast. A moment later, a violent storm of Spiritual Thought erupted from the point of impact, spreading out instantly. The entire hall began to shake violently under its power!

In mid-air, the two masses of Spiritual Thought eroded one another. The moment they made contact, the Spiritual Thought Fierce Beast was immediately overpowered. Its form was forced back by the giant fist, hurtling toward Lan Fang.

Seeing this, Lan Fang’s expression changed drastically. He could feel a terrifying force crushing his Spiritual Thought—a complete suppression in both its strength and its quality!

’Damn it!’ Lan Fang cursed inwardly. Seeing his Spiritual Thought Fierce Beast being steadily beaten back, he steeled his heart, bit the tip of his tongue, and forced out a drop of Essence Blood, which merged directly into the beast.

In an instant, after absorbing Lan Fang’s Essence Blood, the Spiritual Thought Fierce Beast turned blood-red. A savage aura erupted from it, and it forcefully halted Shen Haoran’s attack!

"Hmph, a desperate struggle!" Shen Haoran snorted. He took a sharp step forward, and a tyrannical pressure from his Spiritual Thought shot directly toward Lan Fang. Already weakened from losing his Essence Blood, Lan Fang’s face grew even paler under this new pressure!

"Break!"

Shen Haoran bellowed and threw another punch. The blood-red Fierce Beast, which had been struggling to hold on, was instantly blasted apart!

With the Spiritual Thought Fierce Beast no longer in the way, Shen Haoran’s giant fist of Spiritual Thought continued onward with undiminished force, slamming directly into Lan Fang’s chest.

PFFT... The immense force sent Lan Fang flying. He crashed into the wall behind Han Ding, and before the shocked eyes of the crowd, the wall collapsed with a loud rumble!

HUU...

Shen Haoran gazed at Lan Fang, who was now buried under bricks and stone, and let out a soft breath as he slowly lowered his fist.

Everyone stared at the shattered wall, unable to process what had just happened. The number one Alchemist in Desert City... had just been defeated by a young man not even twenty years old?

They looked at the unflinching Shen Haoran and all sucked in a cold breath. His breathing wasn’t even slightly disturbed, which meant he had still been holding back. Just who in the world was this young man...?