Chapter 102: Battle of Geniuses

"I’ll go first."

One young man among Vermilion Flame Sect’s seven disciples stepped forward. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with long black hair tied behind his head.

The moment he stepped forward, a powerful Golden Core aura erupted from his body.

The surrounding disciples immediately became serious.

"That’s Luo Yan."

"He’s one of Vermilion Flame Sect’s top disciples. I heard his body cultivation is extremely powerful."

"Not only that. I heard he has also mastered an Earth-rank technique."

The discussion immediately became louder, showing Luo Yan’s popularity as he stepped onto the arena.

His eyes swept toward the Azura Heaven Sect, without any fear in his eyes.

"Who will go?" Elder Dong looked at Long Feng’s group and asked.

The three exchanged glances with each other.

The situation was obvious.

If they wanted to win, they needed to use their strength carefully. The first battle would determine the momentum of the entire competition.

Although Elder Wei had authority to choose among them, but he did not interfere and leaved the matter upon them.

Li Qiang rubbed his chin and said.

"If we send Brother Zhi first, even if he win, there’s a chance he’ll have to fight Han Tianyu in next battle."

Zhi Yuan nodded from the side. If he used his energy first and then fight with Han Tianyu, it would be hard situation.

They both looked at each other as if deciding who would go first. Then, suddenly, both of them turned their gaze towards Long Feng.

"Leave the last three to me. Now stop looking at me like that."

Long Feng raised his both hands and said plainly.

But his straightforward words completely silenced everyone. They were all looking at him as if he were from another species.

"You’ll take three?"

Finally Li Qiang couldn’t take anymore silence and asked.

"If necessary."

"You’re serious." Li Qiang’s mouth twitched.

Even Zhi Yuan and Elder Wei looked at Long Feng carefully.

There was no arrogance in his expression, no hesitation either, only calm confidence.

They looked at him for a while longer, trying to find some flaw. But then, both of them shook their heads. They didn’t think Long Feng didn’t know what it meant to say this.

This means he was so confident in his own strength!

"Fine." Zhi Yuan eventually looked away and crossed his arms. Then, as if thinking about something, his mood spoiled, and there was irritation in his voice.

"But that means you’re saying you’re stronger than both of us. Zhi Yuan is already stronger than me. Didn’t this means that I’m the weakest among us."

"I didn’t say that." Long Feng smiled.

"You didn’t have to."

Li Qiang snorted and rolled his eyes.

Despite his words, there was no anger in his expression.

He was simply unwilling to admit his defeat in front of them.

"Then let me be the first to show you all my power." Saying this, he started walking toward the arena.

Across the arena, several Vermilion disciples had been watching them.

"So Long Feng is going first?" One of them laughed.

Another disciple smirked.

"Not surprising. He ranked first yesterday, so naturally he wants to show off."

A third disciple shook his head.

"I doubt he’s actually stronger than us."

"His harvest yesterday was almost twice Han Tianyu’s."

"So?"

"That only proves he had better luck."

The disciples exchanged glances.

None of them believed that Long Feng’s strength was necessarily greater than theirs.

Even though he had suddenly obtained an astonishing number of Flame Spirit Stones, nobody had actually seen him fight seriously.

Therefore, in their minds, his first-place ranking was still partially attributed to luck.

But when they saw Li Qiang walking toward the arena instead of Long Feng, they were shocked.

None of them had such kind of response from Azura Heaven Sect’s side.

But their disciple had already went on stage, so there was no backway.

Besides, they had already heard of Li Qiang. He was certainly strong. But none of them believed he could gain a decisive advantage.

Luo Yan stood in the center of the arena and looked at Li Qiang approaching from the opposite side.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"So you’re the one coming?"

Li Qiang stepped onto the arena and stopped several dozen meters away from him.

He stretched his neck from side to side, causing a series of cracking sounds.

"Looks like it."

"I thought Long Feng would come first." Luo Yan smiled.

"Why?"

"Because he ranked first yesterday."

However, Li Qiang chuckled softly. "Maybe he doesn’t want to waste his strength on you."

The smile on Luo Yan’s face disappeared. His words made him feel insulted in front of so many people. Veins popped upon his head.

Several Vermilion disciples immediately laughed.

"He’s quite arrogant."

"Let’s see how long that confidence lasts."

Luo Yan’s eyes narrowed.

"Then I’ll have to make you regret coming first."

Li Qiang’s expression became serious. The playful look disappeared from his face.

"I was thinking the same thing."

The referee stepped between them. His gaze swept over the two and announced.

"Remember that this is a competition between the younger generations of the two sects. Unless absolutely necessary, do not deliberately inflict permanent damage."

Neither of them answered. Their eyes remained locked onto each other.

But referee didn’t mind them and raised his hand.

"Begin!"

BOOM!

The instant his voice fell, both figures moved.

Luo Yan’s body shot forward like a cannonball. His right fist was already covered in crimson spiritual energy.

"Crimson Mountain Fist!"

The surrounding spiritual energy violently gathered toward his fist. A massive fist shadow appeared in the air and slammed toward Li Qiang.

Li Qiang’s expression became serious. Instead of retreating, he stepped forward.

"Azure Wave Palm!"

His palm struck forward.

A huge blue wave-like palm imprint surged through the air.

BOOM!

The two techniques collided and a violent shockwave exploded across the arena. Dust and fragments of stone flew outward before being stopped by the defensive formation.

But neither side gained an advantage.

Both of them were upon same realm, refined their strength to the peak, so there was not much difference upon them.

’His strength is stronger than I expected.’ Li Qiang’s expression also became slightly more serious.

At the same time, Luo Yan was thinking the same thing.

’His spiritual energy is unusually dense.’

Neither of them had expected the other to block their first attack so easily, but neither was willing to stop.

Luo Yan’s body flashed, using some kind of unknown movement technique and appeared beside Li Qiang.

His elbow smashed toward Li Qiang’s ribs.

Li Qiang twisted his body and avoided it by a hair’s breadth. At the same time, he swept his leg toward Luo Yan’s waist.

Li Qiang crossed both arms before him and avoided the fatal attack.

BOOM!

The leg slammed into his arms. Li Qiang’s feet sank several inches into the stone. He immediately pushed upward and the spiritual energy surrounding his body exploded.

"Get away!"

BOOM!

His fists struck upward and Luo Yan was forced into the air.

But Li Qiang didn’t give him an opportunity to recover. He rushed forward and attack.

One punch, two punches and three punches, his fists moved so quickly that afterimages appeared around his body.

Luo Yan had to block each attack with his arms.

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

Every collision produced a deep sound.

Seeing such good battle, the spectators began becoming excited.

"Fast!"

"Their close-combat abilities are almost equal!"

The Azura disciples watched with serious expressions.

Li Qiang’s fighting style had always been straightforward. He liked fighting head-on, but he wasn’t reckless.

He knew exactly when to attack and when to retreat. Luo Yan was the same.

The two continued exchanging blows across the arena. Their spiritual energy repeatedly collided. Their figures moved from one side of the arena to the other.

After several dozen exchanges, Luo Yan suddenly retreated. His expression became solemn.

"You’re stronger than I thought." He wiped away a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth.

"Thanks." Li Qiang grinned.

"But..."

Luo Yan’s aura suddenly changed. The crimson spiritual energy surrounding his body became much denser.

"You’re still going to lose."

His hands formed a strange seal. The temperature around the arena suddenly increased. It’s a Earth-rank low-tier technique.

The moment he showed such skill, the entire arena became silent. Even some of the elders raised their eyebrows.

The Vermilion disciples immediately became excited.

"He’s using it already?"

"Looks like Luo Yan is taking this seriously."

"The Crimson Mountain Suppression is his strongest technique."

Someone even recognized the technique he was about to cast.

Li Qiang’s expression became solemn. He could feel the tremendous pressure coming from Luo Yan’s body.

’So he really knows an Earth-rank technique.’

There was no time to hesitate.

Li Qiang took a deep breath. His spiritual energy surged throughout his body. The aura around him also rose sharply.

"Since you’re going all out..." He clenched his fists. "...then I’ll do the same."

A huge blue phantom slowly appeared behind him. It looked like an enormous wave towering above the arena.

"Azure Sea Overturning!"

BOOM!

The moment Li Qiang’s voice fell, the blue phantom erupted.

At almost the same time, Luo Yan thrust both palms forward.

"Crimson Mountain Suppression!"

A massive crimson mountain appeared above him. It descended toward Li Qiang with terrifying force.

The blue wave rose from below.

The crimson mountain collided with the enormous wave.

BOOM!!!

The entire arena shook.

The defensive formation around the battlefield lit up. The shockwave spread in every direction.

Even the spectators several dozen meters away could feel the pressure.

For a moment, the two Earth-rank techniques remained locked together. Neither side gave way.

Luo Yan gritted his teeth. Li Qiang’s face also became red from exertion. Their spiritual energy was being consumed at an astonishing speed.

Then, a crack appeared across the crimson mountain.