Chapter 36: Can You Also Break Through in the Heat of Battle?

The fifteenth of May.

After more than ten days of competition, the Divine Path Sect's Inter-Peak Grand Competition had reached its originally scheduled final day.

Only the final four disciples remained in the competition.

Zuo Yungui of Lieyang Peak versus Li Yun of Tuling Peak.

Ren Yidao of Luoyue Peak versus Su Zhibin of Lijin Peak.

The final winner would be decided among these four.

By this point in the competition, most discerning observers could already see the outcome.

Among these four, only Ren Yidao and Zuo Yungui had already chosen their paths; the remaining two had not.

Those on the field were even more aware of this, knowing clearly that further resistance was meaningless.

Yet, Li Yun and Su Zhibin had chosen two diametrically opposed paths.

Li Yun had a cold, stern face; he was slightly shorter than Niu Rixing of Tuling Peak, but his body was much more robust, his bulging muscles appearing as if he were clad in iron armor.

His mere presence here was enough to project an intense sense of existence.

Compared to the comedic character that was Niu Rixing, Li Yun was the true Eldest Senior Brother of this generation of Tuling Peak.

He cupped his hands in a salute toward Zuo Yungui and said in a deep voice:

"Please, Senior Brother Zuo, offer your guidance."

Zuo Yungui kept his eyes fixed on Ren Yidao, who was chatting happily with Su Zhibin on the other arena, and waved his hand without even turning his head:

"There is no guidance to offer; you cannot cause me any trouble at all."

Zuo Yungui had always been arrogant.

It was so in the past, and it had become even worse after the Descending God Selection Path.

If not for Ren Yidao looming over him, he would not even have bothered to say this much.

He only wanted to finish this quickly and then give Ren Yidao a brutal beating!

But Li Yun did not grow angry at his dismissal; there was no emotional fluctuation on his cold, rigid face as he cupped his hands again and said:

"Please, Senior Brother Zuo, offer your guidance."

"I ask that you use your full strength; there is no need to hold back."

What?

Frowning as he turned around, Zuo Yungui squinted at Li Yun and asked incredulously:

"You want me to use my full strength? Are you sure?"

Li Yun smiled, speaking firmly without a hint of hesitation, his voice like clashing metal and stone:

"I am sure, life or death notwithstanding!"

Looking closely at the Tuling Peak's eldest disciple, Zuo Yungui's frown deepened.

But just as Zuo Yungui was about to speak, Li Yun lowered his head and added with a mocking expression:

"Or is it that Senior Brother Zuo is afraid of losing to me?"

Snap.

"A low-level provocation!"

A vein popped on his forehead as Zuo Yungui raised his head, his mouth curling into a dangerous arc as he said chillingly:

"But since you are courting death, fine, I will satisfy you."

"I'll beat you until you're picking your teeth up off the floor!"

……

……

"He took the bait just like that; this kid is as innocent as ever! Senior Brother Su, wouldn't you agree?"

Watching the tense atmosphere on the arena over there, Ren Yidao shook his head and poured another cup of tea for Su Zhibin.

"Cough, cough, is, is that so?"

To this, the scholarly-looking Su Zhibin could only take the tea and offer an awkward smile.

Ren Yidao could evaluate Zuo Yungui this way, but he, Su Zhibin, dared not respond.

"It's true. Even though he has already agreed in his heart and wants to give him a helping hand, he can't let go of his pride and insists on putting on such an angry act."

"As if he would lose something if he didn't do it this way."

Ren Yidao remarked with emotion:

"Truly a textbook example of a tsundere."

Pity, your gender is wrong.

Acting like this is just too unsightly, kid.

Su Zhibin:?

He didn't understand the "tsundere" Ren Yidao spoke of, but he did notice the content mentioned earlier.

"Give Li Yun a helping hand?"

Turning his head, Ren Yidao said with a smile:

"Haven't you noticed? Li Yun, he is about to break through."

……

……

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

"Go to hell!"

Zuo Yungui appeared crazed, descending from the high air time and again, crashing around Li Yun with blazing fire and creating a sea of flames.

Yet amidst the surrounding inferno, Li Yun sat cross-legged, letting Zuo Yungui's attacks slam into his body.

The flames scorched his upper garment, revealing muscles as knotted as if cast in copper and iron, as well as the totem tattoo on his back.

A sturdy, variegated fierce tiger with a ferocious glint in its eyes was leaping down from a mountain peak, as if about to pounce and devour a living person.

Fierce Tiger Descending the Mountain.

And amidst these repeated bombardments, the eyes of that totem tiger became brighter and brighter.

Finally, after yet another strike, a massive tiger claw reached out from behind him, grabbing toward Zuo Yungui!

Whoosh!

With his figure retreating explosively, Zuo Yungui did not counterattack, but instead leaped directly off the arena, leaving the stage to Li Yun alone.

Suddenly opening his eyes, Li Yun looked up toward Heaven, and a fierce, baleful tiger roar erupted from his throat:

"ROAR!!!"

Boom—

Divine Path Bell, the bell tolls!

……

……

"With this momentum, I fear there might be seven tolls of the bell; I wonder if Junior Martial Nephew Zuo will regret helping Li Yun with a hand later on."

Having single-handedly fostered a heaven-gifted talent capable of contending with himself, Zuo Yungui is likely regretting it now.

Zuo Yungui, if you want to cry, cry now; just don't go shedding little pearls secretly under your covers all by yourself!

Watching the grand spectacle over there, Ren Yidao also became interested, turning his head to say to Su Zhibin:

"What about you, Senior Brother Su? Can you also achieve a breakthrough in the heat of battle?"

Smoothing his sleeves, Ren Yidao made a punching gesture and laughed:

"As long as Senior Brother Su speaks the word, I can also perform a set of Enlightenment Fist for you, which will surely guarantee your Descent of the Gods."

Giving a wry smile, Su Zhibin waved his hands and laughed at himself:

"Achieving a breakthrough in the heat of battle is not such a simple matter."

"I am dull of aptitude, lacking Junior Brother Li's resilience and courage, and I also lack your insight, Junior Brother Ren; I can only pray to cultivate slowly and then, one day, achieve enlightenment."

Tsk tsk.

Smacking his lips with regret, Ren Yidao then asked:

"They have finished over there, so shall we begin as well?"

Let's finish early; tonight is the night of the full moon, and I have important business to attend to tonight.

Su Zhibin still shook his head and sighed:

"No, this senior brother will not invite humiliation upon himself."

"Those who have truly crossed hands with you are either depressed like Junior Brother Ox Star, or shut away behind closed doors like Junior Sister Duan, and Junior Brother Zhang was even locked up in Luoyue Peak."

"Hahaha, this senior brother still wants to live a while longer and does not want to end up in such a miserable state."

Laughing it off, Su Zhibin cupped his hands toward Ren Yidao and wryly begged for mercy.

Hearing these words, Ren Yidao also laughed along:

"It's not as exaggerated as you say, hahahaha."

Affectionately stepping forward to support Su Zhibin's arm and lifting him up, Ren Yidao was quite interested in this sensible, clever man.

Interesting.

Truly very interesting.

Before signaling the referee, Ren Yidao lowered his voice and said to Su Zhibin:

"However, there is one thing I still do not understand, and I would like to ask Senior Brother Su to clear up my confusion."

Hm?

Su Zhibin nodded easily, also feeling a bit strange; what question could he possibly have that he must ask him?

"Junior Brother Ren, please speak freely; this senior brother will certainly tell you everything he knows."

Beckoning with his hand, Ren Yidao signaled for him to lean closer, then leaned into Su Zhibin's ear and asked with a low laugh:

"Isn't Senior Brother Zhang recuperating at Lieyang Peak?"

Placing his hand on Su Zhibin's shoulder, the abyss in Ren Yidao's eyes surged wildly at this moment.

He said:

"How did you know..."

"That he was at Luoyue Peak?"