Chapter 161: You Don't Know How Strong You Are Until You're Pushed

Chapter 161: You Don't Know How Strong You Are Until You're Pushed

As they were about to enter the arena, Murong Yue whispered, "Elder Song, if you can't win, concede and leave. I don't expect you to die in a life-and-death duel."

A life-and-death duel didn't necessarily mean that one side had to live while the other died.

As long as one side was willing to surrender, the duel could end.

However, admitting defeat in front of so many onlookers could be quite humiliating.

Many would rather die honorably in battle than carry the shame of being labeled a coward, one who clung to life and feared death.

"Master, I will definitely win!" Song Chaofeng declared solemnly.

Murong Yue smiled, "Alright, I believe in you."

At that moment, Song Chaofeng clenched his fists, feeling the sweat forming in his palms.

Meanwhile, Long Tao exuded confidence, standing with his hands behind his back. With a faint smile, he said, "Song Chaofeng, I remember you as a familiar face among the cultivators. Surrender now, and I won't kill you."

Song Chaofeng sneered, "The battle hasn't even begun. Why should I surrender?"

With that, he suddenly drew his sword!

Zzzip!

A single slash connected with the water spiritual energy between heaven and earth, instantly forming a colossal blade light, over thirty feet long.

It swung fiercely toward Long Tao.

Long Tao let out a strange laugh, "Weak!"

He drew his sword as well, unleashing a blade light that stretched over forty feet, glowing in a vibrant blue.

The two blade lights collided.

In an instant, they intertwined, turning into a flurry of raindrops scattering in all directions.

Clang!

Song Chaofeng was immediately sent flying more than ten feet away.

Long Tao, on the other hand, only staggered a few steps before stopping.

In one strike, the outcome was already clear!

After landing, Song Chaofeng quickly got back on his feet, releasing another slash.

Long Tao countered in the same manner.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Within ten breaths, thunderous clashes resounded over Tiger Head Mountain dozens of times.

Long Tao had already consumed a considerable amount of spiritual power and was starting to feel impatient.

Yet, Song Chaofeng was like an unkillable cockroach. He was knocked down again and again but kept rising to fight once more.

His body was drenched in blood, riddled with wounds, but he refused to fall.

"This ends now! Die!"

Long Tao finally lost his patience. Clapping his hands together, his blade lights merged into one.

In midair, they condensed into an incredibly solid beam of blade light.

Upon closer inspection, intricate, ancient patterns were vividly etched onto it.

It seemed as though a real treasured sword had appeared!

"I still have the Explosive Qi Pill."

Blood dripped from Song Chaofeng's mouth as he swallowed the pill he had been holding under his tongue.

The Explosive Qi Pill had flowed into Xuanjing Prefecture after the fall of the Blood River Sect.

Song Chaofeng had acquired a few pills.

He had been saving them precisely for this day.

As the pill went down, its medicinal power surged, immediately drawing out all the spiritual power embedded in his bones and muscles.

In an instant, his spiritual power overflowed!

In life-and-death duels, there were no restrictions on methods; using pills was fair game.

Song Chaofeng let out a strange laugh, "After the fall of the Blood River Sect, I also obtained their martial technique. And to my surprise, I found that I have great talent in this field."

"Long Tao, do you think I'm weak?"

"Now, I'll show you how strong I, Song Chaofeng, really am!"

With that, he slapped his chest, spitting out a mouthful of vital blood.

In a fluid motion, he clasped his hands together and then pulled them apart.

A ferocious bear's head abruptly appeared!

Far more domineering and sinister than the blade light Long Tao had formed.

The blood-red bear head roared toward the heavens, its cries resounding among the stars.

As if it wanted to tear apart this unjust world!

This was the Blood River Sect's ultimate martial technique, the Blood Beast Transformation Method.

The form he unleashed was the technique's strongest form: the Bear Form!

Murong Yue, Wei Xiongtie, Elder Li, and many other cultivators from Qingxuan Sect witnessed this scene.

They all instinctively held their breath.

The fall of the Blood River Sect had only been a few months ago.

Yet, in just a few months, Song Chaofeng had mastered the Blood Beast Transformation Method to its highest level and grasped the Bear Form.

"He wasn't wrong. He truly has remarkable talent in this area," Murong Yue murmured.

"Brother Song…" Wei Xiongtie mumbled.

"Song Chaofeng…" Elder Li couldn't find the words, feeling a lump in his throat.

Upon witnessing this scene, Long Tao was shaken to the core.

The martial techniques of the Blood River Sect were immensely powerful but consumed a large amount of spiritual power, causing harm to the body and shortening one's lifespan.

The Blood River Sect's Explosive Qi Pill, however, could continuously extract spiritual power from the muscles and bones.

The combination of these two was a technique used by Blood River Sect cultivators in life-and-death struggles.

Unexpectedly, Song Chaofeng was able to use it now.

"Damn it, lunatic!" Long Tao cursed, hurriedly activating his defensive martial technique.

A massive blue shield immediately rose in front of him.

"I, Song Chaofeng, have made mistakes in the past, but I have repented. Since then, I have been utterly loyal to Qingxuan Sect," Song Chaofeng shouted.

"Murong Sect Master, please take care of my son!"

With a roar, Song Chaofeng charged at Long Tao without hesitation.

"Let's die together!"

He laughed maniacally.

"Blood Beast Transformation Method, Bear Form! Bear Form! Bear Form!"

Roar! Roar! Roar!

Three ferocious, blood-red bear heads appeared simultaneously.

With the appearance of each head, Song Chaofeng's body shriveled up a little more.

When the three bear heads fully manifested, Song Chaofeng had already withered to an unrecognizable state.

"Don't be afraid, I still have more."

"Golden Core!"

Song Chaofeng laughed crazily.

A swirling golden core shot out from his mouth.

Along with the three previously formed bear heads, it hurtled straight toward Long Tao!

Long Tao's pupils shrank in terror.

Boom!

Blood-red light engulfed the entire Tiger Head Mountain.

Dust and smoke filled the air, obscuring what had happened within.

All the cultivators held their breath, hearts hanging in suspense.

Who had won, and who had lost?

Who was still alive, and who had died?

Had Song Chaofeng not consumed the Explosive Qi Pill, used the Blood Beast Transformation Method, or unleashed his Golden Core, Long Tao would have undoubtedly had the upper hand.

But now, the outcome was far from certain.

The wind blew, dispersing the dust and smoke.

Long Tao lay on the ground, his life or death unknown.

Song Chaofeng, however, stood tall like a pine tree.

Blood dripped from his mouth, and his body was as thin as a skeleton.

The golden core beside him was dim and damaged, floating weakly.

But even so, he had not fallen.

The cultivators watching this scene were shaken to their core.

"Long Tao, get up!" Zhang Mo roared in anger.

Long Tao gave no response.

"Sect Master Zhang, our Qingxuan Sect has won," Murong Yue stated in a deep voice.

"Long Tao!" Zhang Mo became even more furious.

"Cough, cough, Sect Master Zhang, surely you're not someone who can't accept defeat?" A voice called out from not far away—it was Mo Hanshan, the Sect Master of the Verdant Vine Sect.

"We all saw it. Song Chaofeng is still standing, while Long Tao has fallen."

"That's right, that's right! The first match goes to Qingxuan Sect!"

The onlookers began shouting loudly.

"Fine... fine! In the first match, my Heavenly Water Sect has lost!" Zhang Mo gritted his teeth.

Murong Yue, Wei Xiongtie, Elder Li, and the others rushed forward to support the collapsing Song Chaofeng.

"I'm... I'm not... dead?" Song Chaofeng muttered weakly, a smile appearing on his face.

Murong Yue quickly checked his condition, her eyes reddening slightly. "You're not dead. You're alive. Quickly, treat Elder Song!"

Several disciples hurried over, lifting Song Chaofeng and carrying him away in a flurry.

Elder Li and Wei Xiongtie asked in low voices, "Sect Master, how is Elder Song...?"

Murong Yue sighed softly, "His golden core is ruined, and his foundation is gravely damaged. His current cultivation level barely matches that of a beginner at the Qi Condensation Realm."

"In this life, he will have no hope of pursuing the path of immortality."

Both Wei Xiongtie and Elder Li shuddered, bowing deeply in the direction where Song Chaofeng was taken away.

"The second match must now commence!" Zhang Mo demanded harshly.

"Very well," Murong Yue replied calmly.

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