"————!"
A terrifying aura of killing intent surged violently from Fang Li's body, transforming into a tangible pressure that enveloped Wu Xiaofei, causing his entire body to stiffen and rendering him unable to move.
Not only Wu Xiaofei, but even the students in the surrounding audience felt the weight of this presence, as if their hearts were gripped by the hand of death. They trembled, their faces filled with horror.
"Junior… Junior Brother?" Zhao Hufeng and Cecily's expressions stiffened.
"He… he…" Li Shenyun and Li Shenhua's faces turned pale.
"Hohou…" Even Fan Xinglou narrowed her eyes slightly, her expression turning serious.
As for Wu Xiaofei, who was directly bearing the brunt of Fang Li's murderous aura, there was no need to explain how he felt.
At this moment, Wu Xiaofei had only one thought in his mind.
'What kind of terrifying murderous aura is this?'
'What kind of past did my Junior Brother experience to possess such a level of killing intent?'
'Killing people?'
'But how many would one have to kill to achieve this?'
Wu Xiaofei didn't know the answer to this question.
All he knew was that, at this moment, he had been targeted by the most dangerous opponent.
From this moment on, Fang Li was finally getting serious. And Wu Xiaofei didn't notice that while he was being intimidated by the horrifying aura, a hand had already silently pressed against his abdomen.
"Senken - Hana Kagami (Flashing Scabbard—Flower Mirror)"
When this voice softly reached Wu Xiaofei's ears, an astonishing power erupted from his abdomen.
"BOOM————!"
With a dull explosion, Wu Xiaofei felt a terrifying force directly impact his body, as if struck by lightning. His figure was sent flying like a cannonball.
Intense pain spread throughout Wu Xiaofei's body. The sensation was akin to having all his internal organs shattered.
And Wu Xiaofei knew that if Fang Li had been willing to exert just a bit more force, that would have been the outcome.
The only reason he didn't was that this was a Ranking Battle, not a life-and-death struggle.
In other words, Wu Xiaofei was only alive because this was a duel.
If it had been a fight to the death, Wu Xiaofei would already be dead.
But this fact did not shake Wu Xiaofei's heart.
Even Fan Xinglou had admitted that, if not limited by any conditions, even the "Ereshkigal" would not be her match. But in the context of the Festa, the outcome was uncertain.
Therefore, Wu Xiaofei did not need to feel any hesitation about not being defeated yet, just like the "Ereshkigal," and let the uncertain outcome play out.
Thus, while being sent flying by the astonishing power, Wu Xiaofei shouted.
"By the power of the law! Choku!"
Instantly, talismans seemed to appear out of thin air around Fang Li, manifesting in the space.
These were traps that Wu Xiaofei had laid out while engaging Fang Li.
"Explode!"
In the next moment, under Wu Xiaofei's command, the talismans burst into light.
"BOOM————!"
In an ear-splitting roar, a terrifying explosion erupted, sending a wave of fire surging outward, shaking the surroundings and rushing toward the audience, eliciting gasps from the students.
However, defensive barriers were set up around the stage, and these flames would be blocked in the next second.
But before that second arrived, a calm voice rang out.
"Senken - Jusei (Flashing Scabbard - Ten Lives)…"
A massive blade of light suddenly flashed at the center of the explosion, like a giant blade edge, sweeping through.
"Pū Chī————!"
As if cutting through a physical body, the terrifying flames were cleanly severed in two with a tearing sound.
And at the center of the split flames, Fang Li remained in his sword-drawing stance.
At first glance, it was as if he were a transcendent being who had split a volcano's lava, causing the audience to collectively gasp.
"...!"
Wu Xiaofei's eyes also trembled.
Until Fang Li suddenly moved.
"Bang————!"
The sound of footsteps crushing the ground echoed.
Fang Li took a step forward, bursting forth in a shockwave, his figure transforming into a berserk beast, charging toward the airborne Wu Xiaofei with terrifying speed.
Wu Xiaofei wanted to react, but something unbelievable happened again.
"Flashing Dash—Double Six Fishes…"
Fang Li, who had leaped toward Wu Xiaofei with astonishing speed, suddenly split into two figures, one to the left and one to the right, each turning into phantoms, streaking through space like two meteors, following a parabolic trajectory, and appearing on either side of the flying Wu Xiaofei.
Then, they unleashed kicks carrying horrifying power.
"Boom————!"
In a heavy thud, the two Fang Lis, as if both were real, landed powerful high kicks on Wu Xiaofei's body, creating shockwaves.
"Guh…!"
The undeniable force squeezed all the air out of Wu Xiaofei's lungs, causing him to groan.
The irresistible power sent Wu Xiaofei flying into the air, parting the atmosphere and creating an ear-piercing screech.
At this moment, Fang Li's figure merged back into one, soaring into the air with a sharp sound of breaking space, reaching above the airborne Wu Xiaofei.
"Flashing Dash—Flying Moon…"
A meteor-like low kick slammed into Wu Xiaofei's body.
"Boom————!"
Again, a heavy thud resounded.
"Cough…!"
Wu Xiaofei finally couldn't help but cough up blood, being kicked down and crashing heavily onto the ground. With a deafening roar, the stage trembled, and the ground shattered beneath him.
"Ugh…"
A pained groan escaped Wu Xiaofei's throat.
At the same time, the school emblem on Wu Xiaofei's chest, as if struck by a heavy blow, made a "Kacha" sound.
A mechanical announcement immediately followed.
"Wu Xiaofei, school emblem damaged."
"Winner, Fang Li."
The entire venue fell silent.
In the next moment, earth-shaking cheers erupted from the audience.
At the highest point of the stands, the fellow disciples looked at Wu Xiaofei lying in the ruins, falling into silence one after another.
Only Fan Xinglou laughed with great satisfaction.
As for Wu Xiaofei, hearing the cheers from all around, he seemed to give up on getting up, lying dazed in the pit.
Until a hand reached out toward him.
Wu Xiaofei focused his gaze.
What met his eyes was Fang Li, wearing a calm smile.
"Let's compete again next time, First Senior Brother."
Hearing this, a ripple of emotion surfaced in Wu Xiaofei's eyes.
Finally, he extended his hand and grasped Fang Li's.
(End Of This Chapter)
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