CHAPTER 740: CHAPTER 745: THE FINAL SHOWDOWN (1)

"Give up."

Wang Hao advanced step by step, his expression indifferent, as he spoke to Ling Chen.

Ling Chen frowned slightly, his pupils sparkling with a sharp light like Mo Che’s. The full force of Wang Hao’s power was immense, and Ling Chen even wondered if Wang Hao’s strength had already reached the fifth rank of the Earthly List.

If that were true, no matter how determined Ling Chen was, he couldn’t possibly defeat Wang Hao.

"Elder Du, considering the strength Wang Hao has just displayed, could it be he has already...?"

"Not yet," Du Kang shook his head and said: "Wang Hao’s strength might be very close to the fifth rank of the Earthly List, but he hasn’t crossed that step. Otherwise, once his realm reached the fifth of the Earthly List, with Ling Chen’s current strength, even if he had the Nine Yang Qiankun Step to protect him, he wouldn’t have been able to hold on for this long. However, no matter what, with Wang Hao’s hidden strength emerging, Ling Chen’s situation is likely to become very dangerous."

During this conversation, Ling Chen on the stage locked his brows tightly, rapidly pondering strategies in his mind.

This won’t do!

At this rate, he would be defeated by Wang Hao within a minute. He had to think of a way to turn the situation around.

As he was considering his options, Wang Hao, seeing that Ling Chen had yet to react, simply ceased talking and, with a tip of his toe, his body immediately surged forward.

With the Shattered Leaf Step unfolded, Wang Hao’s feet seemed to tread on air, his speed lightning-fast, as if blown by the wind, he instantly closed in on Ling Chen.

He unleashed a palm strike that appeared light and breezy, yet contained immensely powerful force.

In that moment, Ling Chen felt the fierce wind against his face, the power carried by the meaty palm was like an imposing mountain standing before him, exerting a great pressure that made even breathing difficult.

With no time to think, Ling Chen quickly crossed his arms in front of his chest, forcefully blocking Wang Hao’s attack.

As soon as Wang Hao’s palm made contact with Ling Chen, the robust Hua Realm force erupted violently, condensing into a strong burst of energy that instantly sent Ling Chen flying backward.

Wang Hao’s blow was nearly full force with no restraint.

Reeling from the attack, Ling Chen was flung several meters away, plummeting towards the edge of the stage.

Seeing Ling Chen’s body about to leave the bounds of the stage, the crowd around involuntarily sighed.

Lost!

As long as Ling Chen’s body hit the ground outside the stage, this duel would be completely lost. Indeed, Wang Hao is still Wang Hao, the strongest among the disciples of Yangxin Pavilion, and not even the disciple of Su He could defeat him.

However, it was no easy feat for Ling Chen, with the strength of someone on the Dragon List, to last so long against Wang Hao.

Yet, just when everyone thought Ling Chen was certain to lose, they suddenly saw him in mid-air taking a deep breath, twisting his waist, shooting downwards with a fierce glint of cold light flashing in his hand.

It was the Tianling Blade!

Realizing the weapon in Ling Chen’s hand, the crowd immediately gasped.

At that moment, Ling Chen holding the Tianling Blade, raised his arm high, the tip of the blade gently touching the ground. The blade, bearing his entire body weight, immediately bent. Using the flexibility of the blade, Ling Chen’s falling body finally came to a halt.

Following that, Ling Chen flicked his wrist, and the bent blade sprang back in an instant, propelling his body upwards over two meters high. In mid-air, Ling Chen swiftly turned his body, flying back towards the stage.

However, Wang Hao had already noticed Ling Chen’s movement. Seeing him attempting to get back on stage, Wang Hao didn’t utter another word. He immediately stepped forward, lifted his leg high, and kicked fiercely at Ling Chen.

Bang!

Amidst the muffled sound, Ling Chen’s body lost control once again, flying off the stage.

Seeing this, Ling Chen bore the pain from the kick, and with a flick of his hand, the Tianling Blade transformed in an instant from a sword tip into a steel rod.

As the steel rod hit the ground, Ling Chen grabbed it with both hands, twisted his waist, and spun in the air, flying over Wang Hao’s head and landed firmly on the stage.

The onlookers all breathed a sigh of relief at this sight.

That was close!

Had it not been for Ling Chen’s skills, he would have been defeated already. However, even though Ling Chen had dodged this disaster, the crowd still didn’t have high hopes for him. At this point, Ling Chen had completely fallen into a disadvantage and had lost the qualification to continue the fight against Wang Hao.

Even if Ling Chen forcibly stayed on the stage, it would only be lingering on in defeat, merely delaying the inevitable, which wouldn’t benefit him at all. In the end, he would not only be defeated by Wang Hao but also end up wounded all over. It really wasn’t worth it.

"No way!" Yuan Yun said with a frown: "Ling Cheng can’t get any advantage if this continues. Big Brother, I think we should quickly get Ling Cheng down from there. If this goes on, something bad will happen sooner or later."

"Right." Xia Yue echoed with worry on her face: "Let’s concede the match voluntarily."

Qiu Yong shook his head and said in a deep voice: "Ling Cheng has his own perseverance, and besides, it’s him who’s fighting on the stage; he knows his situation best. We shouldn’t make decisions for him without his consent. Moreover, there are rules in the competition that forbid deliberate harm to someone else’s life, so at most, Ling Cheng will only get injured and won’t be in life-threatening danger. Let’s just wait and see the situation before we act."

In the midst of speaking, the situation on the stage underwent another change.

Under Wang Hao’s fierce assault, Ling Chen was completely unable to defend himself, several times knocked down to the ground, even his Tianling Blade was struck away.

Without the assistance of the Tianling Blade, Ling Chen, armed only with his bare hands, was even more powerless. In less than half a minute, Ling Chen had already spewed out two mouthfuls of blood, his face pale as paper, panting heavily, his legs trembled slightly, as if his body was about to give out.

Below the stage, porridge girl bit her thin lips, her beautiful eyes shifting away, unwilling to watch Ling Chen getting hurt any longer.

Her gaze flickered, and porridge girl quickly locked her sight onto a stone platform not far away. An exquisite wooden box was placed there; the Nine Elements Pill was inside that box.

As long as she could get her hands on that Nine Elements Pill, she could save her master.

Thinking of this, porridge girl clenched her fists, a hint of hesitation flashing in her beautiful eyes.

Now that everyone’s attention was focused on Ling Chen and Wang Hao, if she played her cards right, she could take the Nine Elements Pill while no one was paying attention. But getting hold of it was the easy part; getting the pill out was going to be extremely difficult.

Especially those old men in the stands, if they made a move, she definitely wouldn’t be able to escape. She had to think of a way to distract them.

Boom!

While porridge girl was contemplating, another loud noise came from the stage. Ling Chen’s body was seen falling heavily from over two meters in the air, his mouth vomiting blood incessantly, his handsome features twisted in pain.

"Ling Chen!"

"Ling Cheng!"

Seeing Ling Chen lying on the ground, struggling in pain, porridge girl, Su Mei, and others like Qiu Yong all changed their expressions, their eyes full of concern as they watched Ling Chen.

Wang Hao stood with one hand behind him, body straight, looking down at Ling Chen, and spoke indifferently: "Give up. You’re no match for me!"