Chapter 66: Will Qin Shuo Be Defeated?

The hall fell utterly silent!

Song Shan stared wide-eyed, dazed, his face filled with utter disbelief.

In his heart, Tian Bai was the pride of the younger generation of the prefectural city, no less than Fang Lin of the Fang Family.

Yet now, a country bumpkin from the countryside had injured his hand, leaving Song Shan unable to accept it.

"So strong!"

Song Xuan gazed at the tall, slender figure standing in the center of the hall, shock surging in his eyes.

As the representative of the younger generation's pride of the Song Family, and also one of the combatants in this Earth Cave dispute,

Song Xuan knew better than anyone just how terrifying Tian Bai's palm strike had been moments ago.

For he, too, cultivated the Jingtao Palm.

Moreover, among all the techniques of the Jingtao Palm, his mastery was deepest in this very move, Thousand Layered Waves.

This technique surges with tidal force, overlapping and exploding, its power enough to split steles and crack stone, fiercely overwhelming.

Yet such a domineering move was actually shattered by Qin Shuo's single palm blade, and even injured Tian Bai—how could he not be shaken?

"A top-tier killing move, Three Elements Return to One, force transformed into blade!?"

Song Ci's face darkened terrifyingly; the chair's armrest cracked with a 'click' as his violent force pinched a fissure into it.

Third Elder Song Chun gaped, his face a mask of disbelief.

How difficult it is to master a top-tier killing move—many Tongmai Realm experts may not even grasp a complete one.

And yet the youth before them, barely how many years old, had already reached the realm of Three Elements Return to One, force transformed into blade—this completely overturned his understanding.

Could it be that this boy began martial training in the womb?

"You surnamed Qin, dare you injure me?"

Tian Bai's eyes turned blood-red, like a rampaging lion, hair bristling with rage, his gaze locked dead-on onto Qin Shuo.

Song Yan timely mocked: "How so? Do you still think, now, that my Song Family cannot do without you? Tian Bai, you are far too full of yourself!"

Tian Bai, provoked by Song Yan's words, flushed crimson instantly, killing intent surging as he snapped: "Just force transformed into blade? Before absolute strength, all techniques will be ground to dust."

"You surnamed Qin, you shall die!"

Before his words faded, an even more ferocious aura burst from him, shaking his clothes into loud snaps, his hair flying wildly, like a furious mad lion.

At that moment, his palm was shrouded in a layer of hazy vapor, as if the vast sea were undulating, emitting tremors that made the heart palpitate.

"Inner Strength Transforming into Qi, Boundless Sea?"

Song Yan gasped, her face instantly sinking, worry flashing in her eyes.

Inner Strength Transforming into Qi—this is the qualitative change of force, from formless to formed, with power far surpassing before.

Even if Qin Shuo mastered the top-tier killing move, if he were inferior in absolute strength, he would likely still suffer defeat.

Moreover, what Tian Bai was now executing was the Song Family's Jingtao Palm technique with the greatest killing power—Boundless Sea.

This move gathers the body's entire force into the palm, like myriad rivers returning to the sea, vast and majestic.

As soon as Tian Bai assumed his stance, the ears of all present seemed to hear the rumbling of the sea's rise and fall.

That was the palm technique's Divine Intent resonating with the spirits of those present.

Clearly, Tian Bai had received guidance from a master, having taken his Jingtao Palm cultivation to a terrifying level.

Though not yet perfected, he had already surpassed the vast majority of the Song Family's descendants, including the strongest of the younger generation, Song Xuan and Song Shan.

"Second Elder, are you being too hasty? Though Tian Bai is engaged to Xiao Yan, they are not yet married. You thus recklessly leak our family's martial arts—do you truly regard me, the Family Head, as mere decoration?"

Song Tianhao spoke with resonant tone, laced with anger, his gaze challenging as he looked toward the Second Elder beside him.

Looking over the entire Song Family, aside from him, only this Second Elder, his half-step Condensing Truth Realm uncle, could have helped Tian Bai so swiftly grasp the essence of the Jingtao Palm.

"Marriage between the two is merely a matter of time; if not for us passing the Jingtao Palm to Tian Bai, how would we oppose the Fang Family in this Earth Cave dispute? Rely on your son, Song Xuan?"

Song Tianlin sneered, giving Song Tianhao no face at all.

"Hah! So saying, I should still earn merit for my third brother?" Song Tianhao laughed in anger, his eyes icy cold.

"No need! Everything we do is for the Song Family, unlike certain people who act only for private gain, disregarding family interests."

Song Tianlin spoke with sinister tone, utterly unafraid of Family Head Song Tianhao's anger, opposing him blade to blade.

"Enough arguing—Tian Bai marrying into the Song Family is only a matter of time; I see this boy has decent talent, with hope of entering Condensing Truth in the future. Learning our Song Family martial arts early is also a blessing for our Song Family."

Third Elder Song Chun again began to smooth things over with a solemn air.

"Hehe, I just said—how could Brother's strength possibly be limited to this? Inner Strength Transforming into Qi… this brat is doomed!"

Song Man's face lit with excitement, already fantasizing about the scene where Tian Bai would brutally beat Qin Shuo.

His mother was Tian Bai's aunt; the two shared similar dispositions and had been close since childhood.

The first time he peeked at a widow bathing, it was his cousin who tipped him off.

Thus, since childhood, he has admired Cousin Tian Bai, vowing to be like him, to taste thousands of women, to enjoy all the spring breezes of the world.

Now seeing Cousin Tian Bai unleash his ultimate move, eager to slaughter that country bumpkin, he was naturally overjoyed.

"It's over! We're going to lose!"

Just moments ago, Song Xuan had still felt Qin Shuo's strength was absolutely formidable; now, he too wore a face of utter dejection.

Inner Strength Great Perfection and Inner Strength Transforming into Qi seem only half a step apart, yet they have blocked countless martial artists of the jianghu, representing a qualitative leap in power.

This junior martial brother of the elder sister ultimately suffered from being too young.

If he were allowed to cultivate for another two years—no, even just one year—perhaps he could reach Inner Strength Transforming into Qi, turning defeat into victory.

Everyone stared intently at the arena.

Second Elder Song Ci remained silent, his brows slightly furrowed.

For he had noticed that, even though Tian Bai had already displayed the formidable cultivation of Inner Strength Transforming into Qi, the boy opposite, barely seventeen or eighteen, remained unchanged in expression, calm and composed.

"Could it be that this youth still has a hidden move? Or does he believe, relying on force transformed into blade, he can withstand Tian Bai's Boundless Sea?" Song Ci's expression grew grave.

Tian Bai is someone he personally taught, so regarding Tian Bai's strength, he is clearer about it than anyone else.

If this move still cannot defeat the opponent, Tian Bai will surely lose without a doubt.

"Right! This brat still has the Burning Blood Secret Technique!"

Song Ci suddenly recalled the intelligence coming from Heishui City, and immediately put his mind at ease.

The Burning Blood Secret Technique is nothing more than burning qi and blood to increase the total amount of strength.

Such a trick is useful against ordinary inner strength martial artists with insufficient qi and blood, but using it against Tian Bai, who has transformed inner strength into qi, is simply courting death.

Substantiated strength is like refined iron compared to cotton—no matter how much cotton there is, how could it possibly resist the chop and slash of a sharp blade?

Tian Bai's earlier disadvantage was not due to his inner strength being less profound than that Qin-surname brat's.

Rather, that brat had mastered the Three Yuan Returning to One, transforming strength into a blade's edge, which is what broke through Tian Bai's defense and wounded his palm.

But now, the situation has reversed.

If this brat truly intends to use the Burning Blood Secret Technique to directly withstand Tian Bai's inner strength transformed into qi, hehe, then he's in for a bitter experience!

Thinking of this, Song Ci's expression softened.

Tian Bai is an important pawn in their lineage's consumption of the direct line's authority, and absolutely cannot lose to a country bumpkin.

Moreover, this country bumpkin is still Song Yan's junior martial brother.

Such a thing, I, Song Ci, absolutely will not allow!

"Ah!"

Just as everyone was guessing how Qin Shuo would withstand Tian Bai's all-out move, a loud dragon's roar echoed through the hall.

Immediately afterward, everyone saw Qin Shuo's body emanating golden light.

These golden lights flowed like water toward his palm, accompanied by the Longxiang's roar, as if an ancient Longxiang were crossing the barbaric wilderness to descend upon this place.

As the golden light gathered, Qin Shuo's palm emitted dazzling golden light, his entire arm shining brilliantly gold, as if cast from molten gold.

Golden and white gases rapidly circulated in his palm, and the Longxiang's sound emanated from within.

"Inner Strength Transforming into Qi?"

Song Tianlin suddenly stood up, utterly unable to believe his own eyes.