"Hm?"

After unleashing two True Qi Thunders in a row and still failing to take down Zhaang Ye, Fang Dong couldn’t help but be taken aback. ’This kid’s Saber Technique is really something,’ he thought. ’An ordinary Martial Arts Fifth Layer Late Stage Martial Artist would have been sent flying by a single True Qi Thunder like that. I can’t believe he just took a few steps back and was perfectly fine...’

While Fang Dong was slightly puzzled, Zhaang Ye was secretly overjoyed. He had just taken a risk to test something and had confirmed one thing.

Although the technique of Binding Qi into Thunder was incredibly powerful and almost impossible to defend against, it consumed a massive amount of True Qi. Since Fang Dong could only use ten percent of his True Qi, he was fundamentally unable to unleash a continuous barrage of them. He could only throw them one by one.

Having identified Fang Dong’s weakness, Zhaang Ye’s worries vanished. In that instant, he had already devised a way to defeat his opponent, and a look of confidence returned to his face.

Seeing Zhaang Ye’s confident expression, Fang Dong felt a pang of annoyance. He sneered inwardly, ’My True Qi Thunder is incredibly formidable. You’re just a Martial Arts Fourth Layer Martial Artist. Even if your Body Refining Technique is well-cultivated, you’re still far from being able to handle my True Qi Thunder. I’d like to see just what tricks you have up your sleeve to take my attacks.’

Zhaang Ye didn’t keep Fang Dong waiting. He launched his attack in an instant.

Spin!

Zhaang Ye’s body instantly began to spin, transforming into a Tornado that bore down on Fang Dong.

Once his body became a Tornado, the outwardly spiraling airflow could easily detonate the True Qi Thunder, eliminating any worry of a sneak attack from Fang Dong. Better yet, by transforming into a Tornado, Zhaang Ye could also use his Force-Dissipating Technique to neutralize the force of the True Qi Thunder. This was Zhaang Ye’s counter-strategy.

Seeing Zhaang Ye barreling toward him so brazenly, Fang Dong sneered. With a flick of his wrist, a True Qi Thunder shot out, blasting straight at Zhaang Ye.

BOOM!

The moment the True Qi Thunder touched the Tornado, it exploded. The ferocious force blasted Zhaang Ye’s Tornado back ten feet. But to Fang Dong’s surprise, although Zhaang Ye had retreated a bit after taking the hit, he was completely unharmed. The Tornado fell back for only a moment before surging forward again, rumbling as it pressed toward him.

It turned out that Zhaang Ye had used his Force-Dissipating Technique at the same time he transformed into the Tornado. While his technique couldn’t completely dissipate the True Qi Thunder’s power, it could negate seventy to eighty percent of it. The remaining twenty to thirty percent, Zhaang Ye had no choice but to endure with his own body.

Fortunately, Zhaang Ye’s physique was extremely tough. Though taking a hit from the True Qi Thunder was unpleasant, he wasn’t injured. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Seeing Zhaang Ye still rumbling toward him, Fang Dong’s eyebrow twitched. Without a word, he frantically circulated the True Qi in his body, unleashing one True Qi Thunder after another, smashing them viciously at Zhaang Ye.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Fang Dong couldn’t fire his True Qi Thunders continuously, but the interval between them was very short. Over a mere forty to fifty feet, Zhaang Ye was struck by four True Qi Thunders, each more powerful than the last, nearly injuring him.

SHING!

Zhaang Ye finally drew his saber. His blade was like a black bolt of lightning that could devour everything as it suddenly slashed toward Fang Dong.

Seeing that Zhaang Ye could still take the initiative to attack after being hit by four True Qi Thunders, Fang Dong cursed inwardly. He hurriedly drew a Long Sword, extended his Sword Force, and moved to block Zhaang Ye’s Heavy Saber.

As a master at the Martial Arts Seventh Layer Late Stage, Fang Dong’s skill with weapons was naturally profound. The Sword Technique he was now using was called "The Sky is Round and the Earth is Square," an exquisite Combat Skill that blended defense with offense. As long as he blocked Zhaang Ye’s strike, he could immediately launch a counterattack and knock Zhaang Ye off the White Jade Steps in one fell swoop.

The Sky is Round and the Earth is Square was an Advanced Combat Skill. Although Zhaang Ye’s slash seemed to carry a vast Realm of its own, Fang Dong was still confident he could knock him off the steps.

CLANG!

Saber and sword met.

The instant the weapons clashed, Fang Dong’s expression changed dramatically. He felt Zhaang Ye’s slash instantly devour the True Qi infused in his Long Sword. After consuming the True Qi, a harsh, strange sound rang out, and a fingernail-sized notch appeared on his Long Sword, as if it had been bitten by a monster!

’What a sinister Saber Technique! I refuse to believe that my pure True Qi, cultivated for decades, can’t break your Saber Technique! I’ll use brute force to shatter your skill!’

With a ruthless glint in his eyes, Fang Dong took a deep breath. True Qi surged from his body like a mountain torrent, and his swordsmanship changed in a flash, becoming a purely offensive move—Sun at High Noon!

As its name implied, Sun at High Noon was an extremely domineering Combat Skill. Even though Fang Dong only had ten percent of his True Qi left, the technique still erupted with immense power in his hands. The moment he unleashed his swordsmanship, a brilliant light burst forth, as if the scorching sun had reached its zenith, its boundless radiance impossible to resist.

Zhaang Ye felt Fang Dong’s Long Sword erupt with a blinding light after just a slight movement. It was as if a second sun had suddenly appeared before his eyes—a sun that radiated infinite heat and boundless majesty. It was irresistible, unchallengeable!

’What terrifying swordsmanship! I have no choice but to go all out! My Mountain-Breaking Slash hasn’t reached Minor Achievement yet, so it can’t stand against a sword technique this frightening. But my Dragon Elephant Skill has reached the Mid-stage Fifth Layer! I’ll use brute force to shatter his skill and break this move head-on!’

In that instant, Zhaang Ye also decided to use brute force to shatter his opponent’s skill. The Dragon Elephant Skill within him erupted, and his entire body began to glow with a faint golden light. His Heavy Saber, trailing a heavy stream of Saber Qi, viciously collided with Fang Dong’s Long Sword.

BOOM—

Zhaang Ye felt a terrifying surge of True Qi blast up his arm, joint by joint. Under the impact of this True Qi, the sleeve of his robe instantly disintegrated into ash!

Zhaang Ye was horrified. He immediately activated his Force-Dissipating Technique, spinning to the side to rapidly neutralize the invading True Qi.

Fang Dong, however, was not faring well either. He felt an immense weight transfer over from Zhaang Ye’s Heavy Saber. This brutish force slammed into him, making his arm creak, his chest ache, and his blood flow in reverse. The impact left him winded and his organs in turmoil!

"This kid... what terrifying strength!" Fang Dong’s face was flushed crimson. It took him a long moment to catch his breath. Staring at Zhaang Ye, he said, "You... have passed!"