Under the gaze of the entire crowd, Xiao Yan slowly rose to his feet, then leapt upward, planting his feet firmly on the stone chair. With a burst of explosive sound, his body surged straight down like a rocket, flipping gracefully mid-air before landing steadily on the vast stone plaza. "Who is this guy? I've never seen him before!" "I don't know... he doesn't seem like someone from Tianbei City. Maybe he was hired from outside by the Han family?" "Looking at his demeanor, he doesn't appear to be someone who could defeat Hong Chen. I wonder what the Han family is thinking." "The Han family must have a specific intention here—after all, this competition is crucial to Han Yue's future." As soon as Xiao Yan appeared, the murmurs around the plaza erupted into a lively buzz, with one wave after another of expressions of surprise and curiosity sweeping over him. On the Hong family's seat, observing the stranger, Hong Li furrowed his brows. Given his understanding of the Han family, he believed they would never casually assign a scapegoat in such a setting—unless, indeed, they truly thought this young man capable of standing up to Hong Chen. "Heard this, Hong Li slightly stiffened. For an elder of such stature to praise the young man thus, it clearly meant that this seemingly ordinary youth was no mere scapegoat assigned by the Han family. "My Fenglei North Pavilion boasts a wide range of advanced combat techniques, many of which Hong Chen has mastered. The cultivation method he follows is one of our most elite. His combat prowess is such that even against a peak-level Duke Emperor, he can hold his own. Among peers, there are indeed a few in the Zhongzhou region who can defeat him—but none in Tianbei City yet." After delivering these words, the elder slowly closed his eyes once more. Upon hearing the old gray-robed man's assessment, Hong Li exhaled in relief, a cold smile playing on his face. He was eager to see how difficult it would be for Han Chi to look when he lost. ... On the vast stone plaza, Hong Chen glanced indifferently at Xiao Yan and said, "Please state your name." Xiao Yan smiled, ignoring the arrogant tone of the man, and lightly said, "A minor newcomer, Xiao Yan, can hardly compare to the reputation of Mr. Hong Chen." "Stop playing games with me—give me just ten breaths to decide whether you'll make your own exit or if I'll knock you out and toss you out." Hong Chen's face grew cold as he barked out. "No need for ten breaths—let's just go straight to it," Xiao Yan shook his head, maintaining a harmless expression. Indeed, Hong Chen proved to be as boastful as others had described. His gaze grew steadily darker, and he fixed a solemn, watchful stare on Xiao Yan, saying, "Since you've chosen to court your own demise, don't expect any mercy from me." With those words, waves of lightning surged suddenly from within Hong Chen's body, coalescing into a shimmering net of electric light that fully enveloped his form. "Electric nature Qi…?" Xiao Yan gazed at the deep silver Qi enveloping Hong Chen, upon which streaks of lightning surged like countless silver serpents, clearly indicating that the latter had mastered a renowned technique known for its powerful offensive capabilities. "Remember my name, Hong Chen. Your defeat at my hands will be your honor!" Hong Chen sneered, then suddenly planted his foot down, sending a thick, arm-sized bolt of lightning surging forward like a great serpent, aimed directly at Xiao Yan. "Hey, you're even more狂 than Ban! Then let's see if you've got it in you to earn a full-out effort from me!" Hong Chen's eyes hardened, and a brilliant silver glow surged forth. In an instant, his figure materialized like a ghost before Xiao Yan, his fist crackling with lightning, sending a sharp gust of thunder and wind as it slammed into the latter's head. "The assault was once again repelled, and a look of astonishment flickered in Hong Chen's eyes. Suddenly, he roared, "Try the Wind and Thunder Claws from the Wind and Thunder Pavilion!" As soon as he spoke, the lightning radiance on his hand and fingers surged violently. Several streaks of lightning twisted strangely before finally coalescing into a pair of exceptionally sharp lightning claws at the tips of his fingers. With the claws formed, Hong Chen bellowed, amplifying the power in his hand and fingers, forcing back Xiang Yan's two fingers with a surge of fierce lightning that he then unleashed in a powerful, sharp strike. This strike tore the very air apart, and as his hand swept through, a blurred silver silhouette of a hand and claw remained suspended in the air. Feeling the intensity of Hong Chen's claw winds, Xiang Yan was also slightly surprised. He rapidly adjusted his fingertip movements, then clenched his fingers tightly, causing a surge of emerald aura infused with a hint of flame to collide forcefully with Hong Chen's. Thud! A low roar echoed, and Hong Chen's body momentarily stilled before quickly recovering. A glint of fierce determination flashed in his eyes as his claws suddenly danced wildly, casting a flurry of blurred figures before him. Sharp gusts of wind from his claws nearly covered the entire upper body of Xiao Yan, the rushing sounds of wind continuously echoing across the plaza. The attacks were repeatedly repelled, and a serious expression finally appeared in Hong Chen's eyes. His initial underestimation began to fade. Suddenly, his claws transformed, and he roared with fury—unexpected thunderous rumblings erupted. At that moment, the numerous residual claw shadows suddenly froze and then swiftly retracted. In a matter of seconds, a claw, densely veiled in lightning and subtly echoing with the roar of thunder, emerged in a most eerie fashion, charging straight toward Xiao Yan's heart with the force of a thunderbolt. The intensity of this attack suggested that if it struck, Xiao Yan's heart would likely be completely extracted. "Divine Sovereign?" "His strength must surpass that of Han Yue from the Han family. No wonder...” A surge of qi erupted as Xiao Yan clenched his fists, momentarily pausing before suddenly driving forward with tremendous force. "Eight-Point Collapse!" As the punch reached mid-way, the power surged exponentially, creating a sharp sonic boom that resonated around the fist. Then, amid the stunned silence, it collided powerfully with Hong Chen's thunder-claw. "Boom!" A deep, resonant impact rang out, sending out concentric ripples of powerful qi from the point of contact. Cracks like spiderwebs spread across the surrounding massive stones. As the cracks spread, a figure was suddenly sent reeling backward, his feet leaving a distinct trail of damage stretching over fifteen meters across the ground. The crowd turned to gaze in astonishment—how could Hong Chen have been pushed back so dramatically? His gaze lingered on Hong Chen's form for a moment, and instantly, countless eyes turned toward him. Then, they settled firmly on the young man who had merely retreated two steps—shocked, even more so. How could this youth, in a direct confrontation with Hong Chen, now be gaining the upper hand? Who exactly was this mysterious figure? As soon as he finished speaking, a deep, resonant roar burst forth from Hong Chen's throat. Immediately, a series of crackling sounds echoed within his body, and countless silver lightning serpents surged out from his bones, weaving a dense network of thunder that enveloped him. Under this network, Hong Chen's aura rapidly intensified. "For the sake of giving you a chance to defeat me today, allow me to show you the true secrets of Fenglei Pavilion!" "Thunder God Descends!" With a powerful step, countless silver serpents erupted from beneath his feet, spreading out within just a short moment to cover an area of several dozen zhang around him. Now, standing within this radiant display, Hong Chen appeared nothing short of a thunder god—his presence commanding and awe-inspiring.