Upon hearing the words of the Jade Maiden Sect Master, Dugu Aoyun's expression changed instantly. His fists, hidden within his sleeves, clenched tight. A chilling glint flashed in his eyes as he swept his gaze toward Chu Feng, who stood on the high platform.
At the same time, Chu Feng returned the look with an equally icy stare, his eyes fixed intently on Dugu Aoyun on the stage. A trace of killing intent churned within his gaze.
"Chu Feng, it's your turn now. According to the rules, you have the opportunity to challenge Feng Hao. Do you accept the challenge or forfeit?" At that moment, the Lingyun Sect Master, Yan Yangtian, turned to Chu Feng with a smile.
In that instant, all eyes fell on Chu Feng. Li Changqing's crushing defeat was already a bloody lesson, and everyone could see that the Lingyun Sect was deliberately targeting both him and Chu Feng.
For Chu Feng to forfeit now would be the best choice. Otherwise, everyone believed that Feng Hao, whose strength far surpassed Chu Feng's, would surely make him pay a heavy price just as Dugu Aoyun had done to Li Changqing.
However, facing Yan Yangtian's question, Chu Feng merely gave a cold smile. "I will let you know what I choose."
*Whoosh!*
As soon as the words left his mouth, Chu Feng's figure darted forward, landing on the combat platform where Feng Hao stood. He then said to Feng Hao, "It seems your body has recovered quite well. I thought you'd be crippled by now, yet here you are, able to participate in this Assembly of a Hundred Sects."
"What do you mean by that?" Feng Hao's face changed drastically, understanding the implication behind Chu Feng's words. More than half a year ago, inside the Hundred Canals Ravine, Feng Hao had been crippled—nearly killed—by someone calling himself Asura while fighting for a Mystic Medicine.
Although, under the Lingyun Sect's abundant resources, his body had since healed, the incident remained an eternal pain in his heart, an indelible stain on his life. That man named Asura had left a permanent shadow in his mind.
To Feng Hao's question, Chu Feng offered no direct answer, only a cold sneer. "Nothing. I just wanted to tell you that you'd better prepare yourself now to be crippled."
"Bullshit! With your mere cultivation at the ninth level of Yuan Martial, you think you can cripple me? I could crush you with a single hand!" Feng Hao was completely enraged by Chu Feng's provocation. His large hand shot out, and from a distance, he launched a palm strike toward Chu Feng.
Though not a formal martial art, this palm strike was infused with Feng Hao's circulating Mystic Art, condensing the power of his sixth level of Xuan Martial cultivation. Its might was terrifying.
"Chu Feng, be careful! This Feng Hao isn't like Gong Luyun. He's a true genius. If you rely solely on your own cultivation to fight him, you must not be careless!" At that moment, Dan Dan's solemn reminder echoed in his mind.
"Hmph. Back then, borrowing your strength, I beat him like a dog. Now, I can still do the same."
Chu Feng gave a cold snort. Facing Feng Hao's palm strike, he did not dodge. Instead, he countered with a punch of his own, pitting Yuan Force against Xuan Force in a direct confrontation.
"Has Chu Feng gone mad? He's using Yuan Martial cultivation to directly oppose Feng Hao at the sixth level of Xuan Martial?" The scene startled everyone. To them, this was sheer suicide.
Meanwhile, Bai Xi and others from the Jade Maiden Sect, the Sect Master of the Swordless Sect, and its first disciple, Nangong Xiao, watched Chu Feng with complex expressions in their eyes.
Having witnessed Chu Feng's extraordinary combat prowess before, they were all eager to know just how strong he truly was and whether he could stand against the Lingyun Sect's second disciple, Feng Hao.
Under the scrutiny of countless gazes, Chu Feng's Yuan Force demonstrated incredible power. Not only was it not destroyed, but right before everyone's eyes, it nullified the force of Feng Hao's strike.
*Whoosh!* After neutralizing Feng Hao's attack, Chu Feng took the initiative to strike back. A flash of light lit beneath his feet, and his entire body shot toward Feng Hao like an arrow leaving the bow.