Chapter 906: The Agreement for the Next Round

Chen Yang nodded slightly at Xuan Yuanxing, then shifted his gaze to Yi Liya.

Yi Liya also looked back at him, his expression calm and composed.

Yi Liya, among the four of you, the toughest opponent in this round is yours. Your adversary is Feng Wuchen of Xuanzhi City. As Qin Yuan's adopted son, he is the foremost figure of Xuanzhi City and a top-four finisher in the last tournament. You…” Chen Yang hesitated briefly before speaking.

Rest assured, City Lord. Although Feng Wuchen is formidable, I have already devised a countermeasure. There is no guarantee I will lose.” Yi Liya interrupted with a proud smile before Chen Yang could finish.

It's good that you have a plan.” Chen Yang felt a slight displeasure at being cut off but did not show it.

Fellow Daoist Yi, Feng Wuchen's cultivation is unfathomable. Even I might not be able to handle him. Do not be careless.” Gu Qianxun offered a reminder.

Thank you for the warning, Fellow Daoist Gu.” Yi Liya frowned briefly, then relaxed his brow and said indifferently.

Seeing this, Gu Qianxun said nothing more.

Han Li did not even glance at Yi Liya, as if he had not heard the exchange between Yi Liya and Chen Yang. He simply stood with his head lowered, lost in thought.

Chen Yang then gave a few more words of admonition to the four before turning and walking toward the high platform.

As soon as Chen Yang left, Yi Liya walked up to Han Li and said slowly, “Fellow Daoist Li, you must not lose this round. That way, we'll have a chance to compete on the same stage in the next round.”

Likewise, I also hope Fellow Daoist Yi can defeat Feng Wuchen.” Han Li raised his head and said flatly.

According to the schedule, if he advanced this round, he would indeed face either Yi Liya or Feng Wuchen in the next.

Yi Liya snorted at this and walked slowly to one side. Tu Gang and the others immediately gathered around him.

Han Li simply sat down cross-legged on the spot and closed his eyes to rest.

Chen Yang ascended the high platform. E Kuai, the city lord, and the other two city lords were already there, but Lady Liuhua was absent today for some unknown reason.

Ahem, ahem… City Lord Chen, my apologies. Your Qingyang City has only four people left, and after this round, at least two more will be eliminated. Originally, considering the friendship between our cities, I should have let you have a match, but Feng Wuchen and Hao Feng were unwilling. As their city lord, I cannot force them. Please understand.” Qin Yuan, seeing Chen Yang arrive, coughed lightly and chuckled.

City Lord Qin, you flatter me. As they say, victory and defeat are fated, and the world is unpredictable. Who can say for sure what happens in the arena?” Chen Yang also smiled slightly and replied.

Ahem, ahem… I admire your composure, City Lord Chen, as steady as Mount Tai. Let us wait and see.” Qin Yuan said with a faint smile.

Fu Jian and Sun Tu seemed uninterested in their conversation, sitting quietly but gazing in two different directions.

Time is up. Let us begin.” E Kuai looked up at the sky and said flatly.

The swarthy, burly man standing nearby nodded at this, leaped down from the high platform, and landed at the center of the arena.

Ladies and gentlemen, the first round of the tournament seven days ago was spectacular. I trust you are still eager for more. Today, the long-awaited second round of the tournament will begin shortly. The excitement continues! The rules for this round are the same as before. There are sixteen matches in total, divided into two sessions.” The swarthy, burly man announced loudly.

As his voice rang out, the gray stone wall on the left side of the high platform slowly rose again.

The names on it had been reduced by half, leaving only thirty-two, arranged in two rows, clearly engraved with the matchups for today's two sessions and the arenas for each match.

Among the four from Qingyang City, both Han Li's and Yi Liya's matches were scheduled early, both in the first session.

Han Li was on the 'Li' platform, while Yi Liya was on the 'Dui' platform. Gu Qianxun and Xuan Yuanxing were scheduled for the second session.

Yi Liya walked silently toward the 'Dui' platform, with Tu Gang and most of the others following.

Han Li also straightened his robes and let out a soft breath.

Take care.” Gu Qianxun glanced at Han Li and said.

Fellow Daoist Li, may your martial fortune flourish and you win another victory.” Xuan Yuanxing also gave Han Li a friendly smile and said.

Han Li smiled slightly at the two, walked leisurely to the Li platform, and leaped onto it.

On the platform stood a thin, elderly man dressed in referee attire.

Han Li nodded slightly at the thin old man, took his position on one side of the arena, and casually scanned the surroundings.

Unlike the quiet of his first-round match, a considerable crowd had gathered nearby, mostly people from Xuanzhi City. From their conversations, it was clear they were all there for Hao Feng.

Just then, a gray shadow flickered across from him, and a gray-robed man appeared out of nowhere, astonishingly fast.

This man was tall and thin, like a bamboo pole, wearing a gray robe and holding a strange serpent-shaped sword. The blade shimmered with a viscous, dark green light, clearly unusual.

Han Li narrowed his eyes, recalling the information about Hao Feng that Chen Yang had provided.

Like Feng Wuchen, this man had cultivated a technique whose Xuan orifices were all focused on the leg acupoints, excelling at launching surprise attacks with extreme speed. The green serpent sword in his hand was laced with a high-grade scale serpent's venom, capable of directly corroding one's Xuan orifices, making him extremely troublesome to deal with.

Hao Feng was also sizing up Han Li, his gaze flickering slightly.

"Li Feiyu, I watched your fight with Xu Shun from start to finish. You put on an act, and while you might fool others, you can't fool me," Hao Feng said slowly, his voice very hoarse.

"Thank you for your concern," Han Li replied, his expression unchanged.

"Your strength is decent, and you hide it well. But unfortunately, you've met me. If you're smart, you'll forfeit immediately. That will be the wisest decision of your life," Hao Feng continued.

"I'm sorry, but due to certain reasons, I cannot give up. I must decline your kind offer," Han Li said with a faint smile.

"I offered you a way out, but you refused. Very well," Hao Feng's face darkened, his eyes as cold as ice.

"Time's up. Begin!"

With the thin old man's command, the match began at once.

Hao Feng's body swayed slightly. With a hum, over a hundred Xuan orifices on his body lit up, all emitting white light that engulfed his entire form, making him look like a white figure of light from afar.

Especially on his legs, a full forty to fifty Xuan orifices had lit up.

Dazzling white light radiated from these orifices, converging to form two white serpent-like shadows, as if he were stepping on two white snakes.

Seeing this, Han Li's eyes flickered with surprise. White light shimmered on his body as seventy-two Xuan orifices lit up.

Before he could make any further move, Hao Feng sneered. The two white snakes on his feet twisted, and he vanished in an instant, leaving only faint white afterimages.

The next moment, a green sword shadow appeared out of nowhere before Han Li, piercing straight through his right chest. Han Li seemed completely caught off guard, standing there dumbfounded.

Witnessing this, the crowd near the arena let out a gasp.

Was it over already?

But Han Li, pierced by the green serpent sword, did not bleed a single drop. Instead, he trembled and then dissipated, revealing it to be merely an afterimage.

Seeing this, Hao Feng's expression changed drastically.

At that moment, a gust of wind came from behind. Han Li's figure had somehow appeared behind him. The Xuan orifices of the "Ascending Flight Technique" on his legs also blazed with dazzling white light, shrouding his legs in a blur. He formed a claw with his hand and struck downward.

His fingertips carried five tangible gusts of wind, like five steel awls, stinging the skin on Hao Feng's neck.

Startled, Hao Feng had no time to turn around. He swung his hand back like lightning. The green serpent sword in his hand trembled and instantly transformed into a thousand dense green sword shadows, like a wave of green, sweeping toward Han Li.

Each sword shadow was as fast as lightning, emitting a chilling hiss like a snake's tongue, unsettling to hear.

Han Li immediately changed his claw into a fist. His entire arm was covered in a layer of golden light, and he punched out like lightning, colliding with the green sword shadows.

With a thunderous boom!

Dazzling golden light burst from Han Li's right arm, shattering and tearing apart the green sword shadows.

Hao Feng's body shook violently, and he was forced back a step, his pupils contracting.

On Han Li's fist, a layer of golden fur faintly appeared. The sharp green serpent sword had only left a few white marks on it.

Hao Feng snorted. He shifted his footing, and his form suddenly dispersed, transforming into a series of white afterimages. In a flash, he was behind Han Li, thrusting the green serpent sword like lightning.

With another loud bang!

Han Li had turned around at some point and punched the green serpent sword again, knocking Hao Feng back.

Failing to land two consecutive strikes, Hao Feng grew slightly impatient. White light flickered beneath his feet as he pushed his movement technique to the limit, conjuring layer upon layer of overlapping afterimages that connected to form a giant white serpent, circling Han Li at incredible speed.

Gusts of wind swept out from the white serpent shadow, forming a tornado column over ten zhang in size, trapping Han Li inside.

Seeing this, Han Li's gaze flickered.

"Brother Hao has used the Serpent Shadow Evasion Technique. Now Li Feiyu won't be able to block his attacks!" exclaimed the onlookers from Xuanzhi City below the arena excitedly.

Sharp hissing sounds rang out as green sword shadows shot out from the surrounding tornado column, stabbing at every part of Han Li's body.

In response, Han Li merely raised an eyebrow. He lifted his arm and punched out slowly yet forcefully.

Instantly, a tremendous force surged from his fist, exploding outward in all directions.

The dense sword shadows around him hit an invisible wall and froze. Then, with a thunderous boom, all the sword shadows shattered into pieces, and the surrounding tornado column collapsed as well.