The look in Chan Kongzi's eyes as he stared at Li Guanqi had completely changed.
At this moment, he was utterly certain that Li Guanqi possessed the ability to threaten him!
Even... to kill him!
A bitter smile touched Chan Kongzi's lips, and the flames swirling around him abruptly flared with terrifying intensity!
Sobering his expression, he assumed a fist-fighting opening stance with absolute seriousness!
When Li Guanqi saw this, his heart jolted in astonishment!
For the opening stance of this fist form...
It bore an uncanny resemblance to the fist technique his grandfather had taught him all those years ago!
Li Guanqi's expression turned solemn, and both men charged at each other once more!
This time, both were even faster! Their attacks were even more ferocious!
The blows traded between them were, without exception, lethal.
Every fist and every sword strike was meant to slay the foe!
A single lapse in caution would result in grievous injury.
Watching this unfold, Wen Guyan couldn't help but sigh in admiration. "To push Xiao Chan to this extent... this kid has progressed far too quickly."
Even the Vermilion Bird, Bie Ruxue, narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Indeed, his growth is astonishing."
"His entire combat style seems to have evolved, and his offensive rhythm is formidable."
"He doesn't waste a single breath when seizing opportunities to suppress his opponent!"
Terrifying sword gleams flashed, and sword auras surged without end.
Chan Kongzi's figure flickered, pressing forward step by step with an exquisite movement technique!
Yet all manner of lightning seals manifested incessantly around Li Guanqi.
Walls of lightning, cages, thunderous serpents, lightning whips, and more appeared to impede his advance.
Now and then, Li Guanqi would even unleash several punches of immense destructive power.
In an instant, the Dao platform trembled violently, and ripples cascaded across the barrier of light.
Above in the heavens, one half turned crimson while the other glowed deep purple.
From the churning thunderclouds, swords and spears forged of lightning repeatedly shot toward Chan Kongzi like streaks of light.
Facing that chilling, fearsome sword light, Chan Kongzi could shatter a sword aura with a single punch!
Yet Li Guanqi's mastery over distance was too precise, leaving him almost no chance to force an infighting brawl!
Gradually, momentum shifted back and forth between them; at times one gained the upper hand, only to be suppressed by the other moments later.
The sheer ferocity of the clash left all the spectators holding their breath!
Blood sprayed, and fresh wounds multiplied across both of their bodies.
However, none of those wounds were fatal.
Suddenly!
The instant Li Guanqi swung his blade, Chan Kongzi slammed a fist directly onto the sword's hilt!
The colossal impact nearly tore Red Lotus from Li Guanqi's grasp.
The hilt slid in his grip, but Li Guanqi clamped down furiously on the sword, the friction carving bloody tracks into his palm.
Chan Kongzi's fist intent surged to its zenith as he drove a fist down toward Li Guanqi's shoulder!
Yet at some unseen moment, Li Guanqi's right hand had manifested a Thunder Scabbard!
"Sword Draw Stance: Thunder Wrath!"
Li Guanqi's brows knitted sharply, a fierce resolve flashing in his eyes.
*Rumble!*
A hundred-zhang phantom of a thunder god materialized in midair.
A terrifying streak of lightning sword light flashed past at a speed invisible to the naked eye!
The berserk power of lightning was entirely condensed into the blade.
The compressed might erupted like a deluge at this exact moment.
The instant Chan Kongzi sensed this power, his pupils shrank to needlepoints, trembling wildly.
With no time to land his follow-up punch, he abruptly retreated three feet.
Flames roared across both of his hands, seeming to weave countless fiery patterns over his skin.
The blazing energy coiled around his palms, creating the illusion that they had expanded to three feet across.
He roared fiercely,
"Great Flame: Converging Profundity!"
*Boom!*
The ten-zhang sword aura was clamped dead center between his two fiery palms!
The force of his clapping hands was akin to two great mountains colliding head-on.
No matter how Li Guanqi channeled his power, he could not budge those pressed-together hands even an inch!
The two were locked in a dead heat, and the surrounding void began to crack into fine, dense fractures.
Cold sweat beaded on Chan Kongzi's brow.
He felt as though Li Guanqi's strength was an ancient beast trapped in a cage.
The muscles in his arms bulged, his veins contorted, and his limbs quivered faintly.
The flames wavered violently, appearing on the verge of shattering at any second.
*Boom!*
Both figures were flung backward through the air, yet they simultaneously checked their momentum and shot forward once again!
Li Guanqi gripped the void with his right hand, forcefully halting his retreat while tearing a long fissure through the fabric of space.
Chan Kongzi skidded back a hundred zhang, his feet dragging through the air. Drawing a deep breath, he circulated his inner art, slightly relaxing his fists.
"Great Six Harmonies Raging Flame Fist!"
*Boom!*
In the end, Chan Kongzi still chose to deploy his trump card.
Afterimages trailed behind him in midair, his heavy, domineering fist momentum freezing even the dark clouds rolling across the heavens.
A fierce gale buffeted Li Guanqi's face, catching his breath as an overwhelming pressure bore down on him!
In Li Guanqi's vision, a gigantic fist of flame dozens of zhang wide rushed straight at him!
Li Guanqi closed his eyes, gripping his sword in his left hand and lowering his stance.
"Sword Wuji!"
*Boom!*
This sword strike had not been taught by the sword spirit.
It was a technique he had created years ago, blending his own mental state to completely shatter the shackles and scrutiny of worldly men.
A sword unleashed without constraint!
*Boom!*
The massive fist aura instantly shattered, sending violent flames and sword qi wreaking havoc throughout the arena!
Immediately after, a second punch followed right on its heels!
This blow was even more devastating than the first.
Li Guanqi struck with his sword once more!
"Blood Asura!"
*Boom!*
In an instant, the entire sea of clouds was stained blood red.
This strike carried an uncompromising, ruthless killing intent, erupting with even greater might when coupled with the power of the Sword Ruins!
The void tore open, and a crimson-gleaming sword aura blasted forward!
Chan Kongzi's pupils constricted slightly, and he unleashed yet another fist!
Sword light and fist shadows pulverized one another, the stray force carving bloody gashes across both combatants.
Yet neither yielded an inch!
In unspoken unison, both stepped forward three paces!
Squeezing out the last dregs of his strength, Chan Kongzi threw his final three punches in succession!
The sheer force even snapped Chan Kongzi's arm, leaving his fist a mangled mess of flesh and exposed pale bone.
"Ahhh!"
"Six Harmonies!!"
A terrifying fist aura pulverized the void, and the intense heat incinerated the surrounding space into nothingness.
Amidst the warped emptiness, a hundred-zhang fist aura descended from the heavens!
Li Guanqi exhaled a breath of turbid air.
His aura crested instantly to its absolute peak!
His mind was clear and untrammeled, man and sword united as one.
Raising Red Lotus high with both hands, a streak of lightning surged from the blade!
Li Guanqi pushed every ounce of his power to the limit.
His eyes remained locked onto the descending fist aura, his robes completely incinerated by the blistering heat before it even reached him.
Just as the fist aura pressed down to within ten zhang of him,
Li Guanqi bellowed in fury,
"Red Lotus: World's End!"
*Boom! Boom!*
The sword slashed out, draining all color from heaven and earth as every eye fell upon this singular strike.
Sword light slammed into fist aura, unleashing a deafening roar.
A deluge of flames and thunder mingled together, ravaging the surroundings in all directions!
Every spectator clenched their fists, eyes glued to the dust-cloaked Dao platform.
Wen Guyan rose slowly to his feet, murmuring with admiration in his eyes,
"Xiao Chan has lost."
Long Hou and his companions looked equally grim, but the chaotic energies prevented them from perceiving what was happening within.
Once the tumultuous power subsided, two figures remained standing proud in the center of the arena.
Chan Kongzi's hands were battered and bloody, his right arm broken, and across his chest ran a ghastly sword wound that stretched nearly from his shoulder to his lower abdomen!
The flesh was turned inside out, charred black, with residual lightning still writhing within.
A trace of desolation lingered in Chan Kongzi's gaze, yet he kept his chin tilted with unyielding pride.
"You won."
Li Guanqi's chest was sunken, his ribs fractured, and his face was matted with blood-soaked hair.
Panting heavily, Li Guanqi stood proud.
Looking at Chan Kongzi, he slowly cupped his fists in salute!
There was not the slightest mockery in his eyes—only profound respect.
Bowing low, Li Guanqi said in a deep voice,
"Junior Li Guanqi thanks Senior for the guidance!"
Chan Kongzi smiled faintly. Without saying another word, he turned and slowly flew down from the Dao platform...
To the very end, he had only said "you won," not... "I lost."
Because he knew his strength would never stay stagnant.
Nor did he ever want to utter the words admitting defeat.
Because... he wanted to win! He wanted to keep winning!!
This defeat tasted far more bitter than losing to Xiang Huaizhi or Nangong Xuandu.
Because this time, he had truly given it his all.
Chapter 1245