At this moment, a low murmur suddenly broke out in the stands. Some were excited, some were worried, and some were gloating.
The drama of a battle between Geniuses never lacks an audience.
In the world of cultivation, the victor is king.
No matter how resounding Han Xuanji's reputation had been before, or how high his talent was, if he lost, everything would become a joke.
"He actually agreed!"
"Nonsense, what else could he do if he didn't agree? He's already here; could he really back down?"
"Centurion Zhou Lie is not someone to be trifled with. That guy has killed a True Lord-level Vicious Beast single-handedly; his combat power far exceeds those of the same rank.
Although Han Xuanji has a reputation, his actual combat record... doesn't seem to have anything worth showing off."
"Don't forget, he reached the summit of the Five Elements Heavenly Ladder and suppressed Baili Qianchi at the Qianmeng Pavilion; these are all genuine skills."
"Climbing the Heavenly Ladder relies on Comprehension Ability, competing with willpower relies on Heart-Nature, but actual combat is a different matter. Centurion Zhou Lie has spent years hunting outside the city and fighting Vicious Beasts; his actual combat experience is far richer than Han Xuanji's."
"That's true..."
The discussions rose and fell, but Han Xuanji turned a deaf ear to them.
He looked up toward the other side of the stands, meeting Centurion Zhou Lie's gaze directly.
Their gazes collided in mid-air, sparks flying.
Centurion Zhou Lie slowly stood up, lowered his arms that were crossed over his chest, and the corners of his mouth slowly curled into an arc.
He had been waiting for this day for a long time. From the day Han Xuanji reached the summit of the Five Elements Heavenly Ladder, he knew that this person would sooner or later stand in his way.
It was not because he was narrow-minded, but because he knew too well the weight of the word "reputation."
The Zhou Family was not some great Family; he was able to reach his current position in the Huben Legion by fighting for it with every blade and spear.
His title was something he had earned with his life. And Han Xuanji, an outsider, by what right could he trample him underfoot in just a few short decades?
"Since you've agreed, don't blame me for not being polite."
Centurion Zhou Lie sneered in his heart and walked toward the martial arts arena.
His pace was steady and powerful, every step landing firmly, his Qi and blood surging throughout his body, like a tiger ready to pounce.
Both were cultivating the Way of Laws, but Centurion Zhou Lie had spent years fighting Vicious Beasts, so his Physical Body was extremely well-trained, and his combat-oriented Divine Ability techniques were incredibly proficient.
In this battle, he had reasons why he could not lose. The two stood opposite each other in the center of the martial arts arena.
Centurion Zhou Lie was half a head taller than Han Xuanji, and his build was also a size larger; standing in front of Han Xuanji, he looked like a small mountain.
He looked down at Han Xuanji from his height, his gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny and a touch of disdain.
"Han Xuanji, I've heard much about you."
Centurion Zhou Lie cupped his hands, his tone indifferent.
Han Xuanji nodded slightly: "Brother Zhou is too kind."
Centurion Zhou Lie curled his lip and turned to look at Commander He Guanshan in the stands: "Legion Commander, can we begin?"
Centurion Zhou Lie was becoming impatient.
Commander He Guanshan set down his teacup and slowly stood up.
He swept a glance over the two in the arena, his gaze lingering on Centurion Zhou Lie for a moment before falling on Han Xuanji, and said indifferently: "The rules are simple. The venue is limited to the martial arts arena, and it is protected by a barrier. You may go all out; there is no need to hold back too much."
He paused and added: "However, I do not wish to see anyone seriously injured; let it end once the point is made."
He naturally knew that Han Xuanji was the precious treasure of the Hun Family, and Centurion Zhou Lie was also someone he was cultivating heavily.
If anything happened to either of them, he would have a hard time. As he spoke, he also secretly communicated with Hun Qianxue, indicating that if the situation spiraled out of control, he would personally intervene to stop it. Hun Qianxue also nodded slightly; this action was very much to his liking.
Indeed, those who could reach this status were no mediocrities!
"Understood." Centurion Zhou Lie nodded.
"Understood." Han Xuanji also nodded.
Commander He Guanshan sat back in his chair, raised his hand, and said: "Begin!"
The moment his voice fell, the auras of the two in the arena erupted almost simultaneously.
Centurion Zhou Lie had no intention of testing; he went all out.
He knew that Han Xuanji was no ordinary opponent; those rumors about him "only knowing how to comprehend the Dao, and being poor at actual combat" were rumors he had spread himself.
He knew in his heart that anyone who could reach the summit of the Five Elements Heavenly Ladder could absolutely not be a scholar who only knew how to talk on paper.
Therefore, his first move was a killing blow, not giving the opponent any time to adapt.
Creation Divine Fist.
This was his most proficient fist technique, based on the Way of Creation, evolving the changes of life and death of all things.
The fist struck like a Dragon, and wherever the fist wind passed, the Void Realm distorted, and even the air was torn apart, emitting a sharp whistling sound.
He had once used this punch to shatter the skull of a True Lord-level Vicious Beast, and now he was booming it mercilessly toward Han Xuanji.
In the stands, the soldiers of the Huben Legion widened their eyes.
"Creation Divine Fist! Centurion Zhou Lie is actually using this move right from the start?"
"It seems Han Xuanji is putting quite a bit of pressure on him."
"Nonsense, the other party is, after all, an S-Rank Prodigy of the Hun Family; if Centurion Zhou Lie underestimates his enemy, he might be the one to suffer a huge loss."
And on the other side, Wang Ping was so nervous that he stood up, his eyes fixed on the arena without blinking.
Li Tiantong's gaze darkened; he also cultivated the Way of Laws and had very rich actual combat experience. He could feel that the power of creation contained in Centurion Zhou Lie's punch was extremely pure; if it were him receiving it, he feared he would be severely injured in one move.
In the arena, Han Xuanji watched the fist that was crashing down like a meteor, his expression calm. He did not retreat, did not dodge, but instead raised his right hand, spread his fingers, and made a light, empty grasp.
Great Five Elements Grappling Hand.
This was something he had obtained from a Sign In at the Five Elements Altar, one of the ultimate Legacies of the Five Elements Tower. Controlling the power of the Five Elements, it could seize all things.
Since Han Xuanji had mastered it, he had never used it in actual combat; today was the first time.
Five-colored light condensed in his palm; green, red, yellow, white, and black colors intertwined and wound together, transforming into a semi-transparent giant hand that met Centurion Zhou Lie's fist.
Boom!
Fist and palm met, exploding with a deafening roar.
A visible shockwave spread from the center of the collision, impacting the barrier at the edge of the martial arts arena and stirring up layers of ripples. The stone floor in the arena was cracked by the aftermath, and stone fragments flew everywhere.
Centurion Zhou Lie's Creation Divine Fist was steadily caught by the Great Five Elements Grappling Hand.
Not blocked, but "caught."
That five-colored giant hand seemed to have a life of its own; its five fingers closed, firmly gripping Centurion Zhou Lie's fist in its palm.
Although this punch was incredibly ferocious, carrying endless vitality and seeming sufficient to derive all things, it could not break free from the shackles of the Five Elements, like a fierce beast trapped in a cage, possessing brute force but nowhere to unleash it.
Centurion Zhou Lie's pupils constricted.
He had not expected that Han Xuanji's Great Five Elements Grappling Hand would be refined to such a degree. This was not a simple clash of strength, but a contest at the level of the Law. His power of creation attempted to evolve all things and break through the shackles, while the power of the Five Elements, using the principle of mutual generation and restriction, decomposed and digested his power layer by layer.
"How is it possible..."
Centurion Zhou Lie felt a waver in his heart.