Chapter One Hundred Sixty-Two: To Defeat You, One Finger Is Enough

Immediately after, Liu Qing, dressed in black battle attire, leapt up to face him. Standing tall like a black tower, he pointed his black spear directly at Xiao Xie, his face ablaze with wild fighting spirit. With a laugh, he declared, “I didn’t expect to face you in the very first round. All the better! Once I defeat you, I’ll have a match with Lin Xiuya—what a thrill!”

On the high platform, Lin Xiuya watched Liu Qing’s face brimming with anticipation and shook his head helplessly. He knew Xiao Xie’s true strength; even he wasn’t confident he could withstand a single blow from Xiao Xie. Liu Qing might not fare any better. Encountering Xiao Xie in the very first round—he could only hope Liu Qing wouldn’t lose too miserably.

The spectators outside the arena all looked on with eager anticipation at the two in the ring. Liu Qing had ranked third on the elite leaderboard last year, his strength beyond doubt—he was likely already half a step into the Dou King class. On the other side, though Xiao Xie had not fought often, those who had witnessed his matches knew his power was unfathomable. Two formidable opponents meeting promised a fierce clash, and everyone expected a spectacular fight.

Ignoring the gazes around him, Xiao Xie extended a single finger. Those who had watched his previous matches in the tournament grew visibly excited at this familiar gesture.

“Are you offering me a free attack?” Liu Qing asked, frowning. He had heard the murmurs from the crowd, aware that Xiao Xie had let his last opponent strike first before instantly turning the tables. But surely Xiao Xie was underestimating him—he was not in the same league as that five-star Dou Spirit.

Xiao Xie shook his head and replied blandly, “No, what I mean is—a single finger is all I need to deal with you.”

“Hahaha… You dare insult me so? I’d like to see how you plan to defeat me with just one finger!” Liu Qing was stunned for a moment, then erupted in furious laughter. Still, he knew Xiao Xie’s strength was not to be taken lightly, so without hesitation, he unleashed his strongest move: the Shattering Rock Spear.

A fierce pale golden glow surged from within Liu Qing, dazzling and intense as a blazing sun, forcing onlookers to turn their eyes away. From within that brilliance, a razor-sharp spear aura erupted, soaring with unmatched ferocity.

“Xiao Xie, I’m about to use my most powerful attack. Don’t die on me!” Liu Qing’s voice, wrapped in golden radiance, rang out as the spear’s shadow pointed at Xiao Xie, his fury barely contained.

“So much talk. Finish up—I still have to get home for dinner!” Xiao Xie dug at his ear, wearing an infuriatingly indifferent expression.

“Fine, fine! If you’re so eager to die, don’t blame me!” Watching Xiao Xie’s impatient face, Liu Qing felt he had done his part to warn him. If Xiao Xie refused to heed it, his fate was his own fault.

Suddenly, the dazzling golden light condensed, and in an instant, the blinding glow snapped back into the Shattering Rock Spear. With such immense energy pouring in, the spear tip overflowed with a liquid-like golden energy, flowing as if it were alive.

With a powerful jolt of his arm, Liu Qing pointed his spear to the sky, then, accompanied by a howling wind, smashed it down hard. As the heavy spear struck the earth, a terrifying surge of force spread out across the ground. In an instant, massive stones in the ruins around them, under shocked gazes, crumbled to dust.

“Shattered Rock!”

A thunderous shout split the air as the spear tip exploded with golden brilliance like a bursting mountain flood.

A sea of golden, dazzling light swept forth, accompanied by a sharp, deafening sonic boom, tearing through the air like lightning and shooting straight at the unguarded Xiao Xie. Wherever the golden light passed, boulders across the arena shattered violently!

Liu Qing’s full-force strike was truly terrifying!

Faced with such overwhelming power, the entire arena seemed to change color. Even the elders at the judges’ table wore grave expressions. This kind of technique was nearly at the edge of earth-tier battle skills—Liu Qing was indeed formidable.

Within Xiao Xie’s dark pupils, the world was nearly blotted out by the overwhelming golden spear radiance. As the primary target, he slowly raised his right hand and, facing the black spear that came with thunderous might, flicked the tip with a single finger.

Boom! Crash!

At that flick, Liu Qing felt an irresistible power surge from the spear, and he, together with his weapon, was blasted out of the arena.

Sent flying, Liu Qing landed outside, his legs hitting the ground but momentum unbroken. Hurriedly, he stabbed his spear into the earth, sending up a trail of sparks and skidding over ten meters across the ground before coming to a stop.

Looking at his palm, Liu Qing found it a bloody, mangled mess—the skin worn away from gripping the spear so tightly. To his shock, he also saw the tip of his black spear was bent, even though it was a high-grade mystic weapon.

“Not bad. I didn’t expect you’d actually manage to leave a scratch on my fingernail,” Xiao Xie remarked, looking at the fleeting mark on his nail and praising Liu Qing in an almost congratulatory tone.

“You…” Liu Qing was so infuriated by Xiao Xie’s words that he was left speechless. His most powerful attack had left only a scratch on Xiao Xie’s fingernail? What was even more despairing was that Xiao Xie hadn’t used any battle energy—just pure physical strength.

On the high platform, the elders exchanged glances, all rendered speechless as well. The top ten on the elite leaderboard qualified to become inner academy elders, yet Liu Qing had been defeated by a single finger from Xiao Xie. Judging by Xiao Xie’s demeanor, it had been nothing more than a casual flick.

“What a powerful physique!” Su Qian couldn’t help but exclaim at the sight. Though Xiao Xie was only a Dou Emperor, his body was stronger than most Dou Sect fighters. At the very least, Su Qian himself was certain he couldn’t withstand Liu Qing’s full-force attack with just a finger relying solely on physical strength.

Ignoring the stupefied crowd, Xiao Xie used a flash step to return to his seat and closed his eyes to rest.

“So strong!” Han Yue watched Xiao Xie as he sat with his eyes closed, still shocked despite having seen him slay the Snow Demon Sky Ape with a single stroke before. To see him defeat Liu Qing with just one finger now was even more astonishing.

“Xiao Xie definitely isn’t human. Did he eat some kind of transformation herb too?” Zi Yan eyed Xiao Xie with a strange look. Not only was his body even stronger than hers, but he also exuded a familiar scent. She had already decided in her heart that Xiao Xie wasn’t human, and that his previous claim of being human had been a lie—a big liar!

Next, the Little Medical Fairy took the stage and, as usual, defeated her opponent in a single move. Anyone struck by her poisonous battle energy, even a Dou Emperor, had no choice but to surrender. None of the students, not even Zi Yan, could withstand a single attack from her.

After that, it was Qing Lin’s turn. Her opponent, ranked forty-third on the elite leaderboard and a two-star Dou Spirit, was knocked out instantly by the twin-headed Fire Spirit Serpent she summoned.

The little girl Zi Yan floored her seven-star Dou Spirit opponent with a single punch, making it clear to everyone why she’d been number one on the leaderboard the previous year. After defeating her opponent, she waved at Xiao Xie, now convinced he was a magical beast transformed by the herb, and felt even closer to him.

Seeing Zi Yan waving at him, Xiao Xie smiled and waved back. If only he knew what Zi Yan was really thinking, he would have been at a loss for words.

The following matches no longer held any interest for Xiao Xie; these Dou Spirit-level battles were little different from children’s games in his eyes.

Suddenly, a thunderous explosion rang out in the distance, drawing everyone’s attention.

Su Qian looked up, his face changing dramatically as he realized the source: the Heavenly Burning Gas Refining Tower. “This is bad! That beast is trying to break the seal!”

“All elders, head to the tower at once! All students, evacuate to at least a hundred meters from the Heavenly Burning Gas Refining Tower!” Su Qian’s thunderous command echoed across the entire inner academy.

Without delay, Su Qian shot off toward the tower, followed closely by the other elders.

“Heavenly Flame of Fallen Heart! Is it finally about to break free?” Xiao Xie’s lips curved into a faint smile. His earlier provocation had triggered the eruption of the Fallen Heart Flame ahead of schedule. With that, he too shot off toward the tower.