Tough Fight . . .
Yu Xiangdong's initial attempt to disable Cha Eun Xiao did not go as planned; instead, he found himself ensnared by Cha Eun Xiao's rapid response. Furious, he let out a bellow and applied force to immobilize Cha Eun Xiao, enduring two forceful palm strikes aimed at taking Cha Eun Xiao down as swiftly as possible.
This confrontation underscored the considerable disparity in their cultivation levels. Cha Eun Xiao stood at the ninth level of Sky Origin Stage, nearly ten levels below Yu Xiangdong.
Despite sustaining several palm strikes from Cha Eun Xiao, Yu Xiangdong believed that the damage would be minimal, considering his superior level. Unfortunately, at the moment of impact, he was perilously close to Cha Eun Xiao, an oversight he quickly corrected. This resulted in an intensified luminance of the stars surrounding him, highlighting the peculiar and powerful nature of the attack.
Half-closing his eyes in concentration, Cha Eun Xiao extended the golden hand toward his adversary's chest. In a swift, calculated movement, a needle shot forth like lightning from his palm. The needle was poised to strike Yu Xiangdong's chest, but the latter was swift in his evasion.
"Bastard!" Yu Xiangdong reacted just in time, performing a rapid, acrobatic maneuver akin to a spinning twist, narrowly avoiding the deadly projectile. The needle's trajectory had been a hair's breadth away from piercing his heart, a fact that sent a jolt of anger coursing through him.
Although he evaded the needle's initial thrust, the battle was far from over. A cold sensation rapidly engulfed Yu Xiangdong's chest. He let out a cry, countering with a powerful axe-like palm strike that severed the tainted flesh and skin where the needle had made contact.
Blood sprayed from the wound, and Yu Xiangdong discarded the excised tissue, which emitted a sinister, dark smoke. After a short duration, the discarded tissue morphed into a formless, smoky mass.
Taking a moment to examine his wound, Yu Xiangdong breathed a sigh of relief. Swiftly removing the affected flesh had likely spared him from further harm. Yet, the intense, cold sensation lingered, serving as a stark reminder of the close call.
The onlookers were collectively astonished by the sequence of events that had just unfolded. Even a cultivator on par with Yu Xiangdong seemed visibly shaken by the ordeal.
"This man may only be at the ninth level of Sky Origin Stage, but his mastery of poison is truly extraordinary. It poses a daunting challenge to defend against," thought one of the observers.
The exceptional nature of Cha Eun Xiao's poison was also a source of astonishment. It had been initially assumed that the poison was primarily effective against those below the Sky Origin Stage, but the display of its potency against Spirit Origin Stage cultivators had left the audience in awe.
Yu Xiangdong, unwilling to take any chances, acted promptly. He applied medicinal powder to his chest, consumed three dan beads, and ingested anti-poison remedies. Despite being aware that the poison had not infiltrated his system, he chose to exercise extreme caution in light of the harrowing consequences observed in the severed flesh.
As Yu Xiangdong focused on tending to his wound, an unexpected turn of events unfolded. A sudden, brilliant flash of golden light burst forth, and a figure materialized before him, closing the gap in the blink of an eye.
When Yu Xiangdong lifted his gaze, he was met with the sight of Cha Eun Xiao, launching a relentless onslaught of palm strikes that descended upon him like a torrential rainstorm. The impact of each strike resembled the ferocity of an axe blow, granting Yu Xiangdong no respite.
The medical powder that Yu Xiangdong had applied to his wound was unceremoniously dispersed by Cha Eun Xiao's relentless assault. It became evident that all of Yu Xiangdong's prior efforts had been in vain.
Enraged, Yu Xiangdong abandoned evasion and instead adopted a staunch defense while retaliating with a formidable palm strike of his own. The clash of these two powerful strikes resounded like a thunderous explosion.
A resounding "Boom!" echoed through the air as Cha Eun Xiao was sent hurtling backward, spewing a spray of blood. Despite his vast experience, he found himself overpowered by Yu Xiangdong's superior strength.
The devastating impact left Cha Eun Xiao appearing fearsome and indomitable, yet the substantial chasm in their abilities led to an internal struggle, with the force of the collision causing Cha Eun Xiao's body to tremble.
Although Yu Xiangdong's defense had been hasty, he emerged relatively unscathed. With an air of determination, he advanced upon Cha Eun Xiao and unleashed another thunderous palm strike. His intention was no longer to simply subdue his opponent; he sought to deliver a fatal blow.
The onlookers took pleasure in the display, reveling in Cha Eun Xiao's predicament. The overwhelming discrepancy in their strength was clearly evident. To them, this confrontation was a testament to the difference in power.
They firmly believed that this final clash would solidify the verdict: Yu Xiangdong's triumph, and Cha Eun Xiao's demise.
The two opponents' hands drew nearer to each other with incredible speed, the audience awaiting the impending conclusion of this one-sided battle.
For a moment, it appeared as if Cha Eun Xiao was pushing himself to the brink, pouring every ounce of his strength into this final effort.
The spectators shook their heads in anticipation, convinced that regardless of Cha Eun Xiao's determination and sacrifice, he would not overcome this insurmountable power disparity.
"Even if he gives it his all... even if he fights with unparalleled desperation... it won't make a difference," they thought, underlining the immense gulf that separated the two combatants.
—But then came the unexpected—