The great roar and stomping feet merged into a thunderous rumble that seemed to shake the very ground. Such killing intent could startle the heavens and move the earth.

This thunderous crack echoed through the venue, immediately drawing the eyes of spectators from the other rings.

Ruan Yuanhe’s enormous body shot forward in an instant, creating a powerful visual impact. Even watching from a distance, the crowd could feel an incredibly intense sense of pressure.

It was as if a peerless, savage warrior on a battlefield was charging right at them. The fear of approaching death felt terrifyingly real.

Ruan Yuanhe’s sudden explosion of power left everyone present astonished.

In the previous match, after all, Ruan Yuanhe hadn’t initiated a single attack until that final palm strike. But now, his attitude toward his second opponent was clearly completely different.

Right from the start, he not only attacked first but also seemed to be using his true strength. Judging from the conversation between the two just moments ago, it seemed this Zhao Qi from the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall was someone extraordinary.

All eyes were locked on Zhao Xuanqi, eager to see how he would possibly deal with Ruan Yuanhe’s attack.

Faced with his opponent’s terrifying and oppressive attack, Zhao Xuanqi did not dodge. Instead, he made the exact same move as Ruan Yuanhe’s previous opponent!

He crossed his arms in an overhead block!

BANG!!

His arms suddenly swelled as he released his Blood Essence, transforming them into what looked like two giant, round shields.

But how could such a defense possibly stop Ruan Yuanhe’s attack?

The Primordial Saint Hammer could send an opponent reeling with a single blow even through a shield, let alone taking it directly with one’s bare arms.

BOOM!!

Ruan Yuanhe’s twin hammers crashed down from above, smashing into Zhao Xuanqi’s crossed arms.

CRACK!!

Under Zhao Xuanqi’s feet, the reinforced ring, built from special stone, actually began to fracture from the vibration, a spiderweb of fine cracks spreading across its surface.

One could only imagine how terrifying the force of that powerful vibration must be.

The spectators’ scalps tingled. Some of the competing True Inheritance disciples felt a chill run down their spines; if they were the ones on the stage, that level of Force would have likely turned their internal organs to pulp.

A serious Ruan Yuanhe was like a ferocious god of war.

Ruan Yuanhe, however, was experiencing something completely different.

As his twin hammers fell and released their Shock Force, it didn’t feel like he was striking a human body. Instead, it was like hitting some kind of mollusk. The vibration was channeled through a soft body, passing from one section to the next until it was finally diverted into the ground.

His opponent’s skin, muscles, Qi and Blood, and other tissues were flexible and refined to an unimaginable degree. Of the seemingly terrifying vibration, only the brute, smashing impact on his opponent’s arms had actually taken effect.

’Even though my own Primordial Saint Fist is adept at Force Transformation, I could never do it to this degree.’

’Force coming from directly above is the most difficult to neutralize!’

’And this was the Shock Force from my own hands!’

’This could only mean one thing: this man’s skill in Force Transformation is even greater than my own!’

Peeking through the gap between his opponent’s blocking arms, he met Zhao Xuanqi’s eyes and saw the hint of a smile on his face.

Within his Spiritual Perception, that terrifying aura was still expanding, relentlessly grating on his nerves and building the pressure.

’Then I’ll just have to be stronger!’

Ruan Yuanhe violently twisted his waist, circling his arms back around and bringing his fists down on Zhao Xuanqi again, one hammer blow after another.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

With each strike, the vibrations grew more ferocious. Under the terrifying assault, Zhao Xuanqi was forced back step by step!

However, he had no intention of giving his opponent the chance to build up Force. The moment the heavy blow landed, his body suddenly swelled.

His arms, his chest, his back, and even... his waist!

His 1.9-meter frame completely transformed in that instant!

Empowered by Blood Essence, Zhao Xuanqi’s body seemed to transform into that of a giant. He shot up nearly twenty centimeters, and for a brief moment, he actually towered over Ruan Yuanhe.

His legs exploded with power, and he slammed his massive upper body into Ruan Yuanhe.

BAM!!

The immense impact force surpassed the limit of what Ruan Yuanhe could neutralize. His mountain-like body was actually sent flying into the air by the collision. But Ruan Yuanhe was no simple foe; he adjusted his posture in mid-air and landed steadily over five meters away.

For a moment, the entire arena was dead silent.

This unknown disciple from the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall could actually fight on par with Ruan Yuanhe?!

"This kid..."

Weng Xiaolin watched from the side, his expression numb with shock. When Zhao Xuanqi had been matched with Ruan Yuanhe, his heart had sunk, thinking Zhao Xuanqi’s journey would likely end in the second round. He never expected that his disciple could go toe-to-toe with a master of the Quasi-Ten Heroes Level like Ruan Yuanhe.

"He can neutralize Ruan Yuanhe’s Hammer Technique? And his Transformation of Hard and Soft is so sharp... just who is this person?"

On the second floor, Li Zhaotong, Du Zhan, and the other observers from the Ten Heroes Schools took in the scene, utterly astounded.

’Another competitor at the Quasi-Ten Heroes Level?’ 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

’The Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall? Isn’t that just some obscure, little Martial Arts Hall? How could it produce someone like this?’

Ruan Yuanhe, sent flying by that single blow, raised his head to lock eyes with his opponent. At this moment, the spiritual pressure emanating from Zhao Xuanqi reached its peak. It felt like an invisible behemoth crushing his Spirit, devouring his rationality, and causing his entire body to stiffen.

But he refused to yield to this pressure!

"Still... not strong enough..."

Ruan Yuanhe muttered to himself.

The next moment, he jabbed his own chest several times with his fingers.

The hairs on his body stood on end, and his short hair seemed to explode outwards. His once round, friendly face was now twisted into a ferocious snarl, like the fearsome visages of the Celestial Generals and Arhats enshrined in a temple.

THUMP-THUMP! THUMP-THUMP!

A sound like the beating of a war drum emanated from within Ruan Yuanhe’s body.

"The Primordial Saint Fist’s Secret Technique, the Blood Drum Technique? That guy is even using a technique like that?"

The expressions of both Li Zhaotong and Du Zhan shifted slightly.

The Blood Drum Technique was a Secret Technique of the Primordial Saint Fist school.

On the battlefield, the sound of war drums stirs one’s blood and courage to defy the heavens. When the heart beats in time with the drums, one becomes dauntless and fearless, an unstoppable force.

This Secret Technique was created by the disciples of the Primordial Saint Fist school, combining battlefield drumming methods with the circulation of Qi and Blood. Once activated, blood surges like a torrent and the heart pounds like a drum, stimulating the body’s Spirit and power to an extreme degree.

But for a Martial Artist who has not reached Inner Cultivation, whose internal organs are not yet tempered, activating this Secret Technique places an immense burden on the heart, carrying extreme risk in combat.

A Secret Technique is a terrifying skill applied in combat, unique to powerful Secret Transmission schools. Its use is often accompanied by a great price and immense risk.

With the first beat of the Blood Drum, Ruan Yuanhe’s entire spiritual and physical state transformed. An aura of bloody courage soared to the heavens. He seemed like a lone warrior, hammer in hand, standing before an impassable chasm, facing down an army of thousands without a shred of fear.

The spiritual pressure from Zhao Xuanqi was shattered by his charge. Swinging his fists, he rushed at Zhao Xuanqi once more.

"Good! With an aura like that, I acknowledge you!"

The smile on Zhao Xuanqi’s lips grew wilder. At this moment, he looked like a predator that had just spotted fascinating prey.

The thrill of the hunt!

His arms spread slightly, his hands forming two Tiger Claws raised high as his entire upper body once again entered the Blood Essence state.

Domineering and powerful!

He was like the king of beasts, welcoming a challenge to his throne!