Refining Ruins Cauldron

After the draw was completed, the martial arts competition proceeded in a random order.

As each match came to an end, the final battle drew ever closer.

Gu Qingyun stood in the rest area, watching each match attentively.

As the saying goes, "Know yourself and know your enemy," so as a disciple who has just entered the outer sect, one should naturally gather as much information as possible.

Who knows, I might run into them again later.

Although this is the most rudimentary method, it is also the most effective method I can think of right now.

Moreover, apart from his encounters with Zhao Long and Bai Feng, Gu Qingyun had almost no real combat experience.

Moreover, that was a life-or-death struggle, completely different from now.

Even so, Gu Qingyun was still somewhat distracted.

Who would have thought that in the very first match of the martial arts competition, he would encounter Hou Mang, who was at the ninth level of Qi Refining?

To be honest, Gu Qingyun wasn't sure either.

Could the opponent be like Bai Feng, someone I can't defeat no matter what I try?

Pressure arrives quietly.

Gu Qingyun slowly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm himself down as much as possible.

Within the body, the Qi cultivation technique circulates slowly, keeping one in optimal condition.

"Next match: Gu Qingyun of Tiandu Peak versus Hou Mang of Luoyun Peak!"

The announcement was followed by a moment of silence.

At that moment, countless eyes below the stage turned towards the ring almost simultaneously.

Gu Qingyun slowly stepped forward, walking up the steps to the arena.

It was neither too fast nor too slow, and very steady.

On the other side, Hou Mang strode forward.

He was like a giant elephant; with each step he took, the granite beneath his feet thudded with a dull thud, his imposing presence undeniable.

Taking two steps in three, Hou Mang took the lead and stood in the center of the arena.

With his arms crossed, he looked down at Gu Qingyun as he approached.

He sneered, looking at Gu Qingyun as if he were looking at a corpse.

"I can't believe you actually had the guts to come up here."

"You have already chosen your own path to death!"

Hou Mang grinned, his expression tinged with cruelty.

Below the stage, the disciples of Luoyun Peak cheered in unison and joined in the commotion.

"Senior Brother Hou, kill him! Kill him! Kill him!"

"Like an ant trying to shake a tree, he's overestimating himself! Senior Brother Hou, let him see the might of Falling Cloud Peak!"

"Once a lowly servant, always a lowly slave! You dare dream of turning your life around? Keep dreaming!"

Gu Qingyun ignored him, walked to the opposite side of Hou Mang, and stopped.

Throughout, his expression remained calm and composed, showing neither fear nor any superfluous emotion.

"Make your move."

After saying that, he made a gesture of invitation.

So what if we lose?

There is a significant disparity in strength between us.

But if I surrender without a fight today, it will become my inner demon for the rest of my life!

Even if Gu Qingyun were to one day be able to grasp the sun and moon and pluck stars from the sky, he would still be haunted by the cowardice he felt today!

It's impossible to climb the Heavenly Steps!

"Want to die? I'll grant your wish today!"

Hou Mang's expression turned ferocious; he had completely lost his patience.

His immense spiritual power was released to its fullest extent at this moment.

He charged forward with the force of a raging bull.

It was so fast and powerful that it seemed capable of crushing everything!

The sheer destructive power of a Qi Refining Ninth Level cultivator unleashing their full power is perhaps only known to Gu Qingyun, their opponent.

Gu Qingyun could feel a powerful pressure just from those fists filled with spiritual energy!

"Mountain Collapse Strike!"

Hou Mang's punch was enough to easily blast the boulder into dust!

A terrifying gust of wind blew, pressing Gu Qingyun's clothes tightly against his chest.

This guy clearly went all out from the start, eliciting gasps from the audience.

How could a Qi Refining Stage 3 cultivator possibly withstand this?

Even a slight graze could result in death or serious injury!

However, Gu Qingyun showed no intention of backing down and went against the wind!

His cultivation level exploded, his disguise was completely torn off, and he instantly broke through from the third level of Qi Refining to the sixth level!

Hou Mang was surprised, but only for a moment.

So what if it's sixfold?

Still no match for him!

"Die!"

The attack continued, with sand and stones flying everywhere.

The difference between the sixth and ninth levels remains!

The disciples of Tiandu Peak were unwilling to even witness this scene and turned their heads away one after another.

Lome stared at the ring, equally tense.

Nalan Feixue still held her teacup, showing no emotional fluctuation whatsoever, as if everything was unrelated to her.

His eyes remained cold and clear.

Hou Mang's fist arrived as expected.

boom!

A muffled thud was heard, and sand and stones flew everywhere, raising a cloud of dust.

On the arena, a crater a meter in diameter had been smashed into it.

Hou Mang stood in the center of the pit, his fists planted firmly on the ground, utterly astonished.

"How is that possible?!"

Gu Qingyun actually dodged it!

Although he had only cultivated a small portion of the skill, it was enough for him to maneuver and dodge the fatal blow on the arena.

Hou Mang came to his senses, his gaze becoming even more fierce.

"I'll see how long you can hide today!"

After saying that, he launched another attack.

His spiritual energy surged, making his attacks even more ferocious and violent than before!

Boom boom boom!

Punch after punch, one after another.

Hou Mang then relied on this method of overwhelming force to try and suppress Gu Qingyun with brute force.

As they advanced, sand and stones flew everywhere they went, and the granite on the ground became like brittle pieces, leaving more and more craters.

Gu Qingyun's figure vanished without a trace, ethereal and elusive.

Each time, it manages to dodge the attacks, like a small boat in a storm, avoiding the scouring of the waves.

Although it seemed extremely dangerous, it was only a superficial mess; there were no real injuries.

At first, the audience might not understand.

But the longer the fight went on, the more the crowd could see the tricks of the trade.

"This movement technique seems quite advanced."

"What's the use of having the best movement techniques? One is at the sixth level of Qi Refining, and the other is at the ninth level. Their reserves of spiritual energy alone are on completely different levels!"

"Indeed, even with excellent movement skills, there's a time when spiritual energy is exhausted. Whether you can withstand a punch from Senior Brother Hou at that point is still uncertain!"

"Keep it up, Senior Brother Hou!"

On stage, Hou Mang had clearly noticed this as well.

Their attacks are becoming increasingly fierce, and their fighting style is becoming increasingly ruthless!

Several times he nearly pushed Gu Qingyun to the brink of defeat, almost knocking him off the stage!

"You think you can run? Keep running if you dare, but don't let me catch you! Otherwise, hmph!"

Hou Mang burst into laughter and threw another punch, aiming straight for Gu Qingyun's vitals.

The latter was agile, dodging to the side, the fist almost brushing past his body.

Even so, Gu Qingyun still felt a burning pain on her skin.

He certainly wanted to retaliate, but Gu Qingyun knew very well that he only had one chance to deal with Hou Mang!

If you can't defeat them in one blow, you'll be the one who loses!

A single spark can start a prairie fire, which is incredibly powerful, but it takes time to prepare.

With sufficient preparation, one's sword can break through the defense of a Qi Refining Ninth Level cultivator!

One sword strike, only this one sword strike!

Hou Mang would never give himself a second chance!

If it fails, it could very well mean death!

Therefore, Gu Qingyun had to wait.

Waiting for that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!