By this point, the onlookers had abandoned their casual mindset of merely watching a spectacle.
The clash between the two had begun to impart genuine insights to them.
No one looked down on Li Guanqi anymore.
The mere fact that he had withstood Chan Kongzi's first round of attacks spoke for itself.
*Thump!*
*Boom!*
Both figures vanished from their spots in an instant.
The crowd could only catch fleeting, blurred afterimages darting through midair.
A terrifying shockwave rippled out in all directions.
A fist and a sword locked in a stalemate in midair.
Immediately after, their expressions shifted in unison as a ferocious, unrelenting onslaught unfolded like a tempestuous gale!
Chan Kongzi swung his fists with manic fury, wielding the might to split mountains and sever rivers!
Fists, fingers, palms, elbows, shoulders, knees...
Every single joint on Chan Kongzi's body was a lethal weapon.
Facing such an intense barrage for the first time, Li Guanqi felt unprecedented pressure.
Yet Li Guanqi stood firm as a monolith, remaining steadfast no matter how fiercely Chan Kongzi pressed the attack.
The sword in his hand grew faster and faster—so swift that eventually not even an afterimage could be seen!
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
Resounding impacts rang out continuously as neither gave an inch, fiercely trading blows at the center of the arena for nearly half an incense stick of time!
*Spurt!*
Both bodies were hurled backward, skimming low across the ground.
Li Guanqi coughed up a mouthful of blood. The dragon scales across his skin cracked and shattered, and two of his ribs were cleanly broken.
Yet Li Guanqi's sword had slashed horizontally across Chan Kongzi's neck!
A thin line of blood slowly surfaced on Chan Kongzi's throat.
Chan Kongzi planted one hand on the ground, flipped through midair, and landed steadily on his feet.
He reached up to touch his neck, startled by the sight of striking red blood.
Licking his lips, he looked back at Li Guanqi with lingering dread.
If he had not dodged quickly just now, even if that blow had not killed him, it would have stripped away a layer of his skin!
By now, the wound had turned charred black. With a cold snort, he circulated his primal energy and forcibly purged the stray lightning coursing through his body.
Li Guanqi rose to his feet. Expressionless, he reached down and brutally snapped his broken ribs back into place with his bare hands.
From beginning to end, his gaze never left Chan Kongzi.
Exhaling a mouthful of turbid air, he had fully recognized Chan Kongzi's formidable power.
Even so, he still believed he had a chance to defeat him!
As for why he had not allowed Pengluo to perform their fusion technique, it was because he wanted to conquer this opponent through his own strength!
And as for the fourth layer of Divine Punishment...
He still did not want to use it, for that was a card reserved for Long Hou!
*Boom!*
Chan Kongzi stood proud and erect, his chin raised slightly.
No matter what, he refused to lose this duel!
It was not that he was a sore loser, but rather... his dignity as one of the Eight Generals was at stake!
*Hum!*
A terrifying, murderous aura soared into the heavens.
An explosive fist intent surged wildly upward!
Peak Fist Soul Realm fist intent!
Flames wrapped around his body, and the jade crown atop Chan Kongzi's head shattered with a sharp *crack*.
His long hair whipped wildly in the wind, his eyes as keen as dagger blades!
Xiang Huaizhi's eyes narrowed slightly at the sight, and he murmured, "Chan Kongzi is getting serious."
Hong Zhi said softly, "He has been serious from the start."
"It's just that... he never expected Li Guanqi to push him this far."
Crimson flames burned away his robes inch by inch until only the long hem remained, exposing a muscular torso covered in vicious scars.
All of the Eight Generals looked solemn.
To force Chan Kongzi to this extent was something not even Nangong Xuandu or Xiang Huaizhi could do when thrashing him!
Li Guanqi took a deep breath. Feeling the scalding heat wave rolling toward him, his face showed no fear.
He slowly took a step forward with his left foot.
*Boom!*
"Sword Ruins—open!"
*Boom!*
Empowered by multiple forces and swords, Li Guanqi's eyes shone brightly, and his aura surged to even greater heights.
Boundless lightning surged forth.
Thunderclouds suddenly gathered in the skies above the Dao platform.
Holding the sword in his left hand, Li Guanqi raised his right hand and slowly pressed it down!
In an instant, the thunderclouds churned, and countless Thunder Spears, empowered by spirit incantations, shot downward like a torrential rain!
A flash of fire darted across the ground!
As the condensed Thunder Spears struck the ground, they burst into swirling clusters of lightning.
Chan Kongzi shifted and darted with fluid grace. Even as those fearsome spears grazed his cheeks, his eyes remained utterly calm.
Tapping his toes against the ground, he twisted and tumbled through the air to borrow momentum, rocketing toward Li Guanqi without losing an ounce of speed!
Chan Kongzi's bodily flexibility was displayed to the fullest as he evaded the lightning spears.
His control over his body was near perfection!
He delivered a flawless display of evasive mastery right before everyone's eyes, drawing gasps of wonder from the spectators.
With unbelievable speed, Chan Kongzi mounted a sudden ambush.
Li Guanqi cast his divine sense outward, yet he could barely keep up with his opponent's pace!
A massive fist swelled rapidly before his eyes, but at the crucial moment, Li Guanqi ducked low to evade it.
His scale-covered right hand shot out like lightning, seizing Chan Kongzi by the shoulder!
A sneer curled at the corner of Chan Kongzi's mouth.
Shifting his left fist into a palm, he chopped down viciously onto Li Guanqi's elbow.
The colossal force shattered the dragon scales instantly, sending blood and scale fragments flying.
Hindered by the strike, Li Guanqi's grip slackened.
Chan Kongzi stepped forward and pressed down with one hand, sending Li Guanqi staggering forward uncontrollably.
Yet just as the crowd thought Li Guanqi was about to fall into the opponent's rhythm...
With his head lowered, the corners of Li Guanqi's lips curled into a faint smile.
Opening his right hand, he released terrifying lightning power.
At the same time, using his opponent's momentum against him, he hurled his body forward in a savage charge!
A brutal Iron Mountain Lean slammed directly into Chan Kongzi's chest!
*Bang!*
A dull crash echoed. Chan Kongzi felt as though he had been rammed by a rampaging beast.
The instant he was knocked backward, the surrounding lightning instantly coalesced into layer upon layer of sealing barriers!
The moment Chan Kongzi realized it was a sealing boundary, he spread his five fingers and struck out like an eagle's talons!
Wreathed in flames, his fingers pierced through the boundary like five fiery arrows!
The barrier, already stacked more than fifty layers deep, tore like paper before his hands.
Yet just as Chan Kongzi broke through the barrier and retreated in haste...
Dozens of sword beams enveloped him, sealing off every route forward, backward, left, and right!
Chan Kongzi narrowed his eyes. Instead of retreating, he advanced, swinging his fists like iron hammers in a frenzied flurry!
Li Guanqi's figure blurred, instantly producing three clones.
All three clones drew their swords in unison!
"Heaven Shatterer Three Forms!"
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
Chan Kongzi snorted coldly, his heavy, explosive fist momentum detonating outward like a long-dormant volcano suddenly erupting.
Several hundred-zhang fist auras burst forth with deafening roar!
Cao Yan took a sudden step forward, his eyes filled with worry and utter awe at the fist path the man had demonstrated.
Li Guanqi was sent skidding back, his face pale and a trickle of blood leaking from the corner of his mouth.
Chan Kongzi stood where he was, several bone-deep gashes across his chest.
Yet his expression remained calm, his chest heaving slightly, his eyes vigilant.
Li Guanqi trod upon the void, fresh blood dripping slowly from the edge of Red Lotus.
Chapter 1244