"Swoosh—" Again with a soft sound, Li Ba's fierce claw attack, aiming for Li Yi's chest, slid aside once more. However, Li Ba was prepared this time; his sliding figure twisted slightly, and his left fist thundered towards Li Yi's chest. "This time! Let's see how you block it!" Facing this sudden change, Li Yi was too late to use his Reversing Wind Palm. He slapped his left hand, channeling Yuanqi, and met Li Ba's fist. With a loud "boom," both of them were pushed back several steps. Li Yi rolled in mid-air and lightly landed at the edge of the platform, chuckling, "Indeed impressive. But if you don't use a fighting technique, even if you hit me, it won't have much effect."
Li Ba sneered, "Enough talk; trying is the only way to know!" He lunged at Li Yi again, this time not using any fighting techniques, aiming to defeat Li Yi with sheer brute force. Li Yi, faced with Li Ba's relentless punches, helplessly curled his lips. Reversing Wind Palm was clever, but using Yuanqi against these fists was somewhat redundant. In a different situation, Li Yi might have wanted a real fight with Li Ba, but in this setting, he couldn't use his Phantom Kill technique. Thus, he had no choice but to keep dodging.
As Li Ba's barrage of punches poured down like a storm, Li Yi's movements were like phantoms, dodging every blow at the last moment. After a while, realizing his efforts were futile, Li Ba paused, his wolf-like eyes fixating on Li Yi before squeezing out through gritted teeth, "Young Master Li Yi! Are you a rabbit? Only dodging!" Li Yi couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head, "Li Ba, it's a fair fight. What does it matter what means are used?" Li Ba retorted coldly, "Only dodging and hiding, is that what a man does?"
Li Yi laughed. Li Ba was quite interesting, not the typical brawny but simple-minded type. Looking back at the VIP seats and noticing the impatient gazes, Li Yi shook his head. It seemed there was no need to continue the fight; even if he wanted to stay low-key, he had probably done enough already. "Alright then," Li Yi smiled, "I won't dodge anymore. But Li Ba, you better show some real skill, or you'll regret it!" Li Ba grunted, stepping back and raising his right hand high. His solid muscles rippled, and his bones crackled. His right arm surged with a faint blood energy, swelling in size. Suddenly, the Venerable Serpent's voice echoed in Li Yi's mind, "Kid, that brat seems to be using some secret technique to momentarily increase his strength. He's close to the peak of nine-crystal Yuanqi now. Be careful, or you might lose."
Li Yi frowned slightly, his eyes focusing on Li Ba's raised fist, feeling the murderous intent emanating from it. He silently nodded, acknowledging Li Ba's skill. Watching Li Yi's calm demeanor, Li Ba felt a surge of anger. His breath hitched, and the Yuanqi around him exploded. Stomping on the ground, shattering stones, he charged at Li Yi! "Mountain Splitting Fist!" The same move, but now Li Ba's punch was filled with murderous intent and sharpness, exponentially more violent than before. The sudden change stunned everyone. Long Ao Tian in the VIP seats gasped, "Secret Blood Chaos?!"
Secret techniques, a kind of bizarre method to momentarily boost a fighter's strength, were different from normal techniques. Although useless in normal times, they could drastically increase one's strength in critical moments. However, these techniques came with severe side effects, so despite being inherited by major families, they were rarely used except in life-and-death situations. Secret Blood Chaos, a mid-level Xuanwu secret technique, could stimulate blood energy, boosting strength by two crystals momentarily, but it would severely damage one's Yuanqi and impede future cultivation. It was a secret method passed down in the Li family, but someone like Li Ba, a member of a collateral branch, wouldn't normally have the right to learn it unless they reached the Fighter level.
"Damn it!" Li Han recognized the technique immediately. Slapping the stone table beside him, he created spiderweb-like cracks on its surface. With that slap, he seemed to release some tension, coldly ordering, "Bring me those responsible for teaching this secret technique without permission. Regardless of who they are, they will be shown no mercy!"
Li Han's icy voice caused a noticeable change in the expressions of the Li family members on the high platform; many could tell that he was truly enraged this time. The First Elder abruptly stood up, shouting loudly, "Fool! Stop!" But in the arena, the commotion in the VIP seats did not affect the fight. With Li Ba's enhanced strength, his punch stirred up a gust of wind, rustling Li Yi's clothes. Facing this powerful strike, Li Yi's smile became even more captivating. Raising his right hand, blood-colored energy intermingled with an intensely dark Yuanqi, with streaks of red still visible within the black.
Just as Li Ba's fist neared Li Yi's face, Li Yi swiftly moved his hand forward, his Yuanqi swirling rapidly. "Reversing Wind Palm!" Li Ba's punch was once again diverted. Anticipating this, Li Ba was about to change his move when Li Yi narrowed his eyes, a menacing smile crossing his lips. "Since you want my life, don't blame me for not being courteous. Have you ever heard of the saying, 'returning like with like'?" As he spoke, Li Yi's open palm twisted abruptly, the motion originally flowing sideways, now pushed straight forward. Li Ba's face changed, a sharp pain surged through him before he could even cry out, and Li Yi coldly shouted, "Mountain Splitting Fist! I know it too!"
With a thunderous sound, Li Ba's fist twisted back at an unnatural angle. The powerful punch, instead of hitting Li Yi, bizarrely struck Li Ba's own chest. A horrifying series of bone-cracking sounds followed; Li Ba's wrist was broken, and numerous ribs were shattered under his own punch. He seemed to want to say something, but as soon as he opened his mouth, a mouthful of blood spurted out, and he collapsed onto the platform.
The scene left the arena in complete silence, an unimaginable outcome. Li Ba, known for his ferocity and intimidating even Fighters, was defeated so directly and unexpectedly. Who would believe this if they hadn't seen it with their own eyes? Only three months ago, Li Yi was a complete waste, and now, he had defeated a long-time practitioner. Could it be that the infamous waste of Wanchao City was actually a genius? With such an achievement in three months, what limit could there be to his future growth? It appeared the Li family had struck gold!
Everyone in the VIP seats showed incredible expressions, particularly the lower-ranking guests, who now congratulated the surrounding Li family members. Long Ao Tian, in utter disbelief, muttered, "Li Yi won? What fighting technique was that? When did the Li family have such a technique? What level is it? Vermilion Bird? How could this be..."
The onlookers in the VIP seats, with their keen vision, had clearly seen that it wasn't Li Ba who struck himself, but Li Yi's enigmatic technique that caused Li Ba's punch to land on himself. This method was utterly chilling! After a moment of shock, Long Ao Tian turned to Li Han and said in a low voice, "Patriarch Li, it's truly commendable that your family has developed such a unique fighting technique!"
Li Han's face also flashed a hint of surprise, but as if recalling something, he sighed lightly. This scene, observed by the surrounding powerhouses, left them utterly baffled...