Translator: Silavin
*Whoosh!*
The giant elephant raised its head. Its trunk resembled a massive python, striking with predatory intent. The moment it lifted, space erupted with continuous explosions. The momentum was extraordinary.
In this instant, everyone perceived the Sky Elephant Martial Soul’s overwhelming power.
Individuals like Qiao Linlang, Gu Feitian, and Yao Yue, their expressions grew solemn after Xia Lieyang deployed his Sky Elephant Martial Soul.
“Weight of Mount Tai!” Standing opposite Xia Lieyang, Li Yuanba demonstrated not the slightest fear. Raising his massive hammers, he smashed them forward.
The hammers resembled mountains and peaks. The moment they lifted, they imposed tremendous pressure upon all observers, as though witnessing an entire mountain range descending upon oneself. It was a heart-stopping sight.
“Boom!…”
Under the crowd’s watchful eyes, trunk and hammers collided. Instantly, an earth-shattering resonance erupted. A visible shockwave radiated from the collision point, sweeping toward all directions.
*Step step!*
Through the impact, Li Yuanba retreated two steps.
Opposite him, though Xia Lieyang maintained his position, he released a stifled grunt. Clearly, this exchange had taken its toll on him as well.
“Nice! Again!” The moment Li Yuanba stabilised his footing, rather than displaying frustration, his face showed pure excitement. Raising his hammers once more, he attacked again.
*Bang! Bang! Bang…*
Subsequently, he functioned like a tireless machine, his hammers endlessly pounding toward Xia Lieyang.
Watching Xia Lieyang’s expression darken beneath the hammer assault, many finally understood why Qiao Linlang had swallowed his anger back in Heart Trial City.
This Li Yuanba was not bloody Human at all!
He was an absolute monster!
Though each exchange seemingly placed Li Yuanba at a disadvantage, he remained vigorous and increasingly fierce in battle. Conversely, Xia Lieyang clearly remained in a continuous defensive state. All his counterattacks were blocked by Li Yuanba’s mountain-like hammers.
At this moment, Xia Lieyang’s heart truly overflowed with bitter complaints.
Though he still retained reserves of strength, he distinctly sensed Li Yuanba’s offensive growing progressively stronger.
Li Yuanba was cultivating his Momentum!
And he himself had become Li Yuanba’s stepping stone!
“Both of you, stop!” Gu Feitian intervened again. After another collision, he positioned himself between the two combatants.
“Get lost! Otherwise, I’ll smash you together with him!” Li Yuanba paid no heed to such concerns. Raising his heavy hammers, he prepared to continue.
His exchange with Xia Lieyang brought tremendous benefits. He even detected signs of an imminent breakthrough. Now, with such a formidable opponent providing practice, how could he possibly relinquish this opportunity so easily!?
“Hehe.” A chilling glint flashed through Gu Feitian’s eyes, though his face maintained its smile. “Brother Li, this isn’t the place for combat. We should prioritise opening the door.”
His intervention clearly aimed to prevent Li Yuanba from achieving another advancement at this juncture.
Currently, any four of them could suppress Li Yuanba when exerting full strength. However, should Li Yuanba breakthrough to the Mid Stage Martial Emperor Realm, that calculus would become uncertain.
“Since this Brother has already proven his capability, naturally I have no further objections.” Gu Feitian behaved as though he’d never targeted Qin Yichen previously, his face radiating friendliness.
*Hmph!* Qin Yichen released a light snort, offering no response.
He understood clearly, everyone who arrived here was a potential rival.
Individuals like Gu Feitian and Yao Yue might presently appear aligned, yet the moment personal interests emerged, they would tear away all pretence without hesitation.
Nevertheless, for now, opening the door remained the most important task.
With only himself and Li Yuanba, opening it would be impossible.
Xia Lieyang’s mood at this moment proved no better than Qin Yichen’s.
Firstly, he had lost face before the assembled crowd. Secondly, Li Yuanba had pummelled him relentlessly, leaving him unable to vent his accumulated rage.
After withdrawing his Sky Elephant Martial Soul, he stood sullenly to one side. Even the Sky Elephant Imperial Dynasty’s accompanying expert dared not approach, fearing he might redirect his fury toward them.
“Little Brother, those arm guards of yours appear quite extraordinary.” Gu Feitian spoke with apparent casualness, seemingly reminding everyone present of something.
Indeed, those arm guards had left profound impressions upon them all. To claim they do not covet them would be absolute lies!
“They’re merely ordinary items.” Qin Yichen naturally understood what he was thinking. Then, with a peculiar smile directed at Gu Feitian, he said, “If you desire them, I can give them to you!”
“Eh?” Gu Feitian appeared obviously confused by this response, his smile freezing momentarily.
“Catch!” As the words fell, Gu Feitian witnessed the arm guards radiating black energy flying toward him. Almost reflexively, he caught the arm guards in his hand.
*Swish!* However, the next moment, as though having glimpsed something utterly horrifying, his face transformed into shocked terror. He flung the arm guards away with explosive speed.
After being thrown, the arm guards did not fall to the ground. Instead, it returned to Qin Yichen’s hand.
“What just happened?” Everyone stared at Gu Feitian with bewildered expressions, unable to comprehend his intense reaction.
Gu Feitian remained silent. Upon his hands, golden radiance manifested. Only after considerable time did it dissipate.
When he looked at Qin Yichen again, his expression had unmistakably transformed.
The instant he had caught the arm guards; he had detected something was awfully wrong. That black energy had corroded his flesh, even corroded his Yuan Energy. Had he not discarded the arm guards immediately, the consequences would have been unimaginable!
“What demonic thing is that!?” His gaze fell upon the black energy swirling around the arm guards in Qin Yichen’s hand, his heart filled with shock.
Precisely because he had experienced the black energy’s peculiarity firsthand, he found himself even more perplexed. How did Qin Yichen remain unaffected by them!?
His actions had not escaped Yao Yue’s observation.
Though Yao Yue offered no comment, when he looked toward Qin Yichen, a contemplative gleam passed through his eyes.
Clearly, Gu Feitian had just suffered a small loss. According to Yao Yue’s knowledge, individuals capable of making Gu Feitian suffer were genuinely rare.
Qin Yichen’s position within his evaluation had undoubtedly been elevated by an entire tier.
“Does anyone else wish to try?” Withdrawing the arm guards, Qin Yichen enquired with apparent magnanimity, as though he was truly trying to part with the arm guards.
Given Gu Feitian’s example, the crowd hesitated. After a moment, a Mid Stage Martial Emperor finally stepped forward.
“Give it to me!” He expanded his Yuan Energy outward, adopting a stance as though facing a formidable enemy.
The corner of Qin Yichen’s mouth lifted. Almost without hesitation, he tossed the arm guard toward the challenger.
*Swish!* The Mid Stage Martial Emperor’s hands blazed with Yuan Energy as he caught the incoming arm guards.
However, almost identically to Gu Feitian’s experience, the next moment he flung the arm guards away. Then, a scene the crowd would struggle to forget materialised…
Though the Mid Stage Martial Emperor had discarded the arm guards, within his Yuan Energy-covered hands, black energy completely unlike his own Yuan Energy began to radiate outward.