Volume 1: Femme Fatale Chapter 63: The Shadow's Strength

"From now on, everyone may freely step onto the arena and challenge your 'Shadow' senior brother!"

Following Vice Dean Sun Ping's command, the disciples below the stage grew eager and restless, rolling up their sleeves as the atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

Before any other contenders could step forward, Liu Shan gave Liu Jiang a shove from within the crowd: "Liu Jiang, you go first and test that fellow's strength!"

"No way! Eldest brother..."

Pushed onto the arena by his own brother, Liu Jiang looked rather intimidated, not daring to meet the gaze of the masked man.

"What a coward!" Seeing this scene unfold on the stage, Liu Shan wore a look of helplessness and stepped forward to shout, "Liu Jiang, don't be afraid! The rumors are all false! How could this guy possibly be that powerful? At most, he's on par with Xu Changfeng!"

"What do you mean by on par with me? Liu Shan is going to screw his younger brother over this time, I'm afraid." Upon hearing this, Xu Changfeng could not help but shake his head with a wry smile.

Perhaps encouraged by his brother, and feeling that the arrow was already notched on the bow and had to be released, Liu Jiang bowed to the "Shadow" before resolutely drawing his broadsword and charging forward in giant strides.

"Ah ah! I'll fight you!"

"Senior brother, take my blade!"

Before his voice had even faded, Liu Jiang had already reached the "Shadow" with his blade, pushing his speed to the absolute limit.

On the other side, the "Shadow" seemed to have anticipated Liu Jiang's attack long ago, nimbly sidestepping the strike with movements as smooth and effortless as floating clouds and flowing water.

"This... how is this possible?" Liu Jiang's blade missed its mark, instead carving a trail of disappointment through the air, completely caught off guard by his opponent's lightning-fast reaction.

"Junior Brother Liu, watch out!"

Before Liu Jiang could recover his wits, the "Shadow" launched a swift counterattack, executing a lightning-fast kick straight into Liu Jiang's abdomen.

"Ah!"

Liu Jiang felt a wave of intense pain wash over him. Like a kite with a broken string, he was instantly kicked outside the boundaries of the arena, passing out cold on the spot.

"Good heavens! What terrifying speed!"

"Even though Liu Jiang is at the bottom of the Dragon Gate Rankings, he shouldn't be defeated this quickly, right?"

"Precisely! I simply cannot believe what I just saw was real!"

This spectacle left the surrounding disciples dumbfounded, exchanging astonished glances as they stared in disbelief at the calm and composed figure of the "Shadow," a wave of awe and shock rising within their hearts.

On the arena, the previously fervent atmosphere suddenly froze, as if time itself had stopped. Everyone was silently pondering just how much incredible power lay hidden beneath that mask.

"Xu Changfeng was right; this fellow's strength is truly terrifying!" Down below, Jiang Hao rested his chin in his hand and fell into deep thought.

If not for Feng Ling'er being held back by Nangong Xue, Sun Ping, Lin Feng, and the others, Jiang Hao would have genuinely wanted to ask his master to figure out the true strength of the "Shadow" before them.

"Hmph! Liu Jiang, watch how your brother avenges you!" Liu Shan glanced briefly at the unconscious Liu Jiang on the ground before briskly walking onto the arena.

"I am Liu Shan, ranked fifth on the Dragon Gate Rankings. Please enlighten me, senior brother!"

As soon as his voice fell, Liu Shan aggressively swung the two heavy hammers in his hands, fiercely launching them toward his opponent without giving him a single moment to hesitate.

However, Liu Shan's strike seemed once more anticipated by the "Shadow," whose figure was as light as the wind, effortlessly dodging out of the way.

Liu Shan's hammers failed to hit their target, once again tracing a disappointing arc through the air that drew sympathetic sighs from the onlookers.

"Hmph! Again!"

Before Liu Shan could realize the impending danger, the "Shadow" materialized behind him like a ghost, exerting force instantly and delivering a fierce, flying kick.

"Oh damn!"

Liu Shan felt a violent impact strike him, his entire body swept up like a fallen leaf caught in a tempest before being violently kicked through the air and crashing heavily outside the arena in utter disarray.

"This... how can this be..."

Uttering these final words, Liu Shan lapsed into unconsciousness.

"No way? Liu Shan was defeated in a single move? And a crushing defeat at that!"

"Senior Brother 'Shadow''s strength is simply terrifying!"

"Exactly! How could any of us possibly be his match!"

This sight stunned the disciples once more, their gazes filled with shock and reverence.

The fates of Liu Shan and Liu Jiang seemed intertwined in this moment, both effortlessly repelled by the powerhouse behind the mask, inspiring a deep sense of awe toward the "Shadow" and compelling everyone to silently speculate on the mysterious opponent's true identity and unfathomable might.

"It seems that unmasking this senior brother will be no easy task!" Jiang Hao muttered to himself.

"Forget it! Sooner or later we all have to step up; better to lose early than late!"

Someone in the crowd shouted aloud, prompting the rest to grit their teeth and step forward to challenge in succession...

"Liu Dao, ranked eighth on the Dragon Gate Rankings, please enlighten me, senior brother!"

"Ah..."

"Lu Mo, ranked seventh on the Dragon Gate Rankings, please enlighten me, senior brother!"

"Ah..."

"Chu Lie, ranked third on the Dragon Gate Rankings, please enlighten me, senior brother!"

"..."

"Nangong Yingying, ranked fourth on the Dragon Gate Rankings, please enlighten me, senior brother!"

"Senior brother, wait! I admit defeat!"

...

In the span of just half an incense stick of time, aside from Jiang Hao and Xu Changfeng who had yet to step onto the stage, the remaining disciples on the Dragon Gate Rankings had all suffered defeat. Even Her Royal Highness Princess Nangong Yingying had directly conceded defeat right on the arena.

Seeing Nangong Yingying walk back down the stage, Jiang Hao couldn't help teasing, "Nangong Yingying, as a princess, conceding defeat before the fight even truly begins—isn't that a bit damaging to the imperial family's dignity?"

"Piss off!" Upon hearing this, Nangong Yingying wore a look of utter disdain. "Jiang Hao, it's easy for you to talk while standing on the sidelines! If you have the guts, you go up there!"

"Who says I don't have the guts? I was merely taking my time observing the opponent's combat style," Jiang Hao replied.

"Hehe! You certainly know how to pick your excuses, don't you?" Nangong Yingying scoffed contemptuously.

At that moment, Xu Changfeng stepped forward and smiled as he said to Nangong Yingying, "Your Highness, Junior Brother Jiang is indeed observing that senior brother's fighting style right now."

"Really?" Nangong Yingying turned to look at Jiang Hao. "Why is it so hard for me to believe?"

"Haha!" Xu Changfeng patted Jiang Hao on the shoulder, signaling him. "Junior Brother Jiang, since you're reluctant to make a move, let your Senior Brother Xu go first and test the waters for you!"

"Junior Brother Jiang, watch closely!" Having given his instructions, Xu Changfeng gripped his massive greatsword and strode onto the arena.

"Senior Brother Xu! Look everyone, Senior Brother Xu is going up!"

"Senior Brother Xu's Mountain-Crushing Sword is truly imposing! Even from this far away, one can still faintly feel the murderous intent emanating from it."

"Of course! The Mountain-Crushing Sword is a Tier 3 spirit weapon, and its weight alone reaches a full nine hundred and eighty catties!"

"Gosh! Am I seeing things? Senior Brother Xu's aura seems to have already broken through to the Spirit Sea Realm!"

"What's so strange about that? Senior Brother Xu was merely suppressing his cultivation realm previously; otherwise, given his talent, he would have broken through long ago!"

A restless murmur spread through the crowd as everyone engaged in animated discussion...

"Early Spirit Sea Realm? It seems Senior Brother Xu really hasn't stopped training over this past month," Jiang Hao narrowed his eyes slightly, pondering inwardly.