Liu Tian stood his ground, making no move to dodge as the sharp projectile flew toward him.

Just as the scrap of cloth, now a deadly projectile, was about to strike, Liu Tian advanced instead of retreating, taking a step forward.

Then, he opened his mouth and actually caught the scrap of cloth between his teeth.

Simultaneously, Lin Hao’s fist arrived.

Unafraid, Liu Tian threw a punch of his own.

RUMBLE!

The floating Saint Institute battlefield trembled, and the very air above them seemed to crackle and explode with a deafening bang.

Moreover, the shockwave from their collision radiated outward, sending some Saint Institute disciples flying.

THUD, THUD, THUD!

Even those not sent flying were forced back several steps before they could regain their footing.

This left the crowd horrified.

Among those sent flying were disciples at the Second Layer of Soul Gathering Realm, and among those who stumbled back, many were even at the Soul Gathering Realm Third Layer.

That was just the backlash from a single exchange, yet even Martial Artists of their level couldn’t handle it. The faces of many paled.

"If even we were affected like that, I’m afraid Lin Hao has already been defeated."

"Senior Brother Liu Tian is too powerful! Even if it was just a scrap of cloth, when used by a Martial Artist at the Soul Gathering Realm First Layer, it could probably slice a building in two. But Senior Brother Liu Tian actually caught it with his teeth!"

Several people were thrown so far they even landed on the Central Courtyard Plaza below. Their altitude was too low to see what was happening on the Saint Institute battlefield, but that did nothing to dampen their intense interest in the fight.

Having witnessed Liu Tian’s power, they didn’t believe Lin Hao could have possibly withstood that exchange without being defeated.

"If he were defeated that easily, he wouldn’t be Lin Hao," Yunxi remarked coolly.

Hearing this, the disciples who had been knocked out of the air flew back up, needing to see for themselves.

Once they were airborne, they discovered that Lin Hao was, indeed, still standing across from Liu Tian.

"Senior Brother, what happened? I wasn’t paying attention and got blasted away by the shockwave," a disciple at the Soul Gathering Realm First Layer, who had just been knocked down, asked the Second Layer of Soul Gathering Realm senior brother beside him with a grin.

That senior brother had nearly been sent flying himself, so he didn’t mock him. Instead, he said, "Liu Tian and Lin Hao just exchanged a blow. Liu Tian took one step back, while Lin Hao was forced back five."

"Haha, I knew it! How could Lin Hao possibly be a match for Senior Brother Liu Tian?" The disciple was overjoyed to hear this, as if he had been the one to land the blow.

The senior brother at the Second Layer of Soul Gathering Realm shook his head.

He had fought Liu Tian a few days ago. He too had traded punches with him, but back then, he had been the one knocked back five steps while Liu Tian hadn’t moved at all.

’Against him, someone at the Second Layer of Soul Gathering Realm, Liu Tian’s ability to stand his ground was terrifying. But that made Lin Hao even more terrifying.’

’One had to remember that Lin Hao was only at the Soul Gathering Realm First Layer, yet he had managed to force Liu Tian back a step. His combat prowess was simply astonishing.’

’From that single exchange, the disciple knew that many Martial Artists at the Second Layer of Soul Gathering Realm would be no match for Lin Hao.’

This discovery filled him with anticipation.

’He had wanted to see Liu Tian lose, but he hadn’t held out much hope for Lin Hao. Now, after this one exchange, he saw a glimmer of possibility.’

Because of this, he stared, unblinking, at the Saint Institute battlefield.

On the Saint Institute battlefield, Liu Tian took the initiative.

’From that last punch, Liu Tian had sensed Lin Hao’s immense True Essence and was deeply shocked. He knew that if he didn’t press the attack, even if he eventually won, it wouldn’t be the decisive victory he desired.’

This time, Liu Tian attacked with a palm strike. It was a light, floating gesture, and incredibly slow.

The palm strike looked for all the world like something a three-year-old would attempt.

But upon seeing it, Lin Hao’s body tensed, his expression turning grave.

"How audacious of Senior Brother Liu Tian, using a Palm Skill like that! He’s completely looking down on Lin Hao."

"If I were Lin Hao, I’d probably die of sheer indignation from that Palm Skill. Senior Brother Liu Tian is such a bully... but I love it."

"And the funniest part is Lin Hao’s reaction. Look at him! Isn’t it hilarious?"

A few Saint Institute disciples pointed and snickered at the scene on the battlefield.

But they were in the minority. Most onlookers, like Lin Hao, wore grave expressions, for they had sensed that there was something extraordinary about this palm strike.

"That martial technique looks familiar... I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before."

"More than twenty days ago, Liu Feng used this very palm strike."

"Yes, that’s it! I remember now. Liu Feng defeated Ling Xiao with a single palm back then. It’s an erratic Palm Skill, incredibly difficult to defend against."

The disciples who had fought Liu Tian in recent days looked particularly grim. They realized he had never used this technique against them.

Lin Hao, of course, recognized the technique. It was the Misty Palm.

Liu Feng had used it over twenty days ago, and at the time, even Ling Xiao couldn’t withstand a single strike.

It was accompanied by a matching Cultivation Technique called the Carefree Skill.

This was a Quasi-Saint Level Cultivation Technique, and it was incredibly powerful!

Now that Liu Tian was using the same palm strike, Lin Hao felt immense pressure.

The power of this palm was several times greater than Liu Feng’s, and though it appeared slow, it had already sealed off all his paths of retreat.

Furthermore, the palm’s path was erratic; its final destination would be the true killing blow.

RUMBLE!

A low hum filled the air as Liu Tian’s palm compressed it, creating a suffocating pressure.

Outside the Saint Institute battlefield, many of those closer to Lin Hao felt a tightness in their chests, as if they couldn’t breathe.

They wanted to retreat but were horrified to find they were frozen in place.

Among these Martial Artists were many at the Second Layer of Soul Gathering Realm, and even some at the Soul Gathering Realm Third Layer.

Liu Tian’s Palm Skill was utterly terrifying.

"What Palm Skill is that? Even in our Saint Institute, techniques of that caliber are exceedingly rare!" one of the Saint Institute’s higher-ups exclaimed upon seeing Liu Tian’s move.

"Such a phenomenon must be powered by a Quasi-Saint Level Cultivation Technique. Just what is this Liu Tian’s background?!" another high-ranking member added. However, his words were sent via a private voice transmission, audible only to the other leaders and Duan Wushuang.

"We must investigate his background," Yin Duwen also transmitted, looking at Duan Wushuang as he spoke. "I say we stop this fight. Lin Hao is no match for him. This palm strike could very well kill him."

"This battle must conclude," Duan Wushuang uttered four words, then fell silent.

"As the Vice Dean wishes." Yin Duwen cupped his fist in his palm and bowed his head slightly.

In the instant he lowered his head, a flicker of a smile appeared in his eyes.

’Of course, he had no intention of pleading for Lin Hao. He had known Duan Wushuang for a long time; he knew his personality. His previous words had just been a gambit—feigning a retreat to advance his own goals.’

’Lin Hao, oh, Lin Hao... this Saint Institute is my domain. Oppose me? I have a hundred ways to make sure you don’t last here. And you... you are helpless to stop it. Just look at the situation now. I don’t even need to lift a finger; a mere disciple at the Second Layer of Soul Gathering Realm is more than enough to take care of you.’

Staring at the Saint Institute battlefield, Yin Duwen’s eyes narrowed, his heart swelling with smug satisfaction.