Chapter 32: Violent Beating . . .
"Hey, have you laid down long enough? There are still two more moves which you allowed me. You aren't going to go back on your words, are you?" Ye Yuan clapped his hands together, wearing an expression that suggested it couldn't be helped.
Coughing persistently, Fei Qingping struggled to catch his breath. The previous palm strike had struck his chest, leaving him breathless. Had he not erected an essence energy shield at the last moment, the outcome might have been far worse.
The advancement to the Fourth Level Essence Qi Realm not only thickened one's essence energy but also enabled the manifestation of an essence energy shield. This shield significantly bolstered one's self-defense capabilities, diminishing the impact of an attack from a lower cultivation realm.
"L-little bastard!" Fei Qingping, holding his chest, managed to stand upright.
However, as soon as he steadied himself, Ye Yuan's palm struck again.
Smash!
Fei Qingping was sent flying once more, rolling on the ground at a considerable distance.
"You're really asking for a beating! Try scolding again if you got the guts!" Ye Yuan's tone turned cold, the smile on his face fading.
Coughing, Fei Qingping stammered, "S-so what if I scold you? Li-little bas-"
Smash!
Before he could complete his sentence, Ye Yuan's palm imprinted onto Fei Qingping's chest once more.
"I admire your guts. Come, carry on scolding." Ye Yuan's words took on an even frostier tone.
Coughing, Fei Qingping continued, "Three moves are over, prepare to die! Little bas-"
Smash!
Another palm!
This time, the strike was directed at his face. Though weakened by the essence energy shield, Fei Qingping's face began to swell slightly.
"Little-"
Smash!
Smash! Smash! Smash!
. . . . . .
Ye Yuan landed one palm after another on Fei Qingping's face. Each time Fei Qingping managed to stand, he was sent flying again. The continuous assault left him no opportunity to retaliate or scold.
Although conventionally, one avoids hitting the face, Ye Yuan deliberately targeted Fei Qingping's visage.
After over a dozen palms, Fei Qingping's face resembled a pig's head. Even his parents would struggle to recognize their own son.
Now, Fei Qingping regretted every insult he had hurled at Ye Yuan. The Ye Yuan he underestimated had turned out to be a formidable opponent.
. . . . . .
The spectators observed in astonishment as Ye Yuan relentlessly struck Fei Qingping.
Each palm sent shockwaves through their hearts, as if the force of the strike reverberated onto their own faces.
Touching their faces, they felt an unusual warmth. The spectacle unfolding before them was having a visceral impact.
Wan Yuan remained silent, but his face turned increasingly dark.
This wasn't merely about Ye Yuan slapping Fei Qingping's face; it was a direct affront to Wan Yuan himself. Fei Qingping was Wan Yuan's lackey, and the humiliation felt personal.
Lacking Huyan Yong's discernment, Wan Yuan stubbornly clung to the belief that Ye Yuan had the upper hand due to those three moves. He assumed Ye Yuan could only defeat Fei Qingping because he caught him off guard.
Recalling Fei Qingping's promise to allow Ye Yuan three moves, it now seemed like a ludicrous joke. Over ten moves later, Fei Qingping had yet to counterattack.
"Fei Qingping, are you a pig?! Quickly, use the Lesser Capturing Hand!" Unable to tolerate the scene any longer, Wan Yuan shouted out loud.
Murmurs erupted from the audience, and all eyes turned toward Wan Yuan.
Ye Yuan, pausing his relentless beating, looked over, his gaze fixing on Wan Yuan.
"Shut up! This is a deathmatch. Who permitted you to shout?" Huyan Yong, turning around, glared frostily at Wan Yuan. A potent pressure, characteristic of the Spirit Condensation Realm, crushed Wan Yuan, almost stifling his breath.
"Teacher Huyan, does his action count as breaking the academy's rules?" Ye Yuan calmly inquired.
Huyan Yong found himself facing a predicament. Despite Wan Yuan's status as an Earth rank student with considerable potential and influential connections through his father, Wan Donghai, his interference in the ongoing deathmatch was a clear violation of the rules. The deathmatch explicitly forbade any interruption, and Wan Yuan's actions had undeniably disrupted Ye Yuan's momentum.
Handling this situation in front of everyone proved challenging for Huyan Yong. If Ye Yuan chose to press the matter and not let it go, Huyan Yong was uncertain about how to proceed without damaging his own standing.
"Of course it counts!" Huyan Yong affirmed, acknowledging the disruption caused by Wan Yuan, despite the potential complications it might bring.
The audience's gaze shifted towards Wan Yuan, now filled with contempt. It was evident to all that Wan Yuan had intentionally disrupted Ye Yuan's momentum.
Concerned about the consequences, Ye Yuan innocently spoke up, "That... According to the academy's rules, how should he be punished for his actions? Just now, I had the full advantage, but after that shout, I'm afraid that I will be beaten by Fei Qingping later. I don't want to look like a pig head. Teacher Huyan, you have to stand up for me, the weak party!"
Huyan Yong felt exasperated and cursed internally. Despite the interruption, he knew that Wan Yuan's interference wouldn't change the overall outcome. Yet, Ye Yuan skillfully played the sympathy card, making it challenging for Huyan Yong to find an appropriate resolution, whether he chose to punish Wan Yuan or not.
As Ye Yuan's voice faded, murmurs swept through the grandstand. The spectators understood the implications – Ye Yuan, already at a disadvantage due to a lower cultivation realm, now faced an additional setback from Wan Yuan's interference.
While many had initially wagered against Ye Yuan, they couldn't help but feel pity for him. The interruption came just when he saw a glimmer of victory. Though Ye Yuan appeared to be the aggressor, the injuries inflicted on Fei Qingping were superficial, incapable of causing serious harm.
The Stacking Waves Layered Palm's power was undeniable, but the First Layer Wave couldn't bridge the cultivation realm gap. If Fei Qingping were at the Third Level Essence Qi Realm, the outcome might be different. At the Fifth Level Essence Qi Realm, however, doubts lingered about Ye Yuan's ability to defeat him.
Caught in this dilemma, Huyan Yong faced a new challenge as Fei Qingping, taking advantage of the chaos, struggled to stand up in an unstable manner. Confused and disoriented, he pointed towards a blurry figure – which turned out to be Huyan Yong – and angrily shouted, "Ye Yuan, I... I'm going... to kill you!"
The unexpected turn of events prompted laughter from the crowd, causing Fei Qingping's discomfort. He failed to comprehend the reason behind the laughter until he realized he was pointing at Huyan Yong.
In a stern tone, Huyan Yong declared, "Wan Yuan disrupted the deathmatch. In accordance with the academy's rules, he will go and receive a hundred whippings himself after the duel. Wan Yuan! Leave the combat arena right now!" Today marked a rare moment where Huyan Yong, an experienced instructor, found his authority challenged.