"Huh? No one-shot kill?"
Someone seeing this scene exclaimed in surprise:
"What's going on?!"
Because of Han Xuanji's previous performance, his battles were naturally the focus of attention. Although it was considered a lopsided match, nearly half the audience was still watching Han Xuanji's situation.
Unexpectedly, it seemed Han Xuanji had met his match this time? Inside the light screen, Han Xuanji struck again. Five-colored light condensed into a semi-transparent giant hand, reaching out to grab Centurion Zhou Lie.
Centurion Zhou Lie roared, and Creation and destruction transformed into a beam of light, forcefully shattering the giant hand.
The two traded blows, locked in combat.
In the viewing stands, the expressions of the audience shifted from boredom to disbelief.
"What... what is happening? How is Han Xuanji evenly matched with him?"
"Is Centurion Zhou Lie that strong? Isn't he also an Earth-grade Seed?"
Someone analyzed it reasonably and gave an answer.
"Could it be that Centurion Zhou Lie is also an expert, just pretending to be weak all this time?"
"Two Earth-grade Seeds have already defeated Heaven-grade Seeds; it seems normal for a third to appear, right?"
"Very likely."
This statement was accepted by many, but soon someone refuted it:
"Where do so many dark horses come from? I think Han Xuanji is going easy on him. Isn't this Centurion Zhou Lie also a Cultivator from Qianhun City?"
"Going easy? Why would he go easy? This is the Law Conference, not an exhibition match!"
"Besides, it's said that Centurion Zhou Lie had a grudge against Han Xuanji before. If it were me, wouldn't I be fighting to the death?"
"That's true. Maybe this Centurion Zhou Lie really is an expert!"
The crowd in the stands discussed fervently and arrived at a "reasonable" answer.
That is, Centurion Zhou Lie is also a hidden expert capable of rivaling a Heaven-grade Seed.
But some insisted on playing devil's advocate, feeling that perhaps Han Xuanji just happened to have a way to counter Zhou Yunhe, and this time, encountering someone stronger, he couldn't finish the fight quickly.
...
On the high platform, Commander He Guanshan's expression was somewhat subtle. He could, of course, tell that Han Xuanji was going easy.
How could he not be clear about the two's strength?
Those Moves probably just looked imposing, but their actual lethality was limited.
Although Centurion Zhou Lie was fighting vigorously, with every collision, Han Xuanji was just pulling his punches at the right moments.
"This kid..."
Commander He Guanshan shook his head, but the corners of his mouth curled into a slight arc.
That Han Xuanji could do this showed he was a man who valued loyalty.
Such a person is worth befriending.
He wouldn't have to worry about the other party looking down on him once they became successful.
Hun Qianxue also saw it and secretly found it amusing. This kid really knows how to conduct himself. In another corner of the stands, Wang Ping was stomping his feet in anxiety.
"What is Brother Han doing? That Centurion Zhou Lie... something that could be solved with one punch, why drag it out for so long!"
Hun Jiuge pulled his sleeve and lowered her voice:
"What are you rushing for? Young Master Han naturally has his reasons."
"What reasons? Isn't it enough to just win?"
Li Tiantong did not speak, just watched the light screen with the corners of his mouth slightly raised.
He understood.
...
On the snowy plains, Centurion Zhou Lie became more and more excited as the fight went on.
He didn't know Han Xuanji was going easy; he only knew that his state today was surprisingly good. Every punch, every dodge, every collision of Dao Laws was just right, satisfying and exhilarating.
This feeling was like returning to the time when he used to spar with his Master.
Wait...
Centurion Zhou Lie seemed to think of something. The opponent wouldn't be going easy on him, would they?
Thinking of this, Centurion Zhou Lie came up with a plan and deliberately teased:
"Brother Han, did you not eat?"
Han Xuanji dodged to the side and said indifferently:
"Likewise."
The two collided again and each retreated several steps.
Centurion Zhou Lie panted heavily, his eyes full of Battle Intent:
"Come again, let's decide the winner in one blow!"
Han Xuanji looked at him and sighed inwardly. This act had gone on long enough; if he kept acting, his cover would be blown.
Mostly, he was just tired of feeding him Moves.
"Brother Zhou, you have indeed improved a lot."
Han Xuanji suddenly spoke, his tone serious.
Centurion Zhou Lie was stunned.
"However, it really is time to end this."
Han Xuanji raised his right hand and clenched his fingers into a fist.
Pale golden light condensed on the surface of his fist, filled with the Profound Heaven Power, more solid than any time before.
Centurion Zhou Lie's pupils constricted as he sensed a fatal threat, but he did not retreat. Instead, he exerted his full power, condensing the Dao Laws of the Ten Directions onto his Creation Divine Fist. This strike was the result of his painstaking research, and it was more than twice as strong as when he had fought Han Xuanji before.
Boom—
The two fists collided, erupting with a deafening roar.
The snow on the plains was lifted by the shockwave, sweeping outwards like a white tsunami.
At the moment of contact, Centurion Zhou Lie felt a power he had never experienced before—a power that fused multiple types of Origin energy, a domineering and almost invincible force.
He had almost no room to resist.
His body flew backward like a kite with a broken string.
The wind and snow whistled past his ears, and the sky and earth in his vision swapped rapidly.
At the last moment before he lost consciousness, he saw Han Xuanji standing in place, slowly retracting his fist.
Those calm eyes were the same as always.
White light lit up, enveloping him.
The next instant, Centurion Zhou Lie was already kneeling on the high platform.
He panted heavily, sweat sliding down from his forehead, dripping onto the ground and making a faint sound.
His right hand was trembling, and his knuckles ached with numbness—that was the mark of being injured by the Profound Heaven Power.
He looked down at his own fist, then looked up at the huge light screen above the high platform.
On the light screen, his name had dimmed.
Han Xuanji's name firmly occupied one of the spots in the top eight.
"Brother Han, you really didn't hold back..."
Centurion Zhou Lie muttered to himself, his voice full of bitterness.
He had guessed earlier that perhaps those previous rounds were Han Xuanji going easy on him. But when the truth was laid before him, he realized the gap was much larger than he had imagined.
If Han Xuanji had used his full strength from the beginning, he would have been eliminated long ago.
So-called evenly matched opponents are just the other party playing along with you.
This is how it is when a lower-ranked person meets a higher-ranked one.
Centurion Zhou Lie braced his knees and slowly stood up.
He took a deep breath, straightened his back, and waited for the mocking gazes and harsh discussions from the stands.
He had lost, and he had lost badly.
Facing that last punch, he hadn't even lasted a single breath.
How would those people mock him?
Would they say he didn't know his own limitations?
However, the mocking he expected did not come. From the stands came a deafening cheer.
"Centurion Zhou Lie! Centurion Zhou Lie! Centurion Zhou Lie!"
It wasn't one person, it wasn't a few people, but tens of thousands of people chanting in unison.
Those voices came from the direction of the Huben Legion stands, from the stands where the Cultivators of Qianhun City were gathered, and even more were faces he didn't recognize, also clapping vigorously.
Centurion Zhou Lie was stunned.
He looked blankly at the seething crowd, at the waving fists and excited faces, his heart full of confusion.
He had lost, so why did it feel like he had won?