Chapter 160: Chapter 160: Defeat You in 1 Move

Inside the Splendid Palace, two figures—one in white, one in purple—clashed.

The momentum of their battle swept through the entire palace. The once-splendid structure was now pitted and scarred from their clash, a complete wreck. The air thrummed with fluctuations of tyrannical and icy Qi Force.

Everyone was deeply shaken, their eyes filled with utter disbelief. They were stunned by the battle, but even more so by the figure in white.

This was especially true for the disciples of Purple Cloud Heavenly Mountain. Their eyes were wide as they stared, lost in a daze, at the two dueling figures. If someone had tried to launch a sneak attack on them at that moment, the chances of success would have been ninety-nine percent.

"What am I seeing? That kid is actually fighting so intensely with Brother Ouyang! It’s impossible—he’s only in the Earth Element Realm."

"Don’t forget, Brother Murong Hai was a Celestial Essence Realm Martial Artist, and he died at that kid’s hands, too. His combat prowess is far beyond his cultivation!"

"But how can you compare Brother Ouyang to Murong Hai? Murong Hai’s cultivation was propped up by elixirs, but Brother Ouyang advanced by battling countless members of the Barbarian Race in the Northern Domain. His combat strength is terrifying."

"That’s right. Even the sect Elders have nothing but praise for Brother Ouyang. It’s incredible that a mere Earth Element Realm Martial Artist can fight him so intensely."

The Purple Cloud Disciples, who knew the true extent of Ouyang Lin’s power, were shocked beyond words by the scene before them, refusing to believe their own eyes.

The same was true for the members of the Vast Sea Divine Palace.

The few Martial Artists from the Yunxiao Empire were also utterly floored.

"Teacher Qin’s combat prowess is actually this powerful. It’s unbelievable."

"Heh, I doubt the other prodigies of the Empire can even compare."

"He might just be the most monstrously talented genius in the Empire’s history." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

The Empire’s martial artists watched Qin Ya with complicated expressions. From the moment this young man began his rise, a shadow had been cast over their hearts.

They were all geniuses and natural rivals. But no matter how hard they chased, it was futile. The young man before them was like an insurmountable mountain; they could do nothing but look up at him.

Advanced Academy Teacher, Young National Hero, Seventh-Grade Alchemist... these titles, one shock after another, had gradually left them numb.

They had thought that here, in the Hidden Dragon Valley Secret Realm, his brilliance might be contained. But they were wrong. The young man’s light was as dazzling as ever.

Fighting a Celestial Essence Realm prodigy from Purple Cloud Heavenly Mountain while only at the Earth Element Realm!

Such a feat was likely beyond the capabilities of any of the other prodigies in the Empire!

"Exhilarating!"

Qin Ya thrust out a palm, filling the air with Frost. Not to be outdone, Ouyang Lin clenched his fist and unleashed an immense burst of power. BOOM! After the impact, both were thrown back several steps, and the entire hall suddenly began to tremble as if on the verge of collapse.

"This is bad! Their fight is too intense."

"Damn it. The hall’s protective array is ten thousand years old; it’s long since failed. Without its protection, how can it possibly withstand a battle this fierce?"

The crowd’s expressions changed, and they stared at the two fighters as if they were monsters.

Seeing the state of the hall, Qin Ya executed Chasing Wind and Shadow, flashing out of the building in the blink of an eye. Ouyang Lin’s pupils contracted slightly. ’So fast!’

He immediately executed his own Body Technique and charged out of the hall.

The others followed close behind. Just as the last person exited, the palace collapsed with a deafening RUMBLE, sending up a massive cloud of dust.

"Oh no! The great treasure from the palace is still in that kid’s hands!"

"Damn it, after him!"

"Bastard! Don’t let that kid escape!"

Everyone gritted their teeth in frustration. They had been so absorbed in the battle between Ouyang Lin and Qin Ya that they’d forgotten Qin Ya was carrying the great treasure. ’We should have just swarmed him and taken him down from the start!’

Three figures faced each other amidst the dilapidated ruins.

Two of them were Ouyang Lin and Qin Ya. The third was Lan Yu, a disciple of the Vast Sea Divine Palace, who had been tailing them the entire time without letting up.

"You weren’t using your full strength!" Ouyang Lin’s face was ashen. A wave of humiliation washed over him as he glared at Qin Ya, his eyes burning with fury.

"What?!" Lan Yu’s expression shifted. He stared at Qin Ya, his face a mask of shocked disbelief. ’Fighting a Celestial Essence Realm Martial Artist while in the Earth Element Realm is already shocking enough... but he wasn’t even using his full strength?!’

’Just how confident—or arrogant—is this guy?!’

Qin Ya gave an indifferent smile. "Oh? And how did you know that?"

Ouyang Lin’s voice was tinged with anger. "You used a weapon to kill Murong Hai, but you didn’t use one against me. Furthermore, the speed of the Body Technique you used to escape the palace was clearly much faster than when you were fighting me!"

"To fight me without using your full strength... Are you looking down on me?" Ouyang Lin seethed with rage, his aura erupting with incredible power. He stared coldly at Qin Ya and said, "Take out your weapon. I will defeat you fair and square!"

With that, Ouyang Lin took out a pair of black gloves and put them on.

"Hmph. You were holding back, too," Qin Ya snorted. A flash of light appeared in his hand, and the jet-black Coiling Dragon Spear was suddenly in his grasp. He gave it an expert twirl, then pointed its tip at Ouyang Lin. "One move. I will defeat you in one move!"

"Arrogant!" Ouyang Lin roared, pushing the True Essence in his body to its absolute limit. His black gauntlets glowed brightly as he threw a punch, creating a sonic boom in the air. A massive phantom fist slowly materialized.

Qin Ya gave a cold smile. Cold Flame True Essence coiled around the tip of his spear, infused with all his comprehension of the Frost Great Trend and the Fire’s Great Trend. Then, he moved. Empowering his Body Technique with the Great Trends of Speed and Wind, he thrust his spear forward!

"Star-Shattering!"

It was fast—impossibly fast! Like a meteor streaking across the night sky, it was as brilliant as it was terrifying. Just as the move’s name implied, a single thrust was enough to shatter the very stars!

"That move..." Lan Yu’s pupils shrank, and his scalp went numb with fear.

Ouyang Lin, the one facing the attack, had a look of pure terror in his eyes.

BOOM! Ouyang Lin threw his punch.

The majestic power of the punch was like a tsunami. In response, Qin Ya focused all his power into a single point, stabbing his spear at the phantom fist. Instantly, with a sharp POP, the massive fist was pierced straight through.

’Not good! I have to dodge!’

Ouyang Lin roared inwardly, his pupils shrinking to pinpricks as an unprecedented sense of mortal danger washed over him. SCHLICK! Blood sprayed through the air!

Qin Ya pursed his lips, flicking his spear to sling the blood from its tip.

Behind him, Ouyang Lin was on one knee, his face pale and drenched in sweat. A gaping, bloody hole had been torn through his right shoulder, and his blood stained the ground red.

He quickly took out an elixir and swallowed it, his eyes wide with the terror of his near-death experience. Just then, the rest of the crowd arrived to see this very scene.

Every single one of them was utterly stunned. They stared with wide eyes, as if trying to force themselves to determine whether what they were seeing was real or an illusion.