Chapter 224: Riding the Tiger

The Supreme Sect Master was also hesitant at this moment. The competition had taken a sour turn, becoming a platform for a small group to retaliate against and suppress Jiang Fan.

He tentatively suggested, "How about canceling the match? If word gets out, people will say our Supreme Sect disciples are too petty."

An elder objected, "It's too late to stop now. Wang Yunge represents the top-tier standard of our Supreme Sect. After such a crushing defeat, if no other disciples recover the situation, how will outsiders view our Supreme Sect? Will they say our Supreme Sect is merely a facade?"

The other elders also supported continuing the fight. Even if it meant earning a reputation for narrow-minded disciples, they could not tarnish the Supreme Sect's prestige.

The Supreme Sect Master considered their points valid and signaled the referee. The referee felt some sympathy for Jiang Fan. However, compelled by the situation, Jiang Fan had no choice but to fight.

He kindly reminded, "If you're tired, you can rest for a while before fighting again." After two consecutive major battles, he worried Jiang Fan would be at a disadvantage against Li Shiqian.

Jiang Fan cupped his hands and replied, "Thank you for your concern, referee. I'm fine; we can start anytime."

The referee nodded and looked at Li Shiqian. The latter, with her long, snow-white neck slightly raised, declared, "Don't look at me; I need no preparation to fight him!" The referee nodded again, stepped off the platform, and announced, "Begin!"

Li Shiqian calmly looked at Jiang Fan and stated, "You'll be off the stage in three moves, at most." With that, she took the initiative to attack. "Star-Plucking Finger!" The technique she unleashed was a set of finger moves. As soon as she made her move, the air crackled, unleashing powerful piercing force.

Jiang Fan's expression slightly changed. "An Earth-rank finger technique? No wonder she's so confident. In that case, I'll use my full physical techniques as well."

Immediately, he let out a low roar, "Phoenix Blood Body! Activate!" His body instantly emitted crackling sounds, like popping beans. This was the crisp sound of his bones shifting. Following that, his blood circulation accelerated several times. His skin rapidly turned crimson, as if on fire!

His strength, speed, reflexes, and sensory perception all increased by several levels instantly! In his eyes now, Li Shiqian's seemingly lightning-fast finger technique was like slow motion, as if a mortal was poking at him. Meanwhile, the power of his physique surged forth like a flood from an opened sluice gate.

Without further hesitation, Jiang Fan struck decisively! "Nine Heavenly Combat Styles! Sky-Shattering!" With the Phoenix Blood Body fully activated, combined with the ultimate form of the "Nine Heavenly Combat Styles," this was the limit of his physical techniques! Let's see if Li Shiqian could withstand it!

In an instant, Jiang Fan transformed into a fiery mass, charging forward at an even faster speed. His fist collided in mid-air with the opponent's Earth-rank finger technique. Instantly, a scream erupted from Li Shiqian's mouth. Her index finger was violently bent, clearly broken! At the same time, his fiery fist, carrying the immense power of Sky-Shattering, slammed into Li Shiqian's chest!

*Puff*— She immediately spat out a mist of blood. Her tall figure flew backward like a paper doll, crashing heavily.

Wang Yunge exclaimed, "Senior Sister Li!" He quickly extended his hands to catch her. But as soon as he tried, he felt as if he wasn't catching a person but a falling mountain.

With a thud, Li Shiqian's body, like a lump of iron, slammed violently into his arms, knocking him to the ground as well. A metallic sweetness surged in his throat, and he ultimately couldn't hold it back, spitting out a mist of blood!

The entire arena fell into a deathly silence! One strike! With just one strike, Jiang Fan sent the Supreme Sect's third-ranked expert flying with a punch. And, as a bonus, he caused the fourth-ranked Wang Yunge to vomit blood from the impact! What level of power was that punch?

After a long pause, Cheng Xiaoleng, her eyes wide, finally let out a cheer, "He won, he won..." Mid-cheer, she quickly clamped her mouth shut, because pairs of angry eyes were staring at her. As a disciple of the Supreme Sect, she should have felt shame when an outsider won, yet she was cheering!

Chai Yingrong's mouth twitched; clearly, she also wanted to cheer but held back. Yan Yuqing covered her face with both hands. Beneath her palms, naturally, was a face overflowing with delight. Through the gaps in her fingers, she gazed at the fair-skinned, handsome, and elegant Martial Uncle. Her beautiful eyes shone with peculiar brilliance.

The Supreme Sect Master and the elders were rendered speechless. In just one move, Li Shiqian suffered a crushing defeat! Such a vast disparity made it difficult for them to accept. One elder, who had just been clamoring for them to regain face, felt some regret. Had he known Li Shiqian would lose so disgracefully, he should have stopped the spar earlier. Now, they were in a difficult situation, caught between a rock and a hard place. Continuing was not an option, nor was disbanding the friendly match!

He bit the bullet and asked, "Sect Master, what should we do now?"

The Supreme Sect Master replied with a grim face, "What else can be done? Are we really going to let him just leave the Supreme Sect like this?" He looked at Hua Xiangchen, the only remaining top-tier expert on the stage, and his proud eldest disciple. "Xiangchen, since you're already here, why don't you go up and have a go? Remember to stop before causing serious harm."

Hua Xiangchen had long been unable to restrain himself! Watching Jiang Fan's momentum grow stronger and Yan Yuqing's admiration for him deepen, this was more unbearable than killing him! Why should someone without a spiritual root be allowed to act so presumptuously in the Supreme Sect and steal the adoration that rightfully belonged to him?

He immediately rose and strode quickly to the platform. First, he checked their injuries. He found that Wang Yunge had cushioned Li Shiqian's fall, sustaining internal injuries. He also saw that Li Shiqian had a broken finger. Looking at Luo Tianjiao's miserable state, his heart burned with fury. Was Jiang Fan implying that the Supreme Sect had no one left to fight?

He picked up his sword and stepped onto the stage. No trace of the anger in his heart showed, his face adorned with a gentle, spring-like smile. "Junior Brother Jiang, I cannot defy my master's orders. Please do not hesitate to enlighten me."

Jiang Fan's eyes flashed with insight. He unceremoniously exposed, "You've been wanting to come up here to teach me a lesson, haven't you?"

Hua Xiangchen's smile briefly froze, then he chuckled, "Junior Brother, you jest. I'm too busy worrying about your safety."

Jiang Fan scoffed, "If you truly intended to stop them from bullying others, would they have even been able to step onto the stage? Hua Xiangchen was the head of the disciples, the Sect Master's eldest disciple. Wang Yunge and Li Shiqian both held him in high regard. If Hua Xiangchen had intervened, would Wang Yunge have threatened Yan Yuqing, or would Jiang Fan have been forced to accept the challenge? It was all his instigation and support from behind the scenes. Now he was playing the role of a good guy, hoping to make Jiang Fan drop his guard? Jiang Fan saw through this trick at a glance."

Hua Xiangchen's jaw muscles twitched a few times as he suppressed his anger, speaking lightly: "I don't understand what Junior Brother Jiang is saying. Let me just ask one thing: Do you accept my challenge, or do you not?" If he didn't accept, at the very least, outsiders would believe Jiang Fan feared Hua Xiangchen and dared not fight, and the Supreme Sect's reputation could be somewhat salvaged. Of course, acceptance was the best outcome. If Hua Xiangchen thoroughly defeated him with absolute strength, it would further solidify the Supreme Sect's powerful image.

Jiang Fan didn't hesitate for long. Having fought to this point, there was no reason to leave Hua Xiangchen, the man behind it all, unchallenged. Since a fight was inevitable, then he would fight to the very end! He would defeat all of the Supreme Sect's elite disciples!

His gaze was sharp. He drew the black sword from his back with a flick of his wrist. A captivating strand of sword energy burst forth with a *clink*! The sharp sword gleam pointed directly at Hua Xiangchen! From his mouth, he uttered a deafening word!

"Fight!"