The thunderous rumbling in the sky continued for a long time, and the shockwaves—raging like colossal waves and savage beasts—only began to gradually subside after quite a while.
However, Elder Dragon Daoist remained cautious. He kept his purple barrier deployed to shield everyone below from the still-raging shockwaves, fearing that if they crashed down, they would injure the people present.
Only after the terrifying shockwaves had completely dissipated, rolling away into thick clouds of white mist, did he finally withdraw the barrier.
At that moment, every pair of eyes was locked on the sky, brimming with excitement and anticipation.
And amid that eager gazes, the figures of Chu Feng and Zhang Tianyi were finally spotted within the fading white haze.
"What—what's going on?"
"So who won? Was it a draw?!"
However, when the two figures fully materialized, the crowd was stunned by what they saw overhead. A wave of confusion and bewilderment spread across everyone's faces.
Up in the sky, Chu Feng and Zhang Tianyi had both put away their Secret Techniques and blue flames, returning to their normal appearances.
Yet at the same time, both of them were fully intact—not a single scratch or wound between them. That was what left everyone so bewildered, because while their demeanor clearly indicated the spar was over, it was nearly impossible to tell who had actually won.
"Junior Brother Chu Feng, thank you for your kindness. But a loss is a loss. If you hadn't held back just now, I would be gravely injured right now." Suddenly, Zhang Tianyi spoke, a faint smile on his face—a smile of gratitude.
"Senior Brother Zhang, you—" Chu Feng started to say something, but seeing the look in Zhang Tianyi's eyes, he understood what the man meant and dropped the subject.
Just moments ago, the two of them had clashed with all their might in a final exchange. In the end, it was Zhang Tianyi who had lost. His forbidden Mystic Art—the blue flames that wreathed his body—had been defeated by Chu Feng's three Secret Techniques.
But at the very last instant, Chu Feng had pulled his strike. Zhang Tianyi was well aware of it.
Chu Feng had done it on purpose. He wanted to give Zhang Tianyi a graceful way out, to let the spar end in a draw. Zhang Tianyi was deeply grateful for this, because he knew that Chu Feng genuinely considered him a brother. Otherwise, knowing Chu Feng's temperament, he would never have done such a thing.
But the more Chu Feng did this, the more Zhang Tianyi felt obligated to return the fairness. So he swept his gaze across the crowd below and declared with a bright smile: "This spar—I, Zhang Tianyi, was the one who lost, and I concede wholeheartedly. Junior Brother Chu Feng is truly superior to me. He stands above me."
"What? Zhang Tianyi lost?"
Hearing this, many initially found it hard to believe. But after seeing the relieved expressions on both Zhang Tianyi's and Chu Feng's faces, they came around.
It was clear that Zhang Tianyi had indeed lost—and lost without a shred of resentment.
For some, this result had been expected. For others, it was a shock. But regardless, everyone now had a completely new understanding of Chu Feng's strength.
With the spar between Chu Feng and Zhang Tianyi concluded, the Azure Dragon Sect's founding celebration officially commenced. Yet the moment that left the deepest impression on everyone at the festivities was, without question, this very bout between Zhang Tianyi and Chu Feng.