I only started getting up this afternoon; I’ll start writing from 4:30 now and keep going until 12:00, let’s see how many chapters I can get done. Please click and vote for me! …… An outright clash?

Everyone paused. Faced with Yun Shaojing’s ferocious punch, Ye Chen didn't retreat; instead, he met force with force. Had his mind short-circuited? Many seasoned generals shook their heads, sensing there was no suspense left.

Bang

Their fists collided.

A dull thud sounded, and a sinister smile tugged at Yun Shaojing’s lips, only for it to freeze abruptly. He felt an incredibly terrifying aura surging from the opponent’s fist, snaking up his arm like a venomous serpent, causing distorted, agonizing pain wherever it traveled.

Thwack

His arm snapped.

The stark white bone pierced the skin, accompanied by bloody froth.

Silence fell across the entire assembly.

All those who had been waiting to see Ye Chen spit blood were stunned. Their mouths hung slightly ajar as they stared, dumbfounded, at Yun Shaojing’s broken arm.

A direct collision—how could Yun Shaojing, with his Level 60 physique, have his arm broken?

Shhh, shhh, shhh

In the hushed silence, Ye Chen staggered back six full steps before regaining his footing. Although this punch had injured Yun Shaojing with sheer force, the 170-person disparity in strength between Level 60 and Level 43 meant Ye Chen had also absorbed significant counter-force. His arm ached, but the injury was far less severe than a fracture.

“How is this possible?”

“Yun Shaojing’s arm was broken?”

Everyone snapped back to reality, their eyes wide with shock. They exchanged glances, recognizing the disbelief reflected in one another.

Commander-in-Chief Murong De, seated on the grand chair, felt his pupils contract, his palm trembling slightly. Even with his composure, he couldn't help but be greatly surprised by this outcome. He glanced at the broken-armed Yun Shaojing, then turned his gaze back to Ye Chen, his expression growing solemn.

The intense pain caused cold sweat to pour down Yun Shaojing’s forehead. Watching his arm hang limply and uncontrollably, his head buzzed as if an explosion had occurred inside.

Wasted.

He had been crippled by a figure as insignificant as an ant, losing an arm, and the blood meridians within were utterly severed, leaving no chance for recovery.

Having lost one arm, his power was greatly diminished. He once possessed the strength to warrant Murong De’s serious attention, but the loss drastically reduced it. The removal of one limb affected his body's balance, movement speed, and more. Though he retained a Level 60 physique, he could only exhibit combat power around Level 55.

An immediate loss of five levels of combat strength.

“Bastard!” A burning rage made Yun Shaojing’s eyes turn red, his hair bristling. He stared at Ye Chen with a ferocious expression. “If I, Yun Shaojing, do not tear you to shreds and carve your skull to make a wine vessel, I swear I am not human!”

A single arm lost, a permanent injury—this blow nearly drove him mad.

“Not only will I kill you, but I will capture all your kin, friends, everyone you hold dear. I will slaughter the men and violate the women. Killing you a thousand times over will not quench the hatred in my heart!”

Yun Shaojing’s gaze was venomous and brutal, like a maddened beast. The astonished looks surrounding him felt like needles piercing his core, stripping him of all dignity and intensifying the shame and fury, making his hatred for Ye Chen nearly boundless.

Yun Shaojing’s words struck a vital nerve in Ye Chen. A profound killing intent flashed in his eyes. He took a step forward, his fierce aura sweeping over the entire venue. “Today, you must die!” His figure moved, rushing toward his opponent.

“Die!”

Yun Shaojing roared, clenching his fists until his knuckles turned white. The fury boiling within reversed the blood flow throughout his body. He charged toward the approaching Ye Chen with a thunderous punch, the momentum staggering, even compressing the air into a convex arc. The mere wind of the blow was enough to kill an ordinary person.

Ye Chen extended his palm to strike, distributing his Qi power ceaselessly across it, forming five sharp streams of energy. The instant the strike connected with the fist, the five sharp streams burrowed rapidly into Yun Shaojing’s punch—this was what martial arts masters called ‘Hidden Strength’ (An Jin).

Boom

Most of the power in Ye Chen’s palm rushed into Yun Shaojing’s fist; only a small portion protected his hand. Under this punch, his palm was instantly scattered, leaving his hand numb and aching, as if he had severely sprained a muscle. Under the fierce force, he stumbled back several steps.

“Aaargh—”

At that moment, a piercing shriek tore from Yun Shaojing’s throat. He stared in horror at his own hand; all five fingers were swollen by a full ring, completely numb. Blood seeped from his wrist—a terrifying sight.

“No feeling!” Yun Shaojing’s eyes were bloodshot, nearly driven insane. He roared, “My arm!”

The entire assembly fell silent.

Everyone stared in astonishment at Yun Shaojing, whose two arms were now ruined. Waves of terror surged through their hearts. In just two exchanges, both his arms had been disabled. How powerful was the opponent’s combat strength? Was he Level 70? Or even Level 80?

“You’re despicable!” Yun Shaojing’s eyes turned red as he glared fiercely at Ye Chen and roared, “Using hidden weapons—you’re despicable!”

Ye Chen looked on coldly. “Your skill is inferior; die.” His figure moved, rushing toward Yun Shaojing. His movements were like a leopard’s, his arms like an ape’s, constantly shifting and unpredictable.

“I will never let you go, even in death!” Yun Shaojing bit his lip, madness flashing in his eyes. Both arms were gone, ruined forever.

“Aaaaaaah!” He roared toward the sky, then charged at Ye Chen like a berserk bull.

Ye Chen’s eyes were icy and merciless. His palm slapped out, connecting squarely with Yun Shaojing’s left cheek with a crisp pa—a resounding slap. He lightly floated away, sweeping around to deliver a kick from the side.

Thump

Yun Shaojing’s charge was frontal; being kicked from the side instantly destabilized him, and he crashed to the ground. The humiliation nearly made his teeth grind audibly.

Ye Chen moved, closing the distance, grabbing Yun Shaojing’s severed arm, and ripping it with force. With a wet tearing sound, the arm was ripped into two pieces at the fracture point. However, Yun Shaojing was already numb, feeling no pain. Instead, he braced himself with his feet and lunged forward, attempting to bite Ye Chen like a rabid hound.

Ye Chen’s gaze sharpened. He whipped his hand out, slapping Yun Shaojing’s right cheek. The immense force nearly knocked his teeth out, causing his body to lurch sideways as he tumbled onto the lawn.

“Die! Die!”

Yun Shaojing’s legs kicked wildly. He had no coherent thought left, only the single drive to kill Ye Chen, willing to sacrifice anything to achieve it.

Ye Chen stamped his foot down, planting it squarely on Yun Shaojing’s head. The sheer power cracked the ground, creating a large pit. Half of Yun Shaojing’s head sank into the earth.

“Die!”

Ye Chen’s eyes were cold. He gripped the man’s ankles with both hands, pushed off the ground, and leaped dozens of feet into the air. He trapped Yun Shaojing’s neck between his legs, holding his feet, and plummeted downward.

Headfirst.

CRASH

Yun Shaojing’s skull smashed deep into the earth, leaving only half his body exposed. He convulsed slightly—not quite dead yet.

Ye Chen lifted him up by the ankle. Yun Shaojing’s disheveled hair framed a face where one eyeball bulged outward, connected only by strands of blood, not yet falling free. His face was so bruised and swollen that his original features were unrecognizable.

Ye Chen casually tossed him onto the ground and straightened his posture.

Slowly, he raised his foot.

Over his head.

The gaze of the entire assembly fixed upon his sole.

CRUNCH

The foot, raised high, whipped down like a flail, descending with immense, crushing force directly onto Yun Shaojing’s head.

BOOM—

Centered on him, the surrounding ground buckled into a massive, cracked depression.