Chapter 472: Unexpected

Unfortunately for Chunyu Yan, Lin Xiao’s cultivation was far beyond what he had imagined. Even this full-powered strike did not so much as scratch Lin Xiao.

What’s more, Chunyu Yan himself was feeling the backlash.

The instant they clashed, Chunyu Yan found that he could no longer keep his footing. A tremendous force surged through his arm, sending him flying backward. He flipped in the air and landed three meters away, barely a step from the edge of the platform.

‘This little bastard’s strength is terrifying.’

Chunyu Yan’s pupils shrank. His face turned grim as he discreetly hid his injured arm behind his back. His palm was trembling almost imperceptibly. The center of his palm had caved inward. The bones—harder than steel—cracked. His fingers were nearly broken.

That arm had already lost all sensation. His sleeve had been reduced to dust by the shockwave, revealing a bare arm beneath.

The spectators were unaware of what had actually happened. Judging from Chunyu Yan’s cultivation and the way the marble beneath Lin Xiao had cracked and caved in, they assumed Lin Xiao had taken serious internal damage.

Only a few top figures like Tian Junliang sensed something was off.

Still, they didn’t think too deeply. After all, from any angle, it seemed impossible for Chunyu Yan to lose.

Back on the stage, Chunyu Yan was secretly shaken. Only now did he realize he had severely underestimated Lin Xiao’s strength. The power contained in Lin Xiao’s punch was not inferior to his own.

Not only that, Lin Xiao’s physique was monstrously resilient.

Chunyu Yan had assumed that one palm would be enough to cripple Lin Xiao’s arm, but the outcome had taken him completely by surprise.

‘Could it be that his cultivation isn’t just at the late stage of Dark Force?’

The thought flickered through Chunyu Yan’s mind.

‘No, that’s impossible. A peak Dark Force in his early twenties? That’s absurd.’ Chunyu Yan quickly dismissed the idea. ‘He probably just has extraordinary talent and an unusually tough body, like Lei Wen of West Sea Sect.’

Thinking this, Chunyu Yan regained his composure.

He cast a killing glare at Lin Xiao but didn’t strike immediately. Instead, he shifted his gaze to Zhang Li lying nearby.

Zhang Li was facedown, his body still twitching slightly. A pool of blood had formed beneath him, flowing from his nose and mouth. One arm was grotesquely twisted, and a deep footprint marred his back.

Chunyu Yan’s killing intent toward Lin Xiao deepened further.

He didn’t care how Zhang Li had ended up like this. All he knew was that Lin Xiao ruined his years of effort and hope.

A shattered spine meant Zhang Li would likely spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Forget fighting, he might not even stand again.

Even with surgery, recovery to peak condition would be impossible.

Thinking of the resources he had invested in Zhang Li and the time and energy wasted, Chunyu Yan’s heart bled with rage. His hatred for Lin Xiao sank into his bones.

This was his cherished final disciple—a peerless talent with the potential to step into Flowing Force, the future hope of Scarlet City Sect’s dominance over the southern martial world—and now he was crippled, right before his eyes.

Anger and hatred blazed like poison flames in Chunyu Yan’s heart.

“Master…”

Zhang Li spotted Chunyu Yan, and his eyes lit up faintly. His lips trembled as he murmured in a weak voice, “You must… avenge me…”

As he spoke, he strained to lift his head and looked toward Lin Xiao on the other side of the stage. His eyes were full of venomous hatred. An animosity so deep not even the waters of the five great lakes and four seas could wash it clean.

“Don’t worry, Li’er. Your master will get your revenge.”

Chunyu Yan walked over, still harboring a sliver of hope. “How do you feel?”

Zhang Li shook his head in pain. “I don’t know, Master… but I can’t feel my legs.”

His voice grew agitated as he spoke, gritting his teeth, his face twisted with hatred.

“It’s all that bastard’s fault! Master, you must tear him to pieces!”

The glimmer of hope in Chunyu Yan’s eyes faded completely, replaced by icy resolve. His face turned expressionless as he nodded. “Li’er, just lie there and watch. Watch how your master takes revenge for you.”

The moment he spoke, the killing intent in Chunyu Yan’s eyes exploded. His figure blurred, and like a ghost, he appeared in front of Lin Xiao. Without warning, he raised one arm—fingers closed tightly together like a knife—and stabbed straight at Lin Xiao’s chest.

Shhh!

This palm strike appeared ordinary, but its speed was frightening. The edge of his hand sliced through the air, emitting a sharp, piercing whistle.

At Chunyu Yan’s level of strength, even the most basic martial arts moves carried deadly force. In his hands, ordinary techniques could become lethal attacks.

Lin Xiao looked calmly at the oncoming Chunyu Yan. He had already freed his legs from the sunken marble during Chunyu Yan’s conversation with Zhang Li.

Faced with Chunyu Yan’s attack, Lin Xiao didn’t even flinch. His legs crossed in a flash, his body twisted away, leaving a blurred afterimage behind as he dodged the strike. At the same time, he closed the distance and rammed forward with his shoulder.

Chen-style Fist—Shock Form!

“What kind of movement technique is this?”

Chunyu Yan saw a blur before his eyes.

Lin Xiao had vanished. Then a forceful, oppressive aura surged from behind, like an enormous beast barreling toward him. He was caught off guard.

But although surprised, Chunyu Yan remained calm. He reacted quickly, lowering his shoulders and sitting into his hips, knees bent and waist twisted. His torso shifted backward in an instant, and as he inhaled deeply, his chest caved inward several inches. Then, both palms sprang from his waist—one targeting Lin Xiao’s throat, the other his lower abdomen.

Whoosh!

This move belonged to Scarlet City Fist’s grappling technique, called Mountain Hidden in the Mirror.

Even this brief reaction revealed Chunyu Yan’s status as one of the Southern martial world’s peak masters—not only powerful, but also extremely experienced in combat.

Lin Xiao’s eyes flashed. He abruptly halted his forward momentum, twisted into a new form, and curled his fingers like hooks, grabbing for Chunyu Yan’s wrists.

Swish!

The muscles in Lin Xiao’s palms tightened like iron. His five fingers turned a deep greenish-black, nails extending half an inch, glinting coldly. Between his hands and fingers, the infamous Eagle Claw technique rang out.

The Eagle Sweeps the Skies!

This time, he struck with full force.

‘Eagle Claw? Chen-style Fist? What kind of monster is this? How has he trained both to such a high level?’ Chunyu Yan’s eye twitched uncontrollably.

“But even if you grab me, so what? I don’t believe you can stop me.”

He exhaled sharply, let out a low growl, and turned his hands into fists. He didn’t dodge or evade. With inner energy flooding his arms, they turned dark green as he hurled both fists forward like collapsing mountains.

Just as Lin Xiao and Chunyu Yan were about to collide in an earth-shattering clash—

Two figures suddenly leapt onto the stage.