Chapter 32: Instant victory

In the arena, tension crackled in the air as Grey stood at one end, his expression calm and composed. On the opposite side, Wang Peng, a brawny disciple from Dragon Head Peak, flexed his muscles, radiating confidence."Disciple Grey from Big Bamboo Peak vs. Disciple Wang Peng from Dragon Head Peak," the announcer's voice boomed, echoing through the arena.The spectators buzzed with chatter, most of them skeptical about Grey's chances."Who do you think will win?""Isn't it obvious? Dragon Head Peak is known for its strength?""Yeah, Big Bamboo Peak is considered one of the weakest peaks."Shu Shu, overhearing the comments, simply smiled as he toyed with his folding fan. He looked at Grey with a sense of confidence, fully aware that the match would be more interesting than the spectators anticipated."Junior, why don't you surrender?" Wang Peng asked with an arrogant smirk, his disdain evident in his voice.Grey remained silent, his expression calm and unreadable."Hmph, a disciple from Big Bamboo Peak. Let's see how good you really are," Wang Peng sneered, his confidence unwavering."Start!" the announcer's voice cut through the air.Wang Peng burst into laughter, preparing to boast about his victory. "Haha, I'm going to punch—" But his bravado was abruptly cut short as he felt a sudden, intense pain in his stomach.His mind couldn't even register what was happening; one moment, he was brimming with confidence, and the next, he was gasping for breath, his vision blurring as pain radiated through his body.Grey had moved faster than the eye could follow, appearing before Wang Peng with a speed that defied belief. His fist, charged with a terrifying amount of power, struck Wang Peng with the force of a falling mountain.The impact wasn't just physical—it was as if Grey's punch carried the weight of the very heavens, crushing any resistance within Wang Peng.Wang Peng's expression shifted from smug arrogance to wide-eyed terror in an instant. His eyes bulged as the realization hit him—he was completely outmatched.His mouth opened in a silent scream, but no sound came out, the air having been knocked from his lungs. The sheer force of the blow lifted him off his feet, sending him flying across the arena like a ragdoll caught in a hurricane.Time seemed to slow as Wang Peng soared through the air. His mind raced, trying to comprehend how things had gone so wrong so quickly. He had entered the arena certain of an easy victory, and now he was on the brink of unconsciousness, hurtling toward the arena wall.The last thing he saw was Grey standing where he had been, his expression calm and unbothered, as if he hadn't just shattered Wang Peng's pride and body in a single strike.The sound of Wang Peng's body crashing into the wall echoed through the arena like thunder. The wall cracked under the force, dust and debris falling around the limp form of Wang Peng, who lay crumpled at its base.The once-proud disciple of Dragon Head Peak was now reduced to a heap on the ground, groaning weakly as pain coursed through his shattered body.The audience, who had been so vocal just moments before, fell deathly silent. Shocked gasps filled the air as everyone tried to make sense of what they had just witnessed.The sheer speed and power of Grey's attack left them all speechless, their minds struggling to reconcile the image of the quiet disciple from Big Bamboo Peak with the monstrous strength he had just displayed."Did you see that?" a voice finally broke the silence, barely a whisper, filled with awe."I… I don't even know what happened," another voice stammered, eyes wide with disbelief. "He was just… gone, and then Wang Peng was…""Wang Peng's… already gone?" someone else muttered, still in shock. The words hung in the air, echoing the disbelief that had settled over the crowd.On the other side of the arena, Shu Shu continued to toy with his folding fan, a knowing smile playing on his lips. He had expected nothing less from Grey, but even he couldn't help but be impressed by the sheer efficiency with which Grey had ended the match.He glanced at the other disciples around him, most of whom were still staring at the arena in stunned silence, and chuckled softly to himself.The announcer, still reeling from the spectacle, finally snapped out of his daze. "D-Disciple Grey wins!" he announced, his voice trembling slightly, unable to hide his own astonishment.As the words left the announcer's mouth, a wave of realization swept through the spectators. The once-dismissive murmurs about Big Bamboo Peak were replaced with awed whispers. No one had expected such a display of dominance from a disciple of the supposedly weakest peak."Too much yapping," Grey said in a dismissive tone as he jumped down from the arena, his expression still calm. The crowd's murmurs continued as they processed the swift and decisive end to the match.After his swift victory, Grey exited the arena to join the crowd, eager to watch the matches of his fellow disciples from Big Bamboo Peak.On the elders' side, the atmosphere shifted as the attention turned toward Grey's performance."Hmm, Junior Bu Yi, it seems your peak has produced a remarkably strong disciple," remarked Sect leader Dao Xun, his voice laced with genuine admiration.He had been thoroughly impressed by Grey's precise execution—one powerful punch, no excessive movement, just a calculated strike that had ended the match in a heartbeat.Tian Bu Yi's chest swelled with pride. "It's all thanks to the sect leader's guidance. As you mentioned five years ago, this disciple is incredibly talented," he replied, his tone filled with satisfaction. The corners of his mouth lifted into a warm smile as he added, "I'm very happy to be his teacher."While most of the elders exchanged approving nods, recognizing Grey's potential, not all shared the same sentiments.Cang Song, who had been quietly observing the conversation, kept his expression neutral, his thoughts carefully concealed behind a mask of indifference. Yet, his gaze lingered on Grey longer than necessary, revealing a subtle hint of ulterior motives.As the first round concluded, the tournament continued to heat up. A total of 32 participants had been eliminated, leaving 32 remaining to advance to the next round. Grey stood once again in the center of the arena, his expression calm and composed, waiting patiently for his next opponent.