The Martial Saint rose to power starting as a substitute bridegroom.

Chapter 48 Victory

The Ninth Arena.

Standing opposite Li Yuan was Fang Chong from Longteng Martial Arts School, one of the top favorites to enter the top five this time.

Fang Chong, in his thirties, was dressed in a black short-sleeved shirt. He was tall and strong, with a resolute face and piercing eyes.

He crossed his arms, and when he saw it was Li Yuan, his tightly furrowed brows relaxed a little.

He didn't know this person, nor had he ever heard of him.

An unknown person actually made it to the finals.

It seems like he just had incredible luck.

A slight smile appeared on Fang Chong's lips.

Today, let's broaden his horizons and guide him on what the true meaning of martial arts is.

"Dragon Soaring Martial Arts School, Shocking Dragon Fist, Fang Chong."

Li Yuan's heart skipped a beat. Was this person Fang Chong?

Master Lin said that this person is extremely strong and cannot be confronted head-on; he can only be outsmarted.

Li Yuan's palms were sweating profusely; he hadn't expected to encounter such a formidable opponent in the very first match of the finals.

It seems that my good luck has run out in the previous matches.

This time, it's time to see the real test.

"Green Ox Martial Arts Society, Dragon Form Fist, Li Yuan."

Li Yuan responded with a fist salute, his gaze calm and undisturbed, seemingly unaffected by any external influences.

In terms of momentum, we must first stabilize ourselves.

Whether they are famous or unknown, those who have reached this level are at least at the level of mastering internal strength, and each has their own unique and proficient martial arts skills. None of them are easy to deal with, and no one can be taken lightly.

In the viewing area of ​​the Qingniu Martial Arts Club, the disciples' gazes shifted from the sixth arena to the ninth arena.

Many disciples looked rather grim.

Fang Chong of Longteng Martial Arts School was already a favorite to enter the top ten. He was a master of external martial arts, possessing a body full of internal strength and hard skills, making it extremely difficult to break through his powerful defense.

The scene of Junior Brother Lu Qing's valiant battle against a master of external martial arts in the morning, and his pyrrhic victory, is still vivid in my mind.

And this Fang Chong is even stronger than that expert in external martial arts.

No one thought Li Yuan could win.

They were secretly worried for Li Yuan.

I just hope he can suffer less injury, avoid serious injury, and leave with dignity.

After all, Li Yuan broke through to the Dark Force realm in a very short time, and being able to get this far is already something to be proud of, even though it was only due to good luck, as most of his opponents before him were relatively weak.

Lin Zhong also looked over, his gaze extremely solemn.

He knew that for Li Yuan, reaching this point was no easy feat.

It even exceeded his expectations.

Consider this match as an opportunity to gain experience.

The best outcome for him would be to withstand ten or more rounds without getting injured, and then concede defeat and leave the arena.

"Junior Brother Li, if you can't win, just admit defeat. It's no big deal! We'll have plenty of opportunities in the future!" Yang Cheng cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted towards the ninth arena.

His eyes were anxious, and he seemed worried.

This junior brother Li Yuan is good in every way, except that he is too introverted. I wonder if he will be stubborn and inflexible once he takes the stage.

Further away, on the high Xie family stands, a cold gaze was fixed on the ninth arena.

With bandages wrapped around his body, Dong Guan said to his master Xie Yu with a half-smile, "Uncle, Li Yuan's luck is really bad that he's facing Fang Chong from Longteng Martial Arts School. Fang Chong's strength is even above mine, while Li Yuan is only at the second level of Dark Force. This match will definitely eliminate him and send him packing."

Xie Yu still remembered the scene of Li Yuan refusing the Xie family's offer, and at this moment, he felt a surge of hatred in his heart.

But he remained expressionless, simply saying, "I hope it's as you say."

Such composure and demeanor truly befit one of the most prominent figures in Linjiang City.

The martial arts competition officially began.

"ha--!"

With a clear shout, Fang Chong's burly body suddenly erupted with a terrifying aura.

He stomped his right foot on the ground, the bluestone slab trembled slightly, and he shot towards Li Yuan like an arrow.

The fist whistled through the air, carrying a faint sound of air being torn apart. It was the opening move of the Jingjiao Fist—Azure Dragon Emerging from the Sea. Its power was fierce and unparalleled, intending to crush the opponent with the force of thunder.

Li Yuan neither dodged nor avoided the attack; his gaze was calm and serene.

Just as the fist was about to strike, he took a half step back with his left foot, his body swaying gently like a willow in the wind.

Fang Chong's powerful punch barely grazed his clothes.

"Hmm?" Fang Chong's punch missed, and he was slightly surprised, but he reacted very quickly. His left fist followed closely, rising from below and changing to "Black Dragon Tail Swing". The force was vicious and blocked Li Yuan's retreat.

He sneered inwardly, thinking, "No matter how slippery your movements are, once you're caught in my fist, a head-on clash is inevitable."

However, Li Yuan's movements seemed to have anticipated this.

He twisted his waist, narrowly avoiding the attack, while his right palm silently emerged from under his ribs. It wasn't a direct strike, but rather his five fingers were slightly curled, the fingertips like a beak, carrying a short, sharp force, pecking at a spot under Fang Chong's right ribs that was slightly exposed due to the exertion of force.

This move is fast, accurate, and unpredictable, completely unlike the usual hard-hitting style. It is the "Entangling Dragon Hand" in Dragon Form Fist, which targets relatively weak points in defense such as joints and acupoints.

Fang Chong felt a sudden tightening of the skin under his ribs, as if a sharp, hidden force was about to penetrate his body. In shock, he forcefully stopped his momentum, and his strong, towering body inexplicably bounced back half a step, dodging this tricky attack.

Although his external martial arts skills were strong, Li Yuan's "peck" was incredibly concentrated, striking directly at his vital points, so he dared not use his vital points to block it.

"Good lad!" Fang Chong shouted in a low voice, abandoning his last trace of contempt.

If it weren't for his rich combat experience and quick reaction, he would have almost fallen into the trap.

This Li Yuan is by no means an unknown person!

His boxing style is unpredictable, skillful, and swift, quite different from the common, forceful styles.

The audience below the stage, who had initially thought Li Yuan would collapse at the first sign of trouble, let out a low gasp of surprise.

The disciples of the Green Ox Martial Arts Society stared wide-eyed.

Yang Cheng could hardly believe what he was seeing.

He couldn't reconcile the powerful and fierce man on the field with the low-key and kind junior brother Li Yuan he knew.

Lin Chong's tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes.

"The Dragon Form Fist I taught him a few days ago, and he's already mastered it?!"

"Not only that, the strength of this qi and blood seems to be... at the third level of internal strength!"

Li Yuan's timing and angle of dodging and counterattack were perfectly executed; this grasp of the opportunity was by no means just luck.

Little did anyone know that, with the help of the Minor Qi-Nourishing Pill he obtained from Meng Ren and the Silver-Patterned Perch sent by Liang Bai, he had managed to cultivate the Azure Dragon Entangling Silk Technique to its peak and had already broken through to the third level of Dark Force.

【Azure Dragon Entangling Silk Technique (Mastery): 0/200】

"There's some skill involved." In the Xie family's viewing platform, Xie Yu remained expressionless, but the fingers holding the teacup paused slightly.

Dong Guan's mocking smile froze for a moment, and he muttered, "It's just a blind cat catching a dead mouse; it won't last more than a few moves—"

On the arena, Fang Chong's expression became completely solemn.

He took a deep breath, his bones cracking slightly, and his blood and qi surged beneath his skin, faintly revealing a bluish-black hue. He had pushed his external martial arts training to its current limit.

Instead of launching a fierce attack, he took steady steps, protecting his vital points with his fists, like a moving fortress, and pressed closer and closer to Li Yuan.

He wanted to use force to overpower skill and influence to force Li Yuan into a direct confrontation.

Li Yuan knew that the real test was about to begin.

Fang Chong's defensive perimeter is complete, and his strength far surpasses that of his own; a prolonged defense will inevitably lead to defeat.

He had to take the initiative and find that fleeting crack in Fang Chong's impenetrable defenses.

He moved with the steps of a dragon, his body shifting left and right, elusive and unpredictable, circling around Fang Chong.

His fists sometimes moved like dragons soaring through the clouds, striking lightly and swiftly; at other times they clashed like dragon horns, delivering short bursts of power.

Each attack was precisely aimed at Fang Chong's joints and the meridians through which he exerted force, forcing Fang Chong to frequently change his moves or forcefully resist.

Bang!Bang!Bang!

The dull thuds of fists and palms colliding echoed continuously.

Most of the time, when Li Yuan's punches landed on Fang Chong, it was like hitting tough old cowhide; most of the force was neutralized by Fang Chong's powerful internal energy and strong physique.

However, Li Yuan's strength was exceptionally refined and cunning, with a penetrating force always seeping in. Although not fatal, it caused Fang Chong's blood and qi to churn slightly, and his movements became slightly sluggish.

Fang Chong grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed.

Although Li Yuan's internal strength cultivation was not as robust as his own, his control and application of power were extremely precise.

What's even more troublesome is his pace and rhythm. He has strength, but it's like trying to catch a wisp of smoke. Six or seven out of ten of his efforts are wasted on empty air.

The opponent can always interfere or dodge at the point when his strength is about to be unleashed, when his old strength has been exhausted and his new strength has not yet been generated.

This can't go on!

A fierce glint flashed in Fang Chong's eyes. He had been unable to break through the opponent's defenses and was being led by the nose. This was a disgrace to him.

He seized the opportunity when Li Yuan shifted to the side, and suddenly burst forth, no longer caring about defense. He threw out both fists at the same time, like two dragons soaring into the sky, and with all his strength, he slammed into Li Yuan's center.

This is the killing move of the Jingjiao Fist, "Double Dragon Twisting Pillar," which uses force to overcome skill and injuries to exchange for injuries!

He was confident that even if he took several hits from Li Yuan, his heavy punches would be enough to completely incapacitate his opponent.

A strong wind hit my face, and the pressure increased sharply!

The audience held their breath, and Song Ziwei was so frightened that she closed her eyes.

Li Yuan's eyes flashed with a sharp light; the opportunity he had been waiting for had finally arrived!

The opponent was impatient and launched a full-scale attack, leaving his center wide open. Inevitably, his external martial arts skills would have a momentary weakness in their fluid movements.

Instead of retreating, he advanced, and in the blink of an eye as the two fists were about to strike, his body bent backward at an incredible angle, almost touching the ground, narrowly avoiding the most ferocious punches.

At the same time, his long-awaited right fist rose from below like a leaping dragon, his fingertips gathering all the hidden strength and spiraling penetrating power of his body. Silent and fast as lightning, it struck Fang Chong's Tanzhong acupoint with unparalleled precision, where Fang Chong's blood and qi had become concentrated and his defense relatively dispersed due to his full-force punch.

puff!

A muffled thud that seemed to penetrate the body.

Fang Chong's massive body suddenly froze, and the color drained from his face, replaced by an unusual flush.

He felt a sharp, needle-like, and swirling force pierce through his proud physical defenses, penetrating deep into his internal organs.

The surging blood and qi in his body suddenly stopped, and the condensed strength dissipated rapidly like a deflated balloon.

"Hah—" He let out a muffled groan and staggered back several steps, each step leaving a deep footprint on the bluestone bricks.

Finally, he knelt on one knee, supporting himself with one hand on the ground, large beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, unable to stand up for a moment.

Li Yuanze had already used the momentum to gracefully retreat, slightly out of breath, his face a little pale.

That strike, though seemingly light, actually mobilized all his vital energy; it was the extremely skillful "Rising Dragon Strike" technique from the Dragon Form Fist.

The atmosphere in the stands surrounding the ninth arena suddenly became deathly silent.

You could hear a pin drop.

Immediately afterwards, a clamor arose!

No one expected that this competition, which was thought to be a clear contest between two strong and weak teams, would end in such an unexpected way.

The formidable Fang Chong has actually been defeated!

He was defeated by the unknown Li Yuan, defeated by his exquisite and unpredictable boxing technique that broke through the surface with a single point!

People had to reassess the young man who won the game.

With such skill, they are undoubtedly the biggest dark horse, and taking the top three should not be a problem.

"Qingniu Martial Arts Society, Li Yuansheng!" The clerk was stunned for a moment before announcing loudly.

The disciples of the Green Ox Martial Arts Society were stunned in disbelief at first, and then burst into huge cheers.

Lin Chong suddenly stood up, his excitement evident in his expression.

On the viewing platform in the distance, Song Ziwei opened her eyes and saw Li Yuan standing proudly on the platform. Her face turned red, and she was both happy and scared. Tears welled up in her eyes.

Xie Yu gently placed the teacup back on the table with a soft "tap".

His deep gaze remained fixed on Li Yuan for a long time, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest.

Dong Guan looked like he'd seen a ghost, his mouth agape, unable to utter a word for a long time.

"Is this the second level of Dark Force?" Xie Yu asked.

Dong Guan's face turned deathly pale. "Just two days ago he was only at the second level of the Dark Force Realm, how could he... This is too fast! Impossible, how could this be..."

"6

Xie Yu snorted coldly, not wanting to pay any attention.

"Uncle, wait until my injuries heal. I will definitely challenge the Green Ox Martial Arts Society and make sure he..."

'

"Forget it." Before Dong Guan could finish speaking, Xie Yu stood up and interrupted him.

Without glancing at Dong Guan again, he got up and left.

Only Dong Guan remained, weathered and forgotten.

>