And Xia Cunyi’s attack was clearly aimed at crippling Zhao Ya’s arm.
It was evident that his previous talk of a friendly spar was just a guise.
His real intention was to use the duel as an excuse to publicly cripple Zhao Ya, cutting off his path in the Martial Dao.
His intention could only be described as sinister.
Watching the match, Shen Dao, Miao Shaohua, and the others naturally realized this.
Shen Dao’s expression changed dramatically, and he couldn’t help but say, "Master, this... "
"No need to worry, just calm down and watch," Lu Dingtai said coolly.
Shen Dao closed his mouth, though his face still showed signs of anxiousness.
After all, from his perspective, there seemed to be no chance at all for Zhao Ya to win.
Even being able to retreat safely seemed like a luxury.
At this time, the situation on the field had already turned one-sided, with Xia Cunyi continuously pressing down on Zhao Ya.
Under that storm-like Palm Technique, Zhao Ya could barely defend himself and was forced to circle the courtyard repeatedly, seemingly about to lose.
But as Xia Cunyi relentlessly attacked, a trace of doubt flashed through his heart.
What’s happening?
No matter how I attack, why am I always just a little bit off?
Sometimes, Xia Cunyi even felt like his palm was about to touch Zhao Ya’s clothes.
Yet in the next moment, Zhao Ya would dodge at just the right time, his timing was impeccably precise.
Initially, Xia Cunyi thought Zhao Ya was just lucky, but as this happened repeatedly, Xia Cunyi couldn’t help but wonder.
Is this guy doing this on purpose?
But how is that possible?
He’s only at the peak of the Third Realm, and I’m already half a step into the Fourth Realm.
How can his Body Technique be faster than mine?
Just as Xia Cunyi was being driven crazy by Zhao Ya, who was as slippery as an eel.
Zhao Ya suddenly sidestepped, and then smiled slightly at Xia Cunyi.
"So this is the famous Heaven-Flipping Palm? Indeed, quite impressive."
"But you’ve been attacking for so long, you must be tired by now, right? Now... it’s my turn!"
As these words fell, Zhao Ya’s demeanor suddenly changed.
If earlier he was playful and smiling as if in a game.
Now Zhao Ya finally got serious.
Seeing Zhao Ya’s change in Fist Technique, he stepped forward, striking straight at Xia Cunyi’s chest.
Xia Cunyi raised his palm outward, intending to block Zhao Ya’s punch.
But Zhao Ya switched techniques quickly, and as Xia’s palm just lifted, Zhao Ya had already stepped in closer, with another punch heading straight for Xia Cunyi’s lower abdomen,
the speed was dazzling.
Xia Cunyi’s expression changed slightly.
He recognized this Fist Technique as the Dingtai Martial Arts Hall’s signature Great Vajra Fist.
He just didn’t expect Zhao Ya to have mastered the Great Vajra Fist to such depth.
Hadn’t he only joined the Dingtai Martial Arts Hall half a year ago?
Xia Cunyi felt a fleeting moment of doubt, but even so, he remained unafraid.
Even if Zhao Ya had indeed brought the Great Vajra Fist to a high level, it would at most waste some more time.
On this point, Xia Cunyi was very confident.
By now, he and Zhao Ya had exchanged blows for about thirty rounds.
The intensity of their fight left the audience dazzled.
Shen Dao couldn’t help but breathe a slight sigh of relief.
Junior Brother is much tougher than I thought.
At least from the current situation, Zhao Ya doesn’t seem like he’s going to lose anytime soon.
But defeating Xia Cunyi still seemed almost impossible.
After all, Xia Cunyi had stepped into the half-step Fourth Realm last year, and after over a year of honing, his Qi Blood had long been perfected, making him a formidable opponent.
But just then, Zhao Ya suddenly exhaled loudly and shouted in the field.
"Explode for me!"
With these words, Zhao Ya’s already fast Body Technique suddenly surged, and in a split second, he rushed into Xia Cunyi’s Palm Technique range, placing his hands on Xia’s shoulders.
Xia Cunyi was also slightly surprised.
He hadn’t expected Zhao Ya’s Body Technique to be this fast.
Yet when Zhao Ya’s hands were on his shoulders, Xia Cunyi merely sneered coldly, unfazed.
Trying to throw me off, such wishful thinking.
I’m just a half step...
Before this thought even finished in his mind, Xia Cunyi felt a tremendous force from his shoulders, then his whole body was uncontrollably lifted mid-air by Zhao Ya.
The ground is the root of strength, and once a person leaves the ground, they lose the source of their power.
This is especially true for martial artists.
But Xia Cunyi, after all, was a well-known martial artist for many years. Although in panic, he didn’t lose his composure in mid-air. His hands moved like scissors, aiming directly at Zhao Ya’s throat.
But it was too late.
Once Xia Cunyi was lifted into the air, his fate was sealed.
At this moment, half of the Qi blood stored in Zhao Ya’s liver had been used up.
Just now when Zhao Ya forcefully lifted Xia Cunyi into the air, it was relying on the enhancement of this half of Qi blood that it succeeded in one go.
Now the remaining half of the Qi blood was also ignited, bursting like gunpowder.
Under this fierce enhancement of Qi blood, the Great Stone-Throwing Hand was immediately unleashed.
Xia Cunyi’s hands didn’t even get close and were thrown away.
With a loud bang, everyone felt the ground tremble.
The courtyard of Dingtai Martial Arts Hall was paved with green stone slabs, extremely hard, yet even so, the ground was still forcibly smashed into a pit.
But Xia Cunyi’s skill was indeed profound, and even so, he wasn’t killed from the fall.
Though only half a step into the Fourth Realm, his skin was already trained to be very elastic, like a spring, absorbing much of the impact.
Despite this, Xia Cunyi was still severely injured, with blood streaming from his nose and mouth.
One arm was twisted like a pretzel, clearly broken.
This earth-shattering blow stunned everyone present.
People from the Chenfeng Martial Arts Hall could hardly believe their eyes. It wasn’t until Xia Cunyi limped up from the ground that someone rushed over.
"Senior Brother Xia!"
"Third Senior Brother, are you alright!"
Someone tried to help Xia Cunyi, but he pushed them away.
"Get lost."
Then Xia Cunyi wobbled to stand straight, wiped away the blood dripping from his nose and mouth, and stared intently at Zhao Ya across from him.
Zhao Ya wasn’t intimidated, looking at him with a slight smile and keeping an eye on Yuan Chenfeng and others nearby, secretly ready.
If Xia Cunyi or Yuan Chenfeng couldn’t afford to lose and were planning to fight to the end, then the lime package mixed with more than a dozen kinds of narcotics, prepared in advance, would teach them a lesson.
This was something Zhao Ya had recently developed.
After all, previously Zhao Ya didn’t have the ability to be immune to hundred poisons. If he wanted to use narcotics, he would have to take the antidote in advance, which was quite troublesome.
If by chance multiple narcotics mixed and counteracted each other’s effects, rendering the antidote useless, it would be even more troublesome.
But now it’s different.
With the talent of being immune to hundred poisons, Zhao Ya could use drugs as he pleased.
Just as Zhao Ya was about to test the power of this top-notch deluxe lime package.
Xia Cunyi suddenly lowered his head, "I lost!"
After speaking, he limped back to Yuan Chenfeng.
"Master!"
"Hmph, disgraceful," Yuan Chenfeng snorted coldly with a face like iron, stood up, and said to Lu Dingtai.
"Younger Brother Lu, it seems you’ve really taken in a good disciple."
With that, he turned and walked away.
Lu Dingtai was in high spirits.
Even happier than if he had personally defeated Yuan Chenfeng himself.
Especially seeing Yuan’s frustrated yet unable-to-react expression, Lu Dingtai couldn’t help but feel delighted.
"Hahaha, Brother Yuan is right. I also think my disciple is quite impressive, already like this at the peak of the Third Realm. What will it be like in the future?"
Lu Dingtai deliberately emphasized the words "peak of the Third Realm," making his meaning quite clear.
My disciple, at just the peak of the Third Realm, could defeat your half-step Fourth Realm disciple. Doesn’t that prove I’m even more skillful than you?
Yuan Chenfeng naturally understood this, but now he had no way to refute and could only leave with a belly full of anger.
After they left, Lu Dingtai walked forward, laughing heartily, and gave Zhao Ya’s shoulder a heavy pat.
"Good lad, I really didn’t notice that your Great Stone-Throwing Hand was so well-practiced. You’ve made me proud as your master!"
Zhao Ya chuckled, "That’s all thanks to your good teaching, Master!"
Then he asked worriedly, "Master, about my bet of a thousand taels of gold..."
"Don’t worry, Yuan Chenfeng will still value his reputation. You’ll have it by the afternoon at the latest."
Sure enough.
Just after lunch, people from the Chenfeng Martial Arts Hall came to deliver a stack of gold notes.